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