A Crazy Week!

Hi Mom!

We had a little bit of a crazy week this last week. There were a couple of really slow days, but also a couple of great days! We taught some really good lessons this week as well. Maria Leos is still doing really well and she is progressing a lot. The only real obstacle is the fact that she is like any other 14 year old, she doesn't like to read the scriptures. But she prays and comes to church.

This last Saturday we did another Temple tour with some of the investigators and less active members. It went so well. We had a small little meeting with everyone before we went to the temple where we showed them a video, and we also had some of the members share their testimonies of the temple. It really helped motivate a lot of them.

On Sunday I spoke in church again. Giving a talk that is long enough isn't really a problem for me anymore now that I am giving lots of trainings and stuff that are an hour. Now the problem is making sure my talks aren't too long. I really like speaking, and it is definitely a work in progress, but I am progressing.

I love the mission, and I have loved this area so much. I will probably be leaving after this week. I am so grateful for the things that I have learned here, and I am very excited for what my last area will be. It is crazy to think I will probably be going to my last area. I wish I could have started my mission knowing all that I do now. It has been the best experience of my life!

Love y'all

Kyle

Hi Dad, the work is still going so great in this area, and I have recently made a lot a few changes in the way that I do missionary work. I have loved this ward so much, and I am so grateful that I have been able to serve the people here in Rowlett.

First of all to answer your question about how I teach those who are questioning their faith. The first would be an object lesson. I like to build a tower of cards when I am talking about the church that Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth. I start with a foundation which is a piece of card board that I lay on a table or on the floor. The foundation is the priesthood. With out the priesthood we can't build the church. I then go on to say that all of the cards are the teachings and commandments that Jesus Christ gave. When Jesus Christ and the apostles died, the authority was taken away, which makes the tower of cards fall, and the cards scatter. I then pick up the cards and give a couple to each person I am teaching saying that they established their own churches with parts of the truth. But they changed some doctrines, and they didn't have the foundation or the Priesthood to build their church. I then describe how the spirit testifies of truth, which means that you can feel the spirit, and feel good about going to all of these churches. If that feeling is all you know, then you can be certain that it is a true church. However imagine how you would feel if you had all the truth of the church of Jesus Christ. That feeling that you may have in other churches will be much greater, and you will know that it is the true church of Jesus Christ, because he will have answered your prayer.

Second, you could talk about how we shouldn't deny past revelation.

Answers:

1. How was the meeting with Elder Nelson

It will be on the 30th.

2. How is being a District Leader - Do you like your district.

Yes I really do. We had some problems last transfer, but the people in the district now are doing really well, and we are seeing a lot of success.

3. Do they call you every night?

No, just a couple of times a week.

4. How is the work progressing?

It is about the same. We have had some success with some of our investigators, and we have lost others.

5. Is your testimony getting stronger?

Yes! I really enjoy this work, and I have seen my testimony grow so many ways, on so many different things.

6. Are you having fun?

Yes! I am loving this ward, and the progress that we are making.

7. What would you say to the priests who are seniors and getting ready?

About 3 weeks into the field, a family asked me if I would have done anything different to prepare for my mission, and I obviously could have prepared harder, but at the time I couldn't really think of anything. The reason for that was you told me about 4 months before my mission that I should try to do all I could to feel the spirit. I could have done better, but that honestly prepared me a lot, and strengthened my testimony so much. So tell them what you told me. Seek out the spirit.

8. What would you say to the members about keeping their testimonies strong.

Follow Elder Ucthdorf's talks in conference in both the Saturday morning and Priesthood sessions. I loved his talk on Lord is it I? And also Elder Scott's talk was really good!

9. Are you happy?

Yes! I am so grateful for all that I have learned, and all the growth I have made in the mission.

10. How can we better help and support you.

Y'all area already doing it! Just keep praying, reading, and have family home evening.

I love you Dad, and I am so grateful for the amazing example you are to me. I can't imagine how you are feeling right now with all this stress, and I can't imagine how much the Lord must be supporting you. My mission has also helped me appreciate so much the role of the Bishop and all the work they do. I love you so much!

Love, Kyle