Every Day is the Best Day Ever

March 23, 2015

From the letter to the Mission President:

This past week was fantastic! We have been working hard trying to get to know the members better. We have found a lot of less-active members. We have also found friends and family of members and less-active members with great potential. We love working here and sometimes there aren't enough hours in the day to do all that we would like. 

My family is doing well! My brother is excitedly preparing to serve his mission! The countdown until he leaves has begun!

We had the opportunity to have "Noche de Hogar" twice this week! The first was on Monday night. We met with a member and her husband, who is not a member, and the 2nd counselor of the Relief Society. We had a really good lesson on repentance and the importance of baptism. It went really well!

On Saturday, we had another family night. Presidente Predazzi invited the Elders and us to invite some of our investigators to a family night at their home. It was great! We talked about the Word of Wisdom. We all got to contribute why the Word of Wisdom is important and the promises that we receive as we obey it. Afterwards we had dinner together. It was so much fun! I really do appreciate Presidente Predazzi's willingness to invite our investigators to his home and his desire to work with together with us!

I know that we have been in Santa Maria for about 2 weeks, but it feels like so much longer! We already have such a love for the people here! The members here are always so willing to help us in whatever way they can. I know that as we continue to work closely with the members here, we will see great success.

Hermana Costilla is amazing! We love being companions! We truly work together as a team! Every day we laugh and have so much fun! I love how we both find joy in missionary work! I have learned so much from her example. She is responsible and accountable in all that she does! She is wonderful! :)

This week, I have learned so much about communication. Without proper communication we cannot have a relationship with anyone. As I have reflected on communication, I've thought about my communication with Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the power of prayer. It is something so simple, but yet so powerful! I know that as I take time to communicate with my Father in Heaven, I feel the spirit more abundantly. That is a feeling that I truly do treasure and desire to be with me everyday.

This week has been amazing! It has just flown by so fast! We are excited for another week of MLC and exchanges! It is so wonderful to be a missionary! I love it so much! Every day is the best day ever! :)

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Mom! Yes, thank you for the lotion! That was a surprise! Also, I did get Emily's package! I got it on Thursday, I think. I'm not sure why it came so late! However, it was so cute! I am so thrilled for them!

Yes, school, thinking about that is crazy! I'll try to get back to you on that! Also, I'm pretty sure my track starting off was fall-spring. I wanted fall-winter originally and didn't get it. Is that correct? To be honest, I don't remember much about things like that. 

Yeah! Kittens! I love kittens! You can send me a picture! :) 

Hmmm, I haven't thought about rooming either. Maybe you could give me a list of options of housing apartments and I could pray about it. I would love to room with Hannah! She is one of the sweetest girls I know! :) 

I LOVED your letter! I truly do love hearing from you! You are so wise, clever, and witty! Love it! Miss it! :)

My slippers are starting to die... kinda like everything else I own... but it's okay, because I have safety pins! :)

Do you see this?

They were trying to make me eat it! 

Hermana Costilla did! I couldn't even touch one, let alone eat them. 

They are grasshoppers I think. YUCK!

Does Hermana Killpack want to eat this? No, no she doesn't!

"Just try a leg" They said. "It will be good" They said.

Don't worry! I just waited for the cake. It was R's birthday!

So cute!

She turned 5! What a cutie! I already love the P family so much! :)

Hermana Tauiliili and I at transfers!

Exchanges with Hermana Price! It was so fun!

I thought about what you said in your letter. I love that scripture too in Mosiah 24:14-15. What I especially love is that the Lord didn't take away their burdens, but he made Alma and his people stronger through the enabling power of the Atonement. Now, when I have trials, I don't ask for the trial to be taken away. I ask to be strengthened so that I can "bear my burden with ease."

Also, did you love my planners?! Yeah, those are pretty fun! I wish I could explain to Andrew how they work, but I know that he will figure all of that out pretty soon! 

Well thanks so much for your love, support, and prayers! I do LOVE getting letters from you! It's nice to know everyone is alive and well. Tell Aubs that I hope she gets better soon! Give her a hug and kiss for me!

Gotta go,

Have a great week! Love you

Con amor,

Hermana Killpack :)

Exciting Changes

March 16, 2015

From the Letter to the Mission President:

Wow! My family is doing amazing! My younger brother just got called to serve in the Irvine California Mission! I am so excited for him! He leaves June 24th! He will be such an amazing missionary! He is thrilled! Also, I found out that my older sister is expecting a baby girl! She is due a couple weeks after I get home! There are so many exciting things happening with my family!

I love being here in Santa Maria! We have been working hard! We have loved starting to get to know the members here. There is a lot of work here do be done, but we are excited for the challenge! 

We had a couple lessons with our investigator N. He is doing great! We had a powerful lesson about fasting. He loves the church, he loves the members here, but he told us he doesn't quite know if he should be baptized or if he knows that the Book of Mormon is true. We are planning to fast with N so that he can know for himself if these things are true. 

We have been making an effort to go through the ward list and visit anyone that we don't know. We are also visiting active members of the church. We are working to be 100% accountable to the Lord for the people here in Santa Maria. I love it so much! There are quite a few less-actives here, but we are determined to help them come back!

Hermana Costilla is an amazing companion! We feel like we have been serving together as companions for weeks! It's hard to believe that it has only been a couple days! We get along so well and have so much fun together! She has so much charity for everyone!

This week, I have been study the Atonement. As I was thinking about the members and people here, I was thinking that something we need to be sharing with them is the Atonement. Through faith in Jesus Christ, all things are possible. As the members here come to understand the Atonement better, I know that they will be more open to sharing the gospel with their friends. I know that as I come to understand the Atonement better, I will be a more effective instrument in the Lord's Hands. 

This week we were able to serve an investigator named M. She is working on remodeling her house. It is a ton of work! We involved the Elders, and were able to get a lot of work done. M loves the missionaries. She wants her two sons to serve missions one day!

 

I love working here in Santa Maria! It is so much fun! We are excited to help this area grow! We definitely have seen so many miracles already! I know that the Lord will continue to bless us as we work diligently and faithfully!

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MOM! Yes, I would love to hear more from you! Sorry I don't have much time left! I have received so much exciting news today! I am thrilled! Is it bad to pray that Andrew's mission gets changed to the Great California Ventura Mission? ;)

I haven't got Emily's package. Did she send it to Santa Barbara or the Mission Home? Because I am now living in Santa Maria! But she did send me an email and she is having a girl! Wahoo! :)

I'm so excited for Andrew! There is so much work to be done here in California! I wish that I could see him before he leaves, but I know that the Lord has a plan for everything, and everything will work out as it should! :) 

Also, some of my past companions had been called to serve in the Irvine Mission, but later, were reassigned to the California Ventura Mission! Haha we'll see what happens! 

Haha this morning Hna Costilla woke up and heard that we were talking to each other in Spanish! Companionship unity! Haha! I love working with Hna Costilla! We are doing great! 

Look what I found! An old Killpack truck! In Oxnard California! :) The license plate said Oregon. 

Our district! Elder Perrish, was my 2nd district leader, and Elder Moreno was my 3rd. And now, we are all in the same district! So fun!

Elder Davidson our district leader!

And this is Elder Spackman my first district leader! He just finished his mission! (I was trying to make this picture not awkward, but it's still awkward! Oh well...)

Vicente was sad that we left SB. He told us that we needed to marry someone from SB and that he would babysit our children for us. Haha he is so funny!

Our last night with Hermana Farias and Carmelo! I miss them both so much! 

Well sorry, I have to go! I love you all so much! Hopefully I can write you a letter sometime, but I never have time. But hopefully soon! I love you all so much! Please have a blessed week! Hna Costilla says "Hola!"

Love you lots!

Con amor,

Hermana Killpack :) 

Transfers

From the Letter to the Mission President:

My family is doing wonderful! They are still waiting for my younger brother's mission call to arrive. It will most likely come this week! I am so excited for him!

Hermana Eastman and I had a marvelous week! We had so much success working with the members! We were able to find a number of less-active members whom we have never met before! We took Hermana Farias out with us. She is an amazing missionary! For a 80+ year old woman she has a lot of energy. She is called the grandma of the Branch. She truly just loves everyone. She is the epitome of what a member missionary should be.

We found a less-active family this week. They have 4 kids. They haven't been to church for some time. In my 4 months in Santa Barbara I had never met them until last week. Hermana Farias has played an important role in helping us get into some of the less-active member houses. They all know her and love her. We talked with this beautiful family, and they told us that they want to come to church next month to bless their baby boy!

We have also been working with G. We had a really powerful lesson with G! She told us that she wants to be baptized! She said that she wants her husband, I, to be baptized as well. G has such a sweet spirit. She comes to church faithfully every week with her husband. I know that she will get baptized!

C has been doing wonderful as well! He came to Stake Conference yesterday and loved it! He was excited to meet you! He is sad that Hermana Eastman and I are leaving, however, I know that he has great support and love from the Branch. I am so grateful that we involved the members when we first started teaching C. I know that C has excellent support and will continue to do great things!

A loves being a member of the church. She went to the temple visitor's center this past week and loved it! She lives with members, and I know that they will be a great support to her as she continues to grow and develop her testimony. 

I have absolutely loved serving here in Santa Barbara. It has been my favorite area. It truly feels like home here. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father allowed me to come here and be an instrument in His Hands in this part of His vineyard. I am going to miss the people here, but I am excited to find the people that Heavenly Father has prepared for me in Santa Maria. I have a feeling that I am going to learn lots this next transfer. I am thrilled to be able to work with Hermana Costilla. She is an excellent missionary! We will work very hard.

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MOM! It's great to hear from you! It sounds like everyone is doing good. Wow that's excited about Spencer! He definitely has a lot of talents! And I am so excited to hear what Emily is having! That's super cute with the cupcakes! And wow, you are dad are looking great! Dad looks tan! It must be the coconut oil ;) 

We had stake conference yesterday! It was wonderful! This is Mirella! 

She is such a wonderful member with a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon!

The Castrejons and Hna Farias!

Presidente Mendoza and his wife, and Hna Farias!

Oh btw, I'm leaving Santa Barbara! I'm going to Santa Maria! It was a bit of a surprise, but I am so excited! I have always wanted to go to Santa Maria. But I am really going to miss the members here. They really have become my family!

Also, good news! Santa Maria has a Walmart! Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me! :)

Yes, I would love to go shopping! I don't even know what the style is anymore. Sometimes I feel so out of style, but it is the missionary life. 

Also, I forgot to tell you, a couple week ago I was brushing my teeth and a part of my tooth chipped off, (I think) so anyways I haven't been wearing my retainer at night because I think it might have been pushing on my tooth. I'm not really sure, but we can figure things out later.

Yes, I would love to come back to visit after my mission! I would love to come back before I start school in September; that would be perfect. Yes, it might depend on Emily and Andrew when we go, but that's okay.

Well thanks so much for your love and prayers! This week will be an adventure for sure. Hermana Costilla and I will be white washing into the area. That means neither of us have served in the area. There will be lots of people to meet, and things to figure out, but I am so excited. It will be awesome!

C is sad that we are leaving. We are sad we are leaving. It's been sad telling our investigators that we are both going. Some of them have cried, some of them have given us things, others have added us on Facebook. I feel like I am leaving my family, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for everything. 

Well, I gotta go, not much time left. I will probably send home a package this week of just stuff. Thanks for your love and support. I love you~!

Con amor,

Hermana Killpack :) 

P.S. I just forgot, Hermana Eastman has been a wonderful companion! I know that she will succeed in life because of her determination. She is a wonderful teacher and I am so grateful for all the things that I have learned from her! 

Welcome March

March 2, 2015

From the Letter to the Mission President:

We had such a wonderful week! One of the best for sure! We saw so many miracles! Yesterday we had 10 investigators at church!! It was such a joyful day!

My family is doing awesome! I have a new cousin! My family is excited for that. We are still waiting for my younger brother to get his mission call.

Yesterday we had A's baptism!! She was so excited to be baptized! She came out of the water smiling from ear to ear. It was precious! We also sang at her baptism and I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  We all felt the spirit so strongly yesterday! We are excited to help A continue to progress in the church. She definitely will be a strong member of the church.  

 

C helped prepare the sacrament yesterday! It was his first time and he did great! I was brought to tears as I watched him prepare the sacrament. He has grown so much! It was such a humbling experience for me! He also bore his testimony (first time) and it was powerful! C also received a calling! He was called and set apart yesterday as a branch missionary! We are excited to work more with him and bring him to our lessons! He seems to be doing better and better every day! 

Our 10 year old investigator, O, also bore his testimony yesterday! I helped him. He was nervous, but he did a great job. He truly has the light of Christ. I already see him as a member. O and his brother U love coming to church! We love teaching them!

Hermana Eastman is such a wonderful companion! I feel like I am constantly learning from her everyday! I am so grateful for her example to me. She is an excellent missionary!

This week, a certain phrase has been coming to my mind. "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven." I know that as we lose our lives in the service of the Lord, we will find them. I am certain that I have experienced the blessings and miracles that I have had because of the sacrifices I have made. It is only but a small price for the joy that it has brought me. I only wish that I could sacrifice more. It truly is worth it to serve the Lord!

This week has been so miraculous! I love life! It just keeps getting better and better somehow! I am so grateful to be serving here. We have lots of work to do here, it keeps us running and we love it!

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MOM!

I am doing great! That's exciting about my new cousin! Let me know the name when they decide. I also see that Aubrey is wearing my favorite shirt hmmm? Haha, yes it is adorable!

So I think some branch members and Carmelo and planning on going to General Conference in April. That would be cool if you went too! You could get to meet them. I told Carmelo what you said about my friends being your friends and how you want to meet him. He wants to meet you too! He's awesome!

So funny story, the other day we were talking to this man when he suddenly pulls out a small book from his pocket. He hid the book behind his back and told me to choose which side. I guessed left, but the book was in his right hand. He handed me the book anyways and said that it was for me. It was funny because I was looking through it and I said, "Hermano, este es en ingles."  "Brother, this is in English." And he didn't he know English. He told me he recently bought it. I'm not sure why. It was pretty funny.

Exchanges with Hermana Wallace and Hermana Clark!!!

 

Hey look! Mira!

(Note from the Mom:  We have a small grocery store here where we live, also named "Stop 'N Shop")

It rained last Monday! I was so prepared! Thanks Mom! :)

Exchanges with Hermana Cuevas! :)

On our hike! :)

Elder Robinson and I on our hike! 

Walmart, first time in 13 months... One of the happiest days of my mission! :) 

Our zone! :)

2nd baptism in 2 weeks! Yes, Heavenly Father loves His children! :)

A before her baptism! She was so excited to be baptized!

 

C took us to Bacara again today! (That's why we are emailing later) He is so awesome! We were helping him a little bit with his English. He already knows a lot, but wants to learn more. It was so much fun! :)

I got this email from an Elder that was in my MTC district. I told him that I would ask my family. He said, "There's an Hermano in my ward that is searching for the Elder that baptized him, he said his name was Elder Killpack.  Do you by chance have an Uncle or Dad or know someone named Elder Killpack that served in the Boston or New Hampshire Manchester mission Spanish speaking?"

Let me know!

Oh something else, you can say mi hija, but if you are calling me "my daughter" you can just say "mija."

Thanks so much for your love and support! It's awesome being a missionary! We are also so exhausted at the end of the day. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father blesses us with the strength and energy to make it through the day!

Life is awesome! I hope that you all have a wonderful day! Thanks so much for everything! 

Con amor,

Hermana Killpack