Wednesday, October 20, 2010

It has been a great week..

The days weeks are flying by.. but the days are long enough to fit in a whole bunch of things...
We had miracles happen.. although they happen every week.. I will share my favorite..
So... The Thursday before last Thursday Sis. Reynolds and I were planning.. as we do every Thursday. We were praying hard to be inspired to know how to find more people to teach and share the wonderful message of the gospel too. SO. I remembered something that we used to do in the New Jersey Cherry Hill Mission called "Windows" basically what a window is, is an appointment with Heavenly Father.. So we prayed to know what day, what time, and what street that we should be on. The day was Wednesday the 13th, the time was 12-1 and the street was Summit St.. and back up.. Walnut Ln. Do you want to know how many miracles we saw ... so many! We were able to teach and to set up return appointments with 2 people that we met. It was so neat. It truly strengthened my testimony of Prayer and following the spirit.. I know that the Lord is preparing people to hear the wonderful message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we ASK with FAITH.. the Lord WILL answer our prayers. I have been studying a lot about prayer this week... We must pray with sincerity of heart and be full of faith.. The Lord will bless us with his spirit, and strengthen us to withstand anything we face in this life and will bless us with comfort and peace. This is an amazing work to be apart of at this time!
Yesterday was the Primary Program in our ward.. Can i just tell you I was in tears.. these children are so precious.. they are great examples to me. The spirit I felt was incredible.. when they sang about being Valiant and shared the stories of Jesus. You shouldn't keep the spirit from being there or keep a smile off your face!
Also this week.. I studied.. all the scriptures that have the word Cheer in them... It was a fantastic study.. I recommend it to you all!! ..... one of my favorite verses was in Doctrine and Covenants 61:36 All: Be of GOOD CHEER I am in your midst and I have not forsaken thee. It is so important for us to be of GOod CheEr.. If we have faith in our Savior.. we need not fear!
Love you all!

Monday, October 18, 2010

This week I have seen so many miracles. SO. MANY. MIRACLES.

We have been able to find so many people that are interested in hearing the wonderful message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I feel very blessed! It makes me so grateful that Heavenly Father is in charge of this work.. that he is the Grand Designer of this amazing Design we get to live in everyday. That he has the power to create beautiful experiences that we can partake of.. that he also allows us to go through hard things to allow us to grow.
In my studying this week I studied a lot about Personal Revelation. Which is such blessing that we all have access to.. to be able to receive our Heavenly Father's guidance and direction in all of our choices and decisions. Somethings I have been realizing is that.. God truly does and always will love ALL of His children, that He is so ready and willing to support us in a trial or circumstance we may find ourselves. He will guide us and give us the power to know how to handle anything. He promises us His inspiration when we live worthy of it. It is so important to open your mind and your heart to the spirit... as Kathy would say "Pay attention to what gets your attention!" LOOK for the spirit and Heavenly Fathers guidance in your life. The Holy Ghost brings peace to us. One of my favorite scriptures lately has been.. John 14:27 Peace I give you... Not as the world giveth give I unto you... Let not your heart be troubled or afraid. We cannot find the peace of our Savior in the world. It just isn't there, it is found in living His words and His teachings. He was the one who took upon him all our sins, afflictions, sicknesses.. even joys in life. He KNOWS how to comfort us, because he KNOWS how we feel! Let us all strive to KNOW HIM better!
Sister Pallas

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

All I have to say this week is that ... I hope EVERYONE had an opportunity to listen to our wonderful Prophet and his Apostles.. and leaders.

If you missed out on this goodness... check out.. www.lds.org
I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to hear from these inspired men and women and hear the messages that they have been fasting and praying over for weeks!
One of my favorite talks... although there were many was Pres. Uchctdorf: He talked about the 4 most important relationships that we can have in our lives..
1: Our relationship with God, we are His children. He has so much love for ALL of us that we can't even comprehend it.
2: Our relationship with our Family, can I just tell you all that I have the best family! I do.. they are perfect for me. I am also grateful to know that I can live with them forever. Forever.
3: Our relationship with our Fellowmen, there are people around us everyday that need a smile, listening ear, just time. We are the hands of our Savior when we serve his children.
4: Our relationship with Ourselves, take time to ponder the things that are important to us. Get to know ourselves!
He counseled us to slow down, take time, and refocus ourselves on the things that are really important in our lives. "Joyfully partake of the Simplicity"
I also really loved the talk about Gratitude from our beloved Prophet Pres. Thomas S. Monson: He challenged all of us to have "Attitudes of Gratitude" To live in thanksgiving daily, take time to pause and contemplate all our blessings, pray to be able see and recognize things to be grateful for. He also counseled us to always express our love and gratitude for those around us.. I have so many people to be grateful for in my life.. especially now, people I would never have met if i didn't decide to serve a mission. It still feels unreal to me that each morning I get to wake up and put on a name tag that says: Sister Pallas... The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, I feel so blessed to be able to be a representative of my Savior. How I love Him and all that He has done for me. I love all of you as well for supporting me and remembering me in your prayers.. I feel them. :)
Love you all... Have a Blessed Day!
Sister Kait

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Another week.. in Valley Forge...

It has been a really busy and very good week! The weather is cooling right down.. Thank goodness! (although I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the cold just yet) The leaves are starting to turn beautiful colors! There has been much good happening here!
We had the opportunity to have Sister Dalton.. (another great missionary from the PPM) come and stay with us for a few days while her companion went to a training.. It was great fun and a good opportunity to learn from each other! We were able to go finding while she was here.. and we met a fantastic mother of 3 adorable children! She invited us right into her home.. She said to us.. There is so much light about you girls... It was pretty amazing to have someone say that.. We were also able to teach her more about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! It was amazing.. I know she was feeling the spirit! What a blessing this gospel is. I feel so blessed to be able to teach it to others! I will keep you updated!
Also.. a scary/funny moment this week: We almost got hit by a deer / we almost hit a deer. I thought i was going to have a heart attack... Good thing Sister Reynolds is such a good driver!.. Don't worry we survived. and so did our car.
I wanted to share a story about a woman in our ward. Her name is Tobi.. she is from Nigeria. She was given the privilege to come to America and took the opportunity, although it meant leaving behind her family and her husband (who is going to school and the Branch President of the branch there). She has been here about a year and a half now.. and is trying to work out plans to see him soon. It amazes me the sacrifices people make and the great strength that Sister Tobi has to keep going and pursuing her dreams of one day being able to live with her family.. in this life! She has such a strong testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ, I feel it a very special privilege to know her. I have learned so much from so many wonderful people around me.. it is a true blessing. To be able to see the goodness in everyone is a blessing... something I strive for everyday!
I love this Gospel. I love you all!
Sister Kait Pallas

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Hello: Friends and Family....

Sorry to miss a week.. but last Preparation Day... was crazy busy and exhausting...
We were blessed with the opportunity to go to Philadelphia for the day! What an exciting experience that was! We didn't do to much because there wasn't a ton of time and there is just so much to see! We were able to go to the Philadelphia Art Museum and walk up the steps.. and of Course we couldn't miss taking our picture with the "ROCKY" statue. The city was beautiful.. We walked through down town.. saw the Free Public Library.. and enjoyed LOVE park.
We were able to meet up with a lot of missionaries.. which was probably the best part. There are so many great missionaries in this mission.. (of course all around the world as well) I was able to see SISTER ROWE!! Who I just love. I hadn't seen her for 3 months.. seemed like forever.. she gave me all sorts of updates about the happenings in Pitman! The most exciting.. I hope you all remember Liz who got baptized about 5 months ago, well she has a son that got baptized yesterday! Dan is a great guy and I am very excited about this great news!
The other really good part about Philadelphia.. was the cheese steak sandwich that we got to eat... from a corner store called Gooey Looie's. So good.. so good.
So last Sunday.. We were so privileged to be able to hear from an apostle of the Lord; Elder Neal Anderson. It was amazing to be able to meet him and to hear his words and his counsel. There is something very special about these men called of God. I feel their love and there powerful testimonies. The meetings were wonderful and they talked a lot about the Temple that is in the works here in Philadelphia! What a blessing for so many people here to have a temple so close! I am so excited for the people to receive this great blessing in their lives!
And this Sunday.. I was able to speak in sacrament meeting. It was a great opportunity! I found out the night before that there were going to be about 30ish students of a world religion class attending the meeting. (how cool.. they get to go to different church services and learn about them, they were all given Books of Mormon and also a member from our ward goes to their class before and after they come to church and teaches them more about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!) Well I think my talk went well.. and I felt ok about it! The Bishop of our ward also gave a talk about the 13 Articles of Faith. Which was so great.. all the teachings of the gospel all crammed in there!
I feel so blessed with the many opportunities that are mine here.. I hope this entry finds you all well and happy!
Love you all!
Sister Kait

Sunday, September 12, 2010

I am here to tell you all.. that The Lord is aware of all of us.

The only peace we will ever find in this life is from our Savior Jesus Christ and through his Gospel. I am realizing more and more each day how much I am indebted to my Savior. For all that he has done for me and for all my brothers and sisters.. My family here in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Utah, Africa... EVERYWHERE.. EVERYONE.. He loves us all and for that knowledge I am so grateful!
This week has been so good.. I have had a lot of humbling experiences that have helped me grow closer and closer to my Savior.
I was able to be at a baptism this week of a little girl in our ward... She was Glowing after she came out of the water. Truly filled with the Love of God. I read a talk this morning that had a quote in it .. it said something like... The best thing we can do for our Heavenly Father is to Love his children. How true is that.. We are here on this earth to love and help each other grow and progress! I am so grateful for this great opportunity we are all given to serve! We have opportunities all around us I hope that we are all striving to never let them pass us by.. Heavenly Father is aware of all the Love, Kindness, and Charity we do for others..
We have been meeting a lot of really great people lately.. I know that some of them are ready for the good news of the gospel.. and some are just getting prepared.. :) I am grateful everyday for the miracles that I am able to witness everyday.. I wish I knew how to share more than this in my emails... there is just so much to say and so much to feel.. I can't capture it so well in words.. I will try to so I will just share one miracle..
So on Sunday we were walking to a Ladies home who we had set up an appointment to meet.. She happened to not be home.. but we were able to talk to many people on the way to her house.. One of them was a boy named Zack.. We stopped and talked to him for a bit.. his friend walked away but he listened and paid close attention. He asked us if we gave lessons.. (of course I was screaming and jumping inside) We told him yes.. He was in a hurry to be on his way.. We shared our Testimonies of our Savior and then he was on his way... I'm not sure if I will ever see him again.. but as we were walking away.. he said something like .. "You have changed my life." In that moment I knew that he had felt the spirit. He was touched by the Savior's Love. It was a true Miracle..
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for Everyone. This I do know.
I love you all.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Cool story of the week:

So Sister Reynolds and I.. were on our way to a member of our wards home.. So we put the address in the GPS.. we are driving along.. we get out on the street and immediately a boy starts talking to us. He asked us.. "Which church do you go to?" We told him which church and wrote down the address, we also asked him if he had ever heard of the Book of Mormon. He said "actually I have like 3 copies at my house." So we invited him to come to church and continue to read the Book of Mormon. He didn't come to church .. but I really feel like we were where we were supposed to be at that time. Then we continued to walk down the street to where the address was. We met these two men.. talking on the streets of Norristown... They didn't seem too interested in what we had to say but they took Book of Mormon cards.. But then they stopped us and asked us where we were from.. and what we were doing. So we told them.. and told them about the BOM and the church.. the whole bit. One man said to us.. "You aren't going to change anybody here!" .... I was thinking to myself.. "You don't know anything .. just watch I'll change people here".... Then.. the spirit put me in my place! .. the next words that came out of my mouth were.. "You're exactly right.. I won't change anyone here.. but the SPIRIT will." The other man talking to us... was like.. "You are right.. I will remember how I felt talking to you.. There is something different something special... (and then he gave us the fist pound!)" It was rad... and then the best ending to this story is... We were on the wrong street. The member we were trying to find had moved.. So for reals I know I was where the Lord wanted me to be at that time. :) But don't worry we did find our appointment and had a wonderful lesson!
This story is just one of the many beauties we get to experience here in mission life. I love getting to meet all sorts of wonderful people and having these experiences that strengthen my Faith in my Savior and Heavenly Father. I know that they are there for me and that they love me... and also that they love All their Children! All of you! I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is amazing.
I love you all!
Sister Kaitlyn Pallas