Monday, September 19, 2016

Sept 19, 2016

The McKlemore's are so awesome. They're members who moved here from Texas.
Sister McKlemore is actually from Clovis. So cool. Connections everywhere.
I love my fellow Texans!!!
Texas is the BEST state by the way!
Illinois is a close second ;)
Yes Sis. Mühlestein and I found the coolest footies. It was a hard
choice between the unicorn and the giraffe.
Matilda (Tilly) and Esther (Essie) 2 of the Oxborrows kids. Aren't
they so cute? I LOVE the Oxborrows❤️❤️❤️
Yes we are 5 at heart! Illinois is so
beautiful !!!!
Brother Hurst the donut master helped us make donuts.
Yup, "DONUT WORRY", I'll be adding this to my resume when I return home.
Since I always tell Sister Mühlestein everything builds character, she left this on my desk after I told her I wasn't eating anymore chocolate. I laughed so hard. #daymade Morton 50TH ANNIVERSARY Pumpkin Festival
Eurla is a cute lady we visit sometimes.
I love her. She's so cute.
I LOVE CORN.
" get that corn outta my face!"
DONUTS WE MADE
Cool story: Sis. Mühlestein and I met a girl named Kelsey awhile back. We have been trying to get hold of her, but haven't been able to. Today we passed a girl and her dad at the store. The dad said, "hello sisters!" and we gave him a pass a long card. When they walked off, Sister Mühlestein said, "I think that's Kelsey..."
We HAD to talk to her, because in Freeport I had a similar experience, but I was too scared or didn't want it to be awkward so I didn't go and it's something I SUPER regret. It may not have come to anything but "you never fail until you try."
So we went and talked to her and...sure enough it was Kelsey.
It was seriously a miracle!
I feel like this was Heavenly Father giving me a second chance.
I'm very grateful for it.
Something I've come to really love and understand is
" NEVER let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. "
MISSIONARIES LATE FOR CURFEW FROM PUMPKIN FESTIVAL .... RESULTS IN BEING TURNED INTO PUMPKINS. 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃



This week has been good! We learned how to make HOMEMADE DONUTS. THEY WERE AMAZING!!! Brother Hurst is the master at donut making. He showed us how to make them so we can use this new acquired skill to bring people into the gospel. Haha. 

We also had the Pumpkin Festival this week! Morton is the Pumpkin Capital of the world so of course there had to be a pumpkin festival! This year was the 50th anniversary so it was the "Golden Pumpkin".  We worked in the Sweet Shoppe. It was all things pumpkin. Pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin shakes. All things pumpkin. We started work outside where we were handing people menus. We had to wear hats so OF COURSE Sister Mühlestein wore her Angels hat! Yes, people kept teasing her about my hat. Everyone out here are either die hard Cubs fans or die hard Cardinals fans. It's super funny. 
We got to take a break and so we went and got some food, because I was getting super Hangry. We got 2 corn dogs and shared a cheesy curly fry. We were in line to get them and the guy in front of us goes "hi sisters"! We were kind of taken back by this but we said hello! (We didn't know him) He said that he really appreciated us and all the service that we do. It was so nice 😊 THEN. He gave $20 to the cashier and said, "this is for whatever they get." I ALMOST CRIED. IT WAS SO NICE. I  asked him if he was a member and HE SAID NO, but he had been to church a couple of times. We gave him a pass along card and told him to give us a call and we would come teach him more.  He said okay. Pray that he will call!!! 
We also got a funnel cake to share. IT WAS SO GOOD. It started raining as we were eating, so there was just two Sister missionaries sitting in the rain eating our funnel cake. It was probably pretty hilarious. But we didn't care because that funnel cake was so worth it.  

When we got back to the Sweet Shoppe tent it was still pouring rain so they let us stay inside and help. We made ice cream cones and cups. My first ice cream cone was a mess. The machine was weird so instead of pulling down you would pull left and then turn it off by going right.  I kept forgetting to turn it right to turn it off. I would get this perfect cone, then pull left and get an overload of ice cream! The other volunteers said they wish they had You-tubed  Sister Mühlestein and I, because it was so funny. BUT by the end of the night, we were making cones like a pro.... Okay, actually that's just Sister Mühlestein. I learned an important lesson... GO TO COLLEGE & GET AN EDUCATION because making pretty ice cream cones IS NOT something I will be putting on my resume. 
At the end of the night we tried the pumpkin ice cream. WOW. IT WAS AWESOME. We were eating it running back to our car in the rain with no umbrella.  I was running so fast half my ice cream fell off.  We forgot our umbrellas in the car, and forgot where we parked, so WE GOT SOAKED. Anything for the pumpkin festival right?
It was super fun. President said we could go but we had to be home by curfew or else he'd purn us into tumpkins. We got home just a few minutes after curfew so ... Tissionary Tumpkins we are ...



A quote I love that I've been pondering this week: 
"If the words you spoke appeared on your body would you still be beautiful?" I've thought a lot about my language before the mission, as a new baby missionary, and now. I have become so much more aware of the things I say, since I'm a full time representative of the church, my family, and The Lord. I've tried to be a LOT better at having clean language.  I've asked myself, "if the Savior stood beside me, would I say that?"  Language is seriously so much more important than we think it is. Sis. Mühlestein and I got the opportunity to do a training for some of our missionaries about this.  
Cleaning up our language has been a BIG focus in this mission and we've seen a lot more success and miracles from doing so. I wanna invite y'all to look for ways that you can clean up your language and apply it into your life. It's not always easy, so we need to ask God for help. Pray for the desire to not say those certain words or phrases anymore. I promise as you do you'll see such a difference in your day-to-day life. You'll sound more like your real self and knowledge and light will shine through so much more. 




Do y'all ever have problems comparing yourself to others? Yeah, same.  I think we all have times in our lives where we are more vulnerable to that. But it ISNT GOOD. NO BUENO. QUE ?¿? First of all because it makes us MISERABLE, creates feelings of inadequacy and self pity, and makes us feel like we aren't worth much. THOSE THOTS ARE ALL FROM SATAN...so tell Satan to get going! Brigham Young said, "if you have a bad thought about yourself, tell it to go to HELL because that is EXACTLY where it came from."  Mosiah 4:27. It's soooo NOT GOOD to  
COMPARE ourselves to others. We don't have any idea what it's like for them behind closed doors. All we see is what's on the outside and what people show us. We are all are so beautiful and unique in God's eyes. So look deeper within ourselves and seek to find the talents & gifts and abilities God has given to each of us. I know we each have them. "Comparison is the root of all evil and thief of all joy!" , now that's a pretty big thing. Let's BE HAPPY and look for our talents and use them to help others as Jesus Christ did. Our whole purpose is to become more like him! GIVE IT A TRY. 
Take some time and write down all of your talents and abilities.  
If you're struggling to see them GET ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY asking our loving Heavenly Father to help you see them. Ask him to help you see yourself through his eyes. If you're sincere I KNOW He WILL help you. Cause he helps me. He loves us all. We are his children. I KNOW it. 

A hymn that I love is: 
Where Can I Turn for Peace?
When we have bad moments or bad feelings this hymn can soothe the soul and get rid of our bad thoughts. 

1.
Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?
2.
Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.
3.
He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind,
Love without end


Ward BBQ.... Non members came...volleyball in dress...digged it a lot.

Funny story, (Alicia gave me permission to tell y'all this). It's funny so listen up:
A few weeks ago we were at Tanner and Alicia Anderson's house.   We enjoyed an awesome meal, as always, then it was dessert time.  
ICE CREAM! Wahoooo!!!! One of my favorites!!!! We were eating and it tasted kinda  interesting, but I didn't say anything cause I was just super grateful for the ice cream. A couple minutes later it got super quiet. Tanner said, " Does this taste like medicine?" We all busting up laughing. Tanner asked, "is this Light ice cream?" 
Alicia had bought light ice cream since it was cheaper. She said she hoped Tanner wouldn't notice. Psych. 😂😂😂  I love the Anderson's. 



Another thing I've been thinking a lot about recently is how Heavenly Father has blessed me with SO much One of the things I'm most grateful for right now in my life is the opportunity to be on a mission and to watch people change and have the desire to do so to come closer to Jesus Christ. It's amazing what happens when people first have the desire to change. 

Count Your Blessings
1.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
2.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
3.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
4.
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done



Last week in church Brother Shurtleff talked about learning to laugh at yourself.  He told a story of how President Faust laughed during a  prayer.  It is important to laugh at ourselves in life, as it helps Balance us. "Balance lies in our attitude." Laughing is one of the best balancing pieces of the GOSPEL. For  those of y'all who know me,  I can TOTALLY  relate to this.  I sometimes laugh in prayers if I have been laughing before.  


I've picked up a new trademark recently. Whenever something Happens that was unexpected or hard or funny, I say,  "It Builds Character". We were at the Jarnagin's home ( some of the most awesome members).  Brother Jarnagin has heard me say it a few times, so now he says it. At the Ward barbecue last week someone dropped cherry pie on my shoe.  Bro Jarnagin was standing right there, started laughing and said, "It builds character." I laughed too and said, "well some kids don't even have shoes." 



I love the gospel. I love being a missionary. It may be hard but again "it builds character. and some kids don't even get to go on missions" 
I really am so blessed. I'd love to hear about the challenges I invited y'all to do and see how it went. Remember to be more like Jesus. And Stay rad my friends. I love you all. 

Love always 
Seester Ällowitz 







Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Sept 12, 2016

LOVE my MISSION!
I LOVE THE CORN. IM GONNA MISS seeing this everyday.
CORN FOR LIFE. 🌽🌽🌽🌽🌽   D&C 4 -- THE FIELD SURE IS WHITE ALREADY TO
HARVEST MY FRIENDS. THE CORN IS GOING .... It's HARVEST SEASON. Let's
go baptize !!!



1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve
him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand
blameless before God at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that
thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store
that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory
of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly
kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen. 
After with Deedee Smith and I
Before with Deedee Smith and I
My Zone!
Exchanges...Sis. Mühlestein, Sis. Waters, me, and Sis. Smith
We love Todd and Mickelle Slüder!!!!! They're gifts from God. ❤️❤️❤️
Also brother Kurth says it's awesome I "let my Texan out of the box".
I died laughing. I've never heard that before. When we asked Brother
Kurth what we could do to help with his missionary work, he told me
keep being the Texan I am and saying "y'all."
It's awesome. Made me happy.
"Let your Texan out of the box"-Brother Sluder

YES!



Monday, September 5, 2016

Sept 5, 2016

ME AND SIS. HAVEY ❤️
NAUVOOOOO
Me and Sis. Mühlestein ❤️
Sis. Willes, Carlson, Doty, Mühlestein, Havet, and me.
( left to right )



ALWAYS LOOK TOWARDS THE TEMPLE. 👀👀👀👀👀
I LOVE SIS. MÜHLESTEIN ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Nauvoo Temple!!! I'm here!





Fudge anyone? It's celestial fudge.
I LOVE JOSEPH SMITH AND JESUS.




Joseph smith is the man! Carthage !!!
This shirt was so for me! Kieran is straight outta Compton and I'm straight outta Chicago and NAUVOO and everyone in between!




I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream -- love y'all.




Illinois sunsets seriously beautiful !!!! #marrymehere haha jk
We be picking some apples. #hardcoreworkers



Our friends.  I know all their names.  Aren't they Beautiful1  I love them!
Pictures of Nauvoo, IL



I love Morton!
Our mini missionary Sis. Anderson. She's awesome!
Bishop Mehr and his wife. Absolutely love them ❤️❤️❤️

MISSISSIPPI RIVER. YES, WE TOUCHED IT.
Pioneer Memorial




Hello my pals. Sorry I wasn't here last week. I was in NAUVOO. In the promised land of the pioneers. I was fan-girling pretty hard. It was awesome. I love the history here. 

Sis. Braun gave a talk awhile ago about the early pioneers. 
I absolutely loved it...how they sacrificed so much for us to have the things we have like the CHURCH.  Here's some thoughts I captured: 

*Pray... not for an easy life, but to be strong  
*WHAT AM I GONNA DO TO OVERCOME HARDSHIPS or weakness? 
*HOW CAN I DO BETTER NEXT TIME?  
*REMEMBER THE SPIRITUAL LEGAGY OF OUR ANCESTORS. 
*It helps us overcome our adversity 
*What is a pioneer...one must ask? 

*Pioneer: one who goes before to make a way for people to follow 
(pioneers past and future )  
*Endured persecution to get the gospel because they KNEW the importance  of the gospel 
*They were Separated from families , hungered, weak, and many died... yet they kept going. Even through the trials they KEPT GOING. 
*They TRUSTED their leaders. 
*WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ??


*A woman was given an onion to eat when she was STARVING. yet she DID NOT eat it. She gave it to a man who was near death. She saved his life. What an amazing woman. What faith she had. How much Christlike love she had. 

Luke 15:26-- 
Are we willing to pay the price of discipleship ?
ARE YOU GONNA DIE WITH YOUR FACE TOWARDS ZION? 
The choice is YOURS my friends. 
Walk w/ Faith in EVERY STEP. 
WE MUST DISTILL THE FAITH W/in ourselves, our kids & grandkids--the faith pioneers had. 

Today's wilderness IS still hard. So let's STEP IT UP. 
Our struggles may not be the same, but struggles they are. 
WE NEED TO COMMIT TO SERVE THE LORD WITH THE SAME DILIGENCE AND FAITH THAT THE PIONEERS DID. 
WE MUST LIVE OUR RELIGION. 
CONSIDER THE COST of your daily choices & ask yourself : IS IT WORTH IT?
We have to show we CAN resist temptation. 


This hymn is one I've really come to love because it reminds me of all the many hardships and trials the saints went through. I love them all. They're some of my dearest heroes. 

 Israel, Israel, God Is Calling
1.
Israel, Israel, God is calling,
Calling thee from lands of woe.
Babylon the great is falling;
God shall all her tow’rs o’erthrow.
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Ere his floods of anger flow.
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Ere his floods of anger flow.
2.
Israel, Israel, God is speaking.
Hear your great Deliv’rer’s voice!
Now a glorious morn is breaking
For the people of his choice.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
And within her walls rejoice.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
And within her walls rejoice.
3.
Israel, angels are descending
From celestial worlds on high,
And to man their pow’r extending,
That the Saints may homeward fly.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
For your coming Lord is nigh.
Come to Zion, come to Zion,
For your coming Lord is nigh.
4.
Israel! Israel! Canst thou linger
Still in error’s gloomy ways?
Mark how judgment’s pointing finger
Justifies no vain delays.
Come to Zion, come to Zion!
Zion’s walls shall ring with praise.
Come to Zion, come to Zion!
Zion’s walls shall ring with praise.



Some funny things happened these past two weeks ..... I hope y'all enjoy these moments as much as Sister Mühlestein and I did.
NUMERO #1 
We knocked on her door and she actually opened it this time. She said, "I thought I told you last time to not come back. You aren't allowed to knock on the doors to solicit." We told her we just wanted to come by because she's still a member of the church in our records. We miss her and so does the ward. We would love to see her. She said she isn't a member. When we again told her she's in our records. She asked if we could remove her name for her. We told we we cannot and told her the process. She rolled her eyes and said it was too much and she was gonna forget it. We invited her to the ward BBQ and she said she still has something going on that day and tried to hand the flyer back. We told her to keep it so she can remember when to come. We asked what we could do for her--she said nothing. She said she doesn't wanna be contacted by anyone of the church again. 


The NAUVOO temple is so beyond beautiful. The spirit was so strong. I felt my ancestors and angels working on the other side. It felt like home. It is home. A heaven on earth. We journeyed all around NAUVOO. It was great because we had Sis. Slüder as our tour guide. She is so wonderful. I love her. We got so much done in such little time. Here's some cool things we did :
  • toured Carthage jail  where Joseph Smith was killed. The spirit was soooo beyond strong. I was bawling throughout the entire thing. 
  • Fudge factory: has amazing fudge! 
  • We touched the Mississippi River 
  • Grandpas diner: An amazing diner! Went for lunch. They have wicked BLTS! 
  • Blacksmith shop!  We got our prairie rings 
  • NAUVOO temple! Got to do a session! Oh the beautiful temple. A heaven on earth. 
  • Merchandise shop where I got my cool "straight outta NAUVOO" shirt. It cool cause Sis. Mühlestein and I wore our NAUVOO shirts to our service this last Saturday and it was a SPARK of conversation. I tried to talk to this guy about the temple and he kept talking about wine and cheese that he wants to try down there. And yet again I kept trying to tie it back to the temple. Yeah he was so out of it. But I tried. I even gave him a pass along card. 
  • And we saw lots of other church sites and it was so rad. I love NAUVOO. And I love sister Diana Slüder. She is the bomb diggity. If you ever go to NAUVOO get her as your guide. She spoiled us. 



AWESOME THINGS: 
  • Alicia and Tanner Anderson did a duet in sacrament meeting and boy did it blow my mind. #relationshipgoals haha but really though. The spirit was so strong!
  • Mehrs made fantastic meal of ribs 
  • This guy named Eric at Dairy Queen in some random city in Illinois paid for our ice cream.  He said he's a returned missionary and he knows what he it's like to serve a mission. It was so nice. #RMPOWER 


I love you all. I know the church is true. I love being a missionary. 
Missionary work is where it's at. IT'S COOL TO SEE that I'm a pioneer for other people just as the early saint but in a different way. I think it's cool to see that we're all pioneers in our own way. 

Love always -

SISTA KARIGAN ÄLLOWITZ 
STRAIGHT OUT NAUVOO.