P-DAY

How nice it is to receive so many wonderful E-mails and to feel your warm love
on an exceptionally cold P-Day. Thank you so much for your support, and the
Halloween package was amazing!

Home is stupendous as always… Max and Jenni are leaving soon to celebrate their
16th wedding anniversary AKA 16 years since wee little Tristan was blamed for
losing a wedding ring that he didn’t lose at all and we could even say its close
to the 14th anniversary since wee, little, innocent, and loving Tristan was left
outside on a cold, dark, night when the moon was full and werewolves were
roaming because of the lack of love and consideration by two people whom he
trusted so much (The emotional scars still haven’t fully healed :), by the way
that was Max and Jenni)… any who they will be heading to Palm Springs to
celebrate. Meghan was a celebrity over in Japan with here blonde hair, while
Irelynn had fun on Catalina Island. Chynna is getting ready to swim with the
dolphins for her Birthday in January, while ma and pa continue to prepare for
their amazing cruise. It would also seem that my card board cut out has made a
few more appearances and will be making a surprise appearance at the massive
banquet happening this Thanksgiving at the Patriarch and Matriarch of the
family’s home (So happy that I don’t have to help prepare that, on a scale of
‘mom yelling at me in my life’ Gwyn visiting ranks number 1 and thanksgiving
preparations rank number 2). In answer to some questions… No it hasn’t snowed
yet in England but I kid you not I can’t remember what it is like to be warm
anymore :(… Rachel and Phil are planning on getting married at the start of the
New Year so they haven’t gotten married yet and Rachel is officially 3 months
pregnant with his kid. Overall life is great back home and I have to say that I
feel very similar to mom and dad in the idea that our family totally rocks and I
am grateful that I’m able to be a part of it.

Well, the time has come yet again to think of what I should share with you
pertaining to the past week and what has taken place. There is so much that
happens every week it seems almost impossible to decide what to put down and
what to leave out. Phil and Rachel are doing well. She found out that she was
pregnant about a week and a half ago; the doctors thought she was just having
some hormonal issues but realized that nope, she’s actually pregnant and has
been so for about 3 months, the father is Phil (thank goodness) and so they are
making plans to get married and she is still excited to be baptized all though
her baptism will have to be moved to after the marriage because Phil is now
living with her again. Louis is doing well so are the Harris’s, Ann Rudd is out
of hospital and doing better, but what I’m going to share with you today is
about Louise, Jane, and my exchange with Elder Davis. Louise and Jane have been
doing extremely well these past few weeks and last Tuesday we had the chance to
see them. We were originally going to go with Brother Reynolds but he had to
take care of his wife in hospital and so we had to take Elder Curgenven and
Elder Sherard to be our fellow shippers (they are the missionaries serving in
Chorley 2 and 3) so that we could see them that night. There we all were
sitting in Louise’s house teaching about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Endure
to the End when Louise asks if Elder Davis (who has only been out for about 3
months) has ever strayed from the path… He told her that when he was about 10
years old he stopped going to church and even though he didn’t do the ‘really
bad stuff’ he explained that he would go shopping and occasionally attend the
cinema on a Sunday which he said ‘was still pretty bad’. Now you need to bear
in mind that we haven’t told them anything about the Sabbath day, so when they
heard that both of them shouted ‘what!’ and looked at me with a face full of
questions. Elder Curgenven and Sherard both had expressions of surprise and
amusement while my eyes became penetrating as I glared over at Elder Davis who
looked as though he was turning so red his face would burst into flames! He was
so embarrassed! Luckily Louise and Jane have felt the Spirit more and more and
a commandment like that being sprung on them ended up alright we were able to
explain briefly what the commandment was, why it was so important, and the
wonderful blessings that come from living it. The lesson ended in a great
success with a wonderful Spirit but Elder Davis will never forget the night he
completely and utterly botched up the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson.

It’s so funny how once the Spirit is really felt and understood people have
absolutely no problem doing what God would have them do… If you have not the
Spirit you shall not teach is the truest scripture for missionary work. This
work is Gods! Louise and Jane aren’t going to give up their Sunday hobbies
because of Elder McKenna, or President Monson they’re willing to give them up
because they know that is what their Father in Heaven would have them do… I know
God lives and that he loves all of us and that his commandments are there for
our safety. The Church is true and I am so grateful to be a missionary in it!

With all the love I possess,
Elder McKenna

P.S. WE NEED TO HAVE A HUGE GAME OF VOLLEY TEN SOCK PONG BALL IN FEBURARY!

P.P.S. I don’t think I will be able to find any good places to get a nice suite
in were I am serving so don’t worry about me having a good Christmas, I’ll be
fine :).