Back into The Swing of Things

Here are a few pics from my week. I have gotten back into the swing of things and back into life! I am loving it and am doing so well!! I am honestly so happy- happier than I have ever been before (with the exception of some of my really good days at the MTC). I have so much hope and I am filled with desire to live my life to the fullest and stay positive no matter what happens! I know there are tough times ahead of me, but I have already faced some way tough times the last two months and I know I am NEVER alone!! Life is GOOD!!!

Hanging out at Sonic and being silly as always!

My 'Ness!! So good to have my friends again!!

Cheese it up C Squared!! I love my 'Stina!

Pretty sure there is not a cuter 20 month old on the planet!!!

I loved spending time with my Annie baby this week!

I love love love this girl!!!!

So totally styl'n!

Ya that's right- best babysitter ever award, take her to Joe's BBQ and let her stuff her face with chocolate chip cookie!! he hee

And who can ever forget crazy fun friends who meet you at Joe's BBQ!! Boy did I miss those yummy giant baked potatoes!! Oh and Kilie I missed you too! lol

My Missing Piece

So it has now been a week since I have been home from my mission and I have had a lot of rough times this past week. I didn't know what to do with myself the first few days I was home, I felt like I didn't have a purpose in life anymore. The past six weeks my purpose was to bring others unto Christ or at least prepare to do so. When I got home I was totally lost. I would have given anything to go back to the MTC and when I say anything I mean it!! My iPods, my motorcycle, all of my skateboards, my snowboard, my truck, EVERY earthly possession I own!!! I seriously didn't want to be here, I wanted to be back on my mission SO bad. There were three things that got me through last week. First off I knew that me coming home was the Lord's will- that is the only reason I got on the airplane. I knew it was what the Lord wanted, I could feel it as soon as it started becoming a topic of conversation, I was filled with so much peace at a thought (coming home for a few months) that I personally thought was dreadful and the worst decision I could ever make. But I just had this indescribable feeling, I knew it was right, I knew the Lord wanted me to come home. The second thing that helped me through the week was that I know I will have the chance to be a missionary again!! I can feel it and so could my Branch President, the MTC Branch President, My Stake President, I mean everyone... We can all feel it, we all know that I am supposed to be a missionary, so that thought keeps me going. The last thing that helped me through the horrible week that was last week, was all of my wonderful support. I am so grateful for my family and friends who jumped in to be there for me! I owe so much to my parents, they have been so great and I have been a mopey mess and not very good at showing my appreciation. Thanks so much mom and dad for helping me out, you really are the BEST and I will try to be better at showing it by my words and actions!! I am also so thankful for amazing friends who clear their schedules to spend time with me and help me in anyway they can! Thanks to all of those who have been dishing out advice and have let me vent to them via voicemail, text or what not! Honestly these three things were the ONLY things that got me to today and my epiphany of sorts!


I kept living in the past, dwelling on my moments at the MTC both the bad and the good. I was missing the above pictured item so much!!! I thought that I needed that plaque to define myself, I wanted to be a missionary so bad that all I could do was dwell on the fact that I wasn't anymore. This morning as I was laying on my bed and I looked up at my wall (for those of you who don't know, I have two whole walls in my bedroom covered in Sharpie!! It is my quote wall that everyone writes on and it is amazing!) and as I was reading some of the quotes on there and I read one I had written a little over a year ago, I don't know where I got it at but it's by President Thomas S. Monson. I read this quote and then re-read it over and over and something just clicked in my head! (The one in brown writing in the center of the pic)

I realized that I have just been letting my days slip past. Ya I have a schedule and I follow it and ya I am doing "missionary things" but I have not been living!! I have been either dwelling on my days at the MTC or day dreaming of my return to the mission. I have been focused on "my missing piece" - My Missionary Name Tag-. Well no more my friends, no more dwelling and no more day dreaming!! I am going to look at the name tag (now resting on my dresser) as a reminder of the past and a goal for the future. It is my motivation, it is my past and my future and I will be living every day worthy to once again wear it. I will remember all of the things I learned at the MTC, I will prepare myself to return to the mission field all with one goal in mind- to be able to reunite myself with my missing piece. I will live these next few months to the best of my abilities as they are a gift from my Heavenly Father. It truly is a blessing to have this extra time to work on myself, the language and the doctrine before heading out into the field. I want to serve the Lord and I know that he wants me to be a full time missionary, but until that time comes again, with the Lord's help I will be the best Kristi Kleisler I know how to be, then when it comes time to be Hermana Kleisler again I will knock the socks off of everyone!! :)

Girl Clothes?

So when I got up the morning after I got home from the MTC I could not figure out what to wear!!! I didn't want to put on my mission clothes- I had just worn those for 6 weeks straight and will wear them again for a whole 18 months!! But I also really didn't feel like only wearing basketball shorts and skateboarding t-shirts anymore. So off it was to the mall!! I ended up quite happy with the clothes I found and now I wear girl clothes all the time- Weird I know, but hey the mission changes people, even if you only spend 6 weeks in the MTC- you still change!

Still a motocross shirt- but a girl one, dude it's PINK!!


Apparently I like plaid shorts!!

Mother's Day!!

I was able to be here for my mom for Mother's Day since I am home now. It is such a bitter sweet thing. My mom knows that I don't want to be here and almost feels hurt that I don't want to be home with her, but I told her it should be a testament of what an amazing mom she is and was that I would rather be out serving the Lord than be here at home hanging out and doing whatever I want whenever I want. I am so greatful for my fabulous mom who raised me in the church and instilled gospel values in me at a very young age. She is an amazing support and she has been there through everything right along with me. I am going through the toughest thing ever in my life right now and she doesn't understand what it feels like- BUT she is understanding. It is such a blessing to have such a supportive and cheerful mother! I know the Lord loves me because he sent me her! I also got to spend time with my Grandma Joyce today and that was such a treat also. My Gma is so neat. She is one of the least selfish people I know!! She is always doing something for someone else and constantly giving of her self!! Look at these two amazing role models I have!! I already look a lot like them hopefully I can learn to act like them too!

-Me, Mom, Grandma- An Amazing 3 Generations if I do Say So Myself!!

C Squared and K Squared Together Again!

I can tell you right now that I will be posting quite a bit for the next few weeks. I don't really have a life yet so I am keeping myself busy in anyway possible. But anyway this post has a purpose- a fabulous one.... I got to be reunited with my best friend today!!!! She was in Utah when I came home on Wednesday and so I had to wait all the way until today to be with Cristina!! It was so great to spend time with her, it really helped me to forget about my troubles for a little while! I don't know what I would do without friends like C Squared! We hung out and talked for a long time (I of course have lots to talk about) and then we went to Jason's Deli and then did a little shopping (retail therapy is the best ever). I honestly would never wish to be home from the mission but I am grateful to have this time to be with my friends- they are the best ever!!

My MTC Family!!

One of the hardest parts of leaving the MTC was saying goodbye to my new family! I love all of these people so much and it was EXTREMELY hard to say goodbye to them! Let's just say lots of tears were involved!

My super awesome district with our teacher Hermano Wing (the one pulling the ridiculous face in the back)

Yes, I was still a little crazy at the MTC and I had some fun with these laundry carts. I would lay down in them and then when I heard sisters walking by I would jump out and startle the heck out of them!! So fun!

My companions and I with the Portuguese sisters who were sent to the Provo MTC to Visa wait and they were put in our zone. They were only in our zone for a week before they were sent to the MTC in Brazil.

Hair Cut!

Laundry time is honestly my favorite part of the week, and as you can tell Elder Yarrington thoroughly enjoys it as well!

A portrait pic that mom wanted me to take for her

The three Hermanas!! Best companions in the entire world!!!!

My district with our Columbian Substitute teacher Hermano Conde (The short one with the white name tag), he is so cool!

Elder Leonard obviously had not been getting enough sleep because he fell asleep in the computer lab while practicing his Spanish on the TALL lab! It was even more hilarious because he had the headphones on and everything. Poor guy!

Self explanatory

Getting to spend 24/7 with these amazing sisters for the last 6 weeks was so great, but becoming best of friends with them was "Such a Treat!"

Yup, that's me!

Cinco De Mayo Fiesta!!! Elder Dutson (the one with the blindfold) had his mom send us tons of stuff for a total party including a pinata!! It was pretty hilarious to watch us try to rig up a pinata in our tiny MTC classroom! It turned out pretty dang well and it was SO fun!

The teachers are such cheaters!! Look at her grabbing the pinata!!

Hno Wing Finally wacked it open!! -don't you love our pinata wacking stick (part of Elder Woodhall's crutch) -hilariousness!

The Elders were so excited to have Apple Beer for the Fiesta!

This is what happens when your teachers drink too much Apple Beer -Hno Wing and Hna Mortensen- LOVE THEM BOTH SOOOOOO MUCH!!!

I had real family at the MTC too- how cool is that!! This is us being very obedient to mission rules and not touching eachother! It was so weird to be right next to my brother but not be able to hug him!!

Kleisler Missionaries

My Branch President and his wife- so wonderful!

My AMAZING teacher- Hermana Mortensen - This was my last night so my face is a little red because, well I cried a lot!!

Hno Wing's infamous apron

Me and Elder Morris, the hat I am wearing is his and I stole it from in the laundry room liek our second week in the MTC. So then Tuesday night I finally gave it back. He said he would gladly NEVER have it back if it meant that I could stay!

My all time buddy Elder Leonard and I with are our very special Choquelo!!!

Most fabulous district EVER!!! (2 Elders are missing, they were at the hospital)

Home on Medical Release

Hola all. Hermana Kleisler here. I am back home for the time being released from my mission for medical reasons. I will be fine and I will be back on my mission in about 6 months. I wanted to let you all know that I am home and that I am well. I will write more later but I thought for now you all should know- that way the MTC doesn't get any mail for me! lol