#BaptizeStockton - June 27, 2016

WHATS UP FAM!!!

Well I'm auto bots rolling out of #HamTown and going back to Bozeman (hashtag nick name still under review...). I'll be doubled into one normal ward and the MSU YSA Ward (which is funny cause I always claim I'd rather take a steel toed boot to the nuggets than attend a YSA when I get home so proof God has a sense of humor). I'll be serving with Elder Crane who was just released as an assistant. He's a cool elder, he's the one I did exchanges with when I went to Billings a few months back. 2nd straight time President has paired me with a former AP so I'm super grateful for this learning experience. Gonna be crazy getting doubled in as zone leaders and Elder Crane goes home at the beginning of August so.... I gotta learn quick. Stoked like crazy to go back to the original zone where it all started 1 year ago and serve on a college campus  but... I don't wanna leave #HamTown. Freakin bummed. This part of the mission sucks. Church is still true. Here's some highlights of the week.

- sent a pic of the ketchup incident last week but didn't explain what happened... So we hit up DQ with the Corvallis elders and Elder Wells tried to look cool by spinning the ketchup bottle and it backfired...

This is why we can't have nice things.

- had a lesson with a less active family and Mama J and Kristen came along and they were so money. Really cool lesson. We used "Inside Out" to talk about joy and sadness. Mama J thought Wells and I had a reached a new level of consecration cause we knew the page numbers of verses thanks to the iPad.. I also colored Belle #WifeThatGirl in the princess coloring book so that was fun. Their 2 year old was playing with my quad and flipped open to the pic of Z and I and took it out and looked at it... Just like what Kyler did!!! second time that's happened!

- Wells and I were talking with the sister training leaders and they claimed I suck at rebuking so for the next 15 minutes we practiced role playing me getting pissed at disobedient missionaries. Pretty much just quoted Coach Hines the entire time.

Ex:

"Elder you stop screwing off on Facebook or I'm gonna set you on fire."

"Elder... If you refer to it as p-day and not preparation day one more time I'm going to remove your duodenum".

- We got back to our apartment one night and I straight up knocked it like we were tracting... I'd like to think that's consecration and worthy of a #AchievementUnlocked but I think it's exhaustion... I also tried to use a hymn book to look up a scripture in Isaiah during the mission tour and another night I had a little melt down cause I thought I lost the phone and Wells was in front of me talking on it...I'm turning into @pettbryan. Sleep is becoming my best friend.

- in Ether 12:24 Moroni is all like Ricky Bobby not knowing what do with his hands...  "Because of the awkwardness of our hands".

- went out with the Della Silvas... Made it the entire dinner without any fired shots then as we are leaving sister DS asks if I need any tissues... After I ask why she responds... "You know... For when BYU beats Utah..." #ShotsFired #PersecUTEtion

- got to baptize someone on Saturday!!! Super awesome. Her name was Kerry and was being taught by the sisters and they asked if I'd baptize her. Powerful testimony and conversion and I was super grateful to be a part of that.

- ... So after the baptism the #ZoneOfEnoch is all chilling together and someone said "you don't know me.." So I instantly... Almost automatically...  just starting going off....

"You don't know me... You don't know what I got... I got something to show you... I'M OLLLLLD GREEEEEGGGGG"

- everyone was looking at me confused and/or concerned except Sister Embry who was busting up laughing... She knows all about Old Greg.

She's coming to Bozeman with me so that's good and there were some other changes in the #ZoneOfEnoch. Yesterday telling them got emotional so I'm sure today it'll be worse at our last zone preparation day, we are a tight zone. In the most un-prideful way possible to say this I think President wanted to spread the #ZoneOfEnoch around the rest of the mission. Gonna miss this zone big time.

- saw a red tail hawk... Could have been the one that escaped that one year at the spring game #NeverForget. Didn't have laser vision though.

- got some scripture study notes MP3 version for ya. Alma 52:2 - @TeamBetaAlpha @MPett3 scripture. Alma 54: 7-8 the ultimate #ShotsFired subtweet from Moroni & Taken chapter. Alma 55:17 - #StealthOps.

- Naps with Sister Leiter and those are quite possibly my most favorite dinners as a missionary. I just get so happy when I see her and we get to down Naps burgers while talking about #TheRad

- when we can't find a address we call up Mama J to guide us... She's officially our Chloe O'Brien.

 

Biggest highlight next to the baptism was probably church on Sunday...

Man, I don't know what it was but Sunday was special. Church on transfer call day is always special. You wonder if that's gonna be it for you and the entire day you realize just how much you love that ward. Coach was hyping us up in ward council, mama J gave us a s/o from the pulpit and gave a talk worthy of #GenConf. Dallan Koerner passed the sacrament for the first time. Got to see Brother Matson and he told me he likes the fat head back home. We had 3 investigators there. It was a special day.

Then you get that call midway through Coach's fire gospel principle lesson deciding your fate and holy crap fam I'm just gonna let this out for a second so here comes a rant.

This part sucks. Hate is a strong word and I'll usually only use it when talking about ticks or horror movies or hospitals or my other "H*** NAH" aspects of life... But you can go ahead and throw transfers in there too. I don't doubt revelation, I know it's for a reason, but that doesn't make goodbyes any easier.

I don't really get attached to things that much... Back home I Just kinda did my stuff with those I knew... Didn't really care about branching out and trying new things with new people and don't really know why... Maybe I still got trust issues cause of Lotso in Toy Story 3 IDK but for whatever reason I just did my thing with the same people and the same stuff. Wake up, play ball, go to school, then work, make a video, play some more ball, cap off the night with some Subway and Ron Swanson on Netflix.  I liked that. All is well, life is good. Just me doing my thing. Some call it socially deprived but heck I was fine with it.

Then you go on a mission... And you actually talk to people and get to know them... And wow I have gotten attached to my areas! Hamilton was special, and a lot of reasons and events played in to that. I can't even begin to tell you the impact this place has had on me. It's so funny a year ago I left home fearing things would never be the same and here I am a year later feeling the exact same way.  I don't wanna leave this place, I don't want this to change. Words won't do it any justice. I love it here, I love the people we taught, I love Elder Wells, and I have never in my life felt so tight with a ward. There's a lot of reasons why we had the bond, and I'm gonna miss it.

Whenever I was freaking out last year (happened a lot) I remember going over and talking with Grandpa Phil . He'd tell me his mission stories and they got me so excited to serve. Well I can tell ya right now my grandkids will hear ALL about the petting whales bromance.

They'll hear about Mama J and Coach. They'll hear about the Chess nights with Greg and getting demolished in Nerf wars with Bro Warner.  The light saber of the spirit with Carson. Summer Christmas we had with the Kings. Naps with Sister leiter. Biking #SatanSummit. Talkin gaming strategies with the Equatore boys. Wizard playing his tunes out on main. Balling with cheese pizza. #ShotsFired at the Della Silva's.  #TickFromHell. Dave says no. The taser incident. P-Hut buffet with Corvallis after district meeting and many stories of the #ZoneOfEnoch.

Cereal nights with Bishop. The ward camp out and Disney charades.

Breaking and entering to get the score of Thunder - Warriors. Being know as "the pet" of the youth. Bro Meuchals legendary times he conducted sacrament meeting. The list goes on and on.

 

My kids will hear about the Matson's and how the faith and testimony of that family changed me. Hamilton left a legacy on me, they're family and I suck at saying goodbye to family. I feel like "Dumb and Dumber" was the best way to describe the transfer Wells and I had together so In honor of that... as Lloyd Christmas would say "I hate good byes." Can't wait to come back here. Love ya #HamTown.

Pumped to get back to Bozeman, I've been in grizz territory for quite some time and I'm no doubt a Bobcat at heart thanks to my first few months in Belgrade. Can't wait to see my #BGrade fam. Gonna be crazy being on a college campus but it's gonna be sweet, I loved doing exchanges there with Elder Metcalf and Elder Kennedy back in the day (pretty crazy thought I'm taking over their old area). It should be an adventure! Most elders get nervous cause the girls can be a distraction but not gonna lie I'm more nervous about being on a college campus during the fall lol. Sister Della Silva told us "and that's why they aren't afraid to put Elder Pett there"... One last #ShotsFired.

 

But ya, this is Elder Crane and a few other in the zones last transfer... The same month all my friends go home... While being on a college campus with the greatest time of year approaching where there will soon be a yell ringing through the mountains near and far... So combine all that and hopefully it doesn't lead to a nuclear disaster of being homesick lol. So that makes me a little nervous but if Bishop Hawkes taught me anything here it's "I'm not scared". Just gotta go out and make it yours. Ammon had every reason to be nervous but instead he cut off arms and converted the king #AchievementUnlocked

Cutting off arms is probably frowned upon so we will hold off on that but we're still gonna find and baptize the greatest point guard to play the game since he is coaching at MSU. #BaptizeStockton.

Love ya fam, and that includes Elder Wells and the #HamTown fam too.

Gonna miss this place so much. I have 0 desire to leave my family here but I guess you could say the same thing about me a year ago and that was the best decision I've made. It just never gets easier out here haha. Missions are crazy man. I love it.

- Elder K

Pics

2 year old girl who found the pic of Z and I. She was reading the Book of Mormon to her bear. Gonna miss her, we'd play during sacrament meeting.

Mission Life is a Highway - June 29, 2016

WHATS UP FAM!!!!!

- hike at Como was sweet. Falls were gorgeous. U already know we are going back there to kayak one day. Caked on the tick spray and No ticks baby! #LightTheU

- got in a friendly texting argument with the sister training leaders... They claimed we were exercising unrighteous dominion for changing our leadership council time.... So we claimed we are like Moroni... Ya we won that argument real quick. 

- During our ZLC I yelled "SUPER DUPER!" When it was announced there was a family on baptismal date... I wish more missionaries understood my Ron Burgundyisms.  #LeatherBoundBooks

- Houston's showed us their Apple pressurizer thing. Freakin sweet.

That's authentic AJ right there... Tasted good but the digestive effects were almost as bad as the laxative gummy bears Jared would try and feed me in the bunker. #NeverForget

- only had one person tell us we are going to Hell for being Mormon this week. #AchievementUnlocked

- Wells and I were reminiscing over our fave Jack Bauer moments. I was goin off on the "you don't know me." quote when he had President Logan hostage. Capped this off by saying "dude it was hot." Well I completely forgot the sisters were standing behind us and I turn around and they were shaking their heads at me like that one dude in Happy Gilmore.

- Brother Fischer showed his guns to us after dinner. It was like the scene in Iron Man 2 when Hammer is putting everything out on the table except bro Fisher is way cooler than Hammer.

- we were up till midnight one night debating if the bunk broke would it kill me. #ThisIsHowWeDoIt

- #Tracting🚜💨 one night and a bug flew in my eye. That next morning it came out. #AchievementUnlocked

- they sell these cheap fruity waters at the gas station that straight up taste like Caprisuns. They're beaut.

- quoting Jack Bauer again.... Mama J got the "You don't know me" reference. #AchievementUnlocked.

- Kings came back from Utah with the special cargo. Oh man I was about to cry when I saw that salsa. Super fun night, they had so much stuff for us!!! It felt like Christmas except I didn't get to FaceTime an emotional @pettbryan. Freakin love the Kings. Sweet fam.

- went to youth conference for the first time ever! That made up for all the times I didn't go growing up right??? #SorryMom. We helped get stuff set up and it was fun chilling with the youth. Saw ma boys cheese pizza and Anthony Equatore. Freakin love the youth here. Bro Warner was in charge of the water fight and he had it out for us. We did a good job avoiding the attacking forces but he knew I wouldn't turn down a hug so he got soaking wet and came in for one and that's what ended up getting me.

- that next morning we were driving past the field they were all gathered on so I hung my self out the window and yelled "go Mormons!".

So worth it.

THEN WE HAD THE MISSION TOUR!!! OH MAN IT WAS A GOOD COUPLE DAYS EVEN THOUGH I WAS RUNNING ON LIKE A COMBINED 6 HOURS OF SLEEP!

- so we get to Billings late Sunday night and we slept in the bunks in the mission home. Most of the zone leaders sleeping over in the same room... You can probably see why we got no sleep lol. Plus the A/C was out so we opened the door to the balcony which didn't help at all and instead filled the room with mosquitos but SA missionaries deal with that and no A/C all the time so can't complain on that one.

- we will have two new AP's named in the next 2 transfers... So that night we are talking about it and E. McKenzie and I's names were getting tossed around in the group convo (which doesn't mean anything AT ALL) and we have no desire to fill that role so we were joking that we gotta do something stupid enough to take our names out of the running but not stupid enough where we get demoted from zone leadership. Don't worry mom we were kidding, plus back home when we would do something stupid we never got caught... We would just accidentally leave a 80 yard burn mark in the grass... Still the greatest slip n slide ever... #OperationABRO

- we rock up to breakfast that next morning with Elder Anderson of the

70 attending. I was pretty nervous, not sure what he was gonna be like. He walks in as I'm pouring myself a nice bowl of cereal. I introduce myself, can feel him gazing into my soul as he shakes my hand... Still pretty nervous... Then...

"Well, for those of you wondering, Cleveland won game 7."

Yep. If he was truly gazing into my soul then he knew what to talk to me about lol! So that was a relief. Instead of getting rebuked for eating coco puffs like I was imagining I instead talked basketball with the General Authority! He was an amazing man, reminded me a lot of Grandpa Pett. It was awesome getting to spend a few days around him and his wife. (Wife's name is Kathleen too btdubs). They had a powerful spirit with them.

- entire tour was practically a family and/or bromance reunion.

Felt so good seeing everyone. Christensen and I still have fire companionship unity, oh man it was good spending time with him.

McMahon, Splash Elder, McElvany, Mika, Jaques, Metcalf,so many good elders out here! Said goodbye to Masaou, Brimley, and Rose, that plucked my heart strings. Those elders receive the ultimate #AchievmentUnlocked this Saturday. I was even hyped when I saw our zone on Tuesday at the conference in Helena... Hadn't seen them in like 2 days and I freakin missed the  #ZoneOfEnoch. Seriously so grateful for Twitter so I can stay in touch with these elders and sisters. Can't wait for our bdubs reunions.

- Sister Anderson is giving a discussion during the Billings conference. She's saying something like "do you know who you are?" "Do you know what potential you have?" Really cool talk, really powerful... but I couldn't pass up the Dumb and Dumber reference opportunity so I turn to Wells and whisper "do you realize what you've DONE!!!" #TownIsBackThatWay

- talkin to Elder Baird when we were in the mission home (vehicle coordinator). We are pretty tight lol #TheyDone. Promised him baptisms would double if we added some 2016 Camaros to the fleet... He agreed but then said "ya but with your speeding habits you'd be in jail."

that was a #ShotsFired but it's Probs true... can't argue that...

probably a good thing the panther didn't go that fast back home. Also told him I want to stay in touch after the mission... His response "that's fine, call me when girls back home make you cry and you need someone to talk to"... 😑  then right on cue Sister Baird walks in and starts bashing on my Utes!

Why stop at 2 shots fired when you can whip out the 3 round burst assault rifle!!!!  #PersecUTEtion

- While on the topic of #PersecUTEtion I made it through the tour without any smack talk from Sister Dayes... I knew something was off... Then we get back to our truck in Missoula where it  was sticky noted with a "go cougars" on it.... I was pretty ruthless back home so I probably deserve all this...BUT  the Cougars are freakin savage up here fam! I don't even know how the mission all found out a A Utah Man am I but they don't hold back!!!  I'm trying to be more nice and civil as a missionary so I personally think this is just Karma for all the Twitter roasts I took part in #TwitterDreamTeam #SorryJonny. Well played tho. Still keeping my weapons of war buried.

 

-  One last other big highlight was where we spent Monday night... We took a trip down memory lane and stayed in #BGrade and wow that brought back memories. Unfortunately we got back late and left early that next morning so I couldn't see anyone but that's probs good cause I wouldn't have left haha.

 

Well fam my thoughts are all over the place but I think we'll end it there for the random non-spiritual stuff for the week. It was a fun week, I learned a ton from Elder Anderson. Hearing from him gives you a boost and gets you hyped to be a missionary. Lots of things I loved but my personal favorite was talking about determining success as a missionary, he said he determines it off of how Christlike you become in those 18-24. So that's been on my mind a lot, the way I think of it is it's almost like a mission is a 2 year college for becoming Christ like... And sisters just graduate a semester early cause you know... Sisters - senior couples - 50 foot pile of dog crap - Elders... Ya that makes sense.

Missions are pretty sweet when you look at it like that. I still have a LONG ways to go in terms of being Christ like but I feel a lot closer than I was a year ago haha. You learn a lot out here.

Being in Belgrade, driving around the mission, seeing my MBM fam, it all brought back a lot of memories. Helped me realize how awesome it's been so far. Never thought I'd love serving a mission this much haha.

Set aside the numbers, the leadership titles, the world, all that stuff that doesn't matter, and think of the big picture. 2 years where you can learn and practice being as Christ like as possible. It's rough at times but no college degree is gonna be easy so you especially can't expect this one to be.

I'm loving it fam! Even tho Wells and I straight up can't get an investigator to open their door to us it's all good! Church is still true! Its hard work, it's a challenge, but the challenge is fun, just gotta own it. Own your mission, make it yours. Buckle up and go for it with a focus on helping others. I'll never forget what @pettbryan would tell me every morning he'd leave for work as I was getting back from 5:30 ball...

"Go out and help someone be happy today".

That's all a mission is.  Seeing that glimpse of happiness tops out anything the world can offer and makes all the challenges worth it. It's awesome seeing the before and after of someone's happiness after you serve them, or teach them, or give them a blessing, or race while other 10'year olds are trying to kill you with their homemade taser #NeverForget. Never overlook how much power we have to help others be happy.

This week gonna be another crazy one I'm sure... Time is cruisin.

Already Wednesday, weird having a preparation day today! I may be baptizing someone the sisters are teaching on Saturday which would be sweet and then we got transfer calls on Sunday and I'll be an emotional train wreck if I leave #HamTown so let's just assume I'm staying and not talk about it anymore.

Church is true fam. I'm lovin this work. I'm lovin the Big Sky. Hoping the panther has enough in him to make the drive up here cause I gotta feeling i'll be doing that a lot.

Love ya

 

-Elder K

 PICS

#ZoneOfEnoch hike

 

 

 

Scripturally Throwin down with the STL

BRO Fischer > Hammer Industries

 

SALSA

 

DM pics. Indian Tabasco thrift store tie from EC is no doubt the greatest tie ever made. #UteProud

 

Baby Ducks. I whispered "Tom Hackett" and they took off running.

 

Ketchup incident

 

Driving with Elder Raymond and Cardiff. We drove with them and elder Topham and Hoschouer. So much fun.

 

Go SPRNTAS!!!!

 

@UteCentral in his prime.

#Savage

 

The reunion.

 

More Ice Cream - June 13, 2016

WHATS UP FAM!!!!!

- Kristen Jessop made me Mickey Mouse pancakes. Best day of my life. I love the Jessop's. They made a "Y" one for Elder Wells and he asked if I would eat it even if I'm a Ute... I was extremely close to whipping out the legendary Shooter McGavin "breakfast" quote...

- hit up DQ with the Della Silvas... I needed that Blizzard to cool down the verbal burns sister Della Silva was throwing at me... Everything from the Utes to the VL Club. It was a night of #ShotsFired. So much fun, I love them. Bro Della Silva is possibly my most favorite BYU fan out there. #SorryJonny #YouAreAClosetUteAnyway  #TwitterDreamTeam #StillNoDysentery

- Brother Douglas turned on the sirens on us as we were walking around one day, kinda freaked me out. Out of pure habit I instantly thought "dang it Jared" as I saw a black SUV with it's sirens on coming at us.

- June 9 will forever be known as #Track1 day.

- during our district meeting Elder Thomas did a discussion on using media and other tools to teach and keep lessons on track. We then did a role play where they needed some missionary's to act as a distracted family... Aaaaand Elder Wells was the grandpa and I was the grandma ... And if we are good at anything it's acting like we are in a dysfunctional relationship. So freakin funny. We were fighting the entire time like an old couple and not gonna lie the sisters teaching did a good job of keeping it together. I'll give em a #AchievementUnlocked.

- Elder Bills told me he wants to go on punch bag man dates with him after the mission. #ImDown

- went to Naps with Brother Warner... Such a good night. We had a fun time just the 3 of us, good guys night. Lots of talk about COD strategies... blowing up stuff...  guns... Then we even got a little spiritual and he told us his conversion story while he was in the Marines. It's pretty amazing, I have a ton of respect for him. That story combined with "Baby O'Reilly" being played in the background on the radio nearly got me to tears, it was a good song for the moment. He then was giving us dad advice and told us "it makes combat look easy". He said it with a straight face and it was gold.  He also said the best part about being a dad is seeing your mannerisms in your kid. Got me thinking about @pettbryan and all the things we do the same... #SorryMom. It was a fun time, we had our burgers and huckleberry lemonade and it was just a good night. 

- met a lady who was either fresh out of China and didn't speak a lick of English or she was playing the "I no speak English card." 

- with Brother Woods now in as a counselor, the bishopric is comprised of 2 Utes and an Aggie. 🐸☕️

Another sweet week! Can't believe how fast this transfer is flying by. The sisters in the zone expressed they are a little concerned about the bromance between Wells and I. Our unity is almost too fire. During district meeting someone asked where weaknesses come from and right on cue we both say "natural man"... Companionship unity... #DidWeJustBecomeBestFriends. The best are our non stop fake relationship arguments, you gotta witness em... We go all out, the sisters just roll their eyes at us. Our new favorite line to say is "pardon me Mr PERFECT!" from Dumb and Dumber whenever one of us makes a mistake. It's a shame laughing isn't an Ab workout cause I'd have a 6 pack for the first time in my life.

We probably sound really dumb... Cause we are... But hey it's good to laugh out here!

We had our ice cream party on Thursday!!! TURN DOWN FOR WHAT #HamTown!  Super fun, pretty good turn out. Had about 50 show up. Couple hours before we are walking into the building to set up and 2 kids bike by with card board swords and shields so my inner 5 year old came out and I got super excited so they came and brought them by to show us. One was 14 and the other was 10. Super cool kids, we invited them to the party and they came! Went and saw them the next day and he was rocking a full on Link outfit. Told us their mom is looking for a church and we are gonna start teaching the discussions... Ahhhhhh heck ya. Spiritual fist bumps baby, we got ourselves a family. #LightTheU.

Party itself was a blast. The projector wasn't working but right at the last second Will  came in clutch and got it goin #ChurchIsTrue... We did however run out of bowls and almost ran out of ice cream ... #IHadOneJob #SorryMamaJ #MOARICECREAM...  but we ran to the grocery store and restocked so crisis averted... Unfortunately this was during the Navy Coach part so I was kinda bummed I missed it but maybe the Lord knew I couldn't handle watching something about college football and that's why we ran out of bowls... #WellPlayed

That was my first time watching Meet the Mormons and it was awesome. Check it out fam. Maybe don't let my mom watch the missionary mom part cause Mama J and I got a little emotional during that one... Definitely don't let @pettbryan watch it. It's weird watching all that realizing I have done the "open your call" and the painful shopping and the hunger games arena entrance at the MTC and all that. Time is trippy out here, it's all a blur.

For me the biggest highlight of the night was when Dallan Koerner came up and told me he is getting the priesthood on Sunday... and asked if I'd confer him! That made me so happy. Really love the Koerner's and their conversion is a huge testimony builder to me. Dallan and the rest of the family feel like little siblings to me and although being the youngest is the high life I would've loved having little siblings growing up. The nieces and nephews back home and being a missionary is giving me a taste of that. It was a special experience being able to do that for him and one of the highlights of my mission. That whole family is awesome. Ballers too, I'm already trying to recruit Dallan to be a Runnin' Ute... #CoachK.

I know I've said it before, but it really is a family up here. I knew leaving my family would be rough but it really doesn't phase me, and that's because of the family I have out here. So grateful for the family I have in Montana. Whether that's a comp, the zone, a Member, less active, investigator, doesn't matter! It's special having that bond with people I didn't even know a year ago. Having them there for you and you there for them.
One night this week we got a prompting to go see a family we are working with... we usually only see them during our service afternoons on Wednesday so it felt a little random but we went over. Walked around back and they had just gotten back from the hospital after finding out she had been diagnosed with bone cancer. It was sad, and as you can imagine they were pretty shaken up. They have been on my mind a lot this past week and why we were sent there. You see some rough stuff on your mission, you are constantly being guided to people who are struggling, and it's sad, but you get to deliver the message that can help them. Whether that is the Atonement or Plan of Salvation or prayer or whatever it may be. You can be the instrument in the Lord's hand to help them. I'll be real, that's a little pressuring for a 20 year old goof ball like me to step in and try and do. It's a lot to take on, but it's helped me see the magnitude of how important and powerful this gospel is. I love the people out here, and I'm so grateful that we can help them. Missionary work is a lot more than the door knocking and college football abstinence I thought it was a year ago, it's reaching out to your family around you. 

I know God loves us, I know He wants to help, but we need to be His foot soldiers to help out those around us. Fam, I promise you if you pray to be put in situations where you can help someone, God will lead you much like what happened that night for Wells and I. It's sad when you see stuff like that, but what we know can help, let God use you to help them. You can be the answer to the prayer.

I'm sure I have lots more I can go on about but we'll call it good there! We are goin back to ground zero today for some hikin with the zone... Lake freakin Como... I'm gonna go bathe in tick repellent now for obvious reasons and make sure I get EVERYWHERE. #DontUseTweezers 

Oh and Elder Anderson of the 70 is coming this next week and Wells and I will be making the 7 hour trip to billings #LifeIsAHighway for a Leadership Council with him, gonna be sweet!!! So that's next Monday...  Then we drive back for another Mission Conference on Tuesday in Helena... So I guess that means I'll talk to ya next Wednesday! Super hyped for this, since we are going to both mission conferences that means I get to see everyone in the mission! Ma boy Elder Jaques, Elder Christensen #Track1!!!, Splash Elder, Elder Metcalf, Elder Schneider... Elder McMahon.... Elder Rose... Elder Okie... All of them! It's gonna be a bromance reunion. Love all the friends I'm making out here!!! Those BDubs MBM reunions in the future are gonna be more fire than the mango habanero hot wings we will put down!

Have a good week family!!! Love ya!

*** going back to what Brother Warner said about seeing his own mannerisms in his kids... Happy Father's Day to the dads out there that have helped mold me. Grandpa Phil and Grandpa Pett are two of the greatest men and role models in my life. Brady, Kasey, and Kurt have set a very high bar for the type of dad I want to be...

And most of all, Happy Father's Day to THE @pettbryan. I wish I could live tweet the entire day #StoriesOfPettBryan but unfortunately missionary work takes precedence over embarrassing my father on Twitter with videos of Utes/Jazz meltdowns and Disneyland turkey leg consumption and all that other stuff I have...

I still think the "get the hell away from it" meltdown from '14 Utah vs Stanford takes the cake so someone watch that one for me, I think it's on my vine. Actually most should still be on there from last years Father's Day so...ya just check out my vines from last Father's Day, @MPett3. Can personally promise you will wet yourself from laughing. Always an adventure when you have @pettbryan to watch.

Anyway, don't know how many 20 year old dudes consider their dad their best friend but I know I do! You're my Disney buddy, my date to high school dances #MarchMadness2k14 #SorryMom, my Man Cave wing man on college football Saturday's, and you're who I wanna be as a dad and husband. You scored me the best mom out there and that right there gives you a strong say in the #FinalFive so don't let the women forget that. Thank you so much for your example of work ethic and focus on family.  I love all the stories, the teasing, all the inside jokes, the death threats when we hide your food... They are all endless we have so many. I love ya dad, I know you are more emotional than mom and the sisters combined and that really touches my heart considering I only ever saw you cry when we rewatched Stockton's game winning 3 in the WCF so I'm honored to be held in that same regard.

Happy Father's Day @pettbryan.

- Elder K

Pics 

Link





More Ice Cream

The Mouse

The Big Sky

 

Howards 25 anniversary party. Had to get a pic with Brother Chapman. #MurrySprtnas uniting in #HamTown!!! 



 

I don't even know what to say about this



 

@pettbryan throwback  Love ya dad

 

 



Honorary Red Neck - June 6, 2016

WHATS UP FAM!!!

- Got together for a zone preparation day last week. Started with Naps Burgers and ended with pod ball at the stake center.  What better way to unify a zone than each downing 12 oz of meaty excellence and then playing the Mormon version of hunger games??? It's a good zone. Fun, humble, obedient, all of that. Wells and I lucked out, not much for us to do other than keep up with em! #ZoneOfEnoch 

- Dinner at the Jessop's. We sat outside and ate while they were watching game 7 up stairs. Wells and I are learning a good lesson about self discipline right now. 

- during our ZLC Wells compared our area to a 9 month pregnant woman that is about to "explode". Never heard that term used with giving birth but it does describe our area pretty well. 

- Cruising #HamTown one night and saw a Dominos worker was stuck in a irrigation ditch. We jump out to see if we can help. 10 minutes later 3 cars are pulled over and we are having a good old red neck'n party to see how we are gonna get this truck out without using a chain or tow cable. Please just try to picture this, 2 dudes in shirt and tie, a Dominos worker, PO'd Dominos manager, a guy and his girlfriend, and some dude from Texas... For those of you that have seen Thor, it reminded me of the scene where all the red necks are gathered trying to pull the hammer out. After some heated Ford vs Chevy debates (#BowTieTillIDie) we come together and decide on an attack strategy. We end up putting a tire between the front of one truck and on the front of the stuck truck and drove it out while we were on the back bouncing. We get done and the guy says "THIS HOW RED NECKS DO IT!!!" 

*high fives all around* 

*couple cuss words are thrown in also*

*beers are offered* 

*more high fives* 

--- Become an Honorary Redneck ---

       - #AchievementUnlocked - 

Turns out the Dominos worker was a less active not in our records... Lord works in mysterious ways. #ChurchIsTrue

- Elder Wells was twerking during companionship study... I don't even know where to begin describing our companionship. 

- I have come to the conclusion we have the best mix tape that is possible for missionaries. It is about as fire as you can get while still living in harmony with the standards in the missionary hand book. We have one song from a missionary instrumental album, straight up sounds like something you would hear in Batman, it's borderline Hans Zimmer. "Masters Hand" go check it out. Well one day Wells goes to turn it on and is like "what's the scenario..."

 *we are following Brother Smith to go help a widow in a nursing home for home teaching.

I say "we are following Brother Smith into the zombie war zone. The cure is in the back. We know once we deliver it we won't make it out alive" 

*Reading about Ammon cutting off arms is great and all but when the Book of Mormon is the only bit of action we get to entertain ourselves with for 2 years you gotta use your imagination sometimes. 

***if you knew Brother Smith this makes it even better cause this man is prepared for all types of disaster and knows his stuff and I could genuinely see that scenario happening one day. Imma hit him up when the world is ending cause he gon know what to do. 

Back to the story... #AutoBotsRollOut 

 So we get driving... Cruising at a steady 25 mph through #HamTown... Our truck is bumpin... I can picture Bruce Wayne talking about the restored gospel... This song is getting us hyped... Pure instrumental inspirational gold... We are freakin nerds but we don't care! And I look over at Wells and see a big fat wet tear come out from under neath his aviators and it rolls down his cheek. He has a true gift of fake crying whenever he wants and this was just too perfect. I don't know if I have ever laughed so hard in my life. Kind of ruined the moment but I couldn't contain myself.

- went to a little league baseball game to watch one of our investigators #Dingers. The mom is pretty open with us so that's good, the husband hates us with a burning passion which is a little sad but we'll see what happens! 

- walking Main Street one day. We get about 10 minutes in and I say to Wells "kind of disappointed no one has yelled at us that we are a cult...  Wells - "or that we hail Satan"... 

Fam... No joke... NO FREAKIN JOKE... Not even 2 seconds go by and some punk is half outside his car window with his arm outstretched yelling "Hail Satan". Greatest moment of my life. #ChurchIsTrue. 

- Elder Mikkelson took off for the Netherlands and we got a new visa waiter this week. Elder Kellogg from Sandy goin to Manchester, England. He likes BDubs so we automatically became best friends. Super fun getting these visa waiters for a few months. We drove to Butte to pick him up so Wednesday was about a 7 hour adventure in the car, pretty fun. We jammed hard. Pretty drive too, summertime is unreal up here. 

- saw the WVU EQ truck while on the drive. Even if I can't watch College Football it still gave me butterflies thinking of what starts in 3 months. 

- mama J has started saying "Achievement Unlocked". #AchievementUnlocked  

- went and dug holes with Brother Howard. 60+ holes. #ElderYelnats (if you get that reference I'll be impressed). Super fun, we went hard. Had a blister form and the skin flapping everywhere got annoying so I got the grand idea to rip it off and that wasn't too bright so I currently have quite the raspberry on my hand but church is still true. It has roughly 3 hours to heal till zone Pod ball starts today. It was so much fun, Bro Howard is a total crack up, he lives in a house full of girls so I think he enjoys having us over lol. He told us he has a PHD... In... Post Hole Digging... I love his humor. We were singing classic rock the whole time. Good times. 

- So we are at a dinner one night and this family pours us a cup of Coke... 2 problems, 1. We are strictly a No caffeine mission 2. I'm going 2+ years strong of no soda. We don't want to sound ungrateful so Wells and I look at each other like "now what". 

--- background story, few years ago Jason Kidd (head coach of the Brooklyn Nets) needs some time to draw up a play but doesn't have a time out... He walks over to a player and says "bump me." And spills his water on the court so they have to clean it up and he has time to draw a play.

- Wells and I are pretty unified in our sports knowledge so I figured he remembers this... So I hold my cup up and whisper to him "bump me" and we both bust up right there at the dinner table. We are nerds. 

- we were walking this neighborhood and got straight up ambushed by a bunch of 10 year olds with Nerf guns. I'm all "oh that's fun, I remember these days.." Then one yells "AIM FOR THE HEADS!" This was no little prank, they were out for blood, freakin little monsters . Then they followed us for like 10 minutes and continued to torment us and I was about ready to do something not very Christlike but didn't want to have to explain to President Wadsworth and/or the police why I drop kicked a 10 year old and throat chopped another with a Book of Mormon. They were ruthless, name calling and everything. Felt like the scene in Step Brothers. They challenged us to basketball so Wells and I will not hold back at all when that goes down. We already know they are gonna be throwing cheap shots so it'll be like like playing a bunch of miniature Jackson Emery's but there will be no mercy. 

- Warners moved into a new house. We stopped by to check it out and this obviously led to a nerf war. Bro Warner (ex-military, total stud, reminds me of Kurt) vs the elders, the 10 year old girl, the 2 year old girl, and the mom. Brother Warner wrecked us. As acting director of field ops for @TeamBetaAlpha I took point for the alpha squadron and was a little disappointed in myself but this is Brother Warner we are talking about... He went full Jack Bauer on us. Crouch running and everything. I was taking cover behind a chair, ran out of ammo, he notices this and comes running in with ZERO intent of showing mercy... Shoots the 2 year old, pumps foam into my skull, finds the other daughter behind the couch, then takes out everyone else. He claims he is an oversized child... He is #Goals. He loves being the scout master cause "Scouting is a perfect excuse to do stupid stuff..." We love that family lol. He said the real secret is finding a girl who will not only put up with your childish ways but that will jump in on the Nerf war too. #ChallengeAccepted 

Ya, pretty sweet week. We gave quite a few blessings to members, less actives, and investigators and that's always special. Turns out one less active member, Sam,  (native American wise gentleman) has a connection with a young family we are teaching. Pretty cool seeing how things fall into place. That family just had a baby girl born and they were so excited to tell us, it's cool being a part of these families regardless if they join. Coach gave some good advice to us this week and said to simply go out and try and help people be happy, then the rest will fall into place. That's been our focus and it's working for us. 

I'm loving this right now. This is fun. Wells and I are in a straight up bromance... No shame in admitting that. We have fake arguments with each other kind of like Jared and I's fake marriage fights in the bunker. We sing Katy Perry... We quote movies. We try to stay on task in companionship study but in all honesty it usually leads to what could be a ESPN-radio podcast. We act like we know what we are talking about but in reality we probably have no clue cause we are so out of the loop. So much fun. The Utah - BYU smack talk is heating up... We keep it pretty civil but we have a good time joking around... 

*trying to convert each other*

"You're gonna become a cougar Pett, no one ever thought Anakin would join the dark side" 

"No one ever thought Kyle Whittingham would have 5 straight W's against his alma mater either..." 

- *buying body wash  Wells - "maybe you won't smell like a drunk Ute anymore" 

-  *walking back into the apartment and Wells shuts the door before I walk in 

"Hey Wells... That was kind of like the time the big 12 shut the door on BYU" 

-  Best is church. Lots of Aggies. Heaths are my go to family with the Utes. Bishop is an Aggie and he was firing shots, Bro Heath was firing shots in ward council. Even the youth is getting into it. Typically if there is one thing a Ute and an Aggie will agree on its how we feel about the other school in the state. 

It's nonstop #ShotsFired but oh man we have fun with it. Well's respects the scoreboard, I respect Kalani, we both agree Bronco was a tool so we are pretty good with it. We are hoping we are with each other in September. In terms of spirituality we are pretty good too, the unity is there and it's fun doing missionary work when you have that unity. We are already planning on playing cod and having #ZoneOfEnoch reunions at BDubs. He also wants to come to our families Bachelor viewing parties. It's a bromance. #NoRegrets. 

Ward bonfire was another big highlight of the week. We were planning on wearing our church clothes but mama J said to wear casual clothes and the last time I went against what mama J said... I was fortunate to live ... Ok not that dramatic but still...  #TickFromHell #DontUseTweezers. We pull up and jump out and it honestly felt like we were at a family reunion. Not to mention this place was heaven, so pretty. We chilled with the youth most of time...  Katy Perry sing off's... Skipping rocks... Disney charades... Reminded me of hanging out with all the little cousins! I turned down bishops offer for a hot dog cause the Meuchals were feeding us... He says "Well why don't you go drink a warm glass of shut the heck up Pett". That's mine and bishops relationship for ya lol, quoting Happy Gilmore at a ward bonfire, Austin Powers on splits, and Dumb and Dumber in ward council. I loved that night, it's a family here and I couldn't ask for a better place to be serving a mission. 

The funeral for Sister Matson was Saturday morning and that was really special. An amazing spirit was present and it was a beautiful day to celebrate the life of Sister Matson. Someone mentioned how she once used Cam Newton and Peyton Manning in a sacrament meeting talk. I didn't even realize that was her, That was my first Sunday in #HamTown back in February and I still remember how much I loved that talk, I think I even mentioned it in my weekly email. I loved getting to hear about her life. Bishop Hawkes read a Facebook post from my mom during his closing remarks and it felt like my family was there too. I love this ward so much. 

These experiences in life are the ones that really test your testimony. Is it all true or is it just stories I'm going around telling others for 2 years??? And fam, These last 11 months have really strengthened my testimony that it is real. Never would I have thought I'd have a testimony of this gospel like what I have now. And if it is real, if all this is actually true, then just TRY to comprehend what it means... We have a Savior who can walk us through our hardest days. We have scriptures that we can study. We have a modern day prophet to lead us in a world that is straight up filthy. And my personal favorite, We know we can be with our family forever because of the priesthood power that has been restored and the Temples that we have here on earth to do those sealing ordinances. Seriously try to comprehend all the doors this gospel unlocks.

Even with that knowledge and testimony, we still have hard days and go through trials. Alma 37 is one of my go to chapters for tougher days, I call it the @pettbryan -> @MPett3 chapter as it is the chapter where Alma is giving advice to his son Helaman. Verses 36-37 have been on my mind a lot this week, it says we need to cry unto God for support... Everything we do needs to be towards the Lord.... Everywhere we go needs to be for the Lord... We need to counsel with the Lord...  Have All our thoughts... All our affections... Everything we do towards the Lord. And in return... "He will direct thee for good". I have only been a part of this Hamilton family for a short time, but I know Sister Matson did each of those. Despite only knowing her for a short time, I want to be more like her. 

A year ago legacy was the only thing on my mind... Ask the fam, I was goin hard on ULegacy... and A year later legacy is still on my mind... Just in a different way. Sister Matson left a legacy of love, service, and joy. That legacy was in Hamilton, Murray, and wherever she went. It's hard directing everything you have towards to the Lord, I'm still trying to do it, but the more and more I learn about her I know she is the prime example of that selfless love. And I know the Lord is guiding her and her family right now and as Alma 37 promises he is directing her and her family for good. 

It's not always easy to, but sometimes you just gotta step back and look at the big picture of this gospel and all it offers. Step away from the rush of being "Mormon" or being a "missionary" and all the things we think we HAVE TO DO... And look at the eternal perspective. We came here so we can learn and grow then we return back home to our Heavenly Father and help others get there along the way. It's that simple. I can't wait for when we are all united together in the next life, it's gonna be a party, eternal best friends like my mom said... And that's gonna be a good day. And if you want to join in on Bro Pederson and I "eating Naps burgers off of trees while walking around like a naked deer in the forest" then you are welcome to do that also. #CelestialGoals 

I love it family, I love doing this. Words don't do it justice. Wells and I are bros, this ward is my family, #HamTown is home to me. It's a little weird when members of your ward are more tight with your family than they are with you but it's been a unifying experience. So many families and experiences that have helped me see what this gospel is all about. These last 11 have forever changed my life. Couldn't ask for a better mission and people to serve with and I'm so happy Montana is so close to Utah and also relieved that I didn't find a tick on my crotch after the ward bonfire.... #SorryMom. 

--- I have to make sure I have at least one "#SorryMom" in there --- 

Love ya.

- Elder K

*shout out to Z for winning the stick horse race for the second year straight. #SpeedKills #Dynasty 

*happy birthday to the leprechaun (Elder Lightfoot) down in Tennessee. #IronShamrock #MarshmallowPower 

PICS 

- Ward Bonfire. You better believe I'll be coming up for that event in future summers.

- ma boy Anthony Equatore... He's got that fire in his EYES!!! The Equatore's are my boys. They remind me of all the younger siblings in the Riverview Ward I got tight with cause everyone in my age group was on missions.  

- Gracie Hawkes photo bomb. We played the hand slap game and she wrecked me. She's like a miniature 12 year old female version of bishop, it's terrifying. Super fun tho haha. 

- some of the youth. It's a good group. Christine is making us pancakes today and I'm pretty hyped about that. #ILoveFood

- welcome to the valley Elder Kellogg. #ZoneOfEnoch

-  #FamilyGoals. Please just take time to acknowledge how hard core they take Nerf wars. The 2 year old is even going hard with the automatic assault rifle. 

-  we had the window rolled down and a bee nearly flew in but we rolled it up in time and it was possibly the scariest moment of my life watching that window slowly roll up. I don't think you'll ever hear Wells and I scream like that again. 

- #WelcomeToMontana street contacting 

- The greatest tie ever. Since day 1 I have been telling Brother Meuchal how sweet his gun tie is and yesterday after church he handed it to me. I look up to him like a dad, one of those families I'm gonna be tight with for a long time.