Anxiously Engaged

The weeks are so much better when it is busy busy busy. We went on three exchanges this past week and Elder Odland and I are pooped. But hey it is ok because this next week will be even crazier!

Our first exchange was Tuesday evening. Elder Gill, the new assistant, came with me to Raytown. He actually served here in this ward last year during the holidays. I believe he was here when I first came out on my mission. He is full of energy and is super funny. That evening we just so happened to have dinner with the Tapasoa family who are a less active, part member family that started feeding the missionaries back when E. Gill served here. We had some delicious wings they made and then shared a lesson. The spirit was very strong and they committed to attend church each week.

We exchanged back on Wednesday night but the Independence 1st elders also met us there and at the same time of closing out our exchange with E. Gill and Katoa we started another with E. Staheli and Moorehouse. E. Staheli came with me to Raytown! We served together when I was in my first area and I love being around him again. We have a lot of fun together and he is such a hard worker. For lunch we made these huge fish salads I took a picture of. We were finally able to meet back up with Brother Perkins and taught him again at about 3 that afternoon.  We didn't have a dinner set for that night but it ended out working perfect because we had another lesson with James, Sivita, and J-Breanna at the Visitors Center that went for a very long time. We weren't able to actually start teaching until 4:45. We went through God's plan for the family and they had a lot of questions that we were able to talk about and address. By the time our lesson was over it was around 6:30 and we had  a scripture study class in the theater down stairs starting at 7 and it was my turn to teach. I hadn't had time to prepare so we went and set up the room and I made quick lesson plan about a change of heart. We discussed Alma the Younger's experience and it actually ended up not being to shabby.  We were able to set some really awesome goals at the end of the exchange. That is definitely my favorite part of Exchanges.

Fish Salad with Elder Staheli, Mmmm

Friday was a blur with a lot of administrative stuff that had to happen concerning mile usage throughout the zone.  That evening we exchanged again with E. Roberts and Daniels. Elder Roberts came to Raytown with me. We were up till about 2 in the morning talking about life. We had exchanged before back in Olathe and the same exact thing had happened. I honestly hadn't "pillow talked" since then. We had a good time together. We were able to teach Brother Perkins at the VC. We focused on God is our Loving Heavenly Father and he seemed to really enjoy it.

Brother and Sister Field, Elder Kelly, Brother Perkins, Elder Odland

Sunday nobody was able to make it to church unfortunately. Brother Perkins will be coming starting this up coming week and Charlie Fish will becoming too. Charlie expressed that he doesn't want to be baptized quite yet but that is ok. He will come around.

Love you all

E. Kelly

Johnathan Castillo took us out to eat at Red Lobster.

He works there and gets a discount. 

I was so full that night!