Good morning!
        It is such a beautiful feeling to wake up each morning and serve the Lord wholeheartedly! I have two companions, Sister Aguilar and Sister Tanner. In three weeks they are heading to Guatemala to finish their training in the CCM there before serving in Honduras. Then I will be a solo sister in our district, but I feel blessed
to have elders that are focused and kind. Though I prepared with the language I feel inadequate at times. But the Spirit reminded me yesterday that I have a testimony- I know this Church is true and the Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know who I am and where I'm going. My testimony gives me such joy that I have to share it and I will not allow the language barrier or my lack of ability stop me from doing so. That is why I'm here to invite others to come to Christ and I know the Spirit will help me. Because we are doing so much everyday I'm not even sure what all to tell everyone. Please tell me what you want to know about my time here. A few things- my preparation day will normally be on Friday and our branch president suggested that you send letters through DearElder.com since it sends a hard copy in the mail the next day, even if it is days before my preparation day.
I love you with all my heart and hope you are doing well!
-Sister Koerner

P.S. Forgive me if I have Spanglish in my letters- my mind is trying really hard to translate everything into Spanish. : )

Mission Goals

Good morning!
An especially good morning since it's my first as an official sister missionary. I fly out today and enter the MTC on the 9th. Anyone looking for addresses- they are posted on the right side of the blog. Welcome to my blog- if this is one of your first visits! And if you are a loyal reader from before- thanks for continuing to read! Just a heads up- my family is all named with nicknames to protect their privacy. Please don't leave comments with their real names out of respect for them. If I use your name or story and you'd prefer I didn't, please leave a comment and *Bella(my younger sister who will be managing the blog for me) will make the necessary changes.

I must express my sincere gratitude for all the love and support that both Terre Haute wards poured out over me and for the support of my family- immediate and extended. I held strong through both talks in church, my open house, and the various farewell phone calls. But I'll admit to crying a bit when my beautiful Primary children (of whom I have been the chorister of for the past 8-9 months) surprised me with homemade cards and pictures. Some of the wonderful boys left me memorable lines such as- " Don't get eaten by an alligator.", " Watch out for wild things." and " Don't step on snakes 'cause they don't like it." Serving in Primary was the most humbling and inspiration call I think I could have held before my mission and I'm grateful for those experiences.

I've been thinking seriously the past few months or so about the goals I want to have for my mission, because I'm a goal type woman. The written down, posted, revised, and analyzed kind of goal woman- something that is coming with me into the mission field. The Relief Society declaration reminds us that "our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction..." at every stage of womanhood and I am grateful for the chance to discover all of those more in depth as a sister missionary. I've talked with mentors, friends, returned missionaries, and family members to help me develop the goals I want to strive for throughout my mission. Here is a list of the ones I've compiled. They will probably change, in fact, I hope they do change since that means I will be growing and progressing. But a starting place is nice.

Make morning prayer my first spiritual experience of the day, but make sure it is not my last. ( Advice from my father)
Faithfully keep a journal throughout my mission and strive to write every day.
To adhere to the advice of President Monson when he said, "Pray as though everything depends upon God. Work as though everything depends upon you..."
To work within the wards that I serve in, in such a way that all of the members (not just investigators, WML's, and converts) feel of my love for them and my desire to serve them.
To help those I teach apply the doctrines to their everyday lives.
To be able to teach the gospel in all of it's remarkable simplicity while striving to learn of the mysteries I have not yet gained knowledge of.
Learn something from each of my companions. Indeed, to seek out everything they can teach me during our service together.
To become intimately acquainted with the Spirit. ( Advice from my mother.)
Use the Book of Mormon in every aspect of the work.
Seek to continually serve my companion.
To sustain and encourage the priesthood holders I will work with.
Identify the Christ-like attributes in all those meet and serve with.
Love the gospel, love my companion, and love the people. ( Advice from Emilee and H.)
Spend 10 more seconds listening with people I meet to try to really get to understand what they are saying and what they need.
To find balance even within the rigorous demands of missionary life.
To not waste a single referral, lesson, moment, or day of my mission. That I may look back on my mission and say that I gave everything I could possibly give.
I know with all of my heart that I am not serving this mission on my own, but with my Heavenly Father's guidance. It is His gospel I am sharing, His love I am emulating, and His children I am serving.

All my love and excitement-
Sister Koerner

Finding Isaiah

I'm taking a break from packing up all my stuff, so I can post. Some of you might remember I took an Understanding Isaiah class at BYU last year, which I absolutely loved! At the end of the semester we did a final creative project expressing our exploration of the book of Isaiah. Being a writer, my project took the form of a poem. Here it is.

Finding Isaiah

My flickering batteries are dying,

and the textbooks before me are creased

with notes and assignments.

One task remains, yet left deliberately

for the end with trepidation in my heart.

It's Isaiah, the poet of the plates.

Yet so far removed from my small

apartment and Life.

I need the promised guidance,

yet the screen oft times hinders.

Behind the Master, his words stand apart,

For even He says study of his teachings.

Over and over again the words form, but

stop making meaning somewhere between

the page and my brain,

the page and amy heart.

Now that I have started to search

I see Isaiah all around,

In the words of the following prophets,

Teachers and knowledge.

They all have glimpsed his light

which seems to only flicker before me.

What is he saying?

What does it mean?

Why should it matter to me?

It mattered to Nephi and Mosiah,

Joseph and Jesus,

so what escapes me?

Am I unlearned?

Unworthy?

Am I not ready for the poet of the plates?

How can I find him when I myself am lost?

Isaiah could not possibly know of my

pain and struggles,

my heartaches and loneliness.

He knows of deserts and of kings,

of armies and temples.

He knows of waters and mountains,

of marriage and children.

So how then can I see him?

Leaving the pages laid out

 I fall to my knees in tears.

Can I please know?

Can Babylon, Judah, Israel, and Samaria

translate to ideals beyond the boundary?

What work lies on my shoulders

and what lays with the Lord?

The room fades away as the

pages come into focus.

I see a Mirror with myself

reflected in the verses.

I see a Warning against my

failings and sins.

I see a Calling to join the ranks

and fulfill my commission.

I see a Father.

Powerful and wise.

Loving and merciful.

A Father who hears my pleading words,

and feels my aching heart.

 A Father who knows me beyond my very mind

and loves me beyond my every flaw.

I see a Son.

A Savior and Redeemer.

Who in patience will teach me,

in humility will guide me.

Who in love will chastise me,

in joy will comfort me.

Who in obedience will save me.

I thought I was looking for

the mysteries and secrets of his pages.

Instead I discovered the mysteries to be

Simple Truths.

Truths covered by intricate veils

yet truth nonetheless.

 

Six days til I fly out! And eight until I enter the MTC!!!

Re-post of Something

"There is a feeling right after you finish a book. A feeling of slowly removing yourself from the world and story that held you bound for the hours sprawled out on the couch and the time reading in the library. A feeling of coming back to reality, not necessarily for a better or worse reality, but one that is solidly your own. A realization comes with the conclusion of a book- that your finale is not yet here. The climax and plot twists are still evolving and some are around the corner for me, inspiring fear, excitement, and amazement all at the same time. But the theme has already been introduced and cleverly explored in the beginning chapters and I know something is coming. Something bigger than me, bigger than words, bigger even than the collectively shared experiences on this theme. Something that part of me already knows somehow. So I shut the book reverently and rise from my chair, to go out and meet it."

I wrote this last summer and revisited it recently. It was absolutely true then, but I can see that it is just as true in a different way for me today as I prepare to leave on my mission. Hope you don't mind the repost, as I'm trying to get everything in order before I leave in 11 days!

Checking In....

Hello? Oh, yeah. Hi, I'm still here. Just spent the last week having a blast visiting friends and family out in Utah. And I'm about to run off for the next two days down to St. Louis for a Relief Society trip to the temple = awesome! So, I wanted to check in before I'm able to give a more detailed post .
Above is a highlight video from Conference and here are some links to the full talks.
President Eyring's Mountain's To Climb was excellent and inspiring!

President Monson's Race of Life talk was grounding and centering for my heart- we must hold onto the eternal truths and let the superfluous things go.

I absolutely loved Elder Holland's talk- The Laborers in the Vineyard- I loved how he said, "So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late."

Elder Ballard's talk " That the Lost May Be Found" was a powerful reminder.  I was especially effected by this last paragraph-"Now, if for any reason you individually or as a family have lost your way, then you need only apply the Savior’s teachings from Luke, chapter 15, to correct your course. Here the Savior tells of the effort of a shepherd searching for his lost sheep, of a woman searching for a lost coin, and of the welcome received by the prodigal son returning home. Why did Jesus teach these parables? He wanted us to know that none of us will ever be so lost that we cannot find our way again through His Atonement and His teachings."

My family teased me that every time another speaker stood to talk I excitedly exclaimed from the couch something to the effect:  " I LOVE him!" " She is wonderful"  or " I love his talks...everyone be quiet!" And it was true! I felt such an overwhelming love towards all the general authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There were many messages and powerful words that spoke to my heart and answered my prayers; overall, I found two themes. First, the centrality of the family. Elder Packer said, "Fathers and mothers, next time you cradle a newborn child in your arms, you can have an inner vision of the mysteries and purpose of life. You will better understand why the Church is as it is and why the family is the basic organization in time and in eternity. I bear witness that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that the plan of redemption, which has been called the plan of happiness, is a plan for families." And many other talks supported or strengthened the role of the family and the needs families have today. Second, I found the theme of redemption, forgiveness, and the Atonement repeated unceasingly as mentioned above.

***As Conference came to a close, Elder Anderson delivered the final talk (before Pres. Monson) and  voiced the thought: “What thinks Christ of me?” And continued, "Wherever you now find yourself on the road of discipleship, you are on the right road, the road toward eternal life. Together we can lift and strengthen one another in the great and important days ahead. Whatever the difficulties confronting us, the weaknesses confining us, or the impossibilities surrounding us, let us have faith in the Son of God, who declared, “All things are possible to him that believeth".

I love General Conference.
I'll catch up in a couple days on the rest of it.

Mormon Lessons From Disney

With General Conference this weekend, I am so so very excited to hear the direction and guidance of our apostles and prophet! But this Disney video does have some good reminders, so here's a few until after Conference.

• "When You Need Help Pray"- And pray when you're grateful, and when you're happy. Pray when you're sad and hurt. Pray for understanding and for strength. Pray not because our Heavenly Father doesn't know what we are going through or what we need (because He does), but pray to show obedience and willingness to turn to Heavenly Father.
• "Remember Your Parents Love You"- Your earthly parents and your heavenly parents.
• "Put on the Whole Armor of God"- I love how she says 'these weapons of righteousness will triumph over evil". Ephesians 6:13-17 details all the armor.
• "Give of Yourself to Help Others"- To sacrifice is to give up something valuable or precious, often with the intent of accomplishing a greater purpose or goal.
• Don't Judge Others By Their Appearance"- Or solely on any one aspect of their person ( their religion, politics, career, etc). Yes, judgements need to sometimes be made regarding how we interact with someone, but it should never be with condemnation or judgement.
• "Don't Forget Who You Are and Don't Forget Who Your Father Is"- We are all children of a loving, eternal Heavenly Father. We each have a divine nature and the potential to become like our Father.
• " When Someone Dies That Doesn't Mean They're Gone" - See previous post. I Know I will see my entire family again.
• "Never Trust the Adversary Because They're Always Something He's Not Telling You"- He will make promises upon promises, telling you all the great things you will get to do, all the "freedom" you will have. Yet he will only further limit your ability to choose after certain choices (drugs, alcohol, etc) because of the consequences.
• "Don't Give Into the Treasure of the World"- Like I said, the things of the world are alluring and promise "freedom" and riches, but they will distract us from those things of eternal value.
• Endure to the End and You Will Recieve A Far Greater Reward"- Eternal life with our Heavenly Father and the opportunity to progress to become like Him is the greater gift we can be given.
• " No Matter How Bad Things Look...The Bad Guys Always Lose"- We need to keep an eternal perspective. Sometimes it seems that wicked people are wealthy, popular, successful, and beautiful. But that is only in terms of the world and with material/secular things and the judgement that really counts is that of Heavenly Father.
• "And the Good Guys Always Get Their Happy Ending"- Again, eternal perspective. On the reverse side, good people often go through trials and hardships that make a happy ending seem so far away. We need to have faith and remember that Heavenly Father will bless us eternally, though sometimes not right here, right now.

Lots of Disney love! But more importantly I can't wait to hear from the prophet today!.

Until We Meet Again

Until I see you again Grandpa Luce. Pass on my love to Grandma Luce, Charley, Grandad, Grammy and Papa. If you see my Grandma Koerner, tell her I love her too. Until we meet again.