We go on a nature walk...every day!

Guys....I can't even begin to say how gorgeous it is here! Seriously...pictures don't even describe it. I love it so so much! When we go knocking, we literally are, like, hiking through the wood. We've got giant trees, fresh air, chirping birds. It's amazing here! It's like the hike at girls camp...in a skirt. ;) We're always exhausted by the time we get home!

anyway....Shelby is amazing!!! She wants to be baptized and has been reading the Book of Mormon and is loving the lessons. Everything we teach her, she's just like: "it makes sense!" I'm so happy to get to teach her! She's golden, we just got to get her mom on board so she can be baptized! Please keep her and her mom in your prayers! :)

The work continues slowly but surely. We are still working hard and enjoying the rain. Washingotn is really bi polar! It'll rain one minute and be sun shiney the next....luckily it hasn't been TOO cold when it's rained! 

I love you all. Keep on being amazing! Thanks for you love, support, and prayers. They are greatly appreciated :)

Love,

Sister Kramer

I almost steal a cat...

Hey guys!!!

So....exciting news....GEORGE WANTS TO MEET WITH US AGAIN! I'm so excited :) I can't wait to see him. thanks so much for your prayers and keep praying for him!

We also got to see Gloria this week, and she is stuck in a Catholic rut (we love Catholics, but I want her to accept the Gospel!) BUT she accepted the invitation to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, so please pray that she will do that and will recognize that answer!

Kolton finally got back to us....but he's out of town. So hopefully when he gets back we can set up a time to see him!

OH! And we also met a woman, Kelly, who wears and eye patch, has forgotten a lot of her old memories because of an aneurysm she had a number of years ago, and she loved us so much she wanted to "lock us in her bathroom". Naturally, we went back the next day! ;) we gave her a Book of Mormon and taught her the restoration and she said that SHE would pray and read as well. She had a really cute cat that liked me and she laughed cause she saw me holding it and it apparently looked like I was going to steal it :P She's funny! 

SO the Lord is opening up the way for us. I am so happy to be serving Him and am so excited to see what this coming week will bring! I hope you all had a fabulous Valentine's day and know how much I love you all! And how much Heavenly Father loves you all! You are awesome. Have a great week!!

Love,

Sister Kramer

I almost hit a peacock...

Seriously, I was driving down the road this morning and a peacock just CAME OUT OF NOWHERE! Like, a live peacock! Luckily, I slammed on the breaks and he ran out of my way. I was glad I didn't hit him.

there's so much wild life and animals here. Goats, horses, sheep, cows....peacocks, apparently, ducks, seagulls and EAGLES! I've seen so many eagles and it's SO PRETTY!!!!

Okay, but now onto the serious part....

This week was really good and bad.

First, we went street contacting and found this girl named Courtney. She was standing with another guy by a tuck with a whole bunch of stuff in the trunk, so we told her who we were and asked if she needed help. She said no, that she had just got out of rehab and that she was just moving back. She told us her story and told us how she was trying to change her life. She was so positive, though, and kept saying how God had helped her and supported her through everything she was going through. We asked if she wanted to learn more about the church and she said yes! so we exchanged numbers and set up a time to give her a tour of the church and walked away wide eyed and so happy!

Then two days later, street contacting in the same spot, we met a homeless guy named Walter who accepted a Book of Mormon and also set up a time for a church tour and said that eh felt that maybe this was the chance he'd been looking for to change his life. Once again, we were extatic!

We also got a referral for this guy named Mike and when we went to his house to check on him, his 13 year old son, Kolton, answered the door and said he also wanted to learn more!!! AND we taught him the restoration and he said that it "made sense"! 

Then things started going downhill.

George, our other investigator, called us and said that he felt we were being pushy and that we were young and inexperienced and didn't understand that the "spirit works in it's own way and time" and that he wanted to cancel our appointment that day and that he wanted to call us in two weeks after studying and praying and reading. Luckily, he didn't drop completely, so keep praying that he will recognize the answer that the Book of Mormon is true!

Then Courtney cancelled on us twice, Walter never showed up and he has no phone for us to contact him, and Kolton never set an actual day for us to come back over and teach him, also Gloria (our other investigator from a week or two ago) cancelled on us as well.

BUT the cool thing is that Heavenly Father has been so good in comforting me and reminding me about agency. I've been doing my best and working hard, and that is all I can do! If I never see a baptism, if I am my only convert....then that's okay. I know I did my best. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit to trust me and to love me. I am so grateful for that love and I'm so excited to see what this week will bring! I love you all!!! Please keep praying for them! They need this gospel and what it can do for them!!!

love you all!

Sister Kramer

We are "female Elders"

Hey there you guys!!!

SO this week has been full of laughs! Like....my companion is so funny! haha. We passed a sign that said "Joemma Beach" and sister Redenbaugh (my new companion) thought it said "Yo Momma Beach"! Then we knocked on this door and the lady came to the door and was like: "OH! I've never met female elders before!" It was so hard not to laugh!

This week, not many of our new or potential investigators were home....agency stinks sometimes! BUT it's still fine. I am so happy to be serving here in this ward. The members are seriously incredible! And George is still doing awesome. We're seeing him tomorrow. He still loves seeing and meeting with us, so that's awesome!

Sister Redenbaugh is my first companion NOT from Utah! She's from Kentucky, so that's fun! ANd we laugh a lot together, so it makes me happy :) I'm just so excited to serve and be here. I lov eyou all. Hope you guys have an awesome week. As always thanks for all the prayers and love and support!!! 

Love,

Sister Kramer

Love you all!

Soooo this week has been great. We got to see our investigators (the family) and they are still on date for Dec. 12. PLEASE pray for them! They need the gospel so much. It's seriously the best thing ever. I never realized how grateful I am for it, or how much I love the gospel until I came on a mission. Seriously, it's the best!

Also, We had an amazing miracle! The missionaries around the area I serve in decided to have a movie night and invite people to come watch Meet the Mormons (I highly recommend it! It's awesome) and we didn't think we'd have anyone show up. Because NOONE could come. BUT THEN we prayed really hard and right as we pulled up, a sister in our ward (Sister Pfeil) and her non mormon friend, Shirley, showed up!!! And they loved it. It was such a tender mercy and a miracle. We were so happy!

Anyway, the work rolls on slowly but surely! Love you all! 

Also...we had 3 thanksgiving dinners (plus two thanksgiving lunches!) we were so stuffed, and let me just tell you I am SO grateful for stretchy skirts :P

BUT..I am so grateful for those who fed us. It was such an uplifting day and full of fun memories and people!

Sister Kramer

LAST WEEK...

Hey there lovely family and friends,

Boy this week has been a roller coaster and a huge mess of emotion! I seriously am so excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it's gonna be SO weird not being home with everyone. THEN I also have transfers coming up super soon, and I have NO CLUE what's happening. AND I have such huge mixed emotions about leaving. Cause I totally love this area. Like, so much. Silverdale is so gorgeous and amazing. I love the members and our investigators (no matter how flaky they may be...but I digress) with all my heart and soul and it would kill me to say goodbye. However....getting to see more of the mission would be so awesome and I know that I would have an amazing time wherever I go. So, I have no idea how to feel!

BUT as I have been focusing on Thanksgiving and Christmas, I realized how fitting it is to be able to focus on gratitude right before focusing on the Savior and what He did for us. And I have truly come to be so incredibly grateful for my Savior. Think about it....the most powerful, perfect human being to walk this planet died for US, imperfect as we are. He loved us so much, so perfectly that He suffered for our sins so that we would have a chance to live with our Father and have happiness again. ALSO, He died knowing full well that some would completely reject Him and that not everyone would be saved. How selfless, and how perfect He is. I am so grateful that I know my Savior lives, and that He walks beside us everyday, to wipe our tears, silence our fears, and rejoice when we feel joy and happiness. 

I am also so grateful for my mom, and for all the women who have been an influence in my life. I know I am who I am because of my mother's gentle, guiding hand, and for all she did for me. Both my mom, and all of you wonderful amazing women in my life who have helped me grow and progress and learn. Truly, as Elder Holland (one of the leaders of the church) said in a talk he gave this past October: "No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child." 

I am also grateful for my dad, and for all the men in my life who have also helped me. I am a daddy's girl. My dad was always the one to kill the bugs, chase away the boys, and rescue me from all the scary monsters in my room. I never failed to feel loved and supported by all the men in the church, and I am so grateful for their example of righteous leadership and love. I have seen their example in supporting and honoring their wives and helping provide a safe environment for their children. I know that through my father's example, I have come to know more about my Heavenly Father and His love for us and our relationship to Him.

I am also so grateful for the scriptures. I feel so blessed to have the words of the prophets and feel the peace that comes from studying the words of the Lord and His prophets. I know that the Lord is there for us, always, and that He hears and answers our prayers. Maybe not in the manner or time that we want or expect, but in the way we need. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to share this amazing gospel with others! I love you all. Thank you for your love and support and prayers. I definitely feel and appreciate them! 

Love,

Sister Kramer

Sarah at the airport

Holy Smokes

Hey there lovely family and friends!

So, another cool story I forgot to tell you all about was that the other week, Sister Trost and I were knocking out by the shore and we saw a little group of Sea Lions, just splashing and playing around! It was the coolest thing ever, especially for this city girl and animal lover. I seriously thought it was the coolest thing ever. haha. I was pretty excited about it.

Anyway, this week was a little slower, but it's definitely been so amazing at the same time. The Lord seriously knows exactly what we need and when we need it, and there are so many blessings that come from being exactly obedient. For example: in our mission, we have 5 things we are supposed to do every day. 

1. get up on time (6:30)

2. get out on time (10:15) 

3. Be on time to our 5-7's (every day we knock from 5-7 PM) 

4. Talk to 20 people (not knocking on doors, just opening our mouths to those on the streets)

and 5. update our area book (the record of who and what we've been teaching) 

in my area, there are usually not 20 people milling around on the streets. We talk to everyone we see, but it's not 20. Also, it can be really hard to get to knocking on time, because members can be really chatty. We love them, but they can be chatty and that makes it a little harder. So our district leader looooves to say HOLY SMOKES if we don't do our 5 things, and asked us to try a little harder to reach those goals. So sister Trost and I have worked really hard this week to accomplish them, and although we haven't seen tremendous miracles, I can definitely say that those are the days when I'm happiest and come home and feel great. It's definitely been such a testimony builder. Because although I wasn't being disobedient, when I stretched myself a little further and tried a little harder, I was happier. I know the Lord provides everthing we need and in the time we need it. I'm grateful for His blessings, and for the commandments that He gives, because I KNOW that He gives them to us out of love and to help protect us!

Also: On Sunday, our investigators didn't come to church and the chapel was kinda empty, and so I was sad and kinda sat through the first meeting in self pity. BUT then in third hour, I was frustrated with myself for only thinking of me, and decided to try and talk to everyone in the class. I went to each of them and gave them hugs and asked how they were doing. Seriously, I've hear so many times "if you aren't happy, turn out. Serve others." but it's true. Even the simple act of talking with them was enough to lift my spirits and totally turn my day around! It was awesome. Serving others is the real medicine for the aches and pains of the soul!

Anyway. this is super long, so sorry about that! BUT I love you all. thank you all for your love and support. I am so grateful for all of you!

Love,

Sister Kramer

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER-this was last weeks email

Man...this week has been so crazy! 

Soooo...I forgot to tell you that last week (it was Halloween, actually), Sister Trost and I ended up walking in to a public restroom, and there were, like, three guys and a few girls in the GIRLS bathroom. It smelled like smoke, and they were all lined up. They were like: "Sorry, we're in a meeting." And, mind you, marijuana is legal here.....so....it was something worse than marijuana. Yep. We walked into a drug deal. 

Also, we heard a few gunshots last week. I'm very easily startled, so I literally RAN to Sister Trost and grabbed her arm. It wasn't close by or anything, but it startled me pretty bad and I got scared. So....yeah. I screamed. Sister Trost thinks its SO funny.

That same house we were walking up to when that happened, the guy ended up interrupting what I was saying and gave me the "Live long and prosper" hand sign from Star Trek. He asked if I knew what it was, and I said yes, and he goes: "Live long, and prosper." And shuts the door. I was like....ummm. Okay, then! It cracked us both up!

Okay, so the more spiritual side of things....

We were FINALLY able to get our family on date. Sister Trost and I literally got into the car and screamed the whole way home! We were so excited. Of course, they've fallen off date, and we are hoping they don't fall off again, but we just really want this to happen! So here's the story: We have been going over there and leaving scriptures, trying to uplift them and help them progress, but still be sensitive to their situation and not overwhelm them with Gospel. We've been praying a lot for them and about them, trying to discern what to do. It's funny, cause the lessons that I really just don't know what to say, so I just tell Heavenly Father to take the lesson, are the most amazing lessons. Michelle, the mother, just out of the blue was like: "You guys should come do lessons when you come over. You haven't been. We want you to read the Book of Mormon with us!" (we were leaving scriptures and talking about gospel things, but trying to make sure they knew we loved them and not overwhelm them with Gospel lessons). So we told them we would be happy to do that. We explained that we wanted to help them toward baptism and to teach them, we had just wanted to be sensitive to them. So then I was just like...okay. Do you want to pick a date for baptism? Because that's obviously something you want. So then we talked about a date and, as a family, they chose December 12!! Please please pray for that day to happen! They need to get baptized! It's really amazing though. The Lord really, truly knows what we need, what our investigators need, and the times that we rely on Him are the times that He helps us. Even when we feel like we are alone or don't know what to do...if we trust Him, He will always have our back. 

Also, we knocked into an investigator, Kelly, a few weeks ago and she had met some other sisters but had moved. So we are starting to teach her, and she is really amazing! She's so prepared for the gospel. She just kept saying "It just makes sense! It all fits!" and I'm so excited to keep teaching her! 

AND...I don't know how this happened, but a brand new set of scriptures just showed up in the church last Sunday in a bad with my name on them. I have no clue how they got there or who bought them, but the other sister Kramer in the mission told me that they weren't hers, and there aren't any other sister Kramer's in the ward....So I don't know how, but I just got a new set of scriptures, which is funny cause I'd kinda been missing my old set. I left them at home, and was just using an extra set that we had because I wanted to be able to make fresh markings, but I really missed my old ones. BUT the Lord gave me a brand new set. I don't know how or why, but I'm grateful for them! so...yeah. I will always remember that! The Lord works in Mysterious ways!

Also...the primary program was this week and it was the CUTEST THING! Man I hated the primary program when I was younger BUT I love it now. The spirit was soooo strong and three people showed up at church with friends, so that was AMAZING! So yay for missionary work!

Okay, I love you all. I know the church is true and I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have of the atonement and the peace and forgiveness that come when we trust the Lord!

Love, Sister Kramer

Pictures, love, and stories

OK...so this week!

This week was full of fallen through plans and member homes. We've been really working on trying to get to know all the members in our ward so we've just been going down the list. So that's been fun. I love it. We have just such a wonderful ward. Yesterday, we got to go into the Primary and help the kids practice inviting their friends to church, and when we walked in they were singing a song and oh my goodness. The spirit was sooooo strong! I couldn't believe it. It was incredible. 

We also had a zone conference, where all the missionaries in the Northern part of the mission get together and there are talks by the mission president and his wife. We also had one of the leaders of the Church, his name is Elder Gay, come and speak to us. That was really really cool. So this week was, as I mentioned, full of fallen through plans. We've been trying super hard to get stuff done and get in touch with our investigators but it's been a no go. So....the day before Zone Conference, I felt a little worried that I wasn't really trying hard enough. I wasn't too stressed, so don't worry, but I was just trying to make sure I was giving it my all. I just kept thinking about how the Lord chastises the people He loves (Lehi, the Brother of Jared, etc) so I was trying to figure out if the Lord was telling me I needed to do better, or if it was just my own silly thoughts. So I came to Zone Conference with that question in mind. BUT then Sister Blatter (the mission president's wife) spoke about fear, and I realized that I was afraid. I was afraid that I wasn't measuring up, and not doing enough. I know that fear is not from Heavenly Father, so that answered my prayers! I, of course, need to improve, but the Lord wasn't telling me that I wasn't doing enough. However, He did teach me. I got a lot of promptings on how to do better, but it was in a loving way. I know Heavenly Father hears us, and loves us, and that He will tell us that and guide us. I've seen so many time when He's guided me and helped me on my mission that I just can't deny that! I love this work and the opportunity to be a part of it! 

I also have a quick funny story. The other week while in the Post Office getting stamps, I saw this mom holding two packages and her little boy was trying to get in her arms but she was carrying something. Me, of course, being the baby person I am, crouched down and went to give him a high five....but he decided he wanted a hug! THen he thought it'd be a good idea to try and climb into my lap. I wanted to hold him soooo bad, but I figured I would be obedient. He was adorable, though! Well, family and friends, I love you lots. My prayers and thoughts are always with you. Keep on keeping on! 

Love,

Sister Kramer

 This is her big sister, Emma Jean, who calls me "Mister Kramer". I love these little girls. So so sweet!!

 This is the cute hawaiian baby, Leila who I told you about (I think) last week! She's so cute. She was interested in my camera. I kept a good hold on it though!

 Not a very flattering angle of me, but whatever. I'm obviously not in practice in the art of taking selfies anymore :P That's me and sister Trost though! 

 Naval Museum