10/26/20 - Last Facebook Post

https://www.facebook.com/kylie.bliss.948/posts/377722876758735 

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" -2 Timothy 4:7

And just like that, the most strengthening year and a half of my life has just wrapped up. I'm so grateful for the lessons I've learned, the friends I've made, and the opportunities I've had to testify of Jesus Christ

Temple Trip in the MTC with the best MTC district ever!

Bennett Bowen, Cameron Christensen, Emily Durland Henderson, Kylie Bliss, Madison Gallup, Hadlee Mattsson Bickmore (married name), Gia Guthrie, Emilee France

Arriving in Ohio!

President and Sister Welch, Sister Durland, Sister Bliss, Sister France, Sister Gallup, Elder Chidester, Sister Guthrie, Elder Beal, Sister Mattson, Elder Christensen, Sister Hines, Elder Compton, Elder Compton, Sister Michaelis, Sister Merchant

My first mission president, President Welch, and his wife

Not even the rain would stop Sister Priego and I from serving the Lord! Thank you for being the best trainer ever!

My district during my second transfer of my mission.

Cami Hawkins, Lindsay Gardner, Jesenia Priego, Kylie Bliss, Gabriel Brown, Damon Widmer, Kassel Leano, Karl Maeser

Sister Blaser, thanks for being amazing! Still so sad we only got 3 weeks together.

Sister Christensen, my third companion! I love you!! Thanks for all the fun times and good laughs.

My district my third transfer. The books represent how many transfers we had left, which is why I have ten. Oh how good it was to have so much time left back then!

Sister Schnepf, who trained my trainer and was my built in BFF. Thanks for being the best mission grandma EVER!

Visiting the Cincinnati Zoo with Sister Elliot

My Birthday dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill! How did I get so lucky to have my favorite restaurant so close to me??

Sister Archibald, Elder Davis, Elder Bingham, Sister Hines, Sister Bliss, Sister Hedelius

Christmas picture with a few originals who came out with me.

Sister Merchant, Sister Mattsson, Sister Hines, Sister Durland, Sister Bliss, Elder Rodriguez, Elder Chidester, Elder Beal, Elder Compton

Is it really Christmas with your district if you don't have matching Christmas PJs?

Sister Geertsen, Sister Hawkins, Sister Stallcup, Sister Sisco, Sister Hines, Sister Bliss,

Elder Sumsion, Elder Page

We made a swinter swunderland and it was beautiful and grand (name that reference!) #syncronizedswimming

(Counterclockwise) Sister Bliss, Sister Archibald, Sister Geertsen, Sister Sisco, Sister Hines, Sister Durland, Sister Hawkins, Elder Page, Sister Stallcup, Elder Sumsion

Sister Morales and I stocking up right before being quarantined for COVID-19

Our district video call while in quarantine

(Clockwise) Elder Miller & Elder Ballard, Elder Pierce & Elder Rodriguez, Elder Wigington & Elder Montgomery, Sister Morales & Sister Bliss, Brother and Sister Cannon

Sister Coleman was literally the ost prepared and powerful trainee I ever could have asked for. Thanks for teaching me how to eat my hotdog correctly and boil my watermelon.

Sister Lamarche! The best two weeks ever!

Sister Merrell, Sister Nelson, and I. That was a party and a half!

Sister Bliss, Elder Taylor, Sister Ellis, Sister Lund, Elder Tolley, Sister Main, Sister Nelson, Sister Merrell, Elder Robinson recreating a painting at the church

Sister Merrell, Sister Nelson, Sister Main, Sister Ellis, Sister Bliss, Sister Lund, Elder Tolley, Elder Robinson, Elder Taylor

Sister Bliss, Sister Nelson, Sister Merrell

Sister Training Leaders and the Zone Leaders in homemade Cincy masks

Sister Bliss, Sister Odom, Elder Williams, Elder Chidester

Sister Bliss and Sister Odom

The Sister's Council 2.0

Sister Meade, Sister Lamarche, Sister Odom, Sister Bliss

Elder Chidester, Elder Williams, Sister Bliss, Sister Odom

Sister Ellis and Sister Bliss

The Northern Kentucky Family (there really was a purpose behind this)

Sister Bliss as Emo teen, Sister Ellis as the mom, Elder Chidester as Grandpa, Elder Bruce as the son, and Elder Williams as the dad.

Sister Postma, Sister Ellis, and Sister Bliss enjoying Goodfellas Pizzeria

Sister Postma, Sister Ellis, and Sister Bliss at the Florence Y'ALL water tower at the Florence, Kentucky Mall. The perspective here is cool!

Sister Ellis, Sister Postma, and Sister Bliss

10/19/20 - My last bunch of things 😮

 Hi friends and family!

We had an amazing and jam-packed week! I was talking to one of my companions this morning, Sister Postma, and we realized that in the time span of barely over a week (starting from last Saturday to Sunday yesterday) we had to plan a baptism, stake reports, zone conference, and talks for church. We're excited for this next week as we have no giant meetings to plan for!!

Zone Conference went very smoothly! It was the first Zone Conference as an entire zone since before quarantine. Because I was in the one zone back in March that did not get a Zone Conference due to COVID-19, I haven't had Zone Conference in person since February. While we did get to have a Specialized Training just a few weeks back, it was still a sweet surprise to have a more normal Zone Conference again. We still wore masks and social distanced, we were in the gym instead of the chapel, and it was shorter than a normal Zone Conference, but we did get to hear from Sister Ensign during Zone Conference for the first time in a while, the conference was longer than it has been in quite some time (almost 4 hours after it ran longer than planned), we got to listen to "This is the Christ" (our mission hymn), and we got to have departing testimonies in person for the first time since COVID-19! I was over joyed that this was the Zone Conference that would be my final one. 

Going in, I thought that I'd make it through the whole meeting without a single tear. Then....Sister Ensign had to tear up to all the sisters about Sister Gallup and I leaving and the tears just came rolling! At the end we listened to "This is the Christ", and that got me again! I love that song because it reminds me of my first day in the field a year and a half ago. We met for a welcome meeting with the Welch's (the mission president and his wife at the time) and at the end we all sang "This is the Christ". Halfway through the song, all our trainers came in singing with us. As we all stood there singing, a wave of joy rushed over me as I thought to myself, "This is it. I'm here. I'm finally on my mission and I'm going to get to teach people about Jesus Christ." Overwhelmed with joy, I basically sobbed through the entire rest of the song and until we left the meeting  Ending my last Zone Conference with that special song was my last request of my mission, and I was so happy to get it.

After Zone Conference we scheduled time to clean up, have lunch, and then take our extra hour of exercise (COVID-19 perks) all at once so we could have a bit of a break after. We went home, laid down and we were OUT for that entire time. Sister Postma actually fell asleep during the day for the first time since she was a child. So apparently Zone Conference wiped us out!

We had lessons with our friends Patrick, Vanessa, and Cindy this week. All three of them were awesome and each gave beautiful prayers at the end of their lessons. Vanessa, the 10 year old we teach, said a beautiful prayer thanking God that we could read the Book of Mormon with her so she could understand it. Patrick, who's native language is French but he speaks English well enough to have a conversation, said a prayer in French last week but felt bad saying one because "Amen means you agree, but you can't agree if you don't understand what I'm saying". This time he tried praying in English for us so we could know what he says, and it was a BEAUTIFUL prayer. I love hearing prayers from people who are just starting out. I often forget how hard it is for people to say a prayer for the first time, but I love hearing those prayers because they are so heartfelt and sincere.

The last thing I want to leave you with is a talk I got to write for church. We each gave 5 minute talks based on a General Conference talk from the other week. I chose "Becoming Like Him" and wanted to share it because it wasn't super long and involved a poem that I shared in the MTC because it was really inspiring to me.

Sister Bliss' Sacrament Meeting Talk 10/18/20:

This General Conference was a powerhouse of talks about being unified and prepared. I left Conference feeling energized about the disciple I am striving to become. One particular talk on Saturday morning by Elder Scott D. Whiting really struck me. He spoke of becoming like our savior Jesus Christ. He said:

 

"But what if becoming “even as [He is]” is not figurative, even in our mortal condition? What if it is, to some degree, attainable in this life and, indeed, a prerequisite to being with Him again? What if “even as I am” is exactly and precisely what is meant by the Savior? Then what? What level of effort would we be willing to give to invite His miraculous power into our lives so that we can change our very nature?"-Elder Scott D. Whiting

Think about that. The invitation to become "even as [He is]"; the commandment to "be perfect even as [he] or [our father who is in heaven is perfect], isn't just figurative. Each day, we are striving to become more like Christ, in an effort to one day be like him. Elder Whiting gave a list of things to consider on our quest to become like Christ that I definitely recommend going back and looking over. As I read through his talk again I was struck thinking about by my own experience in trying to become more like him. I thought about what a blessing it is to us that we know that we can become like Christ, but I also quickly recalled how easy it can be to get discouraged at times when we look at the daunting mountain of imperfections that we have to overcome.

One such experience for me was when I chose to leave on a mission. I knew a mission would require a big change in the person I was if I was to truly be a representative of Jesus Christ each day. I looked at myself and my flaws. I could see just how far I was from being like Christ, and I quickly grew discouraged. But one day a poem was shared with me that will forever shape my outlook on the way Satan stops us from progressing.

DISCOURAGEMENT 

"It was announced so the story goes,

That the devil was going to quit,

That all his tools would be up for sale the whole infernal kit.

Malice and envy, hatred and strife, each marked a bargain price,

Jealousy, pride, and otherwise

All implements of the vice.

A bad and sorry looking lot,

Attractively displayed,

But just apart from all the rest,

A wedge shaped tool was laid.

A harmless looking, simple tool,

Much worn as one could trace,

But higher priced than all the rest in that infernal place.

Then someone asked the devil what the wedge shaped tool was,

"Why that's discouragement", he said "it's higher priced because,

It's much more useful unto me,

Than any of its brothers.

It will prevail where I would fail,

With any of the others.

"Few people know it's mine and so,

It works wth perfect ease,

For once inside (I'll put you wise),

I do just as I please.

Just let me get the conscientious,

Discouraged, downcast, blues.

EUREKA, I have found a way,

Santanic work to do!"

Suffice to say the price to pay,

The devil for his "PET",

Was just too high, no one could buy,

And so he 's got it yet.

And what is more, he is using it,

And in these times of stress,

He no doubt finds DISCOURAGEMENT,

of all his tools the BEST!!!"

Discouragement is one of Satan's strongest tools against us. When our faith is strong and his more obvious weapons such as addictions, contention, or pride are no longer his strongest tools, he need only discourage us from continuing forward and our progression comes to a halt.

Discouragement does not come from Christ, and it does not help us become like him. As Elder Whiting said, "becoming like Him through His divine help and strength is achievable step by step".  Throughout my mission I have seen firsthand that we can in fact become "like Him", though it won't be all at once. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, for his example to me of who I should strive to become, and most importantly, for his sacrifice and love for me. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! 

Love,

Sister Bliss

PICTURES:

- Our group picture from Zone Conference, though it may be a little hard to find me 

-A couple pictures from Batesville when I went on an exchange with Sister Ross, one of the cutest people ever! 

-We also went in exchanges with the Crittenden sisters and they took us to a cute place called Whippy Dipp. We're missing a couple of sisters here because the cones were gushing out all over the place and we needed a quick picture. But we did get (from left to right) Sister Ellis, Sister Cox, Sister Weaver, and me! We're just missing Sister Postma and Sister Olsen. I got red velvet cake dipped in birthday cake, which was crazy good 

10/12/20 - CHUCK'S BAPTISM!!

 Hey everyone!

Our friend Chuck got baptized this week! It was a really neat experience, especially because it was very different than usual with COVID-19. We could only have us, Chuck, Brother Neal (who baptized Chuck), and Brother Chapman (who is in the bishopric and confirmed Chuck). Everything actually went very smoothly as opposed to when Cheryl was baptized back in Miamisburg  The most exciting part was before the baptism when we got there early to fill the font and found that we forgot Chuck's jumpsuit! We ended up having to call another set of sisters to watch the font for us while we ran back home to grab the jumpsuit.

I'm so excited for Chuck, and can't wait to start talking to him more about the temple and staying active in the church and all that fun stuff!

I hit my 18 month mark on Saturday the 10th! It was the strangest feeling. Two weeks from today I will be packed up and ready to go home. I'll be giving my departing testimony this Saturday at Zone Conference. It was really hard for a time to accept that I'd be going home, but I feel good now. I realize that, while I'd love to continue to serve and grow as I have been this last year and a half, going home is going to be a whole different challenge with totally new things that will help me grow and I'm excited about it. More importantly, I'm excited to keep serving the Lord back home. I may stop wearing my name tag in a couple of weeks, but my name tag will forever be on my heart 

I forgot to update y'all when I got Sister Postma to mention that I get to brush up a bit on my Spanish again! (You know, the almost non existant amount that I know) Because she served in Mexico for 9 months before COVID-19, she really knows what she's doing when it comes to Spanish. She prays only in Spanish (unless we're in a lesson or something), and we have a rule in our household that whoever is praying has to say a minimum of 5 words in Spanish. On the bright side, if Sister Ellis or I REALLY don't feel like saying anything in Spanish one day,  we just say it in English and then end with "en el nombre de Jesucristo, amén"

We got to have an amazing lesson with the Kurtz family in the ward yesterday. We stopped by to drop off pass along cards and while we were there they invited us in and chatted with us for a bit. While we weren't originally planning on sharing a message, we did end up pulling out one of my favorite quotes from General Conference when they asked us to share something (P.S. never feel bad for asking missionaries to share something out of the blue. Yes, we can be caught off guard and take a minute to think of something, but at least one missionary in the companionship has got to have SOMETHING they've liked in the last week that they can share). We shared this quote with them:

"But what if becoming even as he is is not figurative, even in our mortal condition? What if it is, to some degree, attainable in this life, and indeed a prerequisite to being with him again? What if, "even as I am" is exactly and precisely what is meant by the Savior? Then what? What level of effort would we be willing to give to invite his miraculous power into our lives so that we can change our very nature?" - Elder Scott D. Whiting

We had a neat conversation about becoming like Christ and the blessing it is that we not only know that becoming like Christ is our goal, but we also get the blessing of sharing that with others! The Kurtz family was a really great example of becoming like Christ in sharing the gospel by genuinely looking for missionary opportunities and ministering to those around them. It was a great reminder that we're all capable of doing missionary work! 

In fact! I'm going to give homework to all those of you who would like to do it. There's a talk called "The Missionary Next Door". It's not a General Conference talk, but more of a Hank Smith type talk by a woman who talked about how her family did missionary work. It's really entertaining but also a killer inspiring one. I'm not 100%, certain where you'd find it, but I'd like to invite all if you to go try checking it out! And if you'd like to listen to it but can't find it, let me know and I can share it with you. I promise each of you that as you serve the Lord by doing what you can to share the gospel-whether that be by building a friendship with someone or sharing a Book of Mormon with someone-you will feel so much more joy in your life!

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Love,

Sister Bliss

PICTURES:

-Chuck's baptism!

-We went on a hike to a place called Doe Run and got to walk around a cute lake

-Pictures of me with statues near our apartment 

-Fall leaves!

-A picture we took with Chuck during a video call

-My 18 month celebration dinner we got at a place called Qdoba (10/10 recommend)