D&C 4:5

Dear Family,


Since yesterday was Memorial Day, everything was closed and we couldn't find anywhere to email, President gave us permission to email today. Just an update on the eye--it's doing much better with only occasional redness and irritation. The week was a bit of a struggle a first since it was really hurting and giving me headaches, but things got better toward the end : ) But in other good news or random information, I learned that applying the goo from the aloe vera plant to your hair makes it grow faster. When I come home it's going to be like Rapunzel from Tangled. Watch out Camber <3>
This week we worked hard to find new investigators and we knocked doors for hours some days. We found several potentials and the weekend provided the chance to find lots of people home for the holiday weekend, but few willing to take time from their holiday. Sometimes I wish I could just share with them how much we are trying to give them. But they have agency. Darn that agency thing sometimes, but we chose and fought for it in the premortal life so I'm so very grateful for it.

Sunday we had a fireside for the youth that we coordinated about good friends and the importance of friendship. We studied the stories of Alma and the sons of Mosiah and of David and Jonathon to help illustrate the principle as well as a game (a maze in the dark having to follow the person in front of you) and then personal stories. I shared about Emilee and about my family ( you guys : ) This week has been all over the place, but here are a few thoughts from studies:



D&C 4:5 "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work." It's hard to have an eye single to the glory of God when you have a mote, much less a beam, stuck in your eye. That's why we have to work to remove those little things that obstruct our vision of Heavenly Father's plan for us.



Ether 3:4-5 "And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea. Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men." As I was studying I compared this to our journey in mortality. Heavenly Father showed us how to build our "ships", how to get air- follow the prophets, yet we still needed light to cross the waves. And so He gave us his Son, our Savior, the light of the world. But we must do all we can- hike the mountain, cut out the rocks, have the faith to ask the Lord, so that the light can shine in our own lives. He always stands at the door to knock and we must open to let the light in.



Next week we have planned to go to downtown Houston to the zoo and several museums so my email might be a little short, but I will follow up with pictures.

All my love,

Hermana Kristi Koerner

Alma 5:13 and Peace

Dear Family-


Wow, this past week has been a roller coaster, lots of hard work and even more adventures. First of all, we had an incredible week with investigators. Gloria is still preparing for baptism and is really serious about making the commitment and doesn't want to do it half-way so she is still preparing. Please keep her in your prayers. Our wonderful family, Karina and Eduardo, are doing really good. We taught about the Book of Mormon this week and we were able to answer many of their questions using the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 4:9-12). Also, when going back for a lesson with an investigator, Delia, she wasn't home, but her best friend invited us to teach her daughter and herself. At first she didn't really seem the type to accept the message of the gospel, but we started to teach her and she really opened up. She told us that sometimes she just feels empty inside and isn't sure what she's doing in life other than living from day to day. It was humbling to recognize that the people the Lord is preparing are not always the most visible or the most obvious. We also had ward conference this week in which they focused on Alma 5 and while reading it, verse thirteen really stood out to me: Alma 5: 13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved." I am learning more and more every day about how to put my trust in God. Saturday night while tracting, I happened to look up and something fell into my eye. I was immediately in pain and despite all our efforts to wash and clean it, it is still red, irritated and painful. I got a blessing and I've been putting on oils, but I've spent much of the past 40 hours in partial or complete darkness. ( I was able to go to the doctor this morning and get some medical attention). There is something beautiful about comparing spiritual blindness to physical impediments and there was lots of meditation and prayer. I can only imagine that those who do not have the gospel are stumbling around with one eye open, seeking any light they find, unaware of exactly how much they cannot see. At the same time, it is very easy to feel alone. When you are in pain ( physical or spiritual) I think it is a natural reaction to pull inward and avoid others. Especially when the light either causes physical pain or serves as a painful reminder of what was or what could be. Just some musing of light analogies. Thankfully, Heavenly Father promises to never leave us alone and to comfort us with his peace.



Elder Cook in this most recent conference said, "We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice. This principle is succinctly captured in the Doctrine and Covenants: “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come... The peace which I am referring is not just a temporary tranquility. It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment."



All my love,

Hermana Kristi Koerner

3 Nephi 11:2-6/ May 6, 2013

Hello everyone-

It has been a beautiful week down here in Houston, busy and fun. Today for preparation day we went to the National Funeral Museum here in Houston- actually in our area. It was super fun and I'm attaching some pictures of some of the adventures. I'm also attaching pictures of our new apartment and how we've been decorating it. It gives more meaning to a"Christ-centered" home : ) I'm super excited to talk to the family this next week so I guess most other things we'll talk about next week. But I wanted to include some things from our zone meeting this week and then my personal study.

Six Steps to Increase our Faith: (Zone Meeting)

- Moroni 10:8-11 Recognize that Faith is a gift

- Moroni 7:48 Pray for faith with energy

- John 7:17 Be obedient

- Alma 32: 28-29 Study the word of God

- Alma 22:18 Act as if we believe

- D&C 123:17 Be Positive

I'm working on finishing the Book of Mormon during this transfer and I'm in third Nephi. While studying chapter 11, I really loved how they explain hearing the voice.  3 Nephi 11:2-6: And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death. And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not. And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came. And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them: It wasn't until they physically and spiritually turned towards heaven that they were able to understand the voice. As we turn towards our Heavenly Father (Jacob 4:5) we are better able to understand the promptings of the Spirit.

Love you all and I'm excited to talk to you next Sunday,

Hna Koerner

Tree of scriptures in our apartment

Christ-centered wall in our living room

Kitchen

Cowboy exhibit at Funeral Museum

Japanese hearse at Funeral Museum- shout out to Dad!

All wooden hearse at Funeral Museum

A New Start: Helaman 15:5 April 29 2013

Good morning everyone! This week may have been fairly normal back home, but over here in Houston it was a whirlwind! Transfer week brought a huge wave of missionaries to the field- about forty missionaries all affected by the age change seven months ago. It was exciting when the announcement was made, but it is thrilling to see the results of it hit the field and the missionary work. To accommodate the new missionaries and the hastening of the work, several- ok- lots of new areas were opened. They split the two areas in our ward and created a third area- called Walters area. Which I'm opening! So I am still in the same ward- Houston Seis, just covering a different area. I am also training and my new companion is Hermana Fletcher from Gilbert Arizona (shout out- Emilee- she went to Gilbert High and her family is in the Gilbert Stapley Stake.) We have having a great time and it's like starting from scratch. Ok, not completely, since I know the ward and lots of the members. But we opened a new apartment, got a new car, and are starting from scratch with investigators and getting in with less active members, part member families, and recent converts. And that's where we are starting- going to meet the less active and part-member families. It's exciting and a challenge and we are going to work hard. I'm super excited to start new with so many people- we can set up expectations and explain our purpose. The last few days I've found lots of references to diligence- probably some reminders from Heavenly Father to prepare me for opening a new area. I loved this scripture in Helaman 15:6 about the Lamanites working with to bring many to the knowledge of the truth. "Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them are doing this, and they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of their brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers daily."


Love you all tons and I've attached a picture with Hna Fletcher and I ( that we took two minutes ago to show you all )

Love,

Hermana Kristi Koerner