Dear Momma,
Happy New Year!
I'm glad you've been able to go to the temple. I know it's rough. I was allowed to go the same day I found out about Casey. I felt the same way you did when I went through - like lead. It seemed like just raising a hand or saying a word was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. And I bawled too. It's okay. I think the temple workers understand - people go there with their biggest problems all the time. It's hard and humbling sometimes, but I do believe that the temple is the best place to just lay our heartaches and our worries at the Lord's feet. Keep going. Going to the temple is your time to hand your broken heart over to the Lord and let him heal it. You'll be surprised at what the Lord can do with a broken heart. He tells us over and over again in the scriptures to offer Him our broken hearts. There's a good reason for that.
Yes, I did get the pictures from Dad and Aunt Rhonda. They're great. Dad has some good pictures of Casey. Do you have them? Here are some extra copies of my pictures too.
As for Ian's mission call - either call Uncle Dale and Aunt Bonnie yourself, or have MomMom do it. Tell them from me that God is sending Ian exactly where He wants him to go. There is nothing in Mexico or anywhere else that's bigger, tougher, or stronger than God, and He loves His missionaries, so Ian's going to be just fine. Ian's going to love it. Tell them to repent and stop standing in the way of the Lord's work before they get rolled over by it.
I think the Christmas tree has been put to great use. Whose ideas were these things? What do you have in mind for the ornaments you're going to make from it? I'm getting a few, right?
I did tell PawPaw to just hold on to the money until I come home. It'll be safer then than carrying it around in my wallet for a year. Thank Woodrow, Dusty, and DadDad for helping with the money too. I really appreciate that.
I keep thinking about Dusty a lot. I told my companion about how special Casey is to Dusty. Dusty got to help deliver him. Dusty got to name him. Dusty baptized him. She pointed out to me that that kind of big brother relationship is probably very similar to the way Christ has always been to us. He was the firstborn of the Father. He was there to see each of us come into being, and watched and led and taught while we learned there before coming here. I think she's right. I know you worry about Dusty, and pray for him to come back to church. I do too. Why not invite him to come to church with you the next time he's in town? Maybe an invitation is all he needs. He might not realize that he's missed.
I think LaJusta's mom must be a very smart woman. We do need the support of our loved ones to move forward, regardless of which side of the veil we or they happen to be on. Some days it's seemed to me like I've had to really exercise my faith NOT to just think about Casey all the time. Of course we can't forget him. Never. But moving forward doesn't mean moving away from him. Casey isn't stuck in the past. He's still close by. And he's part of our future. Moving forward means moving closer to him, and to our Heavenly Father. It takes faith to start smiling and laughing again. We show the Lord our faith in His plan and in His power to heal by enjoying our lives - allowing Him and other things to bring us joy again.
Smile. Laugh. Have the faith to love this life.
I love you.
Syster Hillary Kiser
Friday, January 7, 2011
Re: Mom
Dear Momma,
It's been one of those mornings where everything breaks and nothing works right. I've got this darn cold, both of our dryers are broken so the laundry's all over the place, our car keeps getting stuck in the snow, and my companion and I just don't get along. You're absolutely right - life just keeps coming no matter what. I want to sound cheerful and uplifting, but honestly I'm just feeling cranky. I guess I need to get over it. Feeling grouchy doesn't really make anything better. It just makes the good stuff go sour too.
Maybe it would be best just to count some blessings right now.
I'm grateful that it's snowing. When it's snow, the temperature goes up, so it's +20 now instead of -20 like it was 3 days ago. (That's in Fahrenheit.)
I'm grateful for the wonderful gifts I've been given by my friends and family back home and here. I've received scarves, hats, gloves, sweaters, chocolate, and so many other nice things to keep me warm on the inside as well as out.
I'm grateful that I had 16 years with a sweet, funny, beautiful brother like Casey.
I'm grateful that I have Heavenly Father's promise that he'll be my brother forever.
I'm grateful for kind people who feed missionaries - even when they feed us fish.
I'm grateful for the care I get to use. It may be pitifully weak in the snow, but at least the seats are heated.
I'm grateful for the gift of tongues.
I'm grateful for a sweet friend like Nate who cares enough to reach out to comfort my family, even though he's never met them.
I'm grateful for Christ's mercy, which can free us from the weight of justice.
I'm grateful for God's justice, which is much kinder and fairer than man's justice.
I'm grateful for my companion's desire to do the Lord's work well.
I'm grateful for Christmas cards.
I'm grateful for clear, starry skies.
I'm grateful for parents who've supported me in all my endeavors, no matter what they've been; who work hard and make it possible for me to do this work now.
I'm grateful for friends and leaders and teachers who helped me find my own testimony of the gospel.
I'm grateful for repentance.
I'm grateful for sunshine.
I'm grateful for music.
I'm grateful for 22 beautiful, tediously-prepared birthday cakes from my dear Mom-Mom.
I'm grateful for thousands of loads of laundry hauled and hung and folded, and probably millions of dishes washed by the worlds most patient, hard-working mom.
I'm grateful for running water (we went without it for a little last Saturday).
I'm grateful for temples, and the peace and promises we receive from Heavenly Father in them.
I'm grateful for telephones and computers and the postal system, which all help me stay close to the people I love while we're far away.
I'm grateful that sometimes God doesn't listen to my requests and gives me something much better instead.
I'm not feeling so cranky anymore. But it is a little embarrassing, sitting here, trying not to cry in front of my companion. Such is the life of a missionary.
We have so much to be thankful for, Momma. Counting the blessings may be a good way for you to use this spare time that's eating you up right now. Write them down. As many as u can think of. It was hard at first for me to think of something to appreciate, but now it's hard to stop. And I do feel much better.
I love you, Momma. So much.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
It's been one of those mornings where everything breaks and nothing works right. I've got this darn cold, both of our dryers are broken so the laundry's all over the place, our car keeps getting stuck in the snow, and my companion and I just don't get along. You're absolutely right - life just keeps coming no matter what. I want to sound cheerful and uplifting, but honestly I'm just feeling cranky. I guess I need to get over it. Feeling grouchy doesn't really make anything better. It just makes the good stuff go sour too.
Maybe it would be best just to count some blessings right now.
I'm grateful that it's snowing. When it's snow, the temperature goes up, so it's +20 now instead of -20 like it was 3 days ago. (That's in Fahrenheit.)
I'm grateful for the wonderful gifts I've been given by my friends and family back home and here. I've received scarves, hats, gloves, sweaters, chocolate, and so many other nice things to keep me warm on the inside as well as out.
I'm grateful that I had 16 years with a sweet, funny, beautiful brother like Casey.
I'm grateful that I have Heavenly Father's promise that he'll be my brother forever.
I'm grateful for kind people who feed missionaries - even when they feed us fish.
I'm grateful for the care I get to use. It may be pitifully weak in the snow, but at least the seats are heated.
I'm grateful for the gift of tongues.
I'm grateful for a sweet friend like Nate who cares enough to reach out to comfort my family, even though he's never met them.
I'm grateful for Christ's mercy, which can free us from the weight of justice.
I'm grateful for God's justice, which is much kinder and fairer than man's justice.
I'm grateful for my companion's desire to do the Lord's work well.
I'm grateful for Christmas cards.
I'm grateful for clear, starry skies.
I'm grateful for parents who've supported me in all my endeavors, no matter what they've been; who work hard and make it possible for me to do this work now.
I'm grateful for friends and leaders and teachers who helped me find my own testimony of the gospel.
I'm grateful for repentance.
I'm grateful for sunshine.
I'm grateful for music.
I'm grateful for 22 beautiful, tediously-prepared birthday cakes from my dear Mom-Mom.
I'm grateful for thousands of loads of laundry hauled and hung and folded, and probably millions of dishes washed by the worlds most patient, hard-working mom.
I'm grateful for running water (we went without it for a little last Saturday).
I'm grateful for temples, and the peace and promises we receive from Heavenly Father in them.
I'm grateful for telephones and computers and the postal system, which all help me stay close to the people I love while we're far away.
I'm grateful that sometimes God doesn't listen to my requests and gives me something much better instead.
I'm not feeling so cranky anymore. But it is a little embarrassing, sitting here, trying not to cry in front of my companion. Such is the life of a missionary.
We have so much to be thankful for, Momma. Counting the blessings may be a good way for you to use this spare time that's eating you up right now. Write them down. As many as u can think of. It was hard at first for me to think of something to appreciate, but now it's hard to stop. And I do feel much better.
I love you, Momma. So much.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
(No Subject)
Dear Family,
It seems that every year, I get asked what I want for Christmas. And every year, I struggle to come up with an answer. I know there were things I had wanted at one point or another throughout the year, but I can scarcely remember them once the time comes. It does no good to say 'I don't really want anything' because I know Mom's just going to spend the money and spoil me anyway. Even this year, halfway around the world with only two suitcases to live out of, I've been spoiled with three boxes filled with gifts (which I am grateful for, and can hardly wait to open, even though I'm not sure yet how I'll move it all around once I'm transferred ;-)) You've always been wonderful, far better than I am, at giving wonderful gifts.
I finally know what I really want for Christmas. And it doesn't weigh anything or take up any space, so it'll be perfect for me to carry around for the next year. I want our family to turn off the television and read the Christmas story in Luke Chapter 2 together. I want us to contemplate the significance of Christ's birth for us personally. I want us all to listen to and read what our prophet and apostles today have to say about the life of Jesus Christ. I want us to search for a greater understanding of the mission He cam here to fulfill. This season is a time when we declare that there are glad tidings of great joy and that there is peace on Earth. Understanding and applying the gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings true peace. It's the reason for all our hope. It brings true joy in this time on earth, and through the veil into eternity. What I want for Christmas is for our family to feel that peace, to know what reason we have to feel hope. This Christmas, I want our family to come unto Christ.
As a close second to this, I want our family to come together. Last week, when I asked Teresa how everyone was holding up through those first difficult days, she said, "We do pretty well when everyone's together." We're so much stronger and have so much more to be glad for when we're together. I want us all to forget about ourselves and show our love for each other. Put away the pride and say, 'I love you'. Hold back the teasing and the sarcasm. Show gratitude for each other through hugs and 'thank you's, compliments, and little acts of kindness. Think more about the person who gave you the gifts than the gifts themselves, and show your appreciation for them. Leave that darn TV off. Cook and play and work and talk and do things together, rather than next to each other. This Christmas, I want our family to truly love each other.
I'll miss you this Christmas, but I'm grateful for the opportunity the Lord's given me to do this work because I know it blesses our family. I'm grateful for the lessons taught and the gifts, the games, the differences, the countless meals prepared and shared, the laughs, the stories, the hugs and kisses, the advice, the clothes, the skills learned, songs, fights, cakes, little successes, walks, work, crafts, and thousands of other priceless memories. I'm especially grateful that we've been given the chance to appreciate these things all over again. Casey had given us a beautiful gift - a reason to change our hearts and refocus our lives on the things that truly matter most. Let's show our appreciation for this chance we've been given and use it well.
I love you all so much. I hope for, and do believe that this can be, the greatest, most special and loving Christmas we've ever had. This is my prayer and my Christmas list.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
It seems that every year, I get asked what I want for Christmas. And every year, I struggle to come up with an answer. I know there were things I had wanted at one point or another throughout the year, but I can scarcely remember them once the time comes. It does no good to say 'I don't really want anything' because I know Mom's just going to spend the money and spoil me anyway. Even this year, halfway around the world with only two suitcases to live out of, I've been spoiled with three boxes filled with gifts (which I am grateful for, and can hardly wait to open, even though I'm not sure yet how I'll move it all around once I'm transferred ;-)) You've always been wonderful, far better than I am, at giving wonderful gifts.
I finally know what I really want for Christmas. And it doesn't weigh anything or take up any space, so it'll be perfect for me to carry around for the next year. I want our family to turn off the television and read the Christmas story in Luke Chapter 2 together. I want us to contemplate the significance of Christ's birth for us personally. I want us all to listen to and read what our prophet and apostles today have to say about the life of Jesus Christ. I want us to search for a greater understanding of the mission He cam here to fulfill. This season is a time when we declare that there are glad tidings of great joy and that there is peace on Earth. Understanding and applying the gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings true peace. It's the reason for all our hope. It brings true joy in this time on earth, and through the veil into eternity. What I want for Christmas is for our family to feel that peace, to know what reason we have to feel hope. This Christmas, I want our family to come unto Christ.
As a close second to this, I want our family to come together. Last week, when I asked Teresa how everyone was holding up through those first difficult days, she said, "We do pretty well when everyone's together." We're so much stronger and have so much more to be glad for when we're together. I want us all to forget about ourselves and show our love for each other. Put away the pride and say, 'I love you'. Hold back the teasing and the sarcasm. Show gratitude for each other through hugs and 'thank you's, compliments, and little acts of kindness. Think more about the person who gave you the gifts than the gifts themselves, and show your appreciation for them. Leave that darn TV off. Cook and play and work and talk and do things together, rather than next to each other. This Christmas, I want our family to truly love each other.
I'll miss you this Christmas, but I'm grateful for the opportunity the Lord's given me to do this work because I know it blesses our family. I'm grateful for the lessons taught and the gifts, the games, the differences, the countless meals prepared and shared, the laughs, the stories, the hugs and kisses, the advice, the clothes, the skills learned, songs, fights, cakes, little successes, walks, work, crafts, and thousands of other priceless memories. I'm especially grateful that we've been given the chance to appreciate these things all over again. Casey had given us a beautiful gift - a reason to change our hearts and refocus our lives on the things that truly matter most. Let's show our appreciation for this chance we've been given and use it well.
I love you all so much. I hope for, and do believe that this can be, the greatest, most special and loving Christmas we've ever had. This is my prayer and my Christmas list.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Re: so much love
Dear Momma,
I know exactly what you mean about being angry. I don't care about vengeance or punishment. Those things are up to God, and if we take them into our own hands, then justice is served and God does no more. But I want that manipulative little Vanscoy girl to understand what her stupid lie has done. I doubt she knows that her lie is what caused Casey's death. She should be told. She should see his letter and the police photos so she can really see the consequences of her actions.
I am glad I got to talk with you and everyone else so much. Talking on the phone has been the best part of this week by far. It's when I've felt the calmest. Getting out of our apartment and being around other people helps too. I have less time to think that way. My poor companion's trying her best to keep up the good work and have some semblance of normalcy while my moods are just swinging all over the place. I can tell she has no idea what to do with me. I don't either, really.
I've been researching conference talks on death and the atonement. And I've got a few other things that have helped me too. I'm sending copies of it all to you. Share with Dad. It's a lot of paper, so I'm only sending it once. The talks can all be found on the church website, and I'd love to have them posted on my blog.
I think it would be great if everyone in the family could write down as many memories of Casey as we can think of. It would be wonderful to put them in a book. I'm writing mine down, and I'll send them.
We're all going to make it through this together. It seems impossible, but the Lord does have the power to heal even this. Casey's given us a beautiful gift - the chance to all come closer together and to the Lord, maybe in a way that nothing else ever could.
I love you so much, Momma. Please pass on my love to the rest of the family too.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
I know exactly what you mean about being angry. I don't care about vengeance or punishment. Those things are up to God, and if we take them into our own hands, then justice is served and God does no more. But I want that manipulative little Vanscoy girl to understand what her stupid lie has done. I doubt she knows that her lie is what caused Casey's death. She should be told. She should see his letter and the police photos so she can really see the consequences of her actions.
I am glad I got to talk with you and everyone else so much. Talking on the phone has been the best part of this week by far. It's when I've felt the calmest. Getting out of our apartment and being around other people helps too. I have less time to think that way. My poor companion's trying her best to keep up the good work and have some semblance of normalcy while my moods are just swinging all over the place. I can tell she has no idea what to do with me. I don't either, really.
I've been researching conference talks on death and the atonement. And I've got a few other things that have helped me too. I'm sending copies of it all to you. Share with Dad. It's a lot of paper, so I'm only sending it once. The talks can all be found on the church website, and I'd love to have them posted on my blog.
I think it would be great if everyone in the family could write down as many memories of Casey as we can think of. It would be wonderful to put them in a book. I'm writing mine down, and I'll send them.
We're all going to make it through this together. It seems impossible, but the Lord does have the power to heal even this. Casey's given us a beautiful gift - the chance to all come closer together and to the Lord, maybe in a way that nothing else ever could.
I love you so much, Momma. Please pass on my love to the rest of the family too.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Re: Fried brain
Dear Momma,
Please send my thanks and my love back to everyone who's asked about me.
Congrats on another job well done with the choir. (I may not have heard it, but I'm sure it was as good as always.) I'm jealous that Keira got to sing solos already. How many years did I have to be in the choir before I got to do that. ;-P I do want to send those things for her. I'll see what the cheapest shipping I can find is. They're not heavy.
I just found out that I've been using my debit card for some thing that I AM allowed to use the missionary funds for (which is why my debit account is so low now). Whoops. There was also a mix up of some kind with my companion's funds. All the money just disappeared from her card for about 2 weeks (and we still don't know why), so all the groceries came out of my funds for a while.
So now that transfers are over, I have a new companion! Her name's Sister Maxwell and she's from North Carolina. We're still up in the frozen north, and for some reason, we're having an extra-long transfer this time (15 weeks!), so we'll be up here, tearing it up in Sundsvall all winter long. One of the elders from my MTC group (Elder Grigg from Idaho) has moved up to our neighboring area, which I'm way excited about!
Try not to worry too much about the problems at work. I'm sure that things will work out, since it doesn't sound like Bruce has done anything wrong. Just be honest when you're asked about it. Don't worry. I do believe that things work out for the people who play fair in the end. And I do pray for you.
I finally got your package today. Thanks so much for everything - especially the truffles and hot chocolate! Since the transfer's finally over, I got a whole bunch of mail today, so I need to get off of here so I can respond to a few letters.
I love you very much, Momma. Work hard. Pray hard. And don't forget to play. ;-)
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Please send my thanks and my love back to everyone who's asked about me.
Congrats on another job well done with the choir. (I may not have heard it, but I'm sure it was as good as always.) I'm jealous that Keira got to sing solos already. How many years did I have to be in the choir before I got to do that. ;-P I do want to send those things for her. I'll see what the cheapest shipping I can find is. They're not heavy.
I just found out that I've been using my debit card for some thing that I AM allowed to use the missionary funds for (which is why my debit account is so low now). Whoops. There was also a mix up of some kind with my companion's funds. All the money just disappeared from her card for about 2 weeks (and we still don't know why), so all the groceries came out of my funds for a while.
So now that transfers are over, I have a new companion! Her name's Sister Maxwell and she's from North Carolina. We're still up in the frozen north, and for some reason, we're having an extra-long transfer this time (15 weeks!), so we'll be up here, tearing it up in Sundsvall all winter long. One of the elders from my MTC group (Elder Grigg from Idaho) has moved up to our neighboring area, which I'm way excited about!
Try not to worry too much about the problems at work. I'm sure that things will work out, since it doesn't sound like Bruce has done anything wrong. Just be honest when you're asked about it. Don't worry. I do believe that things work out for the people who play fair in the end. And I do pray for you.
I finally got your package today. Thanks so much for everything - especially the truffles and hot chocolate! Since the transfer's finally over, I got a whole bunch of mail today, so I need to get off of here so I can respond to a few letters.
I love you very much, Momma. Work hard. Pray hard. And don't forget to play. ;-)
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Re: How long is one week?
Dear Mom,
You can breathe easy - I'm not dead. Here's my letter for the week. This is transfer week, which means htat schedule's a little different. Transfer week means p-day is on Wednesday instead of Monday for the sake of preparing for travels and new-comers. Tomorrow (Thursday), we'll travel to Stockholm and I'll get my new companion - Syster Maxwell's her name, and that's about all I know about her. I'm staying in Sundsvall for another 9 weeks at least, which I'm pretty happy about. Also because of transfers, I haven't received any mail or packages for over a week. They hold them in the office until the moving's over with. This is to prevent things from getting sent to an old area the day after a missionary moves to their new area. So hopefully I'll be getting you package this coming week once the mail starts moving again.
My Thanksgiving was great. The elders from the next city came down and we all had dinner with one of my favorite families in the branch. The wife's from Arizona, and the husband's a local. They have 6 kids under the age of 10 (the youngest was born my first week here), so it's always like being in a zoo at their house. They're loads of fun.
Christmas - being a missionary is more fun than usual around Christmas time. It makes for a great subject to bring up with people in tracting/street contacting. It's funny how often we ask people why they celebrate Christmas and get a response like 'I have no idea.' I am excited to talk to you on Christmas. Be thinking of what time of the day will be best to talk. And talk to Dad about whether you want to talk to me at the same time or have separate phone calls. Let me know.
I haven't been able to do much of my Christmas shopping yet (not that there'll be much to it), which means you'll probably get your package from me some time after Christmas. We'll see.
I'd like to say I'm surprised by the news about Granddad, but another long-lost illegitimate relative hardly seem like news in our family anymore. ;-)
I'd rather have letters from Uncle Dale and Joe than emails. I just don't have time to check and respond to emails properly.
No, I haven't asked Dad about the piano yet. He said he wouldn't be emailing this week because of him having the week off (i.e. hunting), and he hasn't. So I'll be asking him about that in this coming week.
I'll be praying for Casey and for Rich with his promotion. Just remember that whatever happens will be for the best. Even if it's not what we want, it's still for the best. The Lord can make lemonade out of ANY lemon, so stay close to Him. You'll be surprised by what He can do with the best AND worst circumstances.
And now for the big news: I've had my first baptism this week! Tobias is one of the African students we've been teaching here. He's been wonderful and positive every step of the way, and now that he's a member, he's going to become a great strength to this little branch. When he came out of the water, the very first thing he did was laugh, and he told me after that it was because he felt so much happiness, he just didn't know what else to do with it. That right there was the sum of everything we've worked for all transfer, and it was so worth it!
Sadly, we missed his confirmation the next day. On our way to church, I kind of backed our wimpy little 2-wheel-drive care into 2 1/2 feet of snow and ditch... and there we stayed for the next hour, digging the car out and being pulled out of the ditch by our neighbor's significantly less-wimpy car. Here's the evidence that even though I'm a missionary, I am in fact, still me. At least my life's never boring.
I love you very much. Take care until next week.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
You can breathe easy - I'm not dead. Here's my letter for the week. This is transfer week, which means htat schedule's a little different. Transfer week means p-day is on Wednesday instead of Monday for the sake of preparing for travels and new-comers. Tomorrow (Thursday), we'll travel to Stockholm and I'll get my new companion - Syster Maxwell's her name, and that's about all I know about her. I'm staying in Sundsvall for another 9 weeks at least, which I'm pretty happy about. Also because of transfers, I haven't received any mail or packages for over a week. They hold them in the office until the moving's over with. This is to prevent things from getting sent to an old area the day after a missionary moves to their new area. So hopefully I'll be getting you package this coming week once the mail starts moving again.
My Thanksgiving was great. The elders from the next city came down and we all had dinner with one of my favorite families in the branch. The wife's from Arizona, and the husband's a local. They have 6 kids under the age of 10 (the youngest was born my first week here), so it's always like being in a zoo at their house. They're loads of fun.
Christmas - being a missionary is more fun than usual around Christmas time. It makes for a great subject to bring up with people in tracting/street contacting. It's funny how often we ask people why they celebrate Christmas and get a response like 'I have no idea.' I am excited to talk to you on Christmas. Be thinking of what time of the day will be best to talk. And talk to Dad about whether you want to talk to me at the same time or have separate phone calls. Let me know.
I haven't been able to do much of my Christmas shopping yet (not that there'll be much to it), which means you'll probably get your package from me some time after Christmas. We'll see.
I'd like to say I'm surprised by the news about Granddad, but another long-lost illegitimate relative hardly seem like news in our family anymore. ;-)
I'd rather have letters from Uncle Dale and Joe than emails. I just don't have time to check and respond to emails properly.
No, I haven't asked Dad about the piano yet. He said he wouldn't be emailing this week because of him having the week off (i.e. hunting), and he hasn't. So I'll be asking him about that in this coming week.
I'll be praying for Casey and for Rich with his promotion. Just remember that whatever happens will be for the best. Even if it's not what we want, it's still for the best. The Lord can make lemonade out of ANY lemon, so stay close to Him. You'll be surprised by what He can do with the best AND worst circumstances.
And now for the big news: I've had my first baptism this week! Tobias is one of the African students we've been teaching here. He's been wonderful and positive every step of the way, and now that he's a member, he's going to become a great strength to this little branch. When he came out of the water, the very first thing he did was laugh, and he told me after that it was because he felt so much happiness, he just didn't know what else to do with it. That right there was the sum of everything we've worked for all transfer, and it was so worth it!
Sadly, we missed his confirmation the next day. On our way to church, I kind of backed our wimpy little 2-wheel-drive care into 2 1/2 feet of snow and ditch... and there we stayed for the next hour, digging the car out and being pulled out of the ditch by our neighbor's significantly less-wimpy car. Here's the evidence that even though I'm a missionary, I am in fact, still me. At least my life's never boring.
I love you very much. Take care until next week.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
(No Subject)
Dear Momma,
Happy Thanksgiving! (Just so you know, I will get traditional Thanksgiving dinner. There's an American in our branch, and she's invited us over to eat with her family.)
It seems like I've got so many things to respond to, I have no idea where to start. Yes, I did your card and the pictures (which are adorable!). The letters arrive at our office in Stockholm, and then get readdressed and sent on to us, and they accidentally sent it to an elder in the next area over, so I had to wait an extra week to get it from him at our district meeting, but I did finally get it!
Christmas - I'll be calling on Christmas day. We're supposed to try to keep it under an hour and a half. Pick a time that'll work best for you, bearing in mind that I'm 6 hours ahead of you. Let me know what works best.
As for the red coat - yes, it should absolutely have a hood. After living here, I don't think I'll ever buy a coat without a hood again. I don't really have a preference concerning toggles or buttons. If one's style's longer than the other, that would be preferable. Other than that, just go with what you thinks cute. I trust your taste. Bear in mind when sending me stuff that anything you send just has to come back across the ocean in 13 months, and I only have 2 suitcases. I can wait that long to open my presents. ;-)
No, I don't have a new companion yet. Syster Kester and I will head down to Stockholm for transfers next Thursday. Since most younger Americans don't know how to drive a stick, and my city is the only sisters' area in all of Sweden that gets a car, almost every sister has to learn to drive when she comes here. I'm sort of getting the hang of the stick, but I don't think I'll be ready to teach my new companion for a while. We'll see. Poor Syster Kester's seen an awful lot of my uglier side this last week, as I repeatedly stall in the middle of the street and then yell at the car. I'm pretty much the only soul in the whole city with road rage. Swedes are incredibly polite drivers.
It's so weird to think that Jeremiah's in his 3rd or 4th transfer while I'm still a greenie - we started on the same day! And funnily enough, I met a young man in the branch just yesterday who said he had two friends serving missions in St. George. I was going to ask if Jeremiah might know them... I guess he does! Haha. And to answer your language question: yes, they have a thick accent, but most Swedes speak very good English. They study it in school for most of their lives. My Swedish isn't actually progressing as much as I'd hoped because everyone speaks English here. Everyone said my language skills would really take off once I got here, but that's not true at all. I'm going to have to come up with a much more rigid language study program for myself.
I'm sure Keira's going to love singing in the choir. That's really awesome. I bought her a little doll in an outfit like her TMF costume for Christmas. (It's blue and yellow because those are the Swedish colors.) She's also getting a Viking helmet. (Don't tell her, of course.)
Let Chynna, Casey, and Keira know that I love them. And show Chynna some love. As we get older, we learn how to love more maturely and fully. We gain the capacity to love more and more, so in hindsight, our premature relationships don't feel as loving as the older ones. But it doesn't change the fact that young love is real to the youth feeling it. You may be happy that the relationship's over, but don't forget that it's not a happy thing to her. When a relationship ends, we need to know more than ever that there ARE people who love us. Make sure Chynna knows that.
Anyway, I'm starving to death, and my companion's waiting, so I'm going to stick a fork in this one and head to lunch.
I love you!
-Syster Hillary Kiser
Happy Thanksgiving! (Just so you know, I will get traditional Thanksgiving dinner. There's an American in our branch, and she's invited us over to eat with her family.)
It seems like I've got so many things to respond to, I have no idea where to start. Yes, I did your card and the pictures (which are adorable!). The letters arrive at our office in Stockholm, and then get readdressed and sent on to us, and they accidentally sent it to an elder in the next area over, so I had to wait an extra week to get it from him at our district meeting, but I did finally get it!
Christmas - I'll be calling on Christmas day. We're supposed to try to keep it under an hour and a half. Pick a time that'll work best for you, bearing in mind that I'm 6 hours ahead of you. Let me know what works best.
As for the red coat - yes, it should absolutely have a hood. After living here, I don't think I'll ever buy a coat without a hood again. I don't really have a preference concerning toggles or buttons. If one's style's longer than the other, that would be preferable. Other than that, just go with what you thinks cute. I trust your taste. Bear in mind when sending me stuff that anything you send just has to come back across the ocean in 13 months, and I only have 2 suitcases. I can wait that long to open my presents. ;-)
No, I don't have a new companion yet. Syster Kester and I will head down to Stockholm for transfers next Thursday. Since most younger Americans don't know how to drive a stick, and my city is the only sisters' area in all of Sweden that gets a car, almost every sister has to learn to drive when she comes here. I'm sort of getting the hang of the stick, but I don't think I'll be ready to teach my new companion for a while. We'll see. Poor Syster Kester's seen an awful lot of my uglier side this last week, as I repeatedly stall in the middle of the street and then yell at the car. I'm pretty much the only soul in the whole city with road rage. Swedes are incredibly polite drivers.
It's so weird to think that Jeremiah's in his 3rd or 4th transfer while I'm still a greenie - we started on the same day! And funnily enough, I met a young man in the branch just yesterday who said he had two friends serving missions in St. George. I was going to ask if Jeremiah might know them... I guess he does! Haha. And to answer your language question: yes, they have a thick accent, but most Swedes speak very good English. They study it in school for most of their lives. My Swedish isn't actually progressing as much as I'd hoped because everyone speaks English here. Everyone said my language skills would really take off once I got here, but that's not true at all. I'm going to have to come up with a much more rigid language study program for myself.
I'm sure Keira's going to love singing in the choir. That's really awesome. I bought her a little doll in an outfit like her TMF costume for Christmas. (It's blue and yellow because those are the Swedish colors.) She's also getting a Viking helmet. (Don't tell her, of course.)
Let Chynna, Casey, and Keira know that I love them. And show Chynna some love. As we get older, we learn how to love more maturely and fully. We gain the capacity to love more and more, so in hindsight, our premature relationships don't feel as loving as the older ones. But it doesn't change the fact that young love is real to the youth feeling it. You may be happy that the relationship's over, but don't forget that it's not a happy thing to her. When a relationship ends, we need to know more than ever that there ARE people who love us. Make sure Chynna knows that.
Anyway, I'm starving to death, and my companion's waiting, so I'm going to stick a fork in this one and head to lunch.
I love you!
-Syster Hillary Kiser
Re: From Me!
Hey, Rich! I'm so glad you wrote - today's the Swedish Father's Day. So... GRATTIS PA FARS DAG! ( That's the Swedish equivalent of 'Happy Father's Day' - you probably figured that out.)
Thanks for your input for our investigators (their names are Stellan and Eva). The really crazy thing is that they already know about all this stuff. They know about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and baptism cleansing our sins, they know this is the only way, and they know about eternal marriage, and the Celestial Kingdom, and all the rest. But they just won't do it. They've gotten it into their heads that being a member of the church is too hard somehow, so they're waiting for God to change His mind or something. We just can't seem to get them to understand that they'll be waiting forever for that. You'd think they would've figured it out at some point in the last 42 years...
On the plus side, we set up a baptismal date for another investigator last night. He's an African immigrant going to school here. His name's Tobias. He and his roommate are super excited about the gospel. They've been studying the Bible on their own for years, and they're absolutely ready to join the church and take off. Tobias's baptism is set in 2 weeks, and hopefully we'll be making it a double-baptism. (His roommate's been out of town, so we're still waiting for him to confirm that he'd also like to get baptized that day.)
The weather's insane! A week ago, it was fall. Now it's thoroughly winter. Tuesday night, we saw some flurries starting to fall as we went to bed. When we woke up Wednesday morning, there was almost a foot of snow on the ground, and it snows a little more every day. I'm so happy with my boots and my goose down coat right now. Thank you for taking care of those things for me. The other thing that's saving me from frost bite, funnily enough, is the fact that I'm so far north. In the north, the areas are bigger. (My companion and I are the only missionaries in an area almost the size of Utah.) Thus, we get cars. The missionaries in the southern cities have to rough it through the winter on bikes or walking. So it turns out, going north was a great blessing for me. I still can't drive a stick shift, and now that it's snowing and icy, it's not really safe for me to learn. So I'm REALLY banking on my next companion know how to drive a stick (my current companion goes home in 3 weeks, so I'm definitely getting a new companion soon).
Your other question was about daylight - the sun's up around 9 or 10, and starts setting around 3. At least, we think it does. We haven't actually seen the sun through the clouds for a few weeks. I hope the clouds don't stay all winter. If they go away, we might get to see the Northern Lights eventually! Another funny thing about the sky here - the stars are all in the wrong places. the North Star is actually straight up, instead of to the north. It took me almost 2 weeks to find it.
I need to go so we can buy groceries and take care of our chores. (P-day is the busiest, fastest day of the week.) Tell Mom that I love her and missed her this week. Take care, and write me again. I'm glad I got to hear from you. Thanks for your prayers and your support. It really does make all the difference.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Thanks for your input for our investigators (their names are Stellan and Eva). The really crazy thing is that they already know about all this stuff. They know about the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and baptism cleansing our sins, they know this is the only way, and they know about eternal marriage, and the Celestial Kingdom, and all the rest. But they just won't do it. They've gotten it into their heads that being a member of the church is too hard somehow, so they're waiting for God to change His mind or something. We just can't seem to get them to understand that they'll be waiting forever for that. You'd think they would've figured it out at some point in the last 42 years...
On the plus side, we set up a baptismal date for another investigator last night. He's an African immigrant going to school here. His name's Tobias. He and his roommate are super excited about the gospel. They've been studying the Bible on their own for years, and they're absolutely ready to join the church and take off. Tobias's baptism is set in 2 weeks, and hopefully we'll be making it a double-baptism. (His roommate's been out of town, so we're still waiting for him to confirm that he'd also like to get baptized that day.)
The weather's insane! A week ago, it was fall. Now it's thoroughly winter. Tuesday night, we saw some flurries starting to fall as we went to bed. When we woke up Wednesday morning, there was almost a foot of snow on the ground, and it snows a little more every day. I'm so happy with my boots and my goose down coat right now. Thank you for taking care of those things for me. The other thing that's saving me from frost bite, funnily enough, is the fact that I'm so far north. In the north, the areas are bigger. (My companion and I are the only missionaries in an area almost the size of Utah.) Thus, we get cars. The missionaries in the southern cities have to rough it through the winter on bikes or walking. So it turns out, going north was a great blessing for me. I still can't drive a stick shift, and now that it's snowing and icy, it's not really safe for me to learn. So I'm REALLY banking on my next companion know how to drive a stick (my current companion goes home in 3 weeks, so I'm definitely getting a new companion soon).
Your other question was about daylight - the sun's up around 9 or 10, and starts setting around 3. At least, we think it does. We haven't actually seen the sun through the clouds for a few weeks. I hope the clouds don't stay all winter. If they go away, we might get to see the Northern Lights eventually! Another funny thing about the sky here - the stars are all in the wrong places. the North Star is actually straight up, instead of to the north. It took me almost 2 weeks to find it.
I need to go so we can buy groceries and take care of our chores. (P-day is the busiest, fastest day of the week.) Tell Mom that I love her and missed her this week. Take care, and write me again. I'm glad I got to hear from you. Thanks for your prayers and your support. It really does make all the difference.
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Re: week 6
I'm so sorry I didn't get to send you a better letter last week. We check/write our emails with the computers in the chapel here, and last week, someone locked us out of the room where the computers are kept.
Grr.
And I didn't get a letter written and put in the mail because I went home Monday night and started puking my guts out. My cold turned out to be the flu, so it did get worse before getting better. Syster Kester and I spent all week in the apartment, me sleeping off the flu and her suffering through a migraine. Fun week. Most of my symptoms are gone now - I just can't get rid of the sore throat.
Funny you should ask about medication - that's actually the one thing I've thought of this week that I could definitely use from home. Swedes have funny ideas about medicines. They like natural cures more than real drugs. Also, they have this bizarre notion that you should still feel sick so that you'll take it easy and get more rest, so their drugs aren't as strong as ours. AND you have to buy a separate drug for every symptom. They don't have multi-symptom medicines here. Strange people. So yes, I would LOVE to have some decent drugs from home. DayQuil/NyQuil would be great, or Tussin for multiple symptoms. Some Chloroseptic throat spray would be great too. I'm also just about out of pain relievers.
The only other things I can think of that I'd really like to have are vanilla (for baking - they don't use it here), and some good hot chocolate.
I'm really excited for the pictures. Did you include Keira's TMF costume? I really want to see that one. And, yes, I'll be THRILLED to have one of those pea-coats when I get home!
To answer your question about our eternal investigator couple - as far as we can tell, they think they have less to lose if they fall away now than they would if they got baptized and then left the church. We tried to explain that they're still accountable for their knowledge, whether or not they make the covenant, and it's actually MUCH WORSE for them not to use this knowledge now that they have it. I'm confused as to why they think this falling away thing will be a problem when they've stuck with it for all these years. They've been living like members, but with none of the benefits (like the Gift of the Holy Ghost, REMISSION OF SINS, access to the Priesthood, a sealed marriage...), and we just can't seem to convince them that there's actually a better way. Frankly it blows my mind that they don't get this.
In other news: I went knocking on doors for the first time last week. (My companion and I have been too busy with teaching appointments to go tracting for new investigators since I arrived.) I actually went on splits with a pair of elders for this, which was a lot of fun. (It's probably the only time this'll ever happen. We only got permission to do so because there are no other sisters to split with in the whole northern two thirds of Sweden.) While doing this, we learned that people just react better to females for some reason. The elders couldn't believe how much more receptive people were, just because there was a sister with them. I thought it was pretty funny. I felt kind of like a good luck charm.
As for my little sister and Elder Waite - he's got better things to be doing than letting her lead him around by the nose. You can tell him not to waste one minute mooning over her. The work he's out there to do is so much more important than a silly, fickle girl. The fact is: she dumped an honorable, obedient servant of the Lord for a chump who SHOULD be in the mission field, but isn't. So she isn't worthy of him right now. And she definitely isn't worth what it could cost some soul he's been sent there to save, if he worries about her rather than the work. I love Chynna very much. But she's not good for Elder Waite, and as a fellow missionary, I really wish he'd just forget about her.
Well, I need to take a little time to write to Dad, so I guess I have to be done now.
Take care. Be good, and be happy. ;)
I love you.
~Syster Hillary Kiser
P.S. I have no idea how calling at Christmas is going to work yet. I'll ask my companion and whoever else I need to about it. I'll let you know when I know.
Grr.
And I didn't get a letter written and put in the mail because I went home Monday night and started puking my guts out. My cold turned out to be the flu, so it did get worse before getting better. Syster Kester and I spent all week in the apartment, me sleeping off the flu and her suffering through a migraine. Fun week. Most of my symptoms are gone now - I just can't get rid of the sore throat.
Funny you should ask about medication - that's actually the one thing I've thought of this week that I could definitely use from home. Swedes have funny ideas about medicines. They like natural cures more than real drugs. Also, they have this bizarre notion that you should still feel sick so that you'll take it easy and get more rest, so their drugs aren't as strong as ours. AND you have to buy a separate drug for every symptom. They don't have multi-symptom medicines here. Strange people. So yes, I would LOVE to have some decent drugs from home. DayQuil/NyQuil would be great, or Tussin for multiple symptoms. Some Chloroseptic throat spray would be great too. I'm also just about out of pain relievers.
The only other things I can think of that I'd really like to have are vanilla (for baking - they don't use it here), and some good hot chocolate.
I'm really excited for the pictures. Did you include Keira's TMF costume? I really want to see that one. And, yes, I'll be THRILLED to have one of those pea-coats when I get home!
To answer your question about our eternal investigator couple - as far as we can tell, they think they have less to lose if they fall away now than they would if they got baptized and then left the church. We tried to explain that they're still accountable for their knowledge, whether or not they make the covenant, and it's actually MUCH WORSE for them not to use this knowledge now that they have it. I'm confused as to why they think this falling away thing will be a problem when they've stuck with it for all these years. They've been living like members, but with none of the benefits (like the Gift of the Holy Ghost, REMISSION OF SINS, access to the Priesthood, a sealed marriage...), and we just can't seem to convince them that there's actually a better way. Frankly it blows my mind that they don't get this.
In other news: I went knocking on doors for the first time last week. (My companion and I have been too busy with teaching appointments to go tracting for new investigators since I arrived.) I actually went on splits with a pair of elders for this, which was a lot of fun. (It's probably the only time this'll ever happen. We only got permission to do so because there are no other sisters to split with in the whole northern two thirds of Sweden.) While doing this, we learned that people just react better to females for some reason. The elders couldn't believe how much more receptive people were, just because there was a sister with them. I thought it was pretty funny. I felt kind of like a good luck charm.
As for my little sister and Elder Waite - he's got better things to be doing than letting her lead him around by the nose. You can tell him not to waste one minute mooning over her. The work he's out there to do is so much more important than a silly, fickle girl. The fact is: she dumped an honorable, obedient servant of the Lord for a chump who SHOULD be in the mission field, but isn't. So she isn't worthy of him right now. And she definitely isn't worth what it could cost some soul he's been sent there to save, if he worries about her rather than the work. I love Chynna very much. But she's not good for Elder Waite, and as a fellow missionary, I really wish he'd just forget about her.
Well, I need to take a little time to write to Dad, so I guess I have to be done now.
Take care. Be good, and be happy. ;)
I love you.
~Syster Hillary Kiser
P.S. I have no idea how calling at Christmas is going to work yet. I'll ask my companion and whoever else I need to about it. I'll let you know when I know.
Sundsvall, Week 5
I can't write much this week. We don't have access to our usual computers, so I have to be really brief and get off.
Basically, I just want to let you know I did get your letter, and I'll be writing my response by hand since I can't do it now.
I'm doing well. You'll really have to stretch your imagination for this one: I'm sick. Again. (Shocker, right?) My companion's doing a great job of worrying too much, but she's taking good care of me. I don't think she realizes that I don't feel NORMAL without a cold. Aside from the sick part, it's been a great week. I'll say more in my letter, but for now I really have to go. I love you.
Work hard. Pray hard. Play hard. ;)
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Basically, I just want to let you know I did get your letter, and I'll be writing my response by hand since I can't do it now.
I'm doing well. You'll really have to stretch your imagination for this one: I'm sick. Again. (Shocker, right?) My companion's doing a great job of worrying too much, but she's taking good care of me. I don't think she realizes that I don't feel NORMAL without a cold. Aside from the sick part, it's been a great week. I'll say more in my letter, but for now I really have to go. I love you.
Work hard. Pray hard. Play hard. ;)
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
I don't remember what week I'm in anymore. Oh, well.
Hejsan!
I'm really short on time today, but I'll do my best to address everything in your letter.
First, dearelder.com: I get the letter through email AND a paper copy by mail. So I read the email on Monday and respond to it, and then the paper copy comes in the mail a few days later. So there is a few days delay between when you send the message and when I get it in the mail, but it's still faster than snail mailing a hand-written letter (which takes about 10 days to get here, I think).
As for Christmas, I have no idea. I can think of some books and movies I'd like to have, but there's no point in sending me a book I can't read or a movie I can't watch until I come home. (I'd just have to ship it back because my luggage can't take the extra weight anyway.) I'll do my best to think of some things you and the Relief Society could put in a package, and let you know in the next few weeks. The only thing that's really coming to mind right away is that I could use a few warm hats and scarves. I don't know why I didn't think to bring any. That really was silly of me.
By the way, Sister Kester and I found some Christmas decorations in our storage space this week, and you know I never have been able to wait for anything. So our apartment's all decked out and ready for Christmas! As far as other holidays go - we're trying to put together a Thanksgiving dinner for the branch. (They really don't know what they're missing out on.) And I think I'll dress up as a missionary for Halloween. ;)
In regards to the other children, yes, Casey thinks he's going to marry this girl. He's 16. Everyone thinks it's going to last forever at 16. Shoot, I thought it was going to last forever at 22. Just set the best example you can for him and make sure he gets to church and youth activities. You can't do anything about the examples he gets from others, but your example does matter. It will make a difference, sooner or later.
Chynna - same thing. Boyfriends don't last forever, but family does. She'll remember the people who truly love her eventually. One day we're all going to figure out that we don't need to look around for better people to spend our time and attention on elsewhere, because the best people with the most love for us have been in our own family all along.
And for goodness's sake, if he's a good boy, let Teresa date him! As long as he's a decent, clean guy, I couldn't care less what color he is, and neither should anyone else. (Granted, if he's no good for her, give him the boot, but don't let his appearance be the factor that determines his character.)
Anyway, I've got a dinner appointment to run to (yes, Momma, I'm being fed very well). Take care of yourself, and each other. I love you very much, and I miss you all (especially Keira - give her a hug and a kiss from me).
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
I'm really short on time today, but I'll do my best to address everything in your letter.
First, dearelder.com: I get the letter through email AND a paper copy by mail. So I read the email on Monday and respond to it, and then the paper copy comes in the mail a few days later. So there is a few days delay between when you send the message and when I get it in the mail, but it's still faster than snail mailing a hand-written letter (which takes about 10 days to get here, I think).
As for Christmas, I have no idea. I can think of some books and movies I'd like to have, but there's no point in sending me a book I can't read or a movie I can't watch until I come home. (I'd just have to ship it back because my luggage can't take the extra weight anyway.) I'll do my best to think of some things you and the Relief Society could put in a package, and let you know in the next few weeks. The only thing that's really coming to mind right away is that I could use a few warm hats and scarves. I don't know why I didn't think to bring any. That really was silly of me.
By the way, Sister Kester and I found some Christmas decorations in our storage space this week, and you know I never have been able to wait for anything. So our apartment's all decked out and ready for Christmas! As far as other holidays go - we're trying to put together a Thanksgiving dinner for the branch. (They really don't know what they're missing out on.) And I think I'll dress up as a missionary for Halloween. ;)
In regards to the other children, yes, Casey thinks he's going to marry this girl. He's 16. Everyone thinks it's going to last forever at 16. Shoot, I thought it was going to last forever at 22. Just set the best example you can for him and make sure he gets to church and youth activities. You can't do anything about the examples he gets from others, but your example does matter. It will make a difference, sooner or later.
Chynna - same thing. Boyfriends don't last forever, but family does. She'll remember the people who truly love her eventually. One day we're all going to figure out that we don't need to look around for better people to spend our time and attention on elsewhere, because the best people with the most love for us have been in our own family all along.
And for goodness's sake, if he's a good boy, let Teresa date him! As long as he's a decent, clean guy, I couldn't care less what color he is, and neither should anyone else. (Granted, if he's no good for her, give him the boot, but don't let his appearance be the factor that determines his character.)
Anyway, I've got a dinner appointment to run to (yes, Momma, I'm being fed very well). Take care of yourself, and each other. I love you very much, and I miss you all (especially Keira - give her a hug and a kiss from me).
Love,
Syster Hillary Kiser
Sunday, January 2, 2011
3rd Letter
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hej, hej, family! It's been a long day, but a great one. After flying through the night, we landed this morning in Stockholm and met the mission President & his wife. We'll spend two nights with them, & then we'll meet our new companions & be sent off to our assigned areas.
The hard part about today has been staying awake. Jet lag has the whole district feeling kind of queasy, & all of us have fallen asleep somewhere today. The fun part was street contacting. They armed each companionship with a Book of Mormon & some pass-along cards & turned us loose in the middle of Stockholm's downtown shopping area. In the end, none of the Book of Mormons were handed out, but we did give away a few pass-along cards. The hardest part of contacting is just getting someone to stand still long enough to hear the first sentence. Everyone's in such a hurry. I've also decided that cell phones are my new least favorite invention - along with headphones. It's impossible to share a message w/someone, or even get their attention when they're plugged in & tuned out. Tomorrow we'll go to Stockholm Temple, & then do more street contacting. It's going to be a great day.
I can't believe I'm actually here! After one day, I'm already in love w/this place. I love my life, & I love you.
Take care. Work hard. Pray hard. & Play hard.
Love, Syster Hillary Kiser
Hej, hej, family! It's been a long day, but a great one. After flying through the night, we landed this morning in Stockholm and met the mission President & his wife. We'll spend two nights with them, & then we'll meet our new companions & be sent off to our assigned areas.
The hard part about today has been staying awake. Jet lag has the whole district feeling kind of queasy, & all of us have fallen asleep somewhere today. The fun part was street contacting. They armed each companionship with a Book of Mormon & some pass-along cards & turned us loose in the middle of Stockholm's downtown shopping area. In the end, none of the Book of Mormons were handed out, but we did give away a few pass-along cards. The hardest part of contacting is just getting someone to stand still long enough to hear the first sentence. Everyone's in such a hurry. I've also decided that cell phones are my new least favorite invention - along with headphones. It's impossible to share a message w/someone, or even get their attention when they're plugged in & tuned out. Tomorrow we'll go to Stockholm Temple, & then do more street contacting. It's going to be a great day.
I can't believe I'm actually here! After one day, I'm already in love w/this place. I love my life, & I love you.
Take care. Work hard. Pray hard. & Play hard.
Love, Syster Hillary Kiser
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