Once again I love your letters and I love you! I have to admit that I don't have hardly any time to write today... Unfortunately today is transfer day and even though I am still serving in the same area with the same companion (Elder Di Iulio) I will now be serving with a third companion! That's right we are now the three musketeers! His name is Elder Peterman and he is from the wonderful city of San Diego California. But enough about me lets talk about you! The St. George McKenna's are rockin and rollin... Jeff had a great youth conference, Ellyse is 16 (which is just to crazy), Meghan can juggle a soccer ball longer then I can play a video game :), Jackson has his own personal 'critter zoo' under the trampoline where he keeps all of his great captures, and Carson is still just Joe Cool. Chelsey is apparently beginning to start up her own 'Sea pony' ranch and as for her amazing Birthday spectacular I have to suggest that Capital Grill is the only way to go for an amazing Birthday dinner! And
apparently Lisa's Bob hit the terrible realization that the English language is different then good ol' American when he asked for a 'cart' rather then a 'trolley' (not nearly as bad as complementing someone on their 'fanny pack'... trust me :P). I apologize for having to make this short but all I can really say is that I love you all far more then you can ever imagine! I love this country despite the terrible weather... the wind, rain, humidity, cold temperature, it doesn't matter I LOVE ENGLAND and I love the people. If there was one thing that I would wish for it would be, as Jeff and Alma said, that I were an angel and could speak so powerfully that everyone hearing my voice would want to commit to living the gospel of Jesus Christ and work to develop a testimony of the restoration. I know these things are true! The experiences I have seen and been a part of testify to me that they are! The joy that fills my soul and heart as I fight on the front lines, of this very real and important battle for the souls of men, assures me that there is a God! I know that Jesus Christ is the only begotten of the Father that by him and through him and of him
the worlds are and were created and the inhabitants are begotten sons and daughter unto God! I love my Heavenly Father so much and I know that he keeps me safe in his hands, that he loves me, and that he DOES answer prayers! To say that we can become like him, that we can become truly perfect is not idealistic gas but is truth! I know it, and I love it! I love you all, with a love that only the Spirit can bring
Elder McKenna
P.S. Jeff, things are going really well and I'll just have to see what happens
:) (our little secret)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Charity is the pure love of Christ!
Truly I am humbled every time I come to the library and have the blessed opportunity to read your E-mails! Thank you for the wonderful words, love, support, and kindness! So, now onto the big news! You probably already know but the Zurflueh clan, for there spaghetti eating in Baltimore, were filmed for the 'Ace of Cake' show! Apparently our family is just so Amazingly Awesome that people can't help but love us, our ideas, and traditions! And it's just soooooo cool that they made a cake that was a depiction of a spaghetti bowl that looked like the world! Moving from Baltimore to Utah; Timette seems to be wasting no time in her busy schedule; already she is planning out a cousin's week to rival all others with hiking in the canyons and Tiponogos caves, camping out in the backyard, going to some splash parks, and swimming in the clubhouse pool! Although all of those things sound amazing the best part of the week has to be that she is going to make a movie! YES! The spirit lives on! As for the St. George McKenna's Elyse is turning 16! And Jeff is going to be speaking at a youth conference on the Atonement and as for their summer family trip there
going to see Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore! Just too amazing! As alway it is good to hear that Charlie and Jack are still alive; and as for Charlie eating baseboards, I had no idea that he liked to chew on wood... :)! Anyways, I'm glad things are going so well back in the good ol' states and in response to Timette's question... over here in England the price of 'petrol' is £1.30 and that is only for a LITTER, and the gas truck drivers are going on strike! So were beginning to have a shortage in the Cumbria area! But despite all those things the work will and is moving forward!
Once again as I look back on the week that I have had and ponder on the countless miracles I have seen my heart is filled with joy and my soul is filled with peace. My thoughts are brought back to an experience that I had just yesterday... I was sharing in a lesson the idea that we need to 'Endure to the End' and the blessings that await us if we do. As I was saying how wonderful it will be to achieve salvation and exaltation I suddenly realized how glorious it will be. To think that we will not only be with our families for ever but that we will see people whom we knew in this life. It suddenly dawned on me in perfect beauty and bliss that we truly will have a perfect recollection of everything good and everything evil that we have done in this life. I will, at some point, not only have the opportunity to be with my family forever but to see and associate with others whom I have either helped or hindered! As this thought sank deep into my heart the spirit of the Lord filled my very soul with the pure love of Christ! And as I continued to teach my eyes began to cloud and I stated "how wonderful it would be so see everyone here one day crowned with Eternal glory, having entered into the highest of the kingdoms, and having achieved the greatest blessing the Lord can give us! And to embrace each and every one of them having a perfect remembrance of all our experiences together and to know that all of them and my self included lived up to our divine potential and can now enter into the rest of our Lord!" I am not here in Manchester England because I fear that I will be shunned if I'm not. I am not here in Manchester England because I feel that I am duty bound to serve. I am here in Manchester England because I love each and every one of my brothers and sisters! I know that this is the only way for us to truly return to God! This truly is his Gospel and I hope to embrace not only my family in the next life but many others who can shout in praise with me that they have truly fulfilled their potential! This is our Heavenly Father's work and his glory...
~With all my love
Elder McKenna
going to see Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore! Just too amazing! As alway it is good to hear that Charlie and Jack are still alive; and as for Charlie eating baseboards, I had no idea that he liked to chew on wood... :)! Anyways, I'm glad things are going so well back in the good ol' states and in response to Timette's question... over here in England the price of 'petrol' is £1.30 and that is only for a LITTER, and the gas truck drivers are going on strike! So were beginning to have a shortage in the Cumbria area! But despite all those things the work will and is moving forward!
Once again as I look back on the week that I have had and ponder on the countless miracles I have seen my heart is filled with joy and my soul is filled with peace. My thoughts are brought back to an experience that I had just yesterday... I was sharing in a lesson the idea that we need to 'Endure to the End' and the blessings that await us if we do. As I was saying how wonderful it will be to achieve salvation and exaltation I suddenly realized how glorious it will be. To think that we will not only be with our families for ever but that we will see people whom we knew in this life. It suddenly dawned on me in perfect beauty and bliss that we truly will have a perfect recollection of everything good and everything evil that we have done in this life. I will, at some point, not only have the opportunity to be with my family forever but to see and associate with others whom I have either helped or hindered! As this thought sank deep into my heart the spirit of the Lord filled my very soul with the pure love of Christ! And as I continued to teach my eyes began to cloud and I stated "how wonderful it would be so see everyone here one day crowned with Eternal glory, having entered into the highest of the kingdoms, and having achieved the greatest blessing the Lord can give us! And to embrace each and every one of them having a perfect remembrance of all our experiences together and to know that all of them and my self included lived up to our divine potential and can now enter into the rest of our Lord!" I am not here in Manchester England because I fear that I will be shunned if I'm not. I am not here in Manchester England because I feel that I am duty bound to serve. I am here in Manchester England because I love each and every one of my brothers and sisters! I know that this is the only way for us to truly return to God! This truly is his Gospel and I hope to embrace not only my family in the next life but many others who can shout in praise with me that they have truly fulfilled their potential! This is our Heavenly Father's work and his glory...
~With all my love
Elder McKenna
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Never give up, never surrender :)
Wow, I think I got more E-Mails this week then I ever did before, thank you all for truly caring enough about me to let me know about your food storage and as for the Zurfluehs, I would like to state, by request from their Email, that they have four months worth of food supply :). But honestly thank you all for your reassuring E-mails and your love! You are all living an amazing life! The Houston McKenna's have two professional surfer girls (Tatum and Afton) an up and coming surfer extraordinaire (Meghan) and another girl who apparently surfs like he mountain bikes (I'm not going down that! [Comment made by Trent McKenna on top of a hill in a high pitch girly voice :)]) but all and all it seems that Meghan survived the buffetings of the sea and it would also appear that movies are still being made, so I have to 'tip my hat' to the filming talents of Trent McKenna who made a great film of Meghan's outing to Houston; but we all know that 'Kung Fu Fighting' will be the 'Citizen Kaine' of the McKenna family. The Zurflueh clan is heading to Baltimore this year to eat some spaghetti and apparently some really exciting things could be happening, dealing with a cake, but I don't want to spoil anything, so there is your cliffhanger for this week I will let you know what happened when I am updated. The Wankier's are out of
control, Timette for her Relief Society enrichment had an activity called the BIG GIVE where they planted 60 flowers/bushes, entertained elderly people, made 460 literacy phones for school, 670 books for the Elementary School, and sewed 55 blankets for TWO hospitals all in one night! That sounded close to as busy as my days are :)... Just kidding, that is AMAZING, and that truly was a stupendous activity, well done! And Madisyn by next year should be doing some standing back hand springs and getting to a round off backhand spring, that's WONDERFUL, I can't believe how much the Lord has blessed this family! Now I normally don't receive questions that are important enough to address in the family Email but this one is... Mom's question concerning if the English value the stupendous, delicious, outrages, and delectable PB&J sandwich as much as they should, I have to say with tear filled eyes that they do not... They don't even like Peanut Butter :(! I am thoroughly convinced that aside from the Gospel, Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches is what England is desperately in need of!
And that if a man or woman were to eat a PB&J sandwich every day they would get closer to happiness than by eating anything else :)!
I'm glad everything is going so well back home and as for myself things are going... alright. There have been some heartbreaking set backs this week but through it all I have gained a stronger testimony of the truth of this Gospel and the reality of the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As I think about what the Savior went through for me and for all of us I think of Doctrine and Covenants 19: 'For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit!' There are people everywhere who don't know what the Savior has done for us, they don't understand that what the Savior went through for them, they don't understand that this life is just a time for us to learn, grown, and
progress. As I think about the hard times that I have gone through this week and as I ponder on what my calling is, as a set apart full time missionary, I tell you all now that I WILL NEVER FORGET what has been done for me! And no matter what comes my way I will overcome it through the power and reality of the Atonement! This area needs to know about the Savior they need to know that there is no need to suffer any longer if they will but repent and come onto Christ the Holy Messiah. I look around on this world, on this country, and on this town and my heart breaks in two... there are so many who have lost any hope of a better life or a better existence! They have allowed themselves to become chained down in the gall of depression and bitterness! But I promise you! That I am working with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength to bring these wonderful people out of obscurity and darkness, out of the chains of Hell, out of the false notions that this life is just a life to endure and then we
disappear! These people are to kind, to loving, to wonderful, to just give up on, to just allow them to believe such an incorrect principal! NO! Just as my Savior and Lord who suffered far more than I can ever imagine said 'and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink; nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men!' There will be no shrinking for me, I will follow his perfect example and push forward with steadfastness in Christ and a hope for something better! I know that this work will move forward, that there are those who are ready to hear the Gospel! I pray for you all that your strength and Faith in the Lord will always endure! Please never forget the sacrifice that has been made for you and honor that sacrifice by always standing as a light to this world!
I love you all and pray for you always,
Elder McKenna
control, Timette for her Relief Society enrichment had an activity called the BIG GIVE where they planted 60 flowers/bushes, entertained elderly people, made 460 literacy phones for school, 670 books for the Elementary School, and sewed 55 blankets for TWO hospitals all in one night! That sounded close to as busy as my days are :)... Just kidding, that is AMAZING, and that truly was a stupendous activity, well done! And Madisyn by next year should be doing some standing back hand springs and getting to a round off backhand spring, that's WONDERFUL, I can't believe how much the Lord has blessed this family! Now I normally don't receive questions that are important enough to address in the family Email but this one is... Mom's question concerning if the English value the stupendous, delicious, outrages, and delectable PB&J sandwich as much as they should, I have to say with tear filled eyes that they do not... They don't even like Peanut Butter :(! I am thoroughly convinced that aside from the Gospel, Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches is what England is desperately in need of!
And that if a man or woman were to eat a PB&J sandwich every day they would get closer to happiness than by eating anything else :)!
I'm glad everything is going so well back home and as for myself things are going... alright. There have been some heartbreaking set backs this week but through it all I have gained a stronger testimony of the truth of this Gospel and the reality of the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As I think about what the Savior went through for me and for all of us I think of Doctrine and Covenants 19: 'For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit!' There are people everywhere who don't know what the Savior has done for us, they don't understand that what the Savior went through for them, they don't understand that this life is just a time for us to learn, grown, and
progress. As I think about the hard times that I have gone through this week and as I ponder on what my calling is, as a set apart full time missionary, I tell you all now that I WILL NEVER FORGET what has been done for me! And no matter what comes my way I will overcome it through the power and reality of the Atonement! This area needs to know about the Savior they need to know that there is no need to suffer any longer if they will but repent and come onto Christ the Holy Messiah. I look around on this world, on this country, and on this town and my heart breaks in two... there are so many who have lost any hope of a better life or a better existence! They have allowed themselves to become chained down in the gall of depression and bitterness! But I promise you! That I am working with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength to bring these wonderful people out of obscurity and darkness, out of the chains of Hell, out of the false notions that this life is just a life to endure and then we
disappear! These people are to kind, to loving, to wonderful, to just give up on, to just allow them to believe such an incorrect principal! NO! Just as my Savior and Lord who suffered far more than I can ever imagine said 'and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink; nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men!' There will be no shrinking for me, I will follow his perfect example and push forward with steadfastness in Christ and a hope for something better! I know that this work will move forward, that there are those who are ready to hear the Gospel! I pray for you all that your strength and Faith in the Lord will always endure! Please never forget the sacrifice that has been made for you and honor that sacrifice by always standing as a light to this world!
I love you all and pray for you always,
Elder McKenna
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Young Lad Named Daniel
Hello Everyone! I once again have to give my utmost gratitude for your wonderful E-mails and for your continued support, but let's get onto the real subject... how many times can you really go to Disneyland! It's pretty easy to see why Jenni is such a pro at closing Disneyland, when you go like a million times I'm pretty sure you get pretty good! Well, anyway I'm glad that Kai is now tall enough to ride Indiana Jones even thought there were a lot of people who measured him to make sure he was tall enough, but It's OK Kai just remember that the key is that whatsoever one lacks in size he makes up for in charm and wit, and we all know that you must have those two in abundance because, lets face it, your like Elder McKenna and what I lack in size I make up for in charm :) (maybe not so much wit). Any how, I'm very happy for your wonderful Disneyland exploits and I'm excited for Chynna who is now an official graduate of the fifth grade! And is now one step closer to becoming the next Jane Austin (I'm sorry England just brings that out in me). It would also seem that Meghan is on an exciting adventure to the wilderness that is Houston Texas, she will
need skill, talent, and courage to brave the buffetings of the dreaded pirate Trent McKenna and save the princesses (by the way is anyone continuing the tradition of making movies, because for all I know 'Penelope pan and the princesses' 'kung fu fighting' and 'cool Kai and the seven dwarfs' are the only blockbusters we've brought forth to the world, don't let that filming spirit die! The world needs are talent!). I would also like to state that Chelsey has actually emailed me and put my mind at rest, for I now know that she is prepared if anything happens. The St. George McKenna's have emailed me as well and have put my mind at... but no one else. DOSEN'T ANYONE ELSE LOVE ME :). But in all honesty please Email me so that I can know that you have either done those things (stated in my last email) or are in the process, it would mean quite a lot to know that you are all well prepared. Thank you all for keeping me updated with what's going on back home and as for what's going on here, things are going incredible well! The Lord blesses me far more than I deserve and as I look back on the week that I have had I can not do anything but acknowledge his
hand fully in the work. Elder Di Iulio and I met a young lad by the name of Daniel and had the opportunity to teach him in the church, the spirit was so strong and it was amazing how everything was just so clear and simple... Heavenly Father truly is the Father of our spirits, he truly dose love us and because he does he has sent Prophets to teach his wonderful plan to us, he continued this all the way up to Jesus Christ's ultimate sacrifice and the death of Christ's apostles. There really has been a great apostasy; the true church of Christ did go into obscurity as men began to lead the church rather than God. Joseph Smith really was called to be the prophet of this restoration! It's so funny how when you truly feel the spirit testify to your mind and to your heart that what you are saying is with out a doubt the truth everything else bad in your life just disappears into pure insignificance as you soak in as much as you can that exact moment where the Spirit brings you to a higher level. This is God's church and I am nothing but a servant to a supreme loving Father in Heaven whom I trust with all my heart, mind, and soul. I love you all, and mom, you stated in your email that wonderful sons make wonderful missionaries, well, I state here and know that perfect moms make wonderful sons! I love you all with everything I posses
Elder McKenna
need skill, talent, and courage to brave the buffetings of the dreaded pirate Trent McKenna and save the princesses (by the way is anyone continuing the tradition of making movies, because for all I know 'Penelope pan and the princesses' 'kung fu fighting' and 'cool Kai and the seven dwarfs' are the only blockbusters we've brought forth to the world, don't let that filming spirit die! The world needs are talent!). I would also like to state that Chelsey has actually emailed me and put my mind at rest, for I now know that she is prepared if anything happens. The St. George McKenna's have emailed me as well and have put my mind at... but no one else. DOSEN'T ANYONE ELSE LOVE ME :). But in all honesty please Email me so that I can know that you have either done those things (stated in my last email) or are in the process, it would mean quite a lot to know that you are all well prepared. Thank you all for keeping me updated with what's going on back home and as for what's going on here, things are going incredible well! The Lord blesses me far more than I deserve and as I look back on the week that I have had I can not do anything but acknowledge his
hand fully in the work. Elder Di Iulio and I met a young lad by the name of Daniel and had the opportunity to teach him in the church, the spirit was so strong and it was amazing how everything was just so clear and simple... Heavenly Father truly is the Father of our spirits, he truly dose love us and because he does he has sent Prophets to teach his wonderful plan to us, he continued this all the way up to Jesus Christ's ultimate sacrifice and the death of Christ's apostles. There really has been a great apostasy; the true church of Christ did go into obscurity as men began to lead the church rather than God. Joseph Smith really was called to be the prophet of this restoration! It's so funny how when you truly feel the spirit testify to your mind and to your heart that what you are saying is with out a doubt the truth everything else bad in your life just disappears into pure insignificance as you soak in as much as you can that exact moment where the Spirit brings you to a higher level. This is God's church and I am nothing but a servant to a supreme loving Father in Heaven whom I trust with all my heart, mind, and soul. I love you all, and mom, you stated in your email that wonderful sons make wonderful missionaries, well, I state here and know that perfect moms make wonderful sons! I love you all with everything I posses
Elder McKenna
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