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