dearest family,

 i love this world. it is so beautiful. so interesting. this week has been a riot. an absolute riot. first things first, i bought a fountain pen. sooo, everything i write now is just a little bit classier. also - we got some new lamps for our apartment so we can see now that its darker for a good part of the day. light is so important. on another note, oranges are in season, so thats nice. it is seriously fall here. it went from summer to fall in one day. immediately. woo!

we met a guy named Nathan. he is half americaanse/surinaamse and really cool. his father is a preacher. when i stopped him - he immediately asked in english...where are you from? and we said america. and he said "duuuhhh" oh we were off to a great start. i asked if he knew about the book of mormon - he said no. i explained it and he said - lets go sit on these benches and talk...so naturally we said yes. as we walked over to the benches he explained that he was going to try and convince us to stop what we were doing and think for ourselves. i said..we are not here to argue...i am here because i choose to be...so we proceed to have our conversation and we explain to him the restoration and priesthood authority and he ends up saying that he respects us and likes the way we think - and that he is searching for ultimate truth. so i testified that if he wants it - he will find it and that there is no coincidence that we met. snap. what are the odds of meeting someone like that in little schalkwijk. sweet!

on tuesday at district meeting we were waiting in front of the church. it was raining. it was freezing. and then we see the elders coming around the corner without jackets, coats, umbrellas...just walking in their white shirts. i asked them where their jackets were. they said they forgot. later - zr.robinson (wife of our mission president) got after them for not having a coat...they said "sister stout already told us we should've worn jackets" and made some comment of me being like their mother. i thought....ohhhh snap i better be careful! but then i realized...what a compliment! i am proud to be thought of as their mother. i will take that compliment any day. because mothers are AWESOME. everyone needs them, everyone loves them, they are the best! it also helps that i was reading in alma 56 that day. :) they did not doubt their mothers knew it. amen!

the work is going well. a little slow this week - appointments falling through, people not so keen to hear our message and the colder weather pushing people indoors...but that is not stopping us! no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. gale force winds may blow, soccer championships come on tv, people go on vacation - but the work of God will go forth boldy, nobly and independent! i am so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. it helps me live a better life. it helps me learn how to love others. it makes my life rich and meaningful. it gives me purpose and protection. i am also grateful for my awesome parents who taught me the value of work. "work is the miracle by which talents are brought to the surface and dreams become reality!"(gordon b. hinckley) it always works too. :)

dear ones, the time for emailing is drawing to a close - but i will end with this thought... WE ARE BEING VICTORIOUS. check out this golden verse i read the other day

 "yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us, yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls and did grant unto us faith and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him." - alma 58:11

golden. visited with ASSURANCES. speaking PEACE. granting FAITH. causing for HOPE.
we only need to ask! and accept! and then repeat! Heavenly Father knows his children!
conference is coming up this weekend and i am unbelievably excited. i have a list of questions and a listening ear - i know i am going to get some answers! i encourage you all at home to write down a question you have and bring it to conference. i GUARANTEE you will find and answer. it works every time! hallelujah!

i love you all. keep it real. make it happen.

loves- katelyn marie stout