Email October 28, 2014

Hey family and friends! First of all HAPPY HALLOWEEN! dude Halloween in Michigan is sweet! They go all out, every house is decorated and it's beautiful in the fall! We had our ward Halloween party on Saturday and it was really fun, there were a lot of people there. Us and the Elders were in charge of a game, we played "don't eat Pete!" it was so fun, the kids loved it! They also had chili and soup and the elders qourm put on a spook ally thing and they had different levels of scariness haha. At the end we went in level 3 which is the highest level and they did a great job haha it was awesome! So everybody's asking me what our plans for Halloween are so we have interviews with President Gerber that day which I love and he's letting us watch "Meet the Mormons"! I'm so excited! Then we get locked in at 6 and we decorated our apartment and we have different Halloween games that we're going to play like "pin the hat on the witch" haha, I know we're like 5 years old but come on it's Halloween! We're also going to pig out on candy probably haha it's gonna be boss! Anyway so this week has had some ups and downs, not gonna lie I was struggling a lot this week, but thankfully I have two very awesome companions that have helped me and also Heavenly Father has given me a lot of strength too. I still have some problems and depression and all that good stuff but I'm okay. I'm getting better and it's not interfering with the work either so that's good. We finally got ahold of Ryan, he finally answered his phone haha. He said that he was planning on coming back next week to get all his stuff and he would say goodbye to us and all. He was like "I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye to my missionaries." haha, and you know how I've been worried about him staying active and stuff? Well, get this, he told me he found a stake center 20min away from him and he goes every week! I know, it's awesome right?! He's totally active and the best member of the church ever I'm sure haha. He said he would come to church with us next week so he can say goodbye to the ward and stuff AND bishop Gardner said he was going to ordain him into the priesthood that week!! RYAN IS GETTING THE PRIESTHOOD! booya! We also met this awesome 16 year old girl Maddie, she's totally open and wants to learn more, the only set back is she just made nationals for softball and she's going to California for like 2 or 3 weeks and then she'll come home for like a week and then she's off the New Zealand and Italy for softball! This girl is amazing, she's ran like 4 marathons and stuff, yeah, total overachiever haha, she's probably going to be in the Olympics, she's awesome. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said she'd take it with her so that's good, keep your fingers crossed! Also there's this super sweet lady Sister Caddy, she's like in her 60's and just this small, quiet, sweet little thing. She's a convert and has a solid testimony. Well her neighbor is nothing but rude to her and wont ever leave her alone, sis. Caddy always calls her Lindsey Lohan haha for obvious reasons haha. Anyway so she calls us and is just shaken up and we told her we would go over and talk so we sat in her backyard and she told us that she had this fight with her neighbor and she feels so guilty about what she said to her. Now you have to realize that sis. Caddy could never hurt a fly, she's the nicest, sweetest person ever, so we didn't think it could be too bad. We asked her to tell us what she said so she told us that the neighbor accused her of harassing her daughter which was clearly untrue, all she did was talk to her, anyway so Sis. Caddy told her she was lying and swore, which I just can't picture at all, but the neighbor was like "And that's coming out of a mouth a Christian?" (she harasses her about being Mormon all the time) anyway sis. Caddy was like "Well at least I'm not an adulterous woman!" oh my gosh we laughed so hard when she told us that hahaha. It was hilarious! if you knew Sis. Caddy you would know how funny this was because she it like the molliest Mormon you'll ever meet! haha it was the best, she felt super bad though and we told her it was okay and not to worry and Heavenly Father would forgive her haha. But honestly I'm so happy she said that haha so funny. Now for the best part....drum roll please.... BRIAN CAME TO CHURCH! Whooot! He was there. In a shirt and tie. HE WAS THERE! ahhhhh! that is the pure joy of missionary work for real! He hasn't come close to church for over 30 years and now he's reading the book of Mormon all on his own and he had the best smile on his face as he watched the primary program it was great! Sis. Armstrong was there too and it was amazing. We went over to their house after to help them in their yard and Brian kept saying he could feel himself changing. He kept thanking us for all that we've done for him, it's amazing to see the gospel change people, every trial and hard thing that happens on a mission is completely drained out by the miracles and blessings you see. I love being a missionary, I know God has called me out here to be a representative of Jesus Christ to bring people back to him. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to serve right now, it goes by so fast but I'm living every moment and making the best out of it. I love all of you so much and I hope you have an amazing week and a happy happy Halloween! Sister Kellee Gordon