Saturday, February 25, 2012

February 20, 2012

Good Afternoon (Morning),

What a beautiful day we are having in England. Sunny and slightly warm. I've had a nap today and we went to Hemel Hampsted and my companion bought a External Hard-Drive. We ate at Burger King and now I feel sick. I've lost a little weight... but I haven't been very smart the past week and a half. My eating habits have changed. I couldn't for the life of me eat sugar coated nothings in the morning. They give me an instant headache. I don't really eat big portions. The only problem is that ALL members think that Missionaries eat forever and ever. This week we had a meal with a lady from Gambia. She told us that the oil she used was a type of medicine in Gambia and was really good for cleaning out your system. The food was a stew with lamb over rice. That night my stomach was sooo very very upset. She even called the next day and asked us if we were okay.

We had an accident with our car. Well... I wasn't driving because of a work over. So it wasn't my fault. I haven't gotten any speeding tickets either... which is a miracle because there are sneaky speed cameras every where in England. I guess it is probably because I never speed. When I am driving through a neighborhood... I always hear my wonderful mothers high pitch scream.... "If you hit a child... you will never forgive yourself... slow down john william." Oh how I miss it. We had a lot of ice on the roads and my companion hit a kurb and popped the tyre and bent the wheel. We took it to the car dealership after we put the spare on and he was looking at a different tyre to get the right measurements. We told him that the popped tyre was in the boot of the car. He replied "I know... but this one has a nail in it". Oh bother. We ended up getting two new tyres and one wheel. We had to buy the wheel from the dealer... but the Church has a membership with a place called Kwik Fix. We went there to ask if they could do the work for us. We asked if we needed an appointment and Perry said "naw... as long as you have money your fine". Needless to say it was a very funny experience for Elder Dongen and I.

Our investigators are doing great. Andy is progressing well. Still getting used to some of the detailed doctrine of the Church. He does not have a baptismal date at the moment. Sandy moved her baptismal date back to the 10th of March, and Ellen (17) is planning to be baptized on the 10th as well. That is next transfer because moves are next week. That means I'll be emailing on Tuesday. Ian is not married yet, but has been living with his partner for about 20 years. We hope to have a wedding soon. Ian is really really solid. We will be meeting him in about three mins. We are teaching the second half of The Plan of Salvation. No baptisms will happen for us this transfer... but there are some great great investigators progressing here right now. I know they will go on to be great assets to the Watford Ward.

I don't know if I will be staying in Watford or leaving next week. If is really up in the air. We shall see.

Will you get to be a part of the Olympics at all?
I really have no idea at the moment. The new mission president will come just as the Olympics start. I assume the bilingual missionaries will be helping. There are tons of people that have volunteered... and so I do not know. I go home on a Thursday and the Olympics end on the following Sunday. Who knows what will happen.

Have you been to Portabella Road?
Yes. Very cool. I went on a night with loads of fireworks and outside street parties. Can't remember why... I think it was the Royal Wedding weekend. Loads of streets just closed and there were parties.

Abbey Road?
Yes. A family in the Hyde Park ward lives right next to it. You can see Abbey road from their apartment. Fancy. There were a lot of asian people taking pictures. We street contacted a man by the crosswalk as well.

What is your favorite event to write down in your calendar each week?
This week is moves callllllssss... and Zone Conference. Two very exciting events in one week. I love district meetings as well. We go to both of the DM in our Zone. I love meetings with Ian as well. He is very open and has great questions. People like him are very fun to teach. I love 10:30 as well. I am ohhh so tired these days.


We just taught Ian! It went great. I love him.

Love you all.

Love,
Elder Krebs

February 20, 2012

Hiya Momma,
We just got this email from our Mission President. Looks exciting. The poor mission president will be in for a wild ride. He comes to England in July and then will have to take over in a city that will be twice the size because of the Olympics. It will be crazzzzy.

Love,
Elder Krebs

P.s. Will write more in a couple of hours.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <2014904-prs@ldschurch.org>
Date: Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Subject: New Mission President
To: john.krebs@myldsmail.net


Dear Elders and Sisters,


We are pleased to announce that President David Jordan and his wife Holly have been called as the new mission president to begin serving in July. President Jordan is a lawyer, and is currently serving as a stake president.


We spoke with the Jordans on Saturday and they are very excited to serve in this mission. As a young missionary President Jordan served in Brazil and was surprised and grateful to be called to serve in the best mission in the world.


We have several mutual friends and had met several years ago. President and Sister Jordan are wonderful saints and will be great to serve with. As soon as their picture and profile appear in the Church news we will forward the article to you.


With much love,

President and Sister Patch

Pictures

This is our cabin, flat, barn. It snowed last Sunday and our church was cancelled.


we walked like four miles... into town. our car was stuck. oops.

February 13, 2012

Hiya Mum,

This week has been a great great week. I feel like I say that every week... but it is true. I love being a missionary and there is nothing else that I would ever do. I was talking with Sister Richel about it today. In the real world... if you are wasting your time and your get frustrated it is so much worse than on a mission. Take video games for an example. If you are playing video games and you are losing... and frustrated it is soooo dumb. You are not getting closer to your Heavenly Father and you are losing. In missionary work... if no one is listening to you and all your investigators drop you... and you are frustrated and tired. At least you are bringing salvation to your own soul. Right? "For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;". Ring any bells? It is such a blessing to know that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. The real world is ever so terrible here in London. It is right in your face and almost impossible to miss. It really makes me hate the world. It is getting increasingly difficult to escape the sin and heathen as our investigator Andy would call them. I am scared to go home... and even more scared to raise children. If training on a mission is anything like raising children... then I am ever so scared. It is not easy. Not at all. If it wasn't the first commandment... I would think about not having them. Especially when they whine and complain and interrupt the spirit in lessons. But oh how we love them as well. They are submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon them. I guess I'll have kids.

I got to find a final and permanent companion first. Life is very interesting on a mission. I am constantly in a eternal perspective mode. When you are in this mode... things that are temporary seem not as important. Like someone yelling at you, or traffic. It gives you a little more patience. A quote I read recently broke the baptismal convenants down into obedience and service. That is what it is all about. Being smart and brave enough to be obedient and then loving enough to serve. I can see on my mission how when I am not as diligent one day in my studies... or if we have to skip studies to travel for a conference or meeting... my day, power and testimony are more tired. If we do not watch constantly... then Satan slips in... especially when everyone is telling you that Joseph Smith isn't a Prophet and the Book of Mormon is just copied from the Bible. You have got to put the armour of protection on.
This week was great. I stopped a man in the Watford town centre. He first walked past me... and then came back and asked if I was Mormon. I responded yes. He then said... "You know the worst thing the Mormons ever did?". In my mind I was thinking... here we go... what did we do now. His next words really surprised me... "The worst thing you ever did was getting rid of celestial polygamized marriage". I was sooo confused. He then continued to educate me on how polygamy is really good and needed in this world. I then had to explain why we practice monogamy. It was a strange conversation.

In Wembly... two asian girls were taking a picture next to an Olympic sign. I asked if they both wanted to be in the picture... and then giggle and then said yes. I was just about to take the picture... but before I asked... where are you from? They said Japan. I then racked my brain and counted to three in Japanese. As soon as I finished taking the picture of them with their peace signs... then just went crazy and started speaking to me in Japanese. I tried to assure them that the only other thing I knew how to say was... "eat the doggy mess" and "domo arigatō mr roboto". Oh yeah.. and goyza. It was just really great. They were just so happy. On Saturday night I met a recent convert from China named Jane and she was teaching me Mandarin. It is one of my top languages to learn. I really hope one day I can travel to many places to learn languages and cultures. It is a dream to be here. Home is in the furthest part of my brain. Emailing every week... brings me down from the clouds. There are many many people that need this message. I don't want to get in the way of them receiving it. The Lord may use me as He needs. I don't mind. It is possible for me to be that tool... as long as I consistently sharpen my edges. It is goood to hear great news from home. I am glad to see the Cats doing well... is that my fault? If we think hard enough... we can remember that Chuck served during the two year Billy Gillespie era. I would say some of the worst in UK history. Does that say something about his "honorable" two year mission? I don't want to point fingers or make anyone feel uncomfortable... but a spade is a spade.

Our investigators are going great. Ian is busy but still progressing. He will need to get married to his partner of 20 years... but that is easy. We will have the Sister Missionaries plan it. Andy is slow... but steady. Sandy is fast... then slow. She has deep concerns... but the Ward is really helping out. Ellen is the 17 year old. She is just spot on. Waiting for the 10th of March to be baptised. That is when she is 18 and her parents will let her.
I am getting really tired of bathing every morning... but on Tuesday I am going to Einfield and Thursday I am going to Alysbury. They both have showers. Somethings are important in life... and I've found a shower is one of them. When I complain though... I feel quite spoiled. I'm sure there is a missionary somewhere not only taking a bath right now... but a very cold one. Maybe I'll be more thankful.

I love you all.

February 8, 2012

Hiya,

I arrived back to Watford this morning around 11:00am and we had two hours of finding... then three appointments in a row. Following those we had coordination meeting with our Ward Mission Leader and then an amazing appointment with Ian! He is so curious and open. I love it. He has wanted to be religious his whole life but it has been difficult for him to approach it and have his questions answered. We love questions. We are currently teaching the Plan of Salvation but this was the second lesson and we haven't even gotten to The Spirit World yet. It is perfect for him. The gospel restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith makes sense to your mind and heart. If you don't listen with either though... you'll be toast. We have got to keep humble and open. Now we are in the Family History Library emailing and finishing a few reports to send to the assistants.

One of the best perks now is going on a lot of exchanges. We have about two a week. It is brilliant because I get to know the missionaries in our Zone and learn from them. Yesterday I was on a work over with Elder Meek. He is from Mesa, Arizona. Anyone ever heard of that place? We froze our little behinds off. We jumped one fence... got on a lot of buses... and our bathroom was about the size of the pantry in KY (but cut in half, thankfully no one turned off the lights). Last Thursday I went on an exchange with Elder Young... from Yorkshire. Not my trainer Elder Young. He is the funniest kid. We had lots of good times. He cooked a great stir fry. We had a Nerf Gun war (from 9:30 to 10... after planning of course).

The tube was completely empty and there are a lot of bars to hold onto... so we obviously had to have a Ninja fight in the tube. Duh. Oh yeah... and we set a baptismal date with a man named Samuel. I love the mission. When anyone asks me how I am doing... my new reply is... "I'm living the dream". It is exactly what I am doing. My whole life I have been preparing for a mission and now I'm living it. There is no where on the whole wide earth that I would rather be. I am properly living my dream. There is so much that our Heavenly Father expects of us. He wants us to come home. Jesus Christ is the way. It is my time to fully help others find that path. I really enjoy this time.

Love,
Elder Krebs

p.s. we taught a middle eastern man to play Rock, Paper, Scissors this week. It was a cool/weird experience. Everyone knows how to play RPS. I thought it was in your DNA. I guess not. England has opened my mind soooooo much. The way I live MY life is not the way others live their life. There are many ways to do things. Too bad there is only one way to God. Straight and Narrow.

February 7, 2012

Hiya,

I am on an exchange now and didn't have time to email
yesterday. Sorry. I hope to find time soon!

Things are just fine. The church is true.

Love,
Elder Krebs

Saturday, February 4, 2012

January 30, 2012

Dear Family,

This has been a good week. I will try to cover what has happened while answering some questions from the Kentucky Krebs.
I love my mission. I am so happy being a missionary. So happy.

1. What area does your zone cover? Any of London?
There are six areas in our zone. Wembly, Einfield, Alysbury, Watford 1 (us), Watford 2 (sisters), and Hayes. All of them are considered London. Mainly greater London though. None are considered centre London. We mostly cover the southwest bit of our mission... which is mainly just west and northwest London.

2. How many missionaries in your zone? Sister/Elders?
12 missionaries. 10 Elders, 2 Sisters. They are all fantastic Elders. None that have any major issues or concerns. We are just ready to work.

3. Dad wants to know what you had for dinner Sunday.
We didn't really have dinner. I had a cup of instant cream of mushroom soup right before bed. We had a munch and mingle right after church... so around 1:00. We got to keep some of the food... so I snacked on the bits. The Munch and Mingle was brilliant. Ian is one of our most solid investigators and he stayed for the food. Bishop and the Stake President were talking to him for about 20 mins each! It was fantastic. He is loving the Church and is thirsting for more and more. He is extremely smart and quick. After learning a little about the Plan of Salvation... he asked what happens in between the state of death and resurrection. Just like from Alma 40! He has got it. We shall keep you updated. Two of our other investigators started talking at the Mingle as well. They are getting along very nicely. Hint hint.

4. Where is your new companion from?
He is from Holland! We are getting along excellently. My last district was all young missionaries that had been out six months or less. Now my companion is the same as me. We just don't have to communicate about certain things. Never any dispute about simple things. We just do what we are supposed to do all the time.

5. Glen said, what is your favorite kind of food in England?
The roast dinners here are really nice. They are quite similar to Ameican ones... but with roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings. I love all the foods around the world. We have lots of mexican (well they try), indian, asian and american. I like it.

6. What is your companion like? Is he a zone leader with you?
Yes, he is a Zone Leader with me. We have 8 zones, and therefore about 16 zone leaders. All are companionship zone leaders. This is his fifth transfer as a zone leader. He is very experienced and a wise man.

7. Who is your favorite brother? (Guess who?)
My favourite brother is Jesus Christ.

8. Tell us more about your house. How is it heated? Is it heated? :)
It is heated... but we don't have a stove. Just a little hot pad. It really makes cooking my curries quite difficult. I love the place. I was going to send pictures of it today... but it is not clean yet. Still more to do. I wrote my friend in Peru about it and he just laughed at me. He said everyone in peru lives in a place like that. I guess I am way more spoiled than I think about. Sometimes I complain when the flat doesn't have a washing machine or dishwasher. The Lord knew I didn't need to rough it :)

I was able to spend a little time last week in the Family History Library in Watford. Dad asked me to look to try and find the Birth of Lydia Hood Stark. I did not find the birth... but I found a lot of the same information that auntie Val discovered. It was really exciting to be able to find it for myself though. To look at the old 1841 census and see them on there. I really felt the pull to do family history research. I don't have the allotted time I need though :(
Life is good in Watford. I really enjoy Watford and hope that I can stay here a while.


--
Elder John William Krebs
England London Mission
64-68 Princes Gate
Exhibition Road
London, SW7 2PA

January 17, 2012

Hi Familia!

Well... I know it is unlike me because I usually stay in one area for about six months but it looks like I am going to be moving. This six week stint here in Bletchley has been exactly what I needed. My companion has been absolutely brilliant. He is just like me... and understands me. So we became very close. We could talk about everything and we usually didn't have to talk about it because we already knew what each other was thinking at the time. Needless to say... that allows the missionary work to move forward completely unobstructed. We were able to do work. Solid work. Elder Lingam knows exactly why he is here... and is just spot on. I will really miss him. Last night when we got moves calls... the Zone Leaders told me I was going to St. Albans to be companions with my MTC companion Elder Brozzu. I was pumped... and ready to go where the Lord wants me to be. As I was getting out of the shower this morning though... Elder Lingam hands me the phone. It was one of the assistants and he said my calling had changed and now I'm going to Watford to serve with Elder Dongen (Holland).

The reason was because no one in Watford can drive and they have a car. So they had to switch. Either way "I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine, I'll go where You want me to go." A mission is an interesting thing... you feel very small. You just do whatever you are told to do. I guess the good news is that I'll still have a car... but the bad news with that is that I will now be extra fat when I come home. They will have to squeeze me out of the plane doors. Watford is west of London... but still considered part of London. Here it is on the map.��Link:

I think it will be just fantastic to have a new companion to learn from. I looked at some BYU things today and got way too stressed and annoyed. I am not going back to that place. It is big and scary. My mission is small and simple. School is interesting... I don't know if I'm going to like it. You have to think about yourself all the time. What are my grades? How am I doing? I need to study more. It is all self centred. Just so you can go out into the cold world and compete with other people. I don't wanna. Don't make me. Will you check momma if I actually deferred from BYU? I can't remember if I did. If you call and ask... and then ask them what I need to do to be prepared for Fall 2012 I would love you (more). I just don't want to miss any deadlines.

This week... we had an appointment with a man from Zimbabwe that was just great. We were teaching him about the Restoration. We watched the first 20 mins of the Joseph Smith movie. Afterwards... we asked him how he felt. He told us he knew it was true. Elder Lingam... then goes straight for the kill. Pops the baptismal invitation right there. SPirit was soooo strong... everything was right. Now Romeo has a date for the 21st of February. We were soo happy. He was very wishy washy... but the spirit got him. And who would deny the spirit? His wife is very interested as well.. but unfortunately was not there. She already has a Book of Mormon... and her daughter from a previous marriage was just baptised because her ex husband is a member. CRAZY! The Lord is preparing people for all of us to find. I know it... I can feel it. Life is very good. I am very happy.

Love,
Elder Krebs

P.s. John... our investigators from Bletchley is sitting right next to me and he says Hi! He is preparing for Baptism on the 9th of June! Keep him in your prayers.

Picture Time

We assertained a very large banana from a members house. Posing for the picture is myself, my companion, Sister Codeiro and Sister Richel! The Sisters cover the same area as we do, so we pretty much see them every day. They are great and are brilliant teachers. They really have the Spirit with them, and you can feel it as they testify.


Elder Dongen and I made a calendar for the zone and this is the picture that we put in the background.
I think it shows great seriousness and demands respect :)
I love working hard and playing hard.


Elder Lingam and I at Christmas Dinner!
It was a wonderful day. I got to talk to you :)


Hayleigh and Theresa!
Wow... my second family! They were baptised the first transfer I was in Grays! They are doing really well. I just got a letter in the post from them and they seem to still be enjoying themselves. It is harder than they imagined... but they know it is worth it.


Just before Christmas we took a trip to London on P-day and went to Hyde Park. There was a very big and cool outside market/christmas parade. We had buckets of fun running around and acting 20.


TONY!
He was baptised in Bletchley. On Christmas Eve, and confirmed on Christmas Day! It was for sure a white Christmas! It was really a pleasure to teach Tony. He was very sincere and devoted.


A picture of Abena, Elisabeth, Adwoa, and Felicity!
Elder Park and I found them in Grays... I taught them for about 4 months and then left. They were baptised in January!!! We are sooo excited for them. It was the first time that someone I taught got baptised and I wasn't there. It was sad but exciting.
They are really solid... but sometimes their actions show otherwise :/ They will get there though. I know it.

Love,
Elder Krebs

January 23, 2012

Hello,

Hi family! It is a real exciting thing for me to be able to write you an email every week. I love being a missionary. You have so many great experiences that help you to grow and stretch. This transfer is going to be absolutely brilliant. There are many things to learn from Elder Dongen. He is a really dedicated, determined and experienced.
Watford is a really wonderful area! We have a great town centre, which is a nice change because for the past 8 months I have had very small town centres. This one is very big with people every where. I love people. The ward is very missionary minded and loves to help us with the work. There are Sister Missionaries in the ward as well... they cover the exact same area as us. It is fun and different to work with them. Sister Cordeiro speaks portuguese and so she will teach me everything I need to know. I really wish that I could have been able to learn all of portuguese but the Lord has different plans. Um dia I will learn Portuguese. I have a list of languages that I want to learn.

1) Portuguese
2) then Spanish
3) Mandarin
4) Swahili

I really want to do it. I want to live in so many different countries and learn about how they work and why. Moving around a lot in the mission is becoming something that I really enjoy. New cities, new people and a new life. A dream I have now is to be a dentist or doctor and go to many countries doing free medical work. Staying for six months to a year and learning the language and culture. Communication is a very interesting thing. If we do not communicate with others in this life... our relationship suffers. If you do not communicate with someone... you cannot grow closer to them. It is a written law somewhere. The same way with our Heavenly Father. If we do not talk with Him through prayer... how can we know what He wants for us? We cannot draw closer to Him without speaking with him. He is ever ready to answer our prayers.
Watford has 3-4 investigators with a baptismal date right now.

Ellen is 17 and a awesome girl. She has completely changed her life around and really wants to be baptised tomorrow. He parents think the whole religion thing is a waste and want her to wait until she is 18. That puts her baptismal date to the 10th of March. She loves Church and the YW girls really accept her. She has a really spunky personality and is just a cool girl.
Andy is about 40. Has been looking for the Church that the Bible talks about. He says ours is the closest that he has found. He is hesitant about baptism because he thinks that he is beyond baptism. The views and ideas he has are great and it causes us to really back up what the Church Doctrine is with the Bible and Book of Mormon. It has been nice on my mission to be able to see why we do the things we do. As we think about why... the gospel comes alive.

Sandy is a bit older than Andy. She is very busy with a case that she has been working on for a while now. It is to do with some kind of Identity Theft. We had a really perfect lesson yesterday with a member. Elder Dongen invited her to be baptised on the 25th of February. She was wishy washy about it and then the member went for it. She testified all about how she needed to be baptised on the date that we asked her. She shared her baptismal story... and then Sandy was prompted to accept it. We will work with her towards that date.

IAN!!!! He is sooooo coool. We met him in town on Thursday... and he was looking for a church because it was bugging him that he had never found that one he was looking for. He stopped his exercise in the gym early and walked into two churches in town. He wasn't impressed by them and started walking home. That is when we stopped him. He was very interested. We tried to set up a Chapel tour with him he next day... but he refused and said he wanted to do it that day. We obviously said that was okay... and interrupted our finding. I was a tad frustrated... because I love street contacting. The world is full of allllllll kinds of people. We met Ian at the Church 4 hours later... had a brillllliant lesson and invited him to be baptised on the 3rd of March! He was really excited. He said he is someone that will give it his all. All we need from people is an open mind and a willing heart. He has both and will progress. The Lord has people prepared.

I love it here. Our flat is a shed... slash cabin. It is behind Bishop's house. Everything is in one room. The kitchen, study and bedroom are all together. The toilet is the only thing separate. We do not have a shower... so we bathe. Terrible. I soak in my own filth. I like it though... I feel like I'm on a holiday.

Thank you for all your support and love. I am sending a present for the parents. It is a great one. I am really proud of it.

Love,
Elder Krebs