P-DAY!

HELLO! From freezing cold Britain :(… yep, that’s right; we are officially in
cold, dark, never see the sun mode over on this side of the pond but your
E-mails have defiantly sent a ray of sunshine (spiritually speaking) on a
particularly cloudy P-Day :). So, thank you for your love, support, prayers,
and E-mails!

It would seem that back home things are quite ‘cool’ as the Disneyland trip was
a great success resulting in a make over of Madisyn, Chynna, and Irelynn at
Disney 365 (which I have no idea what that is) and the graduation of Irelynn
Madisyn and Kai at the local Jedi academy going from younglings to padowans.
Mike got the new high score on the Toy story midway mania game and the Yankees
beat the Angles 5-4. Madisyn got some kind of backstage pass to see Myley Cyrus
which sounds amazing but unfortunately I have absolutely zero idea who Myley
Cyrus is… I’m guessing she’s a singer. Timette continues being the best manager
Jet Blue has ever had while Ellyse goes on a homecoming date that is basically
the best date ever had with her date dying his shoes to match her dress :).
Stephen Erikson is going to Moscow Russia were he is going to learn the true
meaning of cold, while The St. George McKenna’s prepare for the Huston arrivals
for the St. George Marathon! And the most important thing of all is that even
though Emma may be cute (not as handsome as Jack of course) she is just as dumb
as him so they make a great duo :). In answer to some questions… P-Day is still
on Monday but when we have transfer week (it happens every 6 weeks) P-Day is
moved from Monday to Wednesday because that is when the missionaries get out of
the MTC… I don’t really have any funny driving stories (except that Elder Larson
is way squeamish and so he has some funny freak-outs when we get pretty close to
things) but for the most part driving has just become normal… YES! I seriously
can’t believe how old everyone is looking! When I went through the photo albums
of Connor’s wedding I was in complete shock at how different everyone looked!
It’s funny, but for some reason as a missionary you realize that people are
going to move, get married, maybe have a kid here or there, but you never really
think about how much everyone is going to grow and how different their going to
look, so I must admit that it was a pretty big shock (in a good/bad way) to see
my nieces and nephews looking grown up! Overall everyone back home seems to be
doing well and the Lord has defiantly blessed our family with the gift of being
ridiculously good-looking :).

The mission continues to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life!
Every day I see miracles! Every day I have trials! Every day I see the
strength of the Lord in my life and the lives of those around me! And every day
I feel the Spirit and the love of the Lord so strong! The past few days have
been amazing, the Lords hand has been very evident, but I decided that today I’m
going to take a different approach to my E-mail and share with you one of the
funniest things that has happened this week rather than the most spiritual…
because even though a mission is one of the most spiritual things I have ever
experienced you better believe that I still have moments were I laugh so hard
that I cannot breath :). One of those moments came this past Friday when Elder
Larson and I had to attend a meeting with President Bullock and some other
missionaries at the mission home. The meeting was amazing (spiritually) but
after the meeting President Bullock pulled out an American football (he played
as a quarterback for BYU back in the day) and started throwing the ball around.
Now I’m not one to get too excited about things like that but Elder Larson on
the other hand is addicted to football and was defiantly ready for the
challenge. Now I want you to imagine in your mind the setting… some really cool
missionaries, sister Bullock, Jenifer Bullock (Presidents 17 year old daughter)
and the president himself standing in his front garden having small chat, the
chatter dies down as President begins to throw the football and all eyes begin
to turn to see the ball getting thrown around. The first few who went out for a
pass looked pretty cool as they brought the football in and then it comes to be
Elder Larson’s turn :)… he runs out about 15 steps, turns around for a button
play, President throws the football, but it goes a little low, and because of
the people present Elder Larson wasn’t about to let it get by him. He leans
down, catches the ball, and in the process completely rips through his suit
trousers in front of everyone! Luckily me and a couple others were the only
ones who noticed so it wasn’t too horrible, but I tell you what I laughed so
hard I think I hurt my stomach :). And it made me think so much about when
Spongebob ripped his pants and so on the ride home we all joined in for a
rendition of ‘Ripped my pants’ by Spongebob

Our Heavenly Father lives, he loves us, and he defiantly has a sense of humour…

With all my love
Elder McKenna

P.S. I have an amazing picture of Elder Larson holding up his ripped trousors
but I forgot to bring the picture addaptor thingy so I'll have to send it next
week :).

Picture time!

Dear mi familia! Thank you for all the wonderful E-mails (there were a lot of
non-writers who repented :) and wrote me an E-mail) and thank you for the
stupendous support you always show me! Sorry that I didn’t E-mail on Monday but
this week is transfer week, and even though I am still serving with Elder Larson
in Chorley the P-day is moved from Monday to Wednesday for the week of transfers
(which is pretty cool because I got to go to the temple this morning, it’s
closed on Mondays).

Things back home are in full swing as Ellyse prepares for her big Homecoming
dance with the stud of the school (he is the student body president and the
American football champ), but let us never forget that even though he may be
tall, handsome, smart, athletic, and tough… your uncle can destroy him in a
video game any day and maybe in a game of chess :). Adian loves his Iron man
costume (which he is wearing for Halloween), Madisyn continues to dominate in
gymnastics, Football games are being had by all with stunning victories, hard
fought defeats and… a tie :). Trent continues to prepare for his marathon with
the phrase ‘I am going to beat the fatties’ on his lips! While Timette receives
a promotion from Jet Blue. Dad is now the first assistant to the High Priest
group leader, and everyone is getting ready for an amazing baseball game between
the Yankees and the Angles as well as a much needed trip to Disneyland. But I
have to say once more that everyone should be careful with the rollercoaster’s
because expecting mothers shouldn’t ride some of them AND TIMETTE IS PREGO!
WHICH IS CRAZY! BUT AWSOME! AND THE CHILD MIGHT BE BORN ON FEBURARY 3RD!
WHICH IS CRAZY! BUT AWSOME! (the expecting date is planned for the 25th AKA:
the 3rd). Overall life back home seems to be going fantastic and I can’t
believe that Sarah is going on a mission and that Jordan Wall is HOME!

Well, this week has been amazing, filled with the tender mercies of the Lord.
But instead of sharing a story, today I think I will just give some pictures…
This first picture is of me standing next to the church sign on the chapel in
Wrexham (the language it’s written in is Welsh)…


The second is a picture of me killing a new missionary by the name of Elder Curgenven who is serving in the Chorley ward as well (we were putting up the fence of a local member)…


The third picture is me and Elder Larson at the Liverpool docks where the fist
saints left to America (they have a really nice statue in honour of that
moment)…


The fourth is a picture of me and Elder Larson in the city of Dunham
(it’s the city were basically everyone was converted and just left to go to
America)…


The fifth picture is me and Elder Kingsley (a South African missionary
who came out with me) standing next to the monument right next to the river
Ribble were the first British converts were baptized…


The sixth picture is me and a missionary by the name of Elder Carr (he was in the MTC at the time) standing outside the Chorley Temple (Alex Carr was living in Barrow-in-Furness when I was serving there, when I was there he seemed so young and now he is
going to serve his mission in London!)…


The seventh picture is of the MTC group that I came out with; we were at the all mission conference with Elder Bednar…



The last picture is me with the Chorley Zone during an interview and training.

The past six weeks have been amazing and I am so grateful that I get to stay
here another six and see what happens with Phil and Rachel (they are seriously
my all time favourite investigators, they’re just ridiculously nice and want to
do what is right) and Louis Villing (who is going through some really difficult
times but still wants to be baptized)! The Lord has blessed me far more than I
deserve and I know that these next six weeks are going to be filled with a lot
of ups and downs but I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve the
Lord here in Britain!

Love the Lord, Love the people, Love the Land, and Hate the weather!

Love, :)
Elder McKenna

Elder Bednar

Hello Everyone! Thank you for the E-mails and especially for the amazing photo
albums of the ‘Andertons’ wedding (I still can’t believe that they are married
but most importantly I am glad that they both look so ridiculously happy) and
for the cardboard cut out (Timette you did an amazing job with it) it really
seemed like good times were had by all!

Well, things back home are amazing, as usual. The St. George McKenna’s are
housing two Japanese students Gaku and Sho, destroying the football pitches,
writing amazing, uplifting, influential, and patriotic literature, and Meghan
has been accepted to go on a student exchange to Japan this coming November!
Mom and dad have retreated to the safety of the cabin to avoid the massive heat
wave that is melting Las Vegas, More people are returning home from missions and
are starting their lives (CRAZY), And Britain has now officially moved from
summer to fall (and the falls in Britain are so cold they’re basically20winters).
In answer to some questions… yes, Elder Bednar was amazing… No, I didn’t know
that mountain dew had 10 new flavours and that the Osmond’s had a show in Vegas
(but my companion Elder Larson probably does because his family use to hang out
with the Osmond’s regularly). Overall like always the Lord is pouring his
blessings out upon me in a way that I am surely not worthy of.

Alright, so this week is going to be pretty easy to know what to write about…
Elder Bednar. But before I get into that I want you to know that Phil and
Rachel are doing really well, Louis Villing is dated now for the 17th of
October, and Yestinn Freddie (the Indian man back in Wrexham) is now baptized
and is a kingdom builder! Now, onto the most mission/life changing experience
that I have had this year… When I think of Elder Bednar I always imagined a man
who was; intimidating, to the line, tough, business like, but incredibly
spiritual and I have to say that even though he may incorporate some of these
features he is also funny, personable, and an amazing teacher (he is basically
nothing like I expected)! He started off the conference by explaining what was
going to happen, the idea that all of us were going to be involved by asking
questions, giving answers, and relying on the Spirit to teach us rather then
what he said. This was something that almost everybody20says and yet it never
seems to make much of a difference because the audience usually just sits there
in silent admiration and fear while the speaker gives his 2 to 3 hour long
lecture (which isn’t a bad thing), but Elder Bednar was different. Somehow he
was able to create an environment were all of us felt comfortable to ask
questions and to offer comments; even though he was involved extensively in the
process, by giving revelatory comments and would control were the conversations
were going, he allowed us to prepare ourselves to ‘seek learning by faith’ and
by our actions we were able to be taught through the Spirit rather than the
words which were spoken. I can’t truly describe how he did it but the Spirit
was truly the teacher as I sat in awe of this mans ability to command a crowd.
The things he said were apostolic, the atmosphere was electric, and the Spirit
was most certainly present. I realized then that my understanding of how to
help someone understand the teachings of the Savoir and how to really help
another to come to an understanding of the Gospel were pitiful in comparison to
what they could be. I have come to the horrible realization that I have so much
more to grow and I am terrified by the short amount of time I have to accomplish
it. It’s moments like that; when I feel the Spirit so strong, when I realize
how caring, loving, and patient the Lord is with me that I am truly brought down
into the depths of humility! How POWERFUL the Spirit is! How truly wonderful
the peace it brings! And how glorious of a teacher it is! If there is one
thing that I took away from listening to Elder Bednar is that I have so much
more to understand about the Spirit. I am aware that I will have an eternity to
learn more, but the two year time to serve a mission (aka: boot camp for
spiritual understanding) is just too short! The church is true! And I thank
the Lord for every second I have to be a full time missionary! I love you all
so much and I pray for you every night in my prayers! May we all learn to
recognize the Spirit and act on its promptings!

An incredibly weak servant of a most empowering God
Elder McKenna

HI YA

Alright! This is ridiculous! Not only did no one E-mail me (but mom, and hers
was really short) but it would seem that no one received the E-mail that I sent
last week! There is defiantly some mishap with dads account so from now on I
think I will be sending all E-mails to Timette as well as dad in hopes that with
the two of them you might be able to get an E-mail!

Well, I don't know what is going on back home. I haven't got any pictures of MY
BEST FRIEND AND COUSINS WEDDING. and the weather over here is lamezor (there is
some kind of hurricane out in the Atlantic that is sending all kinds of gall
force winds and rain)! But there was a ray of sunshine from the states when I
received a letter in the post with some amazing talks on CD along with an
outstanding poem :) so THANK YOU very much to that person. But for everyone
else let the Godly sorrow seep deep into your hearts, repent of your ways, and
send me your love via E-mail :) or post :).

Alright, all that gloom and doom aside, the work of the Lord continues to be
sweet and this last week was defiantly not short of any miracles! But as
always, my time is short and with so many wonderful things happening! It is
absolutely impossible for me to share all of them with you in one E-mail so once
more I am left to choose one in particular that I feel inclined to share. His
name is Louis Villing: He is about 25 years old, works at a paintball arena as
the warden, has a strong faith in God, but feels that organized religion is
incorrect and doesn't have the truth. He was found when Elder Larson and I went
on splits with the YSA of Chorley Ward 1 and he is GOLDEN! The first lesson
(restoration) was full of questions and the main points were understood (after
some reasoning). The second lesson was on the Plan of Salvation and it is this
lesson that I'm going to relate. We taught this lesson using 'Sprit Bob'
(that's when you have a little person and walk him through all the steps of the
Plan of Salvation) we started with the Pre-Earth life and walked Spirit Bob
through the steps. The Spirit was there as we related Bob to our own existence.
In the beginning many questions were asked but as Bob continued on his journey
the answers came and distilled upon his souls as the dew of heaven. How amazing
it truly is to see someone who is confused, frustrated, and in some instances
even a bit fearful of the world around them and their place in it; gain an
understanding of why they are here, where they came from, and were they are
going to go. To see their views of the world go from one to the other and to
see their entire countenance change as they begin to feel the truth of what is
shared is a blessing I can't even begin to describe adequately in words. The
Plan of Salvation is true; the spirit bore witness to all of us. Louis came to
all three hours of church last Sunday, loved every minute of it, and wants to do
what it takes to be baptized! The church is true, Jesus Christ does live,
Joseph was a prophet, The Book of Mormon is real, and these truths bring an
everlasting peace to the soul as a PB and J sandwich brings peace to the
stomach!

All of my Love,
Elder McKenna

P.S. Elder Bednar is coming to the mission on Friday and were having an all
mission conference! That makes 3 apostles! CRAZY!

Bank holiday!

HELLO! Sorry that I wasn’t able to get an E-mail off yesterday but
unfortunately the British love to celebrate their bank holidays and as a result
on Monday the Libraries were closed and I was unable to access a computer :(.
But I have the chance to write one today!

So, I still haven’t received any pictures of Connor’s wedding, and I’m a little
scared to think that Timette might have sent them (because that’s what mom
wrote) but for some reason my account wont let me see them! So Timette if
you’ve sent any photos via E-mail please resend them so that I CAN SEE SOME
PICTURES OF MY BEST FRIEND AND MY COUSIN’S WEDDING! Well, Things back home seem
to be going really well, everyone is starting to go back to school and settling
in nicely… Trent is preparing to run the St. George Marathon… Jeff is coaching
like 3 million football teams… Jackson is ripping up the single track tails in
preparation20of massive feast of Mountain biking upon return a certain
missionaries return :)… Sunday dinner lives on with a wonderful viewing of
International man of realastate, Kung-Fu Fun, and Kool Kai and the seven girls…
Chynna and Irelynn are both wearing mascara now (CRAZYNESS)… ELIZABETH, SHANE,
AND LUKE are back from their missions (CRAZYNESS)… Chelsey and Mike have adopted
an abandon puppy… A Disneyland adventure looms in the future (some of those
roller coasters could be a little intense; I’m just saying that sometime it’s
not good to ride one :))… In answer to some questions… I’m fine on the
toothbrush side of things… The temple is in my area and the building we meet in
is actually on the Temple grounds… Yes, I have the chance to go to the temple
more now.

Sorry to rush through things today but I don’t have much time to write. As for
things over here in Chorley, life couldn’t get better! Our teaching pool is
increasing more and more as the Lord keeps pouring out his blessings upon us!
This is truly an amazing time in my mission it seems that miracles are happening
multiple times a day! Something that I want to share with you just briefly is
about two of our investigators named Rachel and Phillip… We found Rachel and
Phil about 2 weeks ago there a young couple, who aren’t married, some religious
background but not much, live together, have a cat, and are way funny! Anyways
we’ve taught them about 4 times and because they’ve told all their friends and
family about how there seeing the Mormons they have already been given a lot of
persecution and they basically know all the commandments because everyone has
just thrown them out there. But they are continuing strong and despite the
persecution and the change of life that is coming up in their future they are
still excited and the last time we taught them we said that in order for them to
get baptized they needed to either get married our move out AND THEY SAID THEY
WOULD GET MARRIED! No one in this country gets married and yet here is this
young couple making huge changes in their lives so that they can live the
commandments of God! This is the true church; there is no doubt about it… Well,
I wish I could write more but suffice it to say Joseph Smith was a prophet,
Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today, The Book of Mormon is true, and Jesus is
the Christ!

Love,
Elder McKenna