09/26/11

Hello family and friends


How are you all doing?  I am doing great!  I can't believe my poor little brother got mugged.  That is insane.  I count my blessings every day. Brother, don't worry about the ctr ring, that person obviously needed it more than you did haha and our deal will still work.  So I recieved lots of mail this week and I really appreciated it!  I needed it.  So thank you everyone!  I am writing letters today so you will get one soon.  Laura, THANK YOU so much!  I loved everything and the letter was what I needed.  I think right now in Rochester I am a sower just like you :) and I am okay with that!  Okay so not much new this week.  We are working on getting Venus and Loiza to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  The language barrier is so hard.  I love Venus so much I wish I could just talk to her.  But soon enough.  I have pretty much tracted all of town a couple times now and yesterday we had a hard day at church. Ward Council meeting was brutal haha it was like pick on Sister Balmforth day lol but I survived.  So after that the last thing I wanted to do was to go knock on doors.  But I told myself that the Lord would bless me if I did.  So door after door shut in our face.  So then we went to dinner with at a members.  Then we left and I thought the same thing. I don't want to knock on doors today.  But if I do I know the Lord will bless me.  So if I force myself out of the car and walk up to door number one.  Behind door number one is a girl who is wearing a basketball hoodie! Yeah that was sweet.  Her name is Nikki and we find out that she is a less active member.  She seemed way cool.  So I was like well we would love to have you back to church and she said thank you and then we went to leave and she said "oh while you are here I was going to ask you a question.."  I said okay and she said, "my boyfriend lives with me and I want him to take the discussions... can you do that?"  I pretty much had to pick my jaw up off the floor!  Haha it was great.  I didn't want to act to excited cuz I wanted Sister Lee to understand that miracles like this happen a lot more than we have seen lately!  Haha so it was great. So pray that all of that works out!  She said she would call us!  Other than that the week has been good. Lots of knocking on doors but I know it will be great.  We had a zone conference and Pres. and Sister Weaver got all of us Jamba Juice!  It was great!  Well family, I love you all.  This week I have seen the Savior working in my life.  He always does.  I especially loved the relief society conference.  Pres. Uchtdorf answered a lot of questions for me.  I am so thankful for modern day prophets.  I am so excited for conference!  We will watch it at the church probably it will be great!  I hope you all have a great conference week, and listen to conference with questions in mind and I know they will be answered for you!  I love you all.

Love,
Katee

09/19/11

Hello everyone!


How are you all doing? Okay so this week has been..... hmm.... I don't even know where to start.  Its been kinda rough. With school starting no one is ever home, and it is hard to even visit less actives and recent converts.  But its been good.  The majority of the week we tracted.  And I have been in Rochester for over three months now so we are tracting everything I have already tracted.  Its pretty funny when people look at me and say "you were here last month." and I say "I know I was but Rochester is small, so I guess we will just invite you again" haha its funny but hard at the same time.  But I am learning a lot.  Yesterday we had to call President Weaver to ask him a question and he told us to keep working hard and even though we can't see the rewards of our labors now we will soon.  So that was good.  It was just what I needed to hear.  I just feel really bad because I really want Sister Lee to know how it feels to help someone and to baptize them. She will soon I hope.  It was pretty cool this week we visited two different lady's who are less active and as we were sitting there they both said " I was hoping you would come today." so that's pretty cool.  I love when that happens because then it helps me realize the power the spirit has in a missionaries life.  So there is not much else to report this week.  We are working our butts off trying to find people to teach.  We did get a cool referral this week and we took her on a church tour.  But I don't think we will get to teach her more than the first lesson because she is going off to school like on Thursday.  So that was exciting though... and as long as she accepts the gospel I don't care where she gets baptized.  Sister Lee is really nice.  I feel like I haven't told you much about her.  She is a really good cook. S he is really really quiet.  So that is hard sometimes and I feel like I talk to much but what can ya do right?  Yesterday in ward council the bishop said "tomorrow I would like to have a ward FHE at my house and I would like it if the missionaries would come and teach. (looking right at me) I was like... seriously? haha but hopefully it will go good.  We are going to teach a lesson about being member missionaries and using mormon.org. so it should be cool.  Anyone who is reading this email needs to get on mormon.org and create a profile!  PLEASE! It will help with missionary work a lot and plus I can get on it and look at your profiles and show investigators my family and friends!  So its pretty cool.  This week I noticed that my shoes are a little worn haha I love it!  I may eventually get new ones but I don't know.  I hate spending money lol.  Thank you everyone who wrote me this week!  I will write back soon I promise!  Hope thank you so much for the earrings!  They are so cute and my comp loves them too!  Terry, Court Patti, Allyson, Marilyn, and Carol thank you for the letters!  Anyone else who sent stuff thank you so much I haven't got the mail today yet so I'm sure there is more because you guys are the best!  I want you all to know how much I love you!  My family and friends and ward family are amazing!  On Saturday we had a day of service and it made me think a lot about going on the ward cleanups with my daddy every year.  It was great!  The weather has been icky so I will take lots of vitamin D haha.  I want you all to know that this gospel changes lives and it is amazing!  It is so hard for me to tell you how I feel about it! I have seen it change lives but mostly I have seen it change my life.  I love my savior Jesus Christ.  I know he lives and loves us and died for all of us so we can be together forever!  I picture heaven to be a lot like our life now.  Neighbors and friends living close together, playing on a big basketball court outside! haha I love it!  I hope you all know how much Ii love you and how much I appreciate you!  Have a great week!

Love always,
Kate

Hello 09/13/11

Hello family and friends!


How in the world are you all doing?  Okay so this past week was a little weird.  Last transfer was hard. We had no one to teach and we still are struggling in that area.  We have a little girl who is 11 years old that we are working with.  Her mom is a member but hasn't been to church since she was like 15 and she is not interested at all, but she is totally okay with her daughter coming to church and stuff.  So she will probably want to get baptized but the hard part is going to be able to get the ward and the bishop on board with it.  So I'm sure you have all heard by now but TRANSFER NEWS IS........Sister Balmforth will be staying in little ole Rochester with Sister Lee.  (Marrissa stop laughing :)  We both knew that we were probably going to stay.  I love Rochester... Okay I love the people of Rochester it is just hard sometimes because I have seriously tracted the whole town at least twice and people look at me and say "you were here last month, don't you remember my daughter"?  I'm like "uh no!" haha I meet like hundreds of people how would I remember lol.  But it is good.  Sister Lee and I are doing good.  We are really trying hard to find people to teach.  It is not an easy task but we know that if we continue to have faith and be obedient then the Lord will bless us. We have a church tour set up for tonight so pray that it goes good.  We were in Tacoma yesterday for transfer meeting and it was great!  I love being there with all my old companions!  Its so fun!  Sister Craig is doing.... good haha. T he lucky dog is staying in Puyallup haha and she is staying with the greenie that she has had now for going on three transfers haha.  Its funny... she is way annoyed and she is praying that she doesn't hurt her companion haha.  I just laugh!  But things are good for them.  Sister Fisher got doubled in to the Grahm area which is in Puyallup as well and she will be training a greenie!  I am excited for her.  And Sister Nybo is now headed home!  It was sad to see her go.  Oh and Sister Fisher also got bit by a pit bull the other day... its pretty gnarly lol.  She is okay though.  I told her that Satan is starting to work through all these dumb dogs!  Okay... So I am so glad that the wedding was great!  I thought of you guys a lot!  I actually did really good for the whole day.  I didn't even cry until the lights were off and it was bed time haha and even then it was only a few tears.  I guess it was easy for me to hold it together because I knew that it was the right thing.  I am so glad that it went well and I am glad that it is over.  The other day at stake conference the closing hymn was families can be together forever.  I choked up a little bit as we sang.  I thought about my amazing family and friends and how I will be blessed to be with them forever because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for it in my life.  My outlook on the eternal perspective has changed so much.  I have learned that, that is the reason that we are on earth.  It is so we can prepare to live with our father in heaven and with our families for eternity.  I know that the blessings we receive in the temple lead to eternal life.  I love it so much.  I love this Gospel and I love this work.  Being a missionary is amazing! I can't believe I have been out nine months!  It goes too fast!  I love you all and I hope that you have a great week!  Read, and Pray always! I love you!

Love, Katee

Special Request

Hello you loyal blog readers, this is Katee's Mom.  It has been a rough week and poor Katee did not get an email from me this week.  Long story short, I thought I wrote her and Colton at the same time and then it got really late so I thought I will write her in the morning and guess what, all morning I was waiting for her to email, thinking that I had emailed, duh.  So later in the afternoon, I realize it is a holiday so she probably can't go to the library and email, so I left and missed her when she wrote.  So she thinks something is wrong and she is really depressed about not being here for the wedding and all of her emotions are raging.  So if you all would not mind saying an extra prayer for her this week, I would really appreciate it.  She is doing good, I just know that Thursday is going to be a really hard day.  She is very happy for Kelsee but they have this twin thing that is weird, so if you don't mind, please prayer for her.  Thanks so much for all the love and support that all of you give to our missionaries, we could not do it without your help and all your prayers.

Cindy

Bee's, Dogs and stupid Satan :)

Hello family and friends,


Okay so what a crazy week.  I will start with what happened last Monday.  So we had a little beehive outside our house.  So we told Brother Jones and he said that he would take care of it.  So one night we get home and I help Brother Jones spray some stuff up in the hole where the bees were.  So we thought everything was all fine and dandy.  So then the next morning I wake up and I was studying at the table and I hear a little creaky noise in the wall.  Then I look up and see two bees flying around in the sky lights.  So I tell Brother Jones and then we came home later that day and we walk in our house and there are DEAD bees EVERYWHERE!  And live ones too!  So bees were getting in the house and it was crazy.  So we stayed with some members for a couple nights, and we are still cleaning up the after math but it is better now.  So crazy.  Then we go tracting that day and I almost get eaten by a dog.  Like no joke if the owner hadn't come out two seconds after she did I probably would have been in the ER.  Hahaha it was great fun let me tell ya. Then I said something to Sister Lee like oh this day can't get any worse, and don't worry it did haha.  We had a chaotic lesson with Trina and then I proceeded to lock the keys in the trunk!  So I called Elder Quigley who is over the cars and he said he would come to Rochester the next day.  So we were gonna be walkin for awhile.  BUT!  Brother Clark who lives down the street saved the day because he has a ford and his key just happened to open our car!  That was the Miracle of the day!  So anyway... that was a weird day.  So Trina said she would be baptized on the 11th.  But then Sunday... SHE DIDN'T COME TO CHURCH!  Ah! I was so bummed!  We had a member go over to pick her up and everything and she wasn't there!  I almost had a break down in church haha but don't worry I didn't!  I know that Satan is just kicking me this week because my sister is about to do something AMAZING!  Oh well it will all be okay.  We did have a church tour last night and we have three new investigators.  I am not sure how solid they are but I am having Faith that it will work out. Transfers are next week and I don't really know what will happen.  So I will probably email Tuesday.  Okay so Calee, and Mom and Dad THANK YOU SO MUCH for your packages!  I loved it!  You guys are the best!  I have been eating tomato sandwiches and they rock!  So anyway I know that this will be a good week!  I am so happy for Kelsee and Riley!  I love you guys so much!  And I am so proud of you!  Kels, I have a package that I will send you.  The post office is closed today so I hope you get it by Thursday, if not you will soon!  I want you guys to know how much I love you!  Brooke Cockayne, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  You will have a letter soon!  Promise!  Hope and Courteney how are you I haven't heard from you lately? I  have been thinkin about my whole family lately.  Grandma and mom and my aunts and everyone!  I know things are hard right now but I promise it will get better!  We all just need to rely on the Lord and put everything in his hands!  I know that the gospel is true!  I wouldn't be in Washington if it wasn't! I know that our family will be forever and Ii am so thankful for that!  I love you all so much!  I hope you have a great week!  And I hope the wedding is amazing and Kelsee has the best day of her life!  I love you all so much!  Kels you are my hero!  Have the best day ever and know that I will be thinking about you all day!  I love you guys!

love always,
Katee

ps... mom i love you :)

Thank You Grandpa!!! 08/29/11

Hello family and friends,


Well... what a week it has been. It started off pretty good. We had a lesson with Trina and we committed her to be baptized on the fourth. It was cool. I was way happy and you can only imagine how ecstatic Sister Lee was because it was a first for her haha.  So we were driving down the road after and I just smiled and mumbled to myself, "thank you grandpa."  I know that Grandpa has really been helping me lately.  So anyway Trina didn't come to church yesterday so she fell off date to be baptized.  So pray really hard for us because we are teaching her again tonight.  Then yesterday another Miracle happened.  Rick who I told you about a few weeks ago who has a hard time seeing why God lets bad things happen.  He showed up to church!  It was a huge miracle!  And he seemed to like it.  So also the other day I was tracting with a split, and we tracted into this lady who grew up a member of the church but hasn't been since she was fifteen.  And she wasn't interested but she said that her daughter was.  So I said okay how old is your daughter?  And she said eleven!  I love that number haha.  So anyway the next day we took her daughter on a church tour and she came to all three hours of church yesterday and loved it!  She said that she was going to come every week.  So we have an amazing family in the ward who is going to fellowship her and bring her.  So that is way cool.  And then last night another amazing member called and said that she had a referral for us, and so we have an appointment with them tomorrow night.  So pray really hard that the lessons will go good and we can help them feel the spirit!  So we FINALLY have a couple of people that we are teaching and it is so exciting!  I know that it is because we have had a lot of faith and diligence.  And because my Grandpa kept his promise.  I really miss him but I am thankful that I can feel his presence with me.  The weather the past few weeks has been good, but it is starting to get dreary again so hopefully we can all stay positive haha sometimes it is so hard with the constant gloomy weather.  But we will be okay. Allyson, Marilyn, Carol, and Mom, thank you so much for your mail this week.  You guys are the best!  I am working on letters back to everyone!  Also Lee Hancock you are amazing, you will never know how much your letter meant to me.  I really appreciate it!  Calee, THANK YOU so much for the package!  My comp is gluten intolerant so I got to eat the whole thing by myself haha it was so dang good.  I won't lie the past couple weeks have been good but a little tough with Grandpa and the wedding coming up, but I know that everything will be okay and that I will be okay.  Because I know that this is where the lord needs me right now!  I know that this gospel is the only true gospel on the earth today, and that it was restored by Joseph Smith. I know that our Savior lives and loves us, and that he died for us so that we can all return to live with him someday. I know that if we stay close to our Heavenly Father he will bless us, and even though we feel alone sometimes I KNOW that we are never alone.  Heavenly Father loves us to much to leave us hangin.  All we have to do is humble ourselves and ask for help.  I have seen the power of the Atonement more fully lately and I can't tell you how it has affected me. I truly am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ.  He is everything.  I am thankful for my eternal family.  I can't even tell you how much I love you!  Kelsee this week think of ways you can feel the spirit more.  And I know that this week as you prepare to go to the temple Satan will try to get in the way. But don't let him.  The temple is an amazing place and you just need to soak it all in.  Don't be nervous because it is amazing.  And I am so excited for you!  I am so proud of you sister!  I will be thinking about you all day on Thursday!  I hope you all have an amazing week!  Keep me in your prayers and know that you are all always in mine.  I love you so much!  Have a great week!

Love, Katee

Hello 08/22/11

Hello everybody!  How are you all doing?  I am doing pretty good.  We had another some what slow week until Saturday night.  Our district leader has been feeling bad for us so he was like we will come tract in your area.  Haha I was like okay come on out.  So they found this girl named Trina.  I met her about 2 months ago and at the time she just didn't seem to prepared.  So we just kind of let it be.  So the other day the elders said to go see her sometime.  So I felt like we should go that night.  I was hesitant and didn't think much would come out of it because the last time nothing happened.  So we went over this time and it was so cool. Her attitude was way different.  So I was like well what are you doing tomorrow?  Do you want to come to church?  And she said that she would!  She came to church and stayed for all three hours!  It was amazing! I was so happy.  So we now have ONE investigator!  I love it!  And sweet Sister Lee is so excited because she hasn't ever taught a real investigator.  Haha its pretty cute.  I like seeing her get excited!  So anyway... I have still been thinking a lot about my family and everything but I want you all to know that I am doing great! I have my moments but really I am fine.  I know that Grandpa is helping me out so that brings a lot of comfort.  I am working on letters so you will get some soon. I want you all to know how much I love you. I am so grateful for the knowledge that we have and I am so grateful that we will be a forever family.  I was talking to Sister Lee the other day about our neighborhood and stuff and how we are all so close like one big family.  And she said man I love your simple little Utah life.  Ha ha and I said I love it too.  Its how I picture the celestial kingdom to be!  Speaking of our ward.  I can't believe that the boundaries are changed!  That's crazy!  I HATE change.  I don't want to go to the Bernina building haha but I guess I will live. And that's cool that Hym time is in our stake.  I will like that!  Well anyway... sorry this is kind of short I don't know what else to say.  Oh L. Tom Perry was here a couple days ago and we got to hear him speak!  It was great! Sister Craig said the closing prayer so she got to meet him. That was pretty cool.  Well I hope all is well with you all and that the wedding plans are going good.  I want you all to know how much I love you and how much you mean to me!  I love this gospel and my savior Jesus Christ.  I know that he lived and died for us. And that he helps us all the time. I know that we are NEVER alone, even though it feels like it sometimes!  I love the Book of Mormon!  It is the most powerful book on earth!  Keep praying for me and I will do the same for all of you!  I love you all!  Have a great week!


Love, Katee