Hello,
Hiya family! How incredible it is to see my two brothers holding their brand new babies. It was a complete realization that life does not end... and there is sooo much more to experience. I could not even begin to imagine that there is life after mission. I was talking to one of my Zone Leaders Elder Brown on Friday and he made an interesting point. He said that all his life... everything has been pointing towards his mission. School, marriage, and occupation were things that were all going to be taken care of after the mission. I love the confidence that comes from knowing that if I repent daily and do all the little things I know I am supposed to do... that I will be guided by the Holy Ghost and everything is going to be okay. I will be happy and there is and will always be hope through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Phew... don't have to worry now.
This past week to be honest has been really difficult for me. I was feeling pretty goood after leaving Grays... but I took too much credit... it went to my head and the pride cycle began to be in place. This week was the humbling... realizing that everything I receive or can do comes from my Father week. I am very grateful for my Heavenly Father though for doing it. I see so many great examples around me right now of humility and I think this week I have gained a greater appreciation for it. My pride is sooooo deep. Noone else can probably see it... but it comes life a thief and can ruin everything. We read in the Book of Mormon that it was the downfall of the Nephites. As I was praying about it. I received a tad bit of revelation on the subject. I had been focusing more on other study tools... like the New Testament or Preach My Gospel... and my reading of the Book of Mormon has not been as diligent. The best way to protect against pride is reading the Book of Mormon. The whole Book documents thousands of people being destroyed all because of the root sin of Pride. I hate it. I hate pride. I want to give all the credit to God all the time... I want to think of others more than myself. I want to be able to learn and grow from others and never put myself above someone else. I want to be able to receive compliments and direct them toward my Heavenly Father... and never breath them inside. There are sooooo many things I need to improve. Sorry for ranting on and on. You most likely don't want to hear things like that.
Christmas and New Years were brilliant. The ward really took care of us... it was a tad weird being in a place only three weeks and then barging everyone's parties. The work was hindered a tad... but I feel as well that it was bolstered. Asking people why they celebrate Christmas... got loads of confused looks. They have nooo idea...I believe presents was the #1 answer.
The past two weeks have been filled with finding... and some teaching. We are lacking the amount of investigators that I would want to have... but that is just fine because the Lord will provide.
Tony, who was baptised on Christmas Eve, is doing just fine. He can really recognize the spirit and it is wonderful. I loving helping recent converts and investigators become spiritually self reliant... just like with finances. How great it is when they can have problems... but then find their own answers through prayer and study. It is sooo sad when people chose to go against truth and the straight and narrow way. Living the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ is not easy... in fact it is one of the most difficult things in life to dooo... but in the end... it is the only true course. Day by day is how I have to live... doing small things daily... allows us to do big things. We have to learn to have enough faith to step into the darkness though. I love the excitement that the gospel brings... I love the progression and life long pursuit that it gives us. I love that it is more than just a game or mear entertainment. I love that life is eternal... I love that families are eternal... I love that my family is brilliant.
Our attitude determines our altitude. The more hope we have... that higher we go.
I love you more than drowning in sour skittles.
I totally forgot to tell you..........
last night we were tracking and there were houses on the left and a field with horses on the right. We called them over and we started feeding them grass!!! So cool. I felt like I was back home... except the fence was a nasty brown. And I love my companion. He is helping me sooo much. His faith is incredible and he teaches me daily.
Monday, January 9, 2012
January 3, 2012
Hiya mum,
Yesterday we went into London for a meeting and I haven't had any time to pop round a computer. We just stopped by the library for a bit. I wanted you to know that I am not dead. I love you and might get some more time to email laters.
love,
Elder Krebs
Yesterday we went into London for a meeting and I haven't had any time to pop round a computer. We just stopped by the library for a bit. I wanted you to know that I am not dead. I love you and might get some more time to email laters.
love,
Elder Krebs
December 26, 2011
Happy Boxing Day from Northampton!
This day has been the most weird day ever. I feel worthless and empty. I haven't been able to talk to a single person about the Gospel and I do not like it. We watched three movies today and it was a nice break... but I feel like I wasted sooo much time. The whole zone was together at the Senior Couples house and we had food, movies... and sour skittles (+hot tamales). We watched... Tangled... Megamind... and Madagascar Two. By the end I felt terrible and now I just want to go back to work. It will take a little time to become focused though... because talking with all of you was absolutely, and fantastically brilliant. It was 100x better than I thought it was going to be. For some reason I was worried that I wasn't going to like it. I realized now why I tried to forget about you all... because you are amazing and I would just want to talk with you forever. It was for sure the highlight of my holiday to talk with the whole family. I love you all very much... and only just 24 hours ago... I noticed how much I really do miss you. Mom sent me a email this week that pretty much wrapped up how I felt... "I feel so blessed. You serving an honorable mission, Charles and Emily blessing Jackson, Laura expecting, Corinda due any day (they might induce her on Tuesday), Dad gave a beautiful talk in church today, and I could go on and on. Living the gospel is really the only way to real happiness. SO blessed!!" (I put it in italics because it is harder to read... and mum's handwriting is hard for me to read).
The restored gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ are the only way to receive eternal happiness. The way to God is through Jesus Christ. It was great to be able to focus more on Him and His birth this season. I learned sooo many things and received dozens and dozens of confirmations from the spirit that this is good... and right. Christ gave us the two great commandments... and the second one to fulfill the first was to love others as thyself. Equal. At this time around the world... everyone is fulfilling this commandment... loving other people just as much as they love themselves. No wonder we all feel the spirit so strong... the light of Christ is coming out in all of us. The Christmas Spirit is not an accident or a free gift... it is a direct result of pure happiness because we are all honouring the commandment to love one another. (John 13:34, Mosiah 2:41)
People are so happy because they are giving of themselves. A candle that lights another... loses no light itself. The more we give this next year... the happier we will be. And oh how many ways there are to give... providing for a family, serving a mission, loving your lonely single child at home, and being an example of the believers to all.
Hope all is well in the wonderful land of America. "And Elder said unto him: Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die." (Alma 17:23) I am going to try to focus as hard as I can until they tell me to go home and fulfill a different mission and find a permanent companion.
You can rest assured that I will be thinking about you this week.
Love,
Elder Krebs
P.s. I'll get back to you on housing. I think I'm going to be rooming with a friend on a mission in Peru... I emailed him... so I'll give you the details when I can.
This day has been the most weird day ever. I feel worthless and empty. I haven't been able to talk to a single person about the Gospel and I do not like it. We watched three movies today and it was a nice break... but I feel like I wasted sooo much time. The whole zone was together at the Senior Couples house and we had food, movies... and sour skittles (+hot tamales). We watched... Tangled... Megamind... and Madagascar Two. By the end I felt terrible and now I just want to go back to work. It will take a little time to become focused though... because talking with all of you was absolutely, and fantastically brilliant. It was 100x better than I thought it was going to be. For some reason I was worried that I wasn't going to like it. I realized now why I tried to forget about you all... because you are amazing and I would just want to talk with you forever. It was for sure the highlight of my holiday to talk with the whole family. I love you all very much... and only just 24 hours ago... I noticed how much I really do miss you. Mom sent me a email this week that pretty much wrapped up how I felt... "I feel so blessed. You serving an honorable mission, Charles and Emily blessing Jackson, Laura expecting, Corinda due any day (they might induce her on Tuesday), Dad gave a beautiful talk in church today, and I could go on and on. Living the gospel is really the only way to real happiness. SO blessed!!" (I put it in italics because it is harder to read... and mum's handwriting is hard for me to read).
The restored gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ are the only way to receive eternal happiness. The way to God is through Jesus Christ. It was great to be able to focus more on Him and His birth this season. I learned sooo many things and received dozens and dozens of confirmations from the spirit that this is good... and right. Christ gave us the two great commandments... and the second one to fulfill the first was to love others as thyself. Equal. At this time around the world... everyone is fulfilling this commandment... loving other people just as much as they love themselves. No wonder we all feel the spirit so strong... the light of Christ is coming out in all of us. The Christmas Spirit is not an accident or a free gift... it is a direct result of pure happiness because we are all honouring the commandment to love one another. (John 13:34, Mosiah 2:41)
People are so happy because they are giving of themselves. A candle that lights another... loses no light itself. The more we give this next year... the happier we will be. And oh how many ways there are to give... providing for a family, serving a mission, loving your lonely single child at home, and being an example of the believers to all.
Hope all is well in the wonderful land of America. "And Elder said unto him: Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die." (Alma 17:23) I am going to try to focus as hard as I can until they tell me to go home and fulfill a different mission and find a permanent companion.
You can rest assured that I will be thinking about you this week.
Love,
Elder Krebs
P.s. I'll get back to you on housing. I think I'm going to be rooming with a friend on a mission in Peru... I emailed him... so I'll give you the details when I can.
From a Bishop of Elder Krebs
From: Paul Brooks
To: Donnia Krebs
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 1:54 AM
Subject: Re: Elder John Krebs
Excellent nice to meet you.
I said to Elder Krebs the evening he left that he has honestly been the best missionary I have ever seen. My mother said the same thing to him a few months back. He is doing so well and taught me lots of things as a Bishop
You have a great son and he is doing excellent works over here in England. We hope to see him again
Paul
To: Donnia Krebs
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 1:54 AM
Subject: Re: Elder John Krebs
Excellent nice to meet you.
I said to Elder Krebs the evening he left that he has honestly been the best missionary I have ever seen. My mother said the same thing to him a few months back. He is doing so well and taught me lots of things as a Bishop
You have a great son and he is doing excellent works over here in England. We hope to see him again
Paul
December 13, 2011
Hi loverly family,
I absolutely love my new area and my new companion. He is fantastic and humble, and wants to work hard. I can't wait for all the lessons that await for me to learn. I really feel like I am in a breaking point in my mission. If I put in a little bit more effort... than things are just going to explode. The thing I am constantly trying to overcome is the silly natural man. It is rough having to do things you know you should do, and are supposed to do.... but not necessarily wanting to do them. I want to master myself. Allow my will to be swallowed up in the will of my Heavenly Father. I know it will be a life long quest... but this mission is the best place to put my feet on the right ground and in the right direction for a whole life of growth. I have felt the spirit stronger in the passed month than ever before. I am beginning to see how if I put my trust in my Heavenly Father and if I keep myself clean than I will always have the spirit to be with me. I cannot wait for the day when I'm perfect. Oh how far away it is. We'll all get there. I know we can, because Christ has died for us.
The area is spread out... we have a car... but... maybe not for long. Elder Lingam's previous companion went over 700 miles on the alloted miles last month and now we have to park the car for a week :( and President told us to be very careful because the sisters in the Zone could easily use our car if we abuse it. It is green... beautiful and fall. A good mix of people. Town centre is small... but effective. The ward is missionary minded and our ward mission leader is spot on.
Our investigators include a man named John... he is great. We are working with him and he wants to be baptised soon.
Tony and CheChe are a great couple with two children from Zambia. Cheche was very excited at first but now is not joining our lessons. Tony is preparing to be baptised on the 24 of December. How happy we are for him... and we are striving to have his wife join him.
We have others... but not sure really how interested they are at the moment. We'll see... I've only been here for six days. Seems like I've been here forever.
On last Saturday we drove to Buckingham... and there happened to be a Parade in the town. It was like a jackpot. The whole town in one spot.... so we went around and tried to give Joy to the World DVDs. Unfortunately... not many people wanted them. We gave a couple away though. We stopped by a referral and have an appointment this Saturday with him. He is a doctor and really open to learn and read. I like him a lot.
Yesterday we left around 9am to go to Kettering for a Zone Meeting. We planned to arrive at 9:45... but we arrived at 2:00. Why you might ask? Well... some cars here in England you fill up with Diesel fuel... not unleaded petrol. I don't know why... it is silly. Well... our car is a diesel car... and we put about £60 of unleaded fuel in the tank. BIG CHALLENGE. About 1:00 a fuel tech arrived and flushed all the fuel out and cleaned the tank... and then we were back on the road. Not a very great way to start the day... but while we were waiting at the Tesco... the four of us bought cheese and crackers and ate a feast in the car.
If we fill up with the fuel of Satan... our car will not go anywhere... but luckily we can be cleansed through the atonement of Christ and put in the right fuel to get us to heaven. I want all the right fuel. Lesson learned.
I love you.... running low on time. We gotta work work work. No satisfactory substitute.
Love,
Elder Krebs
I absolutely love my new area and my new companion. He is fantastic and humble, and wants to work hard. I can't wait for all the lessons that await for me to learn. I really feel like I am in a breaking point in my mission. If I put in a little bit more effort... than things are just going to explode. The thing I am constantly trying to overcome is the silly natural man. It is rough having to do things you know you should do, and are supposed to do.... but not necessarily wanting to do them. I want to master myself. Allow my will to be swallowed up in the will of my Heavenly Father. I know it will be a life long quest... but this mission is the best place to put my feet on the right ground and in the right direction for a whole life of growth. I have felt the spirit stronger in the passed month than ever before. I am beginning to see how if I put my trust in my Heavenly Father and if I keep myself clean than I will always have the spirit to be with me. I cannot wait for the day when I'm perfect. Oh how far away it is. We'll all get there. I know we can, because Christ has died for us.
The area is spread out... we have a car... but... maybe not for long. Elder Lingam's previous companion went over 700 miles on the alloted miles last month and now we have to park the car for a week :( and President told us to be very careful because the sisters in the Zone could easily use our car if we abuse it. It is green... beautiful and fall. A good mix of people. Town centre is small... but effective. The ward is missionary minded and our ward mission leader is spot on.
Our investigators include a man named John... he is great. We are working with him and he wants to be baptised soon.
Tony and CheChe are a great couple with two children from Zambia. Cheche was very excited at first but now is not joining our lessons. Tony is preparing to be baptised on the 24 of December. How happy we are for him... and we are striving to have his wife join him.
We have others... but not sure really how interested they are at the moment. We'll see... I've only been here for six days. Seems like I've been here forever.
On last Saturday we drove to Buckingham... and there happened to be a Parade in the town. It was like a jackpot. The whole town in one spot.... so we went around and tried to give Joy to the World DVDs. Unfortunately... not many people wanted them. We gave a couple away though. We stopped by a referral and have an appointment this Saturday with him. He is a doctor and really open to learn and read. I like him a lot.
Yesterday we left around 9am to go to Kettering for a Zone Meeting. We planned to arrive at 9:45... but we arrived at 2:00. Why you might ask? Well... some cars here in England you fill up with Diesel fuel... not unleaded petrol. I don't know why... it is silly. Well... our car is a diesel car... and we put about £60 of unleaded fuel in the tank. BIG CHALLENGE. About 1:00 a fuel tech arrived and flushed all the fuel out and cleaned the tank... and then we were back on the road. Not a very great way to start the day... but while we were waiting at the Tesco... the four of us bought cheese and crackers and ate a feast in the car.
If we fill up with the fuel of Satan... our car will not go anywhere... but luckily we can be cleansed through the atonement of Christ and put in the right fuel to get us to heaven. I want all the right fuel. Lesson learned.
I love you.... running low on time. We gotta work work work. No satisfactory substitute.
Love,
Elder Krebs
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