Monday, October 26, 2015

D & C 18:15 - October 26, 2015

 
What's up everyone!!! 

- Met a dude named Chris that randomly came up and started talking to us. Conversation started with "what do you believe in gay marriage???".... I'm thinking oh dear here we go again but it actually went alright. Told us that Jesus' name is actually Iesus so that was fun. He mainly was preaching to us but an interesting experience none the less.... Gotta love Albertson's parking lots. 

 - There is this random orangutan on a bicycle creepy freakin statue thing way out in no where. 

 - Kicked the same rock for like 3 miles on our way home one night. You find ways to entertain yourself as a missionary. 

- Made celestial brownies again. Words spreading of their excellence so we are getting plenty of orders requested . CAN'T wait to make em for my family someday, soooooo good. 

- Had a MLT in Helena.... This time we actually got the date right so the meeting actually happened. Saw Elder Jaques and Elder Hendricks which was awesome and hearing from President and Sister Wadsworth is always a very spiritually powerful experience. I'll go into more of what we learned later, but they are amazing, I'd run through a brick wall for them. Accidentally hopped on I-15 on the way back which was funny, had no idea it went up here. 

- Opened the door to a members garage to find 2 bloody deer hanging from the ceiling. Wonderful time of year.  Rifle opened up Saturday and Brother Stovall (Belgrade PD guy that fakes arrests us) got an elk this weekend so we were sure to place the dinner calendar on his lap. Ya.... We are pretty pumped for that night... #WelcomeToMontana 

WHAT A FREAKIN WEEK THOUGH. It was awesome, but it started pretty rough. Don't know what the heck was wrong with me, but beginning of the week and up until even Friday I was just off my game. Completely forgot why I am out here, just didn't feel like I offered anything as a missionary. It was a pretty sucky couple of days, just 0 confidence at all in me being a missionary. 

Then I read 2 Nephi chapter 4... I think most people can admit they have made it to 2 Nephi more times than Moroni, me especially, but despite how many times I have read that chapter,  I have never caught onto what Nephi is saying until now, when I REALLY needed it the most. 

This is Nephi speaking after Lehi died and once again his siblings want to kill him, poor dude can't catch a break. All of you need to read this so I'm just gonna copy and paste, READ IT. 

17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains (#MOARMOUNTAINS). And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way--but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

*** picture Nephi saying all of this out loud as he writes it down and whenever there is an exclamation point Sam walks into the tent and yells " I DONT KNOW WHAT WE ARE YELLING ABOUT!" Anchorman is applicable to the Book of Mormon.**** 

Anyway, Gotta love those "rock" references, Helaman 5:12 BAYBAY!!! Rocks aren't only meant for kicking!! What an amazing chapter, one that I needed badly. Nephi's perspective does a complete 180, as did mine. For what reason do I have to be sad? The Lord has blessed me with so much, why I am only looking at the things I'm not, rather than what I am? Look to the Lord, not at yourself. I could type all day about that chapter, but I'll leave it to you to ponderize (iPad just autocorrected to ponderize, #AchievementUnlocked #ChurchIsTrue). Got a little trigger happy with the bold and underlining features but hopefully that'll help. 

That chapter changed my life, and I know that regardless what you are experiencing the Book of Mormon can do the same for you. True blessing we have it today. 

Good thing I got back to my normal self..... Cause Saturday would be a day I will never forget. A certain scripture was being relayed in my mind the entire day.... 

14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
"How great shall be your joy with HIM in the kingdom of my Father" was all I could think about as I witnessed Brian enter the waters of baptism.  It was a very special day. There is just something that feels dang good about turning on that font!!!! Tom, Benji, and Henry all had buzzed heads and were wearing the same outfits. Pretty much impossible telling them apart. Elder Christensen spoke on baptism and I spoke on the Holy Ghost. Opened by telling him the best nap I ever took was on the way back from the beach while sitting in the back seat with my grandma.... And that hopefully that nap for him wouldn't come during my talk. Pretty standard talk. Compared receiving the Holy Ghost to being a receiver in football.  

That night we went over for a little post baptism party and even got to witness the Saturday night daddy store. Daddy store is the families economic system for  doing chores (++++$$$$$$)  and getting in trouble (-----$$$$$). Just fake money and little toys but It's freakin sweet, definitely doing it with my kids someday. Also made tithing applicable to the kids which was cool. 

We shared with them what we learned at MLT. Eternal families. The eternities don't start once we die, but we are living them everyday. It's what we do RIGHT NOW, that impacts the eternities. There is nothing that I want more than to be with my family forever.... These 4 months away from them have certainly made that known to me. 

Learning about this was one thing, but sharing it with a family that will soon be sealed for eternity was something entirely more special. I'm as equally excited to go to the Billings temple in 1 year with the Robison family, than I am to go to the Salt Lake Temple with my family in 20 months. They have changed not just my life, but my eternity. Promised them I will come back in 20 months to have a Star Wars marathon with them and I'll bring my Darth Vader footy pajamas and light saber.  They are as big of Disney fans as me! 

Got a text from Belgrade 2 saying they needed a ride home on the complete other side of the area (#CarShareProbs) so we had to end our lesson and cruise over there to get them. Strapped on the lead foot again (it was justified mom, I didn't want the other elders to be attacked by bears) and we jammed to "Ye Elders of Israel" on our way over. What a sweet freakin remix of a hymn. I know I'm weird when I start complimenting the church approved music but oh man our Chevy Cruz was hopping!  Either due to the song or speed of the car..... Yes....and on a night like Saturday night, it was a fitting hymn. Go read those lyrics and you'll understand. 

Sunday was also very special as I had the privilege of giving Brian the Aaronic Priesthood. First time I'd ever done it, but it was really cool. Complete blur as to what I said in the blessing.... Elder Christensen and I have learned that's when you know the spirit is doing the talking, not you. 

Shifting back to D&C 18 now..... 

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Saturday was great, but this upcoming Saturday we once again get to fill up that font!!! Brian will be baptizing his wife and girls and Elder Christensen will be baptizing Oscar. Haven't gotten much of a chance to talk about Oscar but he is ready to go!!! We went over the night before the day of the interview to review everything and as we did so he wrote stuff down to help him remember. It was really something special to see him write down the things we taught him... Can also tell we taught a pretty good law of chastity lesson. Nora and Oscar are amazing, his prayers are probably the most sincere I have ever heard. He is another great example to me of love and happiness. 

Sacrament meeting next week will be a crazy one. I'll be confirming Oscar and one of the Robison girls while Elder Christensen takes the other 2. Not gonna be a lot of time for testimony meeting but I think this is a good problem to have. The ward is super pumped!!!! Our giant Halloween party is Friday night, then the baptisms on Saturday! Gonna be another good week. I'll be in Bozeman on an exchange with the zone leaders for a few days so I'll be back on a college campus and looking forward to that. Elder Christensen will be taking charge of Belgrade while I'm away but I got all the faith in him. Lots of work to do! Don't wanna count your chicks before they hatch but pretty good chance we get at least 1 more person on baptismal date this week. Work in Belgrade is heating up as the weather cools down! 

This church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and I'm so grateful that I was able to turn to it and to Heavenly Father when I was struggling this week. So grateful to have the Holy Ghost in my life. I know that he is the greatest gift our Heavenly Father can give us with the exception of our family. He has comforted me so much out here.  Not easy being away from my family, but he's comforted me by leading to a family like the Robisons and Oscar and Nora. This work isn't about me, that's something I have really learned, but I am soooooo excited to experience the joy Heavenly Father has promised by bringing souls unto him. If I go these next 20 months without any other success, that's ok, because these 2 families have already made these 2 years worth it. True happiness isn't the Utes or the mouse.... Close though.... It's this gospel, it's families. Think the reason why I love that drum and feather and mouse so much is because... That practically is my family haha.  So incredibly blessed to be apart of all of this, great day to be a missionary. 

Love you guys

- K 



 
 

Monday, October 19, 2015

Bears in the High School & 75 mph Roads - October 19, 2015


- There was a bear in Bozeman high.  #WelcomeToMontana

- Got a picture with Flo, just for you Z!

- Balled up with splash Elder Potter, he even takes care of my shoes.
#SplashElders

- Found a $3 tie at the thrift store with an Indian chief on it....Not sure why the Tabasco logo is on it but IDC.... You better believe I was rockin that bad boy Saturday!!!  #UteProud

Another week crooooooooooosin by! So stinkin pretty up here, LOVE FALL!!! It's cooling down but I won't complain about the weather till I'm tracting in 20 below... Even that I can't complain too much, so lucky to be serving here.

Started a car share so those roads I talked about last week where we can cruise 75 on.... Now we're biking on! Pretty fun actually. We were wondering how we were gonna make it work, our area is huge! Then I remembered Nephi and all the struggles he had, when his bow broke what did he do??? Complain, or find a solution??? He sucked it up, built a bow, and got back to work. It's this logic and wisdom from the Book of Mormon that has inspired Elder Christensen and I to build our own car... Or capture and domesticate a wild animal...

*We have a goal to do something to get the white handbook rewritten...

***domesticating an elk and/or bear for transportation purposes would get us in there for sure.

*****Pretty sure if they had footnotes in there for the missionary that caused that rule to be added you'd see  "@pettbryan" quite a bit so just trying to follow the foot steps of my father.

******* #AchievementUnlocked

Really hasn't been too bad, I've got it so good serving here. Belgrade is just awesome. We are super pumped for these next couple weeks....

We will be filling up that baptismal font every Saturday the rest of October so we are pretty stoked. Robison family continue to amaze me and the spirit felt when we teach Oscar nearly brings me to tears.

This work is pretty dang cool, these two families have strengthened my testimony of this gospel so much, they're the ones doing the teaching.

Finished the Book of Mormon last week and started right over this week. Was reading from 1 Nephi and decided to look a bit deeper than I usually do when reading the beginning of the Book of Mormon.  I remember Elder DeGraffenreid and I talking about this on an exchange a while back....

1 Nephi 15:9: And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

I have read that scripture A LOT of times, but never given it much thought. Nephi was commanded to build a ship to take his family to the promise land.

Did they miraculously appear in the promised land? No.

Did the ship just appear? No.

Did the tools needed to build the ship just appear? No.

Did the ore needed to build the tools to build the ship just appear? No.

This gospel isn't easy. NOTHING is given to us unless it is for us to act on it. We must....

1. Find the ore

2. Use ore to molten /make into tools

3. Use the tools to build the ship

4. Ship leads us to this promise land.

This analogy is applicable in so many ways... Missionary work for example...

1. Find those the lord has prepared for us
 
2. Using the gospel we turn them into tools
 
3. Using those tools we build faith... Or a gigantic ship....

4. This ship is what will take us to the promised land

Like I said, it applies to this gospel in so many different ways. The restoration, the atonement, church callings, the priesthood and so on.... One in particular that I especially think is cool is families.

1. Find the right ore.... You wanna get real deep doctrine you can start comparing females to the periodic table (#WifeThatGold).

2. Use the gospel to make that ore into the proper tool, so both of you can be used to your full potential.

3. Use each other's tools to build faith and families, to help everyone reach their full potential. To build that gigantic ship.

4. By living the gospel of Jesus Christ, That ship is what leads to the promised land/celestial kingdom.

Still not getting married for another like 4 years (8 if ea sports brings back ncaa football) #SorryMom, but I think that's my favorite analogy.  Families are so cool and as I have said many many times my family is amazing. So grateful for all of them and especially for gods plan that enables us to be with each other for ever.

Book of Mormon is filled with some major gems, but it's up to us to find the ore, make it into tools, and use those tools to build our faith and testimony. I've read that scripture many times and never given it much of a second thought, but this particular time I read it, it meant so much more. That's what's cool about the Book of Mormon, the words don't change, but the Holy Ghost will continually teach us.

There is an endless supply of knowledge that comes from it. I encourage all of you to search its teachings, molten tools that can build your family.

I'm so blessed to be out here serving the lord, this whole mission thing is starting to feel normal.... Which when I think about it is pretty weird.... I've mentioned a couple times how much the mountains here look like the oqquirhs when the sun sets. Saturday night especially I was being reminded by it.... That yell continues to ring through the mountains near and far. And I realized something, now I look out there and think about home. But the day will come where I'm in sack lake city and I'll look out to the oqquirhs and be reminded about my other home. I'll be reminded of the Families that have changed my life. I only get 2 years to be out here serving the Lord, better make em count!

"Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve."

 #IWILL

 Love ya guys! ... As for the Utes.... m|_|m .... Keep it going UBoys!!!!!

-Elder K




 

Monday, October 12, 2015

A Solid Week - October 12, 2015


What's up everyone! This week was once again another solid one. I'll just get right to it and gladly announce I'll be in Belgrade for another transfer!!!!!! Lord sees the work Elder Christensen and I are doing and wants to keep us here.... I'm perfectly ok with that!!!

Weekly highlights!

- doing more training videos at the church and next thing we know 400 elementary kids are storming in for an evacuation drill, that was an adventure.

- fluffy bunny challenge at Sister Fife's.... I lost pretty bad. Ask my mom for the video.

- went and balled with some members of the ward along with some of Bozeman's elite ball players.... It was fun but nothing like those mornings we would have at 5:30 am. --- Miss u guys <3

- Checking up on a few investigators and one fella had some SEC football on so we got to watch the last 17 seconds of Tennessee - Georgia. I thought the Georgia player had the touchdown which would have sent it to OT but we had a lesson so thank goodness he didn't get it.... Cause we probably would've been late for the lesson... #ImKiddingMom

- got pulled over for going 40 in a 25 in Bozeman.... In my defense the average road in the Belgrade area is like 75 so driving in the city is a real struggle for me. Cop let me go on a warning and we were still on time for district meeting. #ChurchIsTrue #AchievementUnlocked

Overall another good week. Robison family and Nora and Oscar continue to strengthen my testimony of how true this gospel is. I'm not the one teaching out here, they're teaching me. Their faith and love is a true testimony to how amazing and pure this gospel is.  Lily and Hannah Robison both got up to bear their testimony and it was as simple as this - "I know this church is true, I know God loves me". So proud of both of them and their family. They weren't just saying that, they know it. I know that what they said is true because of the spirit we feel in their homes. Love that family so very much, so very blessed to be apart of theirs and Oscar and Nora's life. They have changed my life.

So grateful to be out here serving and the many wonderful people I meet every day. We are all God's children out here, is it really that hard to lift each other up and help your neighbor??? The faith people show strengthens my faith so very much. This week we had our first true Word of Wisdom lesson.... We walked out with a box full of alcohol!!! Never been so happy to be carrying around a box of beer!!!

I didn't even dump it on anyone! #StayingClassy #StereotypesHurt

Amazes me the faith people show. This gospel is true, I have front row, court side seats seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ change lives. Can't imagine how much those would sell for on Stub Hub.

Alright lastly I'd like to share a scripture with you I found this week....

Ether 5:6 And now, if I have no authority for these things, judge ye; for ye shall know that I have authority when ye shall see me, and we shall stand before God at the last day. Amen.

What a freakin sweet scripture. Book of Mormon has a lot of loving and inspirational words of advice then you have scriptures like this where Moroni just says it how it is, dude is a stud. Next fool that starts preaching anti is getting that scripture thrown at them.

Love you guys, I miss you all so very much! It's weird, this work is hard.... But I have NEVER wanted to do something more in my life.

Seeing how happy everyone back home is, along with the happiness we see and feel when with our investigators, makes this work well worth it.

Friday night I was driving around Belgrade with a box full of alcohol in the back seat (had to really control that lead foot...) and it really made me think.... Here I am in Belgrade, Montana. Driving around with a box of Booz listening to church approved music with some dude I had only known for 6 weeks while my family back home is camping out for College Game Day. You gotta be pretty dang crazy to be a missionary, but I'm out here because I know it's true. Saturday night after teaching the Robisons we were driving home and decided to pull off and look at the stars. Unbelievable. You could see the different colors of of the Milky Way, so cool! Another one of those moments where it finally hit me that I'm really doing this. Looked out towards the Bridgers and a favorite song came to mind as I imagined what was going on back home.

"Our yell, you hear it ringing through the mountains near and far."

As much as I wish I could've been there this weekend, there is no place I would have rather been Friday and Saturday night. Keep it up Utes. I'm there in spirit.... And apparently on a poster too.

- Elder K


 

Monday, October 5, 2015

"I Will Go" - October 5, 2015

WASUP!!!

- spent a night volunteering at the community cafe with the ward! Lots of fun, and a very humbling experience for me, made a lot of good friends! Waiting tables was fun... But I think I'll stick to videos
when I get home haha. Really hoping for another chance to do service there again! Fortunately this soup kitchen didn't involve a Prius.

- got a picture with Sarge.

- Helped a new family move in. Another awesome young family in Belgrade 1st! The husband's dad actually just got done serving as a mission president.... In Japan... In Tokyo.... He didn't recognize the name 100% at first, but once I added "big curly hair and super friendly and energetic" he instantly remembered Sister Jenny Goldsberry! Pretty cool!

- Had a ton of training videos this week... Doesn't matter if it was The District, we were going all out... (District is so unrealistic, make it look so easy.) Not everyday we have a reason to wheel out the
big tv's soooooo.... We pulled out the comfy chairs, called up Belgrade 2, popped some popcorn and grabbed some G's. Gotta make training fun!

- Horse got loose and was roaming the streets of the neighborhood one day. #WelcomeToMontana

- Bozeman got some snow, Fall has officially arriv.... Wait, nope. Gonna be in the 70s this week, never mind.

- last, loved the Twitter updates. Shared @utecentral's harvesting tweet in district meeting and #MPett3sMissionIsWorking could be my new favorite hashtag... If NCAA Football truly does come back I'll cry tears of joy... Speaking of tears I saw another #AskCoachWhitt campaign was rolling this week... #NeverForget. Have fun at Gameday this week. Nation is watching Utes, show em what the #ULegacy is all about.

Well.... Another week down. Big highlight was watching conference....TELEVISION!!!!! Anyone notice how Uchtdorf talked about weakness becoming strength through Christ??? He must read my blog, and Elder Martino, ya I shook his hand like a month ago when he came for a
mission conference, #AchievementUnlocked... Awesome conference session, simple things back home take on a whole new meaning when you are a missionary... No doubt conference applies to that. It got me a little homesick, thinking back to watching conference while keeping
tally's on "potato pancakes consumed", or playing a game of pig after priesthood session. I was missing the family, but I just reminded myself that  they're watching the same thing I am. That's the beauty of this gospel, it draws you closer to your family whether you are sitting there with them or not.

Best part of conference and the only true time my heart strings were plucked, was the "Mothers" talk from Elder Holland. Words can't describe how much I love my mom. She is the most Christ like person I know. I am so lucky to call her my mom, and to call @pettbryan my dad. It's
not easy being away from them, but if these 2 years prepare me to be anywhere near as good as parents as they are then it's worth it. Marriage is still 5+ years away, #SorryMom, but I can only hope I find someone to wife as amazing and loving as my mom, and I can be a father as hard
working and... Outrageously hilarious as @pettbryan.

This work is hard, but I truly wouldn't want it any other way. Freaks me out how much I have grown up in 3 months and none of that would be possible if the Lord made it easy for me. One of my favorite things to do when I get discouraged, is to search the word "go" in gospel library. Lots of results come up so I'll usually pick a couple to read, one time this week I picked 3 Nephi 11:41.

41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth

Go. Go. Go. It's that simple. "We only fail when we fail to take another faithful step". Regardless what they were experiencing, whether it be the people of the Book of Mormon or Latter Day Saints,
the Lord tells his people to "GO". Regardless what they were experiencing, those faithful servants of the lord did "GO". Was it easy? Absolutely not, but they still did "GO".
 
Leaving on a mission 3 months ago I had the attitude of Phil Knight and that swoosh... "Just do it". Doesn't matter if it sucks. Doesn't matter if it's 2 years. Doesn't matter  if you miss home. "Just do it". While that is one way you can look at a mission... I've learned to take on a different approach to these 2 years, an approach inspired by my wardrobe and Nephi...

                                                "I WILL".

1 Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I WILL GO and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which
he commandeth them.

That's the attitude I know I need as a missionary. Not "just doing it". Not going through the motions and counting down the days. It's committing to this work, that I WILL GO and do the things which the  Lord hath commanded me. I WILL GO and serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I WILL GO and press forward in a steadfastness in Christ. I WILL GO and give everything I have to the Lord.

(Hate to kick a guy when he's down but pretty much also saying UA>Nike. #QuackQuack #HackettsStillRunning)

This work is truly something special. I'm witnessing first hand the gospel of Jesus Christ impact Nora and Oscar. We taught Oscar how to pray and those are some of the most sincere prayers I will ever hear (up there next to @pettbryan). Also started reading the Book of Mormon with them. He's so excited to be baptized, he radiates happiness when you bring up the word "baptism".  Only struggle is having to explain to Nora we aren't allowed to hug her, at the end of each lesson she wraps you up and I just can't bring myself to tell her she can't do that haha. She's already told us she wants us to come back to see her and Oscar when we get home. I love this family with all my heart, I'm
not teaching them, they are teaching me. Last night we had another pretty good experience...  I guess... There is a family who randomly started attending church a while back. They
were showing up to the other ward so those missionaries referred them to us. Got in contact and went out for dinner at their house. NEVER have I met a family so prepared for this gospel. Already had a Proclamation to the Family framed and hung up, Book of Mormons out, pictures of
Christ, AND THEY HAVE 5 KIDS.... THEY'RE PRACTICALLY ALREADY MORMON!
Dinner was good, they are big Disney nerds and it was pretty cool that we all had Mickey Mouse watches on. Talked some solid mouse talk and turns out they were in Disneyland the same time as us a few months back and they recall space mountain being shut down.... #NeverForget.
After dinner the dad takes us out back to show us the AMAZING VIEW (live 20 minutes out from Belgrade) and we go back in for the lesson...

A 4 year old, 5 year old, 7 year old, 10 year old, 12 year old. All sitting on the couch with notebooks and pens and their Book of Mormon on their lap. I was speechless. We started talking about conference... assuming they didn't watch let alone know what it was... No no. They
each show me the pages of notes they took! They watched ALL SESSIONS. So we talked about our favorite talks.... They already picked a scripture to "ponderize" as a family (once again, speechless) ... This eventually led to a brief discussion on prayer, which led to the husband bringing up baptism.

The kids hands shoot up in the air. Unfortunately only 2 are over 8,but those 2 and the mother want to be baptized... You know how I talked about the district being too easy???? This is what it felt
like. We extend the invitation to the mom... "Yes." 11 year old girl... "Yes." .... And before we can ask the 12 year old, she raises her hand (VERY polite kids) and tells us how the first time she went
to sacrament meeting, it was testimony meeting, and the whole time she felt the urge to share her testimony, she'd never felt that feeling before. She starts crying which led to everyone crying. We eventually pull it together and extend the invitation.... "Yes."

The father had expressed to us earlier he wanted to learn more before committing, but he was beaming. Telling his kids and wife how proud he was. Now was the perfect time, we didn't want him only baptized, we wanted him to baptize his family. So we extended the invitation but for one week earlier. It got quiet, and oh man the spirit was working on him.

"I feel like someone is holding my heart right now."

We testified that that is the Holy Ghost, and that through baptism he and his family can receive that constant feeling of peace, love, safety, and comfort at all times.... "Yes."

*spiritual fist pumps

It was an emotional night, but oh my goodness it was amazing. I always said that I WILL serve because I want other families as happy as mine, I'm starting to finally see that. The 4 year old came running up and gave me a hug before we left, couldn't help but imagine that's what'll
be like with Z next time I see him.
 
This gospel is true, no doubt in my mind it is 100% true. Look at Nora and Oscar, listen to Oscar pray to God, see how their lives have changed. Feel the spirit in a home as we commit a family to baptism,
and try telling me this gospel isn't true. Look me in the eye and tell me this gospel isn't true. One of my favorite parts of conference was hearing hymn number 2 during the Sunday session, "the Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning". Always been my favorite hymn (neck and neck with Praise to the Man), and last night I felt that fire.
 
I love this work. Sooooo much. Don't be stubborn people, if you want to feel that fire or feel the Holy Ghost hold your heart, get on your knees and pray. Read the Book of Mormon. Serve others. It's that easy.
 
I love it out here, I really do. Belgrade hasn't had a baptism in 3 years and we got 5 people being baptized this month! Wouldn't be possible with out our outstanding bishop, WML, ward, and Heavenly Father guiding us to those who have been prepared. Transfer calls are on Sunday and several members of the ward council have already expressed to us they will call the mission home if we leave, not bad for an elder who has been out 1 transfer and an elder in his first transfer. They tell us they are worried we are going to be zone leaders already so we should probably slow it down so they don't send us somewhere else haha. Love Belgrade, and especially love this ward, but I'll go wherever the Lord needs me, just hoping he still needs me in Belgrade. Transfer calls are always a little nerve racking though haha.
 
What matters is that Oscar and a whole other family are wanting to be baptized, regardless if I'm in Belgrade or not that is amazing and a true testament to the power of this gospel.

Commit now if you want to live this gospel and experience that power, experience the blessings it brings. Don't just do it, commit to it. I WILL. The future is only as bright as your faith.

I love and miss you all so much. You have no idea how excited I am that GameDay is coming to our city... I seriously dream about that! As great as it'd be to see Corso put on the swoop head or to ask Sam Steele to take my hand in eternal marriage, I know this is where I need to be.... However I don't think the white handbook mentions anything about being a guest picker on College Gameday....

Love you guys!

- Elder K