The Big Storm!

Mom,

It was another good week here in Rowlett 3rd. It all started out last Monday with a baptism from one of the investigators that the sister missionaries were teaching. It was a good service!

On Tuesday, we found a great new investigator named Jared. The week before, we had taught a less active member and encouraged her to come to church. She came last Sunday with her two kids, and her daughters boyfriend. When we stopped by their house on Tuesday, we started teaching Jared who is the boyfriend. He is suffering from depression, and going over to teach him is very sad. I have been able to tell though that as we have visited with him, by the time we leave, he usually feels a lot better than when we first got there. So far we have taught him a few times, and we shared the conference talk from Elder Holland from last year called like a broken vessel. It really motivated him to start doing things on his own such as living the commandments, and getting medical help. He is very open, and very humble to listen to the gospel. I love helping him, and I already love him so much.

We had a pretty crazy day on Thursday. This is when the big storm hit us. It was crazy, but nothing bad really happened. We started of the day planning. After planning, we went up to Wylie to visit with a less-active. Whenever we visit with him, we always sit outside. So we started our lesson outside under a gray cloudy sky. It wasn't very dark, and it wasn't raining either, so we didn't think much of it. As we shared the message with him, the sky became darker and darker, until it went a little green. I said to my companion, "Look at the sky! Am I the only one freaking out about this?" The less-active man didn't seem to care, so we stayed there as it began to get really windy. I was starting to get a little nervous at this point, but we stayed there. After awhile, we heard a branch break from the tree we were sitting under, and it fell about 1 to 2 feet behind my head. At that point I stood up and said it was time to go. But it didn't end there. My companion got up, and he heard the Tornado sirens going off. The less-active man, still didn't seem to care and told us that we should just stay there, because it wasn't raining, but we decided to go inside. The man lived in a trailer park, so we decided we would just go over to some member's house which was close by. As soon as we started driving, it began to pour rain. We drove through the rain and the super black sky over to a member's house, and just by running from our car to the door, we were drenched. It was a very exciting, but kind of scary adventure. Everything is good though. No worries. There was a lot of fences that fell down and tree limbs everywhere after the storm. It was an exciting day!

After the storm cleared up, we went and taught one of our investigators, who is progressing very well. We have taught him several times already, and I am excited from him. His name is Andrew. He is half white and half Chinese, and he is married to a less-active member in our ward who is Hispanic. One day she called us and told us she was ready to come back to church, and she wanted us to teach her husband. He doesn't speak Spanish nor Chinese, just English, but he wants to go to the Spanish ward with his wife. He has very little religious background, and he is very unsure as to if there is a God or not, but he is still very interested and willing to learn. He is very open to the fact that God may exist, and he is praying, reading, attending church, and obeying the commandments that we have taught him to find his answer. He should get it soon, but for now we are continuing to help him recognize that answer when it comes. We showed him a Mormon message about fathers and our Heavenly Father, and he began to be emotional from the way he felt. (If you haven't seen that mormon message, I encourage you to watch it. It is called Earthly Father, Heavenly Father). I believe it may have been the first time that Andrew has felt the spirit. It was a great lesson.

I loved this conference weekend. I learned so much about how I need to improve the little things in my life, and repent daily. I can't choose a favorite, but I loved the one from Elder Richard G. Scott, and by Elder Uchtdorf in the Priesthood Session. Those were great talks! Conference is probably my favorite time of year here on the mission. Sunday morning we made a big breakfast as well to celebrate, and I have pictures. I am so grateful for the living prophet that we have on the earth today who leads and guides us. I love this Church, and I know that Jesus Christ lives and guides His church today through Prophets. It is a great time that we live in.

I love you Mom! I am still so grateful for my opportunity to serve. I hope you got my letter as well. I will be watching the movie meet the Mormon's this week, and I am very excited for it! It will be great! Have a great week y'all!

Love, Kyle

Hi Dad,

My mission has changed me in so many ways. I feel first of all that my testimony has grown so much! I love Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve Him and to testify of Him. I love seeing the changes that this gospel can make in other people's lives, and every time I do, it strengthens my testimony even more. I love this Church.

I have also become more Christ-like. Before the mission it was always about me, and how others were mean to me, or how other people had wronged me. Working on becoming Christ-like was never something I did. I still tried to live right, but I could have been more patient with people, and I could have improved other things, especially within the family. Now I try to be more Christ-Like. I have realized how imperfect I am, and how much I need the grace of Jesus Christ, to help me in my every day life. I remember Brother Wilson always telling us in Priest Quorum how the Atonement applies to every aspect of our lives, and I believed him because he was my leader. But now I am starting to understand and experience all of that in my every day life.

I have seen my priorities change a lot! Instead of always trying to do the relaxing thing, or the fun thing, I have realized that I should not waste so much of my time. I really like Elder Cook's talk in Priesthood session when he talked about no excuses or rationalizations. I should live in a way day by day to help me accomplish the goals that I have, and I have become a lot better at prioritizing my time.

My knowledge of the gospel and of the scriptures has also grown so much. I thought I had a great knowledge of the gospel before my mission, but I have learned so much more, and I know that I will continue to learn so much. I love the scriptures! Especially the Book of Mormon, and the gospels. I feel like there is still so much more to learn, but I have definitely increased my knowledge.

These are just a few of the changes that I have seen since I have been serving a mission, and I am so grateful for the enabling power of the Atonement which has helped me with all of these things. I will keep working hard and I will continue being willing to do what the Lord asks so that He can make me into what I need to become. I love Him!

I am doing great! And thank you for writing me every week. I love you! have a great week!

Love, Kyle