Ron Swanson Territory - April 24, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

Pretty crazy week... but it was a fun one.

- Monday the new missionaries came in. Elder Porter came in so he and Elder Hoschouer trained and I just kind of 3rd wheeled... mainly just chilled with

Sister Wadsworth and she taught me great life skills like setting a table.

 - leaving Billings was a lil rough. Never will like leaving areas but I got to ride in the transfer van with Crystal and that was party city USA plus she made me no bake cookies.

- I was doing alright until I started unpacking and I pulled a Lions mini helmet out of my suitcase then I started thinking about Maddy Baird and I shed a manly tear.

- Elder Baum is chill. Good baller. We have been having a blast with each other... get ready for a lot of funny stories. He's from San Antonio and has been out 6 months.

- remember Meg that got baptized in the YSA??? She married Braylen and they are in a our ward and things are just like the good days last Fall. We hang out with them quite a bit. One of the best parts about being here is I get to see all of my YSA family.

- a guy in the Ward used to coach volleyball at Utah and is now at MSU. I filmed highlights for him a few years ago. Lots of Utes in the Ward.

OK I have a funny story to share...

For those of you who remember my farewell, you may recall me referring to Montana as "Ron Swanson territory." Well, last 11 months I have either been on a college campus or in the heart of Billings so not quite Ron Swanson territory... but Bozeman 1st Ward and Big Sky Branch are Ron Swanson territory. Outside of the city, we have mountains...rivers... animals... good stuff.

We go to a dinner one night and this particular member is the closest I'll get to meeting Ron Swanson... this was the First time I met Patriarch Marlow and it changed my life... he is the G.O.A.T of Bozeman.

- huge Utes fan. "I love the Utes and all teams that beat BYU... which Utah is quite good at." *smiles at me. He and his wife would pull a face anytime someone mentioned the team down south. They are more salty than Hackett and Viliseni.

- we talked about domesticating a bald eagle and naming it "Freedom Washington"

- they live out by the mountains and have tons of wildlife around their place. There have been several occasions he has chased bears out of his yard while only wearing under wear #Goals.

--- me - "well I guess wildlife is better than dealing with people" - "yeah, especially since if I want to shoot annoying people everyone gets upset"

BEST PART

We go outside to leave and I'm taking a picture of the sunset. Next thing I know Baum is taking off screaming like a 4 year old and a cute little lamb is chasing him. Super funny. Lamb comes over to me and I was playing with it then I put it back over it's fence. (One of the funniest moments of my mission... I just can't even describe it.)

 

So he steps out after observing this, thanks us for getting the lamb back, and then drops pure wisdom on us...

*now please imagine this in your best Ron Swanson voice. This guys facial expressions... voice tone... everything is like Ron Swanson.

"The fence is like the commandments... stay inside and you are safe.

Leave the fence and you die"

I added "then the missionaries have to come save you" and he nodded his head in approval and smiled and I got butterflies in my stomach not gonna lie. I love that man. I told him he reminds me of Ron Swanson and that is the highest honor I can give someone. HE'S A UTAH MAN TOO!!!!

K, back to mission stuff.

- we also cover the Big Sky Branch. We went up to help clean the branch and met some of the members. Excited to be in a branch, the members seem awesome. We already have some people ready to be taught and I'm pumped.

- Big Sky... is unreal. The ski resort is insane... fishing, golf...

just wow. Pumped to do work up there. Gonna try and hit up Tom Brady and Bill Gates over in the Yellowstone Club...

Really excited to get work done here. We already have quite a few people lined up that we are excited to get things going. Between the Ward and the Branch we have some good things going on, the members are stepping up. Feels good to be back in Bozeman too, I have already seen a lot of people I know so it feels like home.

I love the gospel fam. Especially love the scriptures. There was a YSA kid I taught last Fall that was pretty much starting from scratch with his testimony, I have stayed in contact with him and a few months later he's come a long ways... I believe in large part due to the Book of Mormon, he went from not knowing what he believes to telling us how happy he is when he reads. It changes lives, it brings you closer to Christ, persuades you to do good... exactly what Nephi said it does in

2Nephi: 33. Read the book, simple as that.

I love the gospel, I love my mission. Good stuff. Weird to see it winding down... it's taught me way more than I ever imagined. Heavenly Father loves us, so important that everyone knows that.

Life is good, love ya fam

- Elder K

*also like to wish all of you a happy one year anniversary of the #tickcident. Still the scariest day of my life.

Pics

- We both left Billings zone to go west, next time I see Elder Hendricks we will both be home. Come a long ways since the MTC district.

 

- original crew back in Bozeman for transfers. Unfortunately only McBuckets is staying in the zone but good to see Bennett and Hunter too.

- that hoop...  memories

- #WelcomeToMontana

- the lamb.

- Big Sky. Just to give you an idea how big that ski resort is. Me and @pettbryan will have some adventures up here with fishing poles and skis.

- new picture that will be used for all memes sent to Elder Christensen

"Family on 3" - April 17, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

Alright so... Today's schedule is a little whack as the incoming missionaries (who usually come in on a Tuesday) arrive today. We will be with them most the day, so I won't be emailing much till next week, if I don't respond that is why.

 

(New arriving Elder, Elder Dawson Craig. His family is good friends with Elder McMahon's family)

 

- QOTW - Elder Hoschouer - "what is Elder Palmers first name? Me - "David". He doesn't watch 24 so he didn't get it but still.

- This drunk dude accused us of being drunk... that was cute. Street contacting down town Billings at night is always fun.

-Had a #Trunkfest2k17 this weekend with the departing missionaries. 9 sisters and 1 elder... THE Elder Wells. He spent his last few days with us and we had a good time reminiscing of the good days. He's a true bro to me... even if he's a Coug, we are tight. Lot of things happened those 4.5 months that were not mentioned in the weekly email... yeah, Gonna miss him. #CougarsDontRoar

Easter... was awesome. Another one of those days that really gets magnified on a mission. I love the Plan of Salvation so much fam. It's especially comforting during the REALLY tough trials we face, but it's not something we should only focus on when there is a death or something really difficult. It needs to be our foundation all the time. It's powerful knowing why we are here and what's really important. Knowing what the end goal is - returning to our Father in Heaven, and knowing that it  is only with our Savior by our side that we can do it. It's especially comforting knowing families can be forever.

It's all about family, always will be. We are all brothers and sisters, I know that now. I'm leaving the West Park Ward tomorrow and same story different area... feels like I'm leaving family. I've loved it here and the family I have gained, I'm gonna miss it. These weekly emails just don't cut it... I have loved it out here.

The gospel is so cool when you think about it. It unites us, just like we were before we came to this earth, it brings us together. I love it fam, I love it out here, I love seeing what the Gospel does to people.

Christ changed the world, but he also changes us individually. A lot I still don't know, but I know it works and it's true. You don't have to know it all to commit to it, start where you are and you'll feel the difference.

So, with Easter and leaving Billings, I'm reminded how grateful I am for my family and the Plan of Salvation and a Savior that makes it possible. As Jacob puts it in 2 Nephi 9 - "how great the plan of our God!". As the United Together Eternal Soldiers put it - "Family on 3".

Love ya fam

- Elder K

- speaking of family... next area is Bozeman 1st Ward/ Big Sky Branch with Elder Baum (he's a baller, we are gonna have some fun)... I'm so hyped. Feels like I'm going home to Bozeman haha, this is the "triple dip" in the stake and I am pumped. I love it there. I have some work to do already planned :)

Pics

- Baird's... I love this fam. Especially maddy ❤️

- President Wadsworth and his "cowboy up" belt buckle. If he was holding his "stupid hurts" bandaid and a picture of John Wooden then that'd be the perfect way to describe President. I'm going to miss being around him and Sister Wadsworth.

- 1st selfie 11 months ago... last selfie in our truck on the way to the airport. Gonna miss that dude.

"Don't let Frank catch ya" - April 20, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

- BIG NEWS.... WE FOUND A FRANK! We had a zone conference in Wyoming and on the way back found a Frank. I wasn't tractor tipping so he wasn't too mad. Someone needs to tell Z for me, the list of remaining Cars is getting smaller and smaller...

 

- had dinner with my mom's cousin's family. They were super chill. I officially accept them all as my cousins I like them so much, we had a good time. Was gonna say they're a sweet fam but I guess that means I'm sweet too so yeah... they're a sweet fam. #FamilyOn3

 

- the Zone Conference was sweet. Good seeing all the Wyoming missionaries. President talked about Alma 32 and how we need to nourish the good seeds... but also make sure we aren't nourishing bad seeds (thoughts, habits, etc.) also. I really liked that.

- we stopped at this food truck called Hog Heaven... great Odin's raven... I got a 3 lb. baked potato covered in cheese and pork and it was amazing. The potato tasted good so it probably wasn't from Idaho.

 

#ShotsFired #SorryKurt. Whole time I was eating it I was thinking how great it'll be when me and @pettbryan can put those down together.

- had our last District Meeting of the transfer, I'll miss this district. For district pics I brought my light sabers. However one light saber decided to go off during a sisters discussion so that was a lil embarrassing. Nothing beats having light saber noises coming from my bag during a spiritual moment in district meeting. #SorryMom.

 

- drove to hamilton Friday. 6 hour drive there. Wow... I have really missed that place. I was reunited with a Naps burger along with my #HamTown fam and it felt really good. Words don't do it justice how much I love it there and my other areas, seriously felt like I was back with family.

 

Guess I should explain why we were on the other side of the state haha. Someone I taught last year was getting baptized and President let us drive to it. I haven't mentioned a lot about this couple but they mean a lot to me and I'm sure I'll be talking about them for a long time. She was a less active and her husband wasn't a member, we'd go over and do service and play with their dogs and throughout that time some pretty miraculous things happened that helped build their testimony. Over the last year he took the lessons and committed to baptism. That's the short summary version... just know they are amazing.

We went over the night before the baptism and John opened the door and behind him was a white jump suit hanging up on the door. I can not even come close to describing how special it was to see him almost a year later and seeing that white jump suit hanging up behind him.

Then I started to @pettbryan (v. To cry) and he did to.

I can't describe what that was like to see him baptized, just wow.

So cool to see him and his wife and how happy they were. When I left Hamilton a year ago they were approaching a monster of trials and they were very scared, a year later they still are dealing with those trials, but you can see the difference because of the Gospel.  You can see the perfect love of our Savior casting out all fear.

 

I could go on forever about this family, this story is one my grandkids will be hearing a lot someday. Miracles happen family, The Gospel brings true joy.

I'm very grateful for my family in Montana and what they teach me. I love it here so much. Being in Hamilton this last week and as I get ready to leave the West Park Ward in Billings I'm reminded how much I love the people here and I cannot wait for when my family home can meet all of them and eat 3lb pork baked potatoes with me and I can take pictures with Frank and Z. If being trunky means you are excited to go home so you can come right back then sign me up. #TrunkFest2k17.

We still have work to do though haha.

 Love ya fam

 - Elder K

 

Pics

- district pics #Splashtanic

- hog heaven

- frank

 

- Naps + The Meuchal's = best day ever

 

- oh I have missed that court

- John and Barbara

- coach and mama J

 

- Brown's continue to be on fire. Tag turned 3 and Mark and Jessica accepted a calling to teach primary #AchievementUnlocked

- gold jacket.. green jacket...

- Time lapsed the 12 hours of driving. Got some cool stills. We saw all four seasons. #WelcomeToMontana

"All In" - April 3, 2017



What's up Fam!!!

- had some exchanges this week. Did one with Elder Fleming, he's playing DE at BYU this Fall so we had a good talk about football, cool guy.

 - dinner with the Potter's and Lynch's again... so much fun. Potters are moving and were having someone come over to check out the house and I joked with them that me and Elder Hoschouer were gonna pull a Step Brothers to try and get the house not to sell #EveryoneRecycles.  Disney - Ron Swanson - Stepbrothers, I love that family.

- highlight of week was a lesson we taught to a deaf woman. Elder Hoschouer and a sister in the zone know ASL so the four of us went to the lesson and although I had absolutely 0 clue what was going on, the spirit was super strong. At one moment it was especially strong and I had a feeling they were talking about baptism... Part of that due to the sign for baptism I guessed that's what they were talking about, but really it was how strong the spirit was at the moment that sold me, I had a feeling they were putting her on date and sure enough they did. It was really cool.

I have a strong testimony why we are put with certain companions, Elder Hoschouer was perfect for that lesson. This isn't a one man job out here, we all have our different skill sets, appetites, strengths, weaknesses, Etc.. that help us reach certain individuals that Heavenly Father needs us to reach. He knows what he is doing if we listen to and follow Him. Everyone is needed in this work.

- Our teaching pool took a fat dump on us this week but a less active we have been teaching came to priesthood session which was awesome. He originally said he couldn't make it cause the final four was on....but Saturday night he came walking into the chapel... pretty neat.  He's also a zags fan so #ChurchIsTrue. That was a sweet little miracle, once it ended he was smiling super big and said "that was amazing".

Conference was lights out as always. I love it. Here were my key take aways.

 "Go All In" on the gospel... "All in or in the way" as Coach Whitt would say.

 "Always stay humble and KIND" - President Monson was paraphrasing the Tim McGraw doctrine. Regarding the fat dump our teaching pool took on us that was a much needed talk for me to hear.

No Fear - if you are doing what you need to be doing... no reason to ever fear.

 I love the gospel so much, it's our road map to happiness and peace. I love seeing that in people, sucks when people don't make that choice to follow it, but when they do it's pretty sweet to step back and see the change.

 Something I have learned out here, you Stick with it. Enduring to the end is a true principle of the gospel. We will all be far from perfect, but you still go all in, and never fear failure. As Ron Swanson once said " don't half @ss two things, whole @ss one thing." and while that may be a little bit of an unconventional quote when talking about the gospel... I like it. "Go All In".

 So much more I wanna say. It was an up and down week but it strengthened my testimony that's for sure. I love it here, I especially love the families. Wow I'm gonna miss it.

Love ya fam.

- Elder K

 Pics

- last weeks home made driving range at the stake center.

- pretty bad picture but us and E. Rentfro and Fleming. You can probably tell which one is the DE...

- Lynch's and Potters

 

 

- when U see it...

- tag's birthday present... super hero dress up. I love this fam so much. #AdventuresWithTag

- spent most Friday at a zone service project. Made a little edit on my gloves in case I gotta play DB on the adversaries fiery darts out there...

 

- #SplashElders building a chicken coop

- not gonna lie any time it showed the salty city #TrunkFest2k17

- Lynch's Nintendo shrine. He and brady would be good friends.

- yes... crystal got us flamin hot cheeto's & Nutella. She's the best.

- what better place to close out the mission conferences than at the Baird's... super fun afternoon. Maddy and I are still a thing.