What more can [I] Say?

Than to you [I] have said? I'm drawing a blank. I guess I'll report on the week. It was a relatively uneventful week with new years and everything. Our teaching pool has dropped even lower, but even in all of that, we are still seeing blessings from the Lord. My companion, Elder Harper, said something rather profound. I believe it was inspired by a talk we watched with a family, "Pride and the Priesthood" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. In that talk he was speaking of Humility, and he said "humility is not thinking less of yourself, its thinking less about yourself." Elder Harper made the connection that Even if he does his best, and sees no baptisms, he's just as blessed as the missionary who does his best and sees 100. The Lord does not bless based on results, but on effort given. The same way the lord does not necessarily bless the Rich man more than the Poor.

So no matter what our situation may be, if we give our all, and obey all the commandments we have been given, and repent when we do not, we will see blessings, no matter what our circumstances may be.

I love and miss you all!

You're a mean one, Mister Grinch

Sorry about the lack of email last week. We had the oppurotunity to go to the temple and I honestly thought I was going to have more time to email.

It's been an eventful and wonderful Christmas season, and of Course the temple, as always, was amazing, and Even with a companion that isn't the biggest fan of Christmas, it too, was amazing. Some of the highlights of this Christmas seasons was: 1) Our Pilot light going out on our heater on one of the Coldest nights thus far (31 degrees. I know, not that cold, but it sure feels cold.) 2) Our recent convert, David, who is 17 visiting our apartment on Sunday morning, accidentally/somewhat purposefully lighting his hand on fire, frantically waving it out whilst tripping over my stereo, and crushing one of my CD's. 3) The many exciting and eventful phone calls that took place calling home to family. Overall, it has been rather fun.

Things are starting to wind down in the area, and, oddly enough, so is my mission. I swear the two aren't connected, but it sure seems to have worked out that way. Sure hope my President doesn't think I'm getting trunky. However, I'm going to keep plugging away.

I love and miss you all!

Expect Trials, Expect the Lord to Act

Its been one of those weeks. One of those weeks that make you excited that is, cause when everything goes wrong, you know something good is coming, and all the trials are just the groundwork for it. I mentioned something about it to Elder Harper one day. It seemed that every single person we taught was experiencing some sort of extremely difficult trial, and a lot of them weren't doing everything the were supposed to.

It got pretty discouraging. We went by one house that same day. Turns out our solid investigator had moved and didn't tell us. We left that house to go visit an investigator at another house. Turns out there power was shut off, and all the kids were sent to a different house to stay till it comes back on. The lord knows what he's doing though, it just requires me to be as flexible as possible, and just do the best with whatever comes into my hands. Even if it means getting my proselyting clothes dirty while raking leaves, or talking to crazy people. I know the lord will bless me for doing my best, but even more important, I know the Lord's Will is being accomplished, even if I don't exactly see how.

On a positive note, Kaylie came to church, and was confirmed! I also remembered to bring my memory card, so everyone can see a picture!

I love and miss you all!

A lisence... a lisence to drive!!

Thats what I spent an hour and half doing at the DMV this morning. Let me tell you, DMV's are so much fun! Definitely somewhere I would go to hang out. Not. We got there and the line was out the door. Luckily I had an appointment. Took and almost frighteningly easy written test, and that was it. Only took an hour of waiting for 15 minutes of actual doing something.

This last week we finally mangaged to see Kaylie baptized! It was something special for sure. I think it was the first church activity that her mother has been to since she was baptized almost 20 years ago. Now we just need to get her to go to church.

I'll tell you one thing right now, it is very easy to become prideful as a missionary. As missionaries, obviously our number one focus and concern in life is missionary work. We become very good at it, and we know and recognize everything that it takes to make a good member missionary. It becomes very easy to point out all the flaws that a ward has in its missionary work. What we tend to forget as missionaries is that these people aren't stupid. They know what makes a good member missionary too, but they're trying to juggle it with a Spouse, kids, work, financial troubles, car problems, house problems, other church callings. The list is endless. Theres a wall of inexperience that I can't see past, same as when I was a teenager looking at Adults. All I can do is understand that these are people most likely doing the best they can, and be gentle in my urges to cry repentance.

On a somewhat smaller note, I've noticed theres one thing that my missionary brain cannot seem to retain, and that is names. People I've known for years I have to strain for several minutes to remember a name. I couldn't remember any classes I took my Sophmore year of highschool for almost an entire day of thinking about it. So If I come home, and can't remember you name, just remember that I haven't forgotten you, just your identification.

I love and miss you all!

Happy T-day, foo!

So Thanksgiving has come and gone. I feel a few pounds heavier.

This week we had a somewhat amusing setback with our baptismal candidate, Kailee, who is 10. Due to the holiday weekend, we weren't sure that her baptism would be very well attended, but we were going to try and go through with it. Well, the day we were supposed to interview her, turns out she wasn't home, she was at her grandma's house. Well, we talk to the Bishop, and he asks us to hold off a bit so we could be better prepared for the baptism. The next day, Kailee calls us to let us know she's home from her Grandma's house, and we tell her that her baptism is going to be postponed a week. About an hour later, we get a call from her mother saying that Kailee is very upset and distraught that she wasn't able to be baptized that day, and had locked herself in her room and refused to come out. So we went over there to see what we could do. Upon arriving, Kailee had hung on her front door a note that read

"Go Away
I don't want to see anyone
No baptism today
I'm sad, mad, DISAPPOINTED!
by: Kailee"

We talked with her and helped her to understand it wasn't her fault or her mothers that she was being baptized a week later. It seemed to do the trick. But, one thing it did help with, is alleviate the fear that her mother had that she wasn't ready to be baptized. God really does work in some mysterious ways.

In more temporal news, I've had some problems with my right knee. Well, I've always had problems with my right knee, but they seemed to get worse after I got hit by that car. Then it seemed to be ok, but then I played football. Yeah, probably not the best choice. So sometime in the next week or so, I'm going to be taking a roadtrip down to Fresno to get my knee x-rayed and meet with a doctor. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

I also found out that Elder Harper and I will be spending another transfer together! Yay! It will make him my longest companion I've had on my mission by 3 days!

I love and miss you all!

Always look both ways

So another week down in the mission field, and not too many left.

Unfortunately, we did not see a baptism this last weekend, BUT we're making up for it this coming weekend. Kaylee Boyd will be baptized! Other than that, not too much to mention. Oh, I did get hit by a car. I guess I could elaborate more on that for a moment. So Elder Harper and I were just riding down Orangeburg Ave, minding our own business. As we were riding, we were coming up on one of the side roads, and there was a lady in her little black honda civic getting ready to make a right turn. In her defense, we were going the wrong way down the bike lane, but she didn't look both ways. She was looking to her left, getting ready to make the right turn. Elder Harper Passed in front of her, followed by me. Right as I got in front, she hit the gas. Took the bike out from under me, and I rolled off the hood. We were probably going about 18 mph, but I'm fine. By front tire wasn't doing so well though. Luckily she pulled through and bought me a new one, so all is well.

In other news, I've noticed that one of the most stressful days for a missionary is Sunday. Its the day were you're waiting to see all the efforts you put forward payed off. Everything seems to go wrong. But in the end, it always seems to work out. I love it. And I love and miss you all.

I Hate Cigarettes!

Seriously, they're pretty much terrible. I mean, everyone already knows they're terrible for you, but almost every single person we've talked to in the last three days is struggling with it. Its sickening to me to see how much it controls their lives. We're trying hard to help get all of them off of it, but some people just don't seem like they have the will power for it. I have no doubt that the advesary himself is the mastermind behind this sad addiction. But I promise, there is a way to quit! You have to be committed! It just makes me sad.


But, on the positive side, yesterday was my birthday! What did I get you might ask? A bad cold! Yaaaay! But, even better than that, our investigator Kaley was baptized on saturday, and confirmed on my birthday! Yaaaaay! So it wasn't all bad. God also answered my prayers in the form of a giant bag of Ricola cough drops, which arent' nearly as nasty as Halls. I feel loved.


I love and miss you all!

Find, Teach, BAPTIZE

This week we had a baptism! Actually, we had two of them!

Kayla Fore and Alex Ambroziac where baptized this last weekend. It was really amazing to see the two of them baptized. Alex has been waiting to baptized for months now, and has finally gotten the first presidency approval to do so. And Kayla is a special story too, of how the gospel spreads like a bad virus. The first person to start this chain reaction was a woman by the name of Diana. She started taking the missionary lessons, but wasn't entirely convinced by it. She was taught for a long time, when her Daughter, Shawna decided she wanted to be baptized. After Shawna was baptized, her brother Shawn, decided he wanted to be baptized too. Then their cousin/uncle (don't ask, I'm not sure.) Leon, decided he wanted to be baptized too. After that, Kayla Fore, Shawna's friend, wanted to be baptized, and now she is! This coming weekend we'll be baptizing Kaley, Kayla's younger sister. Then, a couple weeks after that, we'll be baptizing Kayla's friend Kaylee. So other than people needing to become more creative with names, things are going great! You never know what sharing the gospel with your friend can do, or how far it can spread. I'm sure the missionaries who talked with Diana for the first time had no idea that this would be the result of it. So get out there, and share the gospel. You will accomplish great good, even if you can't see it.

Things have been going great, as previously stated, but they've also been going by incredibly fast. I know this is something I've mentioned several times, but everytime I mention it again, its gotten faster. Now theres not much time for it to get any faster. All I can do is make the best of the time I have. I suppose you could say I've reached the "sprint" line of the race, and now I just have to give it all. And that is something I plan on doing.

In non gospel related subjects, the we've finally moved out of our cool and comfortable 70's, and down into the frigid 50's. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I get home....

I love and miss you all!

Just another day in Modesto 2nd Ward

Theres a saying that has been coined in this area, and that is "Just another day in Modesto 2nd ward". This quote is used quite often after something absolutely crazy and dramatic happens, which is typically a daily occurrence in this area. Some brief examples. About a week ago we visited one of our recent converts in Juvenile hall. The other day a man called the police on his 11 year old daughter (who is one of our investigators) because she refused to listen to him. 2 of some of the youth that we teach just found out their parents do meth. We just got one of our recent converts a bed cause he was sleeping on the floor. The list goes on and on, but I feel like the point has been made.

I have no doubt that all of these challenges and events that keep taking place are connected to the fact that this is the most productive area I've ever been in. The lord cannot bless us unless we are willing to make a little sacrifice, and what it boils down to is a question of priority. Even using the bathroom requires sacrifice (time and effort... lots of effort sometimes....) but we are more than willing to make that sacrifice cause its definitely better than the alternative (soiled drawers). God has promised us lots of blessings that are totally worth it, and we want those blessings, but we seem totally surprised and caught off guard when it comes time for the sacrifice, when bad things start happening. There are two certainties we should always expect. Expect trials, and expect the lord to act. These are almost always certainties. So I gladly welcome the trials that are coming our way, because I can already see the blessings taking place.

I love and miss you all!

Back to Modest Modesto

So transfers came and went, and I think I completely forgot to really tell anyone about it. So I am now back up in Modesto! Modesto 2nd ward this time, which is in a different Stake than the one I was previously in in Modesto. My companion is Elder Harper (Cadiz, Kentucky/Atlanta, Georgia), and he is pretty much awesome. I live in the super ghetto of Modesto, and I love it. This ward is quite unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Half of our investigators are on probation, and can't be baptized until they receive first presidency approval, or their probation ends. Its a unique group, but I love em. Which is something I've been studying a lot about lately; Charity.

I was pretty intimidated when I first got here, after seeing more than a few people break down and cry because Elder Julian left. After making a comment to my companion that it seemed like I had some big shoes to fill, he commented "yeah, you do". Yikes. Intimidating. After wallowing in self pity for a while, I decided to suck it up and and figure out what I could do, and I decided the best course of action was simply to love the people and serve them to the best of my ability and let that be it. If I just give all that I can, what more can people ask of me? So that's what I did, and It has been working wonderfully since. I would encourage everyone to pray for that charity in their life, towards everyone. I think you'll find it makes you much more happy and loved person. Thats about all I have time for! I

I love and miss you all!

Carpet Cleaner and Cat Crap

I suppose the subject needs some explaining, though I feel its pretty self explanatory. First, some back story. For anyone who has missed out, we live in a finished attic that sits on top of a Garage, on a chicken farm just outside of Selma, CA. Well the members who own the farm also own a Cat (one of many) Named Dust Speck. Every now and then, this cat finagles its way into our apartment, which we usually don't mind too much. Lately we've been letting her in to escape from the cold, because the members that own her are also on a mission right now.

Well one night, Elder Giesey and I were debating on whether or not to let her stay in overnight (which wouldn't be the first time she had). We decided to let her stay in due to sheer laziness. What I didn't remember, was that Dust Speck had drank a bowl of milk left over from cereal that had been laying out for about 2 days. Apparently cats stomachs react about the same way humans do.

I woke up at about 3:00 am to some very unsightly sounds. Upon scrambling for a light switch I stepped in what I was hoping was a pile of Vomit. It wasn't. After forcefully removing the cat, I turned on a light to reveal several spots at which this cat had expelled her bowels. I then began to clean it up, which due to the fact that we had just run out of paper towels, meant using one of our good dish towels, and due to its tar like consistency, took me a little over an hour to clean. Being now fully awake, it took me a few more hours to fall back asleep. Fun night.

Other than fun adventures with cats who are no longer welcome in the apartment, this week has been, sadly, mostly uneventful. The work in this area has been mostly slow, and rumors are now moving that this area will be closed. Transfers are actually going to be this monday, instead of the usual wednesday due to a mission presidents seminar. Accordingly, my next preperation day will actually be on Saturday, in 4 days, so I'll try to keep everyone posted then.

I love and miss you all!

2 minutes!

So I've got two minutes to write this weekly email!

Last week we totally failed. Turns out the Commissary is closed on Mondays.... lame. But I got two 12 packs of vanilla coke at the Exchange, which i never thought I'd see again. It was lovely. We went to hanford, and the Foods Co was out of extreme moose tracks. Double lame. But we still had a great time, and it was probably going to be the last time I used my military I.D.

Conference was great, loved it, and things are all going well here.

I love and miss you all!

In the Navy...

Today we've decided to mix things up by doing our shopping somewhere else... the commissary! Its so much cheaper, and this is the first time in my mission I've been anywhere near the Naval Air base they have here, so using my super ID card abilities (which expires in two months) we'll be able to get on base and use the commissary! I hope. Hooray for cheap foods!

Also this week, I had the chance to call 911! Yay! We passed a small brush fire next to a vineyard on our way into town. It was pretty small, but those things can get pretty serious out here, especially this time of year, so we called it in, and then sat to watch the fireman come take care of it. I like to think that I just saved the whole town, or something.

We had our Zone Conference this last week, in which we learned how to get the members really involved in missionary work, because we can't really do it without them. We learned that the best way to get somebody on your side is to be their friend, get to know them. You'll be more likely to work harder for them, and they'll be more likely to work harder for you. Everyone wins! It might seem difficult, but if you work towards it, everyone can be your friend, and the more friends you have, the more friends other people have. Pretty soon everyone loves each other and wants to help each other. We all win, right? It's a hippie dream we should all strive for. To truly love one another as our father in heaven has love for us. It will change our very habits.

I love and miss you all!

Elder Keenan Monnett

The Tossing of the Chickens

Chicken Tossing was pretty much awesome! I tell you there are few things more exciting than tossing a crate filled with 100 chicks, and then as they're recovering from the throw, tossing 100 more on top of them. We had some fun. Now, nobody needs to go feeling bad for these chicks. Because they're sold to whole foods, they need to be treated humanely. These Chickens will have playgrounds, flowers for decoration, and an outside recreation area. All so people can cook them and eat them, knowing that the chicken their eating lived a happy and full life. I would include pictures, except my memory card reader no longer wants to work, and using my camera is uber slow. And sad to say, I didn't get any pictures of me Juggling the chicks, which was pretty awesome.

I feel like this area contains some of the flakiest investigators I've ever had in my mission. It seems like almost everyone we go to stop by is busy doing something or other, even when we had set appointments. And other investigators wont commit to any specific appointment, but tell us we can only stop by on one certain day of the week, and that they may or may not be available that day, we just have to stop by and find out. Its incredibly frustrating, as some of these people we drive 15-20 minutes just to get to their house. However, I don't get the privilege of choosing my situation, just taking what the lord gives to me and doing to the best of my ability. Luckily, he's usually pretty good at determining what is best for me, and what isn't. All I have to do is listen.

It really comes down to an analogy that Bishop Meyers, the Bishop of Caruthers Ward, likes to give. Sometimes in missionary work we're an Ammon, and sometimes we're and Aaron. Ammon was given quite good fortune; found many opportunities for service, was given a place to live and even offered a princess to wife (which he denied). He performed miracles, and converted thousands. Aaron, on the other hand, was almost immediately thrown into prison, and treated horribly for a long time before Ammon could come and free him. Both were great men, and both preformed the tasks that were given them to the best of their ability. Sometimes we get put in cruddy situations, but that isn't what determines how succesful, happy, or even godlike that we are. Its what we do with the things that we are given.

I love and miss you all!

-- Elder Keenan Monnett

The Thriving Metropolis of Caruthers.

I live on a Chicken Farm.

I never thought I'd be able to say that, but there it is. I live on a chicken farm in the middle of nowhere. I suppose I'll backtrack a bit. So as many of you might remember, I was transferred to Caruthers Ward. Well, upon arival, I realized that I don't live anywhere really near the actual town of Caruthers, but I live with a Member, on a Chicken farm, somwhere between Caruthers and Selma. Our "apartment" is an attic above a garage that has been "finished". Its about 240 square feet total. I guess you could call it a Studio apartment, if that. The refrigerator is next to my bed. We can't run the air conditioning and the microwave at the same time, or we'll blow a circuit. We can't really run anything and the air conditioner at the same time. We cover a large chunk of the country. The two biggest towns in our area are Caruthers and Riverdale, which have about 2500 people each. Then theres a handful of nowhere towns in-between. Basically, we're never on bikes, because it just wouldn't be practical. Of course, you won't hear me complaining about that part.

On service project I am quite excited about is Chick tossing! The member who's chicken farm we live on is getting a shipment of 146,000 chicks who will eventually become food this wednesday! He needs help putting them in! I've been told that it consists of Taking a box of about 100 chicks, and then tossing them out of the box, into a pile. Rinse and Repeat. I'm pretty much pumped for it, and I will deffinitely be taking some pictures, that I will be forced to share with everyone else. So be looking for those.

As far as spiritual work in Caruthers ward goes, well, we're working on that. This area seems to be the core of flakey investigators. I've never had so many cancelled apointments. We'd rely more heavily on the ward, but theres only about 60 or 70 active members. That's counting all of the kids and babies and such. I'm certainly not used to the small ward environment. Last I heard my home ward was just about busting at the seams.

Depsite all the things that seem like they might be setbacks, I'm actually really enjoying this area. It could very easily be my last area in the mission, so I'm glad that is the case. I could finish here and be very happy. However, I will do my best to make sure it gets even better (cause I certianly wouldn't mind another baptism or two before the end).

I love and miss you all!

-- Elder Keenan Monnett

Breaking up is haaard tooo do!

So, as my picture shows, I've been transferred, made an assistant, and with the comes the perks of a new car and a new companion. Kidding! I couldn't resist. The picture was sombody elses idea, though I willfully consented. It looks so apostate. I love it. I did go for a ride in that Viper. Sorry Sandy, I think it might be a slight quicker than your mustang. What blows me away, is that its a 97 viper, but it looks brand new. I have to hand it to Dodge for really capturing the futuristic look back then.

This morning, I tried to attempt the Grand Slam Challenge at Batter Up Pancakes, which entails Eating 10 scrambled eggs, 2 cups of country potatoes, 1 cup of cheese, 4 cups of my choice of toppings, all on top of a 24 oz pancake. Needless to say, I failed miserably, and wasted 36 dollars in the process. I was a little bummed about that one. But I loved the experience, and now I have more experience for when I try again....

I found out on Saturday that I'm being transferred. This not only means the depressing news that I'm leaving the Riverside Ward, which I have come to love so much, but I'm also moving onto my 15th Transfer, with my 15th companion. Now, as to where I'm going, I was originally told that I was being transferred to the Orchardview ward in the Fresno north Stake to be companions with Elder Cox, which I was really excited about, because I've served around Elder Cox before and I really enjoyed him. However, last night I got a call from the Zone Leaders telling me things have changed, and I'm now going to the Caruthers Ward in the Hanford Zone to be with Elder Giesey (Bonus points to those who remember that I've served with him before.). Now, what confuses me is that Elder Giesey and I both go home in January, so its a little Odd that we're together. However, I'm sure president has something planned, and I'll try to go along with that plan. I'll tell you how everything has gone next week.

I love and miss you all!

-- Elder Keenan Monnett

The teaching that is done at home

Hello everyone. Another week has come and gone. Let me tell you a bit about it.

A member and I on a split went by a Convalescence home to visit a Sister who has Alzheimer's. It was a very sad place, but at the same time, I enjoyed being there, cause I just wanted to find some way to help everyone there. Unfortuantely the Sister we went to visit wasn't available, but it felt good just smiling and waving at people. People should do that more often. It feels good to be smiled and waved at.

Learned how to play touch rugby. Thats a fun sport, but it was hard to break yourself out of the football "have to get ahead" mentallity, cause you can't do a forward pass in rugby. It was a pretty fun Game though. I'd like to see a real game played in person. President Gelwix was nice enough to teach us all how to play, and speaking of which, everyone should click Right Here!and see his Mormon.org video and profile!

One short little rant I'd like to go on before I finish. Home teaching. I never realized how much of a problem there is in doing home teaching. I cant say its like this everywhere, but the ward I'm serving in has about a 24% home teaching ratio. It doesn't take much effort, and you're doing a huge service to the people you home teach. It may not seem like a big deal, but If everyone who reads this does there home teaching this month, I can promise you'll be happier for it.

Well, I'm about out of time, but I love and miss you all!

-- Elder Keenan Monnett

Weeding out the Tares

What a week it has been. Where should I begin?

Earlier this week, we decided to go by the house of an inactive member. She was put on a list of people that nobody in the ward knew, and after making plans about 6 times to go see her, my companion and I actually did. Turns out, she's a recent convert. She lived her whole life in Madera, met the missionaries and was baptized. Unfortunately her health took a turn for the worse, and she could no longer live alone. She moved in with her mother, here in Fresno, but she had no way of getting in contact with the Ward here. She had no numbers to call, didn't know much of how the church organization worked, and had no way of getting to church. We knocked on her door, and met her for the first time, and made her day! She was afraid that she wasn't going to ever get to see the church again. It was awesome to be that ray of sunlight in somebodies life.

On Wednesday, we had the chance to go up to the Vineyard with the young men to weed out our rows in order to make picking in a couple weeks a little easier. And that went pretty well (might have gone even better, had it not been for the Deacons....) We had to drop off our weeding clothes at the church, cause we weren't going to have time to go back to the apartment to change before hand. Well, we wanted to keep our clothes in the library cause it was the only room that was locked, so as we went in to change, we decided just to change in the library. As we were changing, I jokingly said to Elder Moore "how bad would it be if somebody walked in here while we were changing?". I told him that I would totally write home about it if the Relief Society President walked in on us. 3 minutes later, we heard the door lock click, and the Relief Society President tried to walk in the door. And now here I am writing home about it. Fortunately, there was a nearby counter for me to dive behind, and my companion, who was dressed, threw himself in front of the door. Gooood times.

The work here continues to roll along. Miracles abound. We have a senior missionary couple who was assigned to our area as "Member Support" missionaries. Looks like the have a senior couple assignment for just about everything nowadays. They are Elder and Sister Jones (Littleton, CO), and they're pretty much amazing. Its like having your grandparents working in the area with you. They spoil you, and give you rides places, and want to do everything they can for you. I hope I don't get fat. Oh, hopefully I wont, cause I started running 2 miles every other day. Go me!

I love and miss you all!

For the Temple is a House of God

Sorry for the surprise everyone, but I am still alive!

We went to the temple today, which is always a pleasure, but they didn't inform us we were going until tuesday, so I didn't get the chance to tell anyone.

This week has been another good week. We've seen our investigator pool almost double! Now we're just working to get these people out to church! It is so amazing seeing how this gospel can bless and change peoples life, their habbits, and even their desires. We truly are blessed to know what we know, and even more blessed to share it with everyone.

Unfortunately today, I'm on what might be the slowest computer in the Universe. Its taken me ages to do what I've done so far in this email, so I'm about out of time. But I love and miss you all Regardless!

Aaaand We're back!!

So, back to a Normal email day.

I realized as I was laying in bed last Monday that I didn't mention anything at all about my new companion. How rude of me. My new companion is Elder Oscar Travis Moore (Rigby, ID), and he is pretty legit. We've been working the area up and down and have been seeing a lot of success for our efforts.

Just the other day, President Gelwix decided to make a surprise visit to our apartment, where he corrected us seemingly with a Sword. It was painful, and I didn't feel that a lot of it was deserved. But we started focusing on the things he suggested improving, and what do you know, we saw miracles! In 1st Nephi 2:16 it says 16And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the ^amysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did ^bvisit me, and did ^csoften my heart that I did ^dbelieve all the words which had been spoken by my ^efather; wherefore, I did not ^frebel against him like unto my brothers.

It shows us that Nephi didn't simply believe everything Lehi said from the start, and it may have been hard for him, but he humbled himself and did what he needed to to find out if it was true. Something that Laman and Lemuel never did. Sometimes, the lord may ask us to do things, through the spirit, or our bishops, or other leaders we might have, and we don't think it is right. It doesn't seem like the most effective thing we could be doing, but when we listen, we see the blessings that obedience brings. So listen to the lord, he will always bless you!

I love and miss you all.

-- Elder Keenan Monnett