Hey ya'll!
Let the holiday season begin! Hope everyone has a spooktacular Halloween this week! hehe. We've had quite the celebration already here in Keokuk! :)
Wednesday night was the branch chili cook-off and trunk-or-treat which was a total success in all aspects! We had a total of about 20 non-members in attendance, most of which were families! It was so great to have them meet more of the members in the branch and just have fun together! ...not to mention there were 13 chilis to try and judge! haha. We've got some mean chili-makers in the branch that's for sure! :)
Other fun Halloween festivities included carving pumpkins with the Salyers and being able to teach the whole family together! Holy crap I'm amazed at how knowledgeable those kids are about the bible and already know what Jesus Christ did for them. Their testimonies are so strong! You know how they said our generation is "the chosen generation"? yep, nope!...it's the ones comin up right now! haha. We were also able to go to the pumpkin walk in Nauvoo! ...so many pumpkins and so many people!!! It was fun. :)
Just an example of how we are taken care of here:
Thursday we were taken for hot chocolate in the morning by a less-active, to lunch with some relief society sisters, and then dinner with the missionary couple in the branch!... wow! Our tummies were fed! ...our spirits have also been fed this week, in more ways than one.
We have been trying to discover what it is that the Lord needs us to accomplish here in Keokuk...with getting the branch involved, finding the elect and prepared, helping each other, charity and love...it's been quite the adventure! I know that we are here as a companionship for a very specific reason, and I think we are slowly finding that reason. Sister Andersen's strengths are my weaknesses, and my strengths are her weaknesses...almost to a T! It's amazing how the Lord works, and how he knows us all perfectly...so much more than we even know ourselves! So I know this email is all over the place, and I apologize! I guess my thoughts have been all over the place this week and their kinda hard to organize outside my brain! haha.
Anyways... we were so blessed to help Tina set a new baptism date for
November 30th, she knows it is what will help her life the most and really has a desire to follow God's plan for her. We met a 14 year old girl, Makenzie a few weeks ago and were able to teach her again this week. She moved from Illinois about 2 months ago, and used to go to church on Sundays just her and her grandma. As we taught her about Heavenly Father and His plan for her, she said she feels worth something again, that she knows Christ is standing right next to her. So yesterday, she comes to church without any family, and even brought along her friend Brittany! Makenzie has the sweetest spirit and a longing to know the truth. She is a special one.
There is SO much potential in this little area. Yesterday, we had an awesome meeting with the branch mission leader who has had a spiritual awakening and finally understands the importance of his calling. We set up a plan to get out to Kahoka and Wayland, MO at least every other week (which are small towns in our area 25 miles away)...where only about 2 member families live. We are excited to see what comes of this new plan, and to continue the work here in Keokuk as well.
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