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
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