adios, council bluffs

 Hey yall! 

This week is transfers and after a solid 8 months in Council bluffs, Iowa I'm headed out. I'm going to grand island, Nebraska to train again! 

Sister Mickelson is going to hold down the fort here in cb while I'm gone! Maybe I'll come back again? We'll see! 

This week we had exchanges with the fontanelle sisters and I had the honor of being companions with the sister nienstedt! It was so much fun and I learned lots. 

On Saturday Damian got baptized! What a whirlwind. Damian was found, taught, and baptized in 16 days. He's so amazing and I can honestly say I've never met someone more willing to change to become like the Savior. 

I'm so thankful for the time I had in Council bluffs and all 4 companions I had here. I had so many opportunities to grow my testimony, learn, and share something that has become so important to me! 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27. Thanks Council bluffs for showing me my weaknesses so the Lord could turn them into strengths! I'm gonna leave a piece of my heart in cb.

Jesus loves you,  

Sister Katie Troy 

Pics: , , , , , , 

mic

cb

the promised companionship

Damian!

hedgehog 

THE DOGS AGAIN

Le Peep

dame dame

 Hey yall! 

This week was a slower one but we've been super busy teaching our friend Damian (dame dame). We met him last Thursday and he's getting baptized this Saturday! He's so gung-ho about the gospel it's amazing. 

Wednesday was MLC which was great as always. We talked about leading like the Savior would. 

On thursday we had exchanges with the winter quarters sisters! Our day started out hot when we lost the keys to one of our cars. We tore apart our apartment looking for them and couldn't find them. We had another set of sisters from Lincoln staying with us too (7 sisters one apartment lol). Turns out they grabbed our keys and theirs and drove 30 minutes away so we rocked a quad for half the day. 

Our other friend abbie is also working towards baptism which is cool. She's friends with Isabella who got baptized in December! 

Saturday we attended a funeral for a less-active member we had been visiting. He had been fighting cancer for several years. For the last couple of months we had been visiting him weekly so we got to know him quite a bit. We got to say the prayers at his service and chat with his family for a while. 

Yesterday was just crazy all around. We had church and then like 8 lessons and got to have dinner with the Gardners! Was a crazy busy but amazing day. Found a few new people to teach and just living life. 

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;" D&C 18:10

Jesus loves you, 

Sister Katie Troy 

mlc

my first runza experience

quad (it's weird that it happened twice right?)

sunnyset

my Mormon battalion ancestor

snow stompers

 Hey yall! 

Snowy and cold here in Council bluffs. We had exchanges galore this week so got to have lots of fun with the other sisters! 

Wednesday was exchanges with the rio Vista sisters. I got to go with hermana brooks to their area and see one of their friends be set on date to be baptized! He's an awesome guy and their branch is just so full of members ready to help with any and all missionary work. 

Thursday was exchanges with Logan! I got to be with Sister Hutchings out in my old stomping grounds. It was fun to see some old friends and to help find new people to teach in their area. PLUS we had some bomb Mexican food sooo 

Zone conference was on Friday and it was great. Veryyyy long aka 8am to 6pm but well worth it. We talked about using time wisely and coming to know Jesus Christ this year as we study the new testament! 

The weekend was kind of a fever dream but we taught our new friend Damian who wants to get baptized! He's on a super cool journey to follow Christ right now and is stoked to learn more. 

Last night we had a lesson and jam sesh with Broc and Seth which is always a pleasure. Was a major throwback to this time last year doing the same thing! Sister Mickelson and I have been wearing snow boots (Seth calls them snow stompers) so now our shoe game is officially on a new level. 

For our district pday today we went to an art gallery because apparently we are fancy that way. It was cool to see all the pottery and stuff and made me think back on high school ceramics. What a time to be alive. 

Something I read this week: 

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:4-5

Jesus Christ is the light of the world! Follow Him! 

Jesus loves you, 

Sister Katie Troy 

Sister HUTCHINGS

puzzle board??

some sort of tapestry thing

blown glass 

art

Genealogy

carmen the green dot

 Hey yall! 

Day 400-something as a missionary and living the dream. This week we had to let go of quite a few people we were teaching so that was hard. But the Lord provided more people that want to learn about the restored gospel! 

We found 10 new people which is awesome! One of them is carmen (subject line). When we start teaching someone new we keep track in our phones and a new person being taught is a green colored dot. Sister Mickelson and I made up a song this week for when we find someone new and lemme tell yall. It's the little things! 

On Wednesday we were supposed to have like a monsoon of snow or something but all we got was slush lol. We did teach a 2.5 minute lesson outside before we gave up because the rain was pelting us and it was cold as all get out. 

We also started teaching a lady named Melanie and she is so amazing. She works a super demanding job that has her on call literally 24/7 which is crazy. She's been wanting to learn about the book of Mormon for a while now and we finally got ahold of her to teach a little about it. It was such a tender moment when she hugged the book and said she's been looking for this book. 

On Saturday we had interviews with President Bailey! Had a great talk with him on how we can find the right people in our area. Also discussed how to help specific companionships in my stewardship which was really helpful. 

Short on time this week but I love y'all and I love my mission. I'm grateful I get to feel the love the Savior has for each person I talk to. 

Jesus loves you, 

Sister Katie Troy 

me n boo

ctr in the thrift store

 yall this indian

turkey 

horrid pic of the pedestrian Bridge

Two In One

Hey yall!  

Mondays around here have been a little crazy so if you were expecting an email from me my apologies! The work of spreading the good word goes on. 

From the last couple weeks here's some highlights! 

Got to go to the temple with our friend Isabella! It was super cold outside but we made it and our hair only froze a little bit after doing baptisms for the dead so #blessings. For anyone not sure what baptisms for the dead is, we believe in performing proxy baptisms for anyone that didn't get the chance to be baptized while they were here on the earth. They get to choose whether to accept or decline the baptism on the other side :) God is merciful and loving! 

By the way I am still in Council bluffs, IA! Going on 7.5 months spent here while on my mission. Sister Mickelson and I are going strong and seeing the Lord's hand here in CB! 

We had a "funeral" for one of my friends Elder Peterson who finished his mission! I'll attach some pictures below but don't be alarmed it's just a really, really weird missionary tradition. 

MLC was last week as well so I got to see a lot of my best friends in the mission! We learned a lot about how to track our work in our areas and how we can improve. There was definitely a lot of logistical stuff talked about but I always leave feeling spiritually rejuvenated! 

Today Sister Mickelson and I went on a short hike and got a lot of stuff done! See pics below! Miracles are real people and God is still very much alive. I see the Lord's hand every single day and invite each of you to pray to see His hand in your life. The hike was a gentle reminder that God is in charge and He wants us to be happy. 

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." 2 nephi 2:25

Now go out there and find joy! 

Jesus loves you, 

Sister Katie Troy 

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gonna pretend that says joy

mlc 

temple

hike

funeral (did I already put this in an email? Idk)--
he's not really dead, he's just finished with his mission and going home!  haha

Christmas Week!

 Hey yall! 

What a week. But for real- Wednesday we had Christmas zone conference which was fun! My district and I were the tabernacle choir at council Bluffs (aka our skit was us lip syncing to motab is was fire trust me). 

Thursday was a nightmare tbh. A fun one though! We were on exchanges with the Logan Sisters but because it was icy outside we couldn't drive. We would walk but our apartment is about 10 miles from where we were going 😅 plus there was a risk for frostbite so then we weren't allowed to go outside at all. -42⁰ wind chill will do that for ya! 

On Friday our parked car got hit- while I was trying to street contact the man driving lol. It's funny now but at the time it was rough! All is well, nobody got hurt and our car is barely dented. 

Saturday aka Christmas eve was Zoey's baptism! It was a little short of flawless tbh. There was another baptism right before ours and the font hadn't been filled up yet so we had to fill it with buckets. 3 hours worth of buckets by the end of the day. Anyone know how many buckets that might be? The kicker is when the first baptism got done THEY DRAINED THE FONT. With 30 minutes until our baptism we refilled it with buckets. My arms are soreeee but it all worked out in the end and Zoey's Baptismal service was amazing!! Best way to celebrate Christ's birth is by following Him into the waters of baptism! 

On Sunday we had 2 church services and got to have dinner with Harold and another family in our ward. We got some time off on the 24th-26th so it's been lots of fun! 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 

I am so grateful that I got to experience another Christmas as a missionary! The feeling of the holiday completely changes as you focus on the birth of Christ. 

Jesus loves you, 

Sister Katie Troy 

ZOERS

hbd Jesus! 

zone conference

temple

Christmas Miracle!

 Hey yall! 

This week has been a week. Phew! Started off slow but on Friday things picked up. 

On Friday we had lunch with all 6 missionaries in Council Bluffs and the senior missionaries that just got assigned to our ward. We have such a great need for rides for our friends their sole assignment is to give rides to the people we teach! 

On Saturday we got to help the lovely Linda (a recent convert) wrap Christmas presents! It's amazing how generous mid westerners are. Never seen anything like it. 

Miracle Monday. What a time. We found out Sunday night that one of the sisters in our stewardship was going to head home early  :( always heart breaking and especially so with a sister I am very close with. We are now a trio in Council Bluffs and cover our area as well as theirs! We ended up finding 3 new people to teach yesterday between the two areas. 

One of them was Ashley! We were driving in a less than choice area of town and saw a woman walking on the sidewalk with a man next to her. We started down the street she was on and the guy made a b-line across the street. Apparently she was in danger and prayed that God would protect her. When we offered a message about Jesus Christ she was so excited!! We walked her home and shared a message with her. 

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." Alma 37:37 

Also, today we got to go to the temple! The temple is where we can feel closest to God in this life and where we can make promises with him. Go visit the temple, walk around and feel the special Spirit there. 

Jesus loves you, 

Sister Katie Troy

puzzler

temple!!

mlc

lunch

golden spike

a Lil chilly