Dang we worked this week! We got 22 lessons which is super exciting :) We are meeting new people like crazy there is so much work to be done! Sorry this is a day late, my companion got the stomach bug so we were home bound yesterday but it was the perfect day to regroup! I was definitely running low on juice.

Mondey: We cleaned our apartment so good! Im talking bleached everything! Ahhh nothing like spring cleaning :) we went out and taught the Restoration that evening and I wore my rain boots. They are the best! Shout out to Sarah Barrand for her lovely gift I love them!
Tuesday: We had a lesson with a newer investigator, we introduced her to the Book of Mormon, but before we got to that we asked if she had read the restoration pamphlet. She totally had and basically taught us the restoration. I was amazed! Really cool. We love her. Then later we met with A less active that we tracted into, her name is Heidi. She is 24 and has 2 adorable kids and is married. She has been living in the house for about 1 and 1/2 months and then we showed up. She went to church in her teenage years and then just stopped. But we started reading the Book of Mormon with her and she just took right off we texted her to remind her about reading and she texted back with a summary of the chapter we had left and with the comment of "The Book of Mormon is basically my life! I can apply the whole book so far to something in my life!" It was so cool to hear that from her :) She is great.

Wednesday: We tracted into a new family and it's pretty cool because they are so eager to learn, dad included :) I love seeing their excitement because it really is that important! We are talking about their salvation! They, Marcus and Kala are so sweet. They have 3 children, Asia, DaLeah and DaMoney. They are funny. We taught them about the restoration on the doorstep, everyone just sat on the steps and they just soaked it up. When we went back to see them we brought them a Book of Mormon and they committed to reading it. It's been really cool because we have been really working hard on getting people to read the Book of Mormon because it holds the pure doctrine of Christ. If they get it from there it's still pure. So we have studied the first couple chapters like 5 times now and its amazing how much you get out of it every time. I recognize new things every time! 

Thursday: We invited Kathy Coney to come to church and she said she would! She is reading and praying! We got a couple potential investigators today :) An amazing feeling, we were able to pray for one of them specifically for her daughter. Her daughter is 10 and has Diabetes. She really opened up to us after the prayer and said that she couldnt believe we were that far from home just to be able to pray for her daughter. We were really able to express that God had sent us. So we will go back and see her soon.
Friday: We had a lesson with Ms. Cathy Spencer, she is so cute. She cracks me up, she always has the funniest things to say. But her faith is so strong and I can see it growing too. She is reading the Book of Mormon and doing her best to receive answers. She prayed and got the answer to just keep reading.
Saturday: We sang at the Nursing home and cheered them all up they are so sweet. They really appreciated it. Then they had us sing for their nursing home church service which was cool. I totally was off key several times but they had no clue which was good hahaha they are the best.
Sunday: Kathy Coney came to church!!! yay my first investigator in church! It was way cool. She liked it and said she would come again. It was fast sunday because of conference, we went around and had some lessons but at 4 o"clock one of our less actives had dinner all ready for us. We went over and had roast with rice and gravy and green beans with homemade cake. It was killer good it tasted like beyond words good. She was pleased to see how much I liked it. She is so sweet her name is Sister Robinson. She has so many antique things, her house is like a dream. She loves me because I love it so much. Before we start out Book of Mormon study she always has to tell me and show me her recent finds :) She is quite the bargain shopper. But Sister Smith got sick after eating there and we have been home bound ever since. Not bad though it felt great to clean and read and pamper myself for the day as well as her.

Spiritual Lesson learned: PRAY!!!!! Make it a conversation and do it all the time. The difference it can make in your life is amazing! Read the article in the Ensign named "It isnt a sin to be weak" it is really amazing and has made me be more positive. Have an amazing week. 

Love, Sister Kerr

Sonic Stop!

 Ice cream run after we volunteered at Salvation army. Its the best ice cream ever and only a buck fifty!... I totally spilled but it was really hot out and it was melting faster than I could lick!

So humid my camera lens fogged up... got to love it!!

Mississippi Rainstorm!

One Month Marker ♡

HAPPY BIRHTDAY ROSIE ROO!! I love you girl friend ;)

My companion has been out 9 months! We are both completely honest with each other which is great. No struggles really that havent been dissolved right then and there. She is teaching me a lot. When I got here she had been here for one transfer and is really having a hard time getting over her last/ first area. But we are really focusing on getting lost in the work so we can come to love everything about this place.

Kensey!!!! God knew how much I needed that package. We had our first contentious lesson with someone and I had a really hard time. I didnt handle it the way I wish I had.. but it wasnt too bad. I kinda really got down on myself about it though, and there was a package waiting for me in our mail box. I about died. Tore it open and held everything close. I love my pictures, I love my music and I loved them cookies. I adore that necklace too. You guys are the sweetest and I miss you. But I know Im in the right place. 

The Salt Lake Missionary council people came and trained us on how to use the pamphlets when we teach and by using them we can really shorten our lesson time! It was a really great 7 hour meeting. The spirit taught so much that by the end we didnt want it to be over then we looked at our watches and realized it had been 7 hours!    

Tracting is one of my favorite things to do! Sister Smith and I walk up to random people or knock on there doors and just proclaim that we are their missionaries! What can we do for them? They always look at us like what? I have missionaries? But then we explain that we are living in this area and we are here for them and the sweet people of McComb, Mississippi say come in! I love them :) We have been working on finding a lot and teaching a 7 minute restoration lesson and then set up a follow up appointment to weed out the uninterested, or unprepared people. We have been working on shortening our lessons so we can get more in. It is very common to be in someones home for an hour and a half which is ridiculous to me but its also the culture down here. So we are trying to find a happy medium with the people :)

One time this week Sister Smith and I were talking to someone we had just tracted into and she said we should come back after the holiday so we said alright and turned to leave and Sister Smith says enjoy your ice cream :) Then we get back to the car and I told Sis Smith that she was holding a bowl of mashed potatoes!! We got a good laugh out of that one.

I ate a crawfish!! It was pretty crazy. An investigator took us to dinner and we slipped in the first lesson :) Im not too sure he was expecting that though. Everyone just tells us how amazing we are to be out here doing Christ's work but then just think that they already know everything... So we share with everyone and sometimes religious people are surprised because they think... wait I already go to church. But the crawfish were great!! The tails were yummy the brains a bit salty... not sure I will ever willingly desire the brain but the tail was good :)

Conference was so good!! I swear it was only a total of 2 hours long! I was not ready at all for it to end. We went to Liberty to watch it, the town next over with a ward building that broadcasts it. Liberty is beautiful. The drive there looks just like the drive to black pond in June. Mississippi in April is just like New York in June! So we get there and watch and I loved Elder Bednars talk so much about Godly Fear. It really changed my perspective on a lot of things... So did Jeffrey R Hollands. I love hearing from God's messengers. I wrote down some specific questions to be answered because we had asked our investigators to do the same thing so I wanted to be able to talk to them about my answers because I knew I would get them. It is so amazing what the spirit can do. Easter night we went to the Culotta's house and they are just like the Drake's! It felt so good to be in my element. We played ping pong and pigged out. They have such a comfortable home to be in :) It was so good to be able to spend Easter with them, I love them. But having Easter on my mission put so much more meaning into the holiday. What an incredible thing to celebrate. In personal study I was able to read through all 4 stories of Easter in the New Testament. I think that Jeffrey R Holland captured my thoughts and feelings in his talk. He had me crying and I am just so grateful to be apart of such a beautiful plan. Knowing that if I jump my very highest I will be caught by his powerful arms reaching for me. The big thing this Easter I #BecauseHeLives and as we were handing out the cards inviting people to watch the video I thought that I should come up with an end of that statement for myself, and it wasnt until Easter Morning when I was reading in the last chapter of John that I came up with Because He lives I must feed His sheep. So that is what I am out here doing. That is why I am out here, because He so boldly told His disciples to feed His sheep. Well I am a disciple of Christ, and He refers to His people as His sheep all throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon. So therefore I KNOW I am in the right place at this time, God would not have me anywhere else. I just want to testify that this is Christ's work, this is NOT my work. That our Savior died for us, for our own good! And it isnt until we jump our absolute highest, we do EVERYTHING we can and put forth every once of strength and then some that He can catch us and pull us higher.

I'm so glad we have a car!

This week was so good y'all. I am surely thriving down here. My first Sunday was good... but the second one was way better. We have a tiny branch :) But they sure know how to throw a linger longer!

Tuesday: We had a great day of tracting and then to top it off we had the most incredible dinner ever made by Sister Rayborn. She is from Salt Lake and her husband from here. She made Ham, funeral potatoes, and delicious salad! We were so stuffed! Then we met with Jimmie an investigator after and we were practically miserable thanks to our food babies.
Wednesday: Tracting... Hola!! The best we were walking around met some nice people and then it hit me!! I was going to wet my pants and there was nothing I could do about it! We were a ways from our car so we speed walked over to Ralph Stephanie and Jimmie's house and I asked if I could use there bathroom hahaha All Ralph said was "Honey, I've been there before." Then we went out and continued tracting. Then we went to the church building to practice the song we were going to sing with the Culotta sisters. Then we met with our darling Ms. Kathy. She is just the grandest of everything. We love her so much. She is the first person I have come to love on my mission and I can see her through God's eyes. She is splendid! She made us chip dip to snack on throughout the lesson and it was so good and basically straight sour cream.... not cool... dipping my chips in fat!
Thursday: WE volunteered at the food bank which is super fun with the elders :) Then we went back to Ms. Renea's house and met with her. We walked in chatted and then asked her if she had read the restoration pamphlet we had left with her last week when we had tracted into her. She said she had and she believes it is true! Sister Smith and I looked at each other like did we give her the right pamphlet haha because no one reacts to it like that at first! I love her already. We had a wonderful lesson on the restoration, it is the perfect time to teach it with conference this weekend! She said she would watch it and pray if there is a prophettoday. She is amazing! WE had several other lessons but this was the highlight one for the day!
Friday: We went to Ms. Renea's mom's house, she is packing away her things because she died a couple months ago. She gave us so many clothes! We are excited to try them ontoday :) SHe is sweet and very receptive of our help. She couldn't believe that we were willing to come on over and help her randomly. It meant the world to me to be able to serve her though. We left from there and went to the ol' folks home and helped out with some bingo! It is so great to spend time with them. One lady gave me a dollar and asked if I would get her a coke. So I did and come to find out she can't have normal drinks because she chokes on them. I had an anxiety attack while my companion laughed her head off because she did the same thing her first day! Ms. Shirley can always get a cold pop off the new ones. We met with Ms. Kathy and brought her pumpkin cake in payment for the chips and dip. She liked it :) We brought Sister Watkins who is a member in the branch who is practically the same age (60's) and lives on the same street. They got along very well. Our lesson went well, and once again I LOVE MY MS. KATHY!! At the end of the lesson she brought out a grocery bag filled with first aid stuff, tums, band aids, motrin, cotton balls. Mama she is the answer to you and daddy's prayers. We tell her that all the time!
Saturday: Sister Smith and I manned the cupcake decorating party table at the Culotta's house. They through a huge Easter primary party. He is the branch president and she is the primary president! They are the best! They have two daughters who just returned from missions, Kailiegh and Kelsey. We love them :) But our branch is so small that they are assigned in our branch they live in Liberty which is about 20 miles away. The party was way fun and exhausting! After that we went to Ms. Renea's again helped pack up more of her mama's house and then met with several others. Then we went to the Dunaways for dinner and women's broadcast. Dang if that doesn't make you homesick for your mama I'm not sure what would! But I thoroughly enjoyed it and they gave me chocolate which cured my sad feelings :)  Love you my sweet mama. They said in it that "You cant not remember God and forget your mama, and you cant not remember your mama and forget God." So true mama God is present in everything you have taught me!

Sunday: President Hansen came to our Branch. Sister Hansen was sick so he asked us to bear our testimonies. So two weeks in a row I've spoke :) We taught primary and they were little angels this week. It went really well! Loved it. Then we had a linger longer and you would have guessed they we cooking for 100 people when there were only about 40 people there! It was so stinking heavenly and we ate outside and enjoyed the sunny day. It was 81 yesterday. The Elders called us and asked if they could have the car for the day... so we gave it to them and biked... very interesting! It was fun but boy are those helmets fun. I feel like people are more responsive when we ride up sweaty and panting telling them we are missionaries and have a very important message about Jesus Christ that we want to share with anyone who will listen! They take the pamphlet :)
I love being a missionary! I know the church is true, but more importantly I know that Jesus Christ established it. This is his work. I wear a name badge that holds my families name on it as well as His. He is whom I serve. Which means I am willing to serve anyone! I love all the things that we have been able to do to help people feel of Christ's love. I am grateful for this wonderful time of the year where we can remember our savior and all that he did for us!

I love y'all, have a very blessed week, and be safe!
these are the words that nearly everyone speaks to us as we leave. I love the SOUTH! 

Love Sister Kerr

MISSISSIPPI

What do ya know I spend all my time researching and prepping for Louisiana and I get sent to Mississippi haha But that is a ok with me. I love it here. It's rainy and muddy and sunny and hot all in one day! Everyone here is super into talking about God and it is great. My companion is simply amazing. Teaches me so much by example which is exactly what I need! Her name is Sister Smith and she is a sweet heart. She is from Syracuse, Ut and plays the ukulele. We sing primary songs while she plays. Its great.

        Speaking of primary... Dad you totally called it when you said I was primary President for my mission prep because the branch Im serving in doesnt have enough calling free people to serve in the primary, so we teach the 6 years olds every week and were in charge of sharing time this week. We did a fun lesson on Jonah and the whale.
        Tuesday we got up at 2:15 and headed to the airport. We said goodbye to our district because only Sis. woodward and elder Armstrong and I were going to Louisiana. So we got to Louisiana and Pres. and his wife picked us up. They are so sweet! They took us back to the house and then Presidnet Sis. Woodward and I went out contacting. We gave a few book of mormons out and enjoyed the hot weather! Then we came back had dinner and had a testimony meeting.
         The next morning we woke up late because our clock was an hour off whoops! Oh we got ready fast and headed to transfers meeting I met my companion said goodbye to Elder and Sister woodward and headed to Mississippi. Its pretty here. We volunteered at a food pantry and have been tracting like crazy. I thought wow Sister Smith (my companion) Is so bold but come to find out this is the boldest she has ever been and I was just following her lead. We taught 22 lessons this week. Give or take a couple because I want here until Wednesday but we are off to a good start. 

        I met the branch! They are small in numbers but very kind. They do love the sisters. They mostly send us home with food. But we do have a meal every Tuesday Wednesday, and Sunday. I dont know a bunch of them yet but I will!
         Miss Kathy, an older lady we are teaching. She is wonderful and so sweet to us. She is doing well and the spirit is so strong when we teach there. I hope that she is praying about it!
          We knocked on Miss Renea's door, and she did not want to hear a thing. but as we talked to her you could see God softening her heart when we asked if we could pray for her. She let us in and told her of all the hard things that are scattered through her life. We prayed for her and she told us she knew we were sent to her from God. We will meet with her again this week. I love being the light in peoples lives. Making it so they dont have to live in darkness bringing a glimpse of hope to their eyes is amazing. And knowing that this is not my work is even better.
          Another time we were tracting I was wearing the cute little rubber duck shoes mama got me and i stepped into some serious Mississippi mud! It was so funny so we ran home I rinsed them off and left them outside to dry. When we got home i asked sister Smith to check if they were still there or if someone took them, (our house is like a warehouse... kinda sketchy. but nice on the inside) She just started to laugh so I was sure they were gone but when I turned the corner they were filled to the top with water. I had forgotten it rained a couple inches! So they are drying in the bath tub :)
          Its been a great week and I cant wait for this up coming one. We are manning the cupcake decorating table for the primary night! Yay! I am so excited to get close with the branch because my companion doesnt know them very well either so we arent even sure where we are going to watch conference. Or have Easter! We will see :) Have a wonderful week everyone!

Love, Sister Kerr

MTC goodbyes! I've loved Sister Woodward!

Haha! The comics the elder drew about me...what is wrong with me!

[More pics of Mississippi and her new companion to come!]

Simply Amazing.

So much has been going on! This week has seriously been the best! But most crazy full week of my life. So spiritual and I have learned so much! We have been in a classroom for 18 hours everyday. It really doesnt feel that way though, it sure is a blessing! 

This week has been so busy but full of so much good. I have never been exposed to so much learning in such a short period of time but it is incredible. Elder Quentin Cook came and spoke with us and it was so encouraging. He told us the process of how our missions were decided and gave us so much advice it was truly an amazing experience! 
    My companion Sister Woodward and I have been meeting with a girl named Devan she is a sweetheart and is going to school at BYU. She is so full of scriptural knowledge and we love being able to share with her the restoration of the gospel. We have really seen the spirit touch her and what a marvelous work and a wonder it is to be apart of this work. I promise that everything that was said between my companion and I to Devan was through the spirit. It was what Devan needed. We were able to answer questions to things I had never thought about or studied before. Simply amazing, I know that God will use me to help others and that is such an amazing feeling! 
    I was able to go to the temple on Sunday and walk around the outside, today I am able to attend a session inside! I cant wait. 
    I love it here, I wasnt too sure of it at first but now I am it has prepared me so much! Yay Louisiana here I come! 

Love, Sister Macey Kerr

LOUISIANA bound.

Sister Woodward and I @ Provo, UT temple. 

My MTC district!

Looking a bit more missionary-like :)

Every sister missionary needs her cardigan!

"The errand of angels is given to women." Here we come!

A smidgen like jail. But, I LOVE it!

6 March 2015

Hello world!

Mtc life is seriously different. I forget that there is an outside world haha. I have been keeping busy, lots of classroom time and role playing going on. I have a super sweet companion her name is sister Woodward she is from ogden and she is so motivated. Its nice to have an enthusiastic companion. We leave to Louisiana March 17th. Best Saint Patty's day ever! It was really special to receive my name tag and all my information, it really made everything official. I am a missionary!! No better work to be done. Its amazing how much my faith has grown already!

I have a small district and we are the only ones in our zone. There are 4 elders, Stimson, Armstrong, Harman, and Theilen. They are very nice and enjoyable to be in class with. For sisters it is Sister Woodward and I and then Sister Shaffer and Sister Miller. Sister Woodward and I were called to be the branch music coordinators. Yay for us. :) We got to meet our Branch presidency yesterday and they are just awesome. Pres. Schmults, Brother Howden and Brother Monson. He is Pres. Monson's nephew he is incredible. Then they interviewed us to see how we were doing and he told me that him and I were just alike, kindred spirits. Its busy here but very spiritual it is a pleasant experience but I'm just dying to get to Louisiana. I now understand why Skyler said he felt like he was in jail haha. A lovely jail just kinda stuck. But I guess I wouldn't want to be stuck anywhere else.

I have really cute teachers who make it so much less intimidating to teach because they are returned sister missionaries. But there isnt a whole lot to fill you in on because we are doing roughly the same thing everyday so far! I look forward to the temple trip that will be a dream come true! Last night I was able to bear my testimony in our Branch meeting it felt so right and it was so fulfilling to hear everyone else in my district as well. I am grateful for the people that I was put with to learn from, heavenly father knew exactly where to place me. I can feel his hand in my life as a missionary already on day three. I know my Redeemer lives and loves me and just sends me the greatest feelings of peace. Gotta love it, He always knows what I need.

I hope you guys are well. You are on my mind, but I promise I'm not homesick :) Keep me updated, I am loving the dear elders they make me feel so close to you. I love my family so much you guys make everything possible.

Have an amazing week you guys.

Love, Sister Macey Kerr

The call.

November 11, 2014

Dear Sister Kerr: 

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. You will prepare to teach the gospel in the English language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.