Ghost Ninja - February 27, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

- Last Monday night we drove to Bozeman for zone conference the next day. That place feels like home. We went to the YSA FHE event which was toilet paper dodge ball and it was so good seeing everyone.

--- shed a manly tear when Cache King #💰 👑  said "is that Pistol Pett in the flesh?!?"

- zone conference was sweet. Got to see Elder Bennett which was great, I love that guy. Fun catching up on all the adventures we had in the #BozeForce Zone as well as quoting Halo and Old Greg.

- dropped off a present out at the Broughtons and that family still amazes me, they're awesome. Gospel is sweet.

- Belgrade... Bozeman... that's a special place. I love it there. Felt like I was back with my family.

- Montana weather is the reason why I have trust issues... sunny and

50, then blizzard the next day... then back to sunny... back to snow today...

- can't remember if I mentioned this last week but we were knocking doors and I'm pretty sure there was a dead body in a garbage bag... #SouthSide (check the pics)

 - we updated the GPS and found it necessary to get some new vehicle icons.... we can now pick between R2, Millennium Falcon,  XWing... and Optimus Prime... if you only knew how excited I was for Optimus Prime.

I think for most people the missions help them grow up but I honestly think I'm more of a little kid #SorryMom.

That's all I have for ya this week. Nothing too crazy. We have been giving a lot of blessings for all types of different reasons and I'm really grateful we have that opportunity. We gave one to a recent convert from the sisters ward who is facing a lot of trials yet is so faithful. She's a young mom from Brazil who left her abusive husband for the church. She has one remarkable story, I won't get into all of it but she's been a member for a whole month and she's teaching me what faith and sacrifice really is. She strengthens my testimony as do all those we get to teach. Also got to give a blessing to Tag then play Ghost Ninja with him and that was fun... don't really know how to describe the Ghost Ninja game... lots of running and hiding and screaming like all other games we play... I love Tag haha.

We teach all kinds of people in different situations and in different trials, but the universal theme I notice day in and day out is the Gospel blesses families. Simple as that. Doesn't mean your life will be perfect, but you will be happier. Heavenly Father is so eager to bless our lives.

Yeah that's it for the week. Life is good!

And happy birthday s/o to Lala!!!

Love ya fam,

- Elder K

Pics

- last DM of the transfer so I unleashed all the Disney treats

- #WelcomeToMontana

- south side

- construction worker Tag

- I was tired one morning and put on 2 watches 🐭

- #AutoBotsRollOut

- happy birthday lala!

#Target Acquired - February 20, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

- went to Costco... on the tv, Stephen A Smith was arguing with some other dude on ESPN and it made me think of mine and Elder Well's companionship.

- forgot to mention last week Wayne showed up in suit and tie so we sang Sharp Dressed Man for him at church.

- got a card from my mom explaining that next Valentine's Day maybe I'll have a girlfriend but I'm not sure how to break it to her it'll probably be @TeamBetaAlpha like always.

- went to the Pine Wood Derby to watch the Baird's son. He kicked butt. I had to hold the bench back when he came in first on a race.

 

- The kids were telling jokes from the mic at the Pine Wood Derby and I wanted to get up and say the good old "what does the BYU fan do after BYU beats Utah... they turn off the Xbox and go to sleep" joke but for the sake of stake missionary trust I didn't. Plus I'd hate to get sucker punched.

- also had a ribs night with the Baird's and they are #FamilyGoals I'll just leave it at that.

- got a Kylo Ren lightsaber keychain from Kurt so that has been added to the personal study desk shrine. I need  to be careful cause it's starting to look like I worship Groot.

 

- other additions to the Personal Study Desk Shrine™ includes my Bell valentine from Diz and putting a captain America head from a pez dispenser onto Ammon... possibly my best idea ever... yes we had a photo shoot during comp study.

 

- weather is heating up... which is so nice. Missionary work is 100x easier in nice weather. Already been playing pick up games of basketball and backyard football with kids and that's my kind of finding right there.

- someone mentioned the last name "Summers" in Ward council and that instantly sparked me singing "Summertime" by Kenney Chesney under my breath while thinking about the Panther... #Soon #TrunkFest2k17

- lots of exchanges this week. Was only with Elder Hoschouer one day which was a bummer but it was cool being around the other elders. E. McMiller, Ison, Shumway, Berret, Tippets, and my boy from the beginning - Elder Schneider. Had a blast with all of them, fun time.

K cool miracle of the week... so a few weeks ago, Elder Hoschouer and I went to Texas Roadhouse. Our waitress handed us a "play it forward" card.

What you do is look for someone wearing the described article of clothing on the card... before you give it to them, you write something new for them to find. And it goes on and on.  You can type in a code online and see where it goes and all that. Just keep on reading and you'll get it.

So I was wearing a pink tie and that's what the waitress needed to find, she gave me the card and wrote "red hat". When we got this card we joked that we would find someone wearing a red hat that is ready for the gospel... yeah...

So this card has been chilling with Groot and the lightsaber showcase on my desk for a few weeks... but Thursday I felt prompted to stick it in my shirt pocket. I was on exchanges with Elder Berrett that day and we had ZERO lessons set, meaning a day full of finding. Fortunately it was good weather and we hit the streets talking to people. About 2 hours go by and not much success is coming, but we kept on praying God would put us in the path of someone who would be ready for our message.

*man bikes by

*man is wearing red hat!!!!!

* I whisper to Elder Berrett "#TargetAcquired"

 We yell out to him and go over and start talking. This guy is super chill, really open with us. Super funny, just a cool dude. He expresses interest in us coming back... pretty sweet right! Before we leave I hand him the card (wrote Air Jordan's on it) and explain how I felt like I needed that card today. He then told us the red hat he was wearing... he never wears it, but that morning he felt like he needed to. It was starting to click in his mind that we were sent to him, and he told us a bit more about recent events in his life that proved that Heavenly Father directed us towards him.

Stuff like that doesn't happen all the time as a missionary but when it does... it's pretty dang sweet. Who knows if this guy gets baptized... or reads the Book of Mormon... or any of that...  ideally he would, but in that moment we were able to boost his faith and testify to him of eternal families all because of a card we got at Texas Roadhouse, that alone is worth it.

It's a crazy life out here but it's pretty cool. I'm learning everyday... the Gospel is neat. Do your job and Heavenly Father does His, simple as that.

Love ya fam

- Elder K

Pics

*temple

*when you take your Kylo Ren light saber to district meeting but you don't want to get rebuked by the sisters so you just play with it under the desk

* playing "fire monster" with Tag. Who ever is the fire monster hides and then the firefighters go and chase it down then the fire monster chases the fire fighter... I don't know how it works but we have fun.

Yes, Tag is holding a dinosaur light saber.

* Personal Study Desk Shrine™. You can sum up my life in these pictures.

 

* pine wood derby... I shed a manly tear when I saw the guy standing next to me was a Utes fan.

 

*special celebrity guest star Elder Baird came to visit the office today. #GOAT

 

It's Not Always Highlights, But This Week it Was! - February 13, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

- it was a whopping 37 degrees one night so went to get Cold Stone to cool off. Never in my life would I think 37 felt so warm.

- while at Cold Stone, "Humble and Kind" came on the radio and I shed a manly tear.

- Startin to get real salty with all the churches here talkin crap on us but that's ok we can still try and love them. When I want to verbally light them on fire I just remember the Tim McGraw doctrine.

- got to do an exchange with Elder Hendricks, throwin it back to the MTC district days. Had a good time, great Elder to serve with.

- Wayne Sherman's quote of the week - "God is my CEO". I love that man. He and his wife are doing great.

---- k cool miracle this week. Elder Christensen and I were together for a few days, it was awesome... we went and checked out this insane neighborhood with nice houses. Elder Christensen gets a prompting to go talk to this guy outside picking up dog poop... his house was unreal... so we get talkin... he's a Kentucky fan #StillSalty... he asks what church we are with... he says the guy painting his house goes to that same church... I'm all "is his name Wayne???"... the dude tells us that's him... I START FREAKING OUT IM SO EXCITED, so we went in and saw Wayne and got to talk to this guy some more. What are the chances??? Pretty neat miracle, coolest part of it all was Wayne told him where he goes to church, he's on fire. He's sharing it with others too.

- Zone Conference in Wyoming this last week also. That was fun... got to see the missionaries there which is fun. Came back and had our exchange with Elder Christensen and Dougherty.... goooood times. Can't believe it's been 16 months since Elder Christensen and I teamed up in #BGrade.

- had our meeting with President last night and he was confessing some of his mission stories while we were eating cookies and milk... Sister Wadsworth just sat there shaking her head. Before we left we were told "what is said in this office stays in this office".  I love those two.

- just now realized next month is March Madness and we are going to fill out brackets with President... that's going to be gold.

Ultimate highlight of the week... probably highlight of the two years, was getting to see the fruits of our work from the Fall of 2015. Corey was someone Elder Christensen and I saw a lot of potential in, and every Friday we stopped by at 1 to chill with he and Briar and talk about all kinds of guy stuff... one of my last days there he told us he wants to be baptized and sealed to his family... we were shocked but at the same time, we knew all along he was gonna take that step, we just needed to be his friends. Corey was baptized shortly after I left Belgrade and this last weekend we got to attend the temple with he, MiKayla, and their little boy Briar for their endowment and sealing.

There's a lot I don't know about the gospel, a lot I'm still learning, but one thing I can absolutely testify of is the difference in this family from when I first met them in July of 2015, to now. It was NOT easy for them. They had to make changes, they had to commit, they had to show faith... repentance... baptism... ALL THAT, but they did it, are STILL doing it. They are doing what is asked of them. In return Heavenly Father is giving them what is promised. I know it can be hard seeing the big picture with the Gospel sometimes, but if you honestly put that trust in Heavenly Father he will pull through for you. I'm so grateful for their example to me and our eternal friendship, along with getting to share that experience with Elder Christensen. After it was over, the 3 of us stood there in the sealing room talking about cheese burgers and beards... just like old times.

It's not always highlights in a mission or real life, that's something Coach taught me back in #HamTown, but Saturday was one of those highlight days. I look back at my mission and it's pretty miraculous how things just work out or happen. I know Heavenly Father is the one in charge.

One last little miracle... We walk into the temple Saturday and guess who is there in the waiting room... Alex, the girl we taught back in the fall in Bozeman! Despite her family threatening to abandon her she's wanting to be baptized this summer... and she's traveling 2 hours with the rest of the YSA to the temple just so she can sit in the waiting room. How sweet is that! Plus I got to see others from the YSA which was great, I miss them a lot.

Then, that got me thinking... How many of us that can actually do ordinances in one of the 10 temples within a hour drive of us even go to the temple regularly???? Wayne is telling the guy he paints houses for where he goes to church, he's already passed me up on the missionary work I did before my mission!

These investigators, converts, returning less actives, they teach me.

I love it. It's a neat experience seeing how much they are willing to give up for the gospel that I was fortunate enough to have and be raised in by a supportive family. I really love my family here, It also took all self control to not start screaming when I saw the Bozeman YSA in the temple.

Still a lot to learn but some stuff you just gotta sit back and soak it in cause those little miracles are everywhere.  Gospel is pretty cool. Sorry this was all over the place haha.

Love ya fam

- Elder K

Pics

- Temple Sealing & Red Robin... Corey challenged me to eat the Ghost Pepper Burger and it was glorious

 

 

 

 

- dysfunctional district pics

- stayed with the Greybull elders and they bought a pack of NBA cards from the grocery store. They had Jakob's rookie card and let me have it! #PoeltlPower

- big sky

- Wayne's new thumb drive he bought on amazon... Wayne = G.O.A.T

- castle house

- sat next to a sun beam in church and we were drawing fire breathing dinosaurs and then this was him at the end of church... #Goals

Strawberry Shortcake - February 6, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

- had the Wyoming elders in for ball last Monday, good time seeing my boy Elder Christensen and especially getting to play some basketball with him and the Wyoming elders.

- also played some indoor softball... the Benchwarmers quotes were on point not gonna lie. A few elders and a sister caught on so that gave me hope for the mission. #YoureStillOut

- drove to Helena that night for MLC, stopped at a gas station and JB was on the radio and I shed a manly tear thinking about Elder Wells.

- I have decided MLC is pretty much the Jedi Council for the Montana Billings Mission. Makes it more fun when I think of it like that. That was good stuff, fun getting to see everyone.

- drive back was... pretty sketchy. Got about halfway and the road was closed due to a wreck so we and about 7 other companionships + the Baird's flipped back around and spent the night in a hotel in Bozeman. We went and got dinner, went to Walmart... it was a good time. That bed though... <3

--- last time I stayed in a hotel... 18 months earlier - first night in Montana - and I stayed with Elder Hoschouer... that whole time we were a little blown away how fast this all went.

- taught the Plan of Salvation to the Browns... Tag is my best friend out here haha, I love that kid. He helped me out with the display cards and later tried to use them as a train. It was awesome.

 

- also got to teach the Sherman's... another family I'm just lovin. An older couple but they are so much fun. Highlight of teaching them as well as highlight of the week... we were teaching repentance and how it relieves us of guilt, addiction, shame... all that, and Wayne says... "it's like the first time you eat strawberry shortcake, it's just so good." Couldn't say it any better than that!

- Saturday there were some mid-transfers going on so we did some #MOARdriving. Some elders involved couldn't leave their apartment because they were snowed in #WelcomeToMontana but we all got out eventually. We drove to Butte and along the way stopped in Three Forks to drop off an elder... I SAW MARIAH OUTSIDE THE HIGHSCHOOL!!! Told Elder Hoschouer to stop and pull over and I jumped out.  Townsend was playing ball there I think, super bummed Jon wasn't there but it was sweet getting to see her. (She's Jon's girlfriend, I was really good at third wheeling them in Bozeman.)

- I think all together it was about a 9 hour adventure. No offense to #BillVille but man it's so pretty on that side of the state... saw 2 bald eagles... started a #TrumpChant whenever I saw them... #Merica

- lots of driving, pretty drive too. I did come to the humbling realization that there is no way the Panther will make it through some of those passes so that was a little sad.

- We had a good time. I like Elder Hoschouer, he brings out my inner nerd. During Weekly Planning we got on the topic of what if Optimus had a light saber and was force sensitive and I had to take a moment and lie down I was so overwhelmed at the thought. Wells and I talked a lot of sports... Hoschouer and I just nerd everywhere. I love it.

- yesterday church rocked. Tag came running in to give us hugs. He wanted us to play Batman and Superman with him and despite my inner child bursting inside of me we had to explain we couldn't at church. Did give him his future missionary pin and he was stoked! It was awesome.

 

- went to the Conger's for a correlation meeting... got a score update and Falcons were up 21-3... went to the hospital a little later for a blessing and the tv we walked past had Tom Brady holding up the Lombardi and I was impressed not gonna lie.

- still don't like hospitals and raptors.

- today we went to get our haircut and I sat next to the 7 year old version of Steph Curry. Decked out in UA and everything. After about 10 minutes of spewing nba knowledge to me we became bros. he was sweet. It felt like I knew him, I think it's because he reminded me of Easton.

We're trying hard to get something going in our area, nothing so far but we're still at it. I think I'm getting mission fever, 5 months left and I really want to get something done. But it's not my timing that matters and you gotta remember that. There's still a lot left to do and learn.

One cool miracle... last Monday I had this person stuck on my mind but couldn't remember the name or where she's from. Then I realized it was an older lady from a dry cleaners in Hamilton that we taught. That next day at MLC the Hamilton elders told a story from a few days earlier about how they felt prompted to talk to a lady outside the dry cleaners who turned out to be a former investigator... same one I was thinking of.

Pretty sick. I love it when stuff like that happens haha.

I've been thinking about the Atonement a lot this week. You really gotta put all focus and strength on it if you want to over come the challenges we face on earth, I really want to help people see that. I don't know if there is anything cooler than seeing it take place in someone's life, especially when it involves Strawberry Shortcake or playing Buzz Lightyear & Woody with Tag.

Missions are a real nut punch sometimes. I thought by this point it would be easy but it's still a challenge, but those "Strawberry Shortcake"moments or playing fire fighter with Tag or even venting with a 7 year old at great clips about Lebron's atrocious flopping makes it worth it... pretty cool helping people be happy. Christ went through the ultimate grind for us. I like to imagine He had that same attitude as he struggled in the garden and on the cross, he knew how much it would help us and bring us happiness, rather it would "change us to happiness". What he did strengthens us to change, and as a missionary we are fortunate enough to have court side tickets to see that change to happiness.

I need the atonement just as much as they do. Same goes for everyone, we all need it, Christ is the only way. It's all a journey. Learn the lesson Heavenly Father is teaching you then move on to the next.

Love ya fam,

- Elder K

Pics

*when you're trying to take a MLC picture and elders can't keep their hands to themselves

* #UteProud

* Big 3

* Hotel Crew selfie

 

 

* Baird's kid made this... they are doing a bigger one for their city.

When I grow up I want to be like the Baird's kids. They are #FamilyGoals

 

 

 

* our new recruit

 

* my boy Steph Curry. His shoe game was on point.

 

* #WelcomeTomMontana, winter hit all over again this week.

* Elder and Sister Baird (different than Lego/Nerf Baird's) are out, gonna miss them. In honor here's a pic of nazi general transfer day Elder Baird. He'd yell orders in German, it was too funny.