Missionary Picture A Day :)

So...for as long as I can remember, whenever I go anywhere, my Mom asks me to take lots of pictures. I'm not the best at it, but I really want to take pictures on my mission.  So I thought of trying to take a picture a day.  But instead of just taking any old picture, I have a "Scavenger Hunt" of pictures I want to take!  I made a list of pictures I want to take every transfer and then make cute handouts for each one.  Then I printed them out in put them in my mission binder!  I'm so excited to try and take each picture!! :) Hopefully I can get all of them! 

I added the handouts below for my fellow sisters!  :) Enjoy! 

Sorry for the typo! This is really for people in the MTC for 9 weeks! Oops! 

Working Out as a Sister Missionary + Exercise Book!

So...during my mission I will get 30 minutes per day to work out.  Only 30 minutes.  Now I'm not saying that I'm some workout fanatic, but I have done cross country and track for the past 7 years and just recently did my first half-marathon.  Now I could wake up early and work out more, but that all depends on my companion.  So instead, I searched and picked the best ways to motivate myself and make the most out of the 30 minutes! Also, included are instructions to make the workout book I made! 

MY WORKOUT ADVICE FOR FUTURE SISTER MISSIONARIES!

1. Bring cute workout clothes. Or at least like the clothes you bring to workout in.   Now I know this sounds dumb, but if you like the clothes you have to workout in, then you will be more likely to workout!  Bring clothes that you will be comfortable working out in.  I personally love the loose capris, but I know plenty of people that prefer basketball shorts.  Make sure they are modest, but beyond that, make sure you like them! Also, buy clothes for the weather you will be in.  If it will be cold, bring long sleeved, thermal leggings, headband, cheap gloves, etc.  If it will be hot, bring sweat wicking material. Be smart with what you bring!  It has to last for 18 months!!  (Below are some of the things that I bought!) 

2.  This may be the most important one, but bring good quality shoes!  If you are wearing the same pair of shoes everyday for 18 months, make sure they are good quality.  I would recommend going to a running store (I like Roadrunners Sports)  that has a program to determine the best type of shoe for your foot and tread.  Also, shoes have specific durations that they are made for.  Look for an endurance shoe or one for longer distances.  They will last longer.  Some shoes are made for 200 miles, others for 500+ miles.  Look for the ones that will last 500+ miles.  They will be more expensive, but won't fall apart in the middle of your mission! My favorite running shoe brands are Nike, Brooks, and Mizunos. For my mission, I got a pair of Mizunos (see below!)

3.  Use what you have to bring the most success.  Sister missionaries don't have enough space to pack a personal gym.  However, with just your body weight, you can have a very successful workout.  Other small equipment that would be helpful to have would include bands and a speed jump rope.  Jump rope is a great way to get an indoor cardio workout.  Also, instead of bringing weight, use cans of food, water bottles, or shoes.  

4. STRETCH!  Make sure to stretch after the workouts.  It will be your lifesaver.  No one wants to tract all day with a sore body from the earlier workout.  Stretching for even 2 minutes (but preferably at least 5 minutes) twice a day will make worlds of difference in how your body responds to working out and the other stresses of a mission. 

5. Bring workouts to do!  If you target certain areas of your body per day, you will be more successful. Also, circuit workouts are very effective in short amounts of time! I've seen many different ways to bring workouts, but I'm kinda crafty, so I made a workout book!  And...I love it!  I'm so excited to do these workouts!  I got most of my workouts from Pinterest (my board here).  Then I cut them out and pasted them in a small notebook.  I also typed up what each type of exercise was in a index.  

Because I am a nice person, I made a PDF (link here) of all the exercises and the index, already to size so others can use it to make their own book!  Enjoy! 

Farewell Talk!!

This last weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to give my farewell talk in my home ward.  It was wonderful.  I'm super grateful that the Gordon's, Albretsen's, and other friends could be there!  Afterwords, we had a fun dinner.  I felt so much love and support from the people in the ward.  Because many people that I love weren't able to be there, I posted a script of my farewell talk below. Hopefully it reads ok, I wrote it up pretty late so their might be some grammar mistakes...Oh well!! 

Loved having family and friends here!! 

I tried to get a cute picture with all the boys...

You can see from Cater's face how well that worked out (haha just kidding!) ;)

What a cutie! 

Good morning.  My name is Kati Ford.  My family is in this ward.  I imagine that most of you don’t know who I am, due to the fact that I have attended BYU or the University Branch in Kalamazoo since I moved here.  Since I can count on my hands the number of times I have been to a meeting here, I thought I would start with just a little introduction.  I’m 19 years old.  I’ve played the violin for 10 years.  I love to run.  I also like to be creative and make things.  In November, I received a mission call to Ukraine! 

Brothers and Sisters, I am so excited to be here today.  I am excited to share my testimony and experiences with my family and friends that were able to be here today.  I am also excited to be able to serve as a missionary.  I can’t believe that I get this wonderful opportunity to serve the people in Ukraine and strengthen and develop my testimony as I help people in Ukraine learn and feel of Christ’s love for them.  I know that Christ loves and knows each of us and sharing that love with those that don’t know of it will be a great blessing and opportunity in my life.

Today, I was asked to speak based on President Uctdorf’s first presidency message from last month, entitled, “A Word for the Hesitant Missionary”.  I remember reading this when it first came out.  It was such a powerful message for me, not because I was hesitant to be a missionary or confused about serving a mission but because it was such an incredible, wonderful advice from a member of our first presidency. As I have prepared to serve a mission, I have received plenty of advice, both good advice and some not so good advice.  Due to the fact that before the mission age change announced in October, I wouldn’t have been able to serve a mission for another 2 years, my planning for a mission occurred much faster then it typically does for others that have gone in the past.  Therefore, I value such good advice.  Good advice has helped me feel confident and excited about serving my mission.  Today I’m going to share the top 5 pieces of advice that I have received as I have prepared to serve a mission.  I pray that those preparing to serve a mission will accept my advice and apply it to their lives but I also pray that those that may not be actively preparing to serve a mission will apply the advice too.  I speak from example when I say that you never know how quickly your life can change.  In addition, every member of this church has the opportunity to share the happiness and light that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ brings to the everyday people they come into contact with. 

The first piece of advice I would share is the Learn to follow the spirit and to know what it feels like when the Holy Ghost is prompting you. 

When the announcement was made at general conference to change the mission age, I had a lot of thinking to do.  I had the incredible opportunity to attend a session of conference the next morning.  As I prepared to go to that session, I decided to fast to feel at peace, and that if it was the Lord’s will, to know if I should serve a mission.  As the session started, I had made a list of doubts and concerns that I still had about serving a mission.  As our prophets and apostles started to speak, I was overwhelmed with the strongest prompting I have ever felt in my life, telling me to serve a mission and to serve now.  Every questions or doubt that I had was answered and as I stood up to sing “Called to Serve” as the intermediate hymn, I knew that my prayers had been answered. 

Although I had that wonderful opportunity to feel such a strong prompting, most promptings and guidance from the spirit is found through a still small voice or feeling.  If we are living righteously and worthily to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, then he will “help us in every aspect” of our life.  The Holy Ghost speaks quietly, through feelings as well as into our mind.  In 3^rd Nephi, it teaches that, “it is not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice…nevertheless…it being a small voice…it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn” As we are in an environment where the Holy Spirit can dwell, we will be able to be in tune and better hear and understand the promptings of the Spirit.  As President Monson warned, “Never postpone a prompting.” I can testify that as we listen and heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we will have success, both as a missionary, and it all other aspects of our lives.  I can’t imagine a better way that my life could be, all because I followed the prompting to put in my mission papers to serve a mission. 

The second piece of advice I have in to be obedient. 

When I first started to submit my mission papers, I learned of what an extensive process it is.  You have interviews with the Bishop, members of the Stake Presidency, more meetings with the Bishop. The interviews never seem to end. If you are preparing to serve a mission, or if you desire to be a member missionary, I strongly urge you to be obedient.  This is especially critical to young men and young women preparing to serve.  The standards the Prophets have set regarding dating, movies, modest, and every other standard in the For Strength of Youth led to standards that are necessary to have for serving a mission or enter the temple.  Your lives will be blessed as you are obedient in every aspect of your lives.  I was blessed as I was a young woman to have great parents and leaders that helped me make the right choices.  Although I didn’t know that I would serve a mission at age 19, the Lord knew and he blessed me with parents and leaders that encouraged me to be obedient in everything I did.  Their love and support made it easier for me to obey the standards and teachings of the gospel. 

The third piece of advice I have is to look for the Hand of God in all things.

My family moves around a lot.  As we have traveled to different places, I have had the Lord give me plenty of tender mercies that bless my life and help me see the good in the situation I am in.  After I had submitted my mission papers, but before my call came, I was so anxious about where I would be sent.  I was so worried that it was hard to sleep at night.  The day before my call came; I went to the Provo temple to do baptisms.  The Provo temple was so busy that day that instead of waiting in the Chapel to perform baptisms for the Dead; we were in a separate waiting room, singing hymns.  I remember praying for peace that I would know that I was called by the Lord, and that I would be happy wherever I was sent.  Immediately, the next song sung, was hymn 270, “I’ll go where you want me to go”.  I’d like to read the first and third verses of that song.  They reads, “It may not be on the mountain’s height, 
Or over the stormy sea; 
It may not be at the battle’s front, 
My Lord will have need of me; 
But if by a still, small voice He calls, 
To paths that I do not know, 
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine, 
I’ll go where You want me to go. There’s surely somewhere a lowly place, 
In earth’s harvest fields so white, 
Where I may labor through life’s short day, 
For Jesus the Crucified; 
So trusting my all to Thy tender care, 
And knowing Thou lovest me, 
I’ll do Thy will with a heart sincere, 
I’ll be what You want me to be.” That message hit me like a rock as I realized that I would go where the Lord wanted me to go.  This call that was coming came from the Lord.  As we look for the hand of the Lord in our lives and express gratitude for all our many blessings, we will have the increased desire to serve God and our brothers and sisters on this Earth. 

My fourth piece of advice is from President Uctdorf’s message where he counseled to be filled with faith.

In his message, he said, “Have faith.  The Lord can magnify the words you speak and make them mighty.  God doesn’t ask you to convert but rather to open your mouths.  The task of converting is not yours – that belongs to the person hearing and to the Holy Spirit.” In Preach My Gospel, they teach that “your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment…you can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working though you.” As we have faith, and are filled with faith, we will be able to share the gospel with others and the Holy Ghost will testify to those that we teach the truthfulness of the gospel.  As we share the gospel and increase our efforts to share this message of happiness, we provide more opportunities for those we love to feel the spirit. 

My final piece of advice is to Love others and be happy.

As we love those whom we come in contact with, we will desire to share the gospel with them.  As we grow to love someone, we desire for them to have the happiness and joy that we know about.  Serve those whom you love and pray for them.  Pray for them to desire to know about the gospel.  Pray for them to learn of Christ’s love for them.  The second part of this final piece of advice is to be happy.  After I received my mission call, I decided to pick a scripture to be my mission scripture, to act as a motivational message when I was feeling down.  After I searched and searched for a scripture, I finally came across one in Doctrine and Covenants.  It reads, “Be of good cheer and do not fear, for I the Lord am with thee, and will stand by thee.  And ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.” I love that scripture.  We don’t need to fear because the Lord is with us and watching and guiding us.  As I share this message, there is no reason to be unhappy.  I am sharing the gospel, which has brought me more happiness and joy then any other thing in my life.  Through the gospel, I can have an eternal family.  Through the gospel, I can repent and be forgiven of my sins.  Through the gospel, I can someday be sealed to my husband for all time and eternity.  This gospel is one of happiness and joy and I know that I can receive even more joy as I share this message with others. 

I know that this truly is the gospel of Christ.  I know that God lives and that he loves me. He loves each one of us and knows about our trials, pains, successes and everything we do.  He cares for us and wants us to make correct choices.  I know that if we live righteously, we can be with our families for eternity.  I know that the temple is the House of the Lord.  I’m grateful for the many ways the gospel blesses my life.  I’m grateful for the opportunity I have to go on a mission.  I know I will miss my family but the joy and blessings that will come to my family and me will make it more then worth it in the end. I love you all and am grateful for all the advice, and the many ways you have helped me prepare to serve my mission! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

HOW TO: Write a missionary (ME) while I am at the Provo MTC

So...eventually I will leave and I know most of you (hopefully) will want to write me!  So instead of explaining this to people over and over again, I decided to create a How-to movie.  This is the first time I have ever done this, so if it is awful, I'm sorry.  

This is for how to write a missionary while they are in the Provo MTC.  It is great to use dearelder.com, because it is FREE, EASY, FAST and if it is sent before noon (MST), it is delivered the same day! Plus, you can do it all on the computer!  

So, here is my video.  

Also, coming soon are videos on how to use pouch mail and how to use dearelder.com to send a letter through pouch mail!

(P.S.- I don't have my address yet- but as soon as I do, I will post it.  It will obviously be different then the one in my video!) 

UKRAINE!!!

Ukraine Flag 

All right, to tell the truth...I really didn't know much about Ukraine before I got my mission call.  And by not much, I mean hardly anything!  Which is really sad. BUT now that I have my mission call, I have realized what a beautiful and special country this is.  I am so excited to actually get to go here! And I can't wait to met and serve the people, people who seem just as beautiful as this beautiful country! 

A video that showcases some of the best that Kyiv has to offer! 

time lapse of Kyiv

Lots of veggies in Ukraine

The food of Ukraine - borscht 

I love this picture.  I thought it was photoshopped
but apparently it is just after a crazy snowstorm.  It looks so pretty!

Celebration of the Ukraine temple

Pictures from the temple in Ukraine 

The Kyiv Ukraine temple

 I am so excited to serve here!  I can't wait! 

Great Memories: Sisters in Salt Lake

So... a few weeks after I received my call, I had this opportunity to meet up with (soon-to-be) sister missionaries that would be serving all over the world.  

How did this happen?  Well...I was a member of a future sister missionary Facebook page and they arranged a date to meet at the Salt Lake temple and sing and talk. It worked out perfectly for my roommate Laekynn and I to head down there!  

We drove down there and it was SNOWING!  So much snow. But for some reason, the snow made the day more magical.  

Originally, only Laekynn and I were going to be going, but my Grandma and Grandpa Lindsey decided to come with us, so I have them to thank for all the great pictures! 

This was such a great experience for me.  It was wonderful to meet sisters that were going to serve all over the world.  I even met a Sister going to MY MISSION!! (Ukraine)!!!!  <----This is a pretty sweet story, due to traffic and other things, Laekynn and I arrived after my grandparents.  When we got there, my grandparents had already met Bryn and her mom.  It was so awesome to met her!  I felt so blessed to meet someone that is going to my mission! 

The other great opportunity I had was that I was interviewed by the news.  Originally, the news interviewed tons of girls so I didn't think I would make the cut. But then we were watching the 9 o'clock news, and there I was!  It was so much fun! (News store here - I'm quoted!) 

Also, someone created this wonderful sister missionary video from that day.  Look for me! 

This was such a happy day for me :)