June 26, 2012

Hi mum, I am in Canterbury right now. Sitting next to my son... Elder Paul. He says Hi! He isn't technically my son because he was trained for the first 3 weeks by two zone leaders... and then he came to me for the next nine weeks. I feel as though I still had the greater impact on him. He is mine. My son... ain't nobody going to take him away from papa. We had transfers yesterday... and I am staying in Ashford with Elder Vitorio! It is weird to know my final destiny. Well not really my final d... because I'm coming home for the family Olympics. At this point... I just want to work. As I work... I will forget everything and it will all be just dandy. We had a week full of miracles. Jojo, who I talked about last week is progressing very fast. She is very smart and wants to understand everything at once. Her three little girls are full of energy and love trying to get our attention. They all three came to Church and loved it so much. The three girls all enjoyed Primary and Jojo was right at home in Relief Society. She related the Prodigal son story for the class and got it perfect. Or so I heard. I don't often sneak into RS... but I can't say I haven't. After church she informed us that the ward was having a temple trip on Saturday and that she needs four seats reserved. She doesn't even know what the temple is or what it looks like... she just wants to soak everything in. This is good for missionaries... but we have to be careful with how much she gets... because sometimes when you eat the whole cake in excitement... or in my case... 8 bags of sour skittles... you feel sick afterwards and regret it. She is spot on and really genuine and transparent. She tells you how it is and what she likes... she likes... and what she doesn't like... she doesn't. I really like her. She accepted the date of the 28th of July for baptism. We can hardly wait... and I will be here for it. I am oh so very excited. She slightly reminds me of another of the recent converts that I worked with in Grays. I feel so blessed to be a part of this great work. Who Am I? Who Am I to deserve all the things that the Lord has and is giving me. The new mission President is coming this week. That is proper weird to me. He is just deserting me... ahhhh. But the new mission president looks like a great guy to me. But who knows... we thought Elder Pike was 6'4''. I love you all. I miss you all. I really do. I forget about you sometimes... but it is always a big reality check to come back to think about you. See you in December! Love, Elder Krebs Two quotes of the week. Both from spectacular talks that really helped me in my progression and understanding of things. "The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home but that—miraculously—we can feel at home there. If Christ did not require faith and repentance, then there would be no desire to change. Think of your friends and family members who have chosen to live without faith and without repentance. They don’t want to change. They are not trying to abandon sin and become comfortable with God. Rather, they are trying to abandon God and become comfortable with sin. If Jesus did not require covenants and bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, then there would be no way to change. We would be left forever with only willpower, with no access to His power. If Jesus did not require endurance to the end, then there would be no internalization of those changes over time. They would forever be surface and cosmetic rather than sinking inside us and becoming part of us—part of who we are." "His Grace is Sufficent" by Brad Wilcox "You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. His work is to bless His Father’s spirit children with the opportunity to choose eternal life. So, your calling is to bless lives. That will be true even in the most ordinary tasks you are assigned and in moments when you might be doing something not apparently connected to your call. Just the way you smile or the way you offer to help someone can build their faith. And should you forget who you are, just the way you speak and the way you behave can destroy faith." "Rise to Your Call" by Henry B. Eyring

June 18, 2012

Hello and good morning, I'm in the church. Life is good. We are heading to Canterbury later today, probably play football and frisbee. We've already been to the Cathedral twice and I love the Cathedral. One of the Sisters in the zone is going home in one week, and she has told us we have to come and chill today because it is her last full P-day. This week was a great week full of miracles. We had two really great first lessons and we will hopefully be teaching them again this next week. One is 16 and from Nigeria, his progression will really depend on his parents. Another is a single mum from Nigeria and has been to many different churches and feels they are all lacking truth. She says she is on the search for truth. She is a really funny and personable lady. We met her two weeks ago in Town Centre and got her phone number to set up an appointment later. Around that time we had the impression to tract Herbert Road, but never got around to it because of appointments and others things that got in the way. It is quite easy to find other effective things to do instead of finding. Last week we saw her in town and just said hi, but she was squirmy and avoided setting up anything. The same day we decided to tract Herbert Road and it happened... and guess who lived at #48 Herbert Road? None other than thee JoJo. Now she is a new investigator and we are going around on Wednesday to help her build an Ab Work Out machine. She loved hearing about the restoration and that we are a non-paid ministry. There are so many stories out about Pastors and their Unrighteous Dominion and basically how they are called, but they set their hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world... and Amen to the priesthood of that man. Even though they never really had any priesthood. Just their testimony of Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost. So she was fed up with that and with churches, but she is coming on Sunday to ours. We had a Zone Meeting this week and President Patch came to say Goodbye :( It is most likely the last time I will see him. It was a really powerful meeting. One of the Sisters in the zone gave a training on the Doctrine of Christ and then Elder Vitorio and I gave a training on how and why we invite people to be baptised. The Zone is quite new and many of them have not been able to practise giving crisp, clear and powerful invitations to follow Christ. We gave them all Calendars that end the 28th of July and invited them to fill it out with their investigators and give it to them so they can be prepared to be baptised by the 28th. Sister Patch gave the advice to "always keep your head in the heavens". Basically to always have the eternal perspective. If we retain that perspective, we can prioritize much more effectively and do the important and eternal things first, like family, Kentucky Basketball and following the commandments. President Patch gave thoughts on always having a vision. If we don't have a vision or a goal, we are not exercising faith. By having a vision, we can get through the drudgery of day to day actions. If you have a vision of an eternal family, then you will not mind changing nappies and sacrificing pretty much everything for your children. But if you don't know why you have a family, or it is just an accident... then when your child gets in the way of something YOU want to do... then you'll never give them the sufficient love they need. Happy Father's Day. Do we all say something we love about Dad? Or do we just leave him in Kentucky and go have a party in AZ? Sorry dad. I love dad because he always had a great vision for our family. He knew what he wanted the final score to be, and so he didn't have to decide in the moment if he was going to go to work... or to our boring vocal, cello, piano, and violin recitals. He came home at six and had dinner with us. One of my absolute favourite quotes for missionary work and life is "The Fellowship of the Unashamed" by Henry B. Eyring. I think that it is something that our Father has exemplified his whole life. I will dedicate it to him. "I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tinted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am lifted up in prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed, will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table with the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the case of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me and when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me”. - Elder Henry B. Eyring My favourite line is this one "I no longer need preeminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity." We don't need anything in this life. We are filled and saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. Now it is up to us to give back to Him. We need to press forward with faith. I love my mission and decided that to save myself from being trunky, I've decided to mentally go home at the New Year. So I'll see you then. I should be home for the family Olympics. Can't wait! Love, Elder Krebs P.s. The picture is of our MTC group about 1 month ago.

June 13, 2012

Sorry that I am being a rubbish emailer. I still love you and will set some good quality time for this upcoming Monday. Love, Elder Krebs P.s. livin' the dream

June 11, 2012

So the library could only give us 20 mins for email. But I shall get some more time later. It was a great week this week. As always... we are livin' the dream. But actually I had the most terrible dream last night. So I might stop saying that I'm living the dream. But I am living a type of dream. The dream to be a missionary. It was a very crazy week this week. Busy busy busy. Elder Vitorio left me for 2 days while he was on work overs. We had a meeting with the Stake President about goals and work throughout the stake. Stake conference was this weekend and Elder Teixera came from Germany and gave a brilliant sermon. He is the new Area President for Europe. I like him. He looks like dad. Heh. Well... I have one min. Write more soon!! Love, Elder Krebs

Proposed Return Itinerary!

This is a proposed itinerary, please verify dates and airports. Tickets will be issued at least 4 weeks before travel. CHURCH TRAVEL CWT DATE 05JUNE12 50 EAST NORTH TEMPLE ST AGENT VH/MN BOOKING REF YMLAUQ SALT LAKE CITY UT 84150 TELEPHONE: 801 240-5111 KREBS/JOHN WILLIAM 205921-R FAX : 801-240-5115 MISSIONARY TRAVEL ENGLAND LONDON MISSION SERVICE DATE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE _____________________ _____ ______________ ______________ _______ ______ BRITISH AIRWAYS 09AUG LONDON CHICAGO IL 1145A 215P BA 295 THURSDAY HEATHROW O'HARE INTL L ECONOMY TERMINAL 5 TERMINAL 5 NON SMOKING MEAL NON STOP RESERVATION CONFIRMED 8:30 DURATION AIRCRAFT: BOEING 777-200/300 AMERICAN AIRLINES 09AUG CHICAGO IL LEXINGTON KY 405P 615P AA 3986 THURSDAY O'HARE INTL BLUE GRASS V ECONOMY TERMINAL 3 NON SMOKING FOOD FOR PURCHASE NON STOP RESERVATION CONFIRMED 1:10 DURATION FLIGHT OPERATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE AIRCRAFT: EMBRAER RJ140 RESERVATION NUMBER(S) AA/DMCDXY

June 5, 2012

Dear Mummy, So sorry for not emailing you yesterday. We had to be in London at 10:00, which meant we had to leave our flat at 8:00, for Zone Leader Council. I felt like a real Londoner yesterday. Except it was a Bank Holiday and the tubes weren't so packed. We had the meeting in the newly refurbished Hyde Park building. It has been under refurbishments for the past 8 months, and now it looks brilliant. The foyer has been turned into a Visitors Centre, and they have six Sister Missionaries working there full time. The building is in the best location ever. Right in the smack of London. On Exhibition Road, 5 mins walk from Hyde Park, South Kensington, Knightsbridge, and Harrods. 3 museums surround the church... The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. And Imperial College is right across the street (Right up there with Cambridge and Oxford). The have put a Christus facing the street, behind a wall of glass. Thousands of people walk by every single day. During the Olympics it will be tens of thousands. One day it will be a Temple. I know it. It is a wonderful building, and I feel very attached to it. Mainly because I served there for 5 months. At Zone Leader Council I was asked to give my departing testimony. Quite sad. I didn't like giving it. I don't feel as though I am leaving... and so I just bore my testimony of the Saviour. A couple of things that I have read recently gave me a study idea to complete. I read the story of Lazarus in Abraham's Bosom, and this scripture in Jacob 4:6... "Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea." My idea now is to go through the Standard Works that we have and record the characters and their testimonies of the Saviour. Then, I can have a list of close friends who knew and followed the Saviour. As I do this... I think it will help my faith to become a little more unshaken. I don't think I will have time in England to finish... because I am in the middle of a couple other studies. Too much to study, too little time. My companion is just great. No problems. Ashford is feeling better and better. We are working hard here... and it is beginning to pay off. We had a family come to church on Sunday. They are from Slovakia, but they lived in Switzerland for 2 years... and there are 3 or 4 members of the Ward that speak German. On Friday... Elder Fields is coming home from his mission. You don't know him... his family is in this ward. He has been serving in Switzerland... we are just going to send him over to teach and prepare them for baptism. They can speak their Swiss German together. Besides Tibor and his family, we are teaching Dorothy and Mikkie. Both friends or family of recent converts. Best place to get referrals... recent converts. The ward in Ashford is just fantastic. They are so loving and nice. On Saturday we had a ward BBQ. It was the best thing for Elder Vitorio and I because we don't quite know everyone. Now we got to meet and build confidence with the Bishop, members and Less Actives that were there. Unfortunately, none of our Investigators came, but we keep calm and carry on. There was a Disco, Bouncy Castle and food! All we can really do out of those 3 is food... but that is okay. We spent P-day today in London after our meeting. You wouldn't believe P-days in London. When more than 5 missionaries get together... it is terrible. Yesterday... we had about 25 missionaries all together. No one knows what to do, and everyone just wastes time. I honestly didn't care yesterday. I just like London P-days because you can chill with friends. So basically we took the tube from South Kensington to Green Park, walked to Oxford Circus, then walked to Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Jubilee, then walked to Big Ben (the bell) and Westminster tower and building, from there we walked to Tower Bridge (very long walk, but it was along the Thames and I love it), and then from Tower Bridge to St. Pauls, and then we walked to a Mexican Restaurant, but it was closed... so we went toooo... McDonald's. Not my favourite. I come alll the way to London, with some of my favourite restaurants... and we eat at McDonald's. I can't complain though... because I didn't really give any ideas. I just followed. I like following. I loved it. Just walking around London is great. It is a crazy city. For the queen's juby it was crazy... the Olympics are going to be mental. Absolutely mental. Elder Vitorio and I, plus the two district leaders in the Zone come up with goals for each months. To help everyone improve and grow. One of our "spiritual" goals this month is to "live the dream". If we do that, then every thing will be better. The way to implement this goal, or the plan to achieve the goal is easy. Every time someone asks you how you are doing... you tell them "I am livin' the dream". We are what we think, and our attitude determines our altitude. I am really excited for everyone to live the dream. I really feel as though I am. My whole life I've wanted to be a missionary and now I am. Now it is time to just dig deep and keep going. There are so many things that I still don't understand... and I still make mistakes and do not work the best I can. This life is a constant struggle, and I am so grateful for the enabling power of the Atonement. God is in charge. Our President's Wife, Sister Patch shared with us three things that Joseph Smith told Brigham Young in a dream. Be humble, Be Faithful, and stay close to the Spirit. It is sooo simple. We think outward, believe and be obedient... and all things will work together for our good. I love you all very much and miss you greatly. Love, Elder Krebs

May 28, 2012

Hello family, It feels great to be a missionary. This week has been the most sunny of my whole mission. All week it was roughly 26-28 degrees, that's about mid 70's. It has been oh so glorious. My brazilian companion has just been soaking in all the sun, and is much darker than me. Our darkness is, I think, more dependent on the whiteness of our shirt in which we compare. Mine are maybe not as white... since I've been out longer. Elder Vitorio is great. He always expects to do the right thing... and being lazy or disobedient doesn't even enter into his train of thought. I'm sitting here dying in the heat... and he just looks at me like I'm weird. I'm thinking... aren't you hungry? hot? tired? I'm all three. But he just keeps on going. It is great to have a companion that pushes you. Granted... this week I was quite ill. Just all gunged up. Snot coming out of my nose, throat, and ears. But Elder Vitorio just dragged me along. The Ward here is very very excellent at taking care of the missionaries. I think maybe too good. We pretty much have a dinner appointment every night. Yesterday... three people invited us over for dinner... but we already were going to Sister Fields... so we had to decline them all. I think it is mainly because we play the "we are new missionaries here, and we don't know what we are doing exactly, we don't even know where the closest Tesco or Asda is to buy food" card. Heh. We are tricky. There are problems with too many dinner appointments... one, it cuts into our proper work. Some families expect you to stay forever and talk and play games. The second problem is that my belly gets bigger and bigger. Before I know it... I'll have a pizza box in there and you won't recognise me anymore. Oh the woes of being a missionary. I do think that I will be in this area awhile. At least three months... probably more like six though. I feel like there is a lot of good that Elder Vitorio and I can do. So think that we will both stay next transfer as well. The ward boundaries are quite large... but we mostly stay in Ashford Proper. We don't venture out to the other areas unless we are visiting members, or potentials. There are 3 beaches in our area... I'd quite like to visit them soon. Maybe today! Tis P-day. Should be a great day. As for our Investigators in the area... We are mostly working with Mikkie and Dorothy. They are both referrals from Recent Converts. Mikkie is a 20 year old sister of Shaunnie. Dorothy is Robert's friend. We plan to give them both Baptismal Dates this week. Dorothy is probably 60 and reminds me of my Grandma Hancock. She is from Zimbabwe and is wonderful. On friday she commented that she already knows that Joseph Smith is a Prophet because our church sends out missionaries to teach people... and that is a good fruit. We only need to dunk her now. My only desire rigth now... is to do my best. To secure good habits and to act. Not be acted upon. To not let others determine my actions, or thoughts. To be completely content in only pleasing my God. Life is good and I am living the dream. Love, Elder Krebs P.s. I have the best family in the world.

May 21, 2012

Shalom, What a busy and wonderful week. It has been so interesting serving here in Ashford. It is very different than Watford... but obviously both in their good ways. I haven't been this tired in a long time... which I believe is also a good thing. We had a Zone Meeting in Canterbury today. I loved it. The two district leaders in the zone gave just brilliant trainings... and we had a better than normal musical number by Elder Tingey and Elder Polo. It was a bluegrass rendition of one of the Primary Songs. Elder Tingey is magical with the guitar. Afterwards we went to an expensive Indian Buffet. It is a great buffet... but just a tad out of my missionary budget. Thats okay... everyone else seemed to like it. After that.... we went to the Canterbury Cathedral! Oh it was soooooo amazing. It was built in th 14th and 15th century, but it is just smashing. A cool note about this area. When President Hinckley came and established the area of Kent a stake... the stake centre was in Gillingham. All the other stakes in our mission... the stake is named after the area with the stake centre. President Hinckley came to Ashford to organise it all... but made a special note that it was to be called the Canterbury Stake. The head of the Church of England is Canterbury. President Hinckley was making a statement... and I like it. The is a stake of Zion... organised in Canterbury. Ain't that right! Ashford. Our flat is nice. Two floors. It is busy right now. Aka... a tad messy. Not quite my fault. But a little. We have two toilets... but no hot water since I've been here because the boiler is broken. We either boil hot water. Cold shower. Or drive to the Dover Elders and back. The Ward is legit. Our recent converts seem to all be single females with children. It makes it a little more difficult... but a challenge is always welcome. The town centre is very nice... but can be difficult sometimes. On Saturday we were street contacting for 6 hours and didn't as much as set up a potential appointment. BUT! I like it. It hasn't really been like this on my mission. I am excited to investigate how we can overcome and have more success. Today we had a training on the definition of success. The main sentence states "Your success as a missionary is primarily measured by your commitment to find teach and baptise." Not how many you baptise... or how many Dinner Appointments you have... but our commitment. I really love this work. Getting transferred has been a great blessing. It has helped me once again... to take a step back and evaluate. Am I doing my best? What thinks Christ of me? Always when I ask the Lord what improvements I can make... I get an answer. That prayer always seems to get answered. The Lord loves to help us change. He sees so much is us. I love what I am doing. My whole life... the mission has been the goal. I'm doing it now. And it is everything and more than what I was preparing to experience. My companion is spot on. Humble. Diligent. A tad quite in new situations. But a firecracker when comfortable. I love him and love all the missionaries in the zone right now. It is a steller zone... let me tell you. Miracles will be happening in the Canterbury Stake. Straight up miracles. I know that this is the right path. Not the easiest path... but the one less travelled by... and I know it will make alllll the difference. I love you all. Have a great great week. Smile. And if you can't smile... make someone else smile. Think outward... never inward. The Atonement will make all wrong things right, and it will enable us to always do the right things. Love, Elder Krebs

May 11, 2012

Hi! I will be transferred tomorrow to Ashford in Kent. I will then serve with Elder Resolme for 3 days and then he will be transferred and I will get a new companion. Our area will get "whitewashed"... and I am nervous about how it will all go down. I hope that it will not negatively effect our investigators, recent converts or ward. It is for sure keeping things exciting and new. I have always wanted to serve in Kent. It is beautiful and I can't wait. I really like change. Maybe I shouldn't just be a dentist. I might get bored. I love you very much mum. P.s. I have talked to Elder Resolme in Ashford and he is going to arrange for me to be able to talk to you on Sunday at 8:00pm my time. Will you give me a call in Ashford when you wake up on Sunday to make sure that everything is still kosher? Our number is 07800614304... I think that if you are calling from USA it is +447800614304 . I've never done it though. Talk to you soon. Very soon... 2 sleeps.