March 2nd email

mi querida mama



Well, this week was good. Here in Foley i see tons of potential. The ward members we have are very strong... but unfortunately few. In the upcoming weeks we will focus a lot of our efforts on A) uniting them and B) getting them to help us with missionary work. It is kind of funny, in the spanish group we have 4 main families... the Gonzales family (from mexico... Bro. Gonzales is the 1st counsoler in the branch) the Villa family (from Colombia) the Avalos family (Mexico) and Antonio and Dulce (from mexico)... and my first weekend here they took a trip to the temple together. IT was a uniting and powerful experience for some, while at the same time a dividing problem for others. Sister Villa, who is a great lady, but defiantely has a screaming south american attitude.. actually if it wasnt for her accent i would guess she was argentine! lol but anyways, she got upset with something and is convinced that the group needs to A) Repent B) stop having fun during the lessons (her sunday school class) and c) that only she or us missionaries are allowed to teach the lessons... ha. But anyways, the gospel, when applied... has a beautiful uniting power... so i guess we get to help them apply it.

As for everything else... well tomorrow i will finish the BoM for the first time ever in spanish. It has been a great experience. I am convinced that although the BoM was written for us gentiles, it was mainly written for the spanish speaking people. The grammar in spanish works so much better than in english. For example, in english we dont say "I would that you would... " but in spanish, that is perfectly acceptable. Just a lot of little things stuck out to me. I studied it looking specifically for the promises that the Lord has for us. It has been great.

I am very excited for this upcoming week. We have zone conference on wednesday, and i am really excited to see president, talk to him , and get his advice on my progression. I want nothing more than to be the means of bringing many miracles to the people here in FOley. Not qquite sure how to do it though. I like Elder Aldous a lot, and we get along well... actually too well sometimes? lol No but it is weird... he definately reminds me of gavin.

I am super thankful to be out here on my mission and for the things that i have learned from it. I am thankful that you have been changing and progressing as well. Keep it up. I promise to keep it up as well.

I love you and hope you are happy and well. Have a wonderful week.

Love you

Elder Kenck