Catching Up

Photo courtesy of a member in Hayden, Idaho.

Elder Keppner's mom here:

I am so sorry that I have gotten so behind on this blog! Since I am sick today and have to take it easy, I will be updating all of Elder Keppner's letters since February. Thanks for your patience!!!

Love,
Sister Rachel Keppner

Transfer Calls and Miracles

Hey ya'll!

This week was, well, amazing.

We went about and taught tons of good peeps of course, and we had a blast while we did it as per usual. But God blessed us with a real miracle this week.

We were teaching a young woman named K--. She is a single mom, and her son is just turning 3. Her Grandma, Mom, and sister are all recent converts, but there was a lot keeping her from getting baptized. She has had such a hard life, and it's amazing that she has made it through so much.
She had some big Word of Wisdom things she was dealing with, and a LOT of it. Her friends did it too, and it was just a nasty trap for her. We had mentioned baptism in the past, and she said that when she wants to head in that direction, she'll let us know. But until then, back off.

So we did.

We taught, and shared Spiritual messages, and bore testimony, but we never pressured her. (I'm not a fan of the whole "pressure people into baptism" crap. :-p)

Then, this week, we showed up there for the last lesson of the day, taught a message, and bore our testimonies. She listened, and then she started crying softly. She told us that she wanted desperately wanted to be free, and come closer to God. It was beautiful.

When we got home that night, she texted us, and said that she wanted to be baptized. She went on to tell us that she had quit EVERYTHING. She was clean of everything. After years of craziness, she told us that she wanted to have a better life for her and her son. She said that she knew that the church was true, and that she wanted to be part of it. 

Elder E-- and I just kinda stared at each other in shock. It was so surprising, but folks, I can't tell you how good it felt.

The next morning, she texted us and gave us the date: June 13th.

We are SO PUMPED!!!

She has been through so much, and now, she is coming to the light, and fighting hard to get there.
The war is still on, and withdrawals are fetching BAD, but she worked a system worked out with us. Whenever things are getting crazy hard, she calls us, and we talk things out. It's been good. She is six days and counting sober now, from EVERYTHING! We're so proud of her!

Now, for transfer calls........................................................................................

WE'RE BOTH STAYING!!!

Elder E-- feeling under the weather

Elder M-- is staying too which is sick, but Elder K-- is leaving, which SUCKS! Oh, and my old companion Elder F-- finished his mission today, which also SUCKS! I'm gonna miss him so bad! 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHANGE! WHY?!?

I guess it could be worse, but still, transfers are NOT my favorite.

Anyway, I love you guys! Keep the faith, stay true to who you are, and come to Christ.

Love you all!
-Keppy

Last O th' Transfer

Ohhhh shunk.

This is the last week of the transfer already. Well shoot...

Well, I hope I stay and that I get to keep Elder E--, but I always hope for that, so, I guess whatevs. I hate change.

Elder M-- (Right) and Elder E-- (Left)

But this week rocked. We worked our butts off, and had a grand old time. I think I'm starting to see how this mission thing is supposed to pan out.

Oh, and I gave my first District Meeting since being here in the ghetto. All of the companionships in my District are Sisters, so it's been a bit different than I'm used to. But it was really good.

They said they liked my training though, so I guess that we'll have to see.

It was super fun! I trained on the three top things I've found we need to be as a missionary:

-Obedient

-Hard Working

-Real

So, that's my rant for the week.

I love and miss all of you!

This mission thing is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love this stuff folks. I'm just ticked that transfers are coming up.

Love ya all!
-Keppy

General Conference and Headcolds

Spring in Washington!

Hey everybody!

This week was ALL OVER THE PLACE. The week started normal enough, but then... I got a cold from Elder E--. Since then, it's been an interesting trip.

The weather was beautiful though! It has warmed up quite a bit, all the leaves are coming in, the animals are up and about, and the flowers are in bloom.

We taught a lot earlier in the week, and then when Thursday rolled around, it got slower. Thursday is weekly planning which needs to take up hours of our day, Friday was a Zone meeting which also ate up a bunch of our hours, and Saturday and Sunday were General Conference days.

Dat Conference, though! For anyone who missed it, you gotta go back and watch all of the sessions! I loved all of the talks, and it really felt like each one spoke to me personally.

Oh, and Elder E-- is a convert, so this was the first time he's seen all of the sessions of General Conference. At the suggestion of President Mullen, he went with a question he wanted answered about marriage, and holy moly did he get an answer. Almost every talk hit on his question, and he and I laughed every time it came up.

"I'm never going to come with a question again." He told me afterwards.

Saturday was super fun though! We met up at a members house, and watched the Conference, had breakfast, lunch, and played some games between sessions. It was super fun! :D

But, we got sick which made everything a LOT harder. I had a moment after conference was done that I really just wanted to stay in and do nothing because of how crappy I felt. I sat there for a minute debating which, I would do. But then, a nagging little something reminded me: "You don't have a lot of time bro."

I grabbed my stuff and hit the streets. It was crappy, but I didn't regret a second of it.

And then, we woke up this morning to help a pastor move, aaaaaand, it was snowing.
o.O

Spring in Washington?

God is so good guys. He always helps us in the way we need it most. We have some investigators with unique needs right now that are severe, and it has been weighing on me heavily recently. I don't have the right to give details, but it's been HUGE stuff that has eternal consequences. The crazy part is that everyone turns to us missionaries, and expects us to know the solution.

"You're the Elders! What should I do?" is a common phrase, and it's terrifying. What always ends up happening, is me and my companion pray, squirm a bit, and then tell them to the best of our ability what will help them. And the crazy part: if we really answer through the Spirit, it always works.

Guys, I can't stress enough that we're dumb 20 year old kids. But neither can I truthfully say anything less, than that God works through us to do what no mortal could ever hope to achieve; no matter how strong or wise they may be.

This Church is true guys. And this mission is the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Love you all!
-Keppy