November 12th

We had a good amount of success this week. Remember the girl I told
> you about last week that we had started to teach. Ya we set a baptism
> date with her for.... DECEMBER 1 haha what a coinicidence right?? But
> too bad I wont be able to teach her all the way up until her baptism
> cause ill be getting a new companion next Tuesday. I think I might be
> getting Elder Simms!!! Man I love that Elder! He was my zone leader in
> my last area and in my district and hes a great elder. We are thinking
> its him, or Elder Duran (funniest person I know) or maybe Elder
> Ferguson. So Im really excited to be able to work Spanish work again,
> but Ill be honest its going to be hectic cause its like were going to
> be opening a new area.
>
> I had a really cool thing happen to me this week. So the zone leaders
> came on.... I think it was Thursday and I went with Elder Richins and
> he only has one more week left in his mission. But I decided we were
> going to go try a former Spanish investigator and so we did, she didnt
> answer, and then the thought came to me to go to a street called
> Landings. Like the 5th door we knocked on was hispanic and before I
> could even get out that we were missionaries he asked us to come in
> and teach him. We ended up teaching him and 2 other men. They are all
> from Honduras and he had seen missionaries there and had always wanted
> to speak to them but never had. Hes been here in the states for 5
> months. But we taught him the Restauration and he really liked it and
> we set up a return appointment for last night, we went over and he
> hadnt got off work yet so that kinda sucked. Oh wait.... nvm it was
> Saturday, but ya I really think they could progress!! It was a really
> cool experience cause its really rare to have Hispanics just let you
> in on your first contact with them out here.
>
> We had 3 investigators to church yesterday so that was really good. My
> translation is getting a lot better to say the least. I felt like I
> did really good yesterday during Sacrament. We had a returned
> missionary sister speak and also a high council man, and so it was
> pretty profound talks too. But like even a member was like Dang Elder
> Knuden, That was pretty impressive, seeing as you didnt speak like
> that last week haha. So its getting better to say the least.
>
> Elder Sizelove said something funny to me this week haha. He was like
> Elder Knudsen, I know why your speaking Spanish now, Its because if
> you were speaking English your mission would just be too easy for you.
> I really have felt really comfortable speaking English and I feel like
> I can connect to a lot of them. Like Its just the other elders door
> approaches and contacts are really awkward and seem like rehearsed and
> so they get the door shut on them, but when you start to speak to them
> like a person, then thats when they will open there hearts.
>
> But there wasnt really anything too much different about this week. We
> recieved a training on how to change our door approaches that
> President learned from his Mission President Seminar for the 17
> Southern missions. And guess what.... It came from the Ft Lauterdale
> mission haha I was like PONDDDDD haha. I guess when they tract they
> say "We representatives of Jesus Christ and as such we bring His peace
> and blessing to your home, could we maybe come in and offer a pray
> with you?" And they have seen there baptisms sky rocket. Like my
> mission, we have never had more baptisms than we are having right now.
> We might hit 70 this month which is really high for this mission,
> Actually the highest its ever been, but there mission had 160 last
> month and they have less missionaries than we do! Crazy right!?!?!
>
> We also had some crazy guy. Man I was so mad that day. He asked us to
> come in and then he starts asking all these questions that were very
> specific to the temple and I wouldnt answer them and so he went into
> that hes done research on the Mormons for 7 years and hes found out
> that we are Satan worshipers and stuff like that. It was just
> ridiculous. It made me sick to my stomach some of the stuff he said,
> so i got up and left the room.
>
> Ive been really tired this week Ill be honest. Its went by pretty
> fast, but man. Im just exhausted or something. Its crazy to think I
> turn 20 in less than 3 weeks haha. It sure doesnt seem like im that
> old. Like im going to hit my year mark in no time. Like its only 3
> transfers away!! Man I hope I actually get to go to transfer meeting
> this time. But I think they will just bring my companion out here and
> I wont go, but I wish I could just see everyone down there haha like I
> really do miss Louisville. I feel like Louisville is my home.
>
> Thanks for sending out my winter stuff. Man im not excited for winter
> to hit. Ya its been pretty warm this week, its been nice. Today its
> been raining all day and it was raining all last night and just a lot
> of wind, so I think its coming haha. I didnt feel the earthquake by
> the way. But the Elders Im with have been making fun of how much
> winter stuff I got. But im like man Im going to need it. But then
> again one of my companions is from Alaska, and the other is from Idaho
> and apparently it gets like -30 where he lives too. So they are really
> used to the cold to say the least.
>
> But everything is going good with me. Just the same old song and
> dance! Hope all is good with you all.
>
> Elder Knudsen

November 5th

> Well it has been a pretty good week to say the least. We had a lot of
> success and it was nice getting back into missionary mode haha I know
> that sounds bad but th last little bit it felt like I was doing
> nothing with my time. I feel like I am a pretty good edition to this
> companionship to say the least. They are just an awkward companionship
> to say the least haha. But we had some good success. Last week they
> had 0 to church and this week we had 5. 5 is a really big number for
> investigators that attend sacrament and so that was really cool to
> see.
>
> Um I did have a miracle happen this week. So the 2nd day I was with
> Elder Granados we tracted and we found this girl and he didnt really
> think anything of it, but the other day I decided we should go back
> and see her with the other Elders. She opened the door and said that
> she was wondering what had happened to us and asked if we could come
> back in like 2 days, so we did of course! Then she told us that she
> had prayed to come closer to God, and in less than 24 hours we had
> knocked on her door. So it was really cool to hear that and just know
> I guess I was being lead by the spirit when I thought about going back
> to her. She came to church on Sunday and really enjoyed it. She even
> brought a friend along with her. She said it was the thing she was
> looking for, cause she had been to churches where they talk in tongues
> and things like that, and it had scared her kids and so this was what
> she thought church should be like. But man the first lesson we had
> with her.... I feel like I am going to have to take the lead in
> everything.... its really hard. So we get in there and im just asking
> a few questions and she had her roommate come listen too. Then we
> start talking about her background and why she wanted to hear from us
> and just basic things to do as you begin to teach. Then Elder Forsgren
> starts talking about how the Priesthood is the thing different about
> us and then ran through just the titles of the restauration (like a
> robot) and then just wanted to talk about the Book of Mormon. Like if
> I was an investigator I would have been so confused. Like his lesson
> went something like this " Ya you know Prophets are so important cause
> they are called of God and then Chris came to earth and did all the
> things he did and like established a church and then he died and there
> was a lot of confusion and then there was a boy named Joseph Smith
> that had a vision and here is a book to prove it" LIKE REALLY?!?! So I
> immediately jumped in and was like um ya..... so... that is a quick
> summary of the lesson we wanted to teach and then I jumped into it
> more in deapth and got her like asking questions and talking and she
> really liked it. Then we go to the car and Elder Forsgren was like
> that was the worst lesson ever and saying his part was the best part
> and stuff! I was like are you serious!?!?! Cause really you need to
> know the background knowledge to understand why Joseph Smith was
> needed and the Book of Mormon but he disagreed. Elder Sizelove took my
> side though. We was like trying to debate his case for 30 min in the
> car. It was ridiculous. I was like, if she would have got up and left,
> you wouldnt have skipped a beat in your "so called lesson" But its
> just really hard to teach with them cause they just are so anxious to
> say everything that it doesnt make sense. They dont explain anything
> or make them feel like we are teaching them and not just a lesson. But
> we have really high hopes for her, I think me and her really connected
> though and so ya.
>
> Um we also have an investigator named Will that Elder Granados and I
> taught a couple times and he told us this week that he wants to be
> baptized. But the thing is, is he isnt eligble until the end of next
> year cause hes on probation. So that isnt fun!!!! But he came to
> church yesterday and bore his testimony and stuff, hes a really cool
> guy. Haha from the hood to say the least. His wife also came to
> church, they have a little girl about Oaklees age. I dont know if you
> heard about what happened in Louisvile about the train wreck and the
> chemical spill, but I guess they were down in Louisville when it
> happened and they dont have a car so they couldnt get evacuated and
> there daughter passed out from exposure to chemicals!! It must have
> been crazy!!
>
> Um we had interviews with President this week. They went really well.
> He pretty much just talked to me about Elder Granados and stuff like
> that. Apparently he chose to go home. Like President was going to
> allow him to stay if he commited to be obeident, but he wouldnt commit
> to it, so he sent him home. I guess this isnt the first thing thats
> happened on his mission involving a girl though.... so ya... Like
> Sister Woodbury was telling me they have had a problem with him ever
> since he got into the mission, but ya there is an update on him. But
> President is debating on weather to have me train or not. He thinks I
> could handle it, but just from whats gone on he doesnt know if he
> wants to send a senior companion out here just to help me get back
> into the swing of things. I would just be training a visa waiter, so
> like someone that is going to a foreign country that has to wait for
> their visa. So we will see what happens in 3 weeks haha. I would love
> to train, but honestly I wouldnt know where to start in the Spanish
> work, just cause Granados left me nothing.
>
> Um my doctors appointment went fine. He took some blood and he said if
> it comes back normal he is going to have me get a colonoscopy (YAY
> ME!!!) So ill be getting the results of that this week. So thats all
> there is on that. I actually got sick this week too. I had an awful
> headache and sore throat and my nose was all stuffy, but im feeling
> better. I think it was from tracting in the rain all day haha.
>
> Just send me what you think would be best. I honestly dont know if ill
> need my coat right now just cause when I get transferred I dont know
> where im going to haul it. I know its going to get cold, but I dont
> know. I would love CD's if you could. My address is the 103 Oakmont
> apt 3. or whatever. I gave it to you when I thought I was moving. But
> ill be back in Versialles in 3 weeks and we still work there and so
> whenever were in the city we check my mail box, so its just wherever
> you want to send it to be honest. \
>
> We dont really have plans for Thanksgiving just yet, but im sure
> someone will invite us over. Halloween wasnt really exciting. We went
> to one members from like 530 to 630 and played a candy game with them
> and then from 7 til 9 we had a correlation meeting with our ward
> mission leader and then they also fed us dinner, but we do that every
> week so it wasnt anything too exciting.
>
> Ya its crazy I hit my 7 month mark yesterday. Next month ill be 1/3 of
> the way done. MY BIRTHDAY IS IN LESS THAN A MONTH!! Crazy right??
>
> But there isnt really anything else thats new with me. Your going to
> be amazed by my cooking skills to say the least! I made a huge meal
> the other night! Like Elder Sizelove was like dang Elder Knudsen you
> need to teach me how to cook. It wasnt even that fancy, like i took
> some chicken and dethawed it and then seasoned it up and then cooked
> it in a pan and then I made some Alfredo and some noodles, but it was
> real good! I also had greens for the first time this week. Like
> collard greens?? They were actually really good. Your going to be
> amazed what I eat when I get home haha. But its hectic as ever to say
> the least.
>
> Love yoou all
>
> Elder Knudsen

October 29th

 Well I am now sitting at the library with Elder Sizelove and Elder
> Forsgren.  We did a lot of service this weekend. Can I just tell
> you... I HATE DRYWALL!!! So we went to a members house whose bringing
> there baby home a few months early so they have had a lot of work to
> do and so we went up there and were having to sand.... man it was
> sooooo awful haha but it was fun. I got my first cheesburger since
> being on my mission so I was grateful for that :)
>
> Thats so dang crazy that Carli is going on a mission. I got word this
> week that Celeste is too. She has her interview this week. I heard
> that usually Salt Lake gets 600 applicants every week but the week
> after conference they got 7000!! Crazy right?
>
> So ill be staying in Frankfurt for the next 3 weeks. I was talking to
> President and hes not going to close Versailles so either ill be in
> Frankfurt for the next 3 weeks or 9 weeks. I think ill either be
> training or getting Elder Ferguson which I would really like. Hes a
> good missionary. He served in Arcadia (louisville) when I was there so
> I got to know him pretty good. Hes from Cali as well. I think I would
> love to train, but I would be scared out of my mind.
>

   Pedro got the priesthood yesterday so that was
> really cool to see. Im happy for him. So... funny story... Yesterday
> during one of the talks Granados asked if I could translate so he
> could go sit in the bathroom so I did. The talk was from a former
> bishop.... and can I just say... I didnt even know what he was saying
> in English let alone Spanish. He was talking about like the history of
> the nation and just weird things Ive never heard of and just quoting
> people and like saying words Ive never heard before. So needless to
> say Pedro got nothing out of that talk. I was just like "Pedro, Im
> sorry, I dont even know what hes saying in english let alone translate
> it to Spanish so Im sorry. (he chuckled after I said that haha)
>
> Its getting pretty cold here! If you could send me out... um...
> thermals, gloves, maybe under armour, scarf, sweaters, (I dont know if
> ill need my jacket) and maybe some warmer socks. Thanks again for the
> package. It was really great. I would love it if you sent me out some
> more CD's. More kinda like an artist singing, not MOTAB. And get me
> some really good Christmas Music!!! I dont think it has to have the
> church logo for Christmas music! Just like ya.
>
> Um I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday. Its in Lexington so ill
> be going to that and then we will see whats going on. Ive been feeling
> better, but I think something still might be wrong, but I dont know.
>
>
> I bet dad is happy about the Giants winning. I knew that they were up
> 2-0 cause I was wearing a Tigers shirt to service and Brother
> Christensen was like I like your shirt, but there not doing so hot and
> then updated me with everything. Wanna know whats weird. 3 transfers
> after this one and ill be hitting my year mark!!! And 1 month and a
> couple of days until your baby turns the big 20!!! and less than 2
> months until you get to see me! So thats something im really looking
> forward too in the next little bit.
>
> Not really too much here from me. I love you all
>
> Elder Knudsen

October 22nd

Well this week was a roller coaster for sure! I dont even know what to
> say. It was the longest week of my life to say the least! Um lets
> start with the good news :) Well Pedro got baptized on Saturday night
> and then confirmed on Sunday morning. I had the opportunity to baptize
> him so that was really special. Ill send pics in a separate email. He
> is just the most amazing man! He was crying after the baptism just
> saying how he has litterally felt a weight lifted off of his
> shoulders. He said he felt so good. So that was amazing. And I just
> got an email from Elder Warner and man Okolona is booming! Elder
> Warner is still in the 5th branch but hes now a zone leader. Um so
> remember how we found Eufemia... like through that investigator that
> we dropped? Well ever since Eufemia has gotten baptized she has just
> been working wonders. So Darely got baptized yesterday and then her
> sister Amiley is getting baptized this week and there kids will also
> be baptized too! Its really a miracle! I taught both of them the whole
> time I was in Okolona, and my baptism already has made a huge impact
> on people around her! People say you have no idea how much of an
> impact just one baptism makes and now I can see that in my own life
> and see the fruits of it! It is just so amazing!! I wish I could have
> been there....
>
> So there is an amazing member named Bonnie. She is blind, but the
> nicest person you will ever meet! She is just like a superstar and she
> has a gift ever since shes been blind that like after a few visits
> with her she will be able to pretty much give a bio of what kind of
> person you are. It was one of the most touching things on my mission
> so far. So she first started out by saying shes not giving anymore
> nicknames because our nicknames are special and so we will always be
> that name to her and we are just her world and mean so much and so she
> cant keep seeing us come and go. My nickname is Salt Lake haha. Um but
> here is just a few things she said about me. She said I wear my heart
> upon my sleeve and that I have such a love for people and it just
> shows to everyone. There is an attraction that people have to me
> because they can feel of my love. She says I love really easily and
> sometimes it gets me into situations I dont want to be in. She said I
> wouldnt change that though and that I am a person that loves to make
> people happy. That I will go out of my way to make the group better
> and happier even if it means sacrifice on my part. She says I am a
> born leader. I am not a follower. She said your the person on and off
> the field doing the work, your not the one sitting on the sidelines.
> She said I have more potential than I probably realize. And she said
> some more stuff but I cant really remember all of it. It just put me
> into tears though! Like man! Shes like you know I never lie about
> these things, some elders hate when I do it cause I tell them things
> they dont know about themselves and they realize they are true haha.
>
> Now its time for the bad stuff.  My ticket did end up
> being 181 dollars. I was really upset about that....  But ya I just read
> the ticket wrong, cause like they said my speeding ticket was 36
> dollars but then I had to pay 141 dollars for a court fine and I
> thought I didnt have to pay a court fine if I wasnt going to court,
> but they said since I am paying it I am pleading guilty which is like
> Im going to court so everyone has to pay that fee.
>
>>>
> AND IM GETTING NO MAIL haha.
>
> But ya thats been my eventful week...Sucks
> about the Yankees but I did hear that they were gone.
>
> Love
> Elder Knudsen

October 15th

Well yes its true I got a speeding ticket. Um so I was able to call
the Credit Union, I dont really need permission for that and then I
wasnt planning on calling you. My companion told me I should have a
member named Sara call you. So I had given her your information
earlier that day to call you and she hadnt done it yet. We had went
over there for dinner and she hands me the phone and was like Im just
going to have you call her, and so I looked at my companion and he was
like Go right ahead so ya... I talked to Chris to if you didnt hear
from him haha.

Haha funny story about my health. I got 2 letters yesterday from the
hospital and the doctor I saw in Louisville. So the one from my doctor
said all my labs were good but she wants me to go into another place.
Then the other one was an appointment she had set up for me to go to
this place thats like General Laproscopic Surgery and Endoscopy haha
so that was scheduled for the 2nd of this month so I missed it. I
called them and they were understanding, but I talked to Sister
Woodbury and I think shes going to have me go into the Doctor.

Yes I got the package Friday. Thanks so much. I cant believe you didnt
send me anything special for my 6 month mark!!! Whats up with that
haha jk. Um we actually found out were moving again.... haha sorry!!
Were moving to Frankfort, in with the Elders down there so ya. Like
were still going to work Versailles, but just our focus is going to be
on Frankfurt now. Um so I think my address is going to be 103 Oakmont
Dr Apt number 3. Frankfurt KY, Im pretty sure thats right. But were
going to be there for a bit and then get a bigger apartment in
Frankfurt, cause theres isnt very big anyway. We found that out like
Saturday and it was really nonchalant thinking that we had already
heard. Like we have to be out by the end of the month!

So Pedro is getting baptized this week! Hes really excited. We think
were going to have a member baptize him, cause they are really good
friends because he takes him to church every week and just stuff like
that. Ill be  honest I really wanted to do it but thats ok. Hes so
prepared! Like yesterday he paid his tithing and hes not even a member
yet! He just loves church so much and everyone always talks to him.
Yesterday I translated priesthood for him... It was really hard haha.
So like I have a headset and so does he and I talk into it and he can
hear me. So its really hard haha. Like they were just talking about
random things and President Christensen kept looking over and just
trying to say as big of words as possible just to make it hard on me
haha it was funny. We were talking about the word of wisdom so it
wasnt too bad to translate, but then just random questions like " I
heard that the smell of the meat actually comes from the urine? Like
random things like that So i wouldnt translate that haha. Then like
the last 15 min they were just talking about home teaching and members
they havent seen in awhile so that was kinda boring for him to listen
to I bet haha. We also had a "linger longer" after church yesterday
cause there are 2 people leaving on missions in this ward. One is
going to Las Vegas and the other to Guatemala. So that was really fun.

So we also had something really cool happen this week. So we have an
investigator named Will that weve been teaching and hes been coming to
church and stuff and then we found out he was moving so that sucked.
But then he texted us and asked us to come by cause he had good news.
So we went over there and he said there not moving anymore because he
doesnt want to just run from his problems and him and his wife really
likes us and they wanted to stay to be a part of the church! Then he
just expressed his love towards us and how weve changed the feel in
his home and just lots of stuff. It was really cool the difference
weve made in his life. He then said he would be baptized, but then
yesterday we found out hes on probation, so we dont really know if he
can.... So that really sucks. He reminds me so much of Chris its not
even funny. Like he does but he doesnt. He just is way cocky and loves
his stories haha like he has a shirt that just says "Old School" and
so he said thats what they call him on the basketball court and saying
hes like the best there ever was and stuff..... needless to say.... we
went and played and I beat him and so did Elder Granados. He just has
some crazy stories and he just loves to try and mess with you haha.

The new elder is a pretty good elder. Hes really obedient, but hes
really awkward and  hard to talk to. Elder S is having a real
hard time cause his companion wont even talk to him. Hes from Idaho.

Im really starting to make some good friends in the ward. It was funny
so like there was 2 kids that came to church by themselves yesterday
and so I went and sat by them. There names are Carlos and Chris. There
parents are members but they never come. One is 9 and ones 6 and man
they are the best kids! Like I sat with them all through sacrament and
then during the linger longer they were fighting about who could sit
by me haha it was so cute. So I was like why not one on one side and
the other on the other side. Then they were asking when I was going to
come play with them and stuff, cause last time we were at there house
I threw a football to them a few times and they just thought I was so
cool cause I could throw it really far haha. There so funny.

I had my first roadkill this week too!!! Ill be sending pics of it!
Its great!! Haha I was pulling into the drive way and I hit and killed
a posum. I hope Landon and Preston got the picture I sent them haha it
was way funny. Like I customized a picture at walgreens and so its me
standing over the dead posum and then in red it says "Posum" at the
top and then at the bottom "Kill of the week" haha its kinda an inside
joke but it was super funny.

I almost tracted into a voodoo house! I forgot to tell you about that
one! So I was on an exchange with Elder S so I decided we would
go tracting at this one place and were going about and we reach this
door and I was about to knock when I look down and there are like
these swirls made in chalk and then like 4 dead flowers with chalk
circles around them... it was really creepy... Lets just say.... i
skipped that house haha.

I got a cool little package thing from the westbrook stake this week.
So it was a big envelope telling me about there youth conference and
it was something boot camp and it was to honor the missionaries
serving from the stake and also the military and so I have like 10
letters from kids in the youth and then they sent me like 50 pages of
testimonies to put in book of mormons that I hand out. Then they put
in like a candy bar and a picture of all the youth and stuff. It was
really cool. I kinda feel like since Ive gotten to Versailles, like
they are throwing away my mail. In Okolona I would get mail all the
time... now its very rare!!!

Man thats awful about the Yankees!! They can pull it out though! They
lost to the Tigers last year!!! That could maybe be career ending for
Derek Jeter cause hes kinda getting old anyway! Just think.... only
one more baseball season and then Ill be home!! I feel like time has
kinda sped up the last little bit. I feel like we just started October
and now its halfway through! Whats up with that!!

I hope all is well. I love you
Elder Knudsen

October 8th

Well the highlight of my week was conference for sure! Ive never been
> so pumped for anything in like my whole life. I was pretty much like a
> little kid at Christmas Ill be honest. None of the other Elders felt
> that way in my area. My companion fell asleep in every session and I
> was like dang how can you not just be like soaking this all in. Every
> Elder fell asleep at least one session except this guy!! I think I
> took around 8 pages of notes haha there was just so much going on! It
> was crazy to hear about the age changing. To think if i would have
> been changed when I was 17 and I left when I was 18, I would be coming
> home in like 3 months haha!! Crazy right!! It was really weird to
> think that a lot of the girls that I went to high school with are not
> eligible for mission service! I really think it will increase the
> number of sister missionaries in the field because I bet it is hard
> going at 21 cause that is like right in the middle of your education
> and everything, but now its not too bad. It also might make more of
> the girls I went to school with more available :) Haha jk I dont need
> to think about that! But ya it was a wonderful conference! I cant wait
> for the November Ensign to come out just so I can study them more in
> depth.
>
> Um the first session we watched at Bishop Whites. Hes not the bishop
> anymore, but ya. He made us some home made chili and stuff so it was
> really good. Hes actually an author and has written a lot of books.
> Like Bluegrass Bishop and things like that. But hes really funny, hes
> just a die hard Kentucky fan and like comes off so mean, but hes way
> funny. Like he does a weekly chronicle for the ward and there is like
> a Bio for all the missionaries where he makes fun of them and things
> like that. I havent received one with me in it yet, but he did tell me
> my nickname. He makes a nickname for everyone. Mine is Ka"nusence" Im
> not really sure if thats how you spell it but its pretty funny Ill
> give him that. But the rest of the sessions we watched at the church.
> Sunday morning our investigator Pedro came and guess what.... the
> spanish feed was broken into our building and a member from the
> spanish branch in Louisville came to pick up Pedro and watch it.... so
> Elder Granados translated the whole morning session on Sunday.... Man
> am I grateful to have a native companion haha. He said it was
> ridiculously hard, but that now he for sure believes in the gift of
> tongues.
>
> I am still with my companion. I am not really happy about it ill be
> honest. This week I really had a problem with him. I guess everyone in
> my district was like praying that he would get transferred, but it
> didnt happen. There are 2 people from my district that is getting
> transferred, our district leader, and then an english elder serving in
> Georgetown. But I just really havent agreed with a lot of the choices
> hes made as a missionary and hes the senior companion so pretty much
> what he says goes.  He made the decision we were going to go play
> basketball with this kid and his other brother. I asked him.... "Is
> this fulfilling your calling as a missionary?" And he said yes because
> they are potential investigators so I said I would go, but it had to
> be for a reason and we couldnt stay for very long. Needless to say, he
> didnt bring up one thing about the gospel and he made us stay there
> for 2 hours.... so im going to email president about that. Also he was
> with Elder S Sunday morning and he took the keys and got in the
> drivers seat and he doesnt have driving privelages and he wouldnt let
> Elder S drive... on his way into the church parking lot he ran
> into the curb with the car! Like it is so frustrating. And then on
> Saturday morning he woke up late, but wanted to work out. I said I was
> going to study. He said he wanted to go to the gym, I said you know
> then maybe you should have gotten up earlier, but he dragged me to the
> gym so he could work out for 2 hours while I studied. Its just not
> acceptable and im really getting mad.
>
> Um there is nothing really new with any of our investigators. I feel
> like we havent found anyone or teach anyone ever! I dont know... I
> honestly dont even feel like a missionary in this area. Pedro is doing
> good though. He will be baptized next Saturday. Hes been really
> prepared. Like so I told you last week he went to church an hour and a
> half before sacrament started just because that was his only ride.
> Then I guess he began to vacuum the floor because he wanted it all to
> be clean before Sacrament started. It really shows how much he
> respects the House of the Lord.
>
> There hasnt really been too much going around here though. Just the
> same old same old. Haha the first nun I have ever seen just walked
> into the library so that was kinda cool. Oh and then last night Elder
> G really wanted to go to dinner at that ladys house cause she
> invited us over again. Elder W really wanted to go also because
> he likes food haha and so them 2 went. They were over there from 630
> until 9 and they didnt give her the answers to the questions she asked
> and didnt bring up any gospel topic... Like really? What were you
> doing for 2 hours?!?! So Elder S and I worked Versailles and
> went and tried to see like 5 part member families. We talked to 2 of
> them and it went really good. Then I decided to stop off by this
> ladies house to see how she was cause we had given her a blessing a
> few days before so that was nice. But we got some good work done
> yesterday just to see where the part members are and if they are
> willing to listen to us.
>
> My 6 month mark wasnt really anything too exciting haha. I got a
> letter from someone and I think thats about the only thing. Nothing
> really too special that happened. Like we went and did service and a
> few other things. Its weird to think that Im already done with a 1/4
> of my mission. This transfer hopefully should go by fast. Im really
> hoping it will.... But the one after that will fly!!! Next transfer it
> will be, Thanksgiving, My Birthday, Christmas, and New Years all in 1
> transfer!! Haha its crazy!! We dont really have any plans this today
> or this week yet. We will see what happens. I hope all is well in
> Utah. I really loved seeing the things of temple square haha Man I
> miss it.
>
> Love
> Elder Knudsen

October 1st (And Pictures!)

So I don’t even really know what I’m going to write in this email today
 I’ll be honest. I really don’t even remember what we did. It went by
 pretty fast though! But it is still pretty hard. I was with Elder
 Sizelove for a few days again this week. He’s going to be a good Elder,
 but it’s kind of hard to work with him right now. He has ADHD or ADD I
 don’t really remember which one and so he always wants things done his
 way. He also is just kind of awkward, but I would rather have that, then
 being lazy so it was pretty good. He’s not very good at tracting so I’m
 trying to work on that with him. He just kind of freezes up and is like
 a robot. He doesn’t involve them in the conversation or really asking
 about the person, but he will learn. He has a drive to do the work,
 but he’s not very good with rejection yet haha he expects this work to
 be easy and easy to baptize people, (which it isn’t) and so when an
 investigator isn’t home for an appointment or we get the door slammed
 in our face he just gets really upset and it affects him for a little
 bit.
 
 Um yesterday we had 2 investigators at church so that was really cool.
 We had Pedro and then a man named Will (ya he’s English) and so that
 was pretty good. Pedro is progressing really good. He loves church and
 makes a lot of sacrifices to be at church and so it shows his
 dedication. I had to teach him with Elder Sizelove this week so that
 was really hard cause that meant I had to teach the whole lesson by
 myself. I think it went really well though. Elder Sizelove said he
 could really feel the spirit even though he didn’t really know what we
 were saying. So he might be baptized on the 13 of October so that’s
 pretty exciting. Will had a really spiritual experience at church. He
 has a really tough outer shell, but really nice once you get to know
 him. He got a little bit of help from the church yesterday because his
 daughter got taken away from him cause he didn’t have money to provide
 for her and he wasn’t expecting any money, but the bishop felt
 impressed to give him some. Like he was just asking for any job
 opportunities but then after church he really just expressed how
 grateful he is to have us in his life and he knows we knocked on his
 door for a reason. So were going to try and set a bap date with him
 this week.
 
 Haha I think I had the funniest thing happen to me since I have been
 out on my mission! Haha so Elder Granados and I were driving into
 Frankfurt and I see this guy in black running on the side of the road
 and I didn’t really think anything of it. Then when I start to get
 closer, I see some things poking out of his head. I was really
 confused haha and then when I got right up next to him I see he’s in a
 full batman suit running on the side of the road!!!! It was the
 funniest thing ever! Like full mask and everything and just this huge
 grin on his face haha. It was priceless to say the least! I wish I
 could have gotten a picture of it, but I couldn’t haha.
 
 I had another first happen to me this week. So there is this girl
 named Elaine at Walgreens and were really good friends with her. She
 convinced her mom to invite us over for dinner and so we went over
 this week. It was really nice, like amazing family. So it was us and
 then Elaine and her 20 year old bro and 15 year old bro and then her
 mom. They cooked us this roasted chicken with rice and mushrooms and
 then pickled carrots (yuck) but it was pretty good. And then they
 really wanted to play a game of HORSE (basketball) and so we played a
 quick game with them and then we just shared a spiritual thought out
 of the bible (cause Elaine told us her mom was crazy and not a fan of
 missionaries and so we just wanted to make a good first impression) So
 we do that and then her mom just snapped on us!!! Like it was
 ridiculous. We weren’t trying to convert her or teach anything about
 our doctrine really at that time and she just started bashing us.
 Saying that like her religion is true and that we need to look more at
 who Joseph Smith really is and just that she was afraid to have us
 come in her home and she wouldn’t let us pray and just some crazy
 stuff. Like Elaine just starts yelling at her calling her crazy. Then
 she gives us a 7 page packet on questions about Joseph Smith trying to
 disprove us and like giving the sources. (She’s a college professor)
 Like some of the stuff she came up with I’ve never even heard of. She
 got a lot of her info just from Anti Mormon lit. and so it was very
 invalid. Then she asked if we would bring back what we find to her and
 stuff. Like some of the questions was saying the Joseph Smith
 practiced witchcraft and how he told someone that Moroni first
 appeared as a salamander and random things like that and that he
 predicted the 2nd coming and it didn’t happen, but really he didn’t
 predict it, it’s just misunderstanding, like in DC130 it says that if
 Joseph Smith lived to be 85 or something that he would see the face of
 the Savior, this is just pretty much telling him that he’s not going to
 live very old!! AHHH I was soooo mad haha. Then when she gave us the
 packet she was like, " I don’t even know if you will be able to
 understand these questions, they might be a little over your
 knowledge" I was like really your questioning my intelligence. I could
 prove your religion wrong using your own BIBLE!!!! She was Christian
 and they believe in the trinity.... Ya just read the gospels and count
 how many times it says the word Father!!! There are obviously 3
 separate beings!!! Haha it really got my going to say the least! Like
 I might send you a copy of the packet just so you can see how
 ridiculous it is. She has a whole like library of binders of materials
 to prove other religions wrong. She was like oh here is Jehovah
 Witness, here is Catholic... oh and here is Mormon (my largest binder)
 haha. People are soooo naive!
 
 I’ve been in the boonies this week. We helped a member get this house
 ready for them to move into and man! Like they lived in the middle of
 the forest. They didn’t have a driveway or anything. So we were just
 cleaning up all the walls and things but we have been in the boonies a
 lot this week. It’s been way fun. I really want to live out here just
 in the middle of nowhere. Like there are areas that are just like
 forests with random houses! It’s so legit! I feel like we need a
 different car than a Corolla cause we are offroading a lot, and
 needless to say, a Corolla isn’t the best choice to be doing that! Its
 super fun to say the least. There is actually a castle in Versailles!
 You should look it up. We drove there last night cause it was late and
 we had to get rid of all our miles and so we just went on an
 adventure. Like it’s a really big one too. I tried to take a picture of
 it, but it was too dark to do so.
 
 I also had my first homemade fried chicken yesterday! It was pretty
 dang amazing to say the least. We went over to a members house for
 dinner and that’s what he cooked. He’s actually an author. He used to be
 the bishop too, but he has some like award winners and stuff. Like
 "Bluegrass Bishop" and some other ones. It’s pretty dang crazy. He’s
 such a smart alec though. Like he won’t let you put any sauce on your
 chicken cause it’s a disgrace and he just is diehard Kentucky and like
 hates everyone else. He’s crazy to say the least, but he’s pretty funny.
 
 So the picture I’m sending is just a picture I took yesterday at a
 house we went to. It’s out in the middle of nowhere. Those black and
 white specks are cows in the background haha.
 
 Um I can’t really think of anything else you could send me. Packages
 are really safe at my apartment just so you know. Like they have a
 lock box that they put them in and then put the key in your mail box
 so it’s safe. Um I have been craving homemade cookies. Um I don’t
 really know what else I need. Just whatever. Tell Chris he has to make
 me a CD. Like as long as it’s good wholesome music it’s approved. Like
 Mercy Me would work and people like that. Also Disney music works. But
 don’t buy any CD's that’s for sure.
 
 Um about the conference. We can either watch it at the ward house or
 we can watch it at a members home. It just depends on like our
 investigators needs. Like with Pedro were going to watch a session
 with him at a members home in Spanish. Cause he lives really far from
 the church and the member lives in the same city as him. But I’m way
 pumped for General Conference! It’s going to be weird if I watch all
 the sessions in Spanish. I probably wouldn’t get as much out as it ill
 be honest, so then I’ll just have to read them all in the Ensign haha.
 
 But ya time is going by pretty fast. Like it’s weird to think I’ll be 20
 in 2 months. But like we’re going to talk in less than 3 months and
 then after that the next time I’ll talk to you will be over my year mark
 so it’s going fast. It’s just like everyone says, days feel like weeks
 and weeks feel like days, but its good. I feel like I spend a lot of
 time in the car which I don’t really like. I feel like I’m not being as
 productive but that’s ok. I don’t know if I told you last week but I got
 to talk to Eufemia on the phone so that was good. Elder Warner emailed
 me some photos of her baptism so that was nice. He said I was probably
 the easiest person to train haha so that made me feel good. Made him
 appreciate me a little more :) haha jk but ya. He’s also heard I guess
 about how it’s been kind of rough out here, but that’s ok. All is well in
 Zion. I’ll send you the email with the pics in it so ya.
 I hope all is well with everyone
 
 Love
 Elder Knudsen

 Kyle and Eufemia

Elder Warner and Eufemia