August 27th

Well honestly there is not much to tell you this week. It was a really long weird week. I honestly don’t really know what happened so ill just try and throw some stuff out just so you know kinda what’s going on. So Saturday is when we get transfer calls and Elder Warner since he’s a district leader finds out first. The whole day he would just keep acting like he was getting a phone call and then just keep telling me something different. Needless to say... one of the times he really was talking to the zone leaders haha. So.... can I get a drum roll please..... I’m staying in Okolona!!!! And now for the verdict on Elder Warner.... Another Drum roll please..... HES STAYING TOO haha. He’s actually pretty rare to stay with a companion out here for 3 transfers. We have some mighty goals and lots of things we need to do this transfer. That means I'll probably be here till around December. Cause he will probably for sure leave next transfer then I’ll have to stay at least 1 to show the other Elder where everything is and then we will see if I get transferred after that or not. So either ill have 6 months or 7 1/2 in this area. So either ill get transferred like right before thanksgiving, or sometime in January, so we will just have to see with that.

Um we did get the package and thanks so much! The jacket is perfect. Elder Warner loved all that you got him haha he was really appreciative. He’s such a dork, so he forgot to grab quarters this week so he only had enough for his wash load... so... needless to say all of his clothes are just hung up all around our appartment. He also only has 5 dollars to get through the week haha. I don’t know how he goes through it so fast cause I have plenty of money haha.

  

All of our investigators are pretty much in the same boat as they were last time. All of them bailed on us yesterday and so we had no one at church so president is not going to be happy with that one. Um we did have some progress with Eufemia though. So her only problem has been work and so she can’t come to church. Like she really can’t even wait to be baptized and so this week we set another bap date with her for the 23 of Sep and then we also set a date with her for sep 8 that if she hasn’t changed her schedule or her job... that she will quit. She was actually totally fine with it and very accepting. Like we pretty much just drew it all out and just plugged in the dates, she’s the one that said she would quit and everything so that was really good on her part. We haven’t really been able to teach Rolando y Yasmin or Ronal this week. Ronal just keeps bailing on us and then we were at Rolando and Yasmins house and we were just sitting down to read and her brother had gotten there and he lives like an hour away so we just shared a scrip and left so that kinda sucked. Vicente is doing great. We think we’re going to set a bap date for the 16 of Sep with him. We would have last time but his wife was in the lesson and it would have been weird to ask him to be baptized and not her, so we’re just waiting for the right time and were pretty sure that that will go through.

Um we found someone really cool this week. I forgot her name.... but she was a referral from the English elders and we go over there and one of them is actually a member. She’s from Cuba, baptized in like 88 in Puerto Rico, but hasn’t really been able to find a church here and so were going to try and get her back to church, and also her friend is really interested, but she’s been really busy this week so we haven’t been able to teach her but were really excited to start teaching them.

Elder Knudsen

**Elder Warner with the package mom sent to him.  Kyle said he loves Waffle Crisp, trail mix, and one of Kyle's cool ties...so you can see what she sent him!  **

August 20th

Well this week was the week I was supposed to take over as senior companion just to see how much I have learned so that was kinda stressful, but it was a good indicator on how I am doing. Like I had to do all the planning and then I also had to initiate and plan for all of our lessons, but all went well haha nothing too disastrous. It’s crazy this is the last week of the transfer. It honestly could be me getting transferred. So pretty much it will be either... Elder Warner going to Shelbyville Indiana and then Elder Granodos here, or Elder Warner will stay here one more transfer, or I’ll be headed to Versailles or Clarksville Indiana. Those are probably the things that could happen, but we will just have to see. It’s not uncommon for the trainee to get sent out first, but who knows. I’m really nervous to work with Elder Granodos though. He’s originally from Guatemala and he was Elder Warner’s trainer and I guess he is just the hardest Elder in the mission to really get along with and also he’s really disobedient. Like when he was training Elder Warner he would sleep in until like 12 and then just wake up and be ready to leave while Elder Warner just did all of his studies by himself, needless to say I’m thankful for the trainer that I had. I’ll find out Saturday if I’m getting transferred or if Elder Warner is. Then I’ll just have to let you know on Monday. But ya stop giving people my 508 Markwell address because I might be getting transferred, and if I’m not, were still probably moving apartments just because it’s an awful one. It’s the most hood one in the mission haha but we will just have to wait and see. I guess Versailes is just out in the booneys of Kentucky. Like *Hick Country* for sure. Elder Simms (my zone leader now) that was his last area and I guess he just saw crazy things, like a man getting stabbed with a pitchfork, a guy getting shot outside his appartment, they ate rabbit every week, one time they caught a squirrel and then cooked it and ate it haha but I guess it’s really fun out there but who knows what will happen.

Um Elder Golden from the 1st quorum of the 70ty came this week. Pretty much the only words I can say is.... MIND BLOWING!!!! Like it really was ridiculous what he was teaching us. I’m not really sure how it will help us with our investigators, but like dang haha he’s actually from South Africa. I’ll just share a few of the things I had never thought of before that he told us. So the 3 kingdoms of glory ya know? So we know that our Heavenly Father ministers only in the Celestial Kingdom, Jesus Christ can minister in the Terrestrial Kingdom, and then the Holy Ghost is the one that can minister in the Celestial Kingdom. Many churches today are leaving out the father. They are thinking that Christ is God and that the trinity is one person, this is something that Satan has done that is sooooo devious. So let’s put it this way, if you get the Father out of the question, you also get rid of the Celestial Kingdom, because we know that everyone will receive what they want/deserve, many people will only receive the Terrestrial Kingdom because they only believe in Christ, so in essence Satan is getting rid of eternal families, true happiness, and just everything just by that little thing.

So he told us that when Christ was on the earth he was 100% human but also 100% God. He literally was so much like God, he would say, do, and think, the same exact things that God would. Also you would not be able to tell them apart if you saw them. They have the same physical features as well. And so with Christ being 100% God, he had no sense of time. That is why he knew exactly where the donkey was and told his disciples to bring it to him. Also that is why he knows each and every single one of us perfectly. While he was in the garden of Gethsemane, he pretty much lived out every single person’s life on this earth. Because when you think about it, the things he went through in the mortal body, honestly wasn’t uncommon. Crucifixion was something very common back then. And there are things that have happened to other people that are worse, and how would he know how it feels to have cancer or something like that. It’s because he has lived it and knows us perfectly. *MIND BLOWN* Um what else did he say that was just so profound. Like he pretty much was just using Romans (which is one of the hardest books to understand) and he was just talking about how he could prove any religion wrong using their own Bible. He was way cool haha. Pretty dang ridiculous to say the least. Oh one more thing he found. So he’s on like the scripture committee or like the head of it, and one of the Joseph Smith Translations of the Bible in John 2 (I think) Joseph Smith changes like 3 words and many people were saying that he was wrong by doing that and so he wasn’t a prophet, but...... they just found the oldest set of scriptures yet..... and it uses the same wording as Joseph Smith did!!! CRAZY RIGHT!!! And then he talked about how pain and sin work hand in hand. That many people sin because of pain. That’s also why Christ had to go through so much pain, just so know what it feel is like to go through something so hard and be so tempted to sin, but not.

What else happened this week? Haha ya... I crashed on my bike this week. Haha I’m totally fine I was just being kinda careless and wasn’t paying attention and just hit the edge of the curb, I was going way slow and so it didn’t hurt, just kinda embarrassing haha. I was trying to go my whole mission without a crash, but that didn’t last long haha oh well. Um Yesterday at church was probably the worst day of church you could possibly ask for. Um so Vicente and Ronal came yesterday and so we were happy about that, but Gospel Principles, ya is so being changed! So it’s the class that all the missionaries bring our investigators and a man named Joel teaches it. Were at the end of the book so were talking about kinda a little bit of weird stuff and then Joel even makes it weirder. Like yesterday we were just talking about Eternal Marriage. For Gospel Principles pretty much it should be like, marriage is a man and a woman, was like that since the beginning, we can be married forever in the temple through the priesthood, but.... no... that’s not what happened. The teacher started talking about becoming Gods and then that Angels are the people that aren’t married in the temple and just things like that (like a lot of our investigators aren’t married or their spouse isn’t interested) so that’s not what they should be talking about. Then a member perks up and is like I have a question, and she was like Well I know this answer, but I think it’s a common question and I want to know how the missionaries would answer it. SHE ASKS ABOUT POLYGAMY!!! Then like all our investigators are really confused and then another person pipes up and was like ya... I want more than 1 wife (just as a joke) but like it was really getting out of hand so either were teaching it from now on, or were making them start back from the beginning of the book and get to the basics that they can’t mess up. Members are just the best or the worst.

Then Ronal the whole time was just asking about the Book of Mormon and why we needed it. We had like 5 different people explain it to him, but we think he was just trying to make us doubt our religion. Like he’s never had a religion and so really he just wants to know, but he literally was asking questions all through Priesthood, Gospel Principles and then after church. He’s like the Bible has everything, the Book of Mormon doest talk about the creation and stuff (but really it does) and so were going have to really work with him. Then his friend Vicente ( soooo legit) is like RONAL.... You read the book of Mormon and pray about it that’s all they ask... then Ronal is like "Vicente don’t you have this same doubt" and Vicente is like "No!" haha so Vicente is pretty much ready to be baptized. The only thing now is him accepting which date. He honestly could be baptized this week if we taught him everything and got him interviewed by Sunday, which could happen. Like he was asking about what his duties are once he becomes a member and things like that. Even Ronal was asking about baptism too which makes me thing he likes it, but just wants to know.

We also had interviews with president this week. That was kinda fun. Like when we’re getting interviewed by him and Sister Woodbury the Assistants give us the training. It was really powerful. Like the mission is probably one of the hardest working missions, but we focus too much on working hard and not enough on the spirit, so they really just encouraged us to take more time in our planning and going by the spirit and just doing a lot more things and praying like a lot more just to know what you should teach them. Elder Warner and I took it to heart and really have started to apply it. We had our 2 most powerful lessons this week, one with Rolando and Yasmin. It was good, but like not at the same time. Yasmin pretty much told us she’s not going to get baptized just cause she’s been catholic so long, but Rolando said he really wants to know if it’s true so he’s going to read and pray (and if you get the head of the house doing it, she will do it too) so we were really excited about that. Like and Yasmin had said that before we really just brought in the dynamite (THE SPIRIT) like Elder Warner and shared some really powerful things and we were really teaching in unity. Like he said he almost cried while I was sharing my testimony. Like it was so strong and I know they felt it. The other one was Vicente and Ronal. We watched the Joseph Smith movie and it was really powerful. Vicente loved it and I think Ronal did too. After he watched it he went home and started to read the book of Mormon so that was really good! So were really trying to change all that we do.

  

President is really getting hard on Elder Warner and I because he knows how close we are to getting so many people in the water. Honestly he was getting on our whole zone, like our numbers are higher in everything else, just not baptisms and he wants to know why, but really there is only so much we can control, but who knows. Elder Warner and I are going to just work that much harder. We should have a few in the water next transfer.  Um that’s pretty much all that has happened this week. Nothing really too exciting. I’m probably going to send off a package to you all today with the recorder and then with some clothes that I don’t really need. I really hope I don’t leave this area though. Like I love the people and our investigators, but I know it’s by revelation and so If I’m supposed to go somewhere else it’s because I’m supposed to go there, so all will be well, but we will just see what happens I guess next week.

Oh ya and we found one of our bikes. It was Elder Warner’s. We knew exactly where it was and then our investigator took a picture of a bike that was next to his appartment and then sent that pic to Vicente and then Vicente showed us. So we walked over there and stole it back haha. They had really trashed it. It might not be really worth fixing because they bent a lot of stuff and just really destroyed it. Hopefully we will be able to find mine this week. But it kinda looked bad when 2 missionaries were riding 3 bikes home haha everyone kept asking if we were stealing bikes and stuff, but there was no other way to get them home.

Well I hope all is well in the SOJO. All is well in Kentucky. It’s really cooling down that’s for sure. I hope it stays that way. I really don’t want it to get hot again haha, but then again, if it’s already getting cold, it might mean were going to have a really cold winter which I don’t want if I’m going to be on a bike all winter haha.

Elder Knudsen

August 13th

Where do I even start this week haha. Like it’s been a really funny week, you just have to laugh when everything goes completely wrong haha. Um let’s start with... Tuesday haha that’ll be a good place to start. So Tuesday.... we were doing our own little thing and all and then we decided to try and get in contact with a man named Ronal. He’s a friend to Vicente and Dinely and he was a referral from the English Elders and so we really needed to get in contact with him. He lives in the same area of Vicente and Dinely, it’s like the scariest part of our area. But anyways, we knock on the door and he’s home. He’s probably the most legit Cuban man I have ever seen/met. Like if you didn’t talk to him you would just think he’s a  way classy black man. He’s been here in the United States for under a month and speaks pretty good English. He’s probably in his late 20's and he was a dentist in Cuba. He wants to become one here too, but it will just be a lot of work. But something really cool that happened to us when we were in his lesson, we did the message of the restoration, and I shared the first vision and when I said how Christ responded, like how he said that many honor them with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him, he stopped me and was like what did you say, so I repeated it, he said it doesn’t really read in the bible very much, but that day he decided just to open it up and read a bit of it and he actually read those same exact words in Isaiah (Spanish has destroyed  my spelling I’m sorry) but like he was really blown away. So we were in there a little over an hour, we walk out and look to where our bikes should be.... to our surprise.... all we see is our helmets. Like first thing that came to my mind was... did we lock them to a different pole or something.... then like elder Warner and I just sit there in shock for a few minutes, then I finally say "Are you kidding me?" So.... ya.... our bikes got stolen  this week :) SURPRISE haha so that was something bad that happened, but on the bright side at least the people who stole them didn’t believe in safety so we saved 40 bucks there haha. Um so Wednesday, the mission office had bikes that missionaries that went home didn’t want so we went up there to see what they had, they had 2 decent bikes so that’s what were using right now. Elder Warner’s is really nice, mine.... not so much. 3 and 5 gear doesn’t work haha and I think the crank is going out but we will see what happens. But ya so that happened. Then were up at the mission office and the bikes have flat tires so we can’t ride them, the bus had bikes on it, so we had to walk like 3 or 4 miles down to the next bus stop, then all those buses had bikes so we had to take a bus that would like take us half way to our house and walk another 3 or 4 miles, so to say the least that wasn’t a really good day either and I wasn’t in my good walking shoes haha, but all is well in Zion.

Oh and you know the one guy that I told you about that like broke into our house pretty much, ya he always does it now. Like we will open the door and he will just barge right in and start playing with our stuff and things. Like were really getting sick of it. He comes to us for any problem he has and he’s not interested in the church at all or anything like that so that needs to change. He really just kinda creeps me out.

Oh and our bikes aren’t the only things that got stolen too. Elder Warner’s mom sent 2 packages and they were both stolen. One of them had his new credit card in it and they went and tried to spend 500 dollars on it. They red flagged it though, but she had sent like home made cinnamon rolls and his grandma and sent some stuff in the other package, like that kinda sucks. Were thinking it was the people that live across the hall, like one of his friends (he’s the drug dealer) but were not really sure haha.

So what else is new in Kentucky haha. Our investigators are doing great on the other hand. Vicente and Dinely are progressing really great. Were pretty sure Vicente will be baptized soon. His wife just got a job on weekends so she can’t come to church, but he’s reading in the Book of Mormon, like he read up to 1 Nephi 6 in like 3 days and right when we get there he just is like alright lets study. He’s such a great guy. He accepted a soft bap date, like he accepted to be baptized, we just haven’t really set a date yet, but we will be doing that this week. He came to church again this week and really felt the spirit and just loved it. I really feel like I know him from somewhere though. Like he looks so dang familiar and I don’t know where from, it bugs me haha.

Rolando and Yasmin are doing great too. We had a really good lesson with them.... Friday I think it was. Ya Friday. They are the nicest couple ever. I love their family so dang much. Like they fed us hot dogs and corn and stuff. It was pretty good. Hispanics eat there corn with mayo and hot sauce (it’s pretty great) They also gave Elder Warner and I each a tie. Like mine was brand new and it’s a really good looking tie. They are so nice. They came to church too and I think they are really starting to feel comfortable. They’ve been to church 3 times now and are living all the commandments and stuff so pretty much there ready and eligible for baptism, they just have to accept it. We tried to extend it with them and we had a really good lesson about the apostasy to show that our church really is the same one that Christ established and they understood it, they were just like we’ve been Catholic for 30 years and it’s just hard to change. But then they started asking if the water is cold in the bap font, so they are a lot closer then they think they are haha they should be baptized next month I’m guessing.

Eufemia.... we haven’t really been able to get in contact with her this week because we’ve been so busy and so has she. She wanted us to come by yesterday, but we were stuck in a meeting all day and then she wouldn’t answer our phone call. She is still trying to change her schedule so she can come to church, but it hasn’t happened yet. She knows the church is true and we're really trying to go and see her this week. We might ask if she will quit her job and look for a new one, she said she would the other day because nothing is going to come in between her and baptism, but we will just have to see when.

So at church yesterday we had 4 investigators there so it was really good. It was Vicente, Ronal, Rolando, and Yasmin. They really liked it. Members are just so stressful though that’s for sure. We were in priesthood and Vicente and Ronal were making comments about how they felt when we came in, and Jose (crazy Cuban man) was just like then why haven’t you been baptized!!!! YOU NEED TO JOIN JOIN JOIN!!!! Like, I love him to death, but he’s crazy that’s for sure. Like the zone leaders have taken him to lessons before and he like commands the investigator to repent and then goes into temple work and just random stuff haha he’s way funny though. But something Ronal said at church was really sweet, in sacrament he felt the spirit really strong and he leaned over to Elder Warner and was like " It wasn’t a coincidence that you showed up at my house was it?" And he was like "No Ronal, It wasn’t." Like it was a really cool experience.

Elder Warner and I decided that Louisville is just a wicked city haha, great city, but really wicked. I love it, but it’s really great. Like the other day Elder Warner stopped to help this old lady and she just started rebuking us saying they don’t need 2 books and how were wasting our time and how really Joseph Smith saw the Devil and she saw the same thing when she was in a store one time. She said a huge light came into the room and was trying to persuade her not to buy something. Like she was just a crazyyyyy person. She also enlightened us that it is getting hotter outside, because God doesn’t want people outside either preaching the gospel or doing anything else. That He wants them inside reading the bible and so that’s why it is so hot... haha Soooo great!!!!

Well today we went and ate at Buffalo Wild Wings with a member. It was Elder Warner and I and then the 2 elders in Arcadia because they have endless wings from 11 to 2 so we had a competition, Elder Warner had 23, Damien had 28, I had 35, and Elder Howard had 50!!!!!!! It was more than the waitress has ever heard of, needless to say, he’s regretting it right now haha. It was way fun though!!! Oh by the way, I think we’re moving apartments at the start of September, so you might want to send things to the mission office from now on until you know, but I’m not sure. It’s just our landlord is a jerk and were in the ghetto so they are trying but we will see.

Oh haha one funny thing that I just thought of. So.... apparently cough drops are candy for Hispanics. I was really confused like Yasmin was like oh do you want a piece of candy, so I said sure, haha it was a cough drop and Elder Warner said its way common. Um about elder Warner and the orange tie.... like that’s his favorite tie he’s ever seen, but you could get him just a different cheap tie, or really just anything if you want to. Just whatever. Like he would just be happy with waffle crisp haha like that’s what he asked someone to send him on his year mark but he never got it haha oh and he loves trail mix!!! Like beyond belief haha.

Well I hope all is well in the SOJO

Love

Elder Knudsen

August 6th

So this week has been just fine. I was kinda sick yesterday, like I had to walk out of sacrament for a little bit, but I’m doing ok today. Um nothing really too exciting this week like I really don’t know what to tell you guys anymore haha cause it’s just the same old same old down here in Okolona. Our investigators are doing great. We had a new investigator come to church yesterday so that was exciting, he’s from Venezuela and just the classiest man you’ll ever meet. Like nicest guy and just shook everyone’s hand saying thank you so much and I really am pretty much positive he felt the spirit.

So... Eufemia... She’s just the greatest. She couldn’t get work off again yesterday so she couldn’t come to church. We went and had a meeting with her yesterday and it was really good because we had a member named Damien come with us and he’s from Cuba too. She’s really upset at her work and she’s going to quit because she needs to go to church. She just has so much faith and knows the bible so well like its really incredible. So Damien is taking her today to apply at the place where he works and if she gets it, it’ll be a lot closer to her house, easier work, the same pay I think, and she will be able to come to church on Sundays so she’s really progressing. She’s can’t wait for her baptism. We’re really excited for next transfer, it’s weird I’m already half way done with this transfer. I’m kinda sad because it’s pretty likely that Elder Warner will be getting transferred, so if you wanted to send him something in the next few weeks it would be pretty great. He’s loves like everything haha Waffle Crisp haha he has really missed that, but ya just an idea just cause he’s been so great with me. But she’s also been reading a Liahona like one of them with all the General Conference talks and stuff and like she’s just really amazing. She’s going to be a ridiculous member I can’t wait. Elder Warner and I are kinda nervous to tell her that we won’t always be in this area haha I think it’s going to break her heart, but she will get over it haha.

Um Rolando and Yasmin are doing really good. They still haven’t accepted a bap date, but they’re getting really close! We had a family home evening at pablo and fabiolas with them and they had a lot of fun. A lot of their doubts have gone away haha like now there questions are more like... am I allowed to dance.... do I have to dress like you guys.... haha so just little simple questions. They couldn’t make it to church yesterday sadly, but we will be seeing them tonight. Yasmin just got a job at a taco stand and she works from 4 in the afternoon until 3 in the morning on the weekends, so it’s going to be hard for her to come to church, but I think she will. Like Rolando was like, well if she can’t, I still will. He actually wanted to take us out to eat and have a guys night on Saturday, but we were in an appointment haha he wants to take us to Buffalo Wild Winds (so great) and so were going with him on Saturday haha he just loves us so much. He’s so dang funny and they just have the greatest family ever. Like honestly they could be baptized in 2 weeks, but it probably wouldn’t happen. Like he used to drink beer 2 or 3 times a day and he hasn’t drunk for 2 weeks and so They only have to come to church 1 more time and they could be baptized, but they just say it’s hard to change cause they have always been catholic, but they believe it’s all true and it all makes sense, so we are pretty positive they will be baptized here soon;.

Then we have Vincente and Dinely. They are really the nicest young couple ever. Like more polite than anyone I have ever met. Vincente was the one that came to church. Dinely is from Cuba. Like Vincente had gone to our church before in Venezuela, but Direly didn’t really know anything about us so it’s been really good. They have been in the United States for 1 month haha like it’s the best when we find them right when they get here just so people don’t brain wash them and stuff like that. Like she had a really good question about why bad things happen to good people and suffering and stuff like that and we shared a few scriptures in Alma and then gave her 2 Nephi 2 to read and she was really touched. Like right in the middle of reading she almost started crying so she’s had some really cool experiences with the Book of Mormon already. They are the greatest couple! Like she didn’t come to church just cause they have a kid and she didn’t want to interrupt the meeting and so she wanted her husband to go first and see if it would be appropriate for her son to come so they all 3 should be there next week.

We have had a lot more changes in the mission this week. President is really excited and is just really holding us more accountable and making it a lot harder on the missionaries, but it really is for the better. We think we will really see the mission grow in the next little while so we’re really excited about that. So while Elder Warner was in that meeting I was out with an Elder and really no body was home.... It was really stressful because he doesn’t know the area and like none of our investigators were home and we just had nothing to do. We rode so much and then he got a flat tire haha it was kinda a rough day to say the least.

So Saturday haha oh Saturday... So we had a lunch/dinner appt at 4 o clock with a family. There not really investigators, but they just love what we do so they invited us over to eat and we taught like 10 people haha it was kinda cool, but they live in the trailer park too so... when we started to get on the freeway... the rain just started coming down!!!! Like it hurt it was raining soo badddd haha like we were drenched, we had pools in our shoes. My shoes have been drying since Saturday afternoon and there still not dry. My planner got destroyed with like everything, just like smeared everywhere. My scrips got wet even inside my covers, (probably the thing I’m most mad about) like there fine, but I just have had them out drying the last few days, and I pretty much like ruined a tie cause I was wearing a silk and they just don’t like the rain haha it was pretty ridiculous haha. But we had Carne Asada and it was so good. I think that my favorite meal now. Like the meat they buy is really expensive, like for us 10 people... they probably spend like 50 bucks or maybe even more on meat. Like its really expensive and they had a really good salsa and just tortillas and corn and beans and just like a feast haha its soooo good. I’m really getting accustomed to spicy. They were like is it spice for you, and I was like no, and there like he’s becoming Hispanic haha he’s a man!!! It’s really funny. Everyone says I don’t look American haha like Elder Warner there like your typical American but they always think I’m from Spain or Cuba, haha then they hear my Spanish and definitely know I’m  not from Cuba. The Spanish is coming along really great though, like sometimes I just forget I’m listening to Spanish and it just seems natural, but when I’m with like Eufemia or ALberto, there just straight from Cuba, I can’t understand them really. Like they just speak really fast and have lots of other stuff.

Well I’m sorry I had other stuff to tell you but I have to go because the zone leaders are here to pick us up for a zone party.

Love you

Elder Knudsen

July 30th

Haha well.... this week has been interesting to say the least.... Um I was hoping to have had someone send me pictures in my email that I could send you with me in the ER. Yes.... I was in the ER this week... I’m ok now but I had a kidney stone. It really wasn’t fun haha so Thursday night we had correlation meeting with all the missionaries and the ward mission leader and a member of the branch presidency and like my side just started hurting by the end of that, we got home and did our thing and we started to prey and I was just in excruciating pain. Like it was awful and so I walked over in the bathroom and started throwing up. Then I couldn’t move so I just laid on the bathroom floor for about the next hour. Then I finally made it into my room and I was just really uncomfortable, like I was just squirming and it was just really awful. Finally the pain subsided enough that I could go to sleep about an hour later. I woke up the next later and I was just really sore and so Elder Warner just told me to stay in bed. I took a little bit of a nap, because I didn’t sleep the greatest. I got up around 9 or so and we called Sister Woodbury. She gave us the number for the Doctor and he wouldn’t answer for 3 hours so I called Sister Woodbury back and she told me to go to the ER. But President was in Lexington and we're on bikes so we had to wait for the zone leaders to be able to come pick us up. We were in the ER for about 7 hours. They took a urine sample and there was blood in my urine. Then they gave me an IV and took 6 tubes of blood. Then they took a CT scan to see what was going on. They said I had passed a kidney stone and they wanted me to try and filter it to try and find it. I found it Saturday morning and it was pretty large. About the size of a small pea or so. It was really awful, I really hope I don’t have to do that again, so that was kind of a setback for Elder Warner and I.

Um update on Eufemia. She’s doing great and she talked to her boss yesterday and he changed her schedule so she has Sundays off so she should be getting baptized in August sometime. We didn’t really get to see her much this week just cause we were busy and then when we weren’t she was so it was kind of bad, but were going to see her tonight. The weird thing is, we were supposed to see her yesterday, then she called and said her husband was sick and they needed to take him to the hospital so we couldn’t come by, we were in the area of her apartment, and we see her husband get home from work, so either Elder Warner misunderstood her on the phone or she lied to us, but why would she lie if she’s like trying to get work off and stuff so were pretty sure that we just misunderstood us. Maybe she was calling and asking about me, because like every day she has called and asked how I’m feeling and stuff like that just because she wanted to know and she felt bad. She really is such a nice lady. But hopefully everything goes well with her. She’s quit coffee too so we don’t really have to worry about that anymore either so everything is really working out for us.

Roland and Yasmin really had a change of heart this week. We were supposed to see them a couple times, but we always got caught up with something so we couldn’t see them until Friday this week and pretty much we just spent the whole day with them and it was so much fun. They really are the cutest family. Like even if they didn’t get baptized, they would be a family I would want to come back and visit because they are so funny and have the cutest kids in the world! So we went over there Saturday morning and just talked with them for a little while and had a little lesson with them and just kind of was talking about everything. We invited Rolando to come and play soccer that night and he said he wanted to come. So we left and then him, his wife, and there kids came and picked us up to go to the park and play soccer with all the other investigators and missionaries so it was really fun. Like I feel like we’re really good friends. They also came to church yesterday too, so pretty much they would only have to come to church one more time and they would be eligible to be baptized, it’s just getting them to that point soon, but Elder Warner and I are really hopeful. We felt really bad, so we took the baby that’s about 1 to the nursery and then Ashley to Primary and then we went with them to Gospel Principles. Were sitting in Gospel Principles and we hear a crying outside, it was their baby Ranoldo. He has never been really away from his parents so he was just scared out of his mind, like he was trembling, but then we got him some cake from the kitchen and he was the happiest kid ever and it all worked out in the end. And Ashley loved primary so it was really good Sunday. They were the only investigators that came, but it’s better than none.

Oh haha one more thing about them. So she always makes really good drinks when were over there and so she made a Tamarindo drink that’s really good. I had a glass and then like an hour later she gives me another glass... then guess what I found.... A COCKROACH in my drink haha it was so gross. It was drown and like so gross haha I’m just really happy I didn’t drink it! That would have been so gross haha. There house is always like infested with cockroaches, but I love them anyway. Rolando is the funniest guy ever haha.

We have 2 new investigators this week that are really good too. Their names are Vincente and Dinely. Vincente is from Venezuela and then Dinely is from Cuba. They have about 3 months in the United States and there English is really good. They always try to practice it on us and we can understand most of what they say. They said they were going to come to church, but something came up. Vincente knows a lot about the church because he had a lot of friends that were members that live in Ven. Dinely doesn’t know anything cause the church isn’t in Cuba because it’s so dangerous. But they are really the nicest couple ever. So polite and so nice. They have one little kid, he’s kind of crazy, but that’s ok haha like they gave us ice cream and man did it hit the spot haha I feel like I haven’t had ice cream in forever. I miss it a lot haha. But we have an appointment  with them Tuesday, and the funny thing is some English elders tracted into this man that was Spanish but spoke English and wanted missionaries to come over, and he’s actually there friend so  that’s always good when they can learn with a friend so we have high hopes for them. They don’t have a car though so it’s just another person to find a ride for which is kind of hard haha but that’s ok.

I can’t really think of anything else that has happened that has been too exciting this week. I’m sorry, but pretty much that’s about it. I hope all is well in the SoJo. Kentucky has been pretty great. There was the worst rain storm ever after the ER on Friday, like we honestly couldn’t even see the tail lights of cars it was raining so hard, so I’m happy I wasn’t biking in it haha. I’m really nervous for winter. Elder Warner and I were talking about that today and like it gets below 0 and just really wet so it’s really frigid haha so I’m not excited for that.

4 months until I’m 20!!!! CRAZY RIGHT!!!!

Elder Knudsen

So the first picture is me with some of the kids at a family home evening we had. I love the little boy in the front with the spikey hair. His name is jiaro haha hes way funny, a hand full but funny. Um the cowboy hats and other stuff thats at Pablo and Fabiolas house so thats them. Then the other random pics are for Sister Woodbury cause shes making us do this thing like day in the life of the GKLM (Great Kentucky Louisville Mission) So idk if youll get that video too or what  

July 23rd

Well first of all ya I got your email and that’s really exciting that you talked to his mom. She mentioned it in her email too and she was really grateful. Haha I’ll be honest.... I can’t see you as a ward missionary haha but that’s sweet though haha it’s been a pretty hectic week to say the least. At the beginning of the week... Um I got 4 flat tires in 2 days haha, needless to say Elder Warner and I were really frustrated because we want to do the work, but there is only so much we can do when we have mishaps like that. Oh I LOVED THE TIES that you sent me. They are amazing!!! Compliments left and right haha like Elder Warner is really jealous of my orange one, haha and the zone leaders too. It’s exactly what I wanted so thanks for that.

This week has really just been a beautiful week haha like you have no idea how beautiful Kentucky is. On Wednesday there was pretty much a firework show for an hour with lightning and we were like right next to it. Not raining at that moment, but it was so legit. My title of my journal entry that night was "Heavens Pinball" I can’t take credit for the title though haha Elder Warner came up with that one, but ya. Like I really can’t even put into words what it was like. She like a light show in the sky. Just bursts of light like every few seconds and then you would see a web of lightning. It was really spectacular. Elder Warner and I were riding home from Holiday Park at the time so we just pulled off to the side of the road on the freeway to watch (ya we ride our bikes on the freeway) haha but it really was amazing I wish I could have gotten something to capture that moment.

So I have told you about Eufemia and just how amazing she is.... So Monday... We get a call from her and she was like my husband doesn’t like you guys and won’t allow me to read the book of Mormon or go to church or meet with you guys and was just heartbroken. This was the same day that we had like 2 flat tires, so we were really upset and didn’t really know what to do. So we were thinking maybe we would just stop by one day just to see if we could talk to her about it or talk to him, like we really didn’t know what to do. So Tuesday we were in the same area as her apartment and I guess she saw us and so she ran out of her apartment (where her husband was) and came and talked to us just saying how evil Satan is and how bad she wants us to come by and just that she knows the church is true. She wanted us to come by on the days he is working, but Elder Warner and I decided that wouldn’t be the greatest idea because we need the permission of her husband, but she just asked us to pray for him to have a change of heart and she would pray too. Oh and at this time the Zone Leaders had asked if we would share a story about her at the meeting where a member of the 70ty was coming to haha so we didn’t really know what to do cause we didn’t want to lie with a 70ty there haha but anyways we went back 2 days later to see how she was doing and to tell her we can’t do anything behind her husband’s back. Her husband opened the door.... he has a smile on his face and lets us into the house.... ANOTHER MIRACLE I HAVE SEEN. He’s not interested in our message at this time, but he opened his heart to allow his wife to do the things she knows to be true, so Eufemia is right back on track. Oh and she’s gotten a new job since we’ve been teaching her and she gets paid more and doesn’t have to work as much so it’s been another blessing. She said she had to work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday... while we were in her apartment after she told us this, her boss calls and says he needs to change her schedule to Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday so she couldn’t go to church. She told us she is going to talk to her boss and tell him she needs to have Sundays off or else she’s going to quit so it’s really been amazing. She has sooooo much faith it’s ridiculous!!!

Rolando y Yasmin.... that’s where we're having the problem right now.... they looked on the internet. She said she’s been looking at Mormon stuff and asked about polygamy and stuff like that.... so we answered it.... then she started talking about the virgin Mary and how were bad cause we don’t worship her.... then how we don’t worship the cross and we say its cause we worship the living Christ.... the she said all churches are good because they teach about the same God... and asked why we use water instead of wine.... like so many questions. I think someone brainwashed him and her... so we don’t really know what to happen. They said they prayed and God told them that all churches are good.... But yet like there trying to apply the stuff we’ve taught them. I don’t really know what were going to do with them so I’m really not excited about that. I love them to death.... but there is only so much we can do... like last lesson was just really bad.... I pretty much didn’t say a word and just let them like bible bash.... we got nowhere to say the least.

Um what else happened this week? Hm.... Oh I got the meal that probably is the worst meal that someone could feed me haha FISH AND SALAD haha my heart sank when I saw what they were making. We had fried tilapia, like they did it home made, and then salad and rice. The fish was actually really good, you just throw some lime on it and some spicy stuff and it masks the fishy flavor haha.... the salad... I just can’t do it yet. Like I can do lettuce in things and on things.... but by itself... not my favorite. But they have come to church the last 2 weeks so it’s been cool to see that we’ve made a difference in reactivating them. Also there is a family that we love that we’ve been working with. Jairo and Cathy. Cathy has a lot of faith, but Jairo has fallen into drinking again. But he actually quit about a week ago and so that’s been really cool to see. You have just seen the change in their marriage, like I think he actually wasn’t staying at the house for a little while. It’s weird, she’s like 23 and has a kid that 9 and 5 and 1 haha like that’s only 4 years older than me!!! She’s great though.

Um we had a wedding this week haha it was so much fun!!! So there is a part member family that the North side area is teaching. Like she’s a member, but he’s not, but he really wants to be, but they have to be married first, They don’t have their papers and so like they can’t in Kentucky, or North Carolina (where there from) but we found out in Indiana it’s a lot easier, like all you need is a birth certificate.  So we planned a wedding in about a week haha and the missionaries did like all the work it was really fun and really stressful haha. So Saturday we were in Indiana decorating and finishing up cooking and all that fun stuff. It turned out sooooo great. Like we got over 40 people there and usually at a typical wedding like that it’s lucky to maybe have 20. I’ll be sending pics in an email. They are the cutest couple. Shes like 7 months pregnant, you could never guess. And they have 2 little boys. But that was pretty much our day on Saturday.

Um the apartment complex is repainting our apartment today, so we had to move all of our stuff today. It was a real pain and there being really mean about it, but oh well haha. I haven’t felt the greatest the last 2 days either. Like I feel like I have pleurisy again, but oh well. It’s not that bad... but it’s really uncomfortable.

I can’t really think about anything else that has happened this week that has been really that exciting. Oh Elder Munds and his Wife came and spoke to us. He’s a member from the quorum of the 70ty so that was really cool and Elder Warner and I got to share the story of Eufemia with  like 3 zones and president and then the Munds haha so it was really cool. Like President was so happy with us and loved our story and it just fit in perfect with this whole meeting and what they talked about. It was really good though. We have another one coming in August so ya. Oh we didn’t have any investigators at church again yesterday so that really wasn’t fun. But oh well.

Oh I forgot to tell you about Friday. Ah Friday was probably the worst day ever. We rode our bikes forever because nobody was home and all of our appointments fell through. Like we really had nothing to do all day because all our plans and back up plans had fallen through so we just kept riding around trying to find something. Well it like like 630 and we were about to pull into an apartment complex and I just prayed to have something good come out of that day, we ride in and like no one is there and were about to ride out when we get flagged down by this lady. She’s from Cuba and we had met her once and had been trying to find her for about 2 weeks. We had met her at a man’s name Yidel. He’s kind of an investigator, but they were really interested, but they ran off before we got there info. So it was amazing to see her flag us down. Then her husband and kid come around the corner and we just talk for like an hour and a half and give her a book of Mormon and she’s really excited to read it. They said they are for sure going to come to church this week so I’m really excited about that! They are a great couple. The husband is from Venezuela and they are just so nice. They try and speak English to us because they really want to learn it, and they are actually really good at it so it’s kinda nice, but anyways... that was my week pretty much

I hope you all had a good week.

I love you all

Elder Knudsen

July 16th

Haha I don’t even know where to start about this week haha it went by really fast. I can’t believe I’m already done with my first transfer. I’ll probably only have elder Warner for one more transfer which is kind of sad. In my district we had an elder and a sister going home and then one sister got transferred so it’s really changed here. Yesterday.... WE HAD 3 INVESTIGATORS TO CHURCH!!! WHOO RAAA haha it was so great. It’s kind of really stressful though because like members.... they can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Like our church is about 20 min from our apartment in a car so we ask this member to pick us up and 1 investigator. Well needless to say.... he was late so then our other 2 investigators were in the chapel without us so we called the other elders and made sure they made them feel welcome and stuff, but it was so great to finally have investigators come. And Pablo and Fabiola, the one that feed us every week, I guess we have made a change with them, they talked to their boss this week to ask if they could switch schedule so they could come to church, so they were there on Sunday too. I was like a little kid at Christmas.

So... let’s first start by talking about Eufemia. She’s the lady from Cuba. She came to church yesterday and just loved it like she was just in awww the whole time and like couldn’t stop talking about how much it touched her. She’s so ready. I actually went on an exchange with Elder Dewey this week (zone leader) and we taught her the plan of salvation. It wasn’t going the greatest, but then at the end I bore my testimony and she started crying and then we set a bap date, we didn’t know it but we set it for her birthday, then she got even more emotional and was just saying it was meant to be and stuff. Like she is so great. She pretty much started to plan a trip to Cuba with Elder Warner and I after our missions haha she’s the nicest lady ever like I’m happy every time we leave her apartment. I don’t know if I told you the story of how we found her so I’m going to tell you anyway. We had an investigator that we were thinking about dropping cause she just wasn’t progressing after 6 months, we prayed and decided to give it one more week, the next day we met Eufemia at the investigators house. Like it was just meant to be, and I’m so happy we were being lead by the spirit not to drop her. Like she said after Sunday she just wants to be baptized next week, but it will probably be in August but were so excited. Like I feel like she’s my mom, grandma away from home haha she’s just so nice. She reminds me of a grandma, but she’s only 55 so she’s not that old haha. She’s just great though.

Um the other 2 investigators that came is a couple from Mexico. Rolando y Yasmin. They are just so funny I love them so much. We laugh and just have a good time at their house all the time. They have 2 kids, Ruby and Ranoldo. They are the cutest kids you will ever meet haha but only the 2 came to church. I think they liked it pretty well. Like there a pretty quiet group unless you’re in their house. But ya... this week we had a good lesson with them about the word of wisdom. Like we didn’t even bring it up, it was the wife. She then was like my husband drinks haha so we set some goals like all of us so were easing him off alcohol and he’s doing really well. Like usually he has 3 a day, but he’s only have 6 in the last week. So were going to try and set a bap date with them this week and we will see how that goes. Were having a family home evening at Pablo and Fabiolas this week with them, because they both live in the same place so I’m excited for the fellowshipping that our investigators are receiving at this time. Um so.... Rolando and Yasmin had us over for dinner this week. We had tamales.... and COW TONGUE TACOS!!!! Haha it wasn’t too bad actually.... Like taste= not bad. Texture= not the greatest. Knowledge of having an animal’s tongue in my mouth= AWFUL haha and it didn’t help when Elder Warner is sitting there saying, just think about it, it’s like you’re making out with Betty the Cow right now haha what a dork. The first time he had it, I guess it was a lot worse cause it was in bigger chunks, cause mine was diced up, his.... he could feel the taste buds haha how gross, but it’s like the most expensive thing and so really it’s their favorite. But that was an adventure I had this week haha.

Oh man do I have a story for you. You’re not going to even believe it! Like I wish I could tell you in person because I don’t think I can really give it justice with my words haha it’s kind of a sad story.... but really... you just have to laugh at it now. So we were contacting outside of a Hispanic store on Thursday night just because one of our appointments fell through. It’s been like 15 minutes when this guy whistles at us. We had stopped by his house like 4 weeks before and he was kind of a jerk, so really we weren’t very optimistic and we were kind of nervous. He asks us to come in and he said he just got a divorce last week and he really wants to come to God. So we were really pumped. He’s like I really want to come to church... do I need to sign something or what do I need to do. So he offered to give us a ride to church so we could just lead him. Then we were talking about baptism and he wanted to be baptized. So like at this point I’m just thinking wowwww haha like it was probably about a 45 min lesson or so then when were leaving he says, (in Spanish of course) "I was praying and God told me to look out the window, I saw you 2 standing there and God told me you 2 were going to be the ones to carry me to Him" So at this point I’m smiling from ear to ear just thanking Heavenly Father for all the miracles he has shown me. He asked us to come back Friday but we couldn’t so we said Saturday. So... I was pumped ya know... W knock on his door, he looks out the window and then just goes back. We thought he was just going to put on a shirt or something so we’re just waiting outside. While were waiting we see some other elders so they ride up and start talking to us. He walks out with like his hair in a net like he had just got it done and a little bag of trash and he was like give me one second I’m just going to throw this away... so were like ok.... then we look down... HES IN HIS CAR!!!! We make eye contact and he looks down the street and just goes pedal to the metal haha. Elder Warner and I were so confused. Like maybe we misunderstood him or what so we went into the store to get a churro to wait. We come out and he’s still not back... hm... This is a first haha so we decide just to go see some other people. When were riding home we see his car back haha but we decide not to bother him. Yesterday morning we call him to see if he wants to go to church.... he says something and then like starts blowing in the phone and hangs up haha like really!!!! Cubans are just crazy haha so we will probably stop by later this week if we need a good laugh just to see what he’s going to do this time haha.

Like it’s been a funny week. It’s actually rained a lot the last little while haha like we go to appointments drenched haha its just fantastic but I love the rain. There is nothing like rain in Kentucky, It comes down harder then I have ever seen in Utah, but then it goes away in like an hour and its happened like 4 days this week haha but it’s been nice cause its really cooled it down. Today is a little hotter though. It’s ya... It’s been really fun though haha

Thanks so much for the pants and ties they are great. I was actually going to email you...um.... so since it rains so much.... it’s not good to have silk ties.... haha so if you ever want to find me some polyester ties that would be great haha but you don’t have to do it right away haha. Um color wise... maybe... I really want yellow, um orange, and maybe red. Maybe like find some that look pretty solid. Like they just have a pattern or something. Like it’s hard to explain, but I don't know just whatever haha thanks so much. But that’s pretty much all I have for this week. Haha it’s been a fun week and now I’m starting my 2nd transfer. Like this transfer went by so fast. I have 15 more. Like I feel like my mission is going to fly by. Like Christmas is in 5 months, then I’ll talk to you on mother’s day, and then I’ll say... "One more call and then I’ll be home" like it’s going great out here.

Love Elder Knudsen