AINT NO WAY (Katelyn's Letter)

Yep I'm in Conway--back at the beach BABY!!! It's epic! The vibes here are so good and chill and nice! We went to Target after playing games with our district at Bishop Boren's house and it literally smelled like the ocean, we were so close. I love it... but that also means I'm in the most humid spot for the summer. Pray Sister Moreno (Mo) and I don't melt this week in the 90° weather ahem.

It was SO HARD to say good-bye to everyone in Sumter! I love and miss that place so much!!! But I know I've made friendships that will last forever and I'm so grateful for the experiences, miracles and growth I had there. Also shout out to the GREAT DAINES! She was an epic comp and so full of love and understanding--even if she does drive into a ditch the day of transfers and we are dangling there with two wheels actually on the ground aha! I also can't wait to do sales in AZ next summer together. (It's in writing now so I'm committed just so ya know bestie) Bahaha! I'm gonna miss Gallman and Willie and Johnny and Kaye too and all the members but I will most definitely visit them again and ride in Bro. Gedding's elevator. (That thing is so sketch but awesome haha!)

I ALSO SAID BYE TO PRESIDENT AND SISTER MONSON:,((( I love them so so much. I couldn't imagine my mission without them! They made me promise to come see them in Utah so I'll pull up most definitely haha!

OK only a few days in Conway and y'all I think I could live here! This area is the most I've felt like home on the mission. The ward is so supportive, welcoming and loving and everyone just wants the best and works hard! I live 20 min from the beach (fat rip I can't swim--I miss it SO much) and have already met some super cool friends that are searching for truth. I feel that both me and Mo, our unique experiences and members experiences are exactly what they need! One guy we are teaching is Loreto. He is from Boston and has the heavy accent that we love so much along with all the lingo and phrases that we have to have him define lol! (One of these emails I'll make a list of Yankee/Northerner vocabulary.) He is so quick witted and jokes so much. He's overcome a ton in his life and I know that God's love and healing is so ready to shine through the dark and help him as it already has:,) There are other people that we are gonna meet with this week on date for baptism and we think we may be blessed if God's will is and our people choose to enter that covenant every week this transfer! We cover a ward and a branch. I think this is the biggest area I've been in haha! So we switch off church every week and the members are super helpful with bringing and keeping our friends that come. It takes an HOUR to drive to Marion so we also switch off days of teaching which is also pretty crazy but so cool too! I haven't seen Marion yet, so I'll keep y'all posted on how the branch is:)

Seeds of Faith
A member of the high council spoke in our ward (Brother Jimenez) and said something that I've never considered but has completely changed my view and approach to repentance:

*The power of replacement* When we root out weaknesses, we have to replace that void with something so those same weaknesses won't grow back! We cannot create a vacuum. He told a story of their baby getting ahold of and playing with a dangerous fork and brother Jimenez taking it from her and her screaming and crying... but then his wife came in and told him to give the fork back. What? She then got a safe baby spoon and started tapping the spoon on the table and making noises and rhythms to make the baby want that spoon because it was making songs and fun noises. So the mom traded it and got the fork from her with no fuss at all!!!--> The power of replacement!

We must have the replacement (the things that Christ teaches and asks us to do) ready before we create the vacuum.

Repentance implements Replacement!

INVITATION
As y'all try to make changes this week, try to prepare by finding things to replace bad habits, thoughts, actions, or feelings! As we do this we will pull out those weeds that destroy and fill the void with seeds that grow:)

Conway Vocab
Chicken Bogg: Soooo we ate with the Potters (and yes I asked and they love Harry Potter @mysisterKenzie;) and they fed us a unique Conway specialty! It's rice with chicken, sausage and yummy seasoning! They made a ton for us and the Elders that share the ward with us and I swear I ate half the bowl lol!

They also told us that they do a "bogg off" in October where all the natives have a competition for the best bogg in Conway--I'm crossing my fingers I can be there for that!

I LOVE Y'ALL!

I hope you have a great week... There's always so much to write and I'm the worst procrastinator but shoutout to the OGs that actually read all my typo filled thrown together nonsense haha<3

P.S. I don't usually give explanations for the photos but I better for the pic of me in a wedding dress lol. Soooooo we got some news that slipped from the APs to the Zone Leaders on Monday that I was probably leaving and I was CRYING at our 20 year old married bestie member friend Jordyn's house. She then asked if I could try on her wedding dress for her and yes I obliged ahem. It really did make me feel a little better though not gonna lie haha! But I never ever thought I'd be wearing one of those on my mission--home girl thrifted that for 200 dollars!!! Crazy but that's my pday 12 year old girl moment bahaha!

P.S.S. Y'all have to take a guess for the other pics--sorry heehee;)