"Increase the Force" #ChallengeAccepted - May 22, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

- met this cool Ukrainian dude at a park filming stuff. Had a good chat, talked about Heavenly Father. Wasn't interested to take the lessons but it was cool telling him God loves him.

- had a lesson with a girl that cut my hair at Great Clips. It was pretty cool. She's YSA so we'll have to pass her on eventually but it was a sweet lesson. The gospel answers a lot of questions.

- had a mission tour in Billings with Elder Dyches of the Seventy. Super powerful meeting. Plus got to see LOTS of missionaries.

- my new thing is to carry a mini light saber with me wherever I go so I had to be really careful to not start playing with it during the mission tour. Elder Bennett brought his mini master chief and we were both freaking out a little bit.

- winter hit again for a few days so that was fun. Crazy snow storm.

- Baird's stopped in Bozeman so we went to Firehouse Subs and I got to see Maddy. Best day ever. 

- Tim McGraw was in town this weekend and I didn't go. #AchievementUnlocked

- I don't know if anything beats talking Utah football with Tony Stark and his girls while eating Starbursts before sacrament meeting starts. They are #FamilyGoals. m|_|m

- Elder Christensen got to stay at our place on their way back to Kalispell so we took a trip down memory lane and visited Belgrade. Highlight seeing Gina and Kenny, the Robisons and Broughtons. 18 months later and it feels just like the old times.

- had a Stake Priesthood meeting and someone was using the "power" physics equation to compare to the Priesthood. Stake President specifically said "we need to increase our force" and he was meaning it to be spiritual but the nerd I am turned to the row of elders sitting next to me and I forced choked Elder McElvany as I pulled the Kylo Ren light saber key chain from my suit coat. Just like the good days of the #BozeForce.

- Elders McElvany and Wilson also slept over last night and that was about as #TDFW you can get while still being a missionary. #OperationPixieStick

The stake priesthood meeting and mission tour were spiritual overloads from the week, big time spiritual mind grenades. Throw in some good lessons with Elder Baum and a night of #BGrade with Elder Christensen  and you got a pretty sweet week.

Something that's been on my mind a lot recently is the word "remember". It's an important part of the gospel. We go through a lot of rough experiences in this life, and it's easy to forget the good, but it's those moments when you need to remember. Remember the blessings, the miracles, covenants, and family. Most of all remember that you have a loving Heavenly Father and Savior. 

Mosiah 25:16 - "... they should remember that it was the Lord that did deliver them." 

Helaman 5:12 - "... remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation" 

Mark 8:18 - "Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?" 

The list goes on and on throughout the scriptures, no coincidence that the people who start to fall are the ones who forget. Remembering is vital, the sacrament shows that. "That they do always remember Him." Remember the good fam.

I love the gospel. I love the experiences that it has given me that I can look back and remember during the tough times. My mission is another big "remember". Experiences with people I love that have strengthened my testimony in so many ways that I never want to forget.

Love ya fam,

- Elder K

Pics 

- winter pics 

- these train pics were taken within 30 minutes of each other. #WelcomeToMontana 

- reunited with Captain Hosch 

- held Tim McGraw tickets and didn't go #AchievementUnlocked 

- this happened... 

 

 

- boys reunited 

- otter and baby ducks

 

 

- when you're a missionary but deep down a sith. 

"Force Choking Pirates" - May 15, 2017

What's up Fam!

- out at lunch one day and "Escape" played on the radio. Since it was opening week for GotG 2 that was a tender moment and made me extra grateful for my baby Groot and all the experiences we have had.

--- typically one relates songs to girls. I do it with my Baby Groot anytime I hear a song from awesome mix vol 1. #NoRegrets

- it takes about all I can handle to not start cracking Iron Man jokes when I talk with Brother Tony Stark at church. He's a stud, I love him.

- sat in with the Priest quorum yesterday and they were talking about how they should do a food day at church... boy do I have an idea for you... #PQP

- went to Belgrade and we stopped by the Richards. Rozzi is huge now and we had a good time playing with each other. C-Rich was being his typical G.O.A.T self and he and Leah talked with us as he worked on the '67 Camaro.

- also went out to see the Robisons and can't say enough how special that family is to me. Feels like yesterday we were teaching them for the first time. We played a pirate game outside where we were raiding the back of the truck and it somehow also included RPG's and the force. Tag would have loved it. #ThatEscalatedQuickly

- Saturday we had the sweet opportunity of going to the temple with Corey and McKayla Broughton. They teach me, they're amazing. Being in the temple with them is so special.

 

- ... then afterwards we went to Scheels and rode the Ferris Wheel with Corey haha. Also stopped by Cafe Rio and I got to see Crystal and the Baird's. Maddy and I are still very much a thing.

 

So as it sounds... it was a week of seeing family it felt like. Whether that is Bozeman... Belgrade... Billings...  or wherever, I can't even describe how much I love my family up here and can't imagine life without them.

Yesterday was the perfect cherry on top to that as I got to call home for Mother's Day. That was the last call out here and I'm gonna miss those butterflies you get before you hit the call button... I can't say the same about that feeling when you hang up haha, but it's a humble reminder to me that there is no way I could be doing this without lots of help from Heavenly Father and others, cause I really miss those guys.

 

A lot I'm still learning in regards to the gospel, but one thing I know for certain is the power the gospel brings to families. I don't understand it all, but it blesses families we teach, and it has blessed mine immensely. It really builds my testimony of it all when you see the fruits of living the gospel.  I want to be with them forever so you better believe I'll do whatever that takes, and help families reach that too.

There's a lot more stuff I'd love to share but putting into words is just getting too frustrating now haha.

Love ya fam,

- Elder K

Pics

- Rozzi and the Camaro

- road trip Corey broughton edition™

- temple

 

- Heisman

 

- Ferris wheel. It actually kind of freaked me out so we will see how Disney goes in a few months.

 

- car selfie

 

- Baird's kids

- screen shots from the call.

"Moooooose" - May 8, 2017

What's up Fam!!!

- that lesson in Big Sky last Monday was sweet. Really sweet lesson...

One of those lessons I don't even want to try and put into words.
plus, on the way out we saw a moose... it was awesome.

- remember Oscar and Nora from Belgrade my first few months??? They moved to Bozeman and we saw them this week. Oscar and I talked about birds and Pokémon just like old times.

- had dinner with the Carlson's in Belgrade. Bishop passed on the family heirloom of the jacket he wore on his first date with Sister Carlson to me... most amazing jacket ever, so I feel very honored haha.

- hit a 3/4 court shot during weekly planning this week that was pretty intense.

- Lot of walking and biking this week meaning many things yelled at us. My fave non-explicit thing yelled at us "WE LIKE TO SIN!", haven't heard that one before. Wanted to respond with the Alma doctrinal bomb of wickedness not being happiness but didn't have time.

- talking to this member visiting from San Diego and he was telling me about a NFL player that used to show up to 9am church before the game and help set up chairs for the meeting... told me he had a nice beard and Mohawk. @Weddlesbeard #UtesInTheNFL

That moose we saw was pretty sweet. I barely saw it... but I'm glad I did! It got me thinking about all the times I have driven past a moose...bear... elk... and had no clue. Then that got me thinking how often we cruise by in life without noticing all the little miracles and tender mercies Heavenly Father puts in our path. Is the world going to 💩?

Absolutely, but the Gospel isn't. Restoration is still going on,  the work is still progressing. Heavenly Father is still reaching out to us, we just need to be humble and receptive enough to see all the good.

So many miracles and blessings around us if we open our eyes to them. My mission has been full of them and I can't say enough how grateful I have been for this experience. We talked to the seminary students this morning about going on a mission and that put me in a glass case of emotions, not gonna lie... what the heck just happened? Assuming I actually went to seminary, I was that kid in the back corner chilling on Twitter with ZERO desire to serve a mission and here I am out 22 months telling them how great missions are. Hit me like a wave up there.

The Church is true fam. Freaks me out to think where I'd be without it.

Don't be afraid of change like I was. I'm grateful for the events that took place to get me out here and the people who got me out here cause it's changed me forever. Thanks for all the support along the way.

Happy Mother's Day to the wonderful mom's in my life!

- Elder K

Pics

- Moose, it was dark so I had to jack up the brightness on the pic.  Tough to see.

 

- millennium falcon driving into the sunset on May 4th

 

- evening entertainment brought to you by Bridger view apartments.  Apparently there were only 2 deaths in the month of April #AchievementUnlocked

- staring at my ceiling one night and saw this. #Trunkfest2k17

- biked 8 miles to this part of our area to do service.

- #WelcomeToMontana

 

- Cache King 💰 👑  got married this week and moved on from the YSA so my wedding present was Pistol Pete socks from Pistol Pett.

"Tony Stark & Big Horn Sheep" - May 1, 2017

 

What's up Fam!

- we had a sweet lesson with a family this week (I'll mention more later) and we brought Sister Stark with us to help teach. I jokingly asked if her husbands name was Tony... she responds "yes" and I cried a little. Not only is Tony Stark in my ward he is also a huge Utes fan.

- Last week it was Ron Swanson, this week it's Tony Stark. Insert Ricky Bobby "I don't know what to do with my hands" gif. #UteProud #ILoveBozeman

- while on that topic, I also got a present from Elder Christensen this week...  I now have a giant Iron Man helmet protecting my standard works on my PS desk. It also makes noises and lights up.

- we went to Big Sky for the weekend and stayed with the Treasures. Super awesome family with a sweet home. It was a blast. Can't wait to come back up and stay with them when the hot tub in the back yard and ski resort isn't off limits haha. Not gonna lie it got me thinking about the man date road trips me and @teambetalpha and the bros will go on to big sky #SorryMom.

 

- so on the drive up there, there were about 15 Big Horn Sheep just chilling on the road. My inner Jared Walton was telling me to go and pet them but then my inner mom voice told me not to.

- speaking of Elder Walton I also found a neat sign that they should probably put in Sweden... (check pics)

- went to the branch in Big Sky and that was really neat. Maybe 15 people there but it was a really powerful sacrament meeting. Doesn't matter where you go, the sacrament is so special.

Big highlight of the week was our lesson with the family I mentioned earlier. We kept it fairly simple and talked about Eternal families.  She expressed her desire to have a closer family and the spirit did its work in testifying that this is the path to go down. She also wanted to know how our church connects with Native American culture and history.... well, we told her about a book she needs to read and pray about. Yesterday they were sick so only the dad could come to church but they are wanting to be baptized. Family of 8 and I think 5 are old enough for baptism. Really neat family, Heavenly Father prepares people no doubt.

Also going out to Big Sky tonight to teach a family some of you may have heard about. Really excited to teach them, I got close to them last fall when I was in the YSA and I'm pumped. All about family.

The longer I have been a missionary the more I have realized what the Gospel does to people. I can't explain how it works, but when we finally stop doubting and looking for faults and rather avert all attention and focus to Christ and the beautiful simplicity of His gospel... things are better, not necessarily easier... but better. I noticed that a lot this week in our interactions with people. The Treasures especially, their conversion story blew me away. Simply put, people are happier with the gospel.

So much more I wanna say... all going by so fast. I love my mission, I love the Gospel, I love my Heavenly Father, I love my Savior who makes this plan of returning back even possible. I especially love my family. The gospel really does bring us together. Go out and live the life Heavenly Father wants you and needs you to live. "Look to God and live" like Alma says.

Love ya fam

- Elder K

Pics

- #WelcomeToMontana

 

- saw this and thought of something we would do to Cody

- #TBT the district meeting game show Mic, we miss you Elder Bennett

- district pics

 

- Elder McElvany and I Heisman'ing  a raptor, I love this zone.

- member took us to Dominoes while the draft was on, shed a manly tear when Garret was drafted. #FamilyOn3

- #MoarMountains

- the sign they need to put in Sweden

-

 big sky and big horn sheep pics

 

- updated personal study desk.