Monday, October 25, 2010
Scottish Halloween Picts & etc.
A picture Teresa took from Dryburgh of Dundee
I thought this sign was hilarious!
(These are in quite a few places!)
A graveyard in Longforgan. It was really neat!
Go carts at the Corn Maze
Trampolines at the Corn Maze
A visit to a Scottish Corn Maze for Halloween
The Dundee Zone
The good and sad news
RACHEL - Hello family!
Thank you so much mom for the package of the Ensign of the Temples, the two General Conference talks (Sister Holbrook sends a huge thank you!), and your wonderful letter! I love getting letters from you and to hear what is going on in good ol' California!
Haha Mold grows here like crazy, but I have been scrubbing down the showers here in the flats that I have lived in so far :) so it isn't too bad.
Elder Neil A. Anderson is speaking at Stake Conference?? man.... never did we have a member of the quorum of the 12 come, but once Teresa and I leave, they come running! haha Tell me all about it and take lots of notes for me and Teresie! So you are in the Choir for that special meeting eh? Well you will have the best seat and you won't have to be all the way back in the nose bleed seats by the stage ;)
Well, a lot has happened this week and it didn't go how I would've liked it. There is good news and very bad news.... Good news is Patricia got baptized!! It was wonderful!! When we went to see her the night before we felt prompted to show her a DVD on Temples. Most of it went way over her head but whenever she saw a Temple she lit up; the Spirit was very much there. We also gave to her for a present a Triple Combination and the Bible with a scripture case, she loved it! When she gave the closing prayer it was the first real time she truly spoke with Heavenly Father, it was beautiful! She was saying how excited she is and how she'll "never ever ever" forget tomorrow! She said how blessed she was for meeting us and how happy she is for becoming to know Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father more. Needless to say I was in tears and so was she! I experienced the meaning of "my joy is full". The baptism was modestly attended but still very sweet. [see the picture below] We sang for her "I Walk by Faith" and two of the fellowshippers that have gotten to know her gave her a journal and a picture of Christ. It was wonderful!
Bad news... She didn't get confirmed a member or received the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. Apparently her son called her up while she was being given a lift by a member going to church that if she didn't turn around right then and come home her family would disown her; it was a very abusive phone call. Patricia was very upset and didn't want to loose her children but loves the church. The member dropped her back at home and we haven't heard from her since. Her children had found out the night of her baptism that she got baptized and said that all those Mormons want is her money and that they are awful people. She tried to tell them that we are nice and that we're not like that. All we can do right now is pray for her and please whoever is reading this, can you pray for Patricia Kent as well? This broke my heart.. but I know that the Lord has allowed this opposition to happen because he knows Patricia is strong and can overcome this.
It is because of people's misunderstanding and lack of knowledge that bring them to fear. If only people would take the time to try to learn the truth instead, then this situation wouldn't have happened. Satan wouldn't be trying so hard if this gospel is not true, he wouldn't bother. But I can testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Kingdom once again established on the earth. The Book of Mormon is simply the word of God. It doesn't matter how much anti-Mormon literature is published that tries to disprove the Book of Mormon or Christ's Church, these facts still stand and that is that this is all true. Millions have come to the knowledge that it is true and that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God. Period. We, as missionaries (that means you by the way) are looking for the honest in heart and we are finding them everyday, those who have been waiting for so long to be happier, to know the truth and we are the ones who have to let them know. We must open our mouths and declare what we know to be true and if you don't know, go find out (Moroni 10:3-5). It is so simple and we as humans try to over complicate it.
I will keep you updated as to what happens next. Thank you to you all who have written Teresa and I and have kept us in your prayers! It is greatly appreciated! We love you all and hope all is well with you and your families!
Love you all, Sister Rachel Kullick
English Halloween Picts & etc...
Sister R Kullick and friend
(You can tell she didn't spend the time she normally does carving! Wise missionary!)
Sister R Kullick and Sister Holbrook and 2 ghost missionaries!
Patricia Kent and Sister R Kullick
Sister R Kullick and Sister Holbrook on a typical rainy night
The Preston England Temple
Where's the house?
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sick...
TERESA - Hi family!
So everything is going OK right, and then BAM! Friday morning at 1 am I start throwing up! Ahhhh. And that continued on till 5 am. Sister Sheffield got sick too and so we called the Elders to see if they could come by with some coke cola. They come by at 7:30ish and to our surprise, they had gotten sick as well! What the heck? Pretty crazy that all 4 of us got hit with is at the same exact time. And it wasn’t food poisoning because we hadn’t had any dinner apps for 2 days. We phone President and Sister Griffiths and they told us to stay inside and get better. They told us stay in all the way until Sunday! So we were in for 3 days straight. Gosh, it’s good to be out now. But news of the missionaries being sick spread like wildfire around the ward and people would come by and give us stuff to feel better. It was really nice of them J But I don’t know, we all don’t think it was a coincidence that we all got sick at the very same time-there had to be a reason! We don’t know what that reason was but I’m sure it was important! Haha
But anyways, we had some bad news, Angie can’t get baptized as soon as we’d like because she’s addicted to some pretty hardcore drugs. This is the really sad thing about the work. You will find and teach people who want to be baptized and do the right thing but can’t because they are taken prisoner, pretty much, to drugs. It is so sad. That’s how I’ve seen the adversary grab a hold of people the most, through drugs and immorality. That is why I am so very grateful for the gospel and the commandments! Honestly, I think it is the funniest thing when people think that the gospel standards “restrict” them. I couldn’t be more free to make decisions because I’m not held down by those addictive and destructive things. I see people who claim that doing those things brings happiness and freedom, when in reality, it is not hard to see, even for them, that they are among the most miserable and confined group of people. I know that the gospel is true and that it brings real and true happiness!!! It is just so painfully obvious! Haha
So sorry, but because of my sick fest this week, we don’t have much to report on. But I want you to know I love you all and I am really grateful for the prayers and love! LOVE YOU!
Love always, Sister Teresa Kullick
P.S. dad I wrote you a letter, so keep an eye out for it! Love you. Also the picture I’m sending is us by a member’s thatch roof!! Crazy cool!
Autumn Carnival
RACHEL - Hi family!
So not much occurred this past week but our Ward 2 had a Autumn Carnival which was a good time! Our Investigator, Patricia really loved it and got quite involved! She won a contest and Sister Holbrook and I took a "family portrait" of us and a Scarecrow! haha It was a great time!
Patricia is getting baptised this Saturday and we are really excited for her! This is officially the First time I have started from the very beginning of finding someone to seeing them get baptised! I am so happy! It is such a wonderful feeling to be a part of the process of someone truly becoming converted!
We also were able to find another investigator, Joseph Davis, who is progressing rapidly! He already has a baptism date on the 6th of November! He is around 60 years old just like Patricia but they both have a true desire to change! That just shows ya that no matter what age, its never too late!
I will be having exchanges soon with the Liverpool Sisters! So that means I will be able to have a tiny little taste of Liverpool for 2 days! Which is exciting! Beatles hometown! Woot woot!
It is starting to get a little chillier here, but sometimes the weather here reminds me of October in California... sometimes haha. But I know that Scotland is colder than England is so I guess I don't have it as bad as Teresie does :) I hope all is well with everyone! And thank you to all who have written us and just a little reminder for Lauren and Mike that I am still waiting for a letter back!
Today our District is going to be playing football up at Blackburn, which is about 40 mins away from Chorley but it should be fun! But I hope to hear from all of you soon! thank you mom and dad for the continual letters and love!
(Sorry this letter wasn't all that exciting :/ )
Love always, Sister Rachel Kullick
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Meeting Rachel...
TERESA - Hi mom and dad!
I got the package and thank you so very much for it! I loved the mini look bars! I’ve been sharing them with others and they like them a lot as well haha. I was so excited to get the package and all the little goodies inside were very much appreciated as well! I'm sorry that the van died. That is a bummer for sure! I hope it all works out though!
Life has been going ok here. Not too much going on but a whole bunch of potential for sure! We are hoping to get some things going soon. Thanks so much dad for talking to me about your mission because it's keeping my hopes up about mine. The people are very hard to get through to in Scotland and it’s been a challenge so far, but I know that if I work hard my efforts will not be wasted!
I have a feeling I'll be leaving Dundee this next moves (I could be totally wrong haha) But if that's the case I got to finish strong here! Aileen talked to her husband and he said he'd support her on being baptized so now we can set an actual date for her!! I am sooo excited for her, after all this time that she's waited (about a year) she's going to be baptized! It makes me really stop and think about the covenant that I made when I was baptized. Sometimes we take it for granted and we really shouldn't. We have to do all we can to share this with those who don't have it! So that is a wonderful thing that happened.
So we were teaching the Shorts and their granddaughter sat in on the lesson. She's pretty quiet but she still participates. She sat in on another one and wanted to read a scripture, nice huh? And she surprised all of us when we were talking about baptism when, out of the blue she said, "I want to be baptized." And Sis Sheffield and I were like, "You want to be baptized?" haha It was so great! If all goes well, the soonest she can be baptized is the 7 of November. So we will prayerfully teach for understanding! So it’s looking good!
People in my ward and stake have been going to the temple and have been meeting Rachel! Fun huh? They all come back and say how crazy it is that we are so much alike. But I must say that I am jealous of them that they can see her and I can't! Haha But it's still nice to hear about her and how she is doing from loads of different people :)
But I want to thank everyone for everything! It means so much to Rach and I! We love you all and we hope all is going well with you!
Love always, Sister Teresa Kullick
Miracle
RACHEL - Hello!!
Thank you so much mom for the CD!! I was super excited when I got it! And I also got a letter from Danny from Carlsbad! Thanks so much!
I just wanted to share a miracle with you all.
I was on exchanges with a Sister Anderson in Lancaster but she came here to Chorley and Sister Holbrook went over there for two days. Sister Anderson and I had just finished our appointment with our investigator who is scheduled for baptism on the 23rd of October! We had a member there with us for the lesson and we ended at about 7:12 pm and had another appointment with some less-active members at 7:30 pm. Now just a reminder we walk everywhere so the next place we wanted to go was far away from where we were; so we were crunched for time and there was no way we would've made it there without being a little late. The member asked us if we needed a lift anywhere and me looking at my watch said "No, it's alright, we'll be fine." I couldn't believe I said no and was persistent to reject a lift from her. As we were walking to our next appointment I kept think why did I say no and thought I was just nuts for doing what I did. Even Sister Anderson wondered why too. Well all of a sudden as we were power-walking by the train station a man pulled over his car on the side of the road and asked us "Hey are you from the Mormon Temple?" We said yeah, we were. He then proceeded to ask us if he could learn more about the Latter-day saints! He said that about a year ago he received a pass along card with the Savior on it by some missionaries and then had some family and personal problems get in the way so he lost contact with them but still kept that pass-along card throughout that whole time! He said that the card brought so much comfort to him throughout that year. We exchanged information and arranged a time to see him to teach him more! He mentioned how he has been constantly seeing us and can't figure out why but we told him that is no coincidence and that we are supposed to share this message with him.
Well, I figured out why I had said no :)
I bear testimony that the Lord will place people in our paths as long as we are doing what is right. If we consistently follow the promptings of the spirit then Heavenly father will trust and will eventually lead us to someone. We have to be ready and willing. I love you all and hope everyone is ok and doing well! Love and miss you all!
Love always, Sister Rachel Kullick
Monday, October 4, 2010
Conference was wonderful!
TERESA - Mom and dad
I love you both so very much. I even cried while reading your letter. Thank you for being the perfect examples that I need. I think about you and dad a lot actually and I miss you both as well. And dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Don't worry though, I will send you a letter, I promise. It is apparent how much time and effort you have put in for us and I feel love from you both always!!!
Conference was wonderful! And it seems better now that I'm out here haha. We did not get to see the Sunday afternoon session (usually the best one) because it was playing 9-11 p.m! But if you could send us the talks that would be amazing. Some talks really hit me hard and I also noticed a theme (that must mean that those messages really important!) I will write more in my letter I send to dad so hopefully I'll get that going and send it off soon!
I love you all and I'm so very grateful for all you do for me!
Love always, Sister Teresa Kullick
So Grateful!
RACHEL- Dear Mom and Dad,
Can I just first say how much I love and appreciate you both? Teresa has done a wonderful job at expressing the love and gratitude that she has for you and Dad as parents and now, especially after Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, I feel it is my turn to say how much you both mean to me.
His talk touched me deeply as all I could think about were you and Dad. I know that you both have sacrificed so much for your children to be able to have all that we have been given. I am so grateful for the time and money that was put in to helping Teresa and I to serve full-time missions. I am so grateful for the love and never-ending confidence and support that we received from both of you to help reach our goal of serving missions. Thank you for always believing in us and in our true potential of what we could become. Thank you for always being there for Teresa and I when we would have our differences or when we would have great struggles of adversity throughout High School and with having broken hearts. Thank you for always recognizing that Teresa and I are unique in our own way and are individuals. Thank you for loving Teresa and I for who we are even at times when we didn't deserve it. We recognize the blessing of having you both as our parents and I thank Heavenly Father every night for blessing me with you two as our earthly parents. I have no doubt that we all had special relationships with each other before in the Pre-mortal life and He recognized that and knew we would all help each other greatly in this test that we have accepted with gladness. I am so grateful for you both teaching me at a young age in the home the importance of the gospel and the blessing that come from living it. Thank you for being the wonderful examples that you both are and for the strength that you both give Teresa and I to overcome anything. We recognize even the sacrifices that you both have made that your children are not aware of. Thank you so very much, your love and sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. I love you with all of my heart.
General Conference was the most amazing experience as an official representative of the Lord. Just in the first Session of Saturday's Conference alone, it practically answered all of the questions that I had in mind while I watched. I was awe struck at how Heavenly Father was speaking directly to me through his representatives. I know he is ever so mindful of me and the concerns that I have. We were unable to watch the very last Session of Sunday (due to time differences) and I missed it greatly. Even though I was able to feast upon the words, which were spoken, I recognized that I didn't have my dessert. I was able to have my appetizer and two main courses and never knew how important every single course was in a feast until I didn't receive the last one. General Conference is truly a feast and I know that if we start skipping courses we not only show disfavor to the chef, but lose the nourishment that our spiritual bodies greatly need. General Conference only happens twice a year and those are the times we should be looking forward to the most!
The talks that stuck out to me the most were Jeffrey R. Holland, Rosemary M. Wixom, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Gerrit W. Gong and Neil L. Anderson. I loved all the talks that were given and can't wait to read them when they come out in the ensign! Especially the one I missed, Sunday afternoon session!
Thank you so much for the package mom and dad!! I loooved it! I loved the magic tricks dad! They are so much fun and my companion are going to use them for our lessons soon! Thank you for all the candy, Halloween decorations (they are up already in the flat!), the Keihl's supplies (thanks Erika), the Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD (thanks Sister Rowberry), and pedometer (my Companion and I were talking about how we needed one of those! I'm wearing it now! Ha). Thank you for all of that, I love it! I was also able to receive a letter from the Calls and Headleys! Thank you for all of the love that you send our way! Teresa and I love hearing from you all!
I love you all and am so grateful for all of those who helped Teresa and I get to where we are now!
Love always, Sister Rachel Kullick
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