Week 6- May 17th

Hola Yall!!! Como Estan???

Um I think it was meant for me to be District Leader now.... Cause now all the bad is coming out and I have a lot of work to do!! There is a lot of contention in my district right now so I’m trying to work on that!! Um 2 elders decided to sleep in my room and Elder Green got very upset and said that they shouldn’t be doing that, but really it’s ok if they do cause they are companions sleeping in the same room but oh well!! We didn’t get to have a pday eve party because of this reason because he said he would call the branch president if we stayed up late at all so that was kinda a let down.

We had an amazing devotional on Tuesday. We heard L Tom Perry!!! That is 5 of the 12 so pretty much if we get one more then we have gotten half of the quorum which is pretty exciting!! He talked about the Book of Mormon and the Priesthood was restored on the same day 187 years ago! So it was really cool to have an apostle share that anniversary with us!! He talked about how when he was an Aaronic priesthood holder they went to Martin Harris grave stone and a man told them a story, all and all that man actually worked for Martin Harris!!! So it was crazy to think that Martin Harris, one of the 3 witnesses, talked to a boy, who talked to L Tom Perry, who talked to us!!! That is not that far away!!!! Um so that was really exciting to be a part of!!

  

Um yesterday we got to host the new missionaries!! That was kinda exciting! But since I am a district leader I got selected to be one of 3 districts to direct traffic!!! Sooo that kinda sucked because I would much rather be talking to the missionaries instead of wearing a random coat!!!

Ummmm yaaaa I disagree on the name Phoebe (for the puppy)!!!! GROSS!!!! Come on now!!! I beg of you!!! I’m sorry I really don’t have much to say this week because I have pretty much told you everything in the recorder! Um we had an amazing lesson in our workshop about the spirit that was really strong!! Like the other night after I was done praying I had a feeling I need to read the book of Daniel.... I had no clue why, but I did! Daniel 5 I think... maybe 6... Oh well the one about Daniel and the Lion’s den. We all know this story, but I have never had it hit me as hard as it did this time!! I just was thinking that in 2 weeks I will be in a place where I could be spit upon, chastised, attacked, or made fun of. It’s kind of scary to think of!!! But reading that I just knew that if I am doing what I am supposed to that the Lord will deliver me if my life truly is in danger!! So that was a really cool experience today. I am kinda nervous that I’m going to have to talk in sacrament this week.... hopefully not cause our talks are in Spanish haha!!!

Um I really would appreciate some food!!!! MY DESK IS EMPTY!!! Like really I have left over spray cheese and that is it!! Kinda pathetic haha but yeah this week has been a good week!!! Just think in 2 weeks I can talk to you on the phone, but I need to get some other emails sent off!!!

Oh one more thing!!!! You know the new kid in our ward that’s going to Spain!!! Yeah I met him haha because he said he’s from SOJO and I told him where we moved and he was like um you’re probably in my ward haha he seems like an ok kid, but yeah it’s a small world haha

I Miss you all and Love you!!!

Love

Elder Knudsen

Week 5- May 10

Hey everyone how’s it all going!?!? I heard you got my package so that’s good. Sorry it was so early I know you got it like a week before your birthday but that’s ok. Um where do I want to start... Um I’m now the new district leader so that is pretty exciting! It just means a lot more meetings for me haha.

So I can already see the blessings of my mission haha guess what!?!?! I LEARNED HOW TO WHISTLE haha I thought I was a lost cause but apparently not so that was pretty dang exciting for me!! Um I have to tell you a way funny story about elder green.  I love that kid he’s so dang funny, so it was late one night and he decided he wanted to finish reading his scriptures but it was light out time so he went outside the room. He forgot his pencil... me being the prankster out of the group used my squirt bottle for my hair to fill up one of the water guns. Right when he walked in... BOOM right in the eye.  It was so dang funny so that kinda started a little fun that night! He came at me with a pillow and swung it at me and his shoulder hit the top bunk and it just dropped him.  It was so dang funny I don’t think I have laughed that hard in awhile.  The MTC changes your sense of humor.

So guess who moved in down the hall from me. Kalin Burr!!! I know pretty crazy huh! It’s a small world! He’s going to Milan Italy so that is freaking legit, but ya that was really weird to see him! We have had amazing speakers the last week! Every fast Sunday we have a missionary conference and it’s like a 2 hour stake conference and it was absolutely amazing!!! Then that night we had a member of the 70ty talk to us. He was really good and funny!

We got to hear from another apostle this week! 4th once since I’ve been here so I’ve been really lucky. It was D Todd Christofferson! His talk was really different that most apostles, like honestly he didn’t say much, he lead us to find the answers so they had like a traveling microphone, but it was a really good meeting. We received another apostolic blessing so those are always amazing!!

One of our elders in our zone decided to go home yesterday. He was one of the kids in the new district. He was a convert like he got baptized last year. He was a good kid, but it’s really sad to see him go. After he left we watched a talk from Elder Holland about missions and just that the church will move on, but he would beg any missionary who was debating on going home to stay for their sake because really they will never have this opportunity again. I feel like that has been stressed really strong since I’ve been here and it just makes me want to work that much harder. Like really this month has gone by so fast.... I only have 23 more. I know when I look back on this time it’ll seem so short and I don’t want to have any regrets. Like right now 2 years seem like forever, but really it’s not. So I’m really trying to work as hard as I can.

I actually memorized the first vision this week in Spanish so that was kinda exciting! I feel like the Spanish is coming along great! Like every lesson or every time we're just talking in Spanish I say things that I didn’t even know that I could. It just starts flowing and I know that without the Holy Ghost it would not be possible! I have also received revelation on almost a daily basis. Like last night I was just praying and when I finished I just got a thought to read a random chapter in the bible. It’s like one that I probably learned 5 years ago in primary, but I just decided to turn there and it was AMAZING!!! Like it is so crazy, I really can’t wait to leave the MTC. It’s so great to be able to see familiar faces every day though! Elder Gerrard leaves on Monday! Then I think Corbin leaves the week after that, and then I’m 2 weeks after that!!

Hermano Toone is the most amazing man I have ever met. He is one of our teachers and I really hope I can be as strong as him one day! I feel like he is so wise, and yet he is only like 24 years old. Every lesson I learn more from him and the spirit is so strong!!!

This part is pretty much for L BELL!!! I forgot to throw it in your letter my bad bro!! Um so guess who is staying on my floor! Elder Asiata!! He’s the defense end for Utah! He is a beast! Like he is so spiritual too.  He pretty much engulfs me, but he’s been in our room the last 2 nights! He’s going to Oklahoma so he leaves I think on Tuesday but he’s crazy!!! Like he’s going to change a lot of people’s lives!!

Um... my district is doing as great as ever! Um nothing really new with them! Elder Gonzalez is pretty much the same.... not more to say there... I just keep praying for my heavenly father to soften my heart... I just don’t know what else to do but the teachers have really helped me out! I don’t know if I told you but they were just saying that they are amazed by how patient I am and that I will be blessed for it.

One of our new elders has probably became my best friend in the zone. His name is Elder Wakeham. He’s from Morgan and he is just straight legit! Um he’s just the nicest kid and we have had some amazing talks with one another. Like we have some similarities and stuff, but his dad passed away from cancer.... but he is so strong! I love that kid!! The whole new district are studs! Haha there is one of them that looks and acts just like Ben, not Casper but like my cousin...I'll have to send a picture of us. It’s crazy how much they look alike!!!

I’m glad that the move went all good! I wish I could see the new house and the new dog! I bet she is adorable!! I bet Oaklee is changing every day too  but really the only time I have to think about home is at night. Like its crazy.... there is just not really a care in the world when you are doing the Lords work! I’m starting to really love the MTC. The last few days I have been pretty exhausted, but it’s fun. I’m really going to miss having so many guys just to hang out with at night cause in the field I'll only be with 1 other elder unless we have another companionship in our apartment. Like it is just cool to hear everyone’s story. Like there is one kid named Elder Higdon and he's from LA. He’s a straight up model, like he’s been in JC Penny catalogs and he is good friends with lady gaga and stuff. It’s kinda really funny. Then there is a kid that just decided like a year ago to start coming back to church and now he’s on a mission like it’s just amazing my testimony grows from each of them every day!!

Um well that’s pretty much all I got! Thanks for all the love and support and you’re all in my prayers!!

Love Elder Knudsen

Week 4- May 3

Hey everybody!!! How are yall doing!! I’m so happy its pday but it has gone by way too fast! I don’t even know where to start! Still having rough times, but this week has gone by pretty fast! Just so yall know I’m not going to be writing as long as letters because I’m trying to obey with exactness so pretty much I will only be emailing for a half hour so sorry about that!

How’s the new home coming!! I sent something to it today so hopefully your there by now or else something great will be showing up there without you guys!! I’ve been able to see Red and Vankomen a lot lately! It’s great, I don’t really get to see Corbin all that much so that kinda sucks! I love that kid haha. Can I just tell you I am so happy to be learning Spanish because hearing there language scares me to death haha I’m so happy I had a little bit of a background of the language before I got in here!

We had a member of the 70 come and talk to us this week! It was really sweet! He talked about how we just have to be having fun and always stays positive because like really there is no wasted moment in the work of the Lord. Like I know that even if I’m not baptizing someone that I am making a difference in their life that hopefully I’m planting the seed that they can come unto Christ in the future.

I’m sorry I don’t really have any input for the dogs name haha its just not a big deal cause when I get home I’m getting a mini husky no battle!!! Haha jk but just name it... um I don't know haha whatever your heart desires!

We got a new district this week! They are really sweet I get along with them a lot and they are good examples to us that have been here awhile, but also my favorite district is gone so that really sucks! But it will all work out in the end. Mom if you could go to the seminary and get Brother Adams info or like call the seminary it would be great because there is a kid in my zone that actually met him this summer and loved him and he really wants to write him and he would love me forever! And if you want you could get like Pierce and Staples and Meyers just in case cause he met them too!

Can I ask you a question?? What was the package for?? It was a pretty legit package, but probably the most random thing I have ever seen haha like a bottle of martinellis haha I kinda feel like Chris helped put it together. Was it just something that I could celebrate your birthday while I am here haha. Um I don’t know what else to say but I really need to come up with something fast because I only have 20 minutes left haha ahhhhh they don’t give us enough time.  (We sent him a "halfway" package!)

Hermano Toone is probably one of the most amazing men I have ever met. He is a man among boys haha but really I have never had someone as spiritual as he is! It wouldn’t surprise me if he eventually had a big role in the church! Like he is very loving, but he will put you straight so he and Wadsworth work very well together. I think we have the best teachers in the MTC like I don’t think I could handle 6 hours of class a day without them haha. Um

I’m not really sure if I told you about our epic water fight yet so I’m going to tell you anyway!! Like it was an epic war! It was floor wide and literally people were drenched all the way! Like it had looked like they had just gotten out of the shower! And just so you know DISTRICT 42 B CAME OUT VICTORIOUS because of the weaponry you sent me haha and we had pink peeps as grenades haha but once they were wet they were really disgusting!!

I’m kinda upset! LANDON PRESTON AND BRYCE why haven’t you written me yet come on now!! haha it’s weird to think that I’m half way to the field though! I really can’t wait! A month from tomorrow and I'll be calling you up on the phone! Crazy huh!!! Haha hopefully I won’t be leaving as early as most people like some people have to meet at the travel office around 3 or 4 AM so just so ya know you might have to get up mighty early if you are wanting to talk to me, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be worth it haha!

I can’t wait to hear from yall! Make sure if you want me to get a letter before the weekend pretty much you have to do it tomorrow cause Saturday they don’t print off dear elders and Sunday we can’t get letters either so just FYI!

Dad I’m sorry I haven’t given you any shout outs! I have been getting your letters but I just forget about saying stuff because I have so much to say! I really am sorry and I’m thankful for your letters! I love them!! Um I love you guys so much and thanks for the support! I’ll talk to you next Thursday!!