Catey's latest update - August 26, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
So... I got to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication on Sunday. It was AMAZING... beyond words. Like... I literally can't explain it. It was one of the most spiritual experiences of my entire life. My testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ was strengthened so much. We sat in the room next to the Celestial room, where the prophet was. President Eyring gave the dedicatory prayer. I got tears in my eyes as he blessed the missionaries around the world... and their families, and as I felt my Savior's love. After the dedication, they had all of the children, teenagers and sister missionaries (there were 4 of us) go out of the room and into the hallway. President Monson, President Eyring and Elder Ballard stood right across from us... Like they were standing 5 feet in front of me. President Monson then serenaded us with a song ... about a tangerine. :) He is soooo hilarious! Chills ran through my body as I realized that I was standing in front of a prophet of God, in the House of God. It was quite the experience. He has the best sense of humor. He was cracking us up. We were standing on the second floor of the temple, so you could see down onto the first floor, and President Monson came out of the Celestial Room and said to us, "Don't jump!" We all started cracking up. Oh man President Monson ... :)

We have also been talking to Elder Zwick of the Seventy. Actually, we have gone over to his house a couple of times. He is in one of our stakes. We met him in the temple, and he was like "Come over to my house any time." He is an awesome man. He is really down to earth. His wife is really sweet too. :)

We do have quite a few baptisms coming up. Acutally ... the Holy Ghost has quite a few baptisms coming up. We are just the Lord's instruments in inviting these elect sons and daughters of our loving Heavenly Father to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ by entering into the waters of baptism. The Spirit does everything. We just have to listen. I am really excited for these baptisms. So far in our zone, whe have had 23 baptisms in the month of August! It has been the most amazing experience to watch the hand of the Lord in our lives as well as in the lives of these people. It is amazing to see their lives change for good...the light that comes to them as they accept the Savior in their life.

I know that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the way to true happiness. As we follow the example of our Savior, we will feel the peace and joy that He has promised us as we strengthen our relationship with Him. I LOVE this gospel, I LOVE being on a mission, I LOVE the Book of Mormon. I know that it is truly God's word. I pray for a confirmation of it every night, and every night I get the feeling of peace to know that it is true, and that it is because of our Heavenly Father's love for us, His children, that we have this amazing book. I LOVE President Monson. Heavenly Father truly does reveal His will for us through a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. I LOVE the Savior. My relationship with Him has been strengthened so much since I have been on a mission. I can see His hand in my life and in the lives of others on a daily basis. I know that He lives and that He loves us. I pray that we will all put our trust in Him. He wants us to ask for His help in our lives. He is waiting for us, all we have to do is ask. We never have to feel alone when we make the Savior the central part of our lives. As we seek first the kingdom of God, all other things will fall into place in our lives. This I promise you.

I love you all. I pray for you. You have all played a part in making me the person I am today. For this, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Heavenly Father loves you more than you will ever know. He wants us to return to live with Him again. I want us all to return to live with Him again. Please... never forget that you are a child of God. In the name of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Sister Catey Stroud

Update and new address

Sister Stroud left for her first area last Thursday, July 30, 2009. She first went to the Mission Home to meet her Mission President, President Sonne and her trainer. Her trainer is Sister Kalolo from Samoa. Because Sister Kalolo doesn't drive, Catey will do all the driving. Her first area is in Salt Lake. We found out that she will not be serving in Wyoming or Nevada. They only send the Elders there. Last week she worked at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House for two days. She also was able to attend a baptism and is teaching a man named David who was a referral. According to Catey he is "Golden." She has already had a great experience teaching a women named Corie. The following is in Catey's words: "She (Corie) has a three year-old son, who is just as cute as can be. We taught her about having hope, and pressing forward with faith. I know the Holy Ghost was with me, and that He was the one teaching her. It was a really awesome experience. She wants to be baptized and is praying about August 23rd!"

Sister Stroud lives in the basement of a Muslim couples home which is very spacious. Even though they could each have their own room, according to mission rules they have to share a room. One interest of note is that Catey's Mission President informed her that her hair has to be cut even shorter. Before her mission she had 5" cut off. She said she didn't mind though as she loves to be pampered with a haircut.

Please keep Catey in your prayers and if you can write to her. She may not always be able to write back, but she would love to hear from you. Her new address is:

Utah Salt Lake City Mission
West Entrance
3487 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106-2951

Love,
Momma Stroud (Catey gave me this wonderful name- isn't she great :) )

Sister Stroud Missionary Update

Dear Family and Friends,
I wanted to let you know that Catey is doing fine and is loving the MTC. She also loves her companion, Sister Hardy, who is from Louisiana. We received an email from her last Tuesday which was her P-day. Her email is full of her humor and her spiritual side. One funny thing that she wrote is, "I'm pretty much super popular and have already gotten like 524 letters. Ha Ha." That sounds just like Catey.

I would also like to share part of her testimony with you. "I know without a doubt, that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, restored by Joseph Smith in these last days. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. We truly are His children... I know that Jesus Christ loves us so much that he gave His live for us. He knows exactly what we are going through, every struggle, every pain."

Catey's departure date for her first area has been changed. She leaves July 29th instead of August 5th. I will try to update her blog on Tuesdays as we receive her emails. Thank you for keeping Catey in your prayers. Please write to her if you have a spare minute. I know she would love to hear from you.
Love,
Momma Stroud

Sister Stroud's Mailing Information

Sister Catey Stroud reported safely to the Missionary Training Center. I am proud to announce that her mother did great. :) She would love to hear from you. If you would like to write her the following is her address:

Sister Cathryn Elizabeth Stroud
Utah Salt Lake City Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center #157
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604

Catey's address at the MTC /emails from Sister Stroud

July 21, 2009

Yep you are allowed to email me!

I have so many things to say and so little time, so hopefully this makes sense. :)

First of all, you didn't get lucky to have an incredible daughter.  You are amazing parents.  There is no luck about it. :)

Just keep sending me letters.  There are elders who get care packages, but I'm tying to stay healthy and skinny, so just keep the letters coming. :)

I'm sorry to hear about grandpa.  I will be writing them a letter today.  We don't get a lot of time for ourselves here at the MTC.  I have to write my letters while I'm doing laundry. :) It broke my heart to hear about grandpa and I get tears everytime I think about it, but I know that he is a survivor and that he is in the Lord's hands.  But I want you all to know that I'm praying for him all the time.  For al of you actually.

I need to write to James and DeAnn.  I want to see pictures of their new puppy!

Good job, Preston, for calling Cindy.  I want you to know that she IS a special gift from God.  When I read that, I got tears in my eyes, goosebumps and I know that that is cocmpletely rue.  Heavenly Father loves you, Preston and He loves Codie.  It is YOUR responsibility to be a good father to her.  I can't wait to see pictures of my precious niece.

I'll have to finish this email in a second.  I have to go to another room and there is not a save button.:)

Ok, anyways, sorry I had to move to a different room.

So... Sunday was an amazing day, other than the fact that I had to speak in sacrament, which actually wasn't that bad.  :)  We went to a fireside, and then afterwards watched The Testament.  Of course, I bawled through the whole thing.  After we came out, it was raining and windy and PERFECT.  I wanted to stay outside forever.

So a typical day for me goes something like this:
5:45 Wake up
7:00 Personal study (in classroom)
7:45 Breakfast
8:15 Class
Then I go to class and meetings and study all day, and gym, till about 9 p.m., and then do companion planning for 30 minutes. (Oh, and lunch and dinner. Can't forget those. :) ) Then lights out at 10:30.
It's kind of tough being in the SAME classroom for 12 hours a day, but I have a fun district, so it works out.  Then Tuesday is P-Day, which does involve studying, but we get ... PERSONAL TIME, laundry and we get to go to the temple, which is absolutely beautiful.

Dad, I do get to exercise for 50 minutes a day, 4 or 5 days a week.  We usually play volleyball (I know, right?) (Mother's Note: Catey hates any kind of ball coming toward her) or go running or walking or something.  But my dorm is on the 4th floor so we get our fair share of stair climbing (my calves are pretty buffy now:) ).  I'm staying pretty healthy, and I'm still planning on running a marathon when I get back... and eventually do an Ironman.  You up for that? :)  I haven't got to hear a General Authority yet, but I haven't lost hope.  I'm glad you got to see your family (Randy went to Tennessee for a Family Reunion).  I know that you really wanted to go, so I'm glad you did.

My testimony has grown like a weed since I got here, and my understanding of the gospel has increased so much.  Dad, you would be so proud.  I do leave the 29th (a week from tomorrow).  My companion leaves on August 5th, because she has to do temple tour training.

Anyways, I love you all so much and I miss you like crazy, but I know that this is where the Lord needs me right now, and I am so excited to forth and invite others to come unto Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I know that this is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today.  I know that Jesus Christ died for us, so that we can live with our Heavenly Father again.  I know that families can be together forever, and I am so thankful for that knowledge in my life.

Give everyone a hug and kiss for me, especially Little Miss Codie.  And send pictures as soon as you can. :)

Love,
Sister Stroud


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June 14, 2009

Hola familia,

Como estan? :) The MTC is AMAZING! Sorry my last letter was so short.  My branch president told us to write home and tell our parents that we got here safe.  Just so you guys know and aren't worried, I got here safe. :)

Anyways, my companion's name is Sister Hardey.  She is from Shreport, LA.  We have so much in common, and we definitely work in unity.  She will be serving at the St. George Visitor's Center in Utah Provo mission.

So... Thursday was basically the longest day of my life.  I never thought that it would end. :) Actually all of last week went really slow.  But, yesterday flew by and the next thing I know I'm going to be out in the mission field.  Today is P-Day so I will be emailing you all every Tuesday while I'm at the MTC.  You all can send me letters whenever you want though.  I'm pretty much super popular and have already gotten like 524 letters though. :) Haha.  Anyways, we had the most spiritual day on Sunday.  Words can't even explain it.  It was just absolutely amazing.

I can't believe how much my testimony has grown over the last few days.  Just like a marriage, it takes 3 to make a companionship work... Sister Hardey, myself and the Holy Ghost.  There has been so many times when we have gone into a lesson (yes, we are already teaching.  We do role play here at the MTC in rooms that are set up like living rooms - it's pretty rad.) and have kind of gone through what we are going to talk about, and have just had to rely on the Holy Ghost to lead the way.  And then there has been times where, before a lesson, we have just looked at each other and said, "How are we going to teach this?" But as soon as we pray and have more confidence in the Spirit than we do in ourselves, we totally rock the lessons. :)  It's also amazing the insights that I get as I study, that I most likely wouldn't have if I weren't set apart as a missionary.  I understand better, I learn quicker and I memorize scriptures, and passages (i.e. The First Vision) like nobody else's business. It's GREAT!  President Monson promised that if we, as missionaries, memorize one scripture everyday for the rest of our mission, we would have a photographic memory when we get home.  Totally doing that!

I'm so excited to go out into the mission field and bring souls unto Christ.  I am so thankful for all of your support.  I can't even tell you how grateful I am for all of your love and especially for your examples.  I wouldn't be on a mission if it weren't for everything you guys have done for me, even if I had all the money in the world.  I don't know if I tell you enough, but I love you guys like you would not believe.

Enough about me, how is everything in AZ?  How is grandpa and grandma?  Is grandpa doing better? (Catey's grandpa Hilton had a stroke when we were in Utah trying to get her ready for her mission).  Am I an aunt yet?  How are you guys?  Dad, how's the job search?  Mom, are you ready to go back to school?  How is Preston? How are James and DeAnn?  Come on... I want to know EVERYTHING. :)

By the way, I leave the MTC on July 29th, not August 5th... Sorry this is so scattered.  My brain is going a million miles an hour, and I only have limited time to email you (so please forgive any grammatical errors). :)

I have to go do my personal study now, but I just wanted to share my testimony really quick... I know, without a doubt, that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, restored by Joseph Smith in these last days.  I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us.  We truly are His children.  I know that families can be together forever.  I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book, written by prophets of God to guide us in this last dispensation.  I know that President Monson is ordained by God to lead the church.  I know that Jesus Christ loves us so much that He gave His life for us.  He knows exactly what we are going through, every struggle, every pain.  I know that my Redeemer lives.  He will come again someday.

I love you all and miss you a ton!

Love,

Sister Stroud

While Sister Stroud is in the MTC, you can write her at this address:

Sister Cathryn Elizabeth Stroud
Utah Salt Lake City Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

As soon as she enters the mission field, I will update her address there. Stay tuned!

Love,
Momma Stroud