Fwd: Transfer #4 Week #5 Part 1

Oh my goodness!!! What a wonderful week (even though I had a sore throat and stuffy nose) But there is sooo much to tell and I might not get through it all so bare with me.

First off ZIONS was AWESOME!!! We had sooo much fun there!!!

We went with two familys luckily it was free to go to zions because of presidents day :)

Two young families, the kids really did keep us entertained the whole way there and back lol we had such a good time. But I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

Transfer #4 Week#5 Part 2

So after the hike we had a few lessons at less actives :) Mondays are hard to get lessons cause we are encouraged to not go to members homes. Think we are sorted tonight.

So tuesday all our apt fell through before dinner time but after dinner everything went right. well sorta. We were able to visit with the native americans that we are teaching and what an experience, so our first lesson the lady we were teaching had a huge migraine the days prior to our meeting with her and she was kinda recovering i guess and but she still wanted to hear what we had to say - so this is the lady who we both felt prompted to invite to be baptized but didn't and so we were able to speak to her about the restoration and watched the restoration DVD and then we invited her to be baptized!!! and before we could finish the invite she said yes, before we could give her a date she said yes... well we are hoping that she really does truely  understand but we will check on how she is doing this coming week and explain things more to her :) But we are excited for her!!!

Then we taught a 13 year old girl and her brother and wow, we asked a few questions to get to know them and things, to get them to open up and then all of a sudden we could not get them to keep quiet!! lol it was quite the experience. So we were late to our next apt with Judith, who is so prepared! but needs to make some changes in her life and she knows it. Her work colleagues are reallly preparing her so much they taught her the plan of salvation before we could but she had so many great questions!! But her mom seems to be a bit of a hindrance. Reading all this anti mormon things on the net and trying to get her to not meet with us and things. And even while we were there she called and wanted to speak to us giving us all scriptures (from the internet) from the bible to try get us to doubt our words and things. But it did NOT That was the second time we have been bible bashed in a week and the second time we were able to stand firm and immovable. Judith also stood up for the church and she wants to get baptized. I love her courage and her conviction. I hope it stays with her. she loves meeting with us and we love meeting with her.

Well Wednesday was the beginning of another miracle. So I don't know if I mentioned before, but when sister Hee had to go to the doctor last time we were able to meet this young medical student, she is pretty and great! Catholic. And super cool. Sister Hee and her were able to make an immediate connection since It was Sister Hee and Doctor See, Her parents are both from the Philippines. The both interested in medical field and both love art. (it was love at first sight lol JK) Anyway so we met Dr See at a restaurant for a casual meeting to kinda get to know her and she did not want any members to be there for it (cause the doctors that she works for has really been pushing her a bit to meet with us and she has many Mormon friends at the hospital) so she was kinda doing it in secret. Well turns out we must have done something good because that night she went to her one close friends house and they were talking about it and then we got a phone call saying that she wants to meet with us every night before she leaves!!!! (cause she was only here for a month and this is her last week here) so she studies in Salt Lake, originally from Cali, but LOVES KANAB. And she has not been approached about meeting with missionaries in salt lake or before she came to kanab, and she likes church but thinks its a bit noisy. She said she decided to listen to us here with the people she loves and we have also really gotten to love her soooo much!!! We would really like to see her baptized, and it would really be a miracle if we could have the baptism here before she leaves but that might not happen just yet - she is not ready to commit. But we really do love her and hope she is able to find what ever she is looking for. One of the things that she loves about the church is that we are very family orientated.

Well we were able to put another of our investigators on date for baptism but we realized that we did it for the weekend of general conference so that might not work out too well. But we are just so excited that things are making more sense to hima nd that he is ready to commit.

Well transfer calls are coming up this week saturday, so we will know next week who goes and who stays. hopefully we both stay. We are finally getting our investigators to where they need to be and we love them so much. But I have been here almost 6 months so its almost time I go to a new area.

Yesterday we spoke in 2 wards back to back. luckily both times we were the final speaker and the speakers before us took up most of the time we only had 5min each to speak and I love being able to rely on the spirit to know what to speak about.

Well my spiritual thought comes from the first thing that our mission is memorizing

THE STANDARD OF TRUTH - Joseph Smith (Wentworth letter)
The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent , till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

Presidents day in ZIONS

Well Just as normal I do not have much time today - we are cutting it short so we can go to ZIONS national park :)

We are going with some members here. it's a public holiday and so they are taking the kids and we are hitch hiking.

We had a GREAT week!!! Wow really feels like forever ago but we got 2 NEW investigators this week! One that the Kanab sisters have been working with and the other is a native american that I feel is pretty golden! When we were visiting with her Sister Hee and I BOTH felt impressed to put her on date for baptism but unfortunately the conversation took a turn and we were not able to. Our Fellowshipper likes to talk ALOT. But it is good fun. But I think thanks to her we did have one of our Native American Investigators at church. We are teaching 3 and 2 were at church!! we are SUPER Excited!!! We hope to get more and more and eventually have a native american branch out there. but we also wasnt to have a branch in Co city and there are just not enough whites who live in Mocciassin itself to have their own ward without cane beds and co city so we may need to make some sacrifices. But I am really excited!!!

We had 5 investigators at CHURCH yesterday!!! And Wow we are excited that they are showing some commitment! Hopefully the others will soon follow. 

Well as for Sue (who I tried putting on date twice) she is definitely progressing!! I love her sooo much!!! Bishop has been able to work really well with her and Jim. He spoke to her about  baptism and how important that authority is. They have finally found Jims church records and he is a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood. Bishop has told Jim that after they meet that that they can speak about setting him apart as a priest and then he could baptize Sue. and now this idea has been mentioned a few times by the members around them and well I hope that they do not push her away. BUT she is still going to church so I guess not :) Holding thumbs for this week!!

So we had exchanges this week and we ended up having all 4 of us in the kaibab area, good thing we have two places where we could sleep otherwise we would not all fit in our lil apt. So Sister Sordes (From Tulus France) and I went to Cane beds and Sister Hee and Sister Davila stayed in Kanab.

Sis Sordes is AWESOME!!! I love her so much and well she does not have a licence at all and so I was the designated driver for the day! Ahhhh it was so scary to be driving again it has been so long! almost 6 months! But it was good! I only tried to put the clutch in once! haha :D It is strange driving on the other side of the road though.

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

Life on the Kaibab Part 3

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

Hiking in Co City

Good Morning!!!!

It Snowed last night!!!! There was a fast for "moisture" this weekend and we got it! yay! Miracles!

Well Dont have much time today as we are heading out to Colorado city to hike and celebrate our District leaders Birthday! And cause we can. Hope it is not too snowy out there but should be good fun! Cannot wait!

This week was interesting. Alot of what we planned again fell through. But it is ok.

We had some real spiritual experiences with some of our 'gators and less actives we teach. one especially was last night when we watched the testaments with a less active. it was great to see him in tears as Christ speaks to Helman by name and heals him. 

I love this work.

The Church is TRUE!!!

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

Kaibab Weekly

Another week in Kaibab,

It was a bit of a slow week, Sister Hee was not feeling good this week and seems to be a common thread with all the missionaries, S Eppel, E Molder, S Massengale And others. Wow Cannot wait till winter is over! All you in SA be grateful for the sunny days you are experiencing!

It is way cool though they started an institute class in Co City and wow we were able to go because everyone we would have been teaching was THERE so we decided to go too and I learned so much! wish I had my BOM institute manual and all my note from back then while I study. But alas it is not in the prescribed missionary library. But there is so much to be learned in just the title page and introduction of the BOM. What is great is that alot of the Poligs go to that class and at least they have a strong belief in the BOM there was one however who kept on asking Who said that, who said that. Cause they do not know all the apostles that we have today. Its hard but the insitute teacher IS amazing!!!

We then went to a Poligs house (RV trailor) on wednesday (real snazzy inside) but we were catching them while they were heading out but they had enough time to show us some vids of the "good times" to be a polig, and well I must agree with them they DID have some really good times as they did parades and all sorts for Pioneer day (Utah thing) Then we go to another family, Ok they have been out longer, but they just see the negative in the FLDS Well I won't lie it is an adventure each time we go out but we will only be going there once this week.

Well I don't know if I mentioned this before but one of our investigators whom I invited to be baptized after E Aarnold came, but she said no. Well, I invited her again this week and agagin she said no. :'( she still loves us and we will still be going to teach her. They both go to church and I think she is learning ALOT but we do not know where his records are so this is fun. we had dinner over there on Saturday and we had a good time - I finally had a real thanksgiving dinner! lol

Our District meeting was great I really enjoyed it! Training always helps us to get a bit more excited about missionary work and we really need it cause we have been getting a bit discouraged in our area. But we learn from PMG that "You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit." And I think thats what happened on Wednesday when we were not able to put our investigator on date. We were not following the spirit as we really could have. We have a lot to work on as a companionship this week. But i really think that it will be a better week.

Congrats to the BOKKE well the 7s team who played in Vegas (Don't know if any of you even know about that.) well the Bokke WON. My Recent Converts husband went to the game this weekend lol. Good FUN. I love her so much she is so great she got her patriarchal blessing yesterday and I think that was exactly what she needed! I love her so much and she really is like a mom to us! So don't worry mom we are being well looked after!

Some quotes for the week:

" Have faith that you will receive personal revelation" PMG p 90

"Prayer is esential for our spiritual development & protection" E Bednar

"True Faith is focused in & on the Lord Jesus Christ & always leads to righteous action" E Bednar

Love you all and hope you see miracles!

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

Life on the Kaibab

Good Day all you wonderful people I have been cleaning up my email so today is going to be short. 

Sister Hee was sick for a few days this week and so we were not as productive as we would have liked but it was a relatively good week non the less :) 

TRANSFER CALLS: We are STAYING!!!!!! (But seriously need to take more pictures!!!

We plan to see miracles this week!!! We have made a commitment to be more obedient and more involved and keep in contact with investigators more.

I spoke in 2 wards yesterday!!! was crazy but fun! Just know that the work is still pressing forward here and we love it here!!! 

Sister Chinen is training so we are sad to say good by to Sister Waiane! But excited to see who the new missionary is going to be.

I love studying the scriptures and being able to use them when I teach. I also love feeling the spirit work through me and I say things that I never would have before thought of if it were not for the spirit. I also know it is because I have opened my mouth that it was filled. I struggle sometimes to know when to open it and when not. But it becomes easier the closer I come to my Savior and understand the atonement. I have much still to learn and wish i had more time to study sometimes :)

Thought: 1 Nephi 19:9 

And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they ^aspit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving ^bkindness and his ^clong-suffering towards the children of men.

Are we suffering it? or are we turning to the saviour because he has suffered it already.

Love you all!!

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

New Years Adventures!!!

Sorry that I did not email last week but we had a great day at the Temple and we ran out of time to email, since we went all the way to St George and went to wallmart as well since we had not been able to go for 2 weeks.

Happy new year!! We had such a great new years Eve and Day!!! New years eve we watched Dispicable me 1 with our district and then played with some frisbees and hit a pinata :D So much fun!

Best new years day EVER We were able to sleep over at the other sisters apartment and yes we were in bed all tucked in at 10 30!!! it was pretty cold Sister Chinen had to try keep the fire burning all night and not the most comfortable sleep but it was all worth it! Sister Waiane made us all breackfast:

 and then after studies we went up to the "Valley" to go hike with our distract... Well the boys were hungry so we got a bite to eat first and the Elders were so sweet they PAID for us!!! (Ok granted they had got the money ($20 each) the night before from a man who had bought them all dinner) But it was cool :D

Anyway we then went to try find a slot canyon... we baptized the new van in the "Crik" Or Creek... and we went till we got to a stage that the Van would NOT climb a steep icy muddy hill. I was surprised we were even able to walk up it without falling because of the mud. Anyway we had a good time! and eventually we though that we were not going to make it to the canyon cause we had no clue really where we were going. But through perseverance we MADE IT!!!!

and WOW the most beautiful place ever!!! (Pictures to follow) I absolutely loved it!! and it seemed like it never ended!!! it was crazy though because we had to climb ALOT it was a team/district building experience - luckily the elders are not really elders they are monkeys and pulled us sisters up some of the more complicated climbs but over time we were able tot do things on our own. But just as I though that adventure could not get more exciting as I was taking the lead I almost stood ona dead DEER!!!! AHHHHH I freaked out - but not as bad as Sister Chinen - that was the biggest obstacle to get over. it was so much fun though!! I would do it again in a heatbeat!!! But the Trek home was what was the real adventure we decided to follow the wash... but we were goin the oposite direction of where the cars were at, eventually we got going in the right direction and had to SLIDE down a hill of snow to get to the bottom!! SOOOOOO MUCH OF FUN - Bum Sliding!!! (People find it funny that I say bum... lol I love it)

Anyway We then watched Toy story 2 and Dispicable me 2 SO MUCH FUN! I love my district!

Anyway The Temple was quite an experience as I was able to go to the top of the temple as the sisters are friends with the security guards and we were on the last session and it was so good.

Oh and my camera is only half functional atm after our adventures cause my bag got full of fine sand and so did my camera and I can hear it grating when it decides to open and close.

WEll spiritual thought. As I was reading in 1 Ne 17 this morning    I came accross verse
3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and ^astrengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did ^bprovide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

I love how Heavenly Father will provide a way for us to keep the commandments, he also promises to strengthen us - I would think that is a physical and spiritual strength.

Another Quote:

"Our destiny is... determined... by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and  move forward." - Pres Uchtdorf -

Did not know how much I really needed that quote till I typed it out now. Hope you all can use it and study the General Conference talks. They really can help us.

This week we went to visit a former investigator and it was amazing! we were able to go with one of the doctors in Kanabs wives and she was a celebraty in that house. The mom is in active and she said she would come to church yesterday... she didn't but it was quite an experience anyway.

But another of our investigators DID go to church and I am sooooo excited for her and her husband!!!

Thank you for all the letters of encouragement and support. sorry I am not able to reply to them all. One day I will get to it. I have gone over time now already.

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Wow what a great time it was to see & hear family over skype!!!! So great to see familiar faces and hear familiar voices!!! Christmas was FUN!

We spent Christmas eve with one of our bishops: Bishop Jackson and his family. I ate prawns! LOL still not my favorite meal but it's ok. It was great to slow down a bit and relax and spend time with a family :) they have a daughter serving in itally at the moment. we were going to skype at their home but we ended up not cause of timing and time zones as their daughter would skype at the same time as I would so we just skyped at the home where we stayed. There was a bit of "snot en trane" but it was expected I had the tissues ready and EVERYTHING. After skyping we went to the bishop again and went on his turn table thing where you stand upside down... yeah was not as cool as I thought it would be. then we went to Huricane for a Zone activity, where we exchanged gifts (white elephant) and played frisbee!!!! man that was sooo much fun - good to be running again. I did however find out I have gained 7KG while being on the mission :O ahhhhh really need to start getting myself into SHAPE! But been sick and so getting up in the mornings is tough, this sore throat better go away soon! Anyway we then went to St George for a bit and came home. Sad part is we were not able to go to Wallmart last week and I doubt we will go this week....

Anyway This week has really been great my companion and I just want to study all day though! there are so many great treasures in the scriptures and other church materials that really just make me hunger even MORE for them.

In part one of our Less Actives that we are working with gave us a hunger and thirst because of his example. He has been in-active for 40+ years his wife is not a member and I love them both soooo much. Last week he finished the BOM in 3 days!!! Ok he started from 2 Nephi but he was hungry for something. He seems to really be searching hard for some divine help and encouragement. When we committed his wife to be baptized a few weeks ago she did not feel the need to be baptized yet He did because he feels like he needs a clean sheet. So this has been a bit complicated, but I am so glad that we were able to commit then to read the Book of Mormon because he said THAT was why he decided to read... but he then became hungry. It' sad though because he did not understand ALOT of what he was reading because he did not understand half of what he was reading because he missed one important detail of when they reached the Americas. And he really just could not finish the last book of the Book of Mormon because of that small thing that he missed. I am so grateful that we have "Angels" in the form of our friends though. because just as He was about to give up, Bishop Jackson knocked at his door and was able to explain it all to him. He had been reading it all on his phone and was able to make notes left right and center of questions and comments about the Book of Mormon so he was not only reading but STUDYING the word of God. He is so relieved now. He said he skipped reading the Introduction because he just wasnted to get started reading the book. But I have now found it is SO important to emphasize how important reading the introduction really is! Even though he did not understand it all fully He did find verses that really penetrated him! He really did find answers to some of the questions of his soul. He does not yet believe he has a full testimony of this book but I know that he does.

I invite you ALL to read the Book of Mormon this year! to study it and make it a part of your daily life. Who knows maybe you will find this hunger and thirst as Jim has. Maybe you will find the answers to the questions of your soul. Let us all have spiritual experience this NEW Year!! Here is a great video for the new year: "Look not behind thee"

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=910930409001

Let us make this year one of great Goals because "We set goals to show our faith, we follow up on goals to count our blessings" - Ensign Sept 2013

I am so grateful that Jim was able to Study the word of God just as we are encouraged to do so in the Lehis dream: The Tree of Life. I encourage you all to study this dream. study the interpretation of it and understand that we truly need to STUDY the word of God. And to hold FAST to the iron rod and not just "Clinging" to it. Use these articles as guides:

1. http://www.lds.org/liahona/2011/10/lehis-dream-holding-fast-to-the-rod?lang=eng&query=lehis+dream
2. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/08/finding-ourselves-in-lehis-dream?lang=eng

As I have studied the dream I have found I can apply them in many situations in my area.  I know that these resources have been given to us so we can more fully understand the dream. I hope that we will all look forward to the tree of life - that we will want to feel God's love in our lives as we eat of the fruit and use the atonement in our lives!! Let us not be shrouded in the mists of darkness and be lost but Hold FAST to the scriptures - they truly can bring spiritual strength.

Also studying "Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ" I hope we can all make New Years Resolutions By:

1. Striving to make Covenants - By going to the Temple, striving to be worthy of entering there. If you are too young to do endowments, make sure you are worthy of doing baptisms for the dead.

2. Share the Gospel!!!!

3. Serve Faithfully in all church Callings - This I think is such a great goal as it gives us purpose. There were sisters that came back to this area to visit their investigators and members and they told us that normal life is hard because you do not have a real purpose. And that has been bugging me for a bit. But I would like to think that these calling could really give us purpose! I love that as missionary's our purpose is clear!!! to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel..." But I hope that when I go home that I will be able to fulfill my purpose as a visiting teacher and whatever other calling they give me just as I would as a missionary. I want to be able to pray for those I associate with everyday. I want to study the scriptures with them in mind and see how I can help them! I love having this purpose. I hope that you ALL can find your purpose in the calling you have been trusted with!

4. Serve the members of your family!!! SERVE SERVE SERVE. it is the best way we can obtain the Christlike attribute of Charity.

Well time is again running short. I love you all and wish you a very Happy New Year!!!

At a members Home - Son served in SACTM mission

Getting ready for Gift Exchange

All the Medican a member thought I would need - and she was RIGHT!!!!

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Just a short note to say MERRY CHRISTMAS, and Happy Holidays ;) I hope that you all are having a great time, and remembering the True meaning of Christmas :)

This week has really been good, we had exchanges on Thursday and it was good always able to learn something. It was my first time out of my area!! It was so strange though, strange to be in more build up areas - so used to knocking on humble homes and Trailors. Not used to them richer people... But it was good. Good to see the work moving forward in that area :) Got to meet one of the Piano Guys Wives ;) The piano guy was not home but that was still cool :P Exchanges are good!! But I was still happy to be back in my area.

So we are teaching another Polygamist But he seems ready for baptism - besides the fact that he drinks coffee and likes tobacco every now and then. But we are working on him. Unfortunately the FLDS believe that Coffee and Tobacco are OK (all in moderation and just guidelines) So we are emphasizing that they are Commandments not just guidelines. We love our area though! We have sooo many people to teach all of a sudden. We also had a really good lesson with an Indian lady (American Indian) who knows very little about the Mormons! Like we did not know what to say when she said that and she is open to learn about jospeh smith and the Book of mormon. she has a goood christian background. I love her and her daughter already and want her to enjoy the blessings of baptism :)

So I have been sick this week. Not Fun. But the work moves forward! I am very grateful for members who earnestly strife to look after the missionaries. I got a medical kit yesterday lol. (will send pic next week as I left my camera at home).

So a fun one for the week. We tracked into a Jehovah witness this week and he used to be LDS and decided to be a preacher in the Southern Utah area because he knows the LDS faith. He also asked why are we serving in an area that is concentrated with LDS people....? Seriously??? Same reason you are there. Well we asked him if he has read and prayed about the BOM before and he says that he had Read it but he won't pray because that is like asking the Pope if he is Catholic. SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!! Just Pray about it :D

I spoke in Fredonia 1st ward yesterday and it was such a good Christmas program - there were 5 speakers and 4 Musical items :) Sister Hee and I spoke for like 3 min each cause there was hardly any time.

We also want to start going back to the families that have given us referrals and let them know how the contact went. I love this gospel and there are so many who are prepared to hear the Good news that we have! We just need some faith on out part. Please trust the missionaries with the names of your friends. They are the servants of the Lord. We as missionaries are not perfect. You may need to remind them a few times about your referrals. (I hope that is not the case, but time does run away from us).

Well two thoughts for the week, comes from the Dec First Pres Message and Ensign:

"As a covenant disciple of Jesus Christ, you are obligated to extend to others an opportunity to find increased happiness, especially to your friends and the members of your family." - Pres Henry B Eyring -

"Christmas is a Time to share our gifts, strengthen others & do our part in the Kingdom of God." - Elder Robert D Hales -

Please remember the to give of yourselves this Christmas. I love you all and Hope you have a joyous holiday!

PS get to Skype Home on Wednesday!!!!!!! So excited!!!!!

All My Best,

Sister Karen Hollander

St. George, Utah Mission

107S. 1470E. Suite 304

St. George Utah 84790

United States