Yeah, I'm Famous

24 June 2013

Buenos Dias!

So this week went by even faster than the last! How is this happening! I'm glad you all saw me on the T.V. yesterday. Yeah I'm famous NBD (no big deal). That was SUCH a cool experience yesterday. I don't even think I can describe in words how I felt. Missionary work is the BEST. It got me so excited to go out in the field and help people come unto Christ. This gospel is incredible and everyone should know about it. Never feel embarrassed to share the gospel or bear your testimony ever. I am so grateful to be able to be a missionary at this time.

So the other Hermanas in my zone are leaving tomorrow and I am so sad. I'm going to miss them so much. We had a mini fiesta in our residence hall last night. We just sat there and ate candy, talked about all the good times we have had, shared funny stories, and bore our testimony’s to each other. They are going to be missed deeply. But we are planning a reunion in St. George when we all get home, so Julie can we borrow your condo in 18 months? haha

So here’s a funny story. The other night our Branch President's wife (Sister Wing) came in our room to visit with us a little bit before it was time to go to bed and she told us that we HAD to go look at the moon. She said it was called a strawberry moon and that it is the closest the moon will get to the earth and that we just had to go see it! It was about 10:20 and we aren't supposed to be outside after 9:30 so we were like "ahh, I don't know, it's kinda late." But she was so persistent. So we went outside to look at the moon (I know we are rebels, and it was georgeous by the way! Did you guys see it?). And a security guard came up to us and was like, "Sisters you know the rules." And we got in trouble. haha Sister Wing was very embarassed.

We got new roommates on Wednesday and they are the best! I love them already. They are hilarious. OH and good news we get a new district in our zone on Wednesday and there are four Hermanas and four Elders! YAY MORE HERMANAS. We are so excited! Oh and more good news, I get to host on Wednesday! Did I already tell you this? So I get to be that person that when you get out of the car and say bye to your family takes your luggage and helps you find your room and stuff. I am sooo excited I can barely hold it in. I even have to go to this special training Wednesday morning...intense stuff!

So another awesome thing! Me and Hermana Shannon Commited two of our investigator to baptism wahooo! One of them actually got "baptized on Saturday." We are so happy.

Random Fact: Every night the other Hermanas in my district (Hermana Jones and Hermana Barlow) come into Hermana Shannon’s and my room and put on like a two minute skit for us. It is HILARIOUS. They have done magic tricks for us, SNL skits, sang songs, done some impressions, so many funny things. It's so great I'm going to try and reccord it one of these times when they aren't paying attention.

I know. this. church. is. true. It is the best thing in my life (along with my family and friends of course). I know that if we hold on to that iron rod and endure to the end we will be saved and we will live with our Heavenly Father again. It's not going to be easy, but through our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ it is possible. I LOVE all of you. I have the best Family and friends in the world I am so blessed.

Love, Hermana St John 

P.S. Watch the Mormon Message: Mountains to Climb. (I think thats what it's called.) Mountains to Climb  It's INCREDIBLE. It's by Elder Eyring. It's unbelievable. Watch it. Love all of you!

A Lesson on Faith

Buenos Dias!!

  

So this week went by really really really fast! It seems like just yesterday that I had my p-day! Time is so weird here, the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days it's insane. 

So yesterday Hermana Shannon and I taught a lesson about faith to our district. I had a really strong feeling that I should talk about Mom and tell them the story and talk about the faith she had and that we all had to have to get through that. I was SO nervous to tell that story because I knew I would cry and crying in front of people is the worst and I was just nervous. I didn't know what they would think! So I was trying to talk myself out of telling it but I just kept getting a strong feeling that I should so I did. And it went perfectly. The spirit was so strong and I'm so glad I told it because they all told me that's what they needed to hear for all different reasons. Elder Moore told me that his mom has leukemia and that story meant a lot to him and we both just cried and felt sorry for ourselves for a second but then we remembered that we are tough missionaries and stopped crying haha. 

I love my district so much they mean the world to me. They are like my family now. We have all gotten so close and it's going to be SO hard saying goodbye to them in three weeks. I only have three weeks left! I'm halfway done with the MTC! That like blows my mind.

We said goodbye to another district in my zone yesterday. Now the Hermanas in my district are the only Hermanas left! Elder overload!

I'm glad we made the news! I wish you could have been there in person to see all the missionaries walking to the Marriot Center it was so cool. Oh and I'm super glad they put that real nice pic of me on the website! Thats awesome I look so thrilled! haha oh man bless my heart sometimes.

So right now me and Hermana Shannon have three investigators that we are teaching. I have really grown to love teaching. It's so fun watching investigators keep commitments and progress spiritually and they aren't even real investigators! I can't even imagine what it will feel like bringing a real investigator closer to Christ - probably the most amazing feeling in the world! Hermana Shannon and I even committed one of our investigators to baptism, and on the second visit! Yah we are unstoppable.

We did this thing called TRC on Wednesday. Hermana Shannon and I went into a little room and a person from the real-life world (haha) comes in and we just kinda give them a little spiritual thought all in Spanish. It was SO fun. Non-members come in sometimes too but we had a senior sister come in and we taught her she was so sweet.

So here is something funny that happened this week. Elder Moore, from my district says the funniest, most random things all the time so I decided to make a little quote journal with all the funny things he says in it. And the other day we were talking about what the food is going to be like in our missions and he's going to Mexico. One of our teachers went to Mexico on his mission (Hermano Davis) and he was like, "Be careful what you eat you don't want to get a tape worm!" And Elder Moore said "My body is a temple and there shouldn't be worms in it!" There is not a lot of humor here in the MTC so we were laughing out heads off. Plus everything is 10 times funnier when he says it. OH man I love my district.

I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week! Thank you for all of your letters and packages and just for your love!

I know this Church is true with every fiber of my being! And I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to share it with the people of Texas and Louisiana!

Con Amor,

Hermana St John

P.S. Make sure to watch for me on T.V on Sunday! I'll try to make a happier face than I did for that picture! :) 

Katelyn and the Hermanas in her Zone

Katelyn and Madeline Morrison

Katelyn and McCall Anderson

Katelyn and Cierra Lesuer

Katelyn & Hermana Shannon with their roomies who have left for the missions.

Pictures! We Have Pictures!

Katelyn is so ready to leave--on her way to Texas.

I love this picture of Katelyn saying good-bye to Jazzy. Paige posted it on Instagram. So sweet.  

Hermana St. John and Hermana Shannon at the Provo Temple.

Katelyn got a top bunk and looks happy about it.

She ran into Elder Clawson from her ward.

Katelyn was so happy to see Sister Berkley Crowell, friend and UVU roommate.

Katelyn and Hermana Shannon studying Spanish.

P-Day - Hermana Shannon

On P-Day Hermana St. John saw Elder Jeff Derricott at the MTC bookstore.

Their paths have crossed often at the MTC.

The obligatory photo at the MTC. Katelyn with her peeps from Bountiful.

Sister Crowell, Hermana St. John, Elder Bloomfield, Sister Nelson, Elder Derricott

Sister Nelson and Katelyn, good friends.

Hermana Shannon, Hermana Docksteder (Zone Sister Training Leader), Hermana St. John

Katelyn's District. She said she is with them 24/7 and loves them all.

 

Katelyn's Zone. She is so happy to be with them.

Two for the Price of One

Written 10 June 2013:

Greetings!!!

Okay so this week was super awesome. 

#1 Today my zone went to the temple to do a session and as we were leaving the temple we walked by a little girl and her mom who were sitting by the fountain and the mom pointed at us and said, "Look honey, missionaries!" The little girl looked at us and said, "WOW1 They are beautiful superheros!!" Seriously my heart melted!! I have never felt more important in my entire life! 

#2 On Thursday Hermana Shannon and I were teaching an "investigator," our teacher, about the Book of Mormon. Hermana Shannon had been having a really hard time that day because she didn't feel well and she was missing her family so she just sat there and didn't really say much (which I understand). So I was basically teaching this lesson by myself all in Spanish and I was nervous because I didn't know what to say next. So I said a little prayer in my head that I would know what to say. And I got the impression to read the scripture Ether 12:27 and bear my testimony about it. [Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.]  After I was done I looked over at Hermana Shannon and she was bawling. She said that was just what she needed to hear and that it was an answer to her prayers. The spirit was so strong. I was so grateful that I shared that scripture and that I could do that for Hermana Shannon.

Okay so something really cool that's going to happen!! So I'm doing the MTC choir and it's like the best thing ever. I swear there is nothing more powerful than a group of missionaries singing. IDK, maybe that's just me. So at choir practice yesterday the director told us that he has amazing news. He said that WE ARE SINGING IN THE MARRIOTT CENTER on the 23rd of June for the apostles and the prophet! And it's going to be a live broadcast so you guys should watch for me on TV! Yeah, I'm basically going to be famous. But really how cool is that? It's for like a special missionary conference they are holding. The rumor is that they are going to announce some big news, but that's just the rumor around here at the MTC and people don't get out much here so....haha. But yeah, so watch for me! It's going to be amazing there are about 1,500 missionaries in the choir....I know right?

So we sang, "We are as the Armies of Helaman" yesterday at the devotional and it was the most powerful thing in the entire world. They changed the words a little bit (probably to make us all cry). So the part where it says, "And we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth," they changed it to, "And we are now the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth." Seriously, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. I'm getting the chills right now just thinking about it. Listen to that song and change the words. It's incredible! Also we sang, "A Child's Prayer" and we did the whole thing where you divide the room in half and one half sings the first verse and the other half sings the second verse you know? Ahh, it was amazing. Music here is so incredible.

THEY HAVE CHERIE SALAD HERE. It rocks.  I get it like everyday because it just makes me feel good. Love it. It's a little piece of home. I miss all of you so much. Thanks for all the letters, and DearElders. I have been so blessed. I am so lucky to have this gospel in my life. Being here at the MTC has been such a blessing and I know that this is what I am supposed to do. I love this gospel and the peace and hope that it can bring to every person no matter where you are in life. You can always pray to Heavenly Father. Always. He loves you so much. LOVE YOU ALL.

Love

Hermana St John

That was her email today.  She also sent a letter, probably written on June 3rd, and said we could post it on this blog if we wanted to.  So here it is:

Family!

Okay, so this morning was very stressful for me because I had to write a long email to you guys! How did I do? Seriously, nothing stresses me out more. You know that.  What am I saying.  That's actually really funny because I'm writing you right now. But this is a more relaxed setting because I'm not being timed. We only have an hour to email. So write me and tell me if you got it! And if you want me to say anything else or if you have any questions.  

I am sitting outside right now on a bench and it's a BEAUTIFUL day. P-days rock! We (my zone) went to the temple together this morning. It was an amazing start to the day. I know Mom was there. I feel her here all the time, almost as strongly as if she were walking right next to me holding my hand. I think she likes it here.  

Also, the food is really good! My favorite thing is the wraps! Yom.  They are so good! Today me and my zone had a picnic outside together. There are about 30 people in my zone and there are 8 people in my district. My zone is made up of a couple of districts, including mine. My whole zone is Spanish speaking but we are going all over the world. My companion is going to the same mission as me so I will probably see her sometimes! I (Jeff just walked by. I see him 100 times a day.) Anyway, I LOVE my zone. We are all so close. We eat every meal together. We even have our own table. Yeah, we are "that" zone. 

So we had fast and testimony meeting yesterday with our zone and it was incredible. Some people in my zone have been here for 5 weeks and they bore their testimonies purely in Spanish and it was so inspiring. I mean I can bear my testimony in Spanish but it's basic stuff.  Theirs were so deep!  So that's my goal by 5 weeks! Wow! I'm realizing how much stuff I forgot to tell you in the email. I wish I could have had more time! 

It's about 2:00 right now and I don't have to be anywhere until 3:30! Wahoo! Free time! Anyway, me and Hermana Shannon have four other roommates other than us. And they leave tomorrow so we get four new roommates tomorrow.  That should be fun! 

Okay, so one last thing. My district is awesome too! There is me and Hermana Shannon, Hermana Jones & her companion Hermana Barlow and then we have Elder Moore & Elder Arrington and Elder Smith & Elder Deefreze. I basically spend 24/7 with these people. Our district president came and talked to us and said, "This is your new family," and it really is!  We are with them from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.! Good thing I LOVE them all.  Elder Smith knows Mason Paxman! They were friends in school.  Small world, right?

Anyway, I hope sending pictures starts to work! Send me another memory card for my camera!  LOVE YOU GUYS! THE CHURCH IS TRUE.  

Love,

Hermana St. John

Spanish is So Hard!

From: Katelyn St John [mailto:katelyn.st.john@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2013 11:57 AM
 

Okay so basically I haven't stopped smiling since I got to the MTC. Okay there have been a few times....but seriously I have been so happy. This has been such an amazing experience so far. My companion's name is Hermana Shannon (Yeah I know it's a first name, I have told her). She is sooo sweet. She is 19 as well and is such a great companion. She is having a really really hard time becuase she misses her family so much. I mean I don't blame her. So that has been kind of a challange becuase she gets so sad that she doesn't really want to do anything else. But you know what I love her with all my heart. And it's good for me too becuase I need to work on being more compassionate with people and she is definetely helping me in that area. Love her.

So probably one of the best things so far has been getting my name tag. Seriously though. Every morning right when I wake up I get dressed and put on my name tag and just stare at myself in the mirror. (Okay I just realized that probably sounds really vain.) But I do becuase I can't believe that I am finally here and that I am really a missionary. That name tag motivates me as I look at myself in the mirrior wearing it every morning and He reminds me why I'm here and who I'm doing this for. I LOVE MY NAME TAG.

Okay, so I have seen so many people I know here! I see Elder Derricott all the time and he always makes my day. Gotta love Jeff. And I have seen Hermana Nelson, Elder Clawson, Sister Schwab, Sister Schmutz, Sister Giles, and Sister Crowell. I took some pictures with some of them so I will try and send them! This whole e-mail thing is very stressful haha. One reason I know Heavenly Father is watching over me is because when I'm feeling really down like I'll never learn the language or I miss my family and friends, I see someone I know and it makes my whole day better! It really is such a tender mercy to see a familiar face. You don't see alot of them here in the MTC but when you do IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS.

Oh and thank you to everyone who has written me dearelders and e-mails and sent me letters. That is also a tender mercy and your e-mails, dearelders, and letters make all the difference. It makes my life when I get something from you guys! Plus I feel really popular for getting mail! haha One day I got 8 letter so my district thinks I'm way popular. OH yeah so your dearelders work!

Okay so remember how my address is weird and I thought I was going to live in some random place not in the MTC? Well I live on MTC campus so I don't know why my address is so weird! I think it's becuase I'm Spanish speaking and everyone I have written in the MTC has been Engish speaking and they put them in different appartments but I could be wrong! But yes I am on the MTC campus.

Okay SO SPANISH IS SO HARD. I didn't realize how hard the language was going to be. On Friday we taught our first "investigator" His name is Efrian (you have to say it with a Spanish accent). We taught in all Spanish and Efrian doesn't speak any English. So yeah, it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Luckily the Holy Ghost does a lot of the talking. And also Luckily we got to use notes. But notes don't really help you understand what the other person is saying when they talk a million miles an hour. But we got through the lesson and he agreed to see us again so we taught him again on Saturday and that went a little better. We asked him if he would read the BOM though and he said no he just wants to read the Bible right now so that was a little disappointing. I really feel like he is one of my investigators. Me and my companion pray for him, we teach him to his needs, and I find myself thinking about him all the time and what he needs. It's been a hard but really rewarding experience. We teach him again tomorrow so wish us luck!

Okay so my Spanish. At first I wanted to ball my eyes out becuase I thought I would never ever be able to speak it. It just seems so hard and impossible sometimes. But oh my goodness I have learned so much Spanish it's crazy. The gift of tounges is real!!! I can now pray in Spanish and bear my testimony in Spanish. I say all of my prayers in Spanish now. I want to cry every time I'm saying one though becuase it is so amazing to me that just after this short time I can say a prayer. I still have a lot more to learn but instead of feeling worried that I will never pick it up I know for a fact that I will pick it up.

Okay I'm running out of time and I still need to send you guys pictures. I love every single one of you and I think about you and pray for you every day. Especially my homies Paige, Spencer, Hayden, and my amazing Dad. I miss all of you but 18 months is going to fly by so fast. I just know it. 

Yo se que la iglesia es verdad. Yo se que el libro de mormon es verdad. Yo se que el presidente Thomas S. Monson la profeta verdad. I love this Church and I know its true. I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU ALL.

Con Amor,

Hermana St John