greetings family, friends and countrymen.

yesterday was amazing. it was one of the best days here so far. i was on top of the world. i felt good. so happy. it was like Christmas. we had success with our "investigator" and really felt the spirit, we had a great workshop, great lessons, everything was swell. i got a sweeeet package from grammy filled with goodness and love and to top it all off, we were blessed to hear from an apostle of the Lord at the devotional last night. Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke about missionary work... classic. it was motivating and inspiring. i am grateful for days like that. they make days like today (stressful, crazy, annoying blah blah) seem not so hard to get through. blast this timed email! i just cant seem to gather my thoughts fast enough. well - let's see. life is good. i am learning a lot. there are extremely discouraging and lonely days, and there are extremely lovely days. sometimes i feel like i cant ever fully express myself enough during the day - i am naturally loud and talkative and my companion is very very quiet and so i usually spend my free time filling journals with my rants and raves. i feel like i have too many thoughts and emotions for just one person. also: i cant really dance here because it's the mtc and they do not allow music. ALSO: turns out they dont allow braids either. good gravy! luckily there are many other good things about the mtc to outweigh the ridiculous things. apparently braids are associated too closely with the FLDS women and they don't want sisters wearing them....i shall try and get over this. anyways - this week has been a massive roller coaster of craziness for me. i wasn't sure why i was feeling this way and why i was having so many crazy challenges that come with this mission experience, for example: not being able to grasp dutch syntax or remembering to conjugate 'hebben' and having so many struggles with our "investigators" and teaching in dutch when i know so little blah blah and on and on. i was feeling pretty lame. feeling ridiculous if you will. and i was in my slaapsaal waiting for mijn collega to finish getting ready and a scripture came to my mind. d&c 90:24 "search diligently, pray always and be believing and all things shall work together for your good if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have convented one with another." so - i have NO idea why i am having certain challenges or why things i thought would be easy are hard and the things i thought would be hard are easy...alas, i know that for whatever reason, they will truly come together for good and i will learn these lessons so hopefully i can help someone else in the future. whoever and wherever that may be. oh - there is so so so much more to write and i have four minutes left. blast. i am sorry that my emails are so vague. perhaps i will do some free association. today i fell UP the stairs. also, we had chips and salsa for breakfast because the temple cafeteria was CLOSED and that is the only good food we eat all week. hmm... last week i got toothpaste in my eye...ummmmm - i started reading Jesus the Christ and i adore it beyond all reason.... my teachers are amazing - i love them all. oh oh oh - i bet y'all are wondering why there are no photos? goed vraag. we can only print photos and send them via snail mail or i could send you my card. i will try and figure that out this next pday. today was just too busy and crazy. :( sorry. maar, never fear, i shall send plenty of good photos. i love people and i am grateful to be surrounded by so many good people who are all in the same situation as i am. i am also eternally grateful for my lovely family and friends who are all so supportive and loving. i feel your prayers and support. thank you thank you thank you! i miss you all and hope all is well! i really must depart now. i will have more time next week because i will get the emails via dearelder hopefully and have time to write! :) love you all! peace and blesssssings.

- zuster katelyn marie stouttttttttt

ps: everybody in my district found out that my last name means naughty in dutch. sjonge jonge!

pps: everybody in my district thinks im crazy because of my vocab and wordage. i said "holla back atcha now" and no one had even heard that before.

hopefully i will be able to teach them some great things before our time is through. let us hope and pray. alrighty.

tot ziens!