The Twin Towers of Olathe

It has been a super sweet week!

About this Ward:

1. The Ward is awesome. The members feed us regularly and are doing their best to stay involved with the missionary effort and many actually do what the stake president has challenged us all to do as a stake. 

2. This stake is leading the world right now in indexing. At stake conference President Boyack issued a challenge to index 1 million names by next conference and so far we have over 300,000 names indexed and stake conference was only 4-5 weeks ago. Pretty awesome. So far a lot of members have been able to have some cool missionary experiences from it too.

3. The Ward Mission leader is a young guy who knows what he is doing. He is striving to fulfill his calling and has been doing a good job so far. Such a difference when people actually strive to fulfill their callings.

Paul and Kasey Nudson are a father and son who we are teaching. Paul is married to Sister Nudson who is a member that returned to activity about a year ago. He has been taught for a really long time and has been on baptismal date several times. He has a word of wisdom concern he is striving to over come and on Thursday we were able to sit down with him and help him make a plan to overcome and he is on date for Aug 13th. He said that we could have daily contact with him and just see how he is doing each day. Pray for him! Kasey is his 9 year old son. He is a typical 9 year old who struggles with listening but he understands everything pretty well already. We're hoping when his dad gets baptized that he will commit too! The Nudson family is pretty awesome over all. They also have a little daughter, Iris who is 3. She is hilarious.

Last Monday we didn't have a full day because Elder Neil Anderson came our mission and spoke to us!! It was SO POWERFUL. Highlights

- "In this mission there are thousands who await you. In each of your areas there are Dozens who await you. Asking God what it is that is missing from their life."

- "We know that this Mission is Very hard working and Very obedient.

But you need to learn how to have greater faith and pull down the powers of heaven"

- "You are serving in a sacred place. I and the rest of the brethren don't talk about Independence Mo because we know that if we helped saints see how truly important this place was they would flock here."

- we don't always see the fruit of our work and efforts in those that we teach and serve but you still taste of the fruit in your own life because the atonement changes you as you serve the lord. Alma 32:

40-42

He said a lot of other things but those were the best.

Wednesday was District Meeting! It went really well and there was a lot of good discussion. Looking forward to this week's meeting. This District is full of hard workers who love the Lord and you can feel it. On Sunday nights I'm supposed to call each companionship and just talk about their week and it is so interesting and cool how you can just feel the love that Heavenly Father and the Savior has for each companionship and missionary. You can literally feel it. Not sure if that actually makes sense but it's such a blessing to have that experience.

On Saturday there was a stake BBQ and it was the best turn out I have ever seen at a stake activity. Seriously crazy. We were in this park and we covered the entire park. Muggy air. Lots of Mormons. Mounds of food. Doesn't get better than that.

Me and Elder Wright get along really well. He is a hard worker and it so nice to have an extra hour of study each morning again. Really helps you improve faster. He is from Holiday, Utah and I think he went to Olympus High. Not sure where that is. He is definitely the most talkative companion I have had and it's a ton of fun. 

Elder Kelly and Elder Wright

This week we are on foot. We went up to the mission home to see if they have any bikes we can swoop from the bat cave and they are all broken. It'll be a good week of hoofin' it around. Pray for rain. 

Last thought. During the sacrament yesterday's I was reading from 2 Nephi 27

Verses 3 particularly hit me hard. 

"1 But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles--yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations--

2 And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire.

3 And all the nations that fight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion"

I was thinking about how only through Christ can we actually be filled. That is the only way we can find true fulfillment in this life. 3 Nephi 18:1-11, Alma 36: 12-21, Moroni 10: 32-33, and 1 Nephi 1:15 are examples.

God does live. His son is Jesus Christ. :)

- Elder Kelly

This house has 3 huge dogs that slobber and shed. 

The owner was nice and gave us these apron things to keep our clothes safe. 

Elder Wright's got ripped by the dogs in like two seconds.

Weirdos

Olathe, Kansas

What is up everybody!! This past week has been kind of nuts!! So transfers were on Thursday and I am now serving in the Olathe 2nd Ward which is in Olathe, Kansas. It is a pretty nice area that is a lot more flat than Parkville, MO. It feels a lot like I'm back in Vegas or Utah. It is weird. I am follow up training Elder Wright! He is a stud.  He was being trained by Elder Butterfield who was an assistant to the president when I came out. Elder Butterfield is like a legend in the mission for his missionary skills. Big shoes to fill for sure. Elder Wright is from SLC and graduated in 2015. He is taller than me so we definitely turn heads as if the shirt, tie, and tag didn't already do that. We share the Ward with sister missionaries. Sister Jackson and Sister Garay. Sister Jackson was in my MTC district and we are excited to serve with the sisters in this Ward. Thankfully these sisters are super hard workers. Hopefully we can get double the work done and change the culture of this Ward.

   

On Monday before transfers I was called as a district leader as well so I have a lot of new things to learn that I honestly have no idea about. It is almost funny at how much I don't know. I feel like I am back at the beginning of my mission again. This district has 7 companionships in it, 4 of which are sister companionships. More sister than elders doesn't happen very often. 2 of the companionships are The Zone Leaders and Sister Trainer Leaders. Elder Heinrichsen from Shadow Ridge is my zone leader again :)

   

On Thursday me and Elder Wright went to the stake center to weekly plan and coordinate with the sisters about splitting up the Ward roster and such. There were other companionships there; one of which was the Sister Trainer Leaders. They came up to me.

"Hey you're the new district leader right?"

"Yup."

"Sweet! Do you think you could do a baptismal interview tomorrow for us?"

I seriously just started laughing because I had no idea how to conduct one. Nonetheless we planned for the interview the following day. I interviewed Juliano. Super strong testimony builder for me that the things we do as missionaries really do help people come closer to Christ. Sometimes it is hard to really remember that. He told me a lot about his conversion. The sisters only started teaching him about 3-4 weeks ago. The spirit was present and truly led the conversation.  Very grateful for all these extra opportunities to serve!

Also grateful for Elder Wright because he could tell I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and he was just being encouraging and positive.  Always nice to be trained by the trainee :)

Hope you all are seeking to change everyday and find out what the Lord needs you to do. Show your love for the Lord by seeking not your own.

Love Elder Kelly.

Btw my email is messed up so I won't be replying to anything else. I was only able to read dads email.  

Members are EVERYTHING

What is UP!!!!!

So this past week has been really fun! 

On Tuesday we went and saw a guy named Lyndon who is an inactive member of the Community of Christ church. We sat down with him and he started talking about how much he loves the Book of Mormon and D&C. WEIRD.  How are we supposed teach this guy if he already thinks the first vision took place and that the Book of Mormon is true? We just went from the direction of, Is Thomas s. Monson a prophet of God? He said he would pray about it and we could come back later in the week. Well we came back and watched the talk choices with him and he seemed to enjoy it pretty well. He said he felt like he is part of God's church already but is willing to pray and fast again this week to know. Fingers crossed he is able to recognize his answer and have the softened heart to receive one.

Our other really awesome success this week was with Sarah Petty we were able to see her 3 times this past week. Two of the meetings were lessons and they were both with brother and sister Bastow. BEST MEMBERS EVER. Sarah's friend, Ashley Pasley is out of town so we had to do it somewhere else. The Bastows let us come on over and were immediately so friendly to her. They are new move ins for medical school and are in their twenties. Sarah felt comfortable and was pretty open with us and it really helped us be able to address her struggles and concerns. The Bastows were bearing strong testimony of the power of the atonement as we taught and there were a lot of tears all around. We invited her to be baptized on the 6th of August and she said she would think about it. Our second meeting was just as awesome and Sarah said that she is considering baptism seriously now! On Saturday she came to a baptism for another ward and seemed to really enjoy it. The stake president talked to her as did president Vest! So AWESOME! On the way home she said she would come to church the next day and she did! She said she was praying to know if she should be baptized. No answer yet. 

Transfers are this week so it's probably my last week in Parkville :( But this place is so awesome and who knows, I still might stay another transfer. That would be crazy! 

Love you guys

Elder Kelly

Elder Kelly, Brother MacNeil, Elder Childress

God Bless America

Kind of awesome the 4th of July landed on a P-day. It actually feels like it's a holiday today. So grateful that we have this country to worship as we please.

It has been a really good week! We were able to meet with Sarah Petty and she read alma 32! She really enjoyed alma 32:21 and she seemed to understand it pretty well! She was going to come to church but she woke up feeling sick unfortunately. But she texted us later that day and asked for more chapters to read from the Book of Mormon! She is really enjoying what we are leaving with her to read. Hopefully she will be able to make it to church next week!

We Got a new Ward mission leader! His name is brother Smith and he just moved in from the neighboring stake. He has a family of 7 kids and they are pretty awesome. He has never served as a ward mission leader but he is excited and said that he was going to go study up!

Haha we are excited to start working with him.

On Saturday night we got a call from Bishop and he said that there was a family headed to the west coast from northern Alabama. The father in this family was feeling really sick and so he located the nearest bishop and asked for a priesthood blessing. He called our bishop and he asked us to head over and give a priesthood blessing! We were excited to exercise our priesthood. We got to the hotel they stopped in and we gave the blessing and left. The man was not looking good and was talking quietly. He told us he had a fever of 104 and had aches and cold sweats the whole day. The next day was fast and testimony meeting. The man stood up and bore a sincere testimony of the power of the priesthood. He felt completely better and there were no remnants of his sickness from the day before. Small and simple miracles are the most precious. They help us build our faith in the Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement. The Savior's authority is on the earth today. Thomas S. Monson holds the same keys that Peter was given anciently by Christ. I invite each of you to gain a further testimony of the prophet Thomas S. Monson who leads and guides this church under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important to know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God but is equally important to gain a testimony of the current prophet Thomas S. Monson

I love you guys!

- Elder Kelly

Week 26...Weird

I don't have a lot of time to write today. But I'll give you a low down of all the good stuff that is worth mentioning.

Found out some really sad news on Thursday. We went over to Chris and Jeanie's home to just make a daily contact. Well we knocked the door and nobody was there and as we were walking back to our car Chris pulled up. Him and his brother get out of the car. He told us that him and Jeanie had split up and that she moved back to her hometown. Kind of a HUGE shocker to us since neither of them decided to text us the news when it happened a couple days before. So unfortunately, she now lives really far away but on the good side hopefully this allows for Chris to step his game up and get fully active. Just pray that the missionaries will be able to find her down there soon. We would send missionaries by through Mormon.org but we don't have an address or phone number for her and neither does Chris. :(

Denice is a new investigator who said she would come to church but unfortunately she decided to not tell us she needed a ride until right when church was starting. We as humans make some funny choices sometimes I must say. But she will be coming next week for sure because we were able to help establish an awesome relationship with a couple in our ward that was super kind to her. Missionary members are the best people on the planet! BE ONE!

Sorry it is so short.

I love the Lord Jesus Christ. So fascinating to think of the love He has for us individually.

Show Him your love by being true to his gospel!

-Elder Kelly

(Elder Atwood top center.)

 This is what it takes to bail an Elder out of Jail

Tuesday night We got a call from the Tiffany Springs Elders. The call went something like this.

"Hello this is Elder Childress"

"Hey Elder Childress this is Elder McLaws"

"What's up?"

"Soooo... Elder Atwood just got arrested and President told the Zone Leaders to go bail him out of jail and I need you guys to come pick me up because I am sitting here alone breaking a lot of missionary rules."

"Serious.....? Holy crap..... Ok send us your address we will be right there."

Apparently Elder Atowood had a ticket from a few months ago for a dead tail light that he thought was a warning. When he got pulled over the cop saw that there was a warrant out for his arrest and hand cuffed him right there and took him to the Platte County Jail. Such a funny story.

The Spirit is the "Pump You Up Guy" in Missionary Work

Brother Mark Anderson, a ward missionary, with his two "body guards"

Well Last Monday we had to stay back at the apartment again because we are tight on miles. I won't lie those days are always long. The reason we had to save on miles is because we had two trainings this week. One training was down in Lenexa, Kansas with three other zones and the other at our stake center.  I will have to say again (I'm pretty sure I have said this before) but the meetings and trainings we have when missionaries get to together get me so psyched and pumped up to work harder and hit the ground running.  Well Tuesday was the training down in Lenexa. This training was quite a special one because we had a 70, Elder Hamula come and speak to us. The whole focus of the training was about what is repentance. The things that spoke to me are as follows:

- The reason I am serving here in Missouri Independence Mission is so I can learn how to repent. (I had been praying the previous week that I would be able to know why I was here.)

- Self Mastery is the key to repentance.  When we can learn to constantly turn to Christ by doing the small things over and over and over such as not swearing, eating healthily, watching better movies.

Even smaller: not speeding, getting out of bed when your alarm goes off, stop eating when your full even though it is so delicious. In reality anything that is enticing because of the natural man in each of us. The matter of the task does not become easier but instead our power to do is increased. (I'm paraphrasing a quote I can't remember verbatim).

- What is the center of Christ teachings? What is the most important thing? Elder Hamula taught that it is repentance because Christ taught that it is faith unto repentance, and baptism through repentance. Both point back at repentance. If we can learn what true repentance is then our ability to be what the Lord needs us to be is quickened.

So I would ask each of you reading this what are you working on changing at this time in your life. Can't think of one? or maybe you aren't making progress?  Be specific, set a goal, account on your efforts to the Lord and you will be able to become a true follower of Christ.  I decided to focus on my language. James 3:1-13 has given me a strong amount of hope that I can become as Christ one day as I consistently strive to refine and edify my language.

Caught checking out the sunset.

Sweet sunset with a storm rolling in.

Anyways story time.

We exchanged at the end of the meeting and I headed back to Parkville with Elder Staheli. We went throughout the rest of the day following our plans. Around 7:30 we felt that we weren't going where we needed to go. We pulled over, prayed for guidance on where we need to be. We went to the first street that popped in my head and went there anxious to see the Lord's hand in our efforts. It is an apartment complex and we knocked one door and had a good conversation but the guy wasn't interested. We walked down the street a little further to an apartment Elder Staheli wanted to go to and we saw a lady outside sitting on her porch. We went up and we were able to have a very constructive conversation about the restoration. She is Catholic and said that she always seeks guidance from the Holy Spirit even when it tells her things she doesn't want to do. She said she would pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true. She even kept saying, "what you guys are saying is totally possible. I never thought of it in that way." We testified heavily as we taught and the Spirit was definitely present!  Love those experiences. Haven't had a return appointment yet but we are praying and reaching out.

Elder Staheli and I after a sweaty day of work

Friday was zone training. The zone leaders told us that after a survey that was sent to each missionary, President Vest gathered that less than half of the missionaries serving in this mission get up on time.  😳😮.....💀. They challenged us to strive to always have perfect mornings in reference to the schedule because it is how you get a kick start for your day. We are already doing pretty well as a mission so it will be exciting to see what will change as more of the mission strives to be exactly obedient.

After zone training we exchanged with the zone leaders and I went to Platte City with Elder Katoa! Woot Woot! We were both pretty pumped for the exchange and we had a good time working hard that evening.  Every now and then it felt like it was the beginning of my mission again.

This week we found 3 solid new investigators!!

-Jordan was a potential and we had stopped by his house a few times when we had the chance because he lives right by us. We taught him the full restoration and set up a return appointment. He is a young adult and those are my favorite people to teach by far.

- Evalyn is a lady who said that she has talked to missionaries back in her native country.  We taught her the plan of salvation and she said she wanted to keep meeting with us and we set another meeting up.

- Dalton is a kid around my age who is pretty religious and was willing to let us come back by the same evening we met him. We were just driving down the street and Elder Childress said, "Let's go knock that house."

"Why?"

"I don't know"

"Sweet"

Knocked and it was definitely the spirit leading Elder Childress. We have taught him two lessons now.

I love and miss you all and would just give a friendly reminder that God needs you to be a good example to those around you searching for truth. Be sure to let you right shine!!

Love,

-Elder Kelly

Dinner at the McCarter home.  

Elder Childress and Elder Kelly

Crankin' Up the Heat

I had a great birthday!  Thanks to all of you!

This past week has definitely been the hottest so far for me out here in KC, MO. It was in the 90's this week with a really good amount of humidity. You feel like you are sweating before you even start sweating. BLAH!

This past week we had a zone training on Tuesday because the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders were trained by an area 70 last week and they were supposed to recount the trainings to us the best the could. One of the trainings was on goals. Well they posed the question of why we don't hit our goals. (Specifically we are talking about Key Indicator Goals)

-We forget about them through the week

-We loose fire or don't feel accountable to them later in the week

-etc.

-etc.

The area 70 said, "I am so glad that none of you said because ultimately it is up to the choices of the investigators and people you meet, because that isn't true. When you reach your goals it is because of your efforts and the Grace of God." 

In my head, "What?! How can he say that?!" 

Holy Ghost, "Wait a minute. Just think about it. It is definitely true"

In my head, "Dang it. I need to pray more sincerely and then try harder than I already am"

Isn't that such a bold statement? It is powerful because it is true! In all reality if we set a goal and feel accountable to it and try our very hardest to achieve it then we will be lead to where we need to be, say what we need to say, and talk to the people we need to talk to to reach those goals. Pretty exciting in my opinion.

After Zone Conference we went on exchanges with Tiffany Springs and Elder McLaws came to Parkville with me and we didn't have time to change out of our suit pants. Well we were walking down a street and we went over to help this guy on a riding lawn mower get the mower up into his trailer. (He seemed to be struggling) Well we get over there and see that he is trying to drive up onto his trailer using a door as a ramp. Well the door kept moving when he would drive up onto it and so we held the door in place and he began to drive up onto the trailer. He got half way up and the door just folded in half. Well he was all but on the trailer so I got behind him and began to push so he would get up because his wheels still had a little bit of traction. Well it wasn't moving anywhere so I took a step back with my left foot and then another step back with my right foot. "Wait a minute... Where did the ground go?" SMACK!   In my head, "What the hunk of Satan just happened?" (Seriously my mind couldn't comprehend what had happened and I was mad because what ever just happened hurt)  I remember the first thing I realized was that my suit pants were touching dirt and the dirty street. (Ok now I am really mad) WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! I finally realize that I am down in a hole. "No wait a minute.... How did only my right leg fall in a hole?" Well I pulled my leg out and started dusting the semi-muddy dirt and dust off my suit pants. There was a hole seriously right next to the curb. Not really all that wide.  This hole was literally 5 feet deep. Totally natural looking. My foot didn't even hit the bottom. My left knee smacked the curb and my right thigh caught my whole body on the dirt edge of the hole. Such a weird experience. Just so random.

On the investigator side of things. 

Jeanie: should be on track to be baptized on June 25th

Sharon: Going to do baptisms for the dead this week!!! (We get to go with her)

Sarah Petty: Finally un-grounded and we will be meeting with her this week.

Kandace Eichorst: Have a meeting with her this week with the Patterson family 

Less Actives:

Chip: We read scriptures with him and help him out with stuff that he can't do when he gets sick or when his body decides it is to old to move around.

Something you guys need to all understand: If you aren't inviting your nonmember friends to spend time with you, come to activities, come to church meetings, take the missionary lessons, or read from the BofM you are withholding the joy that the everlasting gospel brings from those who desperately need it. The church did a study and interviewed 30,000 converts to the church. The top three reasons they found of why people decided to learn more were:

1. They see the closeness to God that members have in their life

2. They see the purpose and direction members have in their life

3. They see the peace and love that members have in their life

We need to be inviting non members to be around members. 

Don't ever just hang out with members alone. That is what we call lighting a candle and putting it under a bushel.

Sunday was stake conference! Such a good conference! The whole focus was Celestial marriage. The stake president got up and talked about how just because we have eternal marrriages it does not mean that it is a Celestial marriage. Eternal marriage is only but the perfect foundation that a celestial marriage can be built upon. It is only the means by which a Celestial marriage can be built.

So ask yourself. Do you have or are you shooting for, an eternal marriage.. Or a Celestial marriage? How do you build a Celestial marriage? Seek the good light.

D&C 88:67-68

67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.

Love you all!   God is real and his teachings are here on the earth and can be found in their fullness in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jesus Christ is our savior and through him we will return to live in the presence of the Father.

-Elder Kelly :)