Hello Everyone!
Thank you all for your letters, I never thought I would love receiving letters from home as much as I do, it really does warm my heart to hear from you all! First off, Timette thank you for all that food (I think my companion squealed with joy when he saw the chips and salsa) it was far to kind of you to give me all of those things and they certainly gave me some variety in my diet of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with some Doritos. Mom I'm looking forward to getting that Easter package but I haven't got it yet I'll let you know when it comes. I can't believe all the craziness that is happening back in Vegas! A birthday spectacular at the Secret Gardens, Sea World adventure coming up, and Chelsey slept in my bed... Madness! It really sounds like you are all doing very well and enjoying yourselves and that brings me great joy! England is still amazing, freezing, wet, and I love it! My new companion Elder Davies is an amazing missionary, I couldn't have gotten a better trainer, and he really knows what it means to be EXACTLY obedient which is so important in keeping the spirit. The work is progressing more and more each day it's amazing to see how much influence the Lord truly has in this work for I know that it is the spirit that does everything I am just the faulty tool the Lord is stuck working with. Just yesterday (March 25) me and Elder Davies taught a lesson to a less active
member with her husband, who isn't a member, the lesson was based on Jesus Christ and we showed her the Finding Faith in Christ DVD (which allows us to truly understand the miracles of Christ's ministry found in the four gospels as well as his loving character, it is so amazing) we also used an article found in the March Ensign. I don't know if any of you have had the chance to read the March Ensign but I have to say it is the best Ensign that I have ever read. The cover has a picture of Jesus Christ with a thin white sheet of see through paper over it. When I look at the picture of my Savior through that thin sheet I feel as if it is the veil... and that my loving Savior is on the other side, the veil is so thin out here on a mission; I have seen and been a part of countless miracles in the short space of time that I have been in his service and I can't imagine a better way to get to know our Savior then through finding his lost sheep with him. One of the most touching articles in that Ensign was the talk given by Elder Holland when he gave the account of the dream that Elder Witney had of being able to be a witness of the Savior's pain in Gethsemane and his triumphant victory over death. Just as Elder Witney ran to the Savior and
begged to go with him I to wish nothing more than to be with my Savior for ETERNITY to be with my family for ever! My heart is filled with bursting at the very thought and yet the words that the Savior said to Elder Witney, 'that is entirely up to you' echo through my soul and leave me with a sob in my throat. This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I have prayed and I have felt love, joy, peace I have felt gentleness and goodness; I have felt the fruits of the Spirit. I know that it is true and I believe that you have all felt these feelings too. Gordon B. Hinckley stated that we can double our number of convert baptisms; this will not happen by members and missionaries becoming more articulate and charismatic, it will not happen by preying on those who are uneducated and vulnerable tricking them into baptism, it will not happen by members and missionaries working separate. Our convert baptisms will increase because the strength and the faith of the members as well as the missionaries
will combine to form a perfect union! Every member a missionary! We are the
light of this world and we will not put it under a bushel but on a candlestick,
my family please let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven! As members of this church we all need to realize that we are all responsible for finding those who are prepared to hear the Gospel! There are so many amazing tools in our arsenal and yet so many go un-used! I encourage you to read the March Ensign to ponder on its amazing message of the Savior and to soak in the wonderful teaching tools for member missionary work it contains. I know that this is the view of the church for I have been told to write to you concerning this from my Mission President. It will be a wonderful day when members of the church not only pray for missionary work but pray to do missionary work! I love you all, I pray for you every day, and you are all in my heart where I will always keep you.
In great humility I leave you these things in the name of our Savior, Redeemer, and loving Brother Jesus Christ, Amen
Elder McKenna
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I Love You All So Much
Thank you all so much for writing; it really does warm my heart to know that you all care about me. Now, to answer some of the questions I received in the E-mails ... I must admit that I am very grateful for the opportunity that it has been to both live and be born in Las Vegas because I think that it is one of the strongest tools in my arsenal of conversation starters ever, and the idea that were 'sin city' makes almost a flawless transfer from the conversation to families, or religion, or what sin really is which then allows another smooth transfer into the restored gospel ... I love it! Unfortunately I have not found any lost relatives of the family but I have met a less active member whose wife (recently deceased) was born in Las Vegas and went to school at Vegas High, she would be about 59 years old if she were alive today. So I was wondering if you would know anything about it, her name is Mary Susan Gray; please let me know if you do. I knew that Chelsey would get into Rice just like she got into Baylor but I have to give my short little opinion, Chelsey I think you should go to
Baylor and do your research with medicine, because we all know if anyone is going to cure Cancer it's you! (I know that you could do it) but I think you know a little bit more about what you should do than I, so keep me posted on what you decide, and maybe think about saying a prayer, I know the Lord answers them. I have to admit that the idea of actually driving around England is very intimidating but according to the laws here I can't get my actual licence until I have lived in the area for around 120 days so I got a while until I can actually get behind the wheel of a car (pretty scary to think about). I am meeting more and more of the members of the ward here through church and through member lessons and I just love them all so much! It's funny but apparently a lot of the wards over here basically have a nucleus family that is tied into all the others so there is pretty much one family who practically owns a ward in
each area, my area is under the control of the Robinson family (they are so kind). I have to admit that I am brought down into the depths of humility as I learn more and more about those who previously served here and what they have gone on to do (I didn't know that Elder Ballard served here as well, just add it to the list of other apostles, prophets, and seers who have served here as well) and I am so grateful to follow in their HUGE footsteps. It's interesting that Timette mentioned that missionaries play with Lego blocks because I really don't know any who do and the kids here in Manchester don't care about American toys from McDonalds because a lot of them have basically everything American kids have back home but it is probably different in different areas, Manchester is very developed. I can't believe that all of you are going to Disneyland I have to admit that I am a little jealous but that jealousy is swallowed up in my love for the Lord and his work. It's funny that you mentioned the idea of keeping lineage because I have been adopted into another lineage, my trainer/companion Elder Key was involved in a dodgy situation with an Elder Kunzler that went home (after serving two years) right when I came in. I don't feel right divulging what was involved but needless to say Elder Key had to be emergency transferred (ET) and I now have an AMAZING trainer/companion by the name of Elder Davies. My testimony and faith in the concept of obeying the mission rules and putting in the work has grown so much! In just the past 2 weeks by putting the time and effort in actually do missionary work we already have 2 investigators about 3
more potential and about 10-15 contacts, needless to say the work in this area is progressing very steadily with the blessing of the Lord. I don't know if I have found any of President Hinckley's 'seeds' but I do know that the Lord has poured his blessings upon us and I am SO grateful! An investigator very close to my heart at the moment is a man by the name of Callem who we have already taught twice and have another appointment with on Thursday! He truly has been prepared to hear the gospel and I know that my Heavenly Father has heard my prayers and has allowed me to meet this man and has suffered me to teach him. I pray with all my heart, might, mind, and strength to have the spirit with me for I know that the "Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Sprit ye shall not teach." It is so important to have the spirit with us at all times and in all places (especially as missionaries) but also as members of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! And I plead every day, every chance I have, that my Heavenly Father will hear my cry and bless me with a portion of his spirit so that I can teach and find those who are ready to hear this message! I believe that we may be asking Callem to be baptized in the
coming week so I will keep you posted, IT IS VERY EXCITING! I also had the opportunity to be part of an all mission conference; all the missionaries in the
England Mission (all 144 of us) met at the Manchester South chapel (were I have church every Sunday) and were going to hear from Elder Richard G. Scott! But unfortunately he has taken ill and has been advised to not travel so we heard from President Johnson of the Quorum of the Seventy who is an amazing scriptorian and speaker. I don't think I have ever before had such a strong desire to learn as much as I humanly could about missionary work and scriptures until I heard him speak, what and amazing missionary and leader! The all mission conference is where I made the switch from Elder Key to Elder Davies and he seems so excited to get to work; which is great because this work is so important! I know that this is not my work but the Lord's and that he has
suffered me to come to England to be a part of this and I truly know how much happiness comes from serving the Lord! The days are long and hard and I don't
think I have ever been so emotionally drained and physically exhausted in my entire life but I love it! I wake up every morning feeling like I didn't get enough sleep but I then study and exercise and by the time I get out the door I want to start shooting pass along cards out of my hands at passer byres! I love thrusting in my sickle with all my might and I am so grateful that I can be a servant of the Lord! I love the people SO MUCH with their sweet English accents and their witty sense of humour I just want everyone I meet to understand the joy and happiness that the RESTORED gospel of Jesus Christ can bring! How beautiful it is that the gospel Christ established so many years ago has been brought back in its purity by a living prophet! But most of all I love my family and I have come to realize how wonderful and loving you have been to me all my life! Press forward and onward with your eyes single to the glory of God and know that his work and his glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life! Never lose the faith!
Elder McKenna
Baylor and do your research with medicine, because we all know if anyone is going to cure Cancer it's you! (I know that you could do it) but I think you know a little bit more about what you should do than I, so keep me posted on what you decide, and maybe think about saying a prayer, I know the Lord answers them. I have to admit that the idea of actually driving around England is very intimidating but according to the laws here I can't get my actual licence until I have lived in the area for around 120 days so I got a while until I can actually get behind the wheel of a car (pretty scary to think about). I am meeting more and more of the members of the ward here through church and through member lessons and I just love them all so much! It's funny but apparently a lot of the wards over here basically have a nucleus family that is tied into all the others so there is pretty much one family who practically owns a ward in
each area, my area is under the control of the Robinson family (they are so kind). I have to admit that I am brought down into the depths of humility as I learn more and more about those who previously served here and what they have gone on to do (I didn't know that Elder Ballard served here as well, just add it to the list of other apostles, prophets, and seers who have served here as well) and I am so grateful to follow in their HUGE footsteps. It's interesting that Timette mentioned that missionaries play with Lego blocks because I really don't know any who do and the kids here in Manchester don't care about American toys from McDonalds because a lot of them have basically everything American kids have back home but it is probably different in different areas, Manchester is very developed. I can't believe that all of you are going to Disneyland I have to admit that I am a little jealous but that jealousy is swallowed up in my love for the Lord and his work. It's funny that you mentioned the idea of keeping lineage because I have been adopted into another lineage, my trainer/companion Elder Key was involved in a dodgy situation with an Elder Kunzler that went home (after serving two years) right when I came in. I don't feel right divulging what was involved but needless to say Elder Key had to be emergency transferred (ET) and I now have an AMAZING trainer/companion by the name of Elder Davies. My testimony and faith in the concept of obeying the mission rules and putting in the work has grown so much! In just the past 2 weeks by putting the time and effort in actually do missionary work we already have 2 investigators about 3
more potential and about 10-15 contacts, needless to say the work in this area is progressing very steadily with the blessing of the Lord. I don't know if I have found any of President Hinckley's 'seeds' but I do know that the Lord has poured his blessings upon us and I am SO grateful! An investigator very close to my heart at the moment is a man by the name of Callem who we have already taught twice and have another appointment with on Thursday! He truly has been prepared to hear the gospel and I know that my Heavenly Father has heard my prayers and has allowed me to meet this man and has suffered me to teach him. I pray with all my heart, might, mind, and strength to have the spirit with me for I know that the "Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Sprit ye shall not teach." It is so important to have the spirit with us at all times and in all places (especially as missionaries) but also as members of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! And I plead every day, every chance I have, that my Heavenly Father will hear my cry and bless me with a portion of his spirit so that I can teach and find those who are ready to hear this message! I believe that we may be asking Callem to be baptized in the
coming week so I will keep you posted, IT IS VERY EXCITING! I also had the opportunity to be part of an all mission conference; all the missionaries in the
England Mission (all 144 of us) met at the Manchester South chapel (were I have church every Sunday) and were going to hear from Elder Richard G. Scott! But unfortunately he has taken ill and has been advised to not travel so we heard from President Johnson of the Quorum of the Seventy who is an amazing scriptorian and speaker. I don't think I have ever before had such a strong desire to learn as much as I humanly could about missionary work and scriptures until I heard him speak, what and amazing missionary and leader! The all mission conference is where I made the switch from Elder Key to Elder Davies and he seems so excited to get to work; which is great because this work is so important! I know that this is not my work but the Lord's and that he has
suffered me to come to England to be a part of this and I truly know how much happiness comes from serving the Lord! The days are long and hard and I don't
think I have ever been so emotionally drained and physically exhausted in my entire life but I love it! I wake up every morning feeling like I didn't get enough sleep but I then study and exercise and by the time I get out the door I want to start shooting pass along cards out of my hands at passer byres! I love thrusting in my sickle with all my might and I am so grateful that I can be a servant of the Lord! I love the people SO MUCH with their sweet English accents and their witty sense of humour I just want everyone I meet to understand the joy and happiness that the RESTORED gospel of Jesus Christ can bring! How beautiful it is that the gospel Christ established so many years ago has been brought back in its purity by a living prophet! But most of all I love my family and I have come to realize how wonderful and loving you have been to me all my life! Press forward and onward with your eyes single to the glory of God and know that his work and his glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life! Never lose the faith!
Elder McKenna
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
