Week 7--Kenosha, Wisconsin

Hello hello hello!!

Just finished our first week in Wisconsin. Ah, it's been so great. This past week has been the best week of my life. I'll do a quick recap.

The area I'm in is called Kenosha. It's honestly such a cool place. Lots of cool people.

My companions are great. I'm in a trio once again, with Elder Cox and Elder Jeppson. Elder Cox is from Greeley, CO. I have some friends who live around there so that's cool. He actually went on some dates with an older sister of my BYU roommate. Small world :) He's been out for 20 months now, and he's just about finished! He's a great example and a powerful teacher. Elder Jeppson is from South Jordan, Utah. He's been out for 11 months, so almost one year! Our trio is cool, we have one Elder who is almost done, one who is halfway, and one who is just starting. We work well together.

We're pretty tight with two other Elders in our district: Elder Evans and Elder Flores-Pinera. They're rad. They come over pretty much every night.

Elder Cox and Elder Jeppson are the Zone Leaders. They told me that they'll be training me on how to be a missionary, but also use me in Zone Trainings and stuff. It's humbling that they're so kind to me even though I'm so new and have really no clue what to do. Every time that Elders Cox and Jeppson have to do a Zone Leader meeting, I just get extra time to do Language Study so it really works out well.

Elder Evans is the district leader. Our district is pretty tight. The sisters seem cool. The Elders are all really great.

I had some great experiences this past week. We've had a baptism! Her name is Brooke and she is 14. Her baptism was on Saturday. Her family is great. They've all been recently baptized, and we're excited to continue to work with them to progress the work.

The ward in Kenosha is really great. Everyone seems very nice, and they're all pretty excited about missionary work. The work is hastening in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It's so great to be able to be a full-time part of it. I met a lady who is from Pasco and her daughter is actually going to go and live there for the summer which was cool.

Going to Wisconsin, I really had the feeling that I would be able to use the Tagalog that I learned in the MTC. Well- buckle up buttercup I've got a story. I think it was Thursday or Friday we had a dinner appointment with a couple, and the Mom was Filipino!! I was able to speak Tagalog with her. At church on Sunday, I met another Filipino family and I was able to speak Tagalog to them as well. Pagpapala sila. They are a blessing. They told me that they are going to help me learn Tagalog while I'm out here. Who would of thought that their would be Tagalog speakers in Wisconsin!! Certainly not me. But, there is a reason for everything. Meeting these Filipinos is a great drive for me to continue learning the language.

Our big push in missionary work is to work with members. That's what we're focusing on right now. The Filipino that we had dinner with, Sister Forsburg, has some Filipino friends who have not received the gospel. There might be a chance that I can teach and testify in Tagalog.

I was asked to give a talk on Sunday about living prophets. President Russel M. Nelson just gave a devotional about the greatest work on the Earth right now. Gathering Israel. I was able to explain that this is modern day revelation and that we can be a part of this great work by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After the meeting, one member approached me and told me that her son had rejected the church and had fallen away. But recently, he has expressed that he wants to come back. She felt inspired to share him with us. We receive more and more referrals each day. This ward has openly embraced the prophets call to do missionary work- and it's inspiring.

The other day we met a man named Thomas. He was walking on the sidewalk with a limp. He explained to us that he hurt his leg at work, and that he really needed to get back so that he could provide for his family. We explained to him that one thing that we do in Christ's church is minister and give Priesthood blessings. He told us that we could come by on Sunday night to give him one.

On Sunday, I was on an exchange with Elder Evans and Elder Flores (Elder Cox and Elder Jeppson had a Zone Leader meeting in Milwaukee.). We stopped by Thomas's home to give his a blessing. Unfortunately, he wasn't home. But, we got to meet his sweet wife Leslie. I explained a little about the ordinance of blessings and a little more on the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is really interested, and asked us to return on Wednesday night so that we could teach her, her husband Thomas, and the whole family.

I love being a representative of Jesus Christ. It fills me with the greatest joy that I have ever felt. I'm so excited to continue this great work and to be a full-time part of the most important work on the Earth right now. I testify that God loves us. He knows each of us.

Love you all, have an extraordinary week.

Elder Childers