A Request from Sister Kleisler

I got a letter from Kristi today and she can't tell if people are getting her letters.
She wrote:

"Oh and hey, on my blog will you put something on it asking people to let me know that they got my letters and respond to them? I always worry that you guys don't get them because you don't say anything about them."

You can log onto DearElder.com and e-mail her. They print them out every day at 11:00 a.m. our time and put them in her mailbox so she gets it just like a letter. Since she has almost no time to e-mail, it's the best way to communicate with her, and you don't even have to go to the post office! The letters don't even have to be long, she just likes to get mail!! All the information you need is on the post below.

I will be posting some pictures and her e-mail tomorrow. Thanks for all the support you have all given Sister Kleisler!!

Kristi's First Letter Home & MTC Address

I got Hermana Kleisler's first letter from the MTC today. It was short but happy. The first line of her letter said "Who ever knew a little black name tag could make me feel so proud! I love the MTC!" She said her companion is "WONDERFUL". Her companion is Sister Crookston from Colorado, she's going to Uruguay. Kristi's in a room with 5 other sisters, all who are learning Spanish, but she's the only stateside sister in her district.

Hermana Kleisler's MTC address is:

Sister Kristi Ann Kleisler
MTC Mailbox #113
TX-SAN 0528
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

Her estimated departure date is May 28th, so everyone has plenty of time to write our favorite sister missionary!! Thanks for all your support and love for Kristi!!

It's a Missionary!!

Kinda sounds like a birth announcement...

It's a missionary! Here she is! Hermana Kleisler's first picture! She's finally here!

It's definitely a new beginning! Many wonderful couples have the assignment every Wednesday to greet the arriving missionaries at the MTC. One of these couples took a picture of Kristi and the elders on her shuttle and sent it to me. I was so surprised and grateful when I opened that letter from Utah! What a comfort to see a picture of her actually at the MTC safe and sound! So here's the picture. We're waiting for that first letter and e-mail from the MTC. I'll let you know when I get one. Until then, enjoy Hermana Kleisler's first picture!!

She's at the MTC!!

Several people have called me to check on Kristi, so I guess it's time to update the blog! I don't have any pictures yet, so I'll add those when I get some. We took Hermana Kleisler to the airport at 4:30 this morning. She only let us stay in line with her for a few minutes and then declared that she would only cry more if we stayed, so it was time for us to go. We met a couple of other families who had missionaries leaving at the same time- it was easy to pick us out! One of the elders was going to the San Antonio - Spanish Speaking mission too, so I was happy Kristi would have someone to hang out with and ride the shuttle to the MTC with. We watched her go through security and she was off!
Kristi called when she got to Salt Lake and her voice was just full of excitement. She had a great flight, was feeling good, and was raring to go. She had fun with the 3 elders that were on waiting for her flight and when she got on the plane she heard someone calling her name. She turned around to see Bishop and Sister Burton on the plane! They were heading to Idaho and were excited to see her as she began her journey. When she got to SLC, I recommended that she get some lunch since she may not get a chance to eat again until dinnertime. She stopped and got a pizza that she took down to baggage claim. The elders she was with all were bummed they hadn't thought of that! Kristi exclaimed "When you're a couple of years older, you think of these things!!" She seemed to be having fun being older than them (and letting them know about it)! So with that, she was off to collect her suitcases and get to the MTC. I'm not sure they'll know what hit 'em!! Good luck Hermana Kleisler! We sure do love you and we'll miss you like crazy, but oh, we're so proud!!

See Ya Later Ya'll!

In just a few short hours I will be set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am so excited, nervous, scared, thrilled and basically any other emotion you can think of!! Saying goodbye to my close friends and family tonight will be one of the hardest things I will ever have done. But I am so ready for this next step in my life and I am filled with joy at the thought of spending the next 18 months of my life teaching people about the most important thing in my life- the gospel. Well wish me luck and please please please write me!! Well until October 2009, See ya'll!!

The Kleisler Missionaries- my mom is very very proud of this picture!!
Kristi-Texas, Kevin-Denmark, Keith-Canary Islands

Goodbye Party!

I couldn't just have an open house after my talk where people just came and mingled politely- that's just not me!! So instead I went out in style!!! We had a good 'ol fashioned Texas BBQ in my backyard on Saturday night. It turned out great, lots of people came, my grandpa grilled some amazing burgers and I got to hang out with all my friends and family! It was the perfect way to say goodbye AZ hello TEXAS!!!

Little Miss Hailey posing in front of the sign out front

Jennie is amazing and she makes the yummiest cupcakes!! She made them into a Texas flag and they looked to good to eat!!

My friends Aaron and Jenesse

Such a silly litte Annie!!

I am gonna miss this girl like crazy!!!!

My friend Lindsay Frost and her adorable baby girl Bekah stopped by and it was so good to see them!!

Brother Campbell said he wore his cowboy hat just for me and that nobody else could get him to do it. How sweet!

Me and my friend Amanda Cottle

My 21st Birthday

I spent my 21st Birthday (Last Thursday) riding the Dunes at Glamis in California!! It was so Awesome!!!

Our whole group out in the dunes (I'm the one on the white quad)

My cousins Max and Allison totally adore my uncle's friend KT.

I love this pic of Max, it is so funny because he was trying to act all cool and stuff!! He is such a silly boy!

Maxy man on his 90.

My uncle brought his big rocket and when they shot it off several of the kids jumped on their quads and raced into the dunes to get the rocket

Jake- ready to go chase the rocket

I love this girl!! One of the best parts of my trip to the dunes was spending 72 hours with my favorite cousins!!

My Uncle Jeff rides into camp on the Suzuki 400

Jake just loves it when I make him take pictures with me!! lol

I tried to steal some of Max's snowcone, and as you can tell he wasn't too keen on that idea! lol

Laura Lou and I

In celebration of my birthday we set off the biggest Sobe Bomb I have ever seen!!!

It was so cool, but it was definitely a good thing everyone scooted way back because when it exploded it sent stuff flying!!