LOUIS GOT BAPTIZED

WOW! I am stunned by the amount of E-mails from this week :). I usually
receive around 2 (THAT’S RIGHT 2) or so a week, but there were loads this week.
It’s funny but missionaries always talk about repentance post towards the end
and it would seem that it’s true :) but what ever the reason for the influx I’m
defiantly not going to complain :). So, THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE VIA E-MAIL! By
the way Sandy Ford E-mailed me and said that she called dad up and was surprised
when he told her that I was turning 20 this February because she thought I was
turning like 18 and I was surprised because I thought I was turning 21 so there
seems to be a bit of confusion there :) so let dad know that I’m turning 21 and
that my name isn’t Missy it’s Tristan :).

There is loads happening back home. Ellyse is deciding which University she’ll
be attending! Meghan continues to plan for her trip to Japan! Jackson and
Carson are developing their biking skills! And Jeff is beginning to feel his
age (he didn’t write that but I could just discern :) ). Kai’s football team is
dominating, while Chynna destroys the opposition by scoring 2 goals and
assisting in 2 others in a game were her team won 4 – 0 (yeah, that’s right she
was a part of everyone of their goals [HOO-RA]) and she is getting braces… now
braces may seem like a pain but take it from someone who has lived in the land
of crooked teeth and trust me when I say, ‘you don’t want crooked teeth, so wear
the braces’ :), Irelynn is on the BOWLING TEAM and she plays at SUNSET STATION
which means that not only is she following in her uncle’s size 7 bowling shoe
footsteps but she is bowling where I use to work! And to top it all off the
Zurflueh clan is heading out to Disneyland for some Halloween fun! Mom is
recovering from her illness and making preparations to go winterize the cabin.
Timette is having to deal with the pressures of a new Jet Blue system and
calming her Disneyland withdrawals while being pregnant with the newest edition
to the clan, and I just found out that Aidan is in love with Poo…… Pooh Bear
that is :) [I’m sorry I just had to write that :)]. And finally it would seem
that everyone is getting addicted to these new green, ooze, slimy, chunky, but
apparently delicious spinach things and that mom and dad have even purchased a
vitamix blender so that they could create there own concoctions. In answer to a
question that was asked… No I didn’t have the swine flu but Elder Larson
defiantly did and it was way lame being quarantined in the flat with him.
Overall life is good back home and let Charlie de Chinchilla know that I too am
excited to be reunited with him even though he does poop more than anything I
have ever seen in my life, and the mention of a movie being made when I get back
is an amazing idea and we should think of a really cool story to make it with…
suggestions would be nice :).

Well, this past week has been miraculous! I can’t even begin to describe all of
the amazing things that have happened this week! Louise and Jane want to get
baptized; Louis Villoing got baptized and then bore his testimony in front of
the whole congregation yesterday after his confirmation, Nickie Holden is going
to stop drinking, and we had one of the most amazing lessons I have ever had
with Phil and Rachel, not to mention Ann is still progressing nicely and a few
new people we picked up! The Lord is drenching us in his blessings! But of all
the amazing things that have happened I know exactly which one I want to share
with you :). Phil and Rachel have been going through some difficult times and
Elder Larson and I were worried that we were becoming more like friends to them
then missionaries and we didn’t want that to happen because we need the
influence that comes from being a missionary more then the influence that comes
from being a friend to truly help them through their problems. About 3 days ago
we had a lesson with the two of them (it had been about a week since we saw them
proper) and we just read from the Book of Mormon with them (we read the story of
Ammon and related it to the fact that we all face problems in our lives but that
the Lord can give us strength just like Ammon) they loved it and it went really
well… after we read the story we then told them, ‘Rachel and Phil we love you
tons and you are like our best friends but right now we’re missionaries, we can
be friends forever but for this short amount of time we have the chance to help
you understand what can bring true happiness into your lives and it would kill
us if we left this area feeling like we didn’t fulfil what we were called to do’
not much else was said after that, we closed with prayer and went our way. We
next saw them Sunday evening and it was probably the best lesson I have ever
been in… Rachel had read a ton and even Phil read, we asked them about what they
read and they totally understood everything and they even expounded on it and
made connections with other things that we had read together in the past, but
two things in particular were amazing… first, we asked why they decided to read
so much and Rachel said, ‘We were thinking about what you said a few days ago,
we love being your friends and were defiantly going to stay in contact, but we
understand for this amount of time you’re missionaries (then she paused for a
bit) we know that we can be your friends forever but for now (another pause) we
want you to teach us and we’re ready to learn’… the Spirit was so strong it
filled my heart with love and appreciation for a merciful Father in Heaven…
Second, we watched the Restoration DVD with them (the Spirit was way strong) and
at the end we asked Phil how he felt about it (now Phil hasn’t been against the
church but defiantly hasn’t been supper excited about it) and he told us he felt
way ‘peaceful’ we jumped at a chance to identify the Spirit and when he
understood that the feeling was from God he connected all the other feelings he
has had since we’ve been seeing him and recognized that it’s true… It was an
evening that I will never forget.

The Spirit is real, The Church is true, Jesus is the Christ, and Joseph was his
prophet.

With all of my love,
Elder McKenna

P.S. next week is transfers and so I'll be E-mailing either Wed. or Thur.

P-day!

Hello! Thank you for the E-mails! And let us all rejoice in the fact that I
finally received an E-mail from the prodigal E-mailer who has returned from his
evil ways and has finally sent me an E-mail :). Things back home seem to be
going extremely well as always!

The St. George McKenna’s were happy to have the Huston McKenna’s over for the
marathon and have repented of their un-healthy eating ways and have embraced one
of the grossest sounding things I have ever heard of… it’s a smoothie that is
green because you put spinach into it, and it sounds a bit to ‘pop eye’ to me.
Football continues to be the big thing with the St. Georgians while the Huston
McKenna’s got to see the premier of Jared’s new movie ‘Gentlemen Broncos’ and
are excited for their trip to Hawaii (with Jared and his family) in the coming
days… yeah that’s pretty ridiculously awesome! Mom is recovering from her
illness, The Zurfluehs had a primary presentation, and apparently Kai is totally
ripped and grades cheese on his six pack because of all the sit-ups he has been
doing! In answer to some questions… no, I haven’t let Rachel know that I could
come to her wedding in the temple but I don’t know if they will be getting
married because they are having some relationship issues so we’ll just have to
see what happens. Overall life is good back home and thank you dad for telling
me about the trial it sounded pretty intense.

Things in Chorley are superb! Louis is still dated for his baptism on the 24th
and is progressing nicely… Rachel and Phil are working out some relationship
issues but are still excited about church and the Book of Mormon… Nickie Holdin
is still way pumped about the Plan of Salvation and getting baptized, she is
still trying to overcome some major family opposition… Louise is still way funny
with her crazy eyes and makes me laugh so much when we say something funny and
she tilts her head back laughs and it makes her eyes go in different directions…
there are so many things that I could share with you about these amazing people,
the trials they are facing, the love I feel for them, and the spiritual miracles
that I see everyday in their lives but today I want to share with you the story
of our newest investigator Ann Rudd. We met Ann Rudd one day while tackting on
her street near were Phil and Rachel live, she was nice when we talked to her
but we weren’t able to set up any definite time to see her (this was a couple
weeks back), then a few days ago Elder Larson and I showed up a bit early to
Phil and Rachel and decided that we would just knock on her door and see if she
had some time… She answered, invited us in (which we had to decline because she
is just a single woman), and ended up teaching her the restoration in her back
garden (and it was freezing cold!). The lesson was short and powerful; we bore
testimony of the book of Mormon and explained the importance of the prophet
Joseph Smith… We asked her how she felt about what we said and she responded
that she had never heard any of this stuff before and was a bit sceptical. We
left her the Book of Mormon and 3 Nephi 11 to read, we promised her that if she
were to read and pray that she would receive an answer through the Holy Ghost
(the same way she came to know that Jesus is the Christ) that the Book of Mormon
is true and that Joseph was a prophet of the Lord. We went by a few days
latter… She read the chapter THREE TIMES, a couple chapters after it, prayed
about it, and now she wants to come to church to see what this is really all
about. Were seeing her again this Wednesday and are super excited about what is
going to happen!

It’s wonderful how powerful the Book of Mormon actually is! Once more here is a
person who knows nothing about the church or it’s teachings and yet is driven to
read a chapter in a book that she doesn’t really understand to well 3 times and
then to press on in her reading! WHY! WHY would someone who knows nothing
about this church who is given a book which is so difficult to read be so drawn
to its pages that she can’t put it down and has to read on and reread! The
Spirit is SO REAL! It’s the Spirit that touches the heart and drives a person
to read and reread! The Church is true and the Book of Mormon is from God there
is no doubt in my mind about that! How grateful I am for the chance I have to
share this wonderful book with everyone I meet!

With all of my love,
Elder McKenna

P.S. Don’t forget about the Christ like attribute thingy… :)

P.P.S. So are we ok with the gift buying thing for Christmas…

hello, olaha, hi

HELLO! Thank you for the amazing E-mails and for the love and prayers! And
before anything else is said I have to ask why my father and sister were put on
trial before a jury of 8… It’s great that we won the case but I DIDN’T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS and it sounds pretty intense! Please send some more
information regarding this Alma, Amuleck, and Zezrom sounding case :).

Things back home are going really well, like always, Chynna and Kai dominated
their football games, Mom now has the same sickness that Irelynn had when she
was up at the cabin (sharing is caring), Jen and dad’s business is going well,
and yet again I have been assigned to get a Christmas present for a member of
the family… But I probably won’t have time to find something! So please
rearrange the gift giving so that you are all buying for each other and not for
me so that one family won’t be left out because of my lack of gift giving. And
the most insane news of all Jaryn is COMING HOME! He’ll be home with in the
next few weeks and I am amazed by how quickly the time goes. I recently read a
poem which has become one of my favourites and a drive for me to accomplish all
that I can before my return home… (It was found on the outside of a sundial)

The shadow by my finger cast
Divides the future from the past
In darkness and beyond thy power
Lies the unborn hour
Behind its unreturning line
In darkness and no longer thine
One hour alone is in thy hands
The now on which the shadow stands

It seems like every day slips through my fingers and I can’t truly grasp all
that I want, try as I may I can’t slow it down and every day seems to go faster
then the next! But anyhow I am excited to be a servant of the most high God and
in hopes that I may say what Paul has said ‘I have fought the good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the Faith’ I push forward every day striving to
make each hour one which will carry no regrets! In answer to some questions
that were asked… Yes, I am feeling very healthy and my companion is feeling just
fine… The hardest thing for me to get use to when I came over here was to drive
on the wrong side of the road and for the car steering wheels to be on the right
rather than the left.

Well, I don’t seem to have as much time today as I would have liked, we are
going to Rosendale valley to play some volleyball as a zone this P-Day so I will
have to make this pretty quick. This past week has been one full of miracles as
the weeks of service always are but one thing in particular stands out to me and
I feel to share it with you. Louis Villing has been struggling with some
problems in his life including work, girls, and family. The past few weeks
leading up to his baptism have been very difficult (we even had to move his
baptism date back a week because he was having such a difficult time with giving
up smoking with all the stress he was facing) and Louis was beginning to feel a
bit discouraged. Last Wednesday we had the opportunity to teach Louis and all
we talked about was baptism; its importance and the blessings that come from it.
It was a powerful lesson, the Spirit was very strong, and Louis felt it and
recognized it! The next day Louis (who was smoking 50 cigarettes a day) stopped
smoking cold turkey, throwing away his cigarettes and has now gone about 6 days
without smoking even one! He is feeling strong and confident and we are certain
that he will be able to conquer his addiction and be prepared to be baptized on
October 24, 2009! It’s so exciting to be a missionary and to see people make
sacrifices that seem beyond possible, all because they have felt the Spirit and
know that it is true! The gospel is true, The Book of Mormon is from God, the
Spirit and it’s promptings are real, Joseph Smith was the man chosen to bring
the truth out of darkness, and Thomas S. Monson is a current prophet today
guiding this church under the supervision of our Savoir, and most important of
all Jesus Christ does live and he has performed the atoning sacrifice that makes
it possible for all of us to find strength and comfort even when we feel that
there is none available. I love you all so much and pray for your safety and
comfort every day.

The weak servant of an empowering God,
Elder McKenna

PS. The document attached to this E-mail is one that I would really appreciate
if all of us were able to participate in… So everyone give it a look and then
E-mail me saying if you will be involved or not :).
Schedule
We will study each attribute for one (1) week, from one P-Day to the next. Thus, you will be writing your family and the President about what you have learned. Please follow the schedule below:

26 Oct – 1 Nov Faith in Jesus Christ
2 Nov – 8 Nov Hope
9 Nov – 15 Nov Charity and Love
16 Nov – 22 Nov Virtue
23 Nov – 29 Nov Knowledge
30 Nov – 6 Dec Patience
7 Dec – 13 Dec Humility
14 Dec – 20 Dec Diligence
21 Dec – 27 Dec Obedience


“…what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” 3 Nephi 27:27

GENERAL CONF.

Greetings from Beastly Britain! Thank you for the E-mails and the love, It is
always nice to read your E-mails and to learn about all the amazing happenings
going on back home!

Trent destroyed the St. George Marathon! He finished with a time of 3:27 which
is way impressive! And defiantly destroyed the fatties! The cousins are all
enjoying each others company and Angela’s mom is heading out on a mission to
Salt Lake (which is way awesome!) Jackson is now a mountain biking champion and
most important of all I now know who Miley Cyrus is (AKA: Hannah Montana). All
in all it seemed like quite an amazing week. In answer to some questions… When
I tell the British that I am from Las Vegas the first thing that they always say
is ‘why did you leave that place to come to this dump?’ in which case I always
respond ‘because the church is true’… Yes, I am a bit worried that when I have
to face the summer heat of Vegas I may very well shrivel up and die because I
defiantly have lost a lot of heat tolerance from being over here.

This past week has been quite a difficult one due to the fact that my companion
Elder Larson got the Swine flu as well as 3 other missionaries in our zone so I
had to coordinate a lot of exchanges and I’m not feeling to well my self (it’s
not the swine flu I just have a bad cough and my voice is going away so I sound
a bit like a chain smoker) so it has been pretty exhausting. Despite all the
hardships, this week was still full of miracles and conference was ridiculously
uplifting! The talks that were given at conference were so good and in
obedience to the talk given by President Uchdorft and Elder Bednar on Saturday,
first session, I would like all of you to know that I love you tons and that as
much fun as I am having over here in England I still think about you often and
treasure the memories of the fun times we have had together! Now, all the gushy
stuff aside lets talk about the best thing about conference! At the close of
the Saturday, second session, conference (which is played here on Sunday at 1
PM) Me and Elder Larson were rallying the missionaries together to go out and do
a bit of finding before the next session when all of a sudden I heard this voice
behind me saying ELDER MCKENNA! I turned around to see an investigator that I
had taught in Middleton about 7 months ago! She came running over and per
missionary standards I wasn’t able to give her a hug (all though I probably
wouldn’t have be able to give her a hug anyways because she was about 8 months
pregnant and looked like she was going to pop) but I gave her a huge handshake!
I asked what in the world she was doing here? And she informed me that she was
visiting her husband’s parents, she then went on to tell me about how she was
married to her partner, was baptized, and is now a faithful member in the
Middleton ward! YEAH!!!!!!!!! I remember when I left the two of them in
Middleton when I was transferred to South Ribble and I was worried that they
might not make the steps necessary to get baptized but here they are faithful
members with a child on the way! MY HEART WAS FULL OF GRATITUDE TO MY GOD! How
amazing it is to know that we can have an impact for good on the lives of
others! Another amazing thing that happened during conference was that Rachel
Johnston (whom Elder Larson and I were able to teach because of that giant Saint
Bernard and her cat named Herminie (I can’t remember if I ever told you that
story…)) came which was a huge step for her! Rachel has had the hardest life
ever! She is way set in the world, has loads of tattoos, likes to party, and
yet on Saturday night she came to see the Apostles and Prophet speak and better
yet she was wearing a skirt! She had told Elder Larson and I that she would
rather die by drowning and burning then wear a skirt, and yet here she was
wearing a skirt! And when we asked why she just responded because that’s what
God would want her to do! HOW AMAZING IS THAT! ONLY THE SPIRIT COULD HAVE GOT
HER TO DO THAT :)!

I can’t even begin to describe the joy that comes from being in the Lord’s work!
And the happiness that comes from seeing people change their lives for the
better! This is the true church of God! There is defiantly no doubt about
that! And this work is the work of the Lord! The Gospel is true! And it
really is the way to pure peace and eternal joy!

All of my love
Elder McKenna

P.S. The pictures are of Elder Larson’s ripped pants and Cat (the investigator
who got baptized)