January 6, 2011

Hey Mom,

well this week has been great. by great i dont mean because we stayed inside for about 2 days but the other things that happened during this week. we had alot of things happen that are really great. one of the greatest is with this member that was recently baptized maybe 4 or 5 months ago. her name is alexcandra and the thing that is so great about her is we were in a meeting with her, when she turned to us and asked why do you not work with my daughter and grand-kids, and of course i had no idea what to say other then i dont know that is a very good question. well when i said that she continued on and told us about how her daughter is very interested and how her daughter really wants us to work with her grandson. i was in shock and went in to a stage of thinking. and i thought to myself: "why have i never even asked the others of the family if they would be interested what was i thinking" well it was a big eye opener and i could tell that maybe the Lord had told me a few times now looking back on the situation and do to me not acting i could have and almost did not even think about the salvation of his other children in the home. and so i think that when we as his servants make mistakes we can see the outstretched hand of the Lord come in to the lives of others by themselves. so do to my incapability's i did not act on a feeling. well now i feel like Joesph Smith felt when he gave the book of mormon to martin harris i may not feel the same as the feeling of losing my soul but i do feel the same feeling in which i will never again not act on a prompting when i feel one. but other then my mistake everything was great and we had a great week and hope to start working with this lady's family this week hopefully on friday.

as for new years it was great, yes we stayed inside but we had two other elders with us that stayed for the holidays. so we had a party and i can tell you how many movies we watched i believe somewhere around 10. the one time during the year when we can watch movies and everything like that and we watched movies haha. it is really kind of funny because if you think about we are some of the only missionaries that can say that they get a holiday during their mission haha. but new years was good and there were so many fireworks it was crazy (from other people around our house that is)

that is good to hear that everyone is doing good and that they are all making the right choices. i am sure i would be proud of them, just like i was before i left. you know one of the most interesting things about a mission is that while you do not see your family for more then 2 years and only talk to them 4 times in that time the love you have for them grows beyond that which you had before you left, i do not say that saying that i did not love you before i dont know i think it is just that we take our families for granted i believe and you do not realize how much you love them and hoe much they mean to you until you are not around them. so pretty much in short i am just saying that i love you.

i hope that everything works out with tyler and byu and that everyone else continues to do good in school and everything.

well mom i have got to say that i have not loved an area this much since i was in petro with elder willis i think it is because not only did i have a great comp but the branch was also amazing and the relationship between the members and the missionaries was really good and when there is a great relationship the work really takes off and you see so many miracles. and that is what i am seeing at this point with this area and i really hope that i can take this fire and blow up the next area so that it to will have just as much success. i just have found out that if you want success you need the members help and therefore you need the members support and everything else that a great ward can give to missionaries.

well mom i love you and hope that you have a great week and day. and mom i am to so grateful for this gospel and the opportunity i have to preach it i thank God everyday for this opportunity and it is just so sad to see it going by so fast. and it seems to be flying by at this very moment. but i to am thankful and eternally grateful for Joesph smith and him keeping to his testimony and continue all the days of his live to bring this gospel about again. i am so grateful for the book of mormon and the power it brings to the readers heart and soul. i am thankful for my savior and his atoning sacrifice so that i and my family (you) can one day live again and be an eternally happy family.

love always

keivn

p.s. thanks for the photos