Messages from Members

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12-6-2017 

This is Sister Kelly from the Connell 1st ward. My husband is the bishop- we had a "Night in Bethlehem" tonight. Thank you for your great missionaries!!!

Helping out with our Ward's Christmas party!

Sister McKnight, Sister Cram, Elder Mallado and Elder Peach

Pictures for December

Decorating for Christmas!

The star for our little tree!

One set of Christmas pjs!

Smile!

Merry Christmas!

Snow fight!

It is was cold my bangs froze!

Peggy got baptized and I got to go. With Uncle David and Gorge.

Letter 12-26-17

December 26, 2017
Well everyone..... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! It was a wonderful week! Christmas Eve, we were able to go over to Natasha's house (recent convert in the ward) and have dinner with them. We got to watch Mr. K Christmas and while we were doing that at playing googly eyes, it started to snow!!! So then, before we had to go inside, we had a huge SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!! it was so fun!!!!!!! I love Natasha and her family! :) <3 Then I got to open my pajamas sent from my family! :) <3

Then on Christmas day we made cinnamon rolls from the can! :P haha with chocolate milk! yum!!!  Then we opened our presents!!! And I just want to do a shout out to all those who gave me a piece of their heart in the necklace they gave me, I truly love them all so very much and the notes that came with them. You all made my Christmas so very special! <3
Then we got to go to Patriarch and Glenda Clyde's house to skype my wonderful amazing family! What a wonderful experience! <3 :) It was SOOO amazing to be able to see and hear them and to be able to hear and see and feel all of their testimonies! AHHH, i love you all so much!!!! <3
Next we went to Angie (recent convert) and we exchanged gifts! She's so awesome! A wonderful missionary which by the way!!!! She got called to be a ward missionary!!!!! <3 GO ANGIE!!!!!!!!! :)
Next we went to the Quinton’s (relief society president, and police as a husband) to have Linner! So good and Sister Cram got to talk to her family! :)
Next we went to Sister Estock's house and she gave us onesies!!!! <3 Cutest ever!!! haha

Thank you all so much for being in my life! I hope this Christmas was so amazing for you as it was for me! I love you all!! Till next week! :) <3

--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 12-18-17

HELLO!!! Well there is one week left till Christmas and I'm pumped!!!! <3

Funny Story:
It started when I was with Sister Taylor, my last companion we were walking around at night time we were walking in the dark, because it gets dark at like 4! :P And my companion loves owls! Well we saw a SUPER huge owl! And she shined her bright flashlight at it and at first it was pretty cool, cause I've never seen one before but then...... it look at me and then it's head did a circle l thing, and then opened its huge wings (the wing span is my arm’s length stretched across!) and then it flew down towards us and I thought we were going to die so I jumped and started to run. Sister Taylor just laughed at me. :P Then with my companion right now, Sister Cram, she hates Coyotes and we were talking about them as we were walking in an off dirt road for a short cut and then we hear something move in the branches and something ran out and my companion clung to me, and so I jumped (a big jump)! :P haha but.... it was just a cat! :P hahahaha Then Sister Cram and I were walking again during the night time and I heard what sounded like a huge owl flying above me so I dropped down and Sister Cram threw up her arms and was like I’m done, I’m done and walked so fast up the road and I was like are you going to leave me here to die?! And she's like yep! :P haha funny because that time as well she was talking about Coyotes. :P haha

Well, good thing is, I'm still alive. Church yesterday was AMAZING!!! I'm going to finish the Book of Mormon by tonight #3timeonmission.  My goal is to read it 4 times by the end of my mission! :)

I love you all! Let me know if there's anything or anyone that I can pray for! :)
--
~Sister Rebecca McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 12-11-17

This last week we had our ward Christmas party and man was that the best one I've ever been to yet! :) We got to dress up and we sang songs. Connell ward is pretty amazing!

Also I'm super pumped for Christmas! <3 Just want to shout out to all my family, I LOVE YOU!

Also Shout out to my MTC district, I just was listening to our song (If You Could Hide to Kolob) So amazing! We've got to get back together! <3 :)

Also we got to give a fun/different service! :) Helping concession stands at a wrestling match. :)

I also, got to go on an exchange with Sister Dalebout who's been out for just over 2 weeks! She's so amazing! She also shared Alma 26 with me and man is it life changing for me. I invite you all to read it at least 2 times. One personally then one with others out loud and share your thoughts while you read. You will receive personal revelation! It's pretty awesome!

Also, on Saturday we got asked to share our testimonies in Sacrament meeting for 3-4 minutes. And I had like no idea what to share in my testimony. I didn't know till Sunday morning before church and I felt like I needed to share Alma 26 with them just a few of my favorite verses and explain and share my thoughts. :) It was pretty cool because then after that a member in the ward came up to me and said something to the effect of "Thank you so much for sharing your testimony! My husband and I really needed to hear what you've shared. I don't think you realize how much you're in tune with the Spirit." That was something that was pretty awesome that happened to me. :) And yes she is right, I don't realize and I don't think a lot of people understand how much we are in tune with the Spirit. This has been my studying; how can i recognize the spirit better and when i'm receiving personal revelation.  I've found a few things on it, but i will share my thought with all of you next week. :)

You're all amazing! I love you all!

Hey, a video you all should watch is called "  Act in Faith: The Stonemason  " <3

Don't forget to #lighttheworld
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 12-4-17

This last week was pretty awesome!!! #lighttheworld started! Christmas is in 21 days, but who's counting right?! Haha

Then on Friday, I got permission to go to Peggy's baptism! :) I taught her for three transfers! One transfer (6 weeks) in Pasco 6th Ward and 2 transfers (12 weeks) in the Snake River ward in Burbank. :) President allowed me to go even though it had been 3 transfers sense I last taught her. But it was such an amazing experience and both her husband George and her Uncle David who I love so dearly! There were so many people there to support her and her decision to get baptized it was truly amazing! <3 #tendermerciesofthelord
Also, I’m trying to finish the Book of Mormon by Dec 19th so I can say that I read the BOM in 60 days! It's crazy, and I’m a little behind, but it is so possible! :)

How are all of you doing on #lighting the world on FIRE?! Please share your experiences with me! I would love that!

I love you all!!!
--
~Sister Rebecca McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Pictures for November

Celebrating my one year mark with the famous Dr. Pepper

Tri-pan with Sisters Franson and Johnson

Snow in November!

My Pasco North zone!

Sister Cram

Our awesome ward mission leader, Brother Smith, on his birthday!

We are helping to build a trailer.

Zone picture.

Letter 11-27-17

Well I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Loved the stuffing!!! And the peanut butter pie! I've never heard or tasted that before, but man is it AMAZING! :P haha

My new companion, Sister Cram is pretty awesome! She is so funny, cool, beautiful, and is perfect for this area! We get along so well, she is so outgoing its great!

(FYI) Today is Brother Smiths (ward mission leader in Connell) birthday! He's the sweetest old man ever!

Thanksgiving happened! 2nd one on my mission first one in the field! :) We spent it at Sister Quinton's house (president of the relief society).

My companion and I are sharing #lighttheworld with everyone and posting posters everywhere in Connell and Kahlotus so spread the word! It's so awesome! If you haven't gotten a chance to watch the video, it's so awesome! The best one yet! :)

Anyways I love you all so much! You're amazing! And hey, it's almost going to be my 2nd Christmas on my mission! CRAZY!
--
~Sister Rebecca McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 11-20-17

Week full of miracles!

Hey!!!! First off!!! I'M STAYING IN CONNELL FOR MY 4TH TRANSFER!!! THE LONGEST AREA I'VE STAYED!!! I'M STAYING FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Then yesterday, we had 5 investigators to come to church!!!! :) Then they also sang "Savior Redeemer of my Soul"!!!!!

Saturday we were walking heading in a direction to visit someone else and then a former investigator called and asked if we would come and talk with him and so we did......for 2 and 1/2 hours outside, feet numb..... but it was amazing! He said the closing prayer, we taught him about repentance and he said that he would come to church and he did!  It was so worth it! Being frozen!!!! :) <3

Then also on Saturday, we invited 2 of our investigators and mother and daughter to be baptized on December 16th and the little girl Emerald, who usually is a shy one jumped up and said yes! Then the mom, Brianna, started to cry and say, that's my deceased brother’s birthday. Yes, I'll work to be baptized on that day!!! It was so amazing!!!!

Yes, Satan is strong, but Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is WAY MORE STRONGER!!!! #Christwilllighttheworld #lighttheworldonfire (by Brother Berry)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Message from a Member

Found this on a Facebook Page- November 20, 2017

Found this on the Mission Facebook page- November 13, 2017!

Sisters delivering Halloween treat! We sure love them!

Letter 11-13-17

Well, if it's okay with you all, I’m going to share things that I found that I needed to hear yesterday at church and good questions to ponder as well and quotes from a book called "If Life Were Easy It Wouldn't Be Hard" (I would invite all to read it!) :) And I hope you will be uplifted as well from them as I was. :) Sorry it's a REALLY long one! :P

* Here is what Elder Bednar said, not in full words but what I needed to hear:  Do you have the faith to not be healed or blessings not to come in this life?
* Have miracles ceased? NO!
*(while Jesus and the apostles were on a boat and the storms were coming) "Don't you care that we perish?" "oh, ye of little faith...."
*Have faith in God's plan and will for us.
*Where do we place our faith? Is it centered on Christ or just have it on getting our problems fixed?
*LOOK to prayer, scriptures, and to the temple.
*Sometimes we go through things to turn to Him (Heavenly Father)
****

From "If Life Were Easy It Wouldn't Be Hard"
*Romans 8:16-17-->if is so be that we suffer with him.
If you're serious about sanctification, you can expect to experience heart-wrenching moments that try your faith, your endurance, and your patience.
*D&C 42:61 "if thou shalt ask..."
*If you want to be close to our Father and His Son, we need to do the very simple and straightforward things that we teach our Primary children. "That will help us draw down the powers of heaven into our lives"
*Life is designed to be challenging precisely so that we will turn to our Father, learn about Him and His Son, commit above all else to follow Jesus Christ, and then spend every day of our lives learning more about Him and His gospel-a gospel that is filled with peace and hope and power.
*It is by becoming true followers of Jesus Christ that we qualify for the fits and blessings our Father has for us.
*...Is it possible that the Lord has blessings in mind for us-blessings and gifts and revelations so much better and Knowledge so much greater that we have yet conceived because we don't ask?
*Elder McConkie: "There is no limit to the revelations each member of the Church may receive, IT is within the power of every person who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost to see visions, entertain angels, learn the deep and hidden mysteries of the kingdom, and even see the face of God.” 
*Do you bow before your Heavenly Father in your family or personal prayer and contend for these gifts to be bestowed upon you?
*Are we denying God's power because we don't seek it and perhaps aren't entirely sure He'll truly share His power with us?
****

Lesson from Gordon B. Hinckley pg. 316-318
*" I am satisfied that every man or woman who goes to the temple in a spirit of sincerity and faith leaves the house of the Lord a better man or woman. There is need for constant improvement in all of our lives. There is need occasionally to leave the noise and the tumult of the world and step within the walls of a sacred house of God, there to feel His Spirit in an environment of holiness and peace."
*"Is life filled with cares for you? Do you have problems and concerns and worries? Do you want for peace in your heart and on opportunity to commune with the Lord and meditate upon His way? Go to the house of the Lord and there feel of His Spirit and commune with Him and You will know a peace that you will find nowhere else. "
*"I encourage you to take greater advantage of this blessed privilege. I will refine you natures, It will peel off the selfish shell in which most of us live, It will literally bring a sanctifying element into our lives and make us better men and women. I know your lives are busy, I know that you have much to do, but I make you a promise that if you will go to the House of the Lord, you will be blessed; life will be better for you. Now, please, please, my beloved brethren and sisters, avail yourselves of the great opportunity to go to the Lord's house and thereby partake of all of the marvelous blessings that are yours to be received there."
****

This gospel is truly amazing! And we are so blessed to be a part of it! I hope you all have felt the spirit with what I’ve shared with you. I love you all truly so much! I hope I never do anything for you to doubt that. :) Be and stay and continue to be awesome!

Love you all! Always and forever!!!! <3
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 11-6-17

Hello everyone!!! :) <3 I just wanted to let you all know that I love you all so very much! :) <3

Yesterday at church, we had a whole family show up that are our new investigators. :) And Gary, one of our recent converts here in Connell got to pass the sacrament for the first time, and what an amazing experience it was! I was smiling so big, it truly was an amazing experience! Also we got to go over to his house before dinner to pray with him on his decision to go back to Hawaii or to stay here in Connell. He is such a humble man and a wonderful example. He could be a part of the general authorities, he's so awesome! :)

Sadly, two of our recent converts Ruben, has fallen away, as well as Brother Stone. Ruben, we haven't been able to get in with him since his baptism and he may possibly be on drugs, but not knowing for sure. Brother Stone, has mental issues and ever since he was off his medication for 1 month he hasn't been the same and has asked that we stop communicating with him as well as all the members in the ward. So if you don't mind, keeping those two men in your prayers that would be great! :)

As for Halloween we made owl cupcakes and we sent them out to the people we love here in Connell. :) Then we played games inside after studies. :)

It also snowed yesterday! Isn't that crazy! It was so beautiful, but so cold! and it's crazy to think that I'm coming up on winter again on my mission! AHH!!!

Love you all! Always and forever!!!! <3
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 10-30-17

Oh my, I never knew that there could be so many bugs! There are spiderwebs everywhere and if you're lucky, when you walk in them, they will have a spider on it! :P Haha My companion and I have been saving each other from the webs and spiders. From far away it almost looks like we are fighting off invisible demons or something. :P Haha  Then I kid you not, we were literally COVERED in gnats! They were EVERYWHERE! They were in our hair, down our shirts, in our eyes, ears, mouths. They COVERED our shirts! I through my cardigan off and shook it in hopes that they would come off well, now my brown cardigan has green dots all over it. :P hahahah THE BEST! :P My dad would be so proud of me! :)

Anyways, for more serious matter, a miracle we saw was having three people come to church yesterday! Steven, we got to have a church tour with him on the Saturday before yesterday to help prepare him for church! :) Then Brianna, we met at the food bank. :) She gave us her name and number and told us to give her a call back and so we did later that day. We invited her to come to church to then speak to our bishop and she came and we are going back this week to teach her and her family! It's going to be great! We are finally finding people and miracles are happening in Connell! <3 The blessings are coming forth! And our prayers are only answered in His timing. :) 

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful Halloween!
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Pictures for October

My wall

Hurry and take the picture before I die from laughter!

Sister Taylor and I.

Sisters Taylor, Bloom, Sturghill and me!

Zone activity!
Sisters Francin, Johnson, Stratford, Bloom, me, Elders Reeves, idk, Holiday, Hall, Taylor

Letter 10-23-17

Hello!!! Everyone!

Yesterday was the Primary program, and wow was it a true gift and treat! The Spirit was so strong! Many less active and non-members were there and the whole chapel was filled! <3 What a great feeling! The primary children are such a wonderful example and bring the spirit so strong! <3

Visiting and Home teaching are SUPER IMPORTANT! :) They change everything and they have such an impact on the members and recent converts! :)

We are working here in Connell with the Less Actives and Recent Converts because they are just as important as baptisms. :) Now, we are not just not looking anymore for investigators, because we are, but yeah. :)

Funny quotes from this week:
Sister Taylor (as we are walking): "excuse me sir, if you hit me, I’ll hit ya back." hahaha
Sister Taylor: "Only ogres would use this smell as perfume." :P (There are many interesting smells in Connell.

Spiritual quotes I found on exchanges and in talks:
*The Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible ~Russell M Nelson
*What God expects of you: Be imperfect, but hope and strive continually for improvement. Live optimistically with obedience, hope, and faith.  Seek Him out and allow Him into your life. Forgive yourself and learn from your mistakes. Be patient and kind with yourself. Be His hands in earth, helping others and allowing others to help you. Seek knowledge. Have joy. Overcome and be triumphant. ~unknown
* Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. Pres. Monson said "That love never changes...It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God's love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve it. It is simply always there." Never doubt that, and never harden your heart....believe in miracles....If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Saviors own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead.

This gospel is truly amazing! And I’m so blessed to be a missionary today to share this message of Jesus Christ and another testament of Jesus Christ-The Book of Mormon.

Don't Forget to S.M.I.L.E. ~2 Nephi 9:39
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 10-16-17

Hello!!! This week has been a roller coaster! We didn't get to really teach a lot of people but we got to help out with the police work. :P hahaha One day either on Wednesday I think, haha we were walking and there was a beautiful red husky so we started petting it and it was so cute! haha Then a cop drove by, (by the way, his name is Kohl and he is a less active member in the ward, and we have talked to him before. :) ) and said, hey, we've been trying to catch him! So all three of us, trapped the dog and we caught it with the police bar-leash thing and what I did to help was calming the dog :) And the cop told Sister Taylor to hold the bar-leash thing while he went to go back his car to help get the dog in the back of his car. :)

Then Friday, we were walking again and there was a student driver that just stopped in the middle of the road. We then just stood there not knowing where she was turning or doing. Kohl then pulled up behind her and stopped then this semi US Mailman was texting and didn't stop and smashed into Kohl, the police, and then he flew basically and hit the student driver.  We stopped last night to see if he was okay, he fractured a thing right between his shoulder blades/back. But he's doing better. :) So it's been a crazy awesome week. :)

Please pray for Ruben, Brother Stone, and Tricia. They are all recent converts that are going through some trials. :/ Prayers would be needed, and thank you so much!

Some cool thoughts that I got from yesterday at church! Yesterday at church was amazing!!!! We learned about ways to overcome the world :) praying, reading the scriptures (BOM), service, have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, keep the commandments and asking for forgiveness. Yes, I know it seems like primary answers but man are they so real!!! And they so work!!!

Shout out to SARAH MCKNIGHT! My sister who JUST GOT BAPTIZED!!!!! You're amazing! :) <3

I love you all! So much!

~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 10-9-17

WELL EVERYONE, THIS WILL BE WHERE I'VE SPENT THE LONGEST ON MY MISSION. I am in a little place called Connell, WA. I'm now going to stay here for 3 transfers which comes to 18 weeks! <3 And I'm staying with my companion, Sister Taylor, and I get to "kill"/send her home! This will be my second missionary I get to send home. :P haha

This week Ruben got confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints!

My companion, Sister Taylor and I got to teach Relief Society yesterday about Member Missionary work. :) I've learned that I love teaching about the gospel! :) It's so fun! I'm not the perfect teacher, but it is so fun to have the Holy Ghost be my companion as we teach! :) <3

I'm now in Mormon, in the Book of Mormon! I’m almost done! The Book of Mormon is truly amazing! It TRULY and DOES draw you closer to Christ, it's truly amazing and hard to describe how! :) <3

Also one book I would recommend you all read "Believing Christ" it's truly amazing and you learn a lot more about how to apply the Atonement personally into your life! :) 

Now for one of my favorite quotes that was introduced to me, that kinda totally explains missionary life:

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do—not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love you all so very much! You're all amazing! Never give up! Look unto God and not doubt! <3

~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 10-3-17

How are all of you?! Well this week our investigator Ruben got baptized! He got baptized right after Priesthood Session so it was a busy great day! HE GOT BAPTIZED!!!!! He will then get confirmed this coming Sunday. :)

General Conference was amazing! It went by super fast! I loved each and every second of it!

Life as an STL is pretty awesome! I love getting to go with the Sisters one on one in our area and see how they are doing and their area as well! :) <3 It’s pretty fun!

I'm so blessed with being in Connell 1st ward! We have such amazing members here that love doing missionary work! It's the best!

Also, today we got to go to the temple! And just like the very first time going into the temple, rainbows landed on my in the Celestial room! <3 I love going to the temple and feeling the Spirit and having all the weight lifted off of my shoulders for a little while. :)

Being a missionary is so great! I love seeing people come closer to our loving Heavenly Father! I love being worthy to be God's mouth piece in delivering this message! My faith in Him and in His gospel and in His plan of happiness and in the Book of Mormon has grown so much! I love it! Now i'm just working on applying Christ's Atonement in my life and believing in Christ and and not just of him. I love you all so very much! You're in my heart and in my prayers always and forever!
1.) Pray always
2.) Read BOM always
3.) Endure-come out on top!
--

~Sister Rebecca McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Pictures for September (not a lot to choose from)

Service at its finest!

A little note we left when we were done!

I love the Book of Mormon!

How about an action shot!

Ruben got baptized!

Letter 9-25-17

Hello everyone!!! How are you? This week was pretty awesome!
* We have a man on date, named Ruben!

*General Women's Broadcast was this last Saturday! It was so awesome, it felt SO short, but it was filled with the Spirit!
* GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY! I'm so PUMPED!!!
* We have and had last Monday and this Monday, dinner with our investigators Stephanie and Aubrie
* It's Sister Taylor's (my companions) birthday!
* I just finished the book of 3rd Nephi today! :)
* Had a great zone conference
* Had a great lesson with Ruben yesterday with President Montierth (1st Presidency of our mission)!
* Had lots of Less Active members, recent converts, and Ruben come to church yesterday and our Gospel Principles class was FILLED! So amazing! What a great Sunday!
* We learned on Sunday, the importance of having Good friends, because they will help you when hard times come and we learned about the importance of the BOM and how we need to share it with everyone. Because it CAN and WILL and DOES change your life and bring you closer to Christ.

I love you all so very much! I pray for you all every day! #powerofprayerisreal Try it, test it!!!! I exhort you too! :) It CHANGES LIVES! 
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 9-18-17

This week was pretty awesome! I was able to go on my first exchange as a Sister Training Leader and I went into a Spanish speaking area. :) It was pretty fun! It was SOO cool getting to know this Sister better and to see how her area is doing! She is SO strong and such an amazing missionary! She is so lovingly bold and that's one thing that I learned from her. :) She's great! And when i was over there, they stay at a members home, and the bed I slept on and the sleep I had, was the best bed and sleep i've had on my whole mission! It was great! <3 haha

One of our investigators who's on date for September 30th received a Priesthood Blessing to give him comfort and to help him through is health problems as well. He's doing awesome though, spiritually! He's enduring well and his love for the Book of Mormon grows each and every day. :)

Another miracle is with two Sisters that we are teaching the both of children and are living with the boyfriends. After we taught them the law of Chastity over 1-2 months ago, we've not been able to meet with them. But with being consistent, we were finally able to meet with them. We shared Alma 38 with them, they both LOVED it!!! <3 Then they invited us back 2 other times this same week and invited us over for dinner tonight and were wanting to read and go over Alma 40. It was and is such an incredible week! :)

I too also got a Priesthood Blessing, because like you know and if you don't I'll let you now, a mission is hard but that's because "Salvation was not a cheap experience." ~Elder Holland. So I received good counsel and comfort from that blessing I got from my Zone Leader, Elder Taylor.

The power of the Priesthood is truly amazing! I'm so very blessed that I'm able to be apart of Christ's church on the earth and to be able to be healed, and blessed by the power of God.  This truly is His church, there is authority here. There is truth found, Spirit felt, love shared, visitor's welcomed, one big family, and another testament of Jesus Christ.

Be simply obedient, and you'll be blessed. :) <3

Love you ALL,

--
~Sister Rebecca McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 9-11-17

Hello! I don't know really what to talk about this week. :) So I'll just start by saying, the power of prayer is REAL! I know that when you bear/share your testimony it becomes stronger each and every time.

We were able to teach Gospel Principles yesterday, Lesson 34, I believe it was called “Developing Your Talents”. But I related it a lot with developing your testimony. :) It’s so beautiful so see all these connections on how you would develop a talent, is how you would develop, gain, and make stronger a testimony. :) <3 I also learned that it is essential to HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF as well. :) That is what I needed to hear in that lesson. :)

The Book of Mormon is AMAZING!!! If you want to get nearer to God and know Christ personally, read the Book of Mormon then ask God with real intent (meaning, you really want to know and once you get your answer your ready to act on what God tells you), You WILL! :) <3

The language of faith is amazing! And I would invite you to use it. :) It changes your whole day when you use the language of faith instead of doubt. :) Try it out, and I can promise you a huge difference in your everyday life. :)

The commandments are given to us, not as rules of what you can and cannot do so keep us away from all the fun. They were created to keep as free, safe, and happy!

I hope you all had and will have a wonderful week! I love you all! Never give up! Always keep fighting! Be*you*tiful!

Love you Always and Forever,
--
~Sister Rebecca McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 9-5-17

Happy September everyone! Holy cow, where has the time gone? I felt like it was just winter 6 weeks ago. Haha! I've been told that the winter is going to be the same as last winter, so I’m excited to fall in the snow, and I truly hope I can be in a walking area! I love walking areas so much! :) <3

Wow, am I so blessed! First off, everyone should know how amazing and awesome Gary is (Recent Convert). Last Sunday (Fast Sunday) he went up to bear his testimony and share with the ward his appreciation for his baptism. Also, Sunday was the first time he has taken the sacrament in years. What a memorable experience was that for him and me.  I also, was told by the Spirit, that I needed to go up and bear my testimony. :) Also, my amazing Aunt Debra and her daughter Joy came to give me a hug and a few gifts! I truly needed that and I greatly appreciated that. :)

We are doing lots of finding since we don't know who the investigators are THAT well and we are separating the wheat from the tares. The work is hastening! Its crazy awesome! We are finding some potential investigators and less actives! It's awesome!

One cool miracle:
We were walking around, trying to find people to talk to, we start heading towards the apartments, and then a cop came up right behind us and started talking with us. We found out that he was less active, divorced, and is going through a rough time in his life. I felt prompted to read Alma 38:5 with him. We bore testimony to him, he felt the Spirit. He started to remember what it felt like to have the Holy Ghost with him. We invite him to read the Book of Mormon and to pray. I also told him he was an answer to our prayers, because we were looking for someone to talk to and there he was. He drove up to us! :)

Sorry that it's all over the place, I hope you can understand it all. :) Just know that I know that Heavenly Father does hear and answer every child's prayer (and yes, that includes all of you because you are His children!) I know the Book of Mormon is true and if you read it, you will come closer to Christ and you will get the chance to know the Savior Personally. :) <3

I love you all!
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Pictures for August

Marsha's baptism with all the missionaries that taught her.

Angie's baptism.

Looking at the solar eclipse.

Temple trip with Gary and Angie.

Gary's baptism.

A tri-pan with Sister Bloom and SisterStratford!

Happy 20th Birthday to Me! The Olsen's made us GF cupcakes!

Letter 8-28-17

This WEEK was CRAZY!

Where to I begin with this week?! Well let’s start on Monday

Monday: Was the solar eclipse! It was so awesome! It got darker and it was cold! It was so awesome!!!!!

Tuesday: Was Gary's interview for baptism! It was SO exciting!!!!!! We were all excited!!!! And it was a zone conference with Elder Perkins and Elder Pingree from the 70's! (General Authority) :)

Wednesday: I went to Missionary Leadership Counsel with my companions because the President said I could also, with Elder Perkins and Elder Pingree.

Thursday: Gary got baptized and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost because this past week was Stake Conference. We he was raised out of the water, he looked directly over to the three of us and fist raised the air and said Wow, Righto! :) We all smiled so big, including him! :) <3 Aw, what a lovely day! <3

Friday: Gary received the Aaronic Priesthood at 3, got his temple recommend at 3:30 and was at the temple are ready to do baptisms for the dead at 5! :) <3 Also, it was my birthday! :) I'm 20 now! crazy! :P Haha! Had an awesome package from my family! Got an awesome package from my Aunt Debra and Uncle Joe and Joy! :) Thank you! Thank you Grandma McKnight and Grandma and Grandpa Lofgreen and the Red Rock ward for the letters! :) <3

Saturday: Was adult session of Stake Conference with Elder Arnold from the 70 as well. (General Authority) so awesome! We had our five recent converts there! It was awesome! Also, two of them got called to go up there with him, and our hearts dropped, because that was one thing that we told them would never happen and it did, but one of them was told in advanced, and Gary, well he's so in tuned with the spirit, that the Spirit told him that he would get a chance to put in a word at the Stake Conference. Wow, he's such an amazing man! We all see that he could become a member of the 70's (General Authority). He's so awesome! :)

Sunday: At 8:30 in the morning we got a call from President (the earliest call for all of us about the upcoming transfer.....) We were told that Sister Miner is going to go to Richland and be a lone STL and train and be doubled in. Then Sister Cluff was going to get doubled in the Richland as well and I was to become an STL and stay in Connell. WOW! And we were told that we couldn't tell anyone until after dinner. :/

Good day and excited for the new journey but nervous. God knows what we all need and what we need to learn and how we need to GROW and STRETCH. Faith, that's all I have to say.... without faith, you'll be gone!

Wow, yeah, this week was good......

So yeah, I’m 20 years old now! Crazy! My trainer is engaged and will be married in November! People I know are getting married! It's crazy! :P haha I'm 9 1/2 months out.

Love you all! Have faith!
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Zone Conference

Sorry for the poor quality of the video but this is saved from a text message to my phone.

Messages from Members

8-21-17 (Email)
My name is Jeff Garrett and I am the Bishop of the Snake River Ward where your daughter, Sister McKnight was serving until the last transfer. I just wanted you to know what a great missionary your daughter is and how much we miss her in our ward. She was loved by everyone in the ward and was always so kind to everybody.  I was able to be at a couple of lessons where she taught and she taught with the spirit and with great conviction. I know she has very high expectations for herself and a great desire to live up to those expectations.

My wife and I hope that she is doing well in Connell and that she is able to get the sleep that she needs. We were trying to help her with that while she was here and we still pray that she will be able to sleep and rest so that she can remain healthy.

Mostly, I just wanted you to know how much we learned to love you daughter in the short time she was in our ward. She is a wonderful young woman and an excellent missionary and you should be very proud of her.

Thank you for sharing her with all of the people here in Washington.

Sincerely,
Jeff Garrett

8-21-17
98% eclipse here, it got darker about 30 minutes ago

By the way---this is Sister Kelly. My husband is the bishop in Connell ward. We just love your three daughters! It was fun to have them over this morning for the eclipse, but even more fun to experience so many baptisms with them here! A time of miracles!

The great solar eclipse in Connell!

Our homemade eclipse viewers!

8-16- 17

We love our Sister Missionaries! Thanks for sharing your beautiful daughters.

Letter 8-21-17

The Highest of Highs and the Lowest of Lows, but all for a special reason

Wow, was this week crazy! I'll start off with the good thing that happened! :)

Things are going good with Sister Miner and Sister Cluff! :) We are having great laughs and continually finding new people to teach and baptizing converts. :) They say that I’m a STL in training. :P hahaha This transfer has been good for me. It has totally helped my testimony and faith grow in the gospel and in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

(But first another medical problem...but now it's all better! I got a Sty in my right eye. It was not fun. :/ It made my eye swollen, but now it looks all normal! YAY!!!!! hahaha, So weird, embarrassing, but now it's over and now I know what to do and what not to do when your eye starts to swell for unknown reasons. :P ) I'm learning long life lessons that will help me both physically and spiritually for the rest of my life. :) My life must be going to get intense later on. :P haha

So anyways, back to more spiritual things. :P --->

So we have been teaching this man Gary, he knows the Bible better that anyone I’ve ever known. He's been to church for all three hours 9 times now, and is just amazing is finally getting baptized this Thursday!!!! :) And getting confirmed as well because of Stake Conference! :) It's so awesome!

Then a bad experience helped my faith grow was having Maria, who was on date for this last Saturday,  text us at 12 am, the day of her baptism, saying that she will not get baptized. We later found out it was because she got anti-ed for 5+ hours by her pastor and his wife. The pastor’s wife didn't say anything that hurt us or that questioned our faith, but it was just to see Maria, so sad and dark and not happy that killed us. But we will not give up the hope, she has felt the Spirit and has a testimony, she just needs to remember. :) So very sad, but we went to the Bishop after and he gave us
blessings and talked to us and was just amazing!

Bishop Kelly and his wife helped me realize that sometimes we go through bad things to help our testimonies grow, even if it's to testify of the truthfulness of the power of Satan, and to grow our roots deeper in the faith and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I already have that way I know.  Heavenly Father knows what we each need to go through to make us stronger, even if it is not in the most comfortable way. :P

I know that God lives. That He loves us. That He knows what's best for us, to grow and help us and prepare us for what lies in the future for us. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It leads us closer to Christ, and light, and truth. I know that a man can and will get nearer to God if you read, ponder, and act upon the things you learn from in the Book of Mormon. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that he restored The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers every one of our prayers, in His timing and in His own way. What an amazing blessing it is that we have to be here on this earth and to be able to CHOOSE to follow Christ and be happy.

I love you all so very much and I thank you all for being in my life. :)
--
~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 8-14-17

Wow!!!! That's all I have to say. It's crazy to think that I have made it this far! Nine months/half way. I wouldn't have made it this far without the help of all of your prayers and the help of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you all so very much!

This week was filled with miracles! :) Let me tell you!

1.) Saturday, Angie got baptized! And on Sunday she got to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost! <3 She was so happy and she was glowing! Her daughter and grandchildren (who just got baptized about a month ago) were so happy and were there to support her. :)

2.) We met a man named Manuel on his doorstep, right after he came home from working the graveyard shift and gave him a Restoration pamphlet and invited him to read it and we asked if we could come back the next day, and he said yes. So we showed up yesterday, Sunday, and we prayed with him and asked him how he felt, and he said that he felt warm inside and as if he were not alone. <3 He started to tear up as well. (what a powerful truth seeker!) Then we asked him what he remembered from the pamphlet we gave him to read, and he knew all of it! He really read and pondered it and wrote it on his heart! :) We then taught the lesson of the Restoration, going over some points in more detail. He's totally soaking it all up by the way. We then gave him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read it, he smiled very big and said Thank you! :) We invited him to pray at the end, and he did! His prayer was so simple and powerful, he thanked us for what we shared, and then he asked if God could let him know if what we shared is true and if the Book of Mormon was true. He was choking up and tears coming to his eyes. <3 We asked him how he felt and he said, the same as when (I had said) the opening prayer, warmness, and comfort. What a lovely man!

3.) There is this man named Gary! Ah, he is a wonderful man! He KNOWS the Bible very well and he hasn't committed to a baptismal date yet. But three days ago we asked him what he was expecting God to answer him: quickly or him having to make a decision and then God will confirm it? Then he asked, "I know we just had fast Sunday, but would you be willing to fast with me to find out my answer?" (And we were all like YES! haha Now remind you, he's been to church 8 times now, goes for all three hours, participates, prays, he's just amazing!) So we did. And we went over Sunday night, and he shared his testimony. We listened for 2 hours to his testimony, So very powerful and beautiful. The Spirit just telling us to listen. Then at the end, Sister Miner said " Will you be baptized on August......24th?" When she said that the Spirit hit him all hard! So amazing! <3 He then said in 12 days? and we're like yep. :) We said, "will you take this day, for your baptism, pray about it, picture yourself getting baptized and we will come back to get a strong and confident answer. :) <3 Man, the Spirit was so thick and beautiful and strong! He's going to do it! <3

Anyways, I love you all so much! This was a miracle email! <3 God loves and knows each and every single one of you! Never forget that! Never forget that I love you! <3 Always keep fighting, always keep praying, and always keep reading.

Love you all, always and forever,
--
~Sister Rebecca McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Letter 8-7-17

This week was filled with miracles, even when it was homesick. :)

1.) Marsha got baptized this last Saturday, and I got to go!!! It was so amazing! She was SO happy and she was glowing! I also got to see my old companion and step mom Sister Passey! ☺  I also got to see some lovely people from 6th Ward, from where I served in my 2nd area on my mission. :)

2.) Last night we met with a woman and her boyfriend and child for a lesson. We didn't know what it was going to be like because Sister Miner (has been in this area my whole mission- almost 9 months) had talked to him in February and has talked to the women 3 times. But we went in, they BOTH felt the Spirit so strong! It truly was an amazing experience. We taught them the Plan of Salvation, and invited them to be baptized when they knew that this message that we have come to share is true and they both said yes.  Throughout the whole lesson they kept saying that they felt the Spirit and the message of the Plan of Salvation made them SO happy! :) AH, it was amazing! We gave them a BOM and they downloaded the Gospel Library app as well! It was a great ending to the night.

3.) I got to talk to (email) my family and my dear amazing best friend in the world, Jenna, today, and see pictures of them! <3 How lucky am I?!

4.) We taught Gospel Principles and it was about Charity and the things you need to do to have charity are:
         * Study the life of Christ and apply them to our lives
         * Pray for Charity
         * LOVE YOURSELF (the topic of which I was given to speak on, which I truly needed)

I love you all, the Lord loves you ALL as well. And with the strength of the Lord, we can do ALL things. :) <3

~Sister McKnight
Washington, Kennewick Mission

Pictures for July

Connell with Sister Cluff and Sister Miner

Our lovely chalk art! We hope it will find us an investigator!

Trying on hats because I can!

Temple trip with Juli

The Bishop teaching me to drive his tractor!

Hello Horsey!