The Gospel Message is So Sweet

Hello Everyone!
It seems that things back home are going very well, the hurricanes seem to have stopped for the moment, and life is getting back to normal… well as normal as a McKenna life can get :). The ST. George McKenna’s seem to be ‘rockin around the clock’ as Ellyse gets asked to the Homecoming dance (her date asked her by putting a big rock in front of her garage and asked if she would rock around the clock with him…) and Meghan’s football team had some really close games with some of the best teams in the NATION (Meghan, being so full of charity and love, didn’t want the other teams feel bad so she let them win :) )! Jackson and Carson continue on in their football career and Jackson continues to study the art of piano playing in preparation to become one of the coolest missionaries in the world! As for Jeff and Mimi they seem to be loving life and fulfilling their callings as they continue to press forward as the young woman’s president and gospel doctrine teacher.
Mom, Dad, Jenni, and Max seem to have had an amazing time in New York as they were able to see a bunch of plays, eat at Peter Lugar’s, shop at the best stores in the world, and see the second to last game in Yankee Stadium! As for some questions that were asked… No, unfortunately I don’t have the opportunity to go to the Preston temple very often I’ve only been able to attend a session once since I got into the mission
field… Yes, England is defiantly feeling the financial crunch as jobs become few and far between and the housing market of the country takes a downturn for the worst… Yes and no, Elder Soule was excited to be going home while at the same time very upset about having to stop being a missionary, he was very conflicted :). Overall, things seem to be doing amazing back home, as they always are, and like always you all make me proud to say I’m a McKenna :).
The mission is getting CRAZY! First off, my new companion Elder Perry (who is from the south of England, Weston Super Mare a sea side town) is amazing and has a sweet English accent! He has so much fire in him (he reminds me of myself when I was his age) and even though he has only been out about 7 days he already has all the skills that he will need to be an amazing missionary, I truly feel grateful for the chance to be serving with him. Second off, the mission President is changing the whole mission around; it’s like serving in a completely different mission as he adds new key indicators and takes away old ones. Overall it doesn’t really matter what gets changed, this is still the best mission in the world :) and I am so grateful that the Lord has sent me here. Well, even though the mission is changing the work is still the same… and this week was a fantastic week! There truly are far too many experiences in just one week of missionary work to express in such a limited email but
something that I wish to share with you is something that happened with our investigator by the name of Kay. Kay is from Nigeria and he is a non-practicing
Muslim, as we have been teaching him his testimony that Jesus Christ truly is the son of God has grown substantially! And something amazing happened the last time we taught him… in our last lesson we went over the Plan of Salvation and as we taught him the wonderful truth of were we came from, why we are here, and were we are going the Spirit of the Lord truly testified with our spirits that we are the children of God and as we discussed Kay’s purpose it was as if I could literally see the darkness disperses and the light enter in! Here was a man who didn’t know the truth because he just didn’t know were to find it and that day his heart and understanding were opened! As I could see his testimony expand and the light enter in I couldn’t help but feel my eyes sting and testimony grow! The Plan of Salvation is from God! All the greatest minds in the world have pondered and studied on mans purpose and yet it is so plain and simple (the way that God works). I know that each and everyone of us is a child of God and that he loves us! I know that through Jesus Christ we will all live again and will be reunited to live in a state of eternal happiness and glory! I
know that this is the truth for the spirit has born testimony to me on countless occasions that this is the Lords Work! How I love this gospel, How I love our Savoir, and How I love and miss you all so much! May you always remember who you are and what your purpose is!
With all my love,
Elder McKenna

Love Ya!

Hello! Thank you all so much for your wonderful E-mails and for the updates on whats happening in your lives! First off I am so relieved that every one of the Texans really right and that their homes seem to be doing alright as well. As for surviving the storm Chelsey seems to be fighting a much bigger battle as she survives graduate school, but we all know that no matter how hard Chelsey tries to act like school is and the truth is she is still going to solve world hunger so just press forward Chelsey, today it’s learning about ‘yeast interactome using PCA assay’ tomorrow the world! Max has now jumped into the fast paced world of Facebook and is already accepted by many other facebookies [except Chelsey, :) who wont accept him as friend] as for Chynna she is Rockin and Rollin as she has a hat trick in her first football game, Kai scored in his first game as well and Irelynn continues on in the pathway of cheerleaderness. And lets not forget that the Zurfluehs and the oldies (meaning mom and dad) are joining forces this week to go on a trip to New York were there is certain to be fun, excitement, and a lot of money spent :). Speaking of money I have to apologize for the amount that I am spending over here, Dad I still have my bank card it hasn’t been stolen, but I have been spending a lot on driving lessons and on preparing for the practical driving test, if all goes well October 16th I will be a fully licensed UK driver and the amount of spending will go drastically down. As for the £$@£”£$£ family things are getting pretty exciting as they get ready to go to Disneyland for a trick or treating extravaganza with Mickey, Aidan is now pretty good at peeing in the toilet, Madisyn is mastering the monkey bars with her gymnastic motto ‘I can do hard thing’ and Mike is having a conference with Japan! As for some questions that have been asked… Yes, I don need to stay on your health insurance if that is at all possible because even though I am covered by the NHS (National Health Service) over here if something really serious were to happen they would fly me back to the US to have the surgery done there. No, I have not gained the English accent and trust me you don’t want me to come back speaking with a Manquerian accent (it doesn’t sound anything like the accent in all the movies). Yes, I did, and still do with some, have the hardest time understanding what the poo some people are saying! Phew, overall you seem to be doing McKennaly fine!

Well, I apologize but this E-mail will have to be pretty short, my companion Elder Soule has officially died and today he is going to the mission home and from there back to Alaska! But from his ashes has arisen the next generation, for I have been called to be a trainer! I don’t know what his name is or where he is from but I will learn all of that today. Truly this work is amazing, even the very structure that the Lord has laid down for missionary work touches my heart, the way that missionaries come and go… I couldn’t think of a better way to do it! This week has been amazing and I wish that I could slam all of my memories onto the computer keyboard and have them materialize into words that could describe the feelings and experiences that I have had, but alas I can not. This much I can share, that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is so real, and that it can bring not only forgiveness of sin but can be a comfort in all trials of our lives. Elder Soule and I have an investigator by the name of Folosan from Nigeria and last Saturday she had a refrigerator fall on top of her damaging her shoulder and her neck. Just looking at her I could see the excruciating pain that she was in as she sat stiff in her chair bandages covering her wounds, and yet the spirit was strong as we shared with her that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ she could receive comfort in any trial… as we read through Alma 7:11 the spirit bore witness to our spirits that the Jesus Christ truly did go forth suffering for our pains, afflictions, and temptations. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can find peace in any situation for he has already faced it and conquered it. He has already taken that burden upon himself and he was able to carry it. My beloved family, never allow yourselves to forget what has been done for you and what blessings are waiting for you, let us all rely on the matchless love and power of our Savior and I know as we do our burdens will become light! I love you all so much and pray for you continually.

Elder McKenna

I Love You Guys

Well, I must apologize for scaring everyone, so to clarify mom and dad are not moving to California (thank goodness) and mom was just mentioning a story about when her and Dad moved, many years ago, but I have never heard that story in my life (which is funny because mom and dad would always say the same story over and over I figured they had ran out) so that wonderful, beautiful home I remember so vividly in my mind is still waiting for me when I get back… well, at least for the moment :). It brings me great comfort to know that nothing has happened to the Texas folks and I have to admit that I think I should put something crazy in every E-mail because I got more E-mails this week then I have had for a few months now :). Overall though, things back home seem to be going amazing… Trent and the gang are enjoying some radical moments as Tatum enters into a surfing competition and Afton is ready at any moment to deliver a famous ‘one two kazoo punch’ (a deadly hit to the ‘privates’). The St. George gang
are just enjoying some fun football matches and seem to be doing really great (as always). The *&^’#!% family (that’s Timette’s last name :) by the way) is doing fantastic as they continue to look into were there going to move to and if they can make it happen (I personally feel that they should move to Hong Kong because a Disneyland adventure is only 85$). Ma and Pa seem to be doing great as Dad continues to teach seminary and (as he says) ‘look good at work’ and mom seems to be getting much better on the computer! In answer to some questions that were given in some E-mails… yes, it is raining today (it rains everyday)… no, I don’t get to watch any Man U or Man city football matches :(… yes, England is the most green and lush place that I have ever been to, it truly is an awe inspiring country.

Many P-days have passed and many more are to come but I always do and always will enjoy this opportunity that I have to sit down and ponder on what has occurred this week, and as always I am filled with awe and love as I recognize and remember the miracles that Lord has allowed me to be a part of. Something that I wish to share with you is the joy that I have when I meet someone who is truly ready to hear the Gospel. This week I had the opportunity to teach a man by the name of Eric from Cameroon, he is a man of great faith and truly prepared to hear the message of the restoration. As my companion and I shared with him the account of Joseph Smith and the wonder that is the Book of Mormon I could literally see in his eyes the wonderful understanding and joy that the Spirit brings. As we bore our testimonies that Joseph truly was a prophet of the Lord and that the Book of Mormon is scripture held in reserve for our day to act as another witness, along with the bible, that Jesus truly is the Christ the son of God; the spirit was so powerful. God really does love his children I can feel his love everyday for them. And as someone who is in darkness and doesn’t have the Gospel only because they know not were to find it, finds it… there is always something so powerful; it’s as if their very soul is shouting that this is true! I love this work and I love you all so much, I am so thankful for your support
and I keep you in my prayers always…

Elder McKenna

P.S. I can't believe what happend to Elizabeth! she was mugged!

Praise be to God for His Wonderful Plan!

WHOA! First off I must have missed a huge memo or maybe I just misunderstood a letter that I received from mom! It reads… “Just in case you haven't heard the story, dad and I sold our house and moved to California (with two children--not you, of course) in just two weeks.” Have you guys moved to California! WHAT IS GOING ON! I’m pretty sure that was just a mistake and you guys are going to Disneyland a lot or something, but please let me know via next E-mail! Anyways… Things seem to be going well back home as everyone is making plans for a fun filled Labour Day, which is funny because I use to always think America had so many holidays that were basically just excuses to not have to work (like Labour day) but England blows America out of the water! I can’t believe how many Bank Holidays there are over here (it’s practically every month)! The Zurfluehs are going to Fish Lake to fish, which I think is the perfect name for a lake that you fish in :). Jenni has a new hair style, Chynna is getting into good ol’ football again, Irelynn is busting out some sweet cheer moves, and Kai is now one of the coolest first graders in Henderson NV! All seem to be doing great and most important of all Charlie de Chinchilla is still alive and is living life to the max! Mom is beginning to have some computer malfunctions as the hard drive crashes and the unexpecting innocent must suffer from her computer phobia! (Just kidding… everyone expects it :P) So I hope like good brothers and sisters, sons and daughters you’re helping her to overcome it with Patience and longsuffering… Something that I have heard about that I must know is how the Texas people are doing… I’ve heard some scary things about a hurricane heading that way and I want to know if everything is all right… So please let me know via next E-mail if I now live in California and if Trent and Chelsey are still alive, you know, just the little things!

Things over on this side of the pond are going extremely well! The Lord is just pouring out his spirit upon these people and I know that as Elder Soule and I pray as a companionship, and personally, the Lord is hearing our cries and helping us to find those humble seekers of happiness. The people in this area really have a great reverence and faith in God (seeing as most of them are from Africa) and it fills my soul with joy to see so many of my brothers and sisters embrace and come to a greater understanding of what the truth really is and the outstanding joy and happiness that it can bring into their lives! I wish to share with you all an experience that I had today that was a mixture of so many emotions… A woman by the name of Mercy (who was an investigator that Elder Soule had in a previous area) died recently at the young age of 27 and her funeral was held today. This was the first funeral that I have ever attended and as I watched the different people that were there I could tell who was a member and who was not… Those who were members, who had a knowledge and testimony of the Plan of Salvation, showed signs of remorse but their grief was turned quickly into happiness as a wonderful realization came upon them, that even though Mercy has left this life they will have the chance to see here again, and even though her and her husband may be separated for a season they shall have the opportunity to be united for all eternity! But the faces of those who had no understanding of these things, those people who didn’t know about our Father’s marvellous plan were filled with unquenchable sorrow as they believed that they were never going to see their beloved friend again0 How grateful I am to have this Gospel in my life, for I know that after this life there is a next, I know that through our Savior Jesus Christ we shall all live again, and as we sang the hymn ‘I know that my redeemer lives’ I couldn’t help but feel a sense of desperation to let my brothers and sisters know that even though Death may seem like the end of life it is but another step in a plan created by our Father in Heaven! How wonderful this Gospel is! How great is our Savior Jesus Christ! For as in Adam all die… even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Let us never forget what are purpose is, let us never forget that God who gave us life or in our Savior who has conquered the grave and makes the way possible for all of us to live again.

‘For I know that my redeemer lives, what comfort this sweet sentence gives’

You are always in my prayers…
Elder McKenna