Hello everyone!
Things are going incredibly well out here on the mission! The weather in England is beginning to change for the better. It's starting to look a lot like summer and it hasn't rained for 3 days in a row! AMAZING! But first things first, things seem to always be going really well for everyone back home and it fills me with thanksgiving as I ponder on the blessings that the Lord is pouring out upon us! It seems like the Saint Gorge McKenna's are doing really well and getting ready for some good summer weather. It's funny to look back, now that I'm on a mission, and think how tiring I felt school was. For all future Elders out there (Elder Zurflueh, Wankier, McKenna, and McKenna) enjoy summer vacation while you got it, the closest thing to summer vacation in England is in May I get to take my suit jacket off for a couple of months. But I don't think I have ever felt so happy and excited about getting up in the morning as I have out here serving the Lord! P.S. it seems that Meghan forgot me in one of her prayers... tisk tisk, I'm glad Carrson was there to point it out (just kidding, I love you Meghan you really good football player you). In all honesty, thank you all so much for keeping me in your prayers it truly has given me so much
strength to know that my family cares about me and prays for me. This really is
the time foretold of in Jacob 5 (as Jeff pointed out in his E-mail) and this is the literal gathering of the house of Israel and I am eternally grateful to be a part of it! I can't believe how many times the Wankier family goes to Disneyland its craziness and the Long Beach Aquarium! I have to admit though, when things get really hard thoughts of the fun times I've had at Disneyland with my family is one of the things that gets me through it (yeah for Disneyland). Plus if future Elder Wankier ends up serving in England, with a name like that he'll need all the fun memories he can muster ?. Well, it seems that I bring on emergency transfers. My great grandfather (the missionary who trained my X trainer's trainer) by the name of Elder De Abreu who is also our District leader has had to be emergency transferred so now the new district leader is my companion Elder Davies. As for our area I have to say that I feel like Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10 "by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly
than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." I truly have
put all my heart, might, mind, and strength into the work and the Lord has opened up the windows of Heaven! I feel as if I float around, I wake up in the morning tired but by the time I have had personal and companionship study I feel as if I can take on anything because I can feel the grace of God! I have come to the realization that there is nothing to fear, truly. If I obey the commandments, pray, read, prepare, and open my mouth the Lord will take care of the rest it is such an amazing feeling! I have found a point in my life that I never thought I would reach and yet there is so much more to gain. I can feel my faith bursting out of me and it's as if nothing can stop this work and the spirit. As I have been studying and focusing on humility I have become so much closer with my self, the Savior, and what true happiness is. At first these feelings of genuine happiness were intimidating and scary I had always felt that this sense of innocence and joy were signs of weakness but as I speak with
meekness and lowliness of heart I speak by the power of the spirit and the things I say are bold but unto the convincing of men. There is no weakness about it, only love and happiness! I now know what is meant by becoming like a little child! I still have a long way to go but I feel like I have actually found that road of happiness and I will not push it out of my soul thinking that I am to 'educated in the world' and to 'cool' to allow that kind of innocence and love... I am eternally grateful for your testimony mom and dad, I am so grateful for the example of Jeff and Trent as missionaries and big brothers, I am so grateful for the excitement for the world that Timette and Jenni have and for their love of the Gospel, and I will never be able to forget the genuine kindness that I have seen from Chelsey as well as some of the funniest memories of my life are with her. Thank you all for the people that you are and for the influence that you have had on me becoming who I am today! I know that there was and is a reason that we were all chosen to be a family here on this earth
and I am so grateful that I have been able to grow up in such an amazing environment. As I've said before I do not doubt because my mother knew it and now I add something that was said in conference, salvation is a personal experience but exaltation is a family matter. I know that if I wasn't with you all forever then there would be a big hole missing in my eternal existence! I love you so much!
Elder McKenna
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
LOVE YOU ALL!
Wow!
First off, I am so thankful for how amazingly blessed this family is, and the wonderful comfort and joy it brings me to here from you all. Second off, TIMETTE is the luckiest person to walk the earth! I can't believe that she has the opportunity to do a test show for Deal or no Deal! First Price is Right and now it's just a matter of time until she wins a million dollars on national television! And not only is Timette doing some amazing things; Carson is going to be the next Babe Ruth, Ellyse is on her way to being the Senator for Utah, Jackson is a spiritual giant after watching so much conference (in the tabernacle on Temple Square!) and then smashed the goalie with two unbelievable goals at a football match (I can see it now Jackson goes left fakes right and SCORE!), and Meghan is the next queen of the pitch for football! Then we have baby Cate taking first steps and the Zurflueh clan heading for Disneyland, not to mention Max being the production stage manager for 'Savior of the World - His Birth and Resurrection' that had to be an amazing production! We truly have been blessed by the Lord! Something that is temporally exciting is that even
though I may be riding around in buses at the moment, my companion (Elder Davies) is beginning to take driving lessons so that he can get his UK license and it's just a matter of time until I have to do the same (scary to think of me driving a manual, on the wrong side of the road, with round abouts). The weather here in England is so peculiar, you'll wake up one morning the sun will be out not a cloud in the sky and two hours latter it will be snowing/raining/hailing or a combination of the three and then an hour latter not a cloud in the sky! You never know what it's going to be like. The Altrincham area is doing amazing! The people who we are teaching each have an amazing talent and even though they all have weaknesses they understand that God
gives unto men weakness that they may be humble; for if they humble themselves
before him, and have faith in him, then will he make weak things become strong unto them. It's amazing how humbling it is to feel the presence of your Lord is you do his work and to know that the person you are teaching is a beloved son or daughter, of God, who has lost their way and to know that their Father in Heaven cares for them beyond anything that the human heart can understand. Every time I have the opportunity to teach and feel the presence of the spirit my heart is softened and opened as I embrace the pure love that can come only from that great comforter given the beloved title of Holy Ghost. As I begin to focus on those around me and the problems that they face and as I face these problems with them, my desire for the work has grown more than ever before. As I have seen the lack of understanding and doubt leaving the faces of those who the Lord has allowed me to teach and watch as their expression becomes one of love and understanding, my own understanding has increased. I have come to truly understand that we are here on this earth to be tried, we are here to prove not to God but to ourselves that we are worthy of the blessings that he has in store for us in the eternities. We were not sent to this Earth only to receive a body but are sent to learn for ourselves the choices that will bring us the most joy
and to realize that wrong choices will not bring us happiness for I know and bear witness that wickedness never was happiness. Please, with all the energy of my soul I beg of you to not allow yourselves to be drawn down the easy path, the path of least resistance, but to hold to the path of the refiners fire to become what God our Father intends for us to become, to fulfil every soul's deepest and strongest desire, that is to be with our Father again... I know that the way is hard I have seen so many who have failed to endure to the end but I know that if you will press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ Ye shall have eternal life. The way is hard, but a relief has been provided. The Savior didn't go through the pains of Gethsemane and Calvary to save a few, but to save us all if we will but humble ourselves and become meek and lowly in heart. I have gained
a witness that this Gospel is of God, Jesus is the Christ and it is only through him that we can be saved, Joseph Smith was the man chosen in his youth to lead the dispensations of the fullness of times and that through him the priesthood keys were restored that we may be able to perform sacred and eternal ordinances. I pray that my words may bring you joy and a stronger conviction in following the Savior for my purpose as a missionary is exactly that to 'invite others to come onto Christ' and I love every second of it.
With all the Love a mortal man can possess
Elder McKenna
First off, I am so thankful for how amazingly blessed this family is, and the wonderful comfort and joy it brings me to here from you all. Second off, TIMETTE is the luckiest person to walk the earth! I can't believe that she has the opportunity to do a test show for Deal or no Deal! First Price is Right and now it's just a matter of time until she wins a million dollars on national television! And not only is Timette doing some amazing things; Carson is going to be the next Babe Ruth, Ellyse is on her way to being the Senator for Utah, Jackson is a spiritual giant after watching so much conference (in the tabernacle on Temple Square!) and then smashed the goalie with two unbelievable goals at a football match (I can see it now Jackson goes left fakes right and SCORE!), and Meghan is the next queen of the pitch for football! Then we have baby Cate taking first steps and the Zurflueh clan heading for Disneyland, not to mention Max being the production stage manager for 'Savior of the World - His Birth and Resurrection' that had to be an amazing production! We truly have been blessed by the Lord! Something that is temporally exciting is that even
though I may be riding around in buses at the moment, my companion (Elder Davies) is beginning to take driving lessons so that he can get his UK license and it's just a matter of time until I have to do the same (scary to think of me driving a manual, on the wrong side of the road, with round abouts). The weather here in England is so peculiar, you'll wake up one morning the sun will be out not a cloud in the sky and two hours latter it will be snowing/raining/hailing or a combination of the three and then an hour latter not a cloud in the sky! You never know what it's going to be like. The Altrincham area is doing amazing! The people who we are teaching each have an amazing talent and even though they all have weaknesses they understand that God
gives unto men weakness that they may be humble; for if they humble themselves
before him, and have faith in him, then will he make weak things become strong unto them. It's amazing how humbling it is to feel the presence of your Lord is you do his work and to know that the person you are teaching is a beloved son or daughter, of God, who has lost their way and to know that their Father in Heaven cares for them beyond anything that the human heart can understand. Every time I have the opportunity to teach and feel the presence of the spirit my heart is softened and opened as I embrace the pure love that can come only from that great comforter given the beloved title of Holy Ghost. As I begin to focus on those around me and the problems that they face and as I face these problems with them, my desire for the work has grown more than ever before. As I have seen the lack of understanding and doubt leaving the faces of those who the Lord has allowed me to teach and watch as their expression becomes one of love and understanding, my own understanding has increased. I have come to truly understand that we are here on this earth to be tried, we are here to prove not to God but to ourselves that we are worthy of the blessings that he has in store for us in the eternities. We were not sent to this Earth only to receive a body but are sent to learn for ourselves the choices that will bring us the most joy
and to realize that wrong choices will not bring us happiness for I know and bear witness that wickedness never was happiness. Please, with all the energy of my soul I beg of you to not allow yourselves to be drawn down the easy path, the path of least resistance, but to hold to the path of the refiners fire to become what God our Father intends for us to become, to fulfil every soul's deepest and strongest desire, that is to be with our Father again... I know that the way is hard I have seen so many who have failed to endure to the end but I know that if you will press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ Ye shall have eternal life. The way is hard, but a relief has been provided. The Savior didn't go through the pains of Gethsemane and Calvary to save a few, but to save us all if we will but humble ourselves and become meek and lowly in heart. I have gained
a witness that this Gospel is of God, Jesus is the Christ and it is only through him that we can be saved, Joseph Smith was the man chosen in his youth to lead the dispensations of the fullness of times and that through him the priesthood keys were restored that we may be able to perform sacred and eternal ordinances. I pray that my words may bring you joy and a stronger conviction in following the Savior for my purpose as a missionary is exactly that to 'invite others to come onto Christ' and I love every second of it.
With all the Love a mortal man can possess
Elder McKenna
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
This Gospel is Amazing
Hello everyone! England is still amazing, still very wet, and still freezing (we had some snow as well-I attached a picture of it). First please be careful what you send me and make sure not to use FedEx. Apparently the last package that was sent via FedEx got searched at customs (which I guess they do with all FedEx packages no matter what) and because a lot of the things that were in the package could have been purchased in England they charged the amount that it would have cost to buy those things in England so I had to pay a fine (which is no big deal for me because it's pretty much Dad's money) but please be careful with what you send and avoid using FedEx at all costs also it seems that things sent by US Post are hardly ever checked so you might want to consider using them, but do what you feel is best. First off, Aidan got a race car track, golf club set, and a soccer set complete with goal for his Birthday how amazing is that! Plus now that he has a soccer set he can be pro English soccer player as well as the brightest candle on the Birthday Cake ?. Trent and Tatum are going to take surfing lessons that is amazing and incredibly scary for Trent because we all know he's not the pinnacle of health ? but we know if any McKenna can
pull it of it would be him. So, Irylnn is the calendar girl she must be loving
life! Especially since her bedroom is being redone and filmed like a reality TV
show... That's so cool. Timette, I love the meals! (You crazy person) There amazing, and my companion wants to adopt you into his family he loves those meals! But Timette you might want to think about going online and checking Tesco.com which is like our Albertson's here, you can order those things online and send them that way but what ever you feel is best. Chelsey I knew you were the smarter than Trent ? getting outstanding student in Biology that's wonderful and I know you deserved it! Also, if you think you have to get a lot of immunizations to go to Rice try going on a mission, it was the worst ever! Mom, I finally got my Easter package at General Conference, thank you so much for all of those wonderful candies (epically the Ethel'M caramels). Thank you all for always writing me and keeping me in your thoughts, it truly means a lot to me and fills my soul with joy! This past week has been amazing, the Lord truly is pouring down his blessings upon us. Callam has had all of the discussions he is
going to obey all the commandments and is going to get Sunday's off of work so he can come to church and be eligible for Baptism (the spirit truly has wrought a change upon his willing and softened heart)! A former investigator who we honestly did nothing but stop by her home a few weeks ago came up to us on the bus (we didn't even recognize here) says hi and tells us that she is coming to church with her son this Sunday! We had met a woman by the name of Lisa a few days ago got her phone number and have been trying to schedule something with no success and one day while tracking we knock on her house and have a great discussion with her! This is just a taste of the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for the Altrincham area! I'll try my hardest to keep you up to date with the blessings the Lord is giving this area, but there really are so many ?. This work is the work of the Lord, and this truly is his church. It was amazing to have the opportunity to stand and sustain Thomas S. Monson as a prophet of God and to feel the spirit bearing witness, in a way that can only be
felt, that he truly is the Prophet holding and using all the keys of the priesthood on the earth at this time and there is never but one on the Earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred! Conference was amazing, the talks were filled with the Spirit and presented us as members of the church and inhabitants of the Earth ways to improve ourselves and help others. The topic that sticks out in my mind most was the idea of filling ourselves with humility. When President Monson spoke he spoke with power and humility. It's strange to think that those two would go together but they truly do! I can testify that the strongest moments on my mission (the moments were I have literally felt God's power) have been when I have fallen at the feet of him who created me and pleaded for his assistance and his love; I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for hearing my pleas and filling my soul with warmth and joy. The closest I ever feel to God is when I throw away my pride and come unto him in meekness and lowliness of heart because of meekness and
lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost which comforter fillith with hope and perfect love and perfect love casteth out all fear! This Gospel is true, Jesus Christ is the Holy Messiah who laid down his life according to the flesh and took it up by the power of the spirit bringing to pass the resurrection of the dead, the prophet of the Restoration is Joseph Smith, and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today, the Book of Mormon was written by men of God hundreds of years ago and preserved by his matchless power to come out, in its fullness, in this generation. How blessed are we in this last dispensation to be a part of temple and missionary work to be bringing so many souls out of darkness. My soul sings and my heart rejoices as I thank my Father in Heaven for giving me the Gospel and I promise to you and to the world that I will never my God forsake! I love you all so much and I pray for your temporal and spiritual well being every day.
May God be with you til we meet again,
Elder McKenna
pull it of it would be him. So, Irylnn is the calendar girl she must be loving
life! Especially since her bedroom is being redone and filmed like a reality TV
show... That's so cool. Timette, I love the meals! (You crazy person) There amazing, and my companion wants to adopt you into his family he loves those meals! But Timette you might want to think about going online and checking Tesco.com which is like our Albertson's here, you can order those things online and send them that way but what ever you feel is best. Chelsey I knew you were the smarter than Trent ? getting outstanding student in Biology that's wonderful and I know you deserved it! Also, if you think you have to get a lot of immunizations to go to Rice try going on a mission, it was the worst ever! Mom, I finally got my Easter package at General Conference, thank you so much for all of those wonderful candies (epically the Ethel'M caramels). Thank you all for always writing me and keeping me in your thoughts, it truly means a lot to me and fills my soul with joy! This past week has been amazing, the Lord truly is pouring down his blessings upon us. Callam has had all of the discussions he is
going to obey all the commandments and is going to get Sunday's off of work so he can come to church and be eligible for Baptism (the spirit truly has wrought a change upon his willing and softened heart)! A former investigator who we honestly did nothing but stop by her home a few weeks ago came up to us on the bus (we didn't even recognize here) says hi and tells us that she is coming to church with her son this Sunday! We had met a woman by the name of Lisa a few days ago got her phone number and have been trying to schedule something with no success and one day while tracking we knock on her house and have a great discussion with her! This is just a taste of the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for the Altrincham area! I'll try my hardest to keep you up to date with the blessings the Lord is giving this area, but there really are so many ?. This work is the work of the Lord, and this truly is his church. It was amazing to have the opportunity to stand and sustain Thomas S. Monson as a prophet of God and to feel the spirit bearing witness, in a way that can only be
felt, that he truly is the Prophet holding and using all the keys of the priesthood on the earth at this time and there is never but one on the Earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred! Conference was amazing, the talks were filled with the Spirit and presented us as members of the church and inhabitants of the Earth ways to improve ourselves and help others. The topic that sticks out in my mind most was the idea of filling ourselves with humility. When President Monson spoke he spoke with power and humility. It's strange to think that those two would go together but they truly do! I can testify that the strongest moments on my mission (the moments were I have literally felt God's power) have been when I have fallen at the feet of him who created me and pleaded for his assistance and his love; I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for hearing my pleas and filling my soul with warmth and joy. The closest I ever feel to God is when I throw away my pride and come unto him in meekness and lowliness of heart because of meekness and
lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost which comforter fillith with hope and perfect love and perfect love casteth out all fear! This Gospel is true, Jesus Christ is the Holy Messiah who laid down his life according to the flesh and took it up by the power of the spirit bringing to pass the resurrection of the dead, the prophet of the Restoration is Joseph Smith, and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today, the Book of Mormon was written by men of God hundreds of years ago and preserved by his matchless power to come out, in its fullness, in this generation. How blessed are we in this last dispensation to be a part of temple and missionary work to be bringing so many souls out of darkness. My soul sings and my heart rejoices as I thank my Father in Heaven for giving me the Gospel and I promise to you and to the world that I will never my God forsake! I love you all so much and I pray for your temporal and spiritual well being every day.
May God be with you til we meet again,
Elder McKenna
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