Kenya's Third Group Email

Monday, February 29, 2016

Hello friends and family!

This week I have finished my first transfer and been serving for 2 months! Not a lot, but its progress. The past few weeks have been great! I am learning more about myself and the Savior everyday. We are working a lot with the less actives in the ward and have seen a lot of progress in their reactivation in the church. And of, course some of our great investigators! 

At sites we take a lot of Spanish calls because my companion is the only person at Kirtland that knows Spanish. She lets me open up with some "Hola! Esta es Nohely y Kenya, como estas?" And then I am cut off from there because that's basically all I know.. But anyway, we have a few Hispanics that we teach from Mexico that are progressing really well and will hopefully have a baptismal date this week! It's crazy that I really have no idea what they are saying to each other but they spirit in their voices bring the spirit so strongly to me as well.

It is such a blessing being able to serve here and do the things that I get to do. I love serving at sites and in the Hiram area! I will start to give tours at the Johnson farm within the next 2 months which is super exciting! Life is great here in OHIO. Love you all!

Love, Sister Berntsen

Also, my companion and I gave up a habit this week to relate to a less active that is giving up smoking. So of course, I gave up drinking Coke. Capri sun was the next best thing apparently. 

Kenya's Second Group Email

Monday, February 15, 2016

Hi everyone!

Happy Valentines! Life has been going good (cold) here in Ohio! So the area that I am in right now is Hiram which is about 45 minutes away from Kirtland. Hiram is where the John Johnson farm is, it's right next to our church. We get to study there every Sunday which is amazing!! Us and the 2 other sisters that live with us drive to Kirtland on Wednesdays and are at sites all day Wednesdays and Thursdays. I have now given 5 tours which have all been so amazing and so spiritual! I still have SO much history to learn about Kirtland and about the Johnson farm! 

When we aren't on tour at the Visitors' center we are on computers taking chats and calls from Mormon.org. We also have our own investigators from around the world that we get to teach. It is such a wonderful calling. 

We have been doing a lot of finding this month in our areas and are finding a lot of success! 

I am still learning and growing everyday, but I know that my testimony has grown the most which is the most rewarding. I know that this is the Lords work and how grateful I am to serve Him everyday for 18 months. 

Thank you for all the love and support! I love you all and pray for you!

Love, Sister Berntsen

Also, I love my little Hispanic companion so much. Her name is Sister Adame from Salem, Oregon. She is teaching me tons of Spanish!

Kenya's First Group Email

Monday, February 1, 2016

Hello friends and family!

Life is going great in Kirtland! I love this place so much, there is such a special spirit here. I have learned so much about our church history in the last week, its crazy! Still don't even know half of what I will by the end. 

I love all the sisters here! Especially my companion Sister Adame! She has already taught me so much! Next to her, my favorites are the senior couples for sure. They're so cute.

I love Kirtland but I love my area as well! I feel so blessed to be able to serve in the Visitors' Center but also get serve in an area as well. Everything is going great here in oHIo. Thanks for all the emails and support the past few weeks, I have felt the prayers. I love you all so much! Have a blessed week.

Newel K. Whitney Store in Kirtland, OH

Historic Kirtland Visitor's Center

Kenya's "Bio" for the Visitor's Center