I've got a pretty good farmers tan now, had and awesome week and got preached to by a Jew in the Bible Belt.

     The new apartment is nice but not as nice as my last one obviously because it was brand new.  This one has that old apartment smell to it but it's still nice and has a lot more room.  I'm slowly getting use to the biking, luckily there's like only 3 hills total in my area so it's not hard to bike here it's fairly flat.  Elder Crockett is used to it so he's a much faster rider but he slows down for me.  Elder Crockett is from Washington state and was in the Utah National Guard for a year before coming out. So I've been drinking a lot of water almost everyone asks if we want some.  I got a camel pack and I fill it everyday before we leave the apartment.  My arms are getting a lot tanner.  I've got a pretty good farmers tan now, haha!
     I did get a letter from the President explaining my new appointment as district leader.  Part of my responsibilities include collecting and turning in numbers, teaching district meet every Wednesday and being a support and good example to my district.  My last two companions were district leaders and new ones at that so I learned a lot from them.
     I had an awesome week this week.  Met all kinds of members.  Last week went to a baptism in West Monroe.  Then last Friday we went to get some milk and met a man who looked like Osama Bin Laden.  He had a long grey beard and was wearing a yamika.  Yep we got preached to by a Jew, ha ha.  First time getting preached too and he wasn't even a Christian.  And I'm in the Bible Belt.  This guy was furious that we worship his brother Jesus Christ and not God.  He wouldn't let us talk at all so he doesn't have a clue what we really believe.  The only good thing that came out of that was that he recognized us Mormons as Christians. 
     On Sunday we tried to see a few people but no one was home.  Along the way a man stopped and offered us some water.  He said he'd have it for us when we circled back around.  When we went back he wasn't out so I just continued on.  Then I got a thought "What are you doing?!  Go get that water and talk to him!"  I almost ignored it but I'm glad I didn't.  We started talking to him and he wants to learn more.  Really nice guy and he wants us to come back. I have a good feeling about him.  I'm glad I followed that prompting.
     Happy birthday, Jared! I hope you had a good one!  That's very exciting that Brendon got his call to Tallahassee, Florida!  That's the 3rd person in our group of friends to go to the southern states.  That is way awesome! Mission tour in the future, haha!  Well I'll end for now.  I love ya and miss ya.

                                                   Love Elder Kerr, your son

P.S.  Tell grandma Sharon I got her card and money so she won't worry.  And tell her thanks!
                                                    

Transferred to Monroe, Louisiana (a bike area), 108 degrees and made district leader.

                                                          My new address is:
                                                       1401 Erin St.  Apt #177
                                                          Monroe, LA  71201

     Monday, June 25th - Well, I will email the rest to you tomorrow but I just wanted to let you know that I'm getting transferred and will be leaving tomorrow.  I'm either being transferred to Vicksburg, Mississippi or Monroe, Louisiana and I'm going District Leader.  Yeah already, I'm going district leader after only 5 months of being out. I'll be getting a lot more responsibility.  When President told me that I was just like, wait what???  Hahahaha!  I was really surprised!  I'm both sad and happy.  Sad because I'm going to miss my district and Meridian and happy because the President felt I needed more responsibility.  I'm also a little scared about it but I know the Lord qualifies us for His work so I'm confident that I'll be alright with it.  I will email you more tomorrow.

     Wednesay, June 27th-  Well I'm in Monroe, Louisiana with Elder Crockett who just got done with his training.  He's showing me the area and having me meet the members and our investigators.  Well I guessed pretty good. 

     Tuesday, Elder Ison and I headed to Clinton which is one of the transfer points.  I'm going to miss serving with Elder Ison and I'm really going to miss Meridian and that district we had a great time together.  We met up with the rest of the missionaries in Clinton (which is near Jackson half way to Monroe) and waited for the transfer van.  This will be the last time I see President Tucker and his wife.  The new mission President arrives this Saturday.  It's going to be crazy. 

     Finally, the van arrived.  I said goodbye to Ison and we headed west.  I got to sit and talk to Elder Whitehead again (from the MTC).  We talked about where we had served last and where we thought we were going.  He's probably going to Texas.  We stopped in Vicksburg for a bit to get gas and I got to see the Mississippi River for the first time when we crossed the bridge.  The drive actually didn't seem that long we got to Monroe fairly quickly it seemed (Meridian to Monroe is just over 200 miles).  They told me I was getting off here.  I met Elder Crockett and a member named Johnny.  Johnny apparently likes to feed the missionaries all the time and will be feeding us anytime we don't have a place to go.  I also found out that this is a bike area, no car now.  And guess what it's 108 degrees here and has been for a while. Hot!!!!  I'm probably going to die out here.  I'm not used to riding bikes so it's killing me!  Hopefully I'll get to lose some weight with all this biking! Hahaha!!  We got to play some basketball with a bunch of different missionaries.  And I'm already known as the beast for my post moves . . . hahaha!  It was a lot of fun.  I have a feeling I'm going to like it here a lot well except for the whole bike riding in 108 degrees thing.  I get to play a lot more basketball, a bunch of different missionaries get together every Monday and play.  So I'm pretty excited about that.
     I got to meet the Zone Leaders and the two sister missionaries here.  Sister Jenkins just got out of the MTC and sister Vanroosendall is training here.  I also got to meet the Stake President, President Pena.  Great guy, always seems to be in a good mood, and he takes his calling very seriously but in a good way.
     So this morning there was a baptism in West Monroe that we went to.  It's always a good sight to see someone enter into the waters of baptism.  Her name is Carolyn.  It was wierd because right before she was suppose to enter the font the power went out and the lights started to flicker like crazy.  It was crazy!!  But we got in done and had a good service.  After that we had a lunch apponintment with Sister Wear.  She's Chinese and I had a hard time getting her food down into my stomach but I got a lot of it.  She's a sweet lady but really worries about her son, who is at scout camp right now.  For some reason she has a really hard time not having contact with him.  I felt bad for her so we gave her a blessing.
     And now we're here emailing.  I hope I can survive this heat!  I'm sure I will love it in time.  I hope all is well.  And I hope you all have a good time celebrating grandma Ivy's 80th birthday.  Hopefully she got my card.  I love and miss you all! 

                                                      Your son, Elder Kerr

P.S.  I did hear that Miami won the Championship.  I was very happy about that and will want to get their championship stuff if I can find it out here.

Made the family tacos for my district, funnest exchange yet, and a transfer is in the air.

     Dad, I'm glad you enjoyed your Father's Day card.  I'm not going to lie I got teary eyed while I was writing it.  I don't remember if I told you but I made the family tacos for my district after district meeting.  It was my first time making them and I did burn a few and they were a little too greasy but none-the-less they were pretty dang good!
     Transfers are coming up on the 26th and the time has flown by.  It helps when you have a companion you get along with.  Elder Ison and I get along great so I'd rather not be transferred but I know if I am it's for the best because the Lord knows what's best for us.
     We were in Buckle the other day so that my companion could get his watch fixed.  The store manager was from St. George yet he didn't know much about the Mormons.  I was surprised.  And the lady that was working there used to live in the very apartment that we live in right now, 303 Deer Run.  Small world I guess ha, ha. 
     The sister missionaries have been visiting a less active sister, Carolyn, who was in need of a blessing.  She lives in these government trailer homes. I'm not sure what they are called but they are extremely poor.  She's been suffering with some ankle injuries.  And she had alot to talk about for a whole hour before we could give her a blessing.  We blessed her that she would be healed.  And she was at church the next day walking in heals!  Miracles happen all the time out here it seems. 
     Another cool thing that happened last week.  When we went to see Dominic he wasn't home so we tract on his street but didn't find anyone.  Then a thought came to me to go to Myrna Cole's (remember her?)  Well, we got there and she wasn't home.  Hmmm, why did I feel impressed to go there?  So we decided to tract on her street and I felt impressed again to head to this other house and we met a man outside along the way and was able to leave him with a BOM and set up a return appointment.  So maybe that was the reason, we will see.
     We got a chance to use the new approach President Tucker suggested on a new family in the ward, the Smith's.  They had invited us over for dinner so instead of the spiritual thought we asked if we could give them a blessing.  We blessed Tim and his wife Jamie and their 5 children, Kimberlyn, Kelsie, Hayden, Julian and TJ.  We blessed them to be safe, to have the Spirit in their home and to help move Christ's work forward.  It was a cool experience!  I love that family!
     We also had a lady scare us.  When we were tracting and went up to a house and just as we were about to knock a lady opened the door.  She didn't realize we were there and when she did she screamed then shut the door saying "I don't have any clothes on."  We were just like "Sorry mam".  We explained who we were through the door and asked if she was interested, she wasn't but we left a Book of Mormon on her porch for her.  It was kind of funny and scary.
     Last Wednesday Elder Ison had a leadership meeting so I went on exchanges in Petal with an Elder Whitlock.  This was my funnest exchange yet.  We got along great!  In fact, I hope that I get to serve with him at some point on my mission.  And in Petal I really liked the area.  We tracted and got some return appointments.  The only downside of this exchange was that an investigater told us she doesn't need the Book of Mormon so she doesn't want the missionaries to come anymore.  We tried to convince her otherwise but she said no.  So we left her with our testimonies that if she really wanted to know if the BOM is true she must do it with a sincere heart.  I could tell she felt the spirit because she got a little teary eyed and said she wanted to go get some rest.  You could tell she wasn't use to having the Spirit with her.
     Well I'll end for now.  You better send any future mail to the mission home until after this transfer.  I don't want to miss any mail.  I Love ya and miss you all and hope all is well.  Your loving son, Elder Kerr.

P.S.  No, I didn't hear that the ward might be moving to the building across the street from our house.  Why would they do that?
    
 

Four months out and I got to fly in the Navel Air Base Meridian's official flight simulator! So AWESOME!!

     I can't believe that I have been out for 4 months already.  It seems like it's going faster and faster each transfer and each month. February and March went by way slow but April and May went by so quickly and this month will be even faster because Elder Ison  and I are getting along so well that it's going to be fun to serve with him.
   Last week I had my 2nd Zone Conference, my last with President Tucker, and he gave us a new tool for missionary work.  It's a new approach when introducing ourselves to people.  Instead of explaining that we are missionaries and have a message to share with them.  We say instead, "We are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ and He has sent us here to leave his peace and blessing in your home.  May we leave that blessing?"  After President Tucker gave us this new approach I felt the Spirit very strongly so I'm way excited to use it! 
     I think I told you that Meridan has a Naval Air Base (Naval Air Base Meridian) well we have a member who is training there who invited us to dinner.  He took us on a tour of all the planes and he let us fly the official simulators of the base.  It was so cool!  We got to be in the actual cockpit part of the simulator!  It was SO AWESOME! 
     I'm really starting to like different foods out here.  We had shrimp for dinner at a members house last week and I tried it and decided I liked it.  It was pretty dang delicious.  I meant to tell you, a few weeks ago we were invited to the Matheson's home for an amazing dinner.  It was roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, w/vegetables.  It was one of our usual Sunday dinners when I was home.  It was so delicious and reminded me so much of home. 
          This genealogy that you found is pretty exciting, Mom.  The Kerr's dating back to 1000 AD and the relatives in Croatia! 
     Well, of course, I accidentally deleted all of my pictures again like I did on our family trip to Moab.  But I remembered most of what I had taken pictures of and was able to retake alot of them but I better have you send me my USB cord so I can start saving them on a flashdrive.  Well I'll end for now, I love you and miss you all!              

                                                            Your son,

                                                             Elder Kerr

May Zone Conference in Hattiesburg

May Zone Conference luncheon

The work's been slow but it should pick up next month.

     My new companion is from Huntington, Utah and his first name is Shawn, just like mine.  He was in the Columbia and Hazelhurst districts prior to this transfer.  Elder Ison and I have quite a bit in common.  He's only a couple of months older than me.  We both love sports, we're both kind of random and we both like to have fun!  Our entire district just gets along great! I've introduced him to all of our investigators but because we've used the rest of our miles with transfers and zone conference the work has been slow.  We've had to try to get rides everywhere or ride our bikes.  But we'll be getting new miles on June 1st.  The work should pick up this next month.
     We did some service for the Matheson's.  We tore down their old trampoline, painted their window seals and filled in the cracks with caulking.  Then their dog got loose and we had to chase her down but we got her back in no time.
     I have my 2nd Zone Conference on the 31st.  Our assignment for this conference is to go over the talk "The Fourth Missionary" and write a 5-minute talk on what we learned.  I really enjoyed it, it was 29 pages long and I learned alot.
     Our newest investigator's name is Graham Hunter.  His wife, Charity, is a member but less active.  I mentioned them before.  He's just trying to get Sunday's off.  So maybe you can remember him in your prayers.
     That's pretty cool that BYU won the Rugby Championship!  That'd be a cool shirt to have. 
     So Jared's going to take piano lessons, that'll be cool then he can teach me.  And then we both can learn to play the bagpipes together.  It would be fun!  I'd like that.  And let Jared know that we will always be a family where ever I am because we are sealed for time and all eternity.
     There are cemetery's here in Meridian but they're not as well kept as the ones in Utah.  In fact, they're kind of creepy like the ones you'd see in scary movies.  But the Gypsy queen was actually buried here in Meridian so Gypsies from all over the world come to pay their respects.
     School ended here like a week ago but they start back up the first part of August.  Oh, guess what?  I actually got the courage to donate blood to the hospital.  It wasn't that bad, just weird.
     That's very exciting that you found some family in Zagreb.  I think it would be so cool to go to Croatia someday and meet some distant family. I haven't heard from anybody in the ward or family in a while.  The mail stopped coming fairly quickly.  I haven't gotten that much mail lately.  Tell people to please write.
I'll end for now.  I love you and miss you a ton!

                                                   Your son, Elder Kerr

P.S.  Congratulations Alex and Samantha - 2012 graduates!!  Awesome!!

Staying in Meridian but with a new companion, Elder Ison.

     We learned on Sunday that I would be staying in Meridian but Elder Blomquist would be transferred on Tuesday.  We drove to the Stake Center which is just outside of Jackson for transfers.  I didn't get to learn where Elder Blomquist was headed but he'll probably text me later.  He had served in the Petal District before he came to Meridian and they are both in the Hattiesburg Zone. 
     I met my new companion and his name is Elder Ison.  He's been out for about 10 months.  We also got a new sister missionary.  So our district now consists of me, Elder Ison, Sister Harding, and Sister Richard.  I am now the missionary who has been in Meridian the longest.  I think Elder Ison and I will get along just fine.  We spent some time after transfers playing basketball.  Most of the districts in MJM have 4 missionaries but a few have 6 and the whole mission has about 140-150 missionaries.
     I forgot to tell you when I called on Sunday that I got to sing in the Primary Choir on Mother's Day.  They only have 5 boys so they asked us to help.  It was quite fun!  It's been a few yearts since I last sang in the Primary Choir. 
     In answer to your question mom we have been noticed more since Mitt Romney has been running for President but nothing too unusual.  We've had a couple of interesting experiences.  One day when we were tracting we had someone come to the door and say "Latter Day Saints.  I'm not interested in your religion but I'm voting for Mitt". and closed the door.  And we've had a couple of  people come up to us and identify us as Mormons and tell us they were voting for Mitt but it hasn't really helped with investigators.  And I think most people here are for Obama anyway.  We do have a new investigator.  His wife is a member but not active and he has been taught by the missionaries before so, hopefully, he may be ready now.
     I hope you guys have a wonderful anniversary on Saturday (23 years)!  Aaron will have been out for 1 year on that same day.  It was great talking to all of you on Sunday, maybe for Christmas we can try and skype.

                                                        Love ya and miss ya, your son

I felt like a "Rock Star"!

     We went to an event last week called, Tisba.  It's a monthly activity where people come together to play country music, they serve food and you can draw on the tables.  The tables were all covered in paper.  I decided to draw the picture of the 2nd Coming of the Savior.  Everybody loved it.  So many people loved it that I became very popular.  An older lady asked if she could have it and I was like "sure"!  So I signed it and gave it to her.  They asked us to come back so that I could draw again.  I felt like a "Rock Star".  Sadly, we didn't get any investigators from this event but it was fun.
     In 8 days I will be done with my training.  Transfers are on the 15th so I will probably find out if I'm getting transferred on Mother's Day.  I'll let you know when I call but it might be best if everyone starts using the Mission Office address until I know for sure.  This will be the last transfer that President Tucker will be here for.  I also had my first and last interview with President Tucker.  He's a way cool guy.  He gave me some scriptures to help us stay motivated (Mosiah chapters 1 and 4,  D&C 19:16-21, Alma 7 and 36).
     So this was a pretty slow week for missionary work.  We weren't able to see Barbara Young but we've been teaching Ashley Thomas (the Dietician).  She's been to church with us twice already.  She's watched the Joseph Smith movie and is reading the Book of Mormon.  She's been taught most of the lessons.  And I think she has felt the Spirit big time but she's afraid to pray.   I think she's afraid she'll find out she needs to change her lifestyle and I guess she isn't ready for that.  I hope she will find a way to have an open heart and pray.  This Church is so true.
     I will end for now.  I love you and miss you.  I hope all is well.

Love your son

P.S.  So you guys went and seen "The Avengers".  That is definitely a movie I want to see so add that to my list of movies you're getting for me to watch.  And if you can a GPS would be very useful out here.

P.S.S.  I loved your talk mom!!!