Monday, January 30, 2017

"No Sacrifice - No Victory" - January 30, 2017


What's up Fam!

- good week, a lot happened. 1st week of the transfer is little crazy:

--- training trainers

--- arrivals

--- training new missionaries

--- Golden Corral with new missionaries accompanied by dirty looks from Sister Wadsworth on my poor eating habits. #MealOfChampions #MOARbacon

--- transfers

- didn't take a nap on the office floor like last time but at one point of the week I closed my prayer in the name of the Holy Ghost...


I was tired. That may top the time I tracted our apartment in #HamTown.

- training the new missionaries was the best part of my week along with attending the temple with them. A lot of fun being around them. Brings back a lot of memories of when I came in.

- shed a manly tear of brotherhood as I said bye to Elder Wells. He's taught me a lot from missionary work to  interacting with girls (holding hands, watching movies, obtaining their insta, etc.) .... not quite at @TeamBetaAlpha's status of bromance but he's up there. I'm gonna miss him. As Loyd Christmas once said "goodbye my love".

- Ate with the Lynch family... Brother Lynch served "Down Under" so in honor of Australia Day we had a meat pie and Tim Tam slam. Felt good haha.

- taught this a family and the 10 year old loved Pokémon so we compared how Pokémon evolve to how we grow in the gospel, we need experience.

It was deep.

- went and saw the Browns. She made us a Mardi Gras King cake and Tag was a fireman and we were the fire so we were running around while he chased us with his fire extinguisher. It was a good workout after #MOARbacon from a few days prior.

- got a letter from Elder @TeamBetaAlpha... opened it up in the mission office in front of everyone and a Jehovah Witness pamphlet fell out... thanks Elder Wall. <3

- Elder Hoschouer and I spontaneously started rapping Eminem one morning during comp study so I'd say we are off to a hot start with our companionship. #LoseYourselfInTheWork

- Missionary Broadcast was this week. When they showed the Salt Lake valley it may or may not of sparked #TrunkFest2k17 but I recovered quick once it got all spiritual. It was awesome. Elder Anderson talked about how we put all focus on faith and baptism while skipping repentance and that's what I talked about at zone conferences last transfer. We watched with President and he turned and started nodding at me lol.  #Unity.

- I also think you could see Rice Eccles Stadium when they showed the valley... #ChurchIsTrute

- Pres ordered pizza for us but waited until Sister Wadsworth was out of the room so he could get the Cinnistix. It was hilarious. I think he was in the dog house for that one.

- Favorite part of the broadcast was when Elder Bednar mentioned how the gospel isn't a check list. You don't have faith... then repent... then...etc... rather you use all of them intertwined and that's where the real power of the Atonement kicks in.

I will close with explaining why I have a Transformers quote as my subject title #SorryDahlelama. We were talking with President and Sister Wadsworth... sacrifice was brought up... Elder Hoschouer quoted Praise to the Man - "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven". I followed with Archibald Witwicky's  "no sacrifice no victory". I probably seemed pretty wise not gonna lie... anyway, I believe both to be true.

Christ sacrificed all he was for us, but what are we willing to give up for him??? Our time? 10% of our income? our sins? worldly desires? the natural man? ... he's made the ultimate sacrifice that's guaranteed us victory, there's NO possible way we can win without him, but we still need to do our part. We can't do it without His sacrifice, but at the same time we need to be willing to give up our own bad desires or habits that keep us away from Him. Like Elder Bednar said, once you start applying all the gospel to your life... not just a grocery list of what to do, that's when you see the real power.

Gospel is pretty amazing family, it does things to individuals and families that I really can't describe nor comprehend. Simply put, it helps them be happier, it transforms them. I'm grateful for the chance to see that change.

There is a lot more I want to share but we'll call it good there and cap it off with a "Auto Bots Roll Out."

Gonna do the same thing as last year - Polls are officially open for what tie I should wear Sunday. Red and black or navy and silver. Let me or Brady know.

Love ya,

- Elder K

Pics

- Tag in his natural habitat. Love this kid.



- nearly hit this buck driving around... decided to follow it and turned out to be a nice 5x5



- tribute to the Petting Whales bromance from the last year. Gonna be a good day when we can play 2k and go to bdubs and hold hands with each other #SorryMom.




























Monday, January 23, 2017

Journey for Happiness - January 23, 2017


What's up Fam!!!

- teaching a guy who is quitting smoking. Felt inspired to send him a text one morning to see how he's doing and he said later how he felt very vulnerable before that text. He pointed out Heavenly Father is looking over him, thought that was pretty cool.

- lunch with Crystal. I downed 5 tacos. I think she posted about it on Facebook because people somehow knew about it. #ILoveFood

- Elder Wells told me he'd take a PT Cruiser over the Panther. He and I verbally combat each other on the concept of me keeping the Panther and we have a good time about it but that one legit hurt me.

- Elder Hoschouer is my new comp! He's a boss, gonna be a fun time. He came in on Friday. Gonna be an emotional moment for Elder Wells and I when the bromance is broken up this week but we have a had a good run.

#CougarsDontRoar

- my mom sent us mini light saber building kits because she must feel guilty for going to Disneyland again so we made those... I had a light saber battle with baby Groot and we reenacted the Obi Wan - Anakin battle.  "YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE! YOU WERE MY BROTHER" #INeedALife #DarthGroot

- had our last Zone Conference, I talked about Legacy. Brady told me later that day ULegacy blew up on Twitter #ChurchIsTrue

- Mark wore a white shirt and tie for the first time on Sunday, he YouTube'd how to tie it and looked like a stud. Tag ran up to give us hugs and that was probably the best part of the day.

- we taught the Primary... I wanted to start a Sunbeam Trump chant just for kicks and giggles but didn't. It was a good time.

- President Baird (Lions fan Baird) was giving us Falcon updates during our Missionary Correlation meeting. Hopefully all those cheese head fans that miraculously appeared at the end of the season disembarked the band wagon safely.

- stopped by the Baird's house later that night and implemented some of our Sunday night games... mainly the ping pong game. I love that family so much. Their little girl Maddie needs to marry Eli so we can be family.

Sorry the emails haven't been all that long or spiritual last few weeks. Just been a crazy few weeks but I really do know this message we share is happiness. There's so much Satan can get you to doubt and question... but at the end of the day you can't doubt if what we teach blesses your life. That isn't to say the Gospel makes your life easy because it put me on a mission and I can assure you that ain't easy, but it teaches and molds you into the person your Heavenly Father wants you to be which ultimately leads you to true joy. The mission is a good example, it has been a nut punching grind at times but it's molded me into a happier person.

We had a neat experience this week giving a blessing to a family from Wyoming. Their grandma just had a stroke and the family asked if we could give a blessing to the mom and daughter there along with the grandma. For the blessing with the grandma, they asked if we could bless her to move on into the next life. That's  something I have never been a part of before, it was a very tender experience especially with what happened earlier in the week with Aunt Karma.

We go to church and pray and do all this stuff but it's those moments where the Plan of Salvation hits you pretty hard. You realize what really matters. It reminded me how fortunate we are to have the knowledge we have.

Being a part of that blessing and the next day teaching primary opened my eyes a lot. It's really a journey on this earth. From Sunbeams to our last moments with our family, it's a journey for happiness, it's what all of us are looking for. Ultimately our Savior is the greatest example we can follow on this journey. His gospel is the plan of how to be happy.  I'm grateful for His example and sacrifice and that I can strive to be more like him. I'm forever grateful for eternal families.

Love ya family,

- Elder K

Pics

- #Billville Zone
 
- me and THE elder Baird



- Conger's and Bucklands, I love them. Especially their dog.

 
 
- got this picture this week so throwback to the #BozeForce zone last fall



- Baird's... I love them so much. Nerf Wars. Lagos. #Goals. And Maddie is so cute. Wife her up Eli.


 

 
- Kayden's selfie of the week he took on my iPad.
 
- #DarthGroot. Yes I know the colors are off my bad. Oh and If you look closely you may be able to see the Ron Swanson motivational quote book.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Larry Bird Socks - January 16, 2017


What's up Fam!!!

- Zone Conferences throughout the week. Butte -> Missoula -> Great Falls. Lots of driving but it was good seeing the mission and getting to stay with the Zone Leaders was a blast.
 
--- I specifically got to have a sleep over with my Splash Elder, Elder Potter in Great Falls... They have a mini hoop. AND we went to Cafe Rio. It was a party.

- Zone Conferences were on Repentance. It's taught me a lot and helped me see the importance and joy of repentance. Been fun.

- President Wadsworth had his birthday yesterday... we ate tacos... I put down a solid 8 which beat my record of 7 that I had last spring when I came here for exchanges. Elder Wells and I gave President his present.... LARRY BIRD SOCKS!!!
He was pretty hyped.

- Highlight of the week was going to Bozeman on Saturday. (#MOARDriving) for Meg's baptism. I taught her when I was in Bozeman and it was awesome getting to see her be baptized. Her fiancé served with Hayden in Peru which is pretty cool. Those 2 are awesome.



Gospel leads to happiness.

Love ya fam

- Elder K



Monday, January 9, 2017

#UteProud - January 9, 2017


What's up Fam!

- car with Utes stickers was stopped in front of us. I held up my U, then the passenger in the car did. Gave me a tear.  #UteProud m|_|m

 
- whispered to Elder Wells that I was going to fill a pillow case full of bars of soap and beat him with it... his response "this is a house of learned doctors". This is why we can't sit by each other in District Meeting.

- spent most the week in Wyoming for Zone Conferences. It was a good time seeing the missionaries down there. Also got to do an exchange with Elder Christensen and that took me back to the good old days of Belgrade, had a super good time.

- saw another Utah fan at Cafe Rio... I held up a "U" and he came by and talked to us. He was a member from Wyoming I think. He and Elder Wells got a little salty but instead of pouring beer on Elder Wells he bought us a gift card #AchievementUnlocked !  I don't encounter many of my kind up here so true tender mercy I saw.  Had 2 this week.  #UteProud x2

- We had dinner at the Browns, Mark is doing great. Tag is possibly the funniest 2 year old I have met. He converted his room into a "AT&T store" and made me come in and buy a cell phone. We are still trying to help him understand the point of hide and seek cause he tells me where to hide... funny kid.

The Gospel leads to happiness, it's as simple as that. So sweet seeing that change in families we are teaching.

Love ya fam

- Elder K

Pics

- I have missed those drum and feather's

- reunion
 
- had some friends chilling on the side of the road




- #WelcomeToMontana



- shopping at the "AT&T store"

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

I Can Smell the Roses - January 2, 2017


What's up Fam! 

- we are teaching a less active family who is coming back to church. Really neat family, the husband is quitting smoking and he's doing great. His wife whipped out the "there is no try" Yoda quote during the lesson and it gave me a tear. 

- speaking of Star Wars still haven't seen Rogue One yet #AchievementUnlocked 

- The Office Staff Savage Moment of the Week™ sponsored by Morton Salt was when we were picking up some new cars with Elder Baird and I brought up the tender subject of the Panther getting ready to hang up the cleats and he says "well good because if you want any chance with a girl you need a different car." #ShotsFired 

Life is good family. The church is true. Happy New Years, Q4 is starting so buckle up. 

Binge watch college football for me please. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

- Elder K

Pics 

- #MoarSnow 

- 64 oz Gatorade on New Year's Eve #TDFW 


- had special guest star celebrity appearance for New Year's Eve from the Cutbank Elders. It was fun chilling with Elder Hunter again and Elder Lankford is a boss from Missouri who is also a lover of Alex Smith.

Elder Vader Part II - December 26, 2016


What's up Fam!!!

- told Elder Baird (vehicle coordinator) we need Camaro's in the mission. His response was - "you need a girlfriend" #ShotsFired

- shared a Christmas Mormon message one night with a family. Had a minor Buddy the Elf "I know him" melt down when I saw Nic Goldsberry on the big screen. cc: @niccysmalls 

- had dinner with the Baird's (non office staff ones). They supplied us with the greatest meal ever... Bdubs and McDonald's fries. We put down I think roughly 60 wings that night. Then we played with their kids with the Nerf guns and Legos. They are a sweet fam, I love em, plus they gave me Utes socks for Christmas. 

Christmas rocked. Pretty neat getting to take the Sacrament on Christmas Day. The call was awesome... can't express enough how much I love my fam. Coolest part was seeing Eli walk to me haha, happy birthday dude. I love my family so much, good way to remind me what the gospel is all about.  

Love ya! 

- Elder K 

Pics 

*bairds = family goals



* had roughly 200 selfies on my iPad after the lesson 



* Christmas pajamas and annual Elder Vader Christmas picture