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
Saturday, October 20, 2012
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
> 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
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
September 24th
It’s going to be different for sure to say the least. Um Ya I’m not really sure where to start I’ll be honest. My area is the largest in the mission. I take up 4 counties so it’s really hard because they only give us a certain amount of miles for the month. So our apartment is in Versailes but most of our work is in Frankfurt. And so there are 2 English Elders that live in Frankfurt so we usually spend a few nights a week at their apartment which isn’t the best cause that means I sleep on a couch and we have no food in their apartment haha. There isn’t a lot of Spanish work out here either. They haven’t had a baptism in almost a year so that’s not to reassuring, but we have 3 people with baptismal dates, I think 2 will be getting dropped but I’m pretty sure this one guy will be getting baptized. His name is Pedro. He’s from Nicaragua. You’re never going to guess how he was found, so someone from the last branch I was working at ran into him at the airport and like got down his info and gave it to the missionaries so it’s kinda crazy. He’s really elect though.
Um I got to talk to Eufemia yesterday. That was really cool. She said her baptism was amazing and she loved every minute of it and she feels like a new person. Elder Warner baptized her and gave her the Holy Ghost. She said she really misses me and that the new Elder doesn’t speak Spanish at all so he can’t understand her at all. She was asking when I was coming back, I think she expected it to be really soon but then when I told her the earliest I could be back in the 5th branch would be probably in about a year and she was really sad about that haha
Um it’s going to be really hard I’ll be honest.... So Elder G, like I said has a rep for being a little lazy. He’s been "sick" most of the week and then the district leader has been pretty sick too and so I have been working with a greeny in an area that I don’t know at all. He’s been out about 4 weeks and he’s from Alaska. He’s afraid to tract and freezes up in lessons, so needless to say it’s been really rough. And so if it’s a Spanish lesson I have to do all the talking and then tracting I do all the door approaches and then in English lessons he just doesn’t know the keys of good teaching yet so he’s just kinda awkward. Also all 3 of them fight like every night because they have ADHD. Like my companion yelled at me because I forgot to remind him to grab some medicine for the elder from Alaska so then he made me drive back to the apartment and get it and stuff. It really bugged me. My companion and the greeny are really immature and like the greenie tries to boss me around. Like it really makes me mad haha but oh well. It’s going to be a really hard trial in my life.... this was the longest week of my life.... I really wish I could go back to Okolona....
It’s a really cool setting out here though so it’s really pretty. Very much country and farms and stuff. We actually worked on a farm this week for service haha. She has chickens and rabbits and then just grows a lot of stuff haha. I had to do stuff to prepare a chicken coop/feeder haha I’m not really sure what I was doing then I was pulling out all the corn plants from the ground cause there not growing anymore and then ya. It was really some hard work and I guess we work there every week. She fed us rabbit stew for lunch haha it was pretty good. With some lima beans and squash and homemade bread and stuff. We get feed soooo much out here haha I haven’t even bought any food since I’ve been out here haha I’m going to get fat!!! We went to the coolest house yesterday!!! It’s like out in the middle of nowhere and we had to take this like dirt path in a Toyota Corolla haha it’s such a sweet house. They are just in the middle of nowhere up in the forest with a cabin and some turkeys and chickens and stuff haha.
Um one of the Elders I’m serving around is from Murray so that’s kinda cool. He’s really apostate though because he only has 2 months left. And my zone leader is actually from West Jordan haha he went to Copper Hills but I didn’t know him before. He lives up by sunset ridge.
My apartment is really nice though. It’s like double the size of my old one and we have a washer and dryer and a dish washer haha so that’s nice not having to spend money on that stuff but ya. It’s pretty nice out here. I really hope my companion gets transferred at the end of this transfer but we will see. I really am trying to get along with him. He’s an amazing teacher, but just apostate and it’s been affecting me. Like when were in Frankfurt apartment the DL is very apostate too and so I’m sleeping on the couch in a different room and they don’t set an alarm so then I don’t wake up until like 730 and so I guess I’m going to have to bring my alarm clock to that apartment. It’s been a real challenge the last week. The members are great. The ward is in English but ya.... idk... I hope all is well down there.
There are a few things that I need. I need a GPS. You don’t need to buy one, but just send the one we have out. Cause really with how big our area is, ill need one once my companion leaves cause he’s the only one that has one. Um also... have you tried the white chocolate m and m's? Haha not that great! They pretty much just taste like frosting.
Um my new address is 139 Macey Ave. Apt X
Versailes, KY, 40385
Um I got to talk to Eufemia yesterday. That was really cool. She said her baptism was amazing and she loved every minute of it and she feels like a new person. Elder Warner baptized her and gave her the Holy Ghost. She said she really misses me and that the new Elder doesn’t speak Spanish at all so he can’t understand her at all. She was asking when I was coming back, I think she expected it to be really soon but then when I told her the earliest I could be back in the 5th branch would be probably in about a year and she was really sad about that haha
Um it’s going to be really hard I’ll be honest.... So Elder G, like I said has a rep for being a little lazy. He’s been "sick" most of the week and then the district leader has been pretty sick too and so I have been working with a greeny in an area that I don’t know at all. He’s been out about 4 weeks and he’s from Alaska. He’s afraid to tract and freezes up in lessons, so needless to say it’s been really rough. And so if it’s a Spanish lesson I have to do all the talking and then tracting I do all the door approaches and then in English lessons he just doesn’t know the keys of good teaching yet so he’s just kinda awkward. Also all 3 of them fight like every night because they have ADHD. Like my companion yelled at me because I forgot to remind him to grab some medicine for the elder from Alaska so then he made me drive back to the apartment and get it and stuff. It really bugged me. My companion and the greeny are really immature and like the greenie tries to boss me around. Like it really makes me mad haha but oh well. It’s going to be a really hard trial in my life.... this was the longest week of my life.... I really wish I could go back to Okolona....
It’s a really cool setting out here though so it’s really pretty. Very much country and farms and stuff. We actually worked on a farm this week for service haha. She has chickens and rabbits and then just grows a lot of stuff haha. I had to do stuff to prepare a chicken coop/feeder haha I’m not really sure what I was doing then I was pulling out all the corn plants from the ground cause there not growing anymore and then ya. It was really some hard work and I guess we work there every week. She fed us rabbit stew for lunch haha it was pretty good. With some lima beans and squash and homemade bread and stuff. We get feed soooo much out here haha I haven’t even bought any food since I’ve been out here haha I’m going to get fat!!! We went to the coolest house yesterday!!! It’s like out in the middle of nowhere and we had to take this like dirt path in a Toyota Corolla haha it’s such a sweet house. They are just in the middle of nowhere up in the forest with a cabin and some turkeys and chickens and stuff haha.
Um one of the Elders I’m serving around is from Murray so that’s kinda cool. He’s really apostate though because he only has 2 months left. And my zone leader is actually from West Jordan haha he went to Copper Hills but I didn’t know him before. He lives up by sunset ridge.
My apartment is really nice though. It’s like double the size of my old one and we have a washer and dryer and a dish washer haha so that’s nice not having to spend money on that stuff but ya. It’s pretty nice out here. I really hope my companion gets transferred at the end of this transfer but we will see. I really am trying to get along with him. He’s an amazing teacher, but just apostate and it’s been affecting me. Like when were in Frankfurt apartment the DL is very apostate too and so I’m sleeping on the couch in a different room and they don’t set an alarm so then I don’t wake up until like 730 and so I guess I’m going to have to bring my alarm clock to that apartment. It’s been a real challenge the last week. The members are great. The ward is in English but ya.... idk... I hope all is well down there.
There are a few things that I need. I need a GPS. You don’t need to buy one, but just send the one we have out. Cause really with how big our area is, ill need one once my companion leaves cause he’s the only one that has one. Um also... have you tried the white chocolate m and m's? Haha not that great! They pretty much just taste like frosting.
Um my new address is 139 Macey Ave. Apt X
Versailes, KY, 40385
Saturday, September 22, 2012
September 17th
Haha well its been the hardest last 2 days of my mission.... and probably not the reason you think! Haha so.... we have had amazing things happen this week, i dont really know where to start. Heck ill just give you the news. So.... Yesterday the Assistants called us at like 9 in the morning and then they said they wanted to talk to me. They are doing an emergency transfer (which is ridiculously rare) because an Elder is coming in tomorrow and so.... Im getting transfered..... Elder Warner is training again. I really dont want to leave this area.... Its so hard to have someone have to tell you your leaving 5 days before your first baptism.... So its been a really rough few days but im staying strong. I know that there is a reason in all things. Who knows maybe ill just be like John the Baptist and just prepare the way for baptisms. But ya I leave tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM so I hope you havent sent anything to our appartment... cause I wont be there haha. Um im going to the boonies of Kentucky. Its called Versailles. Its about an hour away from here and the 2nd farthest spanish area. Its in a richer area, but its just hick country. Its the place I was describing when I thought I was getting transfered. Like they eat posum, raccoon, and rabbit out there haha so that should be fun. My companion is going to be Elder Granodos. He was Elder Warners tranier.... like I dont want to judge him yet and im not.... but everyone says hes the worst missionary. Hes really lazy and disobedient. Everyone says its the longest time in there mission when they are with him.... but we will see what happens. Im going in with an open mind and im not going to lower my standards for him. Im making him work!!! But it should be pretty fun out there. Im in a car so thatll be nice during the winter thats for sure!!! I think Elder Warner is kinda bumbed he is staying here. If he trains this kid all the way through the training program he will have been in this area for 10 1/2 months and then he will go zone leader for sure so his whole mission will have been right in downtown louisville pretty much, but hes being a trooper.
It was the hardest thing to have to Eufemia that I couldnt baptize her this Sunday. She started crying at church and was just saying the Lord wont allow it to happen. But today she was more ok with it.... she started crying again today though. Its been really hard to just say goodbye to everyone I have grown so close to. Its worse when its so unexpected ya know? So im all packed up and everything. Like I guess the zone leaders really loved me.... like Elder Simms, I felt like we were on ok terms, but just like friends ya know and he like took me aside and almost started crying when he said he was going to miss me. Its been really rough to say the least.... but im sure its not the first time its happend to anyone so its ok. Um I actually have a letter from Eufemia to you all. Its in Spanish so I translated it and ill just type it on here!
"Dear Brothers/Sisters
I would like to write this letter to you all to congradulate you for the son so marvelous that God has given you. He is the most beautiful thing that has come into my path at my age of 55. I have been blessed to meet him and get to know him. The Lord has used him as an instrument so that I came to know the Gospel. And which I give thanks to God because I am sure that it is the true religion and that this is the true church. So my life has changed completely and I can assure you that I am ther person most happy now that I know the Gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In all my prayers to the Lord I pray for all of you and for all the missionaries. I ask the Lord everyday that he will continue blessing your family and their lives.
Love
Eufemia"
It was just so sweet. You dont know how amazing this woman is! She is so elect and is going to be such an amazing member of the Church.
Um we also had a really cool lesson this week with Darely and Amiley. They are investigators that have been investigating for almost a year now. We pretty much dropped them, but we see them every once and awhile cause they live right by Eufemia. We walked in and just started talking to Darely and then Amiley walks in with her Bible and asks if we can teach something. So we just taught a little bit about Baptism.... then at the end of the lesson Amiley asked if she could be baptized. That she thinks its the right time in her life. It was the most amazing thing ever! And Darely knows the church is true and so does her mom Marth, they just dont like going alone, and they are friends with Eufemia... so now they want to come to church.
So we had a party on Saturday for all the branch and all investigators and stuff with just a bunch of food and then dances from like the elders and the primary and relief society and things like that. Amiley and Darely and Eufemia and her husband and then all the kids of Darley and Amiley came to the party and loved it. Then on Sunday they all came to church too. So its looking like this area could have 6 baptisms in the next transfer. Cause Eufemia will be baptized sunday. Then Darley and Amiley and Martha want to be baptized and they have 2 kids that tell us they want to come to church and be baptized. So needless to say... we had a very successful week and so thats why its so dang hard to leave. But they saying is always leave an area better than when you got in it....and this area is pretty dang white to say the least!!
Um thats pretty much all I can remember with whats been going on this week just cause Ive been really caught up in just all of this thats just happened. Um If you could maybe send out my singulair and maybe some stamps that would be great but make sure you send it to the mission office and they will get it to me.
Love
Elder Knudsen
Thursday, September 6, 2012
September 4th
Well this week has been pretty successful and really funny. Haha man do I have a story for you. But first I’m going to start off by telling you a story I don’t think I told you yet from like the first day of my mission. So we left the MTC Monday ya know? And so I get to Colorado and I sit my carryon with all of the other missionaries and go to make my phone call to you guys. I talk to yall for awhile and then decide to go get food ya know. I come back and ask the Elders where my backpack is. They told me security had taken it and my plane was starting to board at this point!!! So I had to run as fast as I can to find a security person... they tell me I have to go to this certain place. I show up and ask them for my bag and they said that no one has been able to go through it yet so ill have to wait. I’m freaking out at this point because like I really need to get on my plane!!! So the lady comes to check in and sees me in a panic and she was like it was left unattended and its really heavy and you didn’t have a tag on it so she asked if I could say what was in my backpack and I’m like scriptures and preach my gospel and just all religious stuff and so she opens it up and sees it and politely gives it back then I had to run 100 miles an hour to catch my plane.... hahaha..... ya... I forgot to tell you that in my first email out here.... SORRY CHARLIE!!!! haha
Well today was a pretty good week. I don’t really know where to start like always. Um let’s start with Vicente! Probably the classiest nicest guy I have ever met in my life! We had a really good lesson with him on... Friday?? Ya I think it was Friday. Like he had one earlier in the week with him, but it wasn’t very good because we haven’t really had a chance to teach his wife because she’s always gone so she was home that day and so she was asking questions and just getting off topic, but Friday was just great. We retaught him the Restoration and it was pretty good. We just wanted to review it with him. But before the lesson he was like hermanos (brothers) I’ve been reading like you asked me too... and praying... and just thinking about it wondering if it’s true and one day the thought just came to me that it’s true. And then with tears in his eyes he’s like I don’t have a doubt that this church is the true church on the earth and I know that the Book of Mormon is true too!!! Elder Warner and I were blown away. Then at the end of the lesson he brought up baptism. He’s kind of nervous because it’s a big step in his life and he really just wants to know all that comes with it, but we set his date for September 23. So he will be getting baptized in less than 3 weeks. Our goal is to get him baptized and then get him ordained a Priest and then he would be able to baptize his wife!!! I think that would be really cool. But he’s been amazing. He couldn’t come to church on Sunday because his son was sick and ya.
Eufemia... man where do I start with her. So this week is the week she’s going to quit her job. She always brings it up and so we're really hoping she will go through with it. We’re just trying to get her spiritually jacked and increase her faith so she will do it so she can come to church and then be baptized on September 23 also. We have applied at places with her so were going to try and apply at more places just to give her some optimism that it will be ok if she quits her job. So everything is going well with her. Now I have to tell you a story about her. She feeeeeds ussss soooo much food like it’s not even funny. She’s makes us a feast for 6 and expects us to eat it all and if we don’t she’s like appalled!! It’s always grey rice, some sort of meat, a huge pitcher of juice, a salad, and then something else usually. Like the rice not even kidding is probably like 4 lbs of rice. But anyway ya she wants to feed us like every chance she gets and she won’t eat.... she just makes it for us and sits back and watches us eat its awful. It was also her 55 birthday on Sunday so we went over there and said happy birthday to her. She said they had moved her party to Monday and that we should stop by so we said we would. So yesterday.... Elder Warner and I decide to go to Texas Roadhouse (yes I got grandpas gift certificate!!! Thanks) and so we went there at like 430 because it opens at 4 out here. We eat until we are stuffed and get done at like 6. Then Eufemia calls and tells us to stop by at 7. We stop by and she has made sooooo much food! Elder Warner and I were already stuffed beyond belief. And her husband is kind of crazy. That’s a story for later on in the letter. But she made so much rice and then ribs that were over cooked by like 5 hours without any sauce, yucca marinated in vinegar (YUCK) and then a salad with a bunch of juice... Elder Warner and I just start trudging along eating it. Like we’ve eaten a lot and she’s just like eat more and more and more and we're like hermana were full. And then she gets all mad asking if we don’t like her food. So I take another rib and she’s like no elder and gives me more ribs!!!! Ahhh like I really wanted to throw up with every bite. I finally finish that and I really felt like the food was up to my throat. And then I made the mistake of telling her I haven’t been feeling well.... so....she goes and grabs Alka-Seltzer..... (awful way to end a meal) and like I had to drink that. THEN!!!! She starts like criticizing my faith saying if I had enough faith the Lord would have healed me by now and like yelling at me!!! IT WAS CRAZY!!!! Like I really don’t even know what happened. Then she gave us like a ton of leftovers.... we just threw it away..... and we were trying to get the dog to eat our food while she wasn’t watching haha.
Ok back to her husband. So we show up and he’s like come in. We could tell he’s a little drunk cause we see some beer and stuff (don’t worry eufemia doesn’t drink) but then he starts like offering us beer, Were like no sir we can’t drink it and he’s like I know you’re not supposed to but just have 1 just to refresh yourself and we were like No haha and so we had to get Eufemia to finally tell him. Then.... he starts karaoke. He’s kind of deaf by the way so he turns it up as loud as you can and so you can’t hear anyone in the room. He starts singing this romantic song (all Hispanics love the romance) and he starts like serenading me!!! Elder Warner was like on the ground laughing. He just was like looking at me and pointing at me and it was so awkward.... I wanted to laugh, but like I couldn’t and like I couldn’t just look away and finally when he stops looking at me I look at Elder Warner and he is just like crying his eyes out!!! It was soooo funny apparently haha but then he started dancing like a machine by himself and then Elder Warner thought it would be funny to tell him I want to sing.... good thing we got out of there before that happened, but anyway.... yesterday was crazy!!!!
We also have started teaching a guy from Brazil. It’s really sweet. His name is Dijonio and like he knows enough Spanish that we can communicate pretty well, but like Portuguese is crazy!! Good luck Preston haha. It’s pretty much Spanish with a French flare. It’s a way sweet language and I don’t think it would be too much harder than Spanish but ya. He’s doing well. Actually the English Elders are the one that found him and taught him for like 2 weeks and then finally asked if he would rather have Spanish elders come and he said yes so they turned him over to us. He’s been to church 2 with them and had a bap date, but it got dropped. But we will probably be setting one with him this week for October 7. He’s super legit though. He’s only like 24 and just the nicest guy too!!
We also have been super busy with this lady named Micaila the last 2 days. So she just decided to come to church on Sunday. Like she somehow got the numbers of the Zone Leaders, but she’s in our area and she came to church because she really needs help. She’s from Guatemala and apparently she’s supposed to be getting deported this week. So she asked if there was anything we could do. She gave us like no time to work! She’s known for like 3 months but she had just found our card and she was crying in church because she really felt the spirit and really wants to stay. So there is actually a member that is an immigration lawyer, so she met with her today so we're going to see what’s going to happen, but really we need a miracle. But if somehow she stays.... she will for sure get baptized. So that’s been really hectic the last few days.
Um Rolando and Yasmin have kind of fallen off the deep end. He’s started drinking again and they just don’t return our phone calls and so we haven’t "dropped" them, but like there is nothing we can really do with them. We see them like 1 a week now and it’s just like there not keeping their commitments. Same with Ronal. He says we can visit him and then he’s never home and so he’s been really hard to get a hold of, so this week we really have just been trying to find new people to teach and try and get some new solid investigators.... it hasn’t really happened yet.
We also had something really cool happen with a lady named Mora. So she’s been having a rough time financially and she’s a member. She asked for money from the church, but they wouldn’t because she’s kind of inactive and doesn’t pay her tithing and we have caught her smoking. So we show up at her house and you could just tell something was wrong. We start talking and she is like "I decided I’m leaving the church because no one can help me and no one comes to visit me and stuff like that" At this point I’m freaking out not really knowing what to say, but Elder Warner handled it like a beast. We pretty much just showed her that she has a testimony and that she knows that its true and by the end she was feeling pretty good and asked if we could read something with her in the Book of Mormon. So we will see what happens with her. She said she was going to come to church, but then she called and said she was at the hospital, Elder Warner thinks she has started going to a Catholic Church. Because she told us she had gone a 1, but we think that’s where she was and not the hospital.
I think thats about all that has happened with me haha.... ya...
Love
Elder Knudsen
Monday, August 27, 2012
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
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