Hey Mom
Spring Break... whats that like? Well, i know how they do spring break here in Florida (unfortunatley!) but i think its way different back home! I talked to Elder Wilson, who is the Elder who got a bad burn and had to go home for a transfer, he lives in Spokane and on saturday he said it was snowing! He also went to Cabelas... and im a little jealous!
This week i did get to go to the GIANT Bass Pro Shop in Destin. My comp elder Clements needed a camel back backpack, and so we got to stop in there on the way to a baptism in Destin.
Thanks for the update on everyone! Sounds like all is going well. Give my congrats to all the families with new babies, and weddings! Its a little weird to be COMPLETELY out of the loop with all these new happenings!
So this week we worked so hard!!! It was a tough week, but we had some awesome and positive things happen. We had two days of nothing... days where we were searching for people and found no one, or days when we had a ton of appointments, but the people werent home. So those days were a tad frustrating, but i believe we were given the gift of looking beyond the downs and seeing the good things we accomplished.
My first official "district leader duties" came into play this week. I gave my first district meeting... which was a little mini train wreck... but im ok with that, I will accept it as a learning opportunity! lol and then on thursday i had to go way out to santa rosa beach to do an interview for the ZL's investigators. It was one of the most spiritual moments on my mission, where i got to feel had God accepted their repentance and where He approved to have them baptized. Their names are Claudia and Gerardo Gordillo, and i got to go to their baptism on saturday. It was awesome, especially during the interviews, because i felt God's hand guiding me... literally i came into the interview with NO PLANS, and a beautiful interview unfolded in both occasions.
A little about everything else... the weather is getting warm, today is cold, but all the other days have been warm. The little branch here (Ramita!) is growing beautifully! Our new president Franco, is putting a lot of effort into his calling, and finally other members are getting callings (Elder's quorom president, teachers, etc) and i am falling absolutely in love with the branch. I honestly hope to spend as much time as possible here. I love the people. My comps are awesome! Elder Jones is great, a little quite, but i appreciate him a lot. Elder Clements is awesome! He really desires to work so hard, and he is learning so much! It is weird though, because in the lessons i do a majority of the talking! I am learnign a ton though, and i have officially decided that i probably will minor in spanish in college.
Besides that, we have found a lot of new investigators, and FINALLY the son of a member, named Max, FINALLY told us we could come and teach him. This guy has been coming almost every sunday to church, taking part in ALL meetings, and basically he is part of the church, BUT he isnt a member. Ha! Finally he is letting us teach him. Im excited about that. Some other new investigators would be a family from El Salvador, Patricia and Carlos a couple from mexico, and a few referals from the english elders.
Things are looking good right now! I am happy, and i am working hard. I need to work on organization, but i have been blessed with the ability of seeing how far i have progressed.
I KNOW this gospel is true. It is a beautiful gift we have in our lives, and i hope you all know how much i love it. Please continue to use this beuatiful gift, the gift and tool that the atonement of christ is. And please dont ever forget that He is the most important part of the gospel. I know He lives, and i know He loves us.
Have a wonderful week at spring break in Astoria! Take pictures, have fun, love each other a little extra for me, and take time (as a family) to read teh scriptures! Oh and know that i too will be watching conference saturday and sunday!
I love you mommy! Thanks for everything!
Elder Taylor Kenck
Monday, March 31, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
District leader and Trainer??
hey dad
It sounds like all is well back home... sure a little crazy, but hopefully all is well!
This has been one crazy week! I am in a threesome with Elder Jones, who has been out for a little over a year, and also Elder Clements, the new greenie, is my other comp. Basically imagine going from being with Elder Anderson, who is a completely anal (at times) missionary who does 90% of the talking during lessons to teaching with two elders who both struggle with the language and having to do a majority of the talking! HUGE change. Tough change, but i realize it is a huge opportunity to learn and grow.
Oh and im district leader... of the smallest district in the mission (5 elders!) maybe the smallest in all of Florida!
Glad to hear you are loading the CDs of the BoM on the computer. our deal is still out there, you read the BoM this year and i will do some thing awesome for you. Encourage Alli and Mom to keep studying as well please!
THanks for all you do dad. I was kind of a loser last week and i didnt send anything home for easter, i apologize for that... i was a mess last week, i almost reached the crazy point, but thankfully all is better now. Experiences like that have really helped me learn more about myself. And as horrible as they are in the moment, they always dont seem so bad later on down the line.
Thanks for all you do dad, thanks for allowing me to be here. Please keep praying and reading the scriptures, and just love life a little extra for me.
Love you
Elder Kenck
It sounds like all is well back home... sure a little crazy, but hopefully all is well!
This has been one crazy week! I am in a threesome with Elder Jones, who has been out for a little over a year, and also Elder Clements, the new greenie, is my other comp. Basically imagine going from being with Elder Anderson, who is a completely anal (at times) missionary who does 90% of the talking during lessons to teaching with two elders who both struggle with the language and having to do a majority of the talking! HUGE change. Tough change, but i realize it is a huge opportunity to learn and grow.
Oh and im district leader... of the smallest district in the mission (5 elders!) maybe the smallest in all of Florida!
Glad to hear you are loading the CDs of the BoM on the computer. our deal is still out there, you read the BoM this year and i will do some thing awesome for you. Encourage Alli and Mom to keep studying as well please!
THanks for all you do dad. I was kind of a loser last week and i didnt send anything home for easter, i apologize for that... i was a mess last week, i almost reached the crazy point, but thankfully all is better now. Experiences like that have really helped me learn more about myself. And as horrible as they are in the moment, they always dont seem so bad later on down the line.
Thanks for all you do dad, thanks for allowing me to be here. Please keep praying and reading the scriptures, and just love life a little extra for me.
Love you
Elder Kenck
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Gee, I didn't know about this email...
Hey mommy
I hope all is well, i havent gotten an email from you, hopefully its just computer malefunction.
This week was crazy, i learned a lot, but im not going to lie, it was probably the toughest week of my life. Just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. On friday night i reached a point where i thought i was going to break, but with the help of lot of prayers, i didnt. After that things started to get better, saturday was a good day, we played soccer in the morning and i managed to score 1 goal (pure luck). WE spent the rest of saturday trying to find investigators, we didnt have too much luck though. Saturday night we had a baptism for a 15 year old girl named claudia Teresa. Her family will be getting baptized soon, her parents just had to get married first. It was a great baptism and i really needed the spirit i felt there. Sunday was awesome as well. I recieved a lot of strength i needed.
As for investigators, we literally have 1. All the investigators we had hopes for are now avoiding us or coming up with excuses! Much is the life of a missionary. I found out (just now) that next transfer i will be in a threesome with Elder Jones, who is a good Elder, and the greenie. I also will be district leader. Im not quite sure how i feel about that (ha) but i guess it will be a learning opportunity.
Mom i hope you dont think i am bummed out! Sure this week was the hardest week of my life, and yea i will forever remember this transfer as "my humbling transfer" (not in the good way either! ha!) but thankfully, i have the chance to rebuild myself into the missionary i want to become. I choose to be a disciple of Christ and do His work in His way. I learning that by doing things the right way, it automatically means the harder way... but i chose to be out here, and i now choose to do it to the best of my abilities. I've also learned that my abilities are really nothing (when it comes down to things) but that with the grace of God, anything is possible.
TO sum it all up, i learned a lot of things this week. I am also very confident that i will learn a lot more things this transfer, and i will probably learn it the hard way. Jesus taught that being a disciple of Christ is not easy. He regurally preached to his apostles that they would face all manners of persecutions, and that many would be killed. When i look at the sufferings that other saints endured, my problems dont seem like anything!
But, some incredibly great news, SImplicio recieved the priesthood yesterday (melquisadec)! That would be the perfect sunday to go home to! Elder Lauritzen goes home this week, along with elder poort. So two of my greatest examples are leaving the mission! Thankfully, i have learned a lot from them both! NOw i get to apply those things i learned in my life as a missionary!
Mom thanks for all you do! I hope all is well, ihope this email didnt make you sad or make you think i am sad. I am good. Life is still good. These challenges are here for a reason. God gives us these challenges for our own growth. They are part of the plan. But prayer is real, and it helps so much. PLEASE always pray, i know you do, but teach the girls to always pray.
I look forward to this week! I will learn a ton this week! i hope you have a wonderful week, stay happy, pray and read the scriptures! And dotn ever forget that a misssionary in florida loves you!
thanks for letting me be out here!
i love you mommy
elder kenck
I hope all is well, i havent gotten an email from you, hopefully its just computer malefunction.
This week was crazy, i learned a lot, but im not going to lie, it was probably the toughest week of my life. Just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. On friday night i reached a point where i thought i was going to break, but with the help of lot of prayers, i didnt. After that things started to get better, saturday was a good day, we played soccer in the morning and i managed to score 1 goal (pure luck). WE spent the rest of saturday trying to find investigators, we didnt have too much luck though. Saturday night we had a baptism for a 15 year old girl named claudia Teresa. Her family will be getting baptized soon, her parents just had to get married first. It was a great baptism and i really needed the spirit i felt there. Sunday was awesome as well. I recieved a lot of strength i needed.
As for investigators, we literally have 1. All the investigators we had hopes for are now avoiding us or coming up with excuses! Much is the life of a missionary. I found out (just now) that next transfer i will be in a threesome with Elder Jones, who is a good Elder, and the greenie. I also will be district leader. Im not quite sure how i feel about that (ha) but i guess it will be a learning opportunity.
Mom i hope you dont think i am bummed out! Sure this week was the hardest week of my life, and yea i will forever remember this transfer as "my humbling transfer" (not in the good way either! ha!) but thankfully, i have the chance to rebuild myself into the missionary i want to become. I choose to be a disciple of Christ and do His work in His way. I learning that by doing things the right way, it automatically means the harder way... but i chose to be out here, and i now choose to do it to the best of my abilities. I've also learned that my abilities are really nothing (when it comes down to things) but that with the grace of God, anything is possible.
TO sum it all up, i learned a lot of things this week. I am also very confident that i will learn a lot more things this transfer, and i will probably learn it the hard way. Jesus taught that being a disciple of Christ is not easy. He regurally preached to his apostles that they would face all manners of persecutions, and that many would be killed. When i look at the sufferings that other saints endured, my problems dont seem like anything!
But, some incredibly great news, SImplicio recieved the priesthood yesterday (melquisadec)! That would be the perfect sunday to go home to! Elder Lauritzen goes home this week, along with elder poort. So two of my greatest examples are leaving the mission! Thankfully, i have learned a lot from them both! NOw i get to apply those things i learned in my life as a missionary!
Mom thanks for all you do! I hope all is well, ihope this email didnt make you sad or make you think i am sad. I am good. Life is still good. These challenges are here for a reason. God gives us these challenges for our own growth. They are part of the plan. But prayer is real, and it helps so much. PLEASE always pray, i know you do, but teach the girls to always pray.
I look forward to this week! I will learn a ton this week! i hope you have a wonderful week, stay happy, pray and read the scriptures! And dotn ever forget that a misssionary in florida loves you!
thanks for letting me be out here!
i love you mommy
elder kenck
Saturday, March 22, 2008
email-issues-- short email--
Well life in Florida is good... for the most part! This week was tough, probably the toughest week of my life, let alone mission. I have never felt so uncapable in my life. Thankfully, after many prayers, things started to get better. Basically the moral of the story is that prayers are indeed answered, and also that life isnt perfect or easy. Thankfully though, all the trials we do face are for our own benefit. We are given them to learn and grow. Last week, although it was hard, was a great week to learn some things. I also believe that the next few weeks will be full of learning and growth.
that is awesome that if my suit is desicrated they will send me another. I have to learn how to sew, because the only problems are little tears here and there. It is starting to get hot here, or humid, its all the same to me. I probably wont ever complain of heat again after my mission!
Well, all is good here. I hope all is well back home! Keep praying and reading scriptures! And if there is anything i can do... please let me know.
Love you dad and thanks for letting me be out here!
Elder Kenck
that is awesome that if my suit is desicrated they will send me another. I have to learn how to sew, because the only problems are little tears here and there. It is starting to get hot here, or humid, its all the same to me. I probably wont ever complain of heat again after my mission!
Well, all is good here. I hope all is well back home! Keep praying and reading scriptures! And if there is anything i can do... please let me know.
Love you dad and thanks for letting me be out here!
Elder Kenck
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Trainer??
Mom,
Oh and about Livi wanting to be a vet.... awesome. Do me a small tiny favor and maybe somehow plant in her mind the idea that her brother might not actually be a vet... lets just say my plans on the mission have changed like crazy, you will laugh when i tell you what a want to go into... but i will save that conversation for mothers day!
Well on to Florida! THis week was crazy! I am confident that i experienced just about every emotion possible: From an incredible zone conference, to receiving the news that i will be training next transfer, to an incredible lesson, and then on to an absolute lack of lessons, i honestly felt it all this week. Seriously, we only have 2 investigators right now. ANd they are both super ify.
I have kind of reached a wall though. It has taken a lot of work, but i am starting to like my comp a lot, (and just like always, now he is transfered), but he talks a lot, and believe it or not but i am becoming shy! I realized though i cannot improve, in spanish or in testimony, unless i throw myself out there and try more. I will get that opportunity to speak next transfer... it should be interesting! ha!
I am doing good though. The realization i came to yesterday is that to become to missionary i want to, i am going to have to do a lot of work. I am willing to do that, but i dont know how, thankfully, as a missionary we are promised an aabundance of the spirit, and so that should be the guide that i need! This will be a tough, frustrating transfer, but i am sure it will be one of the transfers where i grow the most.
THanks for all you do! Thanks for the love and support, and for allowing me to make this sacrafice. I know blessings have a will come, and i know that these two years will completely effect the outcome of my life. I want to be able to say, when i come home, that i really came to know who the Savior is. I love the power that comes from Him.
Have a wonderful week! Keep praying and reading the scriptures!
I love you!
Dad,
wow you certianly had an eventful week! Hospital runs, house projects and masterclass? How do you do it all? im impressed.
I have recently come to the conclusion that time is always working against us. I am really enjoying the chance i have to studying the gospel daily, but the problem is there is not enough time to study everything i want to learn! How many times in my life have i honestly been able to say i want to study? not many. lol
Thanks for the line of authority! I am pretty excited to have that! QUestions... who are the people on the paper? Is that Jack L Smith the same Jack L Smith i know? just wondering? (No it is not the Jack L. Smith from Wenatchee-Chuck-)
Dad i am so sorry i never was really willing to help around the house. It was a lot of learning opportunities that i lost, but i promise that when i get back, if we are still in that house, i will be your's around the house. And if we build a new house, then i call all the landscaping ok?
This week was a little overwhelming. I found out next transfer i will be training a new missionary. Im not sure how i feel about that, but it officially means that i will be learning the language! ha! No to be honest i feel very incapable right now, but thats ok, it just means i am praying more.
Have a wonderful week! Work hard, but please dont miss the chance to notice a sunset or two, or pray or read the scriptures... etc.
love you dad, and thanks for your loving example for me!
Oh and about Livi wanting to be a vet.... awesome. Do me a small tiny favor and maybe somehow plant in her mind the idea that her brother might not actually be a vet... lets just say my plans on the mission have changed like crazy, you will laugh when i tell you what a want to go into... but i will save that conversation for mothers day!
Well on to Florida! THis week was crazy! I am confident that i experienced just about every emotion possible: From an incredible zone conference, to receiving the news that i will be training next transfer, to an incredible lesson, and then on to an absolute lack of lessons, i honestly felt it all this week. Seriously, we only have 2 investigators right now. ANd they are both super ify.
I have kind of reached a wall though. It has taken a lot of work, but i am starting to like my comp a lot, (and just like always, now he is transfered), but he talks a lot, and believe it or not but i am becoming shy! I realized though i cannot improve, in spanish or in testimony, unless i throw myself out there and try more. I will get that opportunity to speak next transfer... it should be interesting! ha!
I am doing good though. The realization i came to yesterday is that to become to missionary i want to, i am going to have to do a lot of work. I am willing to do that, but i dont know how, thankfully, as a missionary we are promised an aabundance of the spirit, and so that should be the guide that i need! This will be a tough, frustrating transfer, but i am sure it will be one of the transfers where i grow the most.
THanks for all you do! Thanks for the love and support, and for allowing me to make this sacrafice. I know blessings have a will come, and i know that these two years will completely effect the outcome of my life. I want to be able to say, when i come home, that i really came to know who the Savior is. I love the power that comes from Him.
Have a wonderful week! Keep praying and reading the scriptures!
I love you!
Dad,
wow you certianly had an eventful week! Hospital runs, house projects and masterclass? How do you do it all? im impressed.
I have recently come to the conclusion that time is always working against us. I am really enjoying the chance i have to studying the gospel daily, but the problem is there is not enough time to study everything i want to learn! How many times in my life have i honestly been able to say i want to study? not many. lol
Thanks for the line of authority! I am pretty excited to have that! QUestions... who are the people on the paper? Is that Jack L Smith the same Jack L Smith i know? just wondering? (No it is not the Jack L. Smith from Wenatchee-Chuck-)
Dad i am so sorry i never was really willing to help around the house. It was a lot of learning opportunities that i lost, but i promise that when i get back, if we are still in that house, i will be your's around the house. And if we build a new house, then i call all the landscaping ok?
This week was a little overwhelming. I found out next transfer i will be training a new missionary. Im not sure how i feel about that, but it officially means that i will be learning the language! ha! No to be honest i feel very incapable right now, but thats ok, it just means i am praying more.
Have a wonderful week! Work hard, but please dont miss the chance to notice a sunset or two, or pray or read the scriptures... etc.
love you dad, and thanks for your loving example for me!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
this week was full of drunken kickboxers, dropped investigators, a baptism and a concert
Wow, Eastmont at state? Its a miracle!
Yeah it has been beautiful in Florida as well! If only the tempurature would stay like this all year round! Unfortunately, i have a feeling it will be a very hot summer........ oh well.
THank you, that means a lot to me that you are fasting and thinking about me. I am sure i have some miracles on the way then! That is awesome that you can "utilize" Nathan, tell him hi for me! OH also mention that every once in a while we get to teach some brazilians... and although i cant quite understand portugese, they seem to understand what we are saying!
This week was a little crazy. To put it all in one sentence... this week was full of drunken kickboxers, dropped investigators, a baptism and a concert. Quite a week huh? Well to start off, last week while riding our bikes around, we this one obviously drunk guy walked up to us and asked us if we were mormons. Come to find out, he is an ex-member of the church, and a ex-professional kickboxer! Basically his story (which is a sad one) is that he found fame, was ranked 3rd best kickboxer in the world, and then he found drugs and alcohol. And somewhere along the line he married a member, was baptized and then he fell into drugs again. So now divorced, he lives with his girlfriend in a little shack of an apartment. He has had quite the life! I really like him though, and i really feel for him. I want to help him so bad, not only because he is a fellow martial artist, but more because he is a slave to his addictions. He has given up drugs, but he cant seem to kick the bottle. I hope we can help him, but one thing is for sure, this week i once again learned that alcohol destroys lives.
The rest of the week we spent dropping investigators like crazy...
hey i have to go (running out of time on the stupid computer) but i will log on another and email you back!
Love you
Elder Kenck
Yeah it has been beautiful in Florida as well! If only the tempurature would stay like this all year round! Unfortunately, i have a feeling it will be a very hot summer........ oh well.
THank you, that means a lot to me that you are fasting and thinking about me. I am sure i have some miracles on the way then! That is awesome that you can "utilize" Nathan, tell him hi for me! OH also mention that every once in a while we get to teach some brazilians... and although i cant quite understand portugese, they seem to understand what we are saying!
This week was a little crazy. To put it all in one sentence... this week was full of drunken kickboxers, dropped investigators, a baptism and a concert. Quite a week huh? Well to start off, last week while riding our bikes around, we this one obviously drunk guy walked up to us and asked us if we were mormons. Come to find out, he is an ex-member of the church, and a ex-professional kickboxer! Basically his story (which is a sad one) is that he found fame, was ranked 3rd best kickboxer in the world, and then he found drugs and alcohol. And somewhere along the line he married a member, was baptized and then he fell into drugs again. So now divorced, he lives with his girlfriend in a little shack of an apartment. He has had quite the life! I really like him though, and i really feel for him. I want to help him so bad, not only because he is a fellow martial artist, but more because he is a slave to his addictions. He has given up drugs, but he cant seem to kick the bottle. I hope we can help him, but one thing is for sure, this week i once again learned that alcohol destroys lives.
The rest of the week we spent dropping investigators like crazy...
hey i have to go (running out of time on the stupid computer) but i will log on another and email you back!
Love you
Elder Kenck
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