Bluefield Rocks my World!

Seriously. Bluefield is the best place ever. "Virginia's Tallest City", "Virginia's air-conditioned city". Its so cool here! Like always 75-80 in the summer. If it goes over 90, free lemonade for everyone! This is true!! I have fallen in love with it here already. Sister Leavitt is so awesome. We are having tons of fun and working hard. It is so nice to have a companion that you've known for a while, and where both of you know your purpose, know how to do missionary work, want to work hard AND have fun. Pretty much this is the best thing of my life to be here right now. We have a new friend in the ward named Chelsey. She just moved here, and has a teeny baby and she always wants to help us do missionary work. She is seriously the most hilarious and already my favorite person here.

Holy cow the people are willing to serve here. Everyone wants to help us! We passed around the meal calendar at church and our month of July is basically full! Everyone loves us. Our ward mission leader is so awesome! We had dinner at his house last night. His wife is the best cook ever. She made the most delicious biscuits and raspberry jam. I ate so many I almost exploded.

We had dinner the other night with a family (the Hanks) who have a baby deer (as a pet) named angel, and a bunch of goats! A nanny goat was born this week, and we held it for so long! It was so cute! He said we could name her, so we named her after Chelsey, SeySie Marie (pronounced CC) (too long to explain). Chelsey was so honored that we named to goat after her, and wanted to know when she would be promoted to a cow. Wahahah it was great.

This ward is FULL of less actives and part member families. Many of which have asked us to come and teach their non-member spouse because they loved when sister missionaries were here (over 10 years ago). So ya, we have a lot to do here. We love it!!! Our house we live in is super run down and falling apart. We are going to be moving in the next couple of weeks. We're not sure where yet, but I'll let you know our new address as soon as we do.

Also, I will take the liberty to tell you all to NOT watch/read/support the Broadway musical called "The Book of Mormon". A member bought the soundtrack (not knowing what it was) and we looked through the lyrics. It is the most filthy thing I have ever seen. Seriously, Rated double R. I was totally appalled. Every curse word and vulgar thing is in it, a lot. So learn from my mistake.

I seriously love being a missionary. It is the best thing ever. We are going to have a fun P-day and go hiking and stuff. I can't wait!!

The Church is True!!

I love you!!

Love, Sister Kayla Gunnell

Shock of a lifetime!!!!!!!

We're being doubled out. Sister Jensen and I are both being transferred, TOMORROW!! Talk about stressed to the maxx!!! Its okay though, cause we're both going exactly where we wanted to go (if we were to be transferred). I'm going to Bluefield (I think its part in WV and part in VA). My new companion is Sister Leavitt!! I love her!! She served in my zone while I was in Buckhannon/Philippi and we spent new years together (remember?) She is great and I am stoked!! Also one of my favorite elder's is our zone leader. Woohoo!! Sister Jensen is going to Buckhannon!!! Yayy!!!! I've been telling her all about the people that I love!! She is going to be in a trio with Sis. Roberts and Fristoe.

My new address is:

506 Tazewell Ave

Bluefield, VA 24605

Write me lots!! We'll give the new elders our forwarding address, so don't worry, I'll get your already sent mail eventually :) We found out on Saturday that one or both of us was being transferred, and I haven't been able to eat or sleep since! I've been so stressed out and worried about it! Yesterday we found out who/where we were going. I feel at peace now, and I know this is where the Lord wants us to be.

We had an awesome week too! Tanner had his baptismal interview and it went great! At church, Vickie (a former investigator) shows up and asks me if she can be taught all the lessons and be baptized within the next month. Wha!!?! so excited for her!! She is so great! We had a lesson with her yesterday (I taught the restoration and plan of salvation in 2 min. each as a review-ya, I've learned to talk fast, and a lot :) and then we taught her the gospel. She is so ready. Dang those elders. Two free baptisms! Eh, its all good.

We had a district meeting yesterday, that went really well. I was so giggly the whole time, everything was so funny!! Me and one of the Assistants (E. C.Hansen) role played together "how to begin teaching", teaching the district leader. It was so funny cause we taught fine, and then asked if we could sing a hymn (cause your supposed to sing to people) and usually we would just say "sing" and move on, but no, elder Hansen really wanted to sing. So me and him sang a duet of "the Spirit of God" it was great. We're starting a choir together. Hahaha.

We found a few new investigators this week (I'd tell you about them, but you'll never hear about them again...) So ya. Life is good. We've been really busy packing and cleaning (how the heck do I have so much stuff?!?) We've been saying goodbye to people too. I really am going to miss Beckley. I've made some really good friends here.

Wow, this email is not exciting at all!

The Church is True.

I love you!

Love, Sister Kayla Gunnell

Blissful Bliss!

This week has been fabulous.

Although our numbers were terrible (number's don't even matter right?) our week was full and busy!

One sad note, Matt totally dropped us. It was super sad. He just gave us his Book of Mormon and said he appreciated everything we have done for him in trying to save his soul, but he doesn't want to learn anymore and doesn't want to hurt any ones feelings by telling us why. I think he cried. It was really sad and broke my heart. Don't even mention it to me, it still is a sore spot :(

We helped a new family move into the ward. It was great to do some "manual labor." Truly though, we unloaded an entire U-haul in 30 minutes (with a lot of help) but we worked hard!

We went tracting one morning and loaned out 4 copies of the Book of Mormon! So great!! We have a few potentials we are going to see today! YES!!!

We had a lesson and dinner with a Baptist minister and his wife. It was good. They don't really want to "investigate" per say, but they want us to teach them the lessons for their own knowledge and benefit. This should be interesting. They are super knowledgeable about the church already. So much so, that they love the movie Sons of Provo. They own it. They think it is hilarious (that's how much they understand Mormon culture).

We went to deliver a Bible from a media referral to a lady named Tammy. Oh my Awesomeness! She was totally receptive, and we have scheduled a "Bible Study" on Thursday to go through the restoration pamphlet. Don't even worry about it, she is inviting everyone she knows, and providing treats. Her family is humongous and she knows a lot of people. I'm super excited and pray she doesn't get anti-ed before then! She really wants to come to our church, and get her girls involved in the Young Women organization. AWESOME! So who knows, we may have 18 new investigators and Book of Mormon loans on Thursday :) ha! It would be so awesome.

Also we finally have an AC in our house!! JOY!! I was actually cold this morning. Usually our house is 80+ degrees all the time. Now it is pleasant! We are so happy about it!

Sister Jensen is great. We are having fun and working hard and well together.

Missionary life = great. I truly do love it.

The Church is True!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Sister Kayla Gunnell

PS Next week is transfer week, so our P-day is on Tuesday, June 21st! Almost 100% positive I am not getting transferred. FYI.

Summertime!!

Hi ya'll. This week has been a full one full of adventures!!

• Cleaned a less active ladies house/helped her pack and move. Most disgusting thing of my life!!! No AC, super hot and sweaty. She has a creepy little ferret named Skitter they let roam around all the time. What does that equal? Ferret poop and pee ALL over the house. So filthy, made me never want to have pets ever.
• Did some gardening with a lady in the ward whom I've grown to love so much! She has cancer, and a really hard time getting around in her huge garden. We had so much fun! And she is going to help me with my new knitting project.
• Our last Zone Conference with the Thornocks. SAD DAY. Many of us cried. They have influenced so many missionaries, and they will definitely be missed. It was a good meeting, and I learned a lot. Poor Sis. Jensen had to recite D&C 4 to the whole zone! Her first conference! Mean ZL's! Haha. We also had to role play loaning a Book of Mormon to the Thornocks. TWICE. Intimidating!
• We got to go to the Stake Relief Society Women's Conference in Charleston. It was all about Angels, and pretty cool. I learned a lot of neat things and we had a fun time. Some of the Senior missionary sisters were there, so we got to hang out with them :)
• Last night we went to an Eagle Court of Honor for a young man in the ward. I think scouting is so cool! Really, I do! He gave his mom his mentor pin, and it was so precious and such a tender moment! I love the Beckley ward, truly, they are all so great!
• Tanner is getting baptized on June 19th. Yay!!! He is so excited!
• Matt's female roommate moved out! Yay!!! He still has a few big stumbling blocks he need to jump over (aka smoking, and a few testimony things) nevertheless, we are excited to continue to work with him and help him towards baptism, because that is the desire of his heart!
• Nancy has until July 1st to decide if she is going to set a baptismal date or stop taking the lessons. Progress all around!
• We have 3 lessons this week with potential investigators. A mother, a mother and son, and a husband and wife. A potential of 5 new investigators! They all sound pretty genuine, except the husband of the couple is a Baptist minister. Hmmm... ADVENTURES!!!

I love being a missionary, I truly do. This is the Lord's work.

The Church is True!

I love you!

Love, Sister Kayla Ann Gunnell