FAITH is a funny concept. "Believing in things that we can't see," but which we KNOW to be true.
It's something I've never really struggled with in my life, 'cause...I'm just like that? Ha. I don't know. But it's interesting. I never knew that there would be MORE things in life that would help me build faith. Well - I guess I knew that, but... didn't expect it because faith has always come so easily to me.
Sorry, I'm rambling. My Point: It's been a FAITH BUILDING WEEK! And I'm okay. Ha. Living, breathing, still standing. It's just been a struggle week :P
Our week began with getting to know a few members—some that we had already met—getting to know them better, and others we met for the first time.
Then TUESDAY hit, and I was suddenly....just very sad. :( And I couldn't figure out why. We had district meeting and I made it through, but I knew that everyone knew something was wrong, by the amount of times people asked me, "Are you okay?" or "Are you sisters happy?" I felt bad. But I sucked it up. Then we went to visit Sister Rapata ahd help her sort through some old family documents for family history purposes, but it turned into more of a "Sister Ottley is stressing out and all I want to do is cry" session instead. So Sister Rapata just talked with us and helped me calm down. We ended up going to the Sunset Sister's flat after that, 'cause, well I didn't want to scare people away with all the tears, and we weren't far from their flat. We stayed there a bit, and the Zone Leaders, Elders Summers and Cowley, came to give me a blessing (talking all about having faith and that my Heavenly Father loves me). We stayed at the Sister's flat for a bit after that, and Sister Taylor brought over a jar of Nutella and a spoon for me to make things better (ha) —and then we had a BRILLIANT call from Gina (a recent convert) saying, "I'm home alone tonight! Come over!" Blessing of a girl!
...And I'm sadly going to cut you off there in the way of details, 'cause... today's been a crazy day with everything that we've needed to accomplish. Ha.
WEDNESDAY was trade-offs and I went to Panmure again, but this time with Sister Anderson :) Lovely times. And ...just a blessing to get away from my area so I could stop stressing for 24 hours. It's not the area really, it's just...my head. My perfectionist side struggling because I don't know how to please everyone and because we don't have anyone to teach and I MISS THAT SO MUCH. Basically... There was a lot of crying this week. Mum, remember the night before I left and I was all packed (thanks to the girls) and all that jazz - and I just started bawling for no apparent reason? Yup. Very similar.
So SUNDAY I was just....struggling. Because Saturday we had spent most of the day tracting and i learned that rich people just scare me. Ha. And that Orewa (Hibiscus area) is just...FULL of very rich people! (I'm convinced that this area is to help me get used to what's considered a "normal-size" house back home. Haha.) And It was just hard. Good, but hard. And Sunday I just wanted to cry all day, bascially. It's like I'm slowly coming to realize that it's just not possible to fully please everyone. And I know that it's part of the mission life and part of life in general - it's just....hard for me to accept. I even got to a point on Sunday when I texted Sister Taylor (in Sunset Ward) asking what it was like to have depression. 'Cause.... I just couldn't make myself stop crying. Ridiculous. I just felt silly. And then Elder Summers called and I cried more 'cause we weren't going to the "come and see" - ha. [You can't go without an investigator.] But then he made me laugh-cry - so, better? improvement? Ha. Anyhoo. We were able to go to dinner at the Maire's home Sunday night, and then over to Brother and Sister Niu to do a member lesson with them. And THAT was just a blessing from above, 'cause it....was needed. It was a HIGH that I needed! A teaching high. And I was HAPPY.
So.... happiness overcomes all things. It's true. This is just my time to learn about faith and how to balance woring with everyone and all the things :)
Life is good. Things move on :) We'll find someone to teach soon :) I know that even within these crazy rich-people places, there ARE SOFT HEARTS.
It has been a fun P-day today, a nice outlet and just... time to be with the Zone. We went lazer tagging :) So tell the peeps I'm sorry for not replying to emails. I've printed some that I didn't get to read for later. I've only glanced through your email mum, but basically you're always in tune with the things I need. Don't worry. I'm good. I have HEAPS of missionaries around me that are...very supportive of the Sad-Sister-Ottley whenever she shows up ;) Haha. And PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS. They're just wonderful!!
Also, a talk EVERYONE should listen to that Sister Gila and I have been listening to today... It's by Brad Wilcox, and ...i'm not sure what it's called. But he talks about "hanging around with the Book of Mormon" and tis' hilarious!!
LOVES! I love you all, and I hope you have a most beautiful week :)
Ofa Atu,
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Showing posts with label burdens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burdens. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
The Lords Blesses Though Who "Want" To Improve
THANK YOU, Elder Holland. Your words are brilliant, and I'll never forget the classic "dinosaur chasing children" picture. EVER.
Also, from President Uchtdorf: "If you cannot muster FAITH right now, begin with HOPE."
And Mum, reading your words make me happy. It's like a HUG. And that's all I've wanted this week!
PONDERIZE :)
"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."
"I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will." —D&C 19:23-24
Something I've realized about myself this week: I think because I don't have the usual emotional outlets of, say, crying my eyes out during a sad movie, or reading a sad part of a book—things like that—my emotions get all bottled up. And then I get stressed. And then...my life is just a struggle. But the problem is I don't really notice the emotions being bottled up until I'm just overly stressed and don't know how to deal with it, or why everything bothers me.
But, as I look back, I've LEARNED a lot this week. And it was honestly full of miracles and NEW INVESTIGATORS. It's just hard to see those blessings sometimes when you're stressed, and tired, and you don't know how to make yourself feel better.
And this is why GENERAL CONFERENCE is a BLESSING. And WHY I'm grateful that I did have Conference a "week late" because....it meant SO much more to and for me THIS weekend than it would have the weekend before. THE LORD'S TIMING is brilliant and priceless.
MONDAY started off the week with a BANG - and 5 new investigators :) A family! Mum, dad, and mum's brothers/cousin. And then also mum and dad's little kids—ages 6, 7, and 2...I think. So we're going to be teaching them on Monday's now, and it's just grand and exciting! We had a quick little message last week—just telling them our purpose as missionaries and asking about what they believe in—in their lives and church. They talked about family, so we added our 2 cents about ETERNAL families — and they seemed to like that ;) So....they said we could come Monday nights, and all the excitement. We've also been doing Family Home Evening with our bishop's family. Love them sooooo much. All the excitement at their house - and bonus: Sister Papali'i (being the brilliant mum she is) has taught all the boys to bake. So there's always something exciting there! Haha.
TUESDAY Sister Anitema and I "showed up" the Samoan Elders with our Star Wars lego-building skills! Fun fact: Sister Anitema had NEVER PLAYED WITH LEGOS before..... #What? But it was exciting. We were having a training meeting in our district about "MAKING AND USING LESSON PLANS." — So, we did a competition. There were 2 lego sets. So it was Sister Anitema and I against the Samoan elders. The first round we weren't allowed to use the instruction booklet—just look at the picture on the box. (Sister Anitema and I actually got pretty far without the booklet... haha.) But then in the second round we were given the instructions, and clearly it was MUCH easier—though we still SMOKED the Elders. It took us maybe....7 minutes? to put the spaceship together. Whereas.... they still weren't done after the 10 minutes of time were up. Haha. #SetDesigner #I'veMissedIt ...Why have I never used legos before when trying to think of ideas for sets in plays? #Revelation #ForFutureReference
The day continued with a lunch break, and, once again, permetherin-ing the flat to make fleas leave... Luckily, I think it worked, for the most part, this time.
We then visited some families, dropped in to see Ivan (since he's been sick for a while) and had MCM (Missionary Committee Meeting). Love our ward mission leader. We "heart attacked" the Donnaldson's house, and....just all the love :) We got a message later in the night from Brother Donnaldson saying to "watch out because of the colourful heart taggers in the area!" Haha. Love them :)
WEDNESDAY...I was tired. And all the inadequacies of my mind started taking over and I just....basically started losing patience. -------> This is one thing I've defniitely learned/realized this week: Our family is INSANELY PATIENT. Like - I honestly don't feel like I've ever had to deal with impatient people in my life compared to now! So...THANK YOU (and also not), 'cause I clearly had no idea what it was like to live with an impatient person until now! Hahaha. #Blessings of a calm family... But I was also just tired so I started feeling a little like I wasn't actually being "useful" to Sister Anitema because of some of the little things she would say to me at times. But we still saw miracles! We had Alisha come out with us in the morning for a bit, and then made Ivan "Get Well" cards, and the Gaitau's even pitched in some fruit to give to him to make him better. We also got to visit with Sia and Sam, and....we're excited 'cause they told us we're "welcome anytime.... at night" haha. Because that's when they're home :) I LOVE their spirits, and they opened up to us....really quickly. So, wonderful blessings. And hopefully actually teaching soon. They did say they would like to have us over for dinner too! (Ah - and here's a cute little cultural thing for ya. Samoan's like to feed the missionaries. So when we just stopped by this night, they both were saying, "Ah! If we had known you were coming we would have made food!!!" And Sam just kept saying—in Samoan—that he wished he had food for us. The Islander "love language" is definitely FOOD. Haha.)
THURSDAY.... The stress kicked in. I hurt, I felt like a failure, and like I wasn't good enough to be Sister Anitema's companion, feeling like I could do nothing right. — Beginning with waking up, saying my prayer, and then being lectured that I "didn't wake her up," when, normally I DO—'cause she can't hear the alarm. First time I haven't. So great start to a morning! Continuing that day I felt like I was constantly being corrected on driving, how to talk to people, and that I wasn't talking enough in messages so it was stressing HER out. Well, guess what. That's why i'm not talking!
So.... I miss patient people. Also because it hurts a little to be constantly told that I'M the one that's helping HER learn patience. Which... I guess is good, it just doesn't always come out in a positive sounding way. Definitely comes out a bit more negatively.
-------->> Ah. And that's another thing I've learned/realized this week. Our family is INSANELY POSITIVE. I feel like I've never really had to deal with super negative people until being on the mission! What? Haha. #SpoiledWithGoodness.
Anyhoo. We were able to bring Alisha with us to teach Vale this morning, and ...it was good. :) She opened up a little bit more, and our lesson just....flowed. In the way of conversation, rather than an actual "formal" lesson where we're saying "we're teaching you this." So....THE SPIRIT TEACHES in many different ways, and it's....pretty "sweet as" :)
FRIDAY was a lot about COMMUNICATION. I also realized the things that I USED to super enjoy, I now rather ...don't, always. Example: Weekly Planning, and ...on occasion, P-day. Just because it results in a lot of me, feeling like a failure, and stressed and like...I once again do nothing right :) Yay! It's fine though. Because THIS Friday's weekly planning was...actually good. We talked a lot more about the struggles we'd both felt this week, and then I cried. Emotional release!!
----------> Another thing I've learned this week: I've always had someone in my life who KNOWS HOW TO COMFORT. Fun fact: Sister Anitema doesn't really. Haaaaa. She even said that to me, saying, "I'm sorry! I don't know what to do when you cry!" Haha. Not a comforter. So... once again, #SpoiledInOurFam
But then: The Lord KNOWS when you need someone to hug you, and someone that knows how to comfort. So He sent our STL's (aka: my trainer "MUM"), who were originally just dropping by to take pictures for a "Sister's Conference" we're having this week - but...ended up helping us in the comforting life. HE KNEW I needed a hug from Sister O'Reilly, and that's why He sent them on that day and at that moment in time. I LOVE it.
Then we went out to get some food and just happened to run into one of our less-actives that Sister Anitema hadn't met yet (she's less active not by choice....but rather, because her "adopted" parents don't let her come). But it was good, and she's adorable, and I've missed her. And we got some food, since we really hadn't eaten much yet that day (and....I honestly hadn't eaten much in the last ...24 hours). #StressedSelf
SATURDAY was conference, comfort, lunch, and then more conference comfort. HAPPINESS. And then I shut down again, feeling worthless from comments from the companion, yet again :P Just....love it. But things improved when we had dinner at the Gaitaus, and a lesson at the Singh's with their cousin who we're now teaching, ending with stopping at a member's home to share a little message and to see if we could get a new ward list :) Because... ours lacks information we would like. Like.... birthdays and such.
SUNDAY was the TRUE COMFORT, and a MAJOR BLESSING FROM HEAVEN! Elder Holland. I just... wouldn't be able to thank him enough. "May a loving Father in Heaven bless us to remember how we felt today." And the EVER SO HELPFUL dinosaur visual that will FOREVER be ingrained in me and "the last thing I thought would come up on the screen at general conference from Elder Holland!" And OH HOW HELPFUL it was after leaving Saturday'sconference and immediately feeling stressed again, and then.... also leaving Sunday's conference nearly feeling the same. Why this time, you ask? Well.... we had a lovely visit with the Butlers - which... made us a bit late for our dinner appointment at the Singh's. This then resulted in Sister Joy Singh (a MTC teacher) ...sharing her "disappointment" in us, along with a lecture—alllllll the joys to tear my happiness down to once again, feeling like I'm a failure of a missionary. Let me tell you just....how much I didn't want to handle this right then. But it was good - because I do know we needed to hear it from someone else, rather than just ourselves, saying that we needed to be more timely. But....it was also kind of a shot to the heart. So, Sister Anitema basically shared the whole of the message we shared, because.... she knew what was going through my head, and she knew that I wouldn't be able to speak. And then, as we left - Joy pulled us aside again, at the door - to ask if WE, as companions, were okay. Yes, we DEFINITELY were - because of all the talking we had done on Friday that really did help. I just.... needed to get out of my own head still. And it really wasn't helping being told by someone that how we decided to follow the spirit that night—to know where and for how long we needed to be—was "disappointing" and "not acceptable." She said she just asked because I didn't do much talking in the message. Yes, I know that. It was because I was trying to figure out how to not feel worthless, once again. Thank you, Sister Singh. But, now we do know to never be even the slightest bit late to their house, ever—even if we do call ahead to tell them—'cause she didn't even seem to be happy with that. #Obedience.
This is also why the messages from conference of forgiveness, and just TRYING have helped me heaps this weekend! Because I AM trying. Things may get stressful, and things may get tough, but... I'm trying. And that's what truly matters. I know that the Lord will bless me as long as I have that DESIRE TO IMPROVE. And I do.
Oh. And that night ended with seeing Birgette and her family, and the Masiasomuas. So... there was all the HAPPY, because... the Masiasomua's ARE like my FAMILY.
Struggles may come, but I also know struggles go. As long as we keep trying and have the desire to improve, we will be blessed. No one is perfect. Even when people think you should be. And that's why I listened to President Uchtdorf's "Forget Me Not" talk again today and yesterday as well.
He said: "I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect. Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not. And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It’s wonderful that you have strengths. And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses. ... God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths. ... It’s okay that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself." —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not," October 2011 General Conference #Brilliant
So.... Life's good. There has to be hard things and hard weeks in life so we can fully enjoy the good and "easy" ones ;) Truth. And I'm grateful for that.
Here's to the miracles of the upcoming week, and the teaching to our SEVEN new investigators! :)
I LOVE you all, and I hope you had a most lovely General Conference last week, and that you continue to remember the feelings you felt while listening and watching to our wonderful Prophet and Apostles :) They're definitely inspired and bring much comfort to all the things we're going through in life :)
Ofa Atu (Tongan! "Love ya"),
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Also, from President Uchtdorf: "If you cannot muster FAITH right now, begin with HOPE."
And Mum, reading your words make me happy. It's like a HUG. And that's all I've wanted this week!
PONDERIZE :)
"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."
"I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will." —D&C 19:23-24
Something I've realized about myself this week: I think because I don't have the usual emotional outlets of, say, crying my eyes out during a sad movie, or reading a sad part of a book—things like that—my emotions get all bottled up. And then I get stressed. And then...my life is just a struggle. But the problem is I don't really notice the emotions being bottled up until I'm just overly stressed and don't know how to deal with it, or why everything bothers me.
But, as I look back, I've LEARNED a lot this week. And it was honestly full of miracles and NEW INVESTIGATORS. It's just hard to see those blessings sometimes when you're stressed, and tired, and you don't know how to make yourself feel better.
And this is why GENERAL CONFERENCE is a BLESSING. And WHY I'm grateful that I did have Conference a "week late" because....it meant SO much more to and for me THIS weekend than it would have the weekend before. THE LORD'S TIMING is brilliant and priceless.
MONDAY started off the week with a BANG - and 5 new investigators :) A family! Mum, dad, and mum's brothers/cousin. And then also mum and dad's little kids—ages 6, 7, and 2...I think. So we're going to be teaching them on Monday's now, and it's just grand and exciting! We had a quick little message last week—just telling them our purpose as missionaries and asking about what they believe in—in their lives and church. They talked about family, so we added our 2 cents about ETERNAL families — and they seemed to like that ;) So....they said we could come Monday nights, and all the excitement. We've also been doing Family Home Evening with our bishop's family. Love them sooooo much. All the excitement at their house - and bonus: Sister Papali'i (being the brilliant mum she is) has taught all the boys to bake. So there's always something exciting there! Haha.
TUESDAY Sister Anitema and I "showed up" the Samoan Elders with our Star Wars lego-building skills! Fun fact: Sister Anitema had NEVER PLAYED WITH LEGOS before..... #What? But it was exciting. We were having a training meeting in our district about "MAKING AND USING LESSON PLANS." — So, we did a competition. There were 2 lego sets. So it was Sister Anitema and I against the Samoan elders. The first round we weren't allowed to use the instruction booklet—just look at the picture on the box. (Sister Anitema and I actually got pretty far without the booklet... haha.) But then in the second round we were given the instructions, and clearly it was MUCH easier—though we still SMOKED the Elders. It took us maybe....7 minutes? to put the spaceship together. Whereas.... they still weren't done after the 10 minutes of time were up. Haha. #SetDesigner #I'veMissedIt ...Why have I never used legos before when trying to think of ideas for sets in plays? #Revelation #ForFutureReference
The day continued with a lunch break, and, once again, permetherin-ing the flat to make fleas leave... Luckily, I think it worked, for the most part, this time.
We then visited some families, dropped in to see Ivan (since he's been sick for a while) and had MCM (Missionary Committee Meeting). Love our ward mission leader. We "heart attacked" the Donnaldson's house, and....just all the love :) We got a message later in the night from Brother Donnaldson saying to "watch out because of the colourful heart taggers in the area!" Haha. Love them :)
WEDNESDAY...I was tired. And all the inadequacies of my mind started taking over and I just....basically started losing patience. -------> This is one thing I've defniitely learned/realized this week: Our family is INSANELY PATIENT. Like - I honestly don't feel like I've ever had to deal with impatient people in my life compared to now! So...THANK YOU (and also not), 'cause I clearly had no idea what it was like to live with an impatient person until now! Hahaha. #Blessings of a calm family... But I was also just tired so I started feeling a little like I wasn't actually being "useful" to Sister Anitema because of some of the little things she would say to me at times. But we still saw miracles! We had Alisha come out with us in the morning for a bit, and then made Ivan "Get Well" cards, and the Gaitau's even pitched in some fruit to give to him to make him better. We also got to visit with Sia and Sam, and....we're excited 'cause they told us we're "welcome anytime.... at night" haha. Because that's when they're home :) I LOVE their spirits, and they opened up to us....really quickly. So, wonderful blessings. And hopefully actually teaching soon. They did say they would like to have us over for dinner too! (Ah - and here's a cute little cultural thing for ya. Samoan's like to feed the missionaries. So when we just stopped by this night, they both were saying, "Ah! If we had known you were coming we would have made food!!!" And Sam just kept saying—in Samoan—that he wished he had food for us. The Islander "love language" is definitely FOOD. Haha.)
THURSDAY.... The stress kicked in. I hurt, I felt like a failure, and like I wasn't good enough to be Sister Anitema's companion, feeling like I could do nothing right. — Beginning with waking up, saying my prayer, and then being lectured that I "didn't wake her up," when, normally I DO—'cause she can't hear the alarm. First time I haven't. So great start to a morning! Continuing that day I felt like I was constantly being corrected on driving, how to talk to people, and that I wasn't talking enough in messages so it was stressing HER out. Well, guess what. That's why i'm not talking!
So.... I miss patient people. Also because it hurts a little to be constantly told that I'M the one that's helping HER learn patience. Which... I guess is good, it just doesn't always come out in a positive sounding way. Definitely comes out a bit more negatively.
-------->> Ah. And that's another thing I've learned/realized this week. Our family is INSANELY POSITIVE. I feel like I've never really had to deal with super negative people until being on the mission! What? Haha. #SpoiledWithGoodness.
Anyhoo. We were able to bring Alisha with us to teach Vale this morning, and ...it was good. :) She opened up a little bit more, and our lesson just....flowed. In the way of conversation, rather than an actual "formal" lesson where we're saying "we're teaching you this." So....THE SPIRIT TEACHES in many different ways, and it's....pretty "sweet as" :)
FRIDAY was a lot about COMMUNICATION. I also realized the things that I USED to super enjoy, I now rather ...don't, always. Example: Weekly Planning, and ...on occasion, P-day. Just because it results in a lot of me, feeling like a failure, and stressed and like...I once again do nothing right :) Yay! It's fine though. Because THIS Friday's weekly planning was...actually good. We talked a lot more about the struggles we'd both felt this week, and then I cried. Emotional release!!
----------> Another thing I've learned this week: I've always had someone in my life who KNOWS HOW TO COMFORT. Fun fact: Sister Anitema doesn't really. Haaaaa. She even said that to me, saying, "I'm sorry! I don't know what to do when you cry!" Haha. Not a comforter. So... once again, #SpoiledInOurFam
But then: The Lord KNOWS when you need someone to hug you, and someone that knows how to comfort. So He sent our STL's (aka: my trainer "MUM"), who were originally just dropping by to take pictures for a "Sister's Conference" we're having this week - but...ended up helping us in the comforting life. HE KNEW I needed a hug from Sister O'Reilly, and that's why He sent them on that day and at that moment in time. I LOVE it.
Then we went out to get some food and just happened to run into one of our less-actives that Sister Anitema hadn't met yet (she's less active not by choice....but rather, because her "adopted" parents don't let her come). But it was good, and she's adorable, and I've missed her. And we got some food, since we really hadn't eaten much yet that day (and....I honestly hadn't eaten much in the last ...24 hours). #StressedSelf
SATURDAY was conference, comfort, lunch, and then more conference comfort. HAPPINESS. And then I shut down again, feeling worthless from comments from the companion, yet again :P Just....love it. But things improved when we had dinner at the Gaitaus, and a lesson at the Singh's with their cousin who we're now teaching, ending with stopping at a member's home to share a little message and to see if we could get a new ward list :) Because... ours lacks information we would like. Like.... birthdays and such.
SUNDAY was the TRUE COMFORT, and a MAJOR BLESSING FROM HEAVEN! Elder Holland. I just... wouldn't be able to thank him enough. "May a loving Father in Heaven bless us to remember how we felt today." And the EVER SO HELPFUL dinosaur visual that will FOREVER be ingrained in me and "the last thing I thought would come up on the screen at general conference from Elder Holland!" And OH HOW HELPFUL it was after leaving Saturday'sconference and immediately feeling stressed again, and then.... also leaving Sunday's conference nearly feeling the same. Why this time, you ask? Well.... we had a lovely visit with the Butlers - which... made us a bit late for our dinner appointment at the Singh's. This then resulted in Sister Joy Singh (a MTC teacher) ...sharing her "disappointment" in us, along with a lecture—alllllll the joys to tear my happiness down to once again, feeling like I'm a failure of a missionary. Let me tell you just....how much I didn't want to handle this right then. But it was good - because I do know we needed to hear it from someone else, rather than just ourselves, saying that we needed to be more timely. But....it was also kind of a shot to the heart. So, Sister Anitema basically shared the whole of the message we shared, because.... she knew what was going through my head, and she knew that I wouldn't be able to speak. And then, as we left - Joy pulled us aside again, at the door - to ask if WE, as companions, were okay. Yes, we DEFINITELY were - because of all the talking we had done on Friday that really did help. I just.... needed to get out of my own head still. And it really wasn't helping being told by someone that how we decided to follow the spirit that night—to know where and for how long we needed to be—was "disappointing" and "not acceptable." She said she just asked because I didn't do much talking in the message. Yes, I know that. It was because I was trying to figure out how to not feel worthless, once again. Thank you, Sister Singh. But, now we do know to never be even the slightest bit late to their house, ever—even if we do call ahead to tell them—'cause she didn't even seem to be happy with that. #Obedience.
This is also why the messages from conference of forgiveness, and just TRYING have helped me heaps this weekend! Because I AM trying. Things may get stressful, and things may get tough, but... I'm trying. And that's what truly matters. I know that the Lord will bless me as long as I have that DESIRE TO IMPROVE. And I do.
Oh. And that night ended with seeing Birgette and her family, and the Masiasomuas. So... there was all the HAPPY, because... the Masiasomua's ARE like my FAMILY.
Struggles may come, but I also know struggles go. As long as we keep trying and have the desire to improve, we will be blessed. No one is perfect. Even when people think you should be. And that's why I listened to President Uchtdorf's "Forget Me Not" talk again today and yesterday as well.
He said: "I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect. Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not. And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It’s wonderful that you have strengths. And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses. ... God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths. ... It’s okay that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself." —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not," October 2011 General Conference #Brilliant
So.... Life's good. There has to be hard things and hard weeks in life so we can fully enjoy the good and "easy" ones ;) Truth. And I'm grateful for that.
Here's to the miracles of the upcoming week, and the teaching to our SEVEN new investigators! :)
I LOVE you all, and I hope you had a most lovely General Conference last week, and that you continue to remember the feelings you felt while listening and watching to our wonderful Prophet and Apostles :) They're definitely inspired and bring much comfort to all the things we're going through in life :)
Ofa Atu (Tongan! "Love ya"),
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
It Takes Faith to Overcome...ANYTHING!
Kia Ora my sweet Whanau!
It's been....a week. Ha. But there's always things that overcome sadness and help you to move on. And there's always this point of looking back when I realize that sometimes things are better than they seem in the moment of frustration and trial. Also: I'm convinced I'm just allergic to fleas. Or whatever is in my body that's tasty to fleas and makes them want to eat me... Yeah, bugs!
Last MONDAY night was a simple one - stopping in to the Papali'i's for a visit. We had texted them earlier to see if they were still planning on us for FHE, but never got a reply (or so we thought). Ha. So we decided to stop in anyway. Sister Papali'i was the only one home in the family - Bishop and the boys were all out at a movie. But we had a lovely chat with Sister Papali'i and heard about the trip they had for Easter weekend :) As we left their house that night, we dropped our phone — and in the process discovered about eight texts had come in that were responses/other messages we had received...but not actually received in the last two days. Hahaha. #PhoneStruggles And a couple of these messages were from Bishop and Sister Papali'i telling us that they had just gotten back and were all pretty tired/Sister Papali'i was a little sick.... So we then felt bad, but also blessed for having such a loving family that still lets us in, even when we don't know they've told us not to come in the first place :) Haha. And we had a few nice laughs with them as well - so, good ways to start a week!
We finally got over to visit Ivan on TUESDAY and brought our beautiful Alisha Gaitau with us :) And.... I love fun activities :) We went over the Plan of Salvation with him again, but this time we DREW pictures! Originally we came up with this idea to entertain Grace (Ivan's daughter Grace.... it's confusing having two Graces in my mind to talk about now). Haha. But litttle did we know that it would entertain Ivan even more than Grace! Haha. Apparently he really quite likes drawing. So...good things to know. A lovely afternoon, and a lovely time leading into dinner at the Pauna's :) —Which we also brought Alisha to. Love our RM :) We also had a mini lesson with Grace - overviewing the Restoration via doing the "Cupstoration" song. (Sorry, still haven't recorded it.) And it was exciting :)
WEDNESDAY.... my companion was sick again :( Sad face. And so I marked scriptures, and crocheted, and wrote letters, and tried to not start talking to myself. Ha. But all goods. :) She's....starting to feel better a little by little each day, so that's good. Oh. And this was also the morning that I woke up with bug bites, not having slept well 'cause I could feel them biting me....all night long. So when I woke up I tore off the sheets, put them in the washer, and Permetherined my mattress and box spring and covers and all the things. Fun fact: It didn't actually help. Still getting bitten. I just have clean sheets while getting bitten. Which is sad, 'cause they don't stay clean long 'cause of the lame little bugs that get blood spots everwhere. #Gross #OneDayTheyllGoAway
THURSDAY my ill/in pain companion had to force herself up so we could go to Zone Training! Wooooo! ...Also a training of quite a bit of "YOU CAN DO BETTER!" True. True. We can ALWAYS have more faith, and we can ALWAYS talk with more people. It was good though. I think...also just hard in my mind since Sister Anitema and I have spent so much time in lately, trying to figure out her illness and overcome the pain life. So, when we got back to our flat to have some lunch, Sister Anitema was spent again. And by the time lunch was over, it was just...still a struggle. So I decided we were still going to meet people somehow, even if it's from our couch! (We discovered our couch was a fold-out bed...which was helpful for Sister Anitema to lay out on!) How did we do this? We CALLED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE! Old phone numbers in our phone, people in the "former investigator" section of our area book... etc. And it was great fun. We also learned at the very beginning that we both have serious phone anxiety. Haaaa. It's one thing if you KNOW the person on the other end of the phoneline. It's another if you don't.... So, we made a script :) A script with many options like if they said "yes" or "no" to certain questions and whatnot. It was great. And we talked to a bunch of different people and weeded out numbers on our phone that no longer worked, and even got a RETURN APPOINTMENT, and a few people that said we could come around! #WINNING! Blessings. Miracles, and ....it made me feel productive again. Love.
We still got out to visit a member for dinner that night, and again later on to visit our dear Sister Frost and Avery - Brother Frost was out working. It was fun to have a little Plan of Salvation lesson with the two of them though, beginning with a brilliant Mormon message called, "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father." (It's beautiful!)
Link --> https://www.lds.org/media-
It's just a grand reminder of how even though day-to-day life can sometimes get repetitive, we have a Heavenly Father who's always watching over us. He's always there and always helping us along in everything we do.
FRIDAY — Happy April Fools! Yeah... Gullible Ottley day! Yay! Ha. So it started off with companion study with the Zone Leaders (Elder Saulo and Nielsen), which was grand! Until the end when they came out with the bad news... "Sisters, we were going to tell you this yesterday at the training meeting, but we felt it wasn't something we thought everyone needed to know... There's a Sister in the mission who has hurt her back and needs a car in her area. And so.... yours needs to be sent to her. The assistants are coming down before dinner tonight to pick it up from you." ...And then of course stress set in. Why? Because we had three appointments that night - in VERY SEPARATE PARTS of our area, with the NEED of a car to get there! (Sad faces.) But we said fine.
And they seemed oddly "not sad" for us as they left. And then... we received their text: "APRIL FOOLS." The Elders. They're so lame. So, yes, we still have our car. And her name is Tina, and we love her.
That night we helped Sister Papali'i set up a single adult activity during our dinner break, before going out to visit and get to know a new less-active family as well as one of our potentials that we had called the day before! Win! Sadly we weren't really able to stay, as he had family show up that day, so he told us we could come back Monday. So we'll be seeing him later on tonight :) Party. Excitement! Anyway, after our appointments we dropped by the chapel again to see if they needed help cleaning up. They had finished up their movie, and instead, asked us if we wanted to draw some pictures for their last Pictionary game! Haha. Love our ward :) They're all lovely.
SATURDAY was spent mostly running around visiting people for short times and inviting many to the Women's Broadcast :) HAPPY! And at the last home we visited, Sister AhHong gave us ribs—literally wrapped them up in glad-wrap for us and said, "Here! For your dinner!" Haaaa... and here's where Sister Ottley has changed. Yup. I like ribs. Not that I didn't before. I just laughed at myself as Sister Anitema and I gladly chowed down on ribs in the car before going to Women's Conference. #CompRibs That's what our day was called. Comp Ribs. Love it. And then the broadcast. Happiness and joy and gladness. And peace and calm and just....loving forgetting everything for a bit to focus on words from such wonderful people. Sister Neill F Marriott will never cease to make me smile with her adorable southern accent! :D
And then yesterday. SUNDAY. We contacted some referrals - one which was actually a very young child. We were both expecting a grown man! Haha. So hopefully more comes of that and we can actually meet the whole family/parents' 'Cause, the two kids we talked to said that there's TEN in the household! Exciting :)
We had a lovely church time, a lovely time in gospel doctrine ('cause no one was there for the principles class yesterday), and then we got to go help teach in YOUNG WOMEN'S! Win :)
Alisha Gaitau was given an assignment to teach for YW, so she invited us to come help. We taught the Restoration and then Sister Anitema and I did the Cupstoration again. LOVE it. Also terrifying in front of more than 4 or 5 people. ...#ShyOttley Yup. That kicked back in. But it was good. Love them all :) It was also great because we got some of the YW saying they want us to come to their house to show their families! Haha. Good times :) Love my musically talented comp!
Sister Anitema then got to meet the Hakaraia family :)
One of my favorite families to visit in the ward, purely because it's always entertaining. Their less-active son always complains how we ruin his night when we show up and he has to turn off his game - or whatever he's watching. HaHa. Always in joking though. Basically, anything he says you don't take seriously. But they're just wonderful and make us happy. And they invited us to start teaching the lessons to the family as well. Yay for building up member trust and happiness in Missionary work!!
And then....to finish off the night with a bang of HAPPINESS, we had a lesson with Birgette's family. Her daughter, Ivy, and partner, Jason, aren't members, nor is her Korean home-stay boy, Harem. Harem didn't stay for the lesson last night, but it was a fun night with the rest of them! Ivy is just a ball of excitement and actually knows the teachings of the gospel quite well, so we're excited to keep teaching their family.
So.... like I said. The week was a struggle, but also somehow not. It must just come from being in the flat that turns my mind into a struggle and makes me start feeling like a failure. But.... Heavenly Father hears prayers, and he helps our faith grow by putting people in our lives just at the right moment—helping us overcome sadness. I love getting hugs from my Heavenly Father, and little whisperings of Him telling me that I've done better than I give myself credit for. And this is why I love night prayer. 'Cause... Friday I just felt kind of like I'd failed all day. Sister Anitema and I had a good weekly planning - but part way though I found out she felt it wasn't going the way it needed to and she was getting impatient and ... bored. Sometimes it's like she has a switch of "happy" and "bored" that takes me by surprise and once the happy and excited is gone - well, it's just.... struggle. And my mind doesn't know how to handle the change between the two sometimes.
ANYHOO... Rambling. That night as I started my prayer before bed, starting to tell Heavenly Father how sorry I was for the things we didn't get done that day or this week really.... when I was almost "cut off" in a way with this whisper that said, "You HAVE done what I wanted you to do today. Now just keep going tomorrow." I love HUGS from Heavenly Father. And from His angels ALLLL around me. It's one thing in my life that I know I've always had, but
probably never fully realized until I came here. And that's another reason why I needed to come on the mission — after the fact of all the brilliant people I know I needed to come meet, and I constantly feel like I've already known long before we met.
Our Gospel is true. The teachings of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, are REAL and BRILLIANT, and if we let them, they can change our lives. Because that's really all our Saviour and Heavenly Father want for us, is to be safe and happy. So that's what I'm striving to be. Safe and happy, and to share that happiness with others around me :) And I know that as we STRIVE to increase our faith, MORE miracles happen, little by little each day. All the knowledge and strength and FAITH we gain as we move forward comes together in our little jigsaw puzzles called life :)
(Btw: I may become obsessed with doing puzzles when I get home. It just sounds like something that would be a lot of fun to do right now... Haha.)
I LOVE you all, and I hope you have a most WONDERFUL week. May you see beautiful blessings and miracles in your life as you apply the things you've learned in General Conference this weekend! ...And I'll join you next weekend in the happiness when I've seen it as well ;)
ALLLL the LOVE from the other side of the world, Arohanui,
Your Favorite Kiwi Missionary —
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley ;)
It's been....a week. Ha. But there's always things that overcome sadness and help you to move on. And there's always this point of looking back when I realize that sometimes things are better than they seem in the moment of frustration and trial. Also: I'm convinced I'm just allergic to fleas. Or whatever is in my body that's tasty to fleas and makes them want to eat me... Yeah, bugs!
Last MONDAY night was a simple one - stopping in to the Papali'i's for a visit. We had texted them earlier to see if they were still planning on us for FHE, but never got a reply (or so we thought). Ha. So we decided to stop in anyway. Sister Papali'i was the only one home in the family - Bishop and the boys were all out at a movie. But we had a lovely chat with Sister Papali'i and heard about the trip they had for Easter weekend :) As we left their house that night, we dropped our phone — and in the process discovered about eight texts had come in that were responses/other messages we had received...but not actually received in the last two days. Hahaha. #PhoneStruggles And a couple of these messages were from Bishop and Sister Papali'i telling us that they had just gotten back and were all pretty tired/Sister Papali'i was a little sick.... So we then felt bad, but also blessed for having such a loving family that still lets us in, even when we don't know they've told us not to come in the first place :) Haha. And we had a few nice laughs with them as well - so, good ways to start a week!
We finally got over to visit Ivan on TUESDAY and brought our beautiful Alisha Gaitau with us :) And.... I love fun activities :) We went over the Plan of Salvation with him again, but this time we DREW pictures! Originally we came up with this idea to entertain Grace (Ivan's daughter Grace.... it's confusing having two Graces in my mind to talk about now). Haha. But litttle did we know that it would entertain Ivan even more than Grace! Haha. Apparently he really quite likes drawing. So...good things to know. A lovely afternoon, and a lovely time leading into dinner at the Pauna's :) —Which we also brought Alisha to. Love our RM :) We also had a mini lesson with Grace - overviewing the Restoration via doing the "Cupstoration" song. (Sorry, still haven't recorded it.) And it was exciting :)
WEDNESDAY.... my companion was sick again :( Sad face. And so I marked scriptures, and crocheted, and wrote letters, and tried to not start talking to myself. Ha. But all goods. :) She's....starting to feel better a little by little each day, so that's good. Oh. And this was also the morning that I woke up with bug bites, not having slept well 'cause I could feel them biting me....all night long. So when I woke up I tore off the sheets, put them in the washer, and Permetherined my mattress and box spring and covers and all the things. Fun fact: It didn't actually help. Still getting bitten. I just have clean sheets while getting bitten. Which is sad, 'cause they don't stay clean long 'cause of the lame little bugs that get blood spots everwhere. #Gross #OneDayTheyllGoAway
THURSDAY my ill/in pain companion had to force herself up so we could go to Zone Training! Wooooo! ...Also a training of quite a bit of "YOU CAN DO BETTER!" True. True. We can ALWAYS have more faith, and we can ALWAYS talk with more people. It was good though. I think...also just hard in my mind since Sister Anitema and I have spent so much time in lately, trying to figure out her illness and overcome the pain life. So, when we got back to our flat to have some lunch, Sister Anitema was spent again. And by the time lunch was over, it was just...still a struggle. So I decided we were still going to meet people somehow, even if it's from our couch! (We discovered our couch was a fold-out bed...which was helpful for Sister Anitema to lay out on!) How did we do this? We CALLED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE! Old phone numbers in our phone, people in the "former investigator" section of our area book... etc. And it was great fun. We also learned at the very beginning that we both have serious phone anxiety. Haaaa. It's one thing if you KNOW the person on the other end of the phoneline. It's another if you don't.... So, we made a script :) A script with many options like if they said "yes" or "no" to certain questions and whatnot. It was great. And we talked to a bunch of different people and weeded out numbers on our phone that no longer worked, and even got a RETURN APPOINTMENT, and a few people that said we could come around! #WINNING! Blessings. Miracles, and ....it made me feel productive again. Love.
We still got out to visit a member for dinner that night, and again later on to visit our dear Sister Frost and Avery - Brother Frost was out working. It was fun to have a little Plan of Salvation lesson with the two of them though, beginning with a brilliant Mormon message called, "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father." (It's beautiful!)
Link --> https://www.lds.org/media-
It's just a grand reminder of how even though day-to-day life can sometimes get repetitive, we have a Heavenly Father who's always watching over us. He's always there and always helping us along in everything we do.
FRIDAY — Happy April Fools! Yeah... Gullible Ottley day! Yay! Ha. So it started off with companion study with the Zone Leaders (Elder Saulo and Nielsen), which was grand! Until the end when they came out with the bad news... "Sisters, we were going to tell you this yesterday at the training meeting, but we felt it wasn't something we thought everyone needed to know... There's a Sister in the mission who has hurt her back and needs a car in her area. And so.... yours needs to be sent to her. The assistants are coming down before dinner tonight to pick it up from you." ...And then of course stress set in. Why? Because we had three appointments that night - in VERY SEPARATE PARTS of our area, with the NEED of a car to get there! (Sad faces.) But we said fine.
And they seemed oddly "not sad" for us as they left. And then... we received their text: "APRIL FOOLS." The Elders. They're so lame. So, yes, we still have our car. And her name is Tina, and we love her.
That night we helped Sister Papali'i set up a single adult activity during our dinner break, before going out to visit and get to know a new less-active family as well as one of our potentials that we had called the day before! Win! Sadly we weren't really able to stay, as he had family show up that day, so he told us we could come back Monday. So we'll be seeing him later on tonight :) Party. Excitement! Anyway, after our appointments we dropped by the chapel again to see if they needed help cleaning up. They had finished up their movie, and instead, asked us if we wanted to draw some pictures for their last Pictionary game! Haha. Love our ward :) They're all lovely.
SATURDAY was spent mostly running around visiting people for short times and inviting many to the Women's Broadcast :) HAPPY! And at the last home we visited, Sister AhHong gave us ribs—literally wrapped them up in glad-wrap for us and said, "Here! For your dinner!" Haaaa... and here's where Sister Ottley has changed. Yup. I like ribs. Not that I didn't before. I just laughed at myself as Sister Anitema and I gladly chowed down on ribs in the car before going to Women's Conference. #CompRibs That's what our day was called. Comp Ribs. Love it. And then the broadcast. Happiness and joy and gladness. And peace and calm and just....loving forgetting everything for a bit to focus on words from such wonderful people. Sister Neill F Marriott will never cease to make me smile with her adorable southern accent! :D
And then yesterday. SUNDAY. We contacted some referrals - one which was actually a very young child. We were both expecting a grown man! Haha. So hopefully more comes of that and we can actually meet the whole family/parents' 'Cause, the two kids we talked to said that there's TEN in the household! Exciting :)
We had a lovely church time, a lovely time in gospel doctrine ('cause no one was there for the principles class yesterday), and then we got to go help teach in YOUNG WOMEN'S! Win :)
Alisha Gaitau was given an assignment to teach for YW, so she invited us to come help. We taught the Restoration and then Sister Anitema and I did the Cupstoration again. LOVE it. Also terrifying in front of more than 4 or 5 people. ...#ShyOttley Yup. That kicked back in. But it was good. Love them all :) It was also great because we got some of the YW saying they want us to come to their house to show their families! Haha. Good times :) Love my musically talented comp!
Sister Anitema then got to meet the Hakaraia family :)
One of my favorite families to visit in the ward, purely because it's always entertaining. Their less-active son always complains how we ruin his night when we show up and he has to turn off his game - or whatever he's watching. HaHa. Always in joking though. Basically, anything he says you don't take seriously. But they're just wonderful and make us happy. And they invited us to start teaching the lessons to the family as well. Yay for building up member trust and happiness in Missionary work!!
And then....to finish off the night with a bang of HAPPINESS, we had a lesson with Birgette's family. Her daughter, Ivy, and partner, Jason, aren't members, nor is her Korean home-stay boy, Harem. Harem didn't stay for the lesson last night, but it was a fun night with the rest of them! Ivy is just a ball of excitement and actually knows the teachings of the gospel quite well, so we're excited to keep teaching their family.
So.... like I said. The week was a struggle, but also somehow not. It must just come from being in the flat that turns my mind into a struggle and makes me start feeling like a failure. But.... Heavenly Father hears prayers, and he helps our faith grow by putting people in our lives just at the right moment—helping us overcome sadness. I love getting hugs from my Heavenly Father, and little whisperings of Him telling me that I've done better than I give myself credit for. And this is why I love night prayer. 'Cause... Friday I just felt kind of like I'd failed all day. Sister Anitema and I had a good weekly planning - but part way though I found out she felt it wasn't going the way it needed to and she was getting impatient and ... bored. Sometimes it's like she has a switch of "happy" and "bored" that takes me by surprise and once the happy and excited is gone - well, it's just.... struggle. And my mind doesn't know how to handle the change between the two sometimes.
ANYHOO... Rambling. That night as I started my prayer before bed, starting to tell Heavenly Father how sorry I was for the things we didn't get done that day or this week really.... when I was almost "cut off" in a way with this whisper that said, "You HAVE done what I wanted you to do today. Now just keep going tomorrow." I love HUGS from Heavenly Father. And from His angels ALLLL around me. It's one thing in my life that I know I've always had, but
probably never fully realized until I came here. And that's another reason why I needed to come on the mission — after the fact of all the brilliant people I know I needed to come meet, and I constantly feel like I've already known long before we met.
Our Gospel is true. The teachings of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, are REAL and BRILLIANT, and if we let them, they can change our lives. Because that's really all our Saviour and Heavenly Father want for us, is to be safe and happy. So that's what I'm striving to be. Safe and happy, and to share that happiness with others around me :) And I know that as we STRIVE to increase our faith, MORE miracles happen, little by little each day. All the knowledge and strength and FAITH we gain as we move forward comes together in our little jigsaw puzzles called life :)
(Btw: I may become obsessed with doing puzzles when I get home. It just sounds like something that would be a lot of fun to do right now... Haha.)
I LOVE you all, and I hope you have a most WONDERFUL week. May you see beautiful blessings and miracles in your life as you apply the things you've learned in General Conference this weekend! ...And I'll join you next weekend in the happiness when I've seen it as well ;)
ALLLL the LOVE from the other side of the world, Arohanui,
Your Favorite Kiwi Missionary —
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley ;)
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Just Keep Going!
*Sister Ottley's Mum Request: I invite anyone reading these weekly letters to send snail mail postal letters when you are able. Mckenzie can handle the rejection and naysayers, but the "fleas and rashes" are starting to get her down! She could use a little love from home!! Having grown up in an era of texting and social media, she now cherishes the written words in a letter you can actually hold!!
LETTER MAIL:
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
PO Box 33-840
Takapuna 0740
Auckland
New Zealand
MY WHANAU! [Family]
Hello! I miss your faces, and hope you're having a wonderful day! And also: Happy Birthday to little Daxton! (In your time, that is!)
The weeks just keep FLYING by. I can't even believe it's Monday again! It feels like I was just emailing yesterday. The ups and downs of this week have been intense in all honesty. But – before I get into it, I want you to know that I truly am wonderful. Because I've grown closer to my Father in Heaven and Saviour. And because they have blessed me through all trials, emotions and PHYSICAL STRUGGLES this week.
Ha. I'm making it sound worse than it is. I just had a mini breakdown again. It's fine. :)
Ah: Also, BIG news of the week: I've finished my first journal. I don't know if I've mentioned this – but I made a goal from the very beginning that I was going to write in my journal EVERY DAY of my ENTIRE mission. #goingstrong. And I'm loving it. It helps me to reflect at the end of each day, and it's lovely. So yes. I've made it through an entire journal thus far. And I've added pictures in it, which is kind of fun. :) ....And also makes it a little difficult to close. But whatevs. #happymemories.
The week started with a BANG though. We got to teach Kayla! :) Kayla's a young mum with a partner and 2 boys. And they're adorable. She's SO ready to hear the gospel, and the Lord's timing is brilliant. We were able to teach the first lesson to her this last week, and we have another appointment set with her tomorrow! Woooooo! PARTY! Total excitement! :)
Wednesday we were able to sing at BayCare (as we do every Wednesday morning), and it was wonderful. There's an old man there who's one of our constants – always there, engaged in our singing, and always makes us feel just grand about ourselves. His name is Arthur. And this week his son, Bruce, was there with him. After a couple songs, Bruce asked if he could record us... Haha. Weird things. But we said yes. And sang "Be Still My Soul" – because I'm a little more confident in the alto of that song (being my favourite and whatnot!). He was a lovely man, and made us very happy. Bruce then left, and we continued singing. Arthur this week seemed to be more engaged than normal, listening and always smiling when I looked at him. But then, there was a moment as we sang our last song, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" (its tradition at the end of each week now), that he was very focused, and almost sad. And it almost made me tear up. And then as I went to tell him goodbye – he actually started tearing up and crying. This man has the Spirit so strongly about him, and I don't even know if he knows it! But I felt it that morning. All the residents there are just so loving and happy to see us, and watching him in this moment just made singing there that much more special. :) I'm always excited to go back and see our dear Arthur. :)
We were also able to help one of our members in Paihia in their adventure of moving to Whangarei – and helped to clean their little house they're moving out of. Because, we love them, and we're going to miss them DEARLY. And also because Marie is very pregnant. It was exciting to get to pitch in a bit. And I MISS CLEANING – I mean, we clean our flat every Monday, but it's different when it's for someone else.
And then – James and Taylar Hartley, and their daughter Sophie. They're recent converts who just moved to Waitangi from Whangarei, so we stop in to visit with them every so often, and we're hoping to make Peach Cobbler with them soon! (Ha. James has heard about it and is DYING to try it!)
Exciting thing this week is that I became GREAT friends with Sophie. She's almost 3, and has seemed a bit shy until now.... so I was excited when playing catch with her pink Disney princess ball pulled us together a bit more! Visits are always exciting with them. Love them dearly!
Following these days of being in the CLOUDS where we were so happy – came the day of Sister Ottley finally crashing. I'm honestly still not entirely sure why (this seems to be a trend among my mini breakdowns), but Thursday I was just ridiculously emotional. All. Day. #soannoying. I was tired of my stupid bug bites/rash thing and I think I was just straight up tired.
And then – by the end of the day, I admited to myself that I think I was just a little homesick. So we ended up going to the flat a bit early, I slept forever, and talked with Sister Bath and Sister Balli that night. All is well. And it led to the next day of a doctor appointment.... I swear, I've been to the doctor more in the last 4 months than in the last 4 years of my life!! #newplaceprobs
Oh. Also: Sister Pointer shared with me that my "release of emotions" could have possibly been due to the fact that I was using Lavender so much... because apparently it does that to you? I was putting it on my rash on my legs, cause it was helping to calm it.... but I think it may have been too much too? Who knows.
Anyhoo. Friday resulted in finally perking up a bit, planning for the upcoming week, and then – Sister Bath called. She had a doctor appointment for me. So we went. I told the doctor about my back. They had me take a urine test ('cause it's apparently protocol here? ....first time I've done that), and what do they find out? Apparently I have a UTI.... ? Still not entirely sure that's true, because: there were/still are no symptoms of it. Other than apparently the rash on my legs could be linked to it? And the lower back pain? What? So.... now I'm on a perscription for that! And it makes me ill. #nosurprise! All medication makes me ill. But – all is well. We're trying new things. I do think the rash might be starting to go away? A little? ....Or I"m just getting used to it. Like everything else. (Haha.... my life.)
So – life moves on. Friday we also finally got to catch up with one of our Less Actives who's NEVER HOME. So that was exciting. She's lovely. Aunty Kahe is her name, and she showed us a bunch of books her daughter had brought back for her from Salt Lake when she visited. And she had us sign in the one with temple pictures next to our temple! Ha. She's so cute. Also: She had a hymn book that had pictures in it. GORGEOUS THINGS.
And Saturday was spent in Russell. :) We love Russell. And we met some lovely people there this week. We also met with one of Clive's friends (Clive = member in Paihia Branch). Her name is Helen. (See picture in my dropbox of me and her.) Can't miss her! She's got BRIGHT RED HAIR! :) ) She's an artist, and wonderful and SO lovely. She shared some of her art with us, as well as her daughters/sons – they're all artists in their family. Ha. — You should also see if you can look them up! Helen Pick and Seraphine Pick. Some fun stuff. Helen did a chair series that's actually kind of fun, and has some cool stories behind the paintings...
Sunday is always lovely, and testimony meeting makes it even lovlier.
And this morning we had Zone Devotional, as it's the end of the transfer (what??!) and our dear Elder Crane is leaving us. Coming back home to the Utah land! — It's really true that Utah's just taking over the NZ Auckland Mission! Haha.
Life is beautiful, the work keeps moving on, and I learn HEAPS each and every week — even if sometimes I don't realize it until I write out this email. Sometimes I just feel inadequate, and like I don't know what I'm doing. But: I do. I just have to gain that faith and confidence in myself that I know my Saviour has in me. "I can do hard things!" — As our dear Bishop Fitzgerald told me to repeat to myself as we were beginning the mission papers process. That came to me this last week, and in a moment of truly needing it too! Because, I can!! We can ALL do hard things — and what is does is makes us all stronger, and to become the people that our Father and Saviour want us to be. Life is grand, the work continues, and I learn more and more each day about how this experience is helping me more than I realize at times.
This gospel is true, folks. It will ALWAYS be true, and we learn that by having FAITH. By reading the SCRIPTURES – The Book of Mormon – and by listening to the counsel given to us by our prophets and apostles that lead and guide us all in this Church today. Joseph Smith gave his ALL to help in the restoration of this Church, and we need to help in CONTINUING IT ON! Life is beautiful. :) Keep on keepin' on!
I hope you have a most lovely week, and that all continues in greatness and happiness!
Arohanui,
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
LETTER MAIL:
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
PO Box 33-840
Takapuna 0740
Auckland
New Zealand
MY WHANAU! [Family]
Hello! I miss your faces, and hope you're having a wonderful day! And also: Happy Birthday to little Daxton! (In your time, that is!)
The weeks just keep FLYING by. I can't even believe it's Monday again! It feels like I was just emailing yesterday. The ups and downs of this week have been intense in all honesty. But – before I get into it, I want you to know that I truly am wonderful. Because I've grown closer to my Father in Heaven and Saviour. And because they have blessed me through all trials, emotions and PHYSICAL STRUGGLES this week.
Ha. I'm making it sound worse than it is. I just had a mini breakdown again. It's fine. :)
Ah: Also, BIG news of the week: I've finished my first journal. I don't know if I've mentioned this – but I made a goal from the very beginning that I was going to write in my journal EVERY DAY of my ENTIRE mission. #goingstrong. And I'm loving it. It helps me to reflect at the end of each day, and it's lovely. So yes. I've made it through an entire journal thus far. And I've added pictures in it, which is kind of fun. :) ....And also makes it a little difficult to close. But whatevs. #happymemories.
The week started with a BANG though. We got to teach Kayla! :) Kayla's a young mum with a partner and 2 boys. And they're adorable. She's SO ready to hear the gospel, and the Lord's timing is brilliant. We were able to teach the first lesson to her this last week, and we have another appointment set with her tomorrow! Woooooo! PARTY! Total excitement! :)
Wednesday we were able to sing at BayCare (as we do every Wednesday morning), and it was wonderful. There's an old man there who's one of our constants – always there, engaged in our singing, and always makes us feel just grand about ourselves. His name is Arthur. And this week his son, Bruce, was there with him. After a couple songs, Bruce asked if he could record us... Haha. Weird things. But we said yes. And sang "Be Still My Soul" – because I'm a little more confident in the alto of that song (being my favourite and whatnot!). He was a lovely man, and made us very happy. Bruce then left, and we continued singing. Arthur this week seemed to be more engaged than normal, listening and always smiling when I looked at him. But then, there was a moment as we sang our last song, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" (its tradition at the end of each week now), that he was very focused, and almost sad. And it almost made me tear up. And then as I went to tell him goodbye – he actually started tearing up and crying. This man has the Spirit so strongly about him, and I don't even know if he knows it! But I felt it that morning. All the residents there are just so loving and happy to see us, and watching him in this moment just made singing there that much more special. :) I'm always excited to go back and see our dear Arthur. :)
We were also able to help one of our members in Paihia in their adventure of moving to Whangarei – and helped to clean their little house they're moving out of. Because, we love them, and we're going to miss them DEARLY. And also because Marie is very pregnant. It was exciting to get to pitch in a bit. And I MISS CLEANING – I mean, we clean our flat every Monday, but it's different when it's for someone else.
And then – James and Taylar Hartley, and their daughter Sophie. They're recent converts who just moved to Waitangi from Whangarei, so we stop in to visit with them every so often, and we're hoping to make Peach Cobbler with them soon! (Ha. James has heard about it and is DYING to try it!)
Exciting thing this week is that I became GREAT friends with Sophie. She's almost 3, and has seemed a bit shy until now.... so I was excited when playing catch with her pink Disney princess ball pulled us together a bit more! Visits are always exciting with them. Love them dearly!
Following these days of being in the CLOUDS where we were so happy – came the day of Sister Ottley finally crashing. I'm honestly still not entirely sure why (this seems to be a trend among my mini breakdowns), but Thursday I was just ridiculously emotional. All. Day. #soannoying. I was tired of my stupid bug bites/rash thing and I think I was just straight up tired.
And then – by the end of the day, I admited to myself that I think I was just a little homesick. So we ended up going to the flat a bit early, I slept forever, and talked with Sister Bath and Sister Balli that night. All is well. And it led to the next day of a doctor appointment.... I swear, I've been to the doctor more in the last 4 months than in the last 4 years of my life!! #newplaceprobs
Oh. Also: Sister Pointer shared with me that my "release of emotions" could have possibly been due to the fact that I was using Lavender so much... because apparently it does that to you? I was putting it on my rash on my legs, cause it was helping to calm it.... but I think it may have been too much too? Who knows.
Anyhoo. Friday resulted in finally perking up a bit, planning for the upcoming week, and then – Sister Bath called. She had a doctor appointment for me. So we went. I told the doctor about my back. They had me take a urine test ('cause it's apparently protocol here? ....first time I've done that), and what do they find out? Apparently I have a UTI.... ? Still not entirely sure that's true, because: there were/still are no symptoms of it. Other than apparently the rash on my legs could be linked to it? And the lower back pain? What? So.... now I'm on a perscription for that! And it makes me ill. #nosurprise! All medication makes me ill. But – all is well. We're trying new things. I do think the rash might be starting to go away? A little? ....Or I"m just getting used to it. Like everything else. (Haha.... my life.)
So – life moves on. Friday we also finally got to catch up with one of our Less Actives who's NEVER HOME. So that was exciting. She's lovely. Aunty Kahe is her name, and she showed us a bunch of books her daughter had brought back for her from Salt Lake when she visited. And she had us sign in the one with temple pictures next to our temple! Ha. She's so cute. Also: She had a hymn book that had pictures in it. GORGEOUS THINGS.
And Saturday was spent in Russell. :) We love Russell. And we met some lovely people there this week. We also met with one of Clive's friends (Clive = member in Paihia Branch). Her name is Helen. (See picture in my dropbox of me and her.) Can't miss her! She's got BRIGHT RED HAIR! :) ) She's an artist, and wonderful and SO lovely. She shared some of her art with us, as well as her daughters/sons – they're all artists in their family. Ha. — You should also see if you can look them up! Helen Pick and Seraphine Pick. Some fun stuff. Helen did a chair series that's actually kind of fun, and has some cool stories behind the paintings...
Sunday is always lovely, and testimony meeting makes it even lovlier.
And this morning we had Zone Devotional, as it's the end of the transfer (what??!) and our dear Elder Crane is leaving us. Coming back home to the Utah land! — It's really true that Utah's just taking over the NZ Auckland Mission! Haha.
Life is beautiful, the work keeps moving on, and I learn HEAPS each and every week — even if sometimes I don't realize it until I write out this email. Sometimes I just feel inadequate, and like I don't know what I'm doing. But: I do. I just have to gain that faith and confidence in myself that I know my Saviour has in me. "I can do hard things!" — As our dear Bishop Fitzgerald told me to repeat to myself as we were beginning the mission papers process. That came to me this last week, and in a moment of truly needing it too! Because, I can!! We can ALL do hard things — and what is does is makes us all stronger, and to become the people that our Father and Saviour want us to be. Life is grand, the work continues, and I learn more and more each day about how this experience is helping me more than I realize at times.
This gospel is true, folks. It will ALWAYS be true, and we learn that by having FAITH. By reading the SCRIPTURES – The Book of Mormon – and by listening to the counsel given to us by our prophets and apostles that lead and guide us all in this Church today. Joseph Smith gave his ALL to help in the restoration of this Church, and we need to help in CONTINUING IT ON! Life is beautiful. :) Keep on keepin' on!
I hope you have a most lovely week, and that all continues in greatness and happiness!
Arohanui,
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Monday, August 24, 2015
Kia Ora!!
This week has definitely had it's UPS and DOWNS. Struggling in feeling adequate in training Sister Boiteux at times, as well as in helping her to get through tough times of her own. I've gone through feeling like a failure in finding people, or in feeling like time has been wasted driving around trying to find a less active member in our records.
I even had a miniature break-down Tuesday night after visiting Jemmeka, feeling like she no longer cared for me - because Sister O'Reilly is gone. And then driving on the way home I hit a flipping possum. (What is it with me and animals LOVING to dive in front of my car?) Sister Boiteux found it hilarious in the moment, but I definitely didn't at the time. Cute- but stupid little things possums are! So... that night was a struggle. Leading up to Wednesday morning when we had a companion study with our Zone Leaders, Elder Gerdes and now Elder Craine. I have to say that it was most definitely an inspired thing that they asked if they could have a comp study with us. They had us "prepare" something to learn about and study together, but I just went in with talking about the "Humpty Dumpty" poem you sent me mom [Atonement poem] — DEFINITELY what I needed to read that morning. So the Elders came, having happened to listen to a talk by Elder Bednar on the way to the chapel we met at. The title is "Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease," and they talked to us about that. They gave me great advice about moving forward and looking to the Atonement of Christ in all things. They helped me to feel better and gave me new things to think about - reminding me that, "There's no growing in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growing zone." Hard, but true. I hadn't planned on crying in front of the Elders... but ha. That ship sailed. But it helped. And they are wonderful.
Companion study = a wonderful and inspired thing! :)
The week since then - has been slow. But, also good. Sister Boiteux and I are getting to know each other better and learning how to teach with one another. It's weird this week - almost being at a loss of words what to say about what's gone on!
We've found a new investigator though! His name is Craig. Sister O'Reilly and I originally tracted into his house and met his mum - who's really not interested in being a part of any religion because "how do you know which is true when there are so many??!" — Ha.. Well, let us tell you ;) Nah - but her son is pretty into the idea of at least listening to us. So that's been nice! We're hoping to teach the Plan of Salvation to him this week - so we'll see how it settles with him.
I've also been able to introduce Sister Boiteux to a good portion of the members in our areas - most recent being the Tua's last night. Her first meal with the Tuas :) Haha. And Brother Tua already had a necklace all made up for her! "Sweet as," right? He's just wonderful! ["Sweet as" is a NZ expression used like we use, Sweet!... expressing our likes!]
OH! AND GUESS WHAT! So... a couple of weeks ago, Elder Summers and Blandford dropped off a Maori Book of Mormon to our flat for Sister O'Reilly and me. But... that's the thing. Just one. So I let Sister O'Reilly take it. BUT - I HAVE MY VERY OWN NOW! And... it makes no sense, yet. But - I'm coming to learn a bit here and there, and it's super exciting. It's fun to at least see the different names translated into Maori - and a few words that I've been able to make out from hearing people say them here. I just love it. — I know, I know. Dad's laughing right now and saying, "See!?? I told you that you'd be learning Maori!" Yes, yes, you are right papa! I'm loving my Maori - the very little I know. I'm trying my hardest to use it when I can though!
I'm EXCITED and EXHAUSTED as a trainer. It's just made me wonder how Sister O'Reilly really truly was while we were together. I miss her a lot. But - I know Sister Boiteux and I need each other right now as well so that we can find new ways to get members more involved and to get less actives more active! (Which is a struggle I'm learning - with most of them having partners, and not wanting to get married.) But I feel Sister Boiteux is becoming more forgiving as she's realized how small our areas really are. — Just another reason as to why we have TWO areas we cover. Otherwise all the people of Matauri Bay would just be crazy sick and tired of us coming to their doors! Ha!
I have been informed by Sister Beckstead (Area Medical Mum) that my package is waiting for me, so it WILL get to me. :) (And I told her there's things in it that will help me - so I know she'll make sure it gets in the ZL's car!) And I also knew she'd be emailing you! Ha. She's adorable. She calls me from time to time, making sure everything is going okay with the bug situation. It was TWELVE?? missionaries that had chicken pox last year in NZ? I didn't realize it was that many! Haha. And I don't think we've decided what it actually is... Ha. I'm still going to say no to shingles - just cause it's only on exposed skin. So same to no with chicken pox. But Sister Beckstead did call me this week saying that "if they keep showing up, I may be quarantined" ... so that's fun! But no more have shown up just yet, so no worries. :) They really are starting to go away. Most of them have definitely scabbed over, and I just have the curse of looking like I have leporacy or something of the sort now. Yay!
One good thing that came from bugs - for a while I had a couple on my lips - which made them rather plump, if you ask me. Hahaha... Which was nice, but also less than important being a missionary. ;) (I'm just saying though, people pay good money for stuff that does that.) ;)
And no to GPS - haha. That's definitely not a thing. We have cute little Nokia phones - like super old school ones. They're great. But I'm finding my way around pretty fine now. Just struggling to find the houses that don't seem to exist! ;)
And here's the short little poem I wrote a few weeks ago... I wish I could remember when exactly. But it was late at night, after I said my prayers - when I was struggling with confidence and how to teach with the Spirit. It was actually nice to find this again this morning and remind myself of the things I know my Father gave to me that night to think about. :)
My Saviour
I have a knowledge of the Spirit–
I have confidence in thee.
And with these two things,
I can be anyone I want to be!
Short and simple. :) I'm hoping I'll be able to add a little more to it soon. We'll see. I'm going to actually put it somewhere that I can see it and think on it a bit more.
And a couple of scriptures that I came across in study this morning:
Alma 1:25 "Now, this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them."
And...
Mosiah 4:27 "...for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength."
Aaand - I'm up to Alma in the Book of Mormon now. Yay! Have I mentioned that I'm understanding the stories more than I ever have before? It's truly amazing. And wonderful, and a blessing to actually really understand what you read... haha.
Life is good. More adventures to come. More struggles and trials, I'm sure - but also more happy things on their way.
Much love to all. :)
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
I even had a miniature break-down Tuesday night after visiting Jemmeka, feeling like she no longer cared for me - because Sister O'Reilly is gone. And then driving on the way home I hit a flipping possum. (What is it with me and animals LOVING to dive in front of my car?) Sister Boiteux found it hilarious in the moment, but I definitely didn't at the time. Cute- but stupid little things possums are! So... that night was a struggle. Leading up to Wednesday morning when we had a companion study with our Zone Leaders, Elder Gerdes and now Elder Craine. I have to say that it was most definitely an inspired thing that they asked if they could have a comp study with us. They had us "prepare" something to learn about and study together, but I just went in with talking about the "Humpty Dumpty" poem you sent me mom [Atonement poem] — DEFINITELY what I needed to read that morning. So the Elders came, having happened to listen to a talk by Elder Bednar on the way to the chapel we met at. The title is "Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease," and they talked to us about that. They gave me great advice about moving forward and looking to the Atonement of Christ in all things. They helped me to feel better and gave me new things to think about - reminding me that, "There's no growing in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growing zone." Hard, but true. I hadn't planned on crying in front of the Elders... but ha. That ship sailed. But it helped. And they are wonderful.
Companion study = a wonderful and inspired thing! :)
The week since then - has been slow. But, also good. Sister Boiteux and I are getting to know each other better and learning how to teach with one another. It's weird this week - almost being at a loss of words what to say about what's gone on!
We've found a new investigator though! His name is Craig. Sister O'Reilly and I originally tracted into his house and met his mum - who's really not interested in being a part of any religion because "how do you know which is true when there are so many??!" — Ha.. Well, let us tell you ;) Nah - but her son is pretty into the idea of at least listening to us. So that's been nice! We're hoping to teach the Plan of Salvation to him this week - so we'll see how it settles with him.
I've also been able to introduce Sister Boiteux to a good portion of the members in our areas - most recent being the Tua's last night. Her first meal with the Tuas :) Haha. And Brother Tua already had a necklace all made up for her! "Sweet as," right? He's just wonderful! ["Sweet as" is a NZ expression used like we use, Sweet!... expressing our likes!]
OH! AND GUESS WHAT! So... a couple of weeks ago, Elder Summers and Blandford dropped off a Maori Book of Mormon to our flat for Sister O'Reilly and me. But... that's the thing. Just one. So I let Sister O'Reilly take it. BUT - I HAVE MY VERY OWN NOW! And... it makes no sense, yet. But - I'm coming to learn a bit here and there, and it's super exciting. It's fun to at least see the different names translated into Maori - and a few words that I've been able to make out from hearing people say them here. I just love it. — I know, I know. Dad's laughing right now and saying, "See!?? I told you that you'd be learning Maori!" Yes, yes, you are right papa! I'm loving my Maori - the very little I know. I'm trying my hardest to use it when I can though!
I'm EXCITED and EXHAUSTED as a trainer. It's just made me wonder how Sister O'Reilly really truly was while we were together. I miss her a lot. But - I know Sister Boiteux and I need each other right now as well so that we can find new ways to get members more involved and to get less actives more active! (Which is a struggle I'm learning - with most of them having partners, and not wanting to get married.) But I feel Sister Boiteux is becoming more forgiving as she's realized how small our areas really are. — Just another reason as to why we have TWO areas we cover. Otherwise all the people of Matauri Bay would just be crazy sick and tired of us coming to their doors! Ha!
I have been informed by Sister Beckstead (Area Medical Mum) that my package is waiting for me, so it WILL get to me. :) (And I told her there's things in it that will help me - so I know she'll make sure it gets in the ZL's car!) And I also knew she'd be emailing you! Ha. She's adorable. She calls me from time to time, making sure everything is going okay with the bug situation. It was TWELVE?? missionaries that had chicken pox last year in NZ? I didn't realize it was that many! Haha. And I don't think we've decided what it actually is... Ha. I'm still going to say no to shingles - just cause it's only on exposed skin. So same to no with chicken pox. But Sister Beckstead did call me this week saying that "if they keep showing up, I may be quarantined" ... so that's fun! But no more have shown up just yet, so no worries. :) They really are starting to go away. Most of them have definitely scabbed over, and I just have the curse of looking like I have leporacy or something of the sort now. Yay!
One good thing that came from bugs - for a while I had a couple on my lips - which made them rather plump, if you ask me. Hahaha... Which was nice, but also less than important being a missionary. ;) (I'm just saying though, people pay good money for stuff that does that.) ;)
And no to GPS - haha. That's definitely not a thing. We have cute little Nokia phones - like super old school ones. They're great. But I'm finding my way around pretty fine now. Just struggling to find the houses that don't seem to exist! ;)
And here's the short little poem I wrote a few weeks ago... I wish I could remember when exactly. But it was late at night, after I said my prayers - when I was struggling with confidence and how to teach with the Spirit. It was actually nice to find this again this morning and remind myself of the things I know my Father gave to me that night to think about. :)
My Saviour
I have a knowledge of the Spirit–
I have confidence in thee.
And with these two things,
I can be anyone I want to be!
Short and simple. :) I'm hoping I'll be able to add a little more to it soon. We'll see. I'm going to actually put it somewhere that I can see it and think on it a bit more.
And a couple of scriptures that I came across in study this morning:
Alma 1:25 "Now, this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them."
And...
Mosiah 4:27 "...for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength."
Aaand - I'm up to Alma in the Book of Mormon now. Yay! Have I mentioned that I'm understanding the stories more than I ever have before? It's truly amazing. And wonderful, and a blessing to actually really understand what you read... haha.
Life is good. More adventures to come. More struggles and trials, I'm sure - but also more happy things on their way.
Much love to all. :)
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
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