Hope your thanksgiving was great!

Ours was…

pics of the week

First of all… Happy Thanksgiving! There is so much to be thankful for. While we will miss having Kylee at the table tonight, we would not want her to be anywhere else. We are thankful for her willingness to sacrifice wonderful family traditions (temporarily) in order to hasten the Lord’s work. I am certain that she will be well fed and taken care of by others and perhaps, bring home a new tradition or two.

The District

The District Sisters

DC Temple

pics of the week

Thursday was the day I picked to showcase the PICS OF THE WEEK.
As I was getting ready to post, I noticed something….
Sister Rowley updated the blog herself!!

So, instead of stealing her thunder,
I posted these a day late.

YSA’s are great!
Missionary photo bombs are great too!

I am starting to see a pattern…

Cute as ever! I’m glad that the mission is not taking the Kylee out of Sister Rowley!

Discouragement

(Also posted on Sister Rowley’s blog…)

The letter we received today was full of discouragement and struggles. Not anything that is uncommon for any missionary, but definitely something Kylee wasn’t prepared for.  (What missionary is fully prepared for anything that comes their way?)

On Nov 7, she expressed

“I’m really struggling today (and every day is seems). I should probably talk with President Cooke, but I feel dumb, and then I feel like I’m complaining and not doing my part… Is there such a thing as too many Priesthood blessings?.. If I ask for another one, does it mean I’m not trying hard enough myself? A scripture that came into my head this morning… remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.  I was feeling worthless and then that thought popped into my head numerous times. I know other missionaries are struggling too, but they do such a good job at hiding it, forgetting themselves, and serving the Lord! I know I need to be patient with myself but I can’t see that I’ve made any progress at all.”

She has since seen President Cooke and reports that “everything got better”. I know that the visit made a tremendous impact on her. She has no doubt that she is where she needs to be. She is realizing that certain things that seem bad (cancellations etc.), often happen for a reason.

Please keep Sister Rowley in your thoughts and prayers.

PS Letters of encouragement can be sent here:

Sister Kylee Rowley
Washington DC North Mission
11700 Falls Rd
Potomac, MD 20854-2823