Sister Knutson's Week of September 9th-16th

Tuesday was our day to pack and say goodbye for Sister Pahl. It was a kind of surreal day. September 11th has a way of putting things into perspective. Many people told stories about what was occurring in their lives that day and the stories that they remember. I am so grateful to be living in a free country. I love how unified we were that day. No wonder most of the Book of Mormon is about remembering the goodness of Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon was written for our day and surely we need to remember how blessed we are to live here on this free land.
 
We met with Kate twice this week before her baptism on Saturday. She is amazing. We were so excited for her baptism. She had a wonderful service. She has such a strong testimony. I loved hearing about her journey to joining the Church. It was a quick process but she is solid. She knows so much about the Restored Gospel. She knows that God loves her and prepared her to join His Church. I am amazed at how quickly a baptism is over, especially for someone as prepared as her. We teach and meet a few times and then its over in an hour. All of our hard work, prayers, plans, meetings, etc culminate in one hour on a Saturday afternoon. How much I love Heavenly Father. I feel so blessed that He has seen fit to allow me to see the miracles that are being performed.
 
Also, I have a new companion and will be staying in Bella Vista until the end of my mission. I love this area! I love the people. I love the many blessings I have seen. I feel like all of my hard work for the last 18 months is paying off by being in such an amazing area, with strong members of the Church and people who are ready to join with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Sister Magness came from Nevada, MO and loves it here. We are having so much fun and are more tired than I have ever been as a missionary! We just have so much to do! There are so many people to teach and things to plan for. Most of the time, I don't feel worthy all of the blessings I am receiving. I am an imperfect missionary who has struggles and shortcomings, but the Lord is molding me into something much greater. I love knowing that He sits at the potter's wheel and takes all of my imperfections and mistakes and is working to create something beautiful. I hope I can continue to have that outlook even when I am not involved in His full-time service.
 
We were able to meet with Rex for the first time. He, too, has been prepared. We taught about God's pattern of calling prophets and then watched the Joseph Smith movie on the calling of the prophet to restore Christ's original church in these last days. At the end of the movie, we asked him how he felt and he said, "It just feels right. I don't know how to describe it. I just know it is right." I love that undeniable confirmation of the Holy Ghost. We cannot formulate the words necessary to describe a testimony but Rex now has one. We are excited to begin planning his baptism. This weekend he and his girlfriend, Julianne, went to visit Liberty Jail, Independance Missouri, and the new Kansas City Temple grounds. He felt the Spirit so strong. We had our lesson on Friday evening and they toured those places all day Saturday. Julianne said the timing of that was impactful because he had just watched a little clip of Joseph Smith's life and then to see the places where he was persecuted and held as prisoner was very moving. I love the Church History sites - how grateful I am that they are so close to this area! Even if I cannot go, I am grateful that members and those who have not yet joined are able to experience a snipet of what the early pioneers went through. I hope to be able to go someday!
 
We had a wonderful week. It was crazy but it was so fun! I love being a missionary and I love being in Bella Vista with Sister Magness :) She is so great!
 
I love you all and I cannot believe how quickly time is ticking! I'll be there before you know it. Its a scary but exciting thought. I love you!
 
Love always,
 
Sister Knutson
22 Marionet Lane
Bella Vista, AR 72714

Week of September 2nd - 9th

We were able to meet with Sister Kelly this week! We went over and she started telling us about this book that she is reading. It's called, "Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Nielson. Sister Kelly brought the book out and we were excited because we recognized the couple on the front cover because there is a Mormon Message video about them and their story. Its so good! Its only a few minutes, watch it here. Anyway, she couldn't put the book down. It makes me want to read it. This woman and her husband were in a plane crash and were burned all over. The clip (and I'm sure the book) talk about her faith and how she is able to turn to God instead of turning away from Him during this trial.

We were also able to have dinner with Rex and Julianne. Julianne is a young single adult who has a strong testimony. She has an amazing job and has not yet had the opportunity to meet her eternal companion. She decided to look outside the Church for companionship and found Rex. They have been dating for about 4 months. He loves her strong testimony and conviction to the commandments of God. He had no interest at the beginning of their relationship in the Church. He came to a special devotional we had a month or so ago. Then 4 weeks ago, Julianne was speaking in Church and asked him to come and listen...well, he has come every week since. He has felt the Spirit in the building and throughout the meetings. Julianne has been very careful to support and encourage but in no way push. He was aware that he could meet with us and that the goal is baptism. This was not what he thought he wanted. Julianne encouraged him to pray and to ask God what His will was for Rex. He wasn't so sure but he still came to Church yesterday with Julianne. And what do you know?! Heavenly Father has a plan! A perfect plan! All three of the speakers talked about the importance of praying about major decisions before you make them. They talked about how Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to make good choices and will even help us if we ask for His Help. One talked about the importance of trusting Heavenly Father when we make good choices, the next one talked about her personal journey to come here to Bentonville and how He influenced her, and then the final one was a very personal story about how he had to rely on Heavenly Father in a very real way. He felt like the entire world was crushing down around him (and from the things he described it sounded like it) but Heavenly Father was still there and aware and has now doubled his blessings just like Job. From his experience, I also realize that even if we are being strong and faithful servants, it doesn't mean that life will be perfect. Trials will still come, affliction will happen, but we MUST be true to the promises we have made with Heavenly Father to follow Him at all times, in all things, and in all places. So, at the end of the meeting, Rex leans over to Julianne and said, "I want to be baptized." He hasn't even met with us yet! He knows that he needs to be baptized to receive that fulness of joy. The Spirit touched him in the way that he needed in order to keep the commandments. We are going to have our first lesson with him this Friday! :)

Kate is still amazing. She is loving and accepting everything that we have to teach. She soaks it up. I love being able to teach someone who is so ready and has definitely been prepared by Heavenly Father. She has such a strong faith in Jesus Christ and she has found that she can deepen that faith by reading the Book of Mormon and listening to the modern prophet on the earth right now!

We had an amazing night last night!! We were able to hear one of the Apostles of the Lord speak last night. At the end of the conference, Kate was just beaming. Light was coming from her. She loved being able to hear from an Apostle! At the end, she turned to us and said, "I think every Christian should hear this. This applies to everyone." - She gets it! We aren't about being Mormon, Baptist, Methodist, etc... we are all here trying to follow the Savior. The way to follow Him is by following the prophet that He has once again called on the earth. Kate has received so much opposition. Her family is trying to persuade her, her friends are persecuting her, I haven't seen this much opposition to someone for joining the Church but she isn't phased. She tells us of the opposition with a smile on her face because she knows it is true! She knows that the Book of Mormon is true. She knows that there is a prophet who speaks to us for our day, who is able to tell us what the scriptures mean, and most importantly who testifies of Christ and leads His Church. She didn't take our word for it, she went to God and asked Him. And He answered her! I love Heavenly Father!

This week, we got a funny text from Sister Sandford. We asked how her husband was doing and she said, "fine. He wants a cup of coffee, a cigar, some tea, and a beer, but eternity with me so he is alright without those other things." Talk about a sweet husband! We are so excited for his baptism at the end of this month. Obviously, Satan does all in his power to change the minds of those who have committed to follow Heavenly Father, but the blessings of eternity always outweigh the instant gratification.

One last story and then I will close. When someone is going to be baptized, they need to be taught the lessons that Heavenly Father wants them to know before they make a promise, or covenant, with Him. (which is our part) and then they are to be interviewed by someone who acts for Heavenly Father in seeing if they are worthy and ready to make this significant two-way promise with God. The one who conducts the interview is another missionary in the area who has been called by God to act for Him. This Elder served in my close area while I was in Nevada, Missouri so when he was transferred down here, I was super excited to see him again! He is so much fun and was able to interview Kate. She came down the hallway and saw Elder T and said, "I know you!" He recognized her but wasn't quite sure at first how (you meet tons of people as a missionary) She then said, "remember in Pittsburgh, Kansas at the library?" Then it clicked for Elder T and they went through the entire conversation that they had that day in the library! Another Elder standing next to Elder T asked if he wished he would have asked her to learn about the Church there. Kate said that honestly she wouldn't have been ready to accept the Gospel at that time and that she was ready now.

What a tender mercy from Heavenly Father! Like I said, you meet tons of people in all different places and all in different walks of life. You hope that if you don't influence them right then, then someone else will down the road. Elder T just didn't know how quickly he would be able to see this miracle! Heavenly Father is so aware of each of us. He knows who we are. He loves us. He wants the best for us. He will place the right people in our path and He ALWAYS has a plan! How much I hope and pray that I can align my will with His. I love Heavenly Father! I love being able to be His servant and be here in Bella Vista. Miracles are happening!

We got an interesting phone call this morning and to make a long story short I am pretty sure I will be here in Bella Vista until the end of my mission but I will have a new companion :) I'm sad to see Sister Pahl leave, but I know Heavenly Father is in charge and has a plan ;)

I love you and miss you!

Love,

Sister Knutson

22 Marionet Lane

Bella Vista, AR 72714

April 18th, 2011 Email From Sister Knutson

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Hey Everyone!

 The MTC is amazing! I love it so much. I have two companions and truly amazing district. I was called to be the Coordinating Sister for the zone and we are getting new sisters this week. It is basically the Relief Society President for the MTC. The spirit is so strong here. You can feel it all the time. There have been some great things I have been learning. President Packer said about Preach My Gospel that it was written on the other side of the veil and we (meaning the 12 Apostles) were able to bring it forth. I am apart of a pilot program for the MTC, the entire way of teaching is completely changing. We are completely focusing on the investigators almost to the point that we are not hardly using Preach My Gospel. Everything is done by the Spirit. We get to know an investigator, find out what their needs are, teach them the doctrine and then commit them. I am learning how to tell when someone wants to be commited to baptism and am learning how even on the first lesson.

 

Something funny, the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission (OTM) has a saying around here that it is the "Only True Mission" (OTM). I have a timer at the top of my screen and it is kind of stressing me out, so I think I will go back to my room and send you a letter. Next week I'll be more prepared with the good stuff. 

 

Spiritual experience: we have been doing a lot of role playing and one of them is to put yourself in the investigators shoes and someone else in your district teaches you one-on-one. This is so you can get experience and feel truly how the investigators feels and so that the "missionary" can get experience teaching by the Spirit. This one-on-one teaching is probably my favorite thing (we haven't done much companionship teaching yet) because the Spirit really is the one that teaches and it is all from the heart and testimony, not too much scripture and pushy-ness. I have found that I am able to communicate well with people and really ask them thought-provoking questions. I got an atheist to pray :) (or another missionary role playing as his atheist friend who apparently was really argumentative)

 

We also get to teach our teachers the discussions. They role play someone from their mission and we need to teach them. The elders had a hard time with one of the investigators, but us sisters were able to get him to open up (after testimony bearing and questions on his part).

 

I love being a missionary. I miss you all so much but please don't worry one bit about me. I haven't had any trouble with homesickness and actually the 10:30 to 6:30 sleep schedule is too much for me. I am usually waking up around 5 (its kind of a pain). I think I am losing weight and the food is really good. Jessie Williams lives on my hall and Mandy's classroom is right down the hall from mine so I get to see them pretty regularly.

 

We went to the temple this morning and it was amazing.

 

I love you and I got to go!!!!

 

Tons of love,

 

Sister Knutson

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Suddenly I Feel Overwhelmed...

So I knew that my date to leave was coming soon, 

but I had no idea that it was ... 

18 DAYS AWAY! 

Holy cow! I love cows. I hope I can own a cow someday. Or maybe a few hundred. Good thing I will be in cow country in just over a month...

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. I need so much more time than 18 days! Not that I have that many things to get, but still. I am super excited and I can't wait! 

(even though I've waited for over 20 years...  that's beside the point)

I guess I better start cracking and checkin' off that good-ole-never-ending list.

But I am so ready to be in the MTC and be amongst so many wonderful missionary spirits. 

What's really exciting is that its 40 days away until I'll be in the wonderful state of Oklahoma.

I can't wait to see Oklahoma. The Lord sure knows what He's doing. He knew I always wanted to live in the South. Hopefully I'll pick up an accent while I'm there :)

18 months...that should be enough time to pick up a Southern drawl.

For now, I must get ready for the day.

Then plan a talk for my cousin's baptism tomorrow.

Then pack for a drive up to my Grandma and Grandpa's house in the mountains.

In the snow.

All I brought was a light BYU jacket.

And a rain coat.

Translation: no snow coat.

I'm so sad that BYU lost. There goes my bracket.

Jimmer is an amazing player.

He converted me to college basketball.

Well for this season.

I'm glad I got to see him before I live without sports for 18 months.

Not that its a big deal, because I lived without serious caring for college basketball for the first 20 years of my life.

Oh yeah...I have things to do.

Much love.

Yes, I realize its been over a month...

Why hello keyboard...

We haven't been together for a while.

Its not that I didn't have anything to say. I just didn't realize what I signed up for when I started a blog. I should have thought about my life and if I had time or enough interesting things to share with you.

Today is no different. Nothing interesting to say. Just missing you. So I decided to reconnect and tell you about my developing love.

This love started a long, long time ago.

Recently, I have rediscovered it and its growing stronger every day.

I want to own cowboy boots.

I want to hear cows mooing in the distance and 

watch the sunset and rise over my garden.

I want to own my own property.

I want to see my husband in his cowboy hat 

because it's his "work clothes."

I want to ride in the middle seat of his pickup truck.

I want to have many children to help with the ranch.

I want my children to learn the meaning of work.

I want to hear them say "Yes ma'am" and "Yes sir."

I want to be so dependent on the land that I pray always to the Lord.

Scratch that - I want to be so dependent on the Lord that I am praying to Him always.

It is people like this that give me the encouragement that some day my dreams can come true: 

(not the American Idol dream - the marrying someone like him dream)

And books like this that get me through the wait:

I read the complete 300 pages in 3 days. Little obsessed?

Twilight - Mooooooove Over!

I really hope I can get my head on the right path soon.

I leave in 36 days.

Cleaning out and reminiscing

Since I will be leaving shortly, I have decided that now would be a good time to get rid of things that I have been holding onto for way too long. Old school papers, drawings, and we even went through our family books.

I love getting rid of things and cleaning out.

I should have gone through my closet because I seriously don't think that I can fit another thing in...but I'm saving that for another rainy day.

My sister came in to piles and piles of papers and things to do and said that I should make a list. I then proceeded to point to the 2nd largest pile (1st largest pile being the trash pile :) ) and say that is my pile of lists. She said, "Oh, nevermind. Don't make another list."

Speaking of going back in time, I called my very dear friend that I met in 1st grade and we have kept in touch ever since. Since I got my mission call and she got married (a while ago) we spent some time catching up.

Just when I thought I wanted to move to the country and be self-sufficient so I didn't have to deal with people, I realized that it really is nice to have good friends. :)

Its Friday!

As I mentioned...its Friday! And its raining but that's ok because I like the rain :)

Also, I have been thinking about this lately....have you ever noticed that every week the conversation is the same? Maybe you wouldn't notice, if you didn't work the same hours every day of the week with the same people and the same customers...but the week goes something like this:

Monday: "Hi, how are you?" "Oh, alright for a Monday I guess. The weekend is just too short!"

Tuesday: "Hi, how are you?" "Good, we are one day closer to Friday" or "Good, at least it isn't Monday."

Wednesday: "Hi, how are you?" "Good, thank goodness we are one day closer to Friday." or "Good, at least we're half way through the week."

Thursday: "Hi, how are you?" "Good, thank goodness its almost Friday!"

Friday: "Hi, how are you?" "I'm so glad that it is Friday!"

(Please note: I help the same customers in 30 second increments for 2 1/2 hours every morning, so I hear this conversation probably 300 times a day - seriously)

Are we really all wishing our lives away? Or at least until "Friday." Are we all unhappy with our weeks that we can't be happy for whatever day it is? Or happy that we are even alive, well, have a car to drive (I work a drive thru), have homes, have families, the list goes on and on.

Now, I am always in for a good break (says the girl that has to force herself not to take a nap every single day) but I hope that I don't become someone that always wishes for Friday.

Anyway, sorry about it being two months since the last post...I could say that it was because we had a Nativity at our church (which took a week to set up), or that I went to Disney World for a week or drove, yes drove, to Utah and spent two weeks there. Or because I was sick...but really I think I was just lazy and overwhelmed with everything I wanted to write.

Please forgive me.