Park City and General Conference

I'm excited for General Conference and can't wait.

It’s always a pleasure to see everyone and to feel the spirit in such rich abundance.

Carmen's baptism

This tree and I just don't get along... :)

YOYOYIGGIDY YO

Sister Kirts & Sister Jara

Allison vs. Park City Snow


Family Tree Center

6 months to go & back in Park City

I was absolutely shocked when I got the call last week that I was being transferred to Park City. I didn't think that I would be able to come back up or anything, but I guess that the Lord had other things in mind. I am so happy to be here. it's definitely hard to leave some, Taylorsville and Riverton still have pieces of my heart. They have such wonderful people and I know that the Lord placed me there to meet certain people and to have them shape my life. I am so grateful for their love and support. Their kindness and willingness to allow me into their homes and to welcome me with open arms. I dearly miss my last residence. It was just like home warm, kind and loving. I am so glad to have lived there.

We're back in the barn shed in Park City. It's muddy and snowy, but hey it's pretty close to nirvana.

We have been able to visit a few of the people that I knew before and it was fun at church yesterday to be welcomed back. We are teaching so many new people and we have baptisms set for this coming weekend. People are truly prepared to hear the gospel no matter where you are.

My new companion is Sister Jara from Chile, she is from the very most southern part which is called Puenta Arenas(Puntareanas)if you wanted to know how to say it. She is wonderful. We just get along naturally and we really do enjoy one another. We teach well and she just helps me to feel loved and hopefully she can feel that way as well. She didn't know English at all when she came to the MTC, but it has improved dramatically. I served with her for two transfers in the same zone so we saw each other quite frequently.

The Family Tree Center is such an awesome place to be and serve.

Thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes, cards, emails and gifts they made my day :)

I had such a wonderful day...Cheesecake Factory, some shopping, teaching a new investigator...

You are all so wonderful and I have so much to be grateful for, you are truly the angels that the Lord has blessed me with here upon this earth.

January 16th - Happy Birthday Sister Kirts a.k.a. Auntie Allison

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King...oh yeah and MOST IMPORTANTLY ME!!!(said in the same way as Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde after she gets the intership)

This week has been a pretty awesome one. We survived transfers, YAY!! I've finally been with the same companion for more than a transfer since my first companion...that didn't make sense, but it did in my head :) Anyway we are super happy to be together for another transfer and we are super stoked because we have more people to teach, talk about an awesome birthday present.

I also had the opportunity to speak in Church yesterday. The topic was true to the faith. I really enjoyed all that I was able to learn as I studied. When you think about it if we are true to our faith then we will be able to make it. I am so grateful for the Lord's promise in Doctrine & Covenants 82:10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

I love you all!!!

Off to Cheesecake Factory for some birthday fun - Yeahhhhhhh

"REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE"

Jan 2, 2012

This has been one of the most interesting weeks of my life. I appreciate all that I have been given by our Heavenly Father. I know that he is mindful of us. that he knows what we are going through and that he truly cares for us. We visited with an AMAZING sister this week, Sister Stirling. She had us over for dinner on Monday night and her advice really has changed my view in the last week. She talked about something that she did a few years ago and has continued the tradition ever since. She showed us a book that she has created using things that she has seen in ensign articles, magazines, scriptures and just little things that she collects. She calls it her inspiration notebook. Well, I started one this week and it has been amazing. For those of you who know and also those who don't missionaries tend to leave things behind. You know toiletries, laundry soap and other useful things. They can also leave being things that you don't want, old shoes......gross....and also stacks and stacks of ensigns. Man do they get heavy to carry around. Anyway at no other time have I been more grateful to have those ensigns laying around. they have been my inspiration for my inspiration book.,....hahaha.....Anyway it has really helped me to keep continually focused on the work, not debating at night as to whether I should write a letter or just day dream. FOCUSED is the goal. This has helped me to see the hundreds of articles that I missed while I was either at school, not yet born, yeah there were some really old ones......and also ones with articles that didn't seem pertinent to me at the time that they were published. Anyway it has been the source of such great joy and you all know how much I love crafting. It's a wonderful release that helps me to see all of the wonderful things that the lord has blessed me with through living prophets.

One article in particular really hit home. It is entitled REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.....sound familiar Shelby???? As I was searching through the April 2008 Ensign this title was just too good to pass up. For all of you who have been around when my Mom wishes us farewell you have heard this phrase before. I can't even begin to count the number of times that I heard it. It really just struck me when I read it.

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/04/remember-who-you-are?lang=eng

I really felt the love of our Heavenly Father enter into my heart when I read this article. That he did embrace us before we left his presence and all that he wanted was for us to remember our Divine heritage. That we are of Noble birth. We are the children of God, the Most High and the one who cares for us in ways that we cannot even imagine. He desires to see us again, but in order to do so we must remember who we are, the children of God. We are better than we think we are. In Romans 8, Paul talks to us about Christ and that if we are able to live the way that Heavenly Father has asked us to that we will be joint heirs with Christ.

How grateful I am for this gospel and the blessings that I have received from our Heavenly Father. I know that he lives. That he loves us and wants us to return to live with him. Jesus Christ is our Savior and through him we can reach our full potential. I know that this work is the work of the Lord. That we are able to gain eternal life through him. I am so grateful to be here. I love it. It is the best thing EVER!!!

Love you all, Sister Kirts

Leaving Riverton and onto Taylorsville

It's hard to say good-bye to so many wonderful families, companions and friends. Here are some pictures to name just a few... Burgess Family

Sister Paongo

It has been amazing to see how the gospel of Jesus Christ really does change people and their lives if they let him in. In a talk President Monson quoted the hymn "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and how in the last verse it says: No ear can hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and that President Monson is his Prophet here upon the earth. I love you all, you bring me strength and give me hope.

Christmas in the mission field

Happy Thanksgiving

I love you all dearly and hope that you find solace and love this season. I've been writing 1000 things I am grateful for and it's opened my eyes to see what the Lord has blessed me with. Thank you for everything that you do and for all of your love.

Love you and see you soon.

Halloween

Who needs trick or treating when you can play Zombie Nerf War with the missionaries.

Called to Serve

Missionary hike


Crazy sisters (Penrod, Brown & Kirts)

6 Months- it seems like only yesterday

I still can't believe that I have hit my 6-month mark. It seems like only yesterday that I was at the airport saying goodbye and then at the MTC wondering what the heck I had done. Well those days are long gone, most of the time. We have had a great week out here and it just seems to be getting better by the minute. Things are going well with my new companion Sister Penrod. She's really outgoing and really has a desire for the work. It's really made me be bolder and have a louder voice (not literally).

We have a few people scheduled to be baptized this month and we are super excited to have them enter the waters of baptism. They have all shown such great faith, commitment and love.

I love you all and am so blessed to call you family. Thank you for all that you do and the support that you are to me and my family.

Love,

Sister Kirts

So I got a newbie...again...

Dear Mom and all who take the time to read this,

This week I found out who my new companion was. Her name is Sister Penrod and she is from Indiana. It think it's so true that even though I'm not serving a foreign mission I definitely have had some foreign companions. I mean Idaho, Denmark and Indiana are WAY different than I expected. I told Sister Penrod and my previous companion Sister Brown that we have a gardener and they about fell over. They were all floored that we didn't do our own gardening....let's just say I felt a little stupid.....Oh well, it's supporting the illegal economy of California....now isn't that what it's all about?

Onto the rest of the week: Well President Miller, my mission President, told Sister Penrod, Who loves to work out that she would love me because I love to work out. Now I don't really know where he got that information from, I mean I love playing sports, but running aimlessly has never been one of my favorite pastimes. Needless to say she has kicked my rear a bit in getting me to run faster and harder...need I remind her that we are up in the mountains and we have NO oxygen up here....I mean come on....I know, I know, it's good for me, but it's just taking me a while to get used to it.

We are still living above the barn house and let's just say that I'm still getting used to having spiders crawl up through the drain when I am showering. I didn't expect to have that happen here, but oh well. At least I saw it...That was a good thing.

We got to play volleyball today and it was awesome. They have sand courts out here and I love to play on them. It feels like were at the beach, other than the rain it was pretty awesome. We played with the other missionaries and then we went and grabbed some of the best Mexican food ever. I really love those dirty places and we finally found one in park city. yay!!!

Now onto my purpose, I guess that I should get to that sooner, seeing as I am a missionary. Well let's get onto the spiritual side of things. It has been amazing to see how the Lord prepares people in our path and that at times we have to move a different way to be able to meet those people. Three of those people are a family. The Mother's name is Christine and she is amazing. She has been through a lot with her kids and on her own. She is progressing really well and it has been great to see here grow in her faith in Christ. Her children are adorable. They are so excited every time they get to go to primary.

We also found an amazing woman through a member. She was so prepared by the Lord it's not even funny. She is an at home care giver and she was at a home when some sisters were guess what....visit teaching....and she asked if she could meet with missionaries...can you believe that....she wanted us....How cool is that. Well we went and talked with her and she was so amazing. She had lost her mother about a year ago and was just so unsure about where she was and what had happened to her. I was just able to bare witness of the plan of salvation and that her mother was learning the same thing right now. That this is the true church and that she can gain that knowledge for herself. She was so excited and she agreed to be baptized at the beginning of September.

I also got a visit from an amazing friend, Emy Dambara this week which really brought my mood up and things are great with the new greenie. I don't really know why I keep training, but it's harder than I thought. But I figure the Lord qualifies.

I love you all and hope that all is well.

Love,

Sister Kirts

Thank You

I am still learning what Heavenly Father's plan is for me out here, but I have been able to see that as I place everything in a so-called box if I forget my life and focus on this short time that I have to serve him with all of my might that I am able to find out what it is that he needs from me. I hope to accomplish all that he has for me to do here. It's a beautiful place to be and I know that the Lord provides for us when we are mindful of what he wants from us.

It's getting a little hot out here for my taste and I’m glad that winter is only a month or two away. I still can't believe how fast the times go but as I've heard it said that we only have 18 months to devote and we must to all that we can.

I appreciate so much all of the support and love I feel from each of you each and every day. I appreciate all that you do for me and my family. You mean the world to me and I am so happy for the opportunity to know you. You have all been wonderful examples in my life and I know that I would not be here without you.

Sister Brown and I talked about that this week as we have been working on confidence and thinking about what really brought me out here, it wasn't really just one thing. It was a culmination of events and things that took place at a certain time in my life. I know that the Lord prepares us for all that will be placed in our path and I know that he will be there to help us.

I love you all and hope that you are all doing well.

Love,

Sister Allison Kirts

Bugs, Seriously!!!!!

So a funny thing happened today. We were in the car on the way to go bowling for p-day and there was a bug on me and someone flicked it off. A big change for me. As you well know. Well I was so proud of myself that I felt the need to tell the other sisters in the car that living in our new barn house and all of the bugs and things in there had not really had an affect on me. That I hadn't freaked out at all. Well just about 30 seconds after we had finished talking about that, I felt something on my finger, turns out it was a spider and I proceeded to freak out. I whacked my hand on the dash and continued to scream until I had established the creature was no longer on me. Well let's just say that we had to pull over due to the laughter of the other sisters. I mean I had just stopped talking about my bravery. Well the Lord continues to teach my humility out here in good ole' Utah. I can say that was and still is definitely necessary.

What a Wonderful week!!!

Hello all,

So guess who's training again. I still couldn't believe it when I got the call from President on Saturday. I though for sure that I was going down to the valley right in the middle of the summer, not what I wanted. But to my surprise he informed me that I would be training another brand new sister from the MTC. It's a little nerve wracking and I can see all of the ways that I can improve and I hope to be able to apply all of those things in order to best help this new sister. I can still remember my first day and how terrifying it was. My goal is to help her have the best experience and to help her see all of the amazing things that are going on in the area.

We have been teaching 27 year-old named Mateo and he is going to be baptized at the end of August. It was seriously the coolest experience to see him change. We've only met with him a few times and he's really been struggling with faith. Sister Brown and I had prepared a lesson solely on faith and how we can build it and really test our own faith through our actions and decisions. We were talking about faith and what it does for us and we asked him about his own faith and how he has felt his faith grow. As he started to answer I felt the spirit just guide us to ask if he was prepared to be baptized and to commit to an actual date. It turns out that he had already asked someone to baptize him and that they were going to come out at the end of august. I was so excited. I knew that the lord had been preparing him and that he now has a testimony of God's love for him and that Heavenly Father really does listen to and answer our prayers. It's so cool to be able to see people change and the different things that they can do to make those changes. It's really humbling to see how we really are just tools in the Lords hands and as we study and are obedient and act upon promptings that it's really between the investigator, Christ and Heavenly Father. We really don't do anything and we just have the privilege of seeing people change for the better.

We also had a great experience with Tom. He is 74 years old and has been an atheist for most of his life. He has been coming into the visitor’s center since before I even got here and just in the last four months has really grown and we have been able to see a great change in him. He is softer and more open to the gospel; you can see the joy in his life when he learns about the gospel. Jesus Christ really does change people’s lives if they allow him in. That through sincere change we can find such joy. It's true that the only real convert on your mission is you. My testimony continues to be strengthened by those around me. I know that the spirit really is what allows these people to feel of Heavenly Father’s love.

July 20

This week has been one that will go down in the books....We had some pretty awesome experiences and some that really shook at least me....Well to start off for those of you who don't know I am currently living on a ranch/farm/horse....I really don't even know what to call it. I thought I would never enjoy a place with this much fresh air and open space. You all know how much of a city girl I am.

GENEALOGY:

Well let's start off with the great experiences of the week. So to explain, last week I was helping a sister that was abandoned by her father at birth, mind you she was only 20 years old. Either he left her or her mother took off I really didn't want to get into it. Anyway she came in to the Family Tree Center and asked if we could look him up, typically we wouldn't be able to find someone that was born in the 50's as her dad was, but somehow the Lord intervened. She didn't even know if her father was still alive. Anyway as we searched we discovered that he father had passed away not more than a year ago. As we sat there, she burst into tears. We did all that we could to try to find a family member and someone for her to get into contact with. Luckily enough we did, we came across his obituary and we were able to get some information. I tried sharing the importance of the gospel with her, but she was not open to it. As they left she was very grateful for the time I had spent with her. A few days later one of the sisters handed me a note that this girl had dropped off at the center. It explained how grateful she was for the time that I had spent with her and continued to tell me that she had been in contact with her dad's sister and they had talked for hours.

As I read that letter I was overwhelmed with the greatest sense of gratitude. I could not imagine the life that girl had lived. What she must have gone through and to never have had the opportunity to meet her father. I knew at that moment that the Lord had sent her into my life to help me better show my gratitude for the many wonderful blessings that I had been given.

I knew my father, we were the best of friends and I could not imagine my life having not known him, as I am sure that you feel as well. I received a greater testimony of the greatness of the Lords Plan and that we are all able to be with our families regardless of what happens as we live according to the will of God, and we receive those blessings.

TREVOR (investigator):

I know that I have mentioned Trevor in the past, he was recently baptized and really one of the people that I know I was supposed to meet on my mission. He has drastically changed his life and this week he received the Aaronic priesthood. The light that shined through that young man was amazing. He has truly come to understand his worth in the sight of the Lord and has changed not only his life, but also the life of his family. They are all active now and we are just waiting on his sister to accept the gospel so that they can be sealed in the temple.

DOGS, DOGS AND MORE DOGS...

So onto the scary stories...first of all you know that there are two dogs that I love in this world...Lucy and a recent friend named Clancy...here in park city...on our 40 min walk to church this week we were chased by not one, not two, but three dogs all from different houses and all crazy scary...okay one was just a little one, but still super scary. Everyone up here has a dog...I have had to make some adjustments...but hey, I'm getting better......We also had another dog attack earlier in the week, but I stepped behind my companion to shield myself from any injury.....

Other than that the week has been great, but transfers are next week so I don't know where I will be. I love you all and realize more and more everyday how blessed we are to have the heritage that we do. What was sacrificed for me and how that has truly shaped my life.

Hope all is well and enjoy the Utah holiday Pioneer Day....

Sister Kirts

July 13

On our P-day we hiked up Deer Valley (ski resort), so much fun.

It's getting better with all of the responsibility of training all of the sisters and the senior couples and still training a new missionary in every aspect of missionary work. So we are trying to get all of that figured out while still trying to focus on the work and be a good missionary myself.

We met a young man about my age and he seems really interested in the gospel, he's already reading the Book of Mormon. I was shocked. I mean I really didn't know that people would just do that. I guess I should work a little bit more on my faith and stuff. That would probably be a good call.

Barn House (no overalls-Please)

Oh, so I live in a barn house now...yep above barn with hay and horses and all that good stuff, oh and mules, I didn't know there was a difference between mules and horses....I guess I am learning more about farming that I thought I would on my mission......It's good for me....

Oops, wrong end :)

I was trying to feed it but when the horse would breath it would knock the food off.



Our new home away from home...

Well, the apartment is the size of the entry @ my house in California, maybe and about one and a half times as long....with the kitchen and bathroom included. We sleep in a loft that can get super hot. It's pretty small, but it's home :)

And yes the sleeping quarters a.k.a. "the loft" are up this lovely ladder...

Also Shelby...just because you send a month old letter doesn't mean you are out of the dog house...Trevor (brother-in-law) is not allowed to get into trouble for not writing if you are not writing...I mean it's kind of a double standard-ha ha...

I love you all and will talk to you soon. Brit send updates of how things are going? Hope all is well...

Mark, I love you and can't wait to hear all of the fun things that you have been doing. I still look at my Euro’s and imagine, but the eye is single at the moment, just focusing on the work and the great things that come form it. We had two baptisms and it's been amazing to watch people change.

Love you all,
Allymofro

July 6

We watched the 4th of July parade, it really was awesome to see all of the people, there were probably about 10,000 on Main Street.

Trevor and his sister were in the parade.


The baptism this week was absolutely amazing. I mean it was awesome. I loved it. All of the wonderful things that you want to happen happened. We even had another investigator come. The spirit was so strong and we just knew that he was making the right decision and that our Father in Heaven was so pleased with him and all that he had done. I know that Trevor was one person that I was meant to meet on my mission. He is one that has changed my life and helped me see that people really can change if they choose to do so.