Monday, December 21, 2015

"He" Is Why I'm out Here - December 21, 2015

WHATS UPPPP!!!

- snowed!!! so we spent almost a whole day shoveling drive ways. Dang cold but still lots of fun!

- went to Valier and played some chess with one of our investigators... He beat Elder Asbury in 3 moves and destroyed me.  Cool guy, LOVES football, had a good chat about bowl season.... And the gospel of course.

- found a SWEEEET wooden toy gift shop outside of town. Dude sounds Italian and is dang good at making toys. If his name isn't Gepetto it should be.

- went to a families home to decorate Santa Claus hats. Not gonna lie, the sly drum and feather and mouse I slipped on there was pretty good. LOTS of fun, love experiencing all of these holiday traditions.

- Elder Asbury wears jeans and a beanie to morning basketball for personal exercise.  He's a crack up, funny guy. A lot of laughing and goofing off this transfer but we still get work done.

- Christmas zone conference rocked!!! Pretty bummed Bozeman went to Billings for theirs and I didn't get a chance to see Elder Christensen and the rest of the BROzeman Elders but it was still awesome. Was able to see Elder Walgren!!! Some things I'll never forget in life, such as holding Z for the first time, stealing the pylon from the 2012 holy war, breaking down space mountain, @pettbryan threatening to break my brothers hand if he didn't give him the Mrs Fields cookie .........Seeing President Wadsworth come bolting in yelling that Santa was there can be added to that list. Never seen that side of President Wadsworth before.

****Direct quote from president - "dignity and decorum goes out the door during the holiday season"

- While on the subject of dignity being thrown out the door during the holiday season, I did indeed break out the Darth Vader footie pajamas this week. Realized I left my name tag on my suit coat in the car so I went outside.... With my light saber (obviously).... To retrieve the special cargo. S/O to Abby, Kurt and Diz for the Elder Vader get up and to Elder Walton for introducing me to Star Wars last fall in the bunker, good times. We're gonna have a full on Star Wars marathon in the cave when we all get back and I still wanna wife Padmรจ. <3

Wanna start off with a birthday shout out to one of my best friends, I love ya Grandpa. You have taught me so much. You are a warrior, a fighter, a leader, but best of all, you are my grandpa. I'm so blessed to have 2 sets of amazing grandparents in my life. I'm so blessed to not only represent our Saviors name each day on my name card, but to represent your name too. Thank you for every 9 holes at the Parkway, for the Mickey Mouse caramel apples, and teaching me what it means to be a Utah Man. If Utah Athletics only knew how dedicated you have been throughout your life. I aspire to be as loving and caring as you everyday I serve, love ya grandpa. Can't wait for the next 9 holes.

It was a good week! Was able to give another blessing and that was no doubt a major highlight of the week. The prompting hit hard and would not go away that this missionary needed a blessing. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had. The priesthood is real, just.... Wow. Wish I could just blurt out to you what happened, but President Packer warned against sharing such experiences too openly so I'll hold back. All I gotta say is experience the priesthood yourself.
Blessings are amazing, THE PRIESTHOOD IS SO COOL, and the veil is thin when you are doing the Lord's work righteously. Very grateful for the experience I had with this missionary. I love the priesthood, Really gaining a better understanding of it and how to use it, I know that knowledge is something I will need in the future.

Ya, good week! Saturday night I was sitting next to our heater (it was actually working, #AchievementUnlocked) thinking about what I was doing last year on the Saturday before Christmas. It was the end of an awesome week in Vegas, sooooooo much fun. Freakin miss my job. Utes played CSU in the Vegas bowl. I let @BPett23 (that's a cute format for your Twitter handle, where'd you get that idea???) wear my Vegas bowl hoodie out of the kindness of my heart, and I remember standing on the field watching the seconds tick by that 4th quarter (#ULegacy trailer
1 reference) thinking.... "Well this is it... Where am I gonna be the next time the Utes take the field." (Had NO clue it'd be Montana....) Utes win, start playing Utah Man, and I have an entire bus ride home thinking about the awesome season we had, Christmas is next week, Disneyland the day after, and a trip to the Mouses kingdom the week after that. Life is dang good.

Now we fast forward a year. Instead of staying in the Mandalay Bay suites playing Xbox and opening bags of MOAR Ute gear, I'm staying in the Staaf apartments opening Christmas letters from home. Instead of being on a bus ride back to Salt Lake jamming to some Bob Seger and Motley Crue, I'm driving back into Conrad jamming to some Archie Christmas album with Elder Asbury. Instead of thinking about spending Christmas at home or going to the mouses kingdom, I'm thinking about that face time call home and transfers coming up shortly after. It's pretty different, but the result is the same. Life is gooooood.

Saturday was a good day, Utes won. 5 in a row !!! Got a email saying we are up 35-0, come back from a lesson to find out we won 35-28.... Win is a win, scoreboard doesn't lie, neither does riseandshout.net .I'm freakin proud of my Utes. That's one heck of a season and one to be proud of, Utes upheld the legacy. One more of those and #UReturn is gonna be.... Mmmmm.

As great of a time it is to be a Ute however, it's even a greater time to be a missionary. Saturday was a good day, but not because of the Utes. Someone we had been teaching back in Belgrade got baptized.  The first time I met him I was told by others he would never want to be baptized, but I knew he would. I was able to develop a strong relationship with that family, and Elder Christensen coming along only made it that much better! We were his friend, we'd go over and talk with him about hunting or cars or country music or Talladega Nights.... Or Anchorman.... Or the Other guys (Brother Farell was present at most lessons ;), then out of nowhere he asks us about baptism.... That teaching method isn't exactly recommended in Preach My Gospel but it worked! I was stoked, that's another day Elder Christensen and I will always remember. Then the next week I get the call saying I'm going to Conrad. That's reason 1 of 1,000 that made it hard leaving. I'm so proud of him and his family. Never thought I'd say this.... But that mouse and drum and feather, which I love so deeply as all of you know, have nothing on the joy I feel for him, and the Robisons, and for Oscar and Nora. One more name onto the list of mansion neighbors at the end of Enos 1:27.

I was happy a year ago, it was a good feeling riding that bus back home for Christmas and the mouse, no bus ride home this Christmas, but for some insane reason I'm just as happy now. It's a great time to be a missionary. You really only get 2 years to experience this type of happiness. It's hard being away, can't argue that, but the experiences out here are worth it.

--- small example. We go tracting the other night. Plan was to go to Ohio street, but during the prayer we got the prompting to go one street over to Indiana street. About an hour in and absolutely no success at all, we weren't spittin fire on door steps this time....#Humility. I'm not sugar coatin this one, it sucked. Crisp maybe 9 degrees outside, NO ONE wants to talk to us, "we have no food, we have no jobs, OUR PETS HEADS ARE FALLING OFF" is the best way to describe how we were feeling. then we get to the last house. Sweeeeeeeet old Chevy in the driveway so that's my "in" for something to talk about (gotta have a "in" to talk about or else #Tracting๐Ÿšœ๐Ÿ’จ takes on a whole new level of awkwardness) . Find out it was her husbands who recently passed away. She was super friendly to us and told us she's been struggling during the holiday season. We told her we don't know exactly what she's going through, but that we too were away from our loved ones for Christmas. The conversation we had with this widow made the whole hour of tracting in frozen darkness worth it. Being able to testify to her that she'll be with him again, made that hour worth it.

Did she commit to baptism and read the entire Book of Mormon that night???? No. But I know We were sent to that house for a reason.

Missions really are something special. Don't know why I love something so difficult, but at the same time I do know why. These past almost 6 months have beaten the crap out of me. Physically, mentally, spiritually. When it sucks out here you don't have some headphones and a basketball, you can't make UVids, you can't go for a ride in the panther, can't Arnold Napalm a ginger bread house #OperationCarbonFreeze, can't even call your mom. You have a companion, alright that's nice, but staying within sight and sound

24/7 doesn't mean you wont ever feel alone. It's hard. But, I've had one person who I know I can ALWAYS turn to to help me. And Friday we get to celebrate His birth. I've said before how my perspective has gone from "if I serve a mission I can do anything" to "through Christ I can do I anything". It's true, I know it. Serving a mission has taught me how badly I need Christ in my life. The atonement is untapped power and potential for US. We can not comprehend how powerful it is, but I have felt a glimpse of its power. It's helped me change. See things that I need to be better at. It's comforted me.

It's why I'm out here, He is why I'm out here. He is why I love something so difficult.

Weird that I get to FaceTime home on Friday... Wow. Remember saying "Merry Christmas" to my mom before hanging up and getting on the airplane in July and thinking that day will never come. Time is weird out here. Same dang thing everyday which feels slow, but looking back it CRUISES by. Every second that ticks by its running out. Doesn't feel real I get to actually talk to them!!! I love all of you so much.

The Christmas cards and gifts mean so much. So blessed to be surrounded by such amazing family. "Have a Merry Christmas ya filthy animals".....

--- Someone watch home alone for me. ---

------ do some jumping jacks Lala, he's got 3 days ;)

- Elder K






 



Monday, December 14, 2015

"Prepare the Way of the Lord" - December 14, 2015

WHATS UP EVERYONE!!! 

- found a sweeeeeeet ramp by the train yard. #StuntJumpBonus #25Points 

- The lone grocery store in town may be outrageously over priced and sell expired Gatorade, but the music there is just.... Mmmmmmmm. Born in the USA, Another One Bites the Dust, Old Time Rock and Roll, etc. Soooo gooood. 

- Thanks for all the letters and notes this past week fam and friends!!! Loved the letters from the Christmas party!!! The "hail hydra" on the ward card was cute, well played priest quorum.  

- ate at the Scowns on Thursday night. Super awesome old couple. She reminds me a lot of Grandma Mary. Helped them set up their new blu ray player and got her logged into Netflix, they were blown away. Lot of fun! Had to severely control myself when I saw ONCE on there. 

- made some freakin bomb breakfast burritos.... Great odins Raven.... That's all I gotta say. 

- Decided to take one of the back roads to dinner. After a ways we decided to hop on the interstate and play it safe instead. Long story short, we ended up out of our area and in Shelby (like an hour away, welcome to the MBM).... Flipped back around and the exit we were supposed to take is the one we got on at. It was the equivalent of me and @pettbryan departing and boarding the same train in Europe. Hope that makes sense, if not, just know I'm a freakin blonde. 

- had dinner with the Beckers who are AWESOME!!!! Super good chicken. Had a fun night. A lot of it was sister Becker and I bashing on BYU so ya, good night. They're awesome, we had a lot of fun. She actually went to college with Mr Bodily/the #Dictator. 

- had a missionary in the zone tell me he doesn't like Archuleta's Christmas album  (insert "Michael Scott - why are you the way that you are" gif) 

- S/O to my boy Elder Potter who got a speeding ticket... Splash Elders have lead foots... That'll make our return trip/6 month Bromance of Kenney chesney and nba 2k a fun one before his girlfriend gets home from her mission. Splash elders go fast!!! #IWannaGoFast #IfYou'reNotFirstYourLast 

- helped the Thompson's get a giant mattress up to their attic play room. That mattress had no business making it up that stair well but we missionary's are persistent... we were clutch. No idea how we did it, we went full Moroni pushing that thing up there. Go Mormons, Bro Thompson is a stud. Their attic play room is freakin sweeeeeet.   #Goals The Thompson's are an awesome family, Bro Thompson reminds me a lot of Lucas. 

- mad props to @yokester74 for breaking Twitter. #TwitterDreamTeam #NeverForget 

- currently chilling in the church helping the high priest group leader trim his helicopter. He was able to fly it for longer than 30 seconds without kamikazing it so he's almost as good as @pettbryan 

Yep, pretty rockin week!!! Had our first district meeting and I thought it was awesome!! Kinda crazy being in the shoes of a district leader but I love it. Just have a completely different feeling when I'm around these elders and sisters, I know there is so much I can learn from them. At the end I shared with them Alma 26. I compare the book of Alma a lot to my friends, #OperationABRO. It gives me an idea of what we are all going through now and what it'll be like when we are all sitting out in front of home base (And now it came to pass that Alma conducted his brethren back to the land of Zarahemla; even to his own house.)  on our cars talking about Peru, Argentina, Sweden, Ohio, Tennessee, Big Sky, or shining laser pens at Bosnians.... Elder Walton...  Told them I want that to be us one day too. That someday, wether it's in Utah or Micronesia, or the Celestial Kingdom, we will be able to sit back and talk about our district and the relationship we had and the work we did. Wanted to close with a "family on 3" but we ended with a prayer instead. 

 ***Elder Massau has shown me some pics from home and Micronesia very well may be the celestial kingdom BTDUBS**** 

Ya, love our district. So much I need to learn as a missionary and they've already taught me a lot. Also got to interview with President Wadsworth again on Saturday. Major bonus out of transferring to a different zone as I interviewed with him just a few weeks earlier in Bozeman. President is awesome. We sit down, he sighs and asks "how long have we been doing this???" 
"About 5 and a half months" I say 
 "Well... we have been together every step of the way" 

Soooo true! It's been fun, we both came in new and have been learning on the go. We had a pretty good chat, I Look up to President and Sister Wadsworth a lot. Asked him some questions I had and he gave me some tips on being a district leader and how to receive revelation now and after my mission and it was powerful. Love President Wadsworth, Once again, he reminds a lot of @pettbryan. 

Driving home from stake conference yesterday thinking about what I was gonna email home the next day, and was kinda bummed. It was a good week, but not a lot of success. Worked hard but nothing much to show for it. Well after a freakin awesome dinner with the bishop and his family, we hit the pavement for some more #Tracting๐Ÿšœ๐Ÿ’จ.... And it was getting hot in Conrad despite it being a crisp 28 degrees! If the Spirit of God like a fire is burning then Elder Asbury and I were straight spittin fire on door steps!!! Once we were back on the street I was doing Coach Shah sonic claps of excitement that echoed throughout all of Conrad. #GetYourEyesRight #Technique

Alright on a more humble note, it was good. The spirit guided us to the correct street (day after pres gives advice on revelation) and we found the elect, we found those who have been prepared for this gospel. Got TWO new investigators. We felt prompted to talk about the potential God sees in us and why we are here, you could see it really made them think. So grateful for the spirit and revelation we can receive, Conrad is about to blow up. Elder Christensen and I said it in Belgrade and it's time we spiritually nuke this place too, what better time to do it too??? 

5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.
7 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.
9 And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his angel, that I should come and tell this thing unto you; yea, he hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto you; yea, he hath said unto me: Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord.

We have been asked to "prepare the way of the lord". Whether that's in your own life or the lives around you, Prepare them for the coming of our Savior!!! Teach em, love them! Don't let your fears of doubts decide who is ready to experience the blessings this gospel has to offer. I Love Christmas, love missionary work, love food, love lamps, pretty much just love life, and it's no coincidence that I'm sharing the gospel as I love it so much. Get out and try it yourself. 

Love ya guys! 

- Elder K 

ULegacy applies now more than ever, uphold the legacy UBoyz, make em quit. 

 
 

Monday, December 7, 2015

Stick to the Task - December 7, 2015

 
What's up everyone?  Week 2 down in Conrad, awesome week. 

- ate dinner with the Weisgram family. She has lived here for about 70 years so we got a pretty sweet run down on the history of Conrad. Made me feel lucky to be serving here. We talked about when the interstate was put in and once again thought of Cars haha. Also had some bomb tacos, almost as good as Jared and I's taco nights in the bunker. 

 - went to Valier to do some work. A 30 minute drive outta Conrad, even smaller town. This one has a single yellow light in town and I swear every third blink is slower.... It was sweet. The lake was frozen so we went to check it out. No mom we didn't go play on it despite my inner Jared Walton telling me to. 

- another awesome dinner at a members house, they had 007 on the N64 but I couldn't justify how takin down tangos old school style would fulfill my missionary purpose so I had to refuse some serious temptation to play it. #AchievementUnlocked

- These roads out here.... Straight and flat... Gotta be careful after my last incident in Bozeman but tough to not go fast especially when you are jamming to David Archuleta MoTab Christmas album. Can't wait to bring the panther up here. #IWannaGoFast 

- Theres a loud siren that goes off at 9 every night. 

- Decorated the tree at the library for the Christmas piano recital which ROCKED!!!

- furnace stopped working so we had to call up the former elders to figure out how to relight it. Felt like we were diffusing a bomb in the final minutes of 24. #DangItChloe 

- lady at Wendy's somehow thought our names were Asburg and Pete... Did some role plays for training and I was Skittle and my comp was Guadeloupe. After further review we now refer to each other as "Guadeloupe Asburg" and "Skittle Pete". Elder Asbury is a stud. Have loved training him these past few weeks and look forward to the next 4.  

- Found my new favorite street. I did say in my farewell talk that Montana is Ron Swanson territory.  

- taught a mission prep class to the priests, did my best to be as awesome as Mike and Hilary. 

- couldn't help but think "ding fries are done" during the second to last song of the Christmas devotional. 

- Brown Christmas Party looked awesome. Props to Ally for photo bombing most the pics. 

- s/o to @yokester74 for partying it up in the Magic Kingdom with @pettbryan. Can't wait to meet ya one day. Miss that mouse like crazy. Heard about the Disney dating site and I'm down. I'll attach a link to the Disney video on my profile. (JK mom)

- Last, happy birthday to my amazing sister Abby and stud brother Kasey. Love you so much Abby, thanks for wishing for me 20 years ago. Especially grateful you wished for a brother cause 1. Being a girl sounds way too hard and 2. 18 months isn't long enough to serve. Love you, and thanks for giving me a stud brother and hilarious niece. As for the CO, thanks for being an awesome example to me whether it's on Nuketown, Backyard Badminton, or Missionary Work. Love ya bro, you look good bald. 

 Well I was hitting the book of Alma hard this past week. Gosh there's some good stuff in there. Quick run down on some things I caught.... 

 - Alma 10: 4 Amulek goes full Ron Burgundy.... 4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many (leather bound books) kindreds and friends, I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry (and my apartment smells of rich mahogany)

- Chapter 11 he straight up roasts Zeezrom in front of most of Ammonihah and calls him out as a child of hell. (Still remember getting a snapchat from @teambetaalpha senior year of that verse <3) 

- Chapter 14 they are cast into prison. After showing continued faith and patience, Verse 29 they "Tony Stark" it and bust outta there. "and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear".
 
- Alma 16 we start to see some slight contention in the land, no worries though, Alma prays to God for the perfect battle plan and they take down the Lamanites. We are told to steer far away from politics but I gotta say I wouldn't mind having a president who prays to God before making military decisions. Worked pretty well for Alma. 

- Chapter 17.... Is just pure excellence. Ammon is the Jack Bauer/JamesBond/Optimus Prime/ @TeamBetaAlpha/ dad from taken of Book of Mormon times. Love that chapter, and not just because the dude is cutting off arms and racking up the care package and RC XD kill streak. So many hidden hints towards leadership. 

-  Verse 11 - "Your patience when you have nothing & your attitude when you have everything"

- Verse 29 "you make your own fate" 

- Ch. 18, 9-10 "never stop serving"

- Verse 12  "Stick to the Task"

- Verse 17 "humility" 

- and so much more. Sweet chapter on leadership and one that I needed ... One more Ron Burgundy reference, after the servants bring all the arms Ammon cut off to the king... "He was astonished exceedingly" = "I'm not even mad... That's amazing" 

- Last, chapter 20 we learn of Lamoni who is the greatest recent convert in the Book of Mormon. Wrote  "Robison's, Oscar, Sister Fife,'Bro BooYa" in the margin of that one.

Book of Mormon is sweet, not sure how many people compare it to Tony Stark or Ron Burgundy but I love it! Along with the @MPett3 spark notes of the first bit of Alma I also want to share a quote from president Ezra Taft Benson in 1988. 

"We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family”

- Save the world from its own self destruction 

- Unite men of all races and nationalities in peace 

- Bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family

Look at the world around us, safe to say we are struggling in those 3 areas. A prophet of God has promised us that the gospel is the only way for these statements to come true. ONLY the gospel can fix it. We have been called to preach this gospel. Makes you realize how important this work is. Constantly search for opportunities to share this gospel with those around you. It's selfish of us not to. What better time to share the gospel than during this wonderful season too???? 

Yep, good week. People in Conrad are pretty set in their ways but we are working hard. Work is a little slow, but it's gonna pick up. Someone we have been teaching had a 2 year old daughter who was sick and we were able to give her a blessing and that was awesome, love giving blessings. You could tell he wants to be able to do that some day. Priesthood is real and it is powerful, so grateful that I am able to use it. Also have a young family we found last week and have started teaching and they are awesome. The dad is the town butcher and we offered to do service for him but later found out we aren't allowed. Church doesnt trust us with sharp objects and that's probably good. Was gonna send a pic of me wearing an apron covered in elk blood but once again my inner Jared Walton was countered with a ... "McKay.... no" in my mind from my mother. 

Love ya guys, 3 weeks I'll have another best friend and I'm pumped!!! Pop him out before Christmas please Lala. It's a special time of year. Get on your knees and tell God how grateful you really are, so grateful for my family. Something I have been doing lately is testifying to God. We testify so much as missionaries... Heck, Elder Christensen testified the Book of Mormon to me in his sleep!!! #AchievementUnlocked, but how often do we testify to God??? Tell him what you know, and what you want to know. He's there for us. 

Love ya,
 
- Elder K

- holy war in sin city.... Can only imagine how toxic that's gonna get!!! Wish I could make a vid for this one... So many ideas...  Make Em Quit UBoyz