Busiest Week of the Mission

From the Letter to the Mission President:

This week was perhaps one of the busiest weeks I have had on the mission. I loved every minute of it! It is so thrilling to be able to work with so many amazing missionaries! 

My family is doing amazing! I am so grateful for their support of me. They are doing great things in Idaho! :) 

This week we saw so many miracles. Yesterday we had a lesson with a woman named A. She told us that she was confused as to why there are so many churches and religions in the world. She told us that she was searching for her church. We invited her to be baptized if she came to know that our church is true. She accepted for herself and for her whole family! We are so excited to teach A! We really feel that she is prepared to listen to our message! What a marvelous miracle we were blessed with this past week!

Hermana Smith and I are doing great! It is almost funny how similar we are in some aspects. We are always about to ask our investigators the same questions or say the same things. It is joyful to work with her! I feel like Hermana Smith really helps our investigators understand the scriptures and what we are teaching them. I am learning so much from her!

I thoroughly enjoyed MLC this past week! I feel like I truly understand my purpose as a missionary better now. My testimony of this work was strengthened. We are here to help people come unto Jesus Christ! The gospel of Jesus Christ changes people! They just have to have the faith to change. Our job is to help them to develop that faith. Through our obedience to the commandments, to the mission rules, and the covenants we have made, we can be effective instruments in the Lord's hands. How wonderful! 

This week we had the opportunity to serve in Paso Robles. One day we were able to work at a food bank and the other day we worked at a wellness kitchen!  What a joy it is to serve! At the food bank we worked by putting together food bags for people in need. At the wellness kitchen we were able to help prepare the food. I know it is definitely inspired that we, as missionaries, are allowed time to serve in the community. I know that people all around us notice that we are making a difference.

I loved my first two exchanges with Hermana Player and Hermana Justiniano! It was such a pleasure to be able to work with these sweet sisters! Their testimonies are strong and they are here to work! It was so much fun!

Mom!  Paso Robles is so pretty!

They actually have seasons up there! It was so great to see the fall colors!

Exchanges!

I accidentally cut my finger when I was working at the wellness kitchen this past week! I was fine until I saw the blood.

 Then I pulled a "Josh" and almost fainted. I sat down quickly and saved myself any embarrassment. Other people's blood doesn't bother me, just my own. 

Don't worry! It's not very bad, I just had to cut down the nail a little bit. Give it a couple weeks and it'll be as good as new. 

Yes, I just received your letter today! It is always so wonderful hearing from you! Also I am getting close to the end of my journal. I just need a journal to write all my wonderful missionary experiences in. Whatever will work. 

That's awesome about Kaylee! I can't believe she is already home! Time is just flying so fast! This week really was crazy! 

So yesterday I played the piano in Relief Society. Silly hermana, thinking I can play songs I don't know. I tried my best. And then I led the music in gospel principles. And then I played the piano in Sacrament meeting. The absence of practice for 10 months was evident in my playing. I really want to learn how to play the piano correctly when I get back. I think my fingering is all wrong. 

Haha that is what happens when you serve in a branch. I was also informed that every month we (the missionaries) talk in Sacrament meeting. Should be good :)

Elder Hamson! He is 7 ft 3 inches. We had to take a picture with him! He was in my zone in my first area I think!

There is a really good CD called Lead Thou Me On, by vocal point. It is really good. You could send that to me sometime if you want. :)

We tried these slushy type things called Mangonada . A member bought it for us. We were excited to try it! It was mango, but then they also put chile in it. It was so gross!

Our face with the member vs without the member!

It was great to try though! :)

Hmmm have I changed?

 Beginning of the mission vs last month.

Well thanks so much for everything you do! I really appreciate all your prayers and love and support! It really makes the world of difference. 

Also I had a question. Aubrey said that Emily would be working Christmas. Is she working all day? If not, would there be a good time to call when I could catch most of the family. Let me know when you figure it out.  Thanks so much Mom for everything you have done, are doing, and will do for me! You are my hero! I love you and Dad and the family so much! You are all the most important thing to me! Thank you! And send me some pictures of the snow. That is all. Stay warm!

Con mucho amor,

Tu Hermana, Hija, Cunada, y Tia Favorita

Hermana Ashley Rae Killpack :)

Training in Santa Barbara

Sorry everything is so random! I have so much to do! I'm also writing the President right now. Also for C-mas I need another journal. Oh and I thought of something else. For C-mas I want everyone to write down their testimony and send it to me! All of the kids and you and dad!

Elder Robinson and Hermana Killpack, both Firth High Graduates and friends seeing each other at transfer meeting!

From the Letter to the Mission President:

This week has been amazing! I am thrilled for this new assignment I have to be a Sister Training Leader! I already love all the Hermanas so much! I am excited for this opportunity to serve them!

My family is doing fantastic! All healthy and well, at least that's what they tell me. They are doing great in snowy Idaho. I am doing marvelous in sunny California! :)

Santa Barbara is such a special area! We have so many amazing people that we are working with. We are working with 3 young girls named A, S, and L. They are so cute! They all really want to be baptized! They have had missionaries for a while and know most of the missionary lessons. They are hoping that their dad will allow them to be baptized. Their dad is fine with them learning, he just wants them to really understand what they are learning before they get baptized. We are also trying to work with him to help him to get baptized as well. We pray that his heart may be softened and that we can help them be baptized this transfer.

Hermana Smith is amazing!!!!!!! I love her so much! I am learning so much from her! She is always so patient with me. She is really helping me to improve my Spanish! I am so grateful to be working with her. She is a hard and diligent worker. Every night we go to bed simply exhausted! I love it! We are convinced that this is going to be one of the best transfers ever! We are determined to work harder than ever this transfer! :) 

This week my testimony of the Atonement of Christ has been strengthened.  Through the Atonement, we can truly do all things! I know that through the Atonement, I can become the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be. I know that as I repent daily and use the enabling power of the Atonement I can change my very nature. This is exactly what I want! :)

I know this transfer I will be blessed with many opportunities to serve the Hermanas that I am working with. As we planned exchanges, I felt so excited for the privilege I have to work with Heavenly Father's precious daughters. I am so grateful that as missionaries, we are servants of Christ. 

I am so excited for this next week! We have 2 exchanges in Paso Robles and we have MLC! I absolutely love being a missionary! It is the best thing in the world! :) 

Mom! 

So this transfer is going to be crazy! We have 2 exchanges (Where we go to other missionaries areas and work with them for a day. I would work with one Hermana, and Hna Smith would work with another), 2 MLC's (missionary leadership council), 2 Zone Conferences, and we are going to the temple for my birthday! It is Hna Smith's last transfer so I wanted to take her with me!

I love this family so much! Vazquez's in Santa Paula!

Also, you are always welcome to send clothes! I only wear a couple of my skirts because some of them feel too big! 

Also I know what I need for Christmas! Socks!

That's Hna Halliday (above)! She just went home. 

This is Hna Smith:

This week we will be in Paso Robles for 2 enchanges, Oxnard for MLC, and Lompoc for a zone meeting. I'm so excited! This week is going to be so crazy!

This transfer we will have 7 exchanges in all, in Santa Maria, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, and Solvang I think. Whoo!

So we are both STL's (Sister Training Leaders) which is fun! Hna Smith is from Orange, Vermont. She is awesome! I really love her! 

I miss the snow! Sad thing I was cold the other night when it was 65 degrees! I have lost my polar skin!

We are living with some members!  We have this really small little apartment!

The door is tiny! I feel like snow white and the 7 dwarfs every time I go in this door. 

It only has one room, and a bathroom. It's crazy! Well I don't have much more time, but I hope and pray that all is well with you! I love you all! I am so excited to be a missionary! Please have the best week ever! 

Con amor,

Hermana Killpack :)

This is the Catholic Mission that is close to where we live. I want to take a picture in front of it some time. 

Lots of brand new adventures this week for sure! Have a great week! I pray for all of you! :)

Hna Killpack :)

Also district selfie haha

Raining Both Blessings and Rain

From the Letter to the Mission President:

My last week in Santa Paula has definitely been a very blessed week! I feel so grateful for the time that I have been given to work here. I am going to miss Santa Paula and the people here. However, I know that there are people waiting for me in Santa Barbara! I am thrilled to be going there. I am also humbled and excited for the opportunity that I now have to be a Sister Training Leader! 

As always, my family is receiving so many blessings. I know that they are all praying for me and that gives me strength. They are very supportive of me and I am so grateful for each and every one of them! :)

This week the heavens were opened. It rained out blessings, and even actual rain! We were able to meet with Z. We were having a lesson with her about the importance of baptism when all of a sudden she blurted out, "I am going to be baptized!" Hermana Young and I looked at each other surprised. She continued, "I am going to be baptized! I know it's true! I want to go to the celestial kingdom."  The spirit was so strong! It was such a miracle! Before the lesson she had been talking about how she did not want to join our church because she did not want to be labeled as something. Hermana Young and I are SO grateful for the Spirit. The Spirit is the real teacher. He can touch the hearts of those we teach. We set Z with December 6th for her baptismal date. Although I wish I could be here, I am so thankful that I was able to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and help one of His daughters come back to him. Z is a very special girl and I know that she will be such an example to many of her friends!

I have absolutely loved working with Hermana Young! I have learned so much from her! She has helped me to really slow down in life and take time to enjoy it. I am so proud of her and everything that she has learned in the past 12 weeks! She is a fast learner and often times she was teaching me. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father who knows exactly we need at exactly the right time!

We got to glean oranges in Filmore with the Elders for a service project this past week!  It was such a fun activity to do! I am definitely grateful that each week we have the opportunity to serve those around us. 

I know that this is the Lord's work! Never before in my life have I witnessed so many miracles! For that I am eternally grateful! I know that exact obedience does bring miracles! I know, more than ever before, that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for me. His plan is always better than our plan. We just have to put our trust in Him. I love this gospel! I love this work! I love being a missionary! I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am eternally grateful for the Atonement. I love my Heavenly Father! I love life! :)

MOM!

Yes! Transfers!!! I'm going to Santa Barbara! And I am going to be a Sister Training Leader (STL)!!!!

So many new changes huh!?!?! 

And guess what?

Haha proposal #2

So we were teaching a lesson and we have been teaching him about eternal marriage. Last Sunday at church, the talks and classes were also on eternal marriage. Anyway we were talking with X about learning English one day after his lesson and he said to me, "Marry me so I can learn English." 

I started laughing so hard. I couldn't help it. Hermana Young (who hadn't been feeling very well that day) didn't hear what he had said. So there she was kinda laughing,  pretending she knew what was going on, but she was just really confused. Meanwhile I am just dying of laughter because the whole situation was crazy! X then said he was only joking. I am not sure if he was joking or not...

Don't think I'm terrible because I was laughing, I couldn't help it... 

But anyways, there you have: Proposal #2

Gorgeous sunrise! 

I love Hermana Miller! :)

Hahah picking oranges with the Elders! Elder McKay and Elder Simpson.

Elder Lopez!

Elder Moreno, our District Leader, hiding.

Our Halloween costumes. I was Elder Young, and Hna Young was Hna Old. haha

Hello rain in California! We have all been praying for rain. 

Recently I had forgotten to pray for rain. The day I remembered to pray for rain, it rained! I can't take the credit, but I know that Heavenly Father was listening to all of our prayers! :)

So funny story... We decorate our planners every transfer. One day I pulled out my planner and Elder Jones pulled out his planner and put it right next to mine. Then Elder Hunt slipped his planner out of his pocket and Hermana Young took out hers. We discovered to our astonishment that we had used the exact same pictures of Christ on our planners! It was so funny! 

What are the odds of that happening to both of us?!?!

Hermano G from the Branch!

 He is awesome! He and his family are converts! They are so strong in the Gospel! 

So yesterday we had dinner/ learned how to cook Mexican rice with JM. She is D's mother and she is an angel! For some reason she loves me a lot too! She also calls me "Mija de mi corazon." Daughter of my heart. It's cute. Anyways we learned how to cook awesome rice and then had dinner. We had fish, rice, beans, zucchini with corn and chilis and tortillas. We didn't even have forks or any utensils. We just ate everything with the tortillas! It was really good, but I was so full! It is so fun to eat in exactly the opposite way I was taught. Haha I love Hispanic culture! 

D, me, and JM

I (behind us)...at our birthday party! (It was no one's bday but we celebrated together because we won't be together for anyone's bday) They all loved the potatoes that I brought! Haha they want the recipe! I told them I don't have one! Hna Young make some really good cake!

Thanks so much for your letter! I love you! I have to pack everything today which will be crazy! Hopefully I'll be able to write you a letter next week! I love you all so much! Thanks for your prayers for me! We are seeing so many miracles! I'm doing great and loving life! Have a great week! :)

Love you

con amor,

Hermana Ashley Killpack :)