Hello Family and Friends,
Well, today has been another interesting week for the Hyde Park Area. We have a new companion :) Elder Samueli! How fun it is to be the closest Elders to the mission home. It is that reason why there is never a dull moment. Any extra Elders and they get put with us! I do like threesomes though... they allow you to work much more effectively. You can do double the work. He lives in a place called Hayes... which is west London, and in our mission. He has already be out on his mission for a year in Kiev, Ukraine. He came home for a year and now is going back to a different mission in Ukraine. His passport is not quite ready yet and therefore he is hanging out in our mission for a bit and then rolling on to Ukraine. He is originally from Armenia, but grew up in London. I love Armenians and he is not exception. They are hard working people with big hearts. His humour is very English... i.e. dry and sarcastic. He just makes me chuckle. He could be gone next week... or in two weeks or in a month. We do not know. He is sleeping on a mattress on the floor and living out of his suitcases... so its not the best hospitality.. but the best we could manage.
This week was also filled with cleaning out a flat here in London because the lease was up. We spent a lot of time clearing and cleaning. I have never lived there... but Elder Zarian has been sick this week and therefore I got to do most of the dirty work :) I enjoy it though. I have found that service always makes you feel better. When I am frustrated with anyone or anything... I find ways to serve them. As I sometimes force myself to serve... I can have my heart expanded and my love will increase for the situation or person. We had interviews with President this week as well (I passed... phew)! It was my favourite interview yet!!! I wish we could have them every transfer like they used to do it... but now we only have them quarterly. Tear.
This week I was able to really share some of my feelings with President and got to know him quite well. I drilled him and it helped me understand some doctrinal questions I had. Afterwards... I got to talk to his wife while my companion Elder Zarian was being interviewed. I asked her about how President and her met... and she shared with my that it was her cookies that she made for him that sealed the deal. It reminded me of an Apple Pie that played such a crucial role in my parents relationship :) I think it was an apple right? I love Sister Patch. She has great energy and is on top of things. I love the way President and her interact. President Patch is an inspired man of God. He love numbers and equating everything to a numerical value to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency. Slowly but surely this mission is becoming more and more diligent and productive. I can see the inspiration that he receives help the mission. He firmly believes that we can baptize once a month in every area. I believe it because he believes it. I want to baptize every month. I want to help people receive this wonderful message so that they can be happy and hopeful in this dreary world. I want to baptize thousand... but how can I?
I think a scripture in Alma 26:22 clarifies it for us. "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." That is pretty plain and simple. I know that if it be the Lord's will... we CAN baptize thousands. Why not? Why would people not want this brilliant and perfect message in their life? To bless them and their posterity forever? And why on earth would we not want to be a part of it? Put your shoulder to the wheel... push along. We live in a exciting world... with gadgets and media... but nothing is more exciting than to see someone we love... find the gospel of Jesus Christ. No iPad can compare... no tournament can compete. I am happy from my head to my toes doing the Lord's work daily. I feel that I have the right to the Holy Ghost to be my guardian and scepter of truth as I do His work. He promises to be on our left and right as we share this great message. I know that Joseph Smith saw two personages. Not one... Two. I know that they did speak to him. I know Joseph Smith was a mouthpiece to bring opportunities for Eternal Life to all men. The Book of Mormon is more than a book. It is a source of guidance and peace. I know this with all my heart. I know that God gives us comfort through the Holy Ghost. I know that Jesus Christ forgives us of our sins as we have a broken heart and contrite spirit. Let us sacrifice or put our sins on the alter and have no more desire to do evil, but strengthen the desire to do good continually.
I want to share an experience I had with a new investigator named Horsar from Iran. We were teaching him that God was there and gives us feelings of peace and comfort through the Holy Ghost. I knew that this was true... but I couldn't remember a time when I needed comfort and received it. I remembered small instances of relief and peace. As the lesson was growing to a close... I asked Horsar if he felt the Holy Ghost right now. It was a scary question for me to ask, because what if he didn't? As I asked it... I knew that I had felt to Holy Ghost in the lesson, and if he were paying attention than he felt it as well. I was still doubting as I asked it... but I had faith... that's why I asked it. He paused for a second or two and said... yes. "Its something I've never felt before... it is like a new sense. I want to feel it and experience it more" WOW! My heart was full of love for the acceptance to the Holy Ghost that Horsar had enabled. He had his mind open enough to feel the Holy Ghost and then recognize it. I loved that he explained it like a sense. What a great way to explain it. Something that can be felt and improved as we have more experiences. Line upon line, here a little, there a little.
I am loving being independent on my mission. I am learning how to cook and clean and be a respectful person in society. I cook a mean pasta with a homemade meatballs and sauce. Curry and Mexican food are great favourites to cook as well. On Sunday morning, one of the AP's was making a tie, I was sowing on buttons and the other was ironing, while my companion cooked breakfast. I found it quite entertaining that four 20 year old boys were doing that when the majority of 20 year old boys were hung over from Saturday night. How lovely the gospel is and what light and independence it brings. So many great blessings are being poured out upon me as I serve and I am very grateful for them. I can feel the power of Heaven as I faithfully do what my Father wants me to do. No unhallowed hand can stop me from doing this work.
I love you more than the absolutely BEAUTIFUL 22 degree weather we've been having :)
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Elder John William Krebs
England London Mission
64-68 Princes Gate
Exhibition Road
London, SW7 2PA
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