August 22, 2011

Tudo Bem familia, Hiiii....


I wish I could be with you alll... But that is not possible at the present moment. No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. I am trying soooo soo hard to just focus... focus focus focus. My thoughts are all over the place... but I'll be able to get them under control soon enough. I just need a little time.



 I am glad to hear about miss laura and tom. Sounds like that is a positive. My President was confused giving me the news... he said you can't really get to pieces of more opposite news. To be honest... they are both pieces of brilliant news. Our Grandma has been faithful her whole life. What a wonderful place she is currently residing. Resting from all her cares and sorrows. She doesn't have to wake up with back pain like me :) We are getting new beds though.. I'm so spoiled. Heh. I think it is because I've been making my bed every morning. Sorry I ignored you for 19 years mum.


 This week in Grays has been just rockin'. We had the baptisms of Hayleigh, Theresa, and Gloria two weeks ago. Now we are striving to find new investigators that match their caliber. They were brilliant investigators... always came to church... always kept appointments... and then made the faithful step to be baptised. Now... we have five more people with baptismal dates. They have the desire to follow Jesus Christ... and come closer to Him. But... the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. It is okay though... they will be able to have their faith strengthened and we will help them to come to Christ. Why? Why do we come to Christ? Why on earth do Elder Ireland and I breathe and eat and drink missionary work? At first on my mission... it was most likely because when I had high numbers... all my leaders told me I was doing a great job. I knew it was what the Lord wanted me to do... but I definitely did not know why. It then switched from that to because it helps people. People will be more blessed with this restored gospel. It changed to that... as I saw people become happier from the things we were sharing. But why? Why does it make them happier? Why WHY WHY HWY!
We all truly and deeply know why... because of the atonement of Christ. He performed the greatest act of love... for us. We find joy through that... we overcome spiritual and physical death. We have hope through that act. Who cares about the restoration without the atonement? Why would be follow a living prophet if Christ had not died for us? I need my Saviour every hour. He strengthens me and gives me hope. I love my Saviour Jesus Christ. He allows me to see my grandmother again. All my family again. I know this message of the Restoration helps clarify about the extent and love of the Atonement. I love you all and thank you for all your support.

Love,
Elder Krebs

P.s. Elder Ireland is a crack up... so funny. He is reading the Old Testament and says the funniest things related to that. For example "Every time I see a Badger I want to club it and make garments out of it." Who says things like that? What a funny dude. 

August 16, 2011

Elder Ireland's email is still being silly... so we are just waiting patiently for SLC to get back to us and fix all our problems.

We had Zone Conference today... and it was a revelatory experience. Elder Ireland and I quote the pageant soundtrack constantly... and we are having a ball together. My Heavenly Father is becoming my best friend... as I speak to Him personally every night. He hears me... I know it.
I love you all.

 

love,

Uncle Bubs

August 9, 2011

Shalom :)

This week has been a week of change. I am with a new companion doing the same thing :) We have some great things happening here in Grays, and the Lord is blessing us tremendously. I think He is blessing our whole family, including Grandma. It is interesting to read the updates about her in one bulk, because I saw the whole process at once. Now she seems to be doing better, and for that I am glad. I know that we will see and be apart of the legacy she has lived forever. The light she gave unselfishly shines through all of us. I love my Grandma and my Grandpa. The are a dynamic duo of testimony and love. I know we can eternally progress in this gospel, and when we shed this imperfect body that slows us down... our progression will be exponential. We do have an imperative duty to do all we can now to get closer to Him and on the right path. Three wowonderfulaughters of God chose to hop on the path and come closer to Jesus Christ. It was a beautiful weeweekendhe baptism was busy and stressful. The confirmations were by far my favourite favourite part. The spirit was soooo strong and beautiful. It spoke lovely songs of confidence and peace to my heart, and I know this decision will only bless them. Elder Park was not able to be here... which was sad... because we found, and taught all three of them. He was depressed... but it made the Sisters more rearealizeey were doing it for themselves and not because they trusted missionaries. They have all had the spirit confirm to them their decision, and know it has blessed their lives. God is great. He is preparing people for us to find. And then pouring the spirit upon them... all they have to do is open their heart a tiny tiny bit and it will begin to change their thoughts, actions, and desires. I am grateful to be apart of such change. The great thing is that I feel it too. The Lord is shaping and molding me. As I turn my will over to His will... I am more grateful, and positive. I have greater love for others, and desire to help them. As our investigator Godswill wonderfully put it... "I believe this church is ordained of God. The Lord has put it on the earth at this time for a certain purpose!" You are quite right Godswill. Quite right old chap.

Sorry this email is late... we were quite busy yesterday in Illford. Then Bishop called up and needed our help last night. Busy busy! This week is going to be an interesting one... trying to help all the new members have everything they need.

I have a question for the family... especially the returned missionaries. Will you give me advice for my year mark? What are the things I can do now that I have the "hang" of the missionary labours? I do not feel that I've been here a year and to be honest... I can't really be bothered about it. The Lord needs me right now. I know I'm doing the right thing, in the right place. I just want to be better at doing the right thing... so if you have some advice... please send it along. I love advice and quotes :)

Elder Ireland is great and ready to work. He is full of faith and knows why he is here. I am proper excited for the success we will have as a result of so much faith in the Lord. The Lord will bless the faithful.

Some one asked when my release date is, and I believe it is on August the Ninth, interesting... one year exactly from today. Weird, makes me sick thinking about that. I just wanna stay here and work. It is wonderful.

Hope all is well. I am excited for the wedding. Stinks I'll miss it. Oh bother... maybe you should have a destination wedding. Tempting?

 

Love you all and care about you.

 

Love,

Elder Krebs

 

August 2, 2011

We found out yesterday night that Elder Park will be moving to Kings Lynn :) I am well pleased about that... he will love it. It is currently the biggest area in the mission. I will be staying in Grays and training another new missionary. Let me tell you how excited I am! Training is a proper joy. The sad part is... they have to measure up to my first born in the wilderness. I am looking forward to another transfer in which I can constantly do the Lord's work. New missionaries are great at focusing and igniting fire that can lay dormant. I am looking forward to these new experiences. Enjoy your week :) I will talk to you on Monday. 

Love, 

bubby

August 1, 2011

Mummy. 

I keep thinking that my mission cannot get any better, but then it gets ten times better! This past week was a fantastic one. We worked hard, but had the time of our lives. On Thursday I went to Basildon and took my Theory Test for driving (President called me and asked me to get my British License). Now I just need to learn how to drive a manual car on the left side of the road :) Studying for the theory test was rubbish, and i wasn't at all bothered... but I think it will be fun to drive again. Tomorrow I have a three hour session with a Driving Instructor. And tonight... we have Moves Calls!! It has snuck up on us for sure. These past six weeks have gone by like lightning. I love this area and really do not want to leave. At all. This Grays area has been blessed, and the Spirit of the Lord is being poured out upon their souls. We have been able to change peoples lives here, not by our own actions, but by the spirit touching their hearts. I have made some great friendships, and the wonderful thing is, they are with our investigators. Tomorrow night we are going over to Hayleigh and Theresa's house. They have both decided to be baptized on this coming Saturday (I could move before then... so sad). We are having a movie night with them. They invited us over for tea and then we are going to watch Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration. Cry together, and then say a prayer and there we have it... FHE completed. We are well excited. Tonight we get to see Gloria and prepare her for her Interview. She will be baptized with Hayleigh and Theresa at six o'clock on Saturday :) I don't want to sound like I am boasting, but as Ammon says... I am boasting in my Lord. He is my strength and my foundation... I can do nothing without His spirit. It converts these people and can lead them in the right way. How grateful I am for the success in the Grays, people are coming closer to Jesus Christ and that is exactly why I am here and doing this hard... hard work. 

I am convinced that we are being blessed because I am trying not to focus on all the good times that were had at pageant... and the blossoming <3 that is happening with my sister. I am grateful for the joy being had at home. Just don't forget about me. I ain't dead yet. It is a weird thing... to think about being at home with all of you. So I don't think about it. I have bucket loads of time left, and I am going to prove to my Heavenly Father that His work will go forth boldly, nobly and independent. I will be His hands, and I will expect Angels to lift me up when I fall down. I love being a missionary. Recently Elder Park and I have been praying for miracles... phew... it is like the best secret ever. Through the day we keep our eyes open, and at night before we lie down to slumber... we think and talk about all the miracles we saw that day. I lika to say a wow! The Lord doesn't let us down... always we have a good list of miracles the Lord has performed. Maybe the Lord hasn't drastically changed the miracles... but our eyes have been opened to the handiwork of the grand Creator. I am able to see in every act I perform, and every thought or idea I have, the Lord guiding and directing this work. 

We have been thinking loads about member referrals, because we do not receive any from our ward. I was reading in John 4 where Jesus Christ stops and asks the woman at the well to give Him a drink. He explains to her that he can give living water, wherein she will never thirst again. She is converted, and runs back to her town to tell others. They listen, and come to find this Messiah... they only came because of the testimony of this woman... but when they left... ohhh it was a different story.
"So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

And many more believed because of his own word;

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."
First, Christ tarried with them... just because they asked. Second, these others believed because of his OWN word. Third, they heard for themselves and knew that it was indeed Christ, the Saviour of the World.
All we need to do is get people to come close to Jesus Christ, for whatever reason. As they do that... they will know for themselves. This humble woman, was a brilliant member missionary.

I know that Christ is the Saviour of the world. He died for me, as well as all the people currently in my vineyard. I am going to try my best to help them grow with deep roots in Christ, to be nourished by the Word of God which healeth the wounded soul. I do not want to be any where else right now. I know I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to do... I am not doing in the best I can... but I am trying. One step at a time, I will get closer to that fruit... that juicy, and white fruit. The pure love of God. I pray we will all Hold to the Rod. Keep on keepin' on. Even when we have to eat some rotten apples to find the right one. It is worth it. I love you, and I know you love me. If you don't... tell me why :) Have a wonderful Monday. Cheers.

Love,
Elder Krebs

July 25, 2011

Herro,

I am really sorry to say that this will be a short email :( it is sad because I have had such a wonderful week. I am absolutely stunned how much success we are having here in grays, I'm beginning to think I'm in Brasil. I am proper boasting in the strength of the Lord today. He is helping us sooo very very much. This week we has three baptismal interviews! They all passed and we are well happy. Manchu has made some great progression and now is completely on board with the whole baptism thing :) She will be baptised on the 30th of July at 4:00. Elder Park's first baptism, you can only imagine how happy this little Korean missionary is :) We experienced two big miracles this week and thousands of little ones. The first biggy was on Wednesday. We went by to see Gloria... oh how I think Gloria is the most Golden investigator ever. It is hard to see her conversion because she was already completely converted, the only thing she was waiting for was the truth to be revealed to her. It reminds me of the scripture that Emily gave me when I left... Many are kept from the truth, only because they know not where to find it. This defines Gloria perfectly. Her only concern was about the authority and mode of baptism. On Wed. she, at the beginning, believed that the authority to baptise was in this church. She was questioning the mode. We explained it... then testified of it. At the end we asked... Now how do you feel about your date of August the Sixth... she looked at me and without skipping a beat said boldly "we're doin' it!!" ah snap! The spirit strikes again, and I love it. She is happy and loves church! She is basically a member already. Good stuff!

Now onto the second miracle :) SOOOO Hayleigh is 19 and the daughter of Theresa... Hayleigh is pumped to be baptised. She has seen how much the gospel can help... because it has helped her. Theresa is a little more skeptical, which is to be expected because she is wiser and has already been baptised. She was saying on Thursday that she knew it was true... but that she wasn't ready to be baptised. I was expecting maybe in early September. BUTTT... on Saturday. Elder Park and Elder Machen went by to interview Hayleigh for baptism :) She passed, and her mother passed and said she had prayed and received an answer to get baptised!! WAAAHOOOOOOO!!!! Hayleigh and Theresa will be baptised on August Sixth as well. I love prayer, because I know it works. I love the Book of Mormon because my daily study of it changes my day and my perspective. I am finding great joy in the work of the Lord, and wouldn't mind spending the rest of my days here. Things with Elder Park and I are going swimmingly. We wrestled the other day and I underestimated his strength... big mistake. I am now more humble. Things back home seem great and exciting! I have been praying loads for Laura and the rest of the family. Elder Park read one of the late emails last week and I was explaining the situation... so now he randomly asks me... "how is Tom Bay and Laura?" So funny and great. I know miracles come when we ask. Elder Park and I pray for them and they happen. We are moving to a point in our efforts that we will fall without the Lord... We have to pray to him to hold us up and make us fly. I cannot do this with out the strength and power of my Heavenly Father. I am nothing, but with the Lord I am everything. Wish I could explain about all the tiny miracles We have had... but maybe another day. I love you all :)

Love,

Elder Krebs

P.s. I will be in London today and will get your package :) Thank you.

July 18, 2011

Hiya!

What another great week in the service of my Lord and Saviour! They just keep getting better and better. I think one week is the best week... and then it is the next week. And now... it is this week. Elder Park and I are really learning how to forget ourselves and get to work. We had a really great experience with Gloria this week. She was progressing so very well... she properly enjoys church, loves reading her Swahili Book of Mormon (Hakuna matata is not in the Book of Mormon... so disappointing), and our visits and her answers to our questions are great! Therefore... it was time to set a baptismal date. She did not accept the first one on lines of authority and her already being bbaptized SOOO... we knew we had to teach about authority... but it can be such a hard thing to do. We don't want to tell her that her baptism was invalid, and that this is the only true church and none others have the entire restored truth... but at the same time we do want to tell her. Therefore you have to be sensitive about it and be bold but not overbearing. Elder Park and I spent the entire companionship study on an outline for the lesson... and practicing what we were going to say. I was feeling comfortable... but not completely settled. We went to her house and went through the how are yyousand niceties. THEN... Elder Park asked a super inspired question about the Book of Mormon... she answered and then in a spectacular way... the Holy Ghost told us both exactly what to say. The lesson plan was far far out the window... I think there was a dog eating it already. I felt the Spirit well strong. Needless to say because you know the result when the Spirit is the teacher and not the missionaries, but, she accepted to be bbaptizedon the 6th of Augusto. She is a great great lady... and the Spirit has entered her life. I pray she will receive that wonderful gift on the 7th of August and for the rest of her life be uplifted and edified by it.

My companion learns faster than anyone I know. I'll tell him something to try... like... vary your door approaches more to speak of more gospel truths. The next door... his approach is completely different, he is using english words I don't know and then we are inside the House teaching the Restoration. How the man does it...I do not know. The spirit is working in him as much as it is working in our investigators!

This week... I felt greatly indebted to my wonderful parents. Their example to all of their children was always positive and has changed my life. How many times have all of us walked into their room to see them both on their knees talking with our Heavenly Father? How many times did we whinge about them not letting us do something... to later find our why they said no? How much time did they unselfishly give us? Dad would go to work...only to come home and sit on his hands and knees while I tried to wrestle him and move any inch of his body. He would pay us to mow the lawn... when it was the least we could do to help around the house. I am so grateful for their perfect unity in raising us. When I would ask mom to spend the night at Andrew's she would say "have you asked your father?" and when I went to ask dad he would say "have you asked your mother?". How many times did dad force us to go clean the chapel on a Saturday morning, or to do varying types of service projects bright and early? I would complain and have a sour badattidude... but at the end... and now... I have learned the true happiness comes by serving others. I always left service projects happier and grateful for my dad who woke me up by popping my toes. Unfortunately next week... I would wake up complaining. The patience and raising me is now greatly appreciated. I love you mom and dad. Thank you for making our home a consistently Christ Centered Home. A place where we could all learn about and grow closer to our Saviour... and our Heavenly Parents. A place where I felt safe, and complete peace and love. I miss it now... but Elder Park and I sure can compete. 

This morning I asked him if he loved me and he answered quietly... "sure", my reply was "How much"... "Um... like a bean". I was aghast... "a bean", I said. His reply was "hey... that's a lot". 

 

I love my mission and I don't ever want to leave it. Today we are having a zone vs. zone futbol match! Too bad I have two left feet and am completely rubbish at futbol. Whatevs! I am a brilliant cheerleader. "GO Elder Park, you are the bestest"!

 

Thank you for all the love I get :) I am always open to Sour Skittles.

 

love,

Elder Krebs!