Hey Family!

I think I need to get more creative with my titles. They are hardly even exciting. Not nearly as exciting as this week! We had an incredible week here in the South end of Brussels. I don't have a whole lot of time so I want to share just a couple of miracles. So, first off, Friday night we scheduled a rdv with this guy we met on the bus. He said that he met with the missionaries for 4 years a long time ago. He is a Theology professor here in Brussels and was so excited to see missionaries again. We only had a few minutes to talk to him so we gave him our card and he jumped off the bus. Well he called us 5 mins later and said ok I want this DVD, when can we meet? Well, we were excited, got this awesome young Portugese member to come with us and then waited anxiously at the church. Well, he didn't make it. His car broke or something like that. What to do? Well when we have a member with us we know that someone needs to hear their testimony so we were trying to decide the best thing to do. We had met this girl the night before and decided to go pass by her. We got there and she wasn't there. We had gone through the area book and found a couple of people that we wanted to passby. Ok, this is getting long. We got there and the girl didn't live there anymore so we decided to ring all the sonnets. The last one was this man who invited us up. Turns out he was from Brazil! Celia is absolutely incredible. I started teaching and she was translating but then she just took over. She explained the book of Mormon and bore her testimony of the truth of it. It was so amazing. Turns out he is a Pastor of another church so we aren't going back BUT we were with the person that was able to teach and share her testimony. So incredible. Ok miracle number 2. We met this girl last week during a consecrated hour. We had been walking around and had talked to a couple of people but hadn't really found anyone terribly interested. Then, towards the end of the hour we were walking down the street and we saw this girl walking toward us. We looked at her and had a little companionship unity head nod. We stopped her and started talking about the church. Turns out she is an exchange student from the States and here until May. She said she's been looking for a church and is excited to come to FHE. She texted us this morning and asked what to wear to FHE. We're so excited for her! Thanks so much for the package! The scarf is adorable and looks exactly like what a ton of the super chic people wear here. I love the hat as well. Thankfully we don't have 3 ft of snow! It has actually been unseasonably warm. We've hit both extremes, freezing and balmy. Strange Belge weather. I love Alma 37:34. Did you know that was the theme scripture for the mission while I was in new Jersey? I love that chapter. I think the end is my favorite part.

'For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course , to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.'

So beautiful and even more true. I love this chapter. I was reading in Alma this morning and came across 9:26. It details the characteristics of Christ, 'full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers.' He embodies all of those things. We have access when we go to him in faith. We were in a rdv with a new ami last night and she was asking how we can really know what we share is true. We were able to bear testimony that God teaches us through the Spirit. We know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true because we have asked God. He has been quick to hear our cries and answer our petitions. He is there.

Paul talks about it in Romans 1:20,
'For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen.'

We can know the things we cannot see when we ask and wait and listen. I love you all. I am so happy Josh is doing well as well. What a blessing to have so many people who are coming unto Christ. It makes me overwhelmed with Joy to know that he is helping so many in that process. It really is the most important road they can take, we can all take. Love you all!!!Soeur Katie Powers

Beloved Brussels

(that beloved is for you chels:) Brussels is incredible. I am still overwhelmed and humbled at the call but I am loving it. We live just a 5 minute walk from the office and a short metro ride from the chapel. We work in the southern half of the city and it is LUXURIOUS. We come to the office to do emails, we have a washer AND a dryer and can come and get anything we need at the office. We picked up both a Persian and Mongolian Book of Mormon and are excited to get them to their future readers! Grand Place and Royal Place are in our area and we are headed there today. Sr England is incredible. She loves to eat healthy, go running, not stress and WORK HARD. We are definitely young but we are learning together and seeing the sustaining power of the Atonement everyday.

Cool story from the week...We were doing some less active passbys and we were trying to find this woman's house.We rang all of the sonnets and one guy came down. He tried to help us by....ringing all of the sonnets again:) Anyhow we didn't find her but we asked him if he knew anything about the church. We introduced the Book of Mormon and he said, "that actually sounds really interesting but I don't have any time right now. Can you come back next Saturday at 4?" Haha people setting up their own rendezvous. It's incredible. The people here are so willing to listen to the message. I am so excited to be here and hope that I get to stay for a while! It was sad to leave Liege. I was so excited to come to Brussels I really didn't have a whole lot of time to be upset but I love the people there. They are a blessed people and it was a blessing to be a tiny part of their lives. I know Sr Shannon is taking care of them.

Yesterday we went to dinner at the house of a family who is here from Arizona. The dad works for the state department and their whole family is incredible. We ate meat and potatoes and rolls. Delicious american sunday dinner:) what a blessing!

Did you get the pictures I sent? There is definitely one where the sky is on fire! I've told a few people about that and there isnt quite the same excitement:) I'll work on it.

It really is a blessing to have the gospel and when people see that we share out of love they know we are sincere. I am thinking of Elder Uchtdorf's talk from this last conference about how we should be known as a people who reflect the love of Jesus Christ. When we live his teachings there really is an identifiable difference.

Quick scripture! I probably have shared this already but I was reading it again yesterday morning and felt the power of the words. 1 Nephi 17:50-51. "If the Lord has such great power and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me that I should build a ship." Applicable in every situation. He can instruct us how to be senior companion, how to lead our families, how we can best be the instruments he needs. I know that is true. I have so many things to work on, so many rough edges but also so much hope in Christ. He works on us until we become what he needs. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! ok i have to go I LOVE YOU

Hey Family! Guess What? There are big things happening here in Belgium...I am being transferred to Brussels! I am going to be the Senior Companion with Soeur England in Brussels Louise. She has only been out one transfer so is should be interesting! I know I have said it before but the Lord really does stretch us. I still don't understand a lot of what people say BUT I have been praying hard to be able to listen actively and not just rely on Sr Shannon to answer all the questions. Hopefully that will help me! I am feeling overwhelmed, excited, scared and humble. It's a crazy mix of emotions but I am looking forward to getting to serve in Brussels! I did an exchange last week with Sr Rideout on the other side of Brussels and it was so amazing. There are people from EVERYWHERE and the city just has this awesome feeling to it. I had the chance to go and visit N, one of the women Sr Orton baptized. She fed us some delicious dinner and we had a powerful lesson about the importance of baptism. She is absolutely hilarious and so full of JOY. It was a blessing to be able to be in her home. THEN the next day we went to a couple of RDVs with R, another sister who sr o baptized. She is 22 and INCREDIBLE. I love her already. It was such a good couple of days and now I get to go and be in Brussels! Ah I am just so excited! Ok quick update about the work in Liege! We set a baptismal date with our new ami M! Crazy story...I can't remember if i told you about her but we met her our first P-day here and then she met the elders a day later THEN last week she met the srs in Louise and took the time to listen. She told us yea I love the book of mormon. I'll get baptized after I've studied a little more. We can't hardly wait! The date is set for Feb 20. I'm sad i wont be here but Sr shannon will take care of her! That other man we met, eddie, we had another RDV with him and he is incredible. He loves the book of mormon too. He said that the other missionaries he talked to before didn't ever show him the book; It really does have power to change lives! I love it! Ok were going bowling as a district so i might cut this short and come back in a little while to tell you more. I love you all. O and zone conference was so incredible too. More later. I love the Gospel! L has the gripe so we havent seen her for a while but bientot! I love you.

Email #2 of the day since she wasn't sure if she sent the first one.

Hey family! I am being transferred!!! I am going to Brussels Lousie to serve with Soeur England! She has only been out 6 weeks so that also makes me...senior companion. WOW. I still have a hard time believing that. I am so humbled, excited, stressed and I have a million other emotions going through my heart/stomach. I still don't understand a lot of the french but I can testify! It is going to be yet another learning experience:) I clearly have a LOT to learn. I got to do two exchanges in Brussels and absolutely loved both of them. I am excited to be able to be a part of that beautiful city. There is just this amazing feel about it. Hard to desrcibe. I'm not quite sure how this is going to work but I am ready for the ride. I have LOVED the time that I have spent here in Liege. The members are incredible and it has been a blessing to witness their dedication. I will miss them as well as L and C. The gospel really does attach us to people. I think that our relationships are strengthened when we learn and grow in the gospel together. Ok times up. I love you!!! Soyez sage Sr Powers

Kate's first city - Liege

Greeted at the airport

With the mission president and his wife

Kate and Sister Orton

A view from above of Liege

Sister Orton, Katie, Sister Carson

preparation day

Zone Conference, I'm guessing

One day Sister Orton's back pain was so bad Katie carried her up some stairs as they were tracting. I'm guessing this a reinactment:)

In front of the church

With Sister Shannon, far right

Joyeux Noel!

Merry Christmas!!!

I love Liege at Christmas! So Virginia isn't the only place with a ton of snow...At the start of church yesterday it was the normal blustery freezing Belgium weather. By the time sacrament meeting had ended, there were 6 inches on the ground and all the buses had been cancelled! All of the members were runing around, as dad would say, like crazy fool heads. They cancelled DMB meeting and everyone left tout suite! Laurence couldn't make it to church so we decided to walk up to her house. Then we walked and made it to a couple of members' homes on our trek home, ensuring that we got our boisson chauds at every stop:) The buses are running again and Laurence has a Christmas concert that we are going to go to today! It's in a Catholic church, no midnight mass but something kind of close! I am so excited! We get to go to members' houses for Christmas Eve and Christmas day! We are going to go to the Stumont's for Christmas day and the Montulet's for Christmas Eve. Mom and dad, you must meet the Stumont family one day. They have adopted me and I love them with all of my heart. President said we are allowed 'extended hours' for Christmas festivities. I can't wait! The Montulet family is also incredible. The dad is in the branch presidency and he was one of the first 4 missionaires to open the Reunion Madagascar mission! So cool!

This past week we got to sing twice with the district and members in St Lambert! It was FREEZING....-17C (Dad remember early seminary mornings? I don't think we ever got that low! Even crossing the creek) but o so fun. Thank you so much for the coat!! Such a blessing! We have the rest of the presents stowed safely under our 1ft christmas tree. I think I am going to take the treats with me to the Stumont's and experiment with the cookie straws!

I loved Josh's email...thanks for forwarding! I thought that Roy wasnt going to the Provo MTC,what a blessing! As far as music goes...that crazy Jenni Orton sent me her old mp3 player with everything I could ever want so dont worry too much about the music. Thanks for worrying about it!

I'm glad the Luncheon went really well, Mom. You really do have some amazingly classy friends. I really consider them some of my own friends and am blessed to have a mom who knows how to be a friend to others.

Update on some of those we are teaching! L and C update. They both are getting baptized!! L was going to get baptized on Sunday but then last RDV she said it is too early BUT it is still going to happen! Hopefully before the end of the transfer! C also accepted the invitation but is working on some things. I don't know if I have even mentioned anything about C but she really is my sister. Her heart is so pure and her testimony so strong. Every time I leave her house I feel strengthened. How backward does that seem? I love it. It has been such a blessing to see her progress. I will tell you more about her on Friday!! I love this work. There is nothing that can keep it from going forward.

This week we were blessed to be invited to the zone leader conference at Presidents home...not because I did anything special, they just always have sister reps. Anyway, it was incredible. He talked all about empowering each other as missionaires and creating our own weather. One of the assistants talked all about creating self sharpening instruments or missionaires who know how to take their concerns or problems or discouragements and problem solve. Read the table of contents in PMG it anwers EVERY CONCERN! This transfer we are really going to work on learning from Chapter 10 in PMG and turning our mission into a PMG mission. I am so excited. The Brubakers house felt just like home...freezing:) - the heaters were broken - and full of Amy Grant music! Ok, last thought, I received a talk this week called O Ye That Embark by Elder Eyring, he says in it,'the more faithful service we give, the more the Lord asks of you...He increases our power to bear the heavier load." Everything we have is from the Lord. The only thing we can do is serve with all we can to try and show our gratitude. I had so many good study sessions this week but I am out of time! Read Jacob 4 and DC 6 maybe we can share some thoughts!! MERRY CHRISTMAS I LOVE YOU. Josh, GOOD LUCK! The first week is so fun!! I wish we could do a work day together! If I don't get to talk to you know that I love you and I am so proud of you. Love, Sister Powers

If I were a reindeer, the elves would call me cpuid:)

Joyeux Noel!

Joyeux Noel Family!

Isn't Christmas time just the best time of the year? Things are pretty insane in downtown Liege. There is always Christmas music playing and it gets us right into the Christmas spirit. We were at another sisters' artment just last week and they had the song, 'if i were a wiseman, i would do my part...' Not really mainstream here in Belgium so I was grateful for that sweet little tender mercy that reminded me of home. We got to watch the Christmas devotional last night! I absolutely love hearing theMormon Tabernacle Choir sing. They instantly invite the Spirit and remind us of everything we have been blessed with. I love when President Uchtdorf quoted the Little Prince, "One sees clearly only with the heart." I think that at this time of the year it is easier to feel and understand the significance of the birth and life of Jesus Christ. I was thinking about that idea of increased clarity with spiritual things. In Elder Scott's General Conference talk he said, "As you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependance on what you see or hear." I feel like those two ideas are so closely associated. We can feel and see withour hearts and eventually learn to trust those things we learn more than the things we see. I think learning how to both feel and interpret the things of the Spirit is one of the most important things I am learning here. It is so essential to be guided in our lives and Heavenly Father is giving me the chance to learn how to follow. What a blessing! If you could call at 8pm Belgium time, which i think is 2pm Virginia time? President sent us an email about how to call us and I am going to forward it to you. I sent a package this morning for the family. Thank you for sending my package, i hope it gets here in time too! Do you have Josh's address in Ogden that you can send to me? I want to have a letter waiting there for him. I have also sent him a few letters since he has been at the MTC, do you know if he has received them? It snowed during our consecrated hour yesterday!!! I love Belgium! I love being a missionary and the opportunity to testify of Jesus Christ. He is our brother, friend and Savior. I love him with all my heart and know he is the only way back to our Father in Heaven.

Famille de Pouvoir!

I am so happy to hear that Josh got to MTC okay and that he is headed on his way to becoming the man Heavenly Father needs him to become! I am also extremely happy that the package arrived! Wow what a relief. I had forgotten that all of the New Jersey pictures were on that card too and was sad to think that I wouldn't have any pictures from that amazing time. I think I am going to stick to keeping my cards from here on out...just to be safe. Well, I am staying in Liege for another transfer with Sr Shannon! There were a lot of predictions flying around but I couldn't be happier to be here for the holidays with the amazing members. I have high hopes for the work that can be done here over the next six weeks. I felt like last ransfer was a bit of a trial period and I had(continue to have) a lot to learn. It is exciting to know members and have a vision for what can happen. Heavenly Father has helped me to know that Liege is where I need to be for at least a little bit longer! Zone Conference was incredible...as always. President talked a lot about the Pearl of Great Price and how our knowledge of what happened before our time on earth and what is going to happen after facilitates our learning and ability to overcome our obstacles while we are here on earth. He said, 'our gospel doesn't make a whole lot of sense without the big picture.' That principle couldnt be more true. we are motivated and act accordingly because we know why were here. We know where we are going and what Heavenly Father expects of us. It is such a blessing to have an understanding of the plan Heavenly Father has set out. It makes everything we pass through make so much more sense. I was reading about the Atonement today and found this thought by Elder Oaks, "the healing power of the lord Jesus christ, whether it removes our burdens or strenthens us to endure and live with them like the apostle Paul, is available for every affliction in mortality." I love that. The atonement is the central principle of the plan of salvation and it allows us to overcome EVERY affliction in mortality. We are so blessed. Elder Causse also came for stake conference this week. He is such a powerhouse. I cheated and used a headset so I could get a little bit more out of the experience:) He talked all about our desires and how even the smallest desire is accepted of the lord. I took good notes but don't have much time to relate. I thought of alma 29:4and 5. Amazing promise. Ok I have to go. I LOVE YOU. Thank so much for the pictures Chelsey! I just wrote you a letter to let you know I got them. I love you and can't wait to hear all about christmas adventures chez nous! Gros Bisoux Sr Kate Powers