We put our hands on the baby's head. . . . . and the spirit rushed into the room.

Dear Mother.

Not a whole lot of detail for this week because it was a slower week but it was a decent one though. We had a couple of good experiences! We met with Frank again this week and taught him the Plan of Salvation. That went really well. He told us he is still very interested and that he is going to read and pray more. He was talking with us and I'm pretty sure that he already has his answer but just doesn't know it yet. Anyways, we also found out that he won't be in Long Beach anymore! He will be moving to Gulfport so the other missionaries will be teaching him the rest of the lessons! Which is fine, I just want to see him join the church. =)

We also had an oppurtunity to go to the hospital to give a newborn baby a blessing. He wasn't doing so good. I had never given a blessing to a baby. They had him in a separate room to make sure he wouldn't catch anything. I don't even think the parents had a chance to hold him yet. Anyways, we went in and the doctors were hesitant at first but they let us in.  We walked in and saw this newborn baby just laying there and he looks directly at us and starts crying a little.  We put our hands on the babys head as gently as possible and I gave him a blessing. At first he started to cry but as we got further into it he stopped crying.  And then the spirit rushed into the room and it was so strong. One of the times in my life that I have felt it the strongest! I finished the blessing and he was looking right at me with the most peaceful eyes I have ever seen. It was like he knew everything was going to be alright. And that he knew that we were there to help him. It was the most undescribable feeling! But I left there knowing even more that there is a God! I was tearing up the whole way out of the Hospital I couldn't hold back my tears. =) It was an amazing experience! It strenghened my testimony of God even more!

Another experience we had this week. On Saturday we went out tracting and ran into this hard core Baptist. He was telling us that our religion is wrong. I told him straight up that we weren't there to argue with him! And from that point on the spirit took over and we were able to explain to him about The Book of Mormon. He accepted a Book and we challenged him to read and pray! When we testified even his apperence changed and it seemed like he was tearing up a bit! It was another cool experience, another time where the spirit was so very strong! I can't even remember most of the things we even talked about! Anyways, that was our week!

I love ya and I hope all is well.

The CHURCH IS TRUE!!

Love

Elder Kerr

I sure did LOVE conference, I always do now!

 

Dear Mother!

I sure did love conference! I really loved it! I always do now! It's hard to say what my favorite talk was, I loved them all. I have been trying to let the Holy Ghost teach me while listening lately. So when I write notes it's just whatever the Holy Ghost brings to my mind. Sometimes it's something that has to do with what they're speaking about and sometimes my notes are nothing to do with what they were talking about! It's actually really cool when you do it this way! Anyways, I did really like the talk by President Monson in the Priesthood session! It was way awesome and I loved it! He was talking about Home Teaching! I love President Monson!

Yep, I love Steve's Blondie's! So good hahahaha I ate them right up! I was so stoked opening that package and seeing them there hahahahaha good stuff! Thanks Steve! So on to my week!

Monday the 30th

P-Day! We had a great p-day! played some volleyball and surprisingly some Soccer, hahaha, I suck at Soccer but it was a lot of fun! We didn't have a basketball so we weren't able to play any B-ball! We went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant and emailed and that was about it! It was good stuff!

Tuesday the 1st

So today we tracted a ton but didn't really get much, in fact, we went up to one door and a lady comes running out and is like what church are you guys from? "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints" GO AWAY!!!!! hahahaha and we saw a few other people outside their houses and then went in when they saw us and wouldn't open the door when we knocked hahaha Oh well, hopefully the Lord will soften their hearts one day!

Today we had an appointment with a guy named Frank that we found tracting.  We taught him The Restoration. The Lesson went great! Elder Fisher is a great teacher already! He is like 50 times better at teaching then I was when I first started teaching! I didn't even speak! hahaha But we had a great lesson and he was really interested in learning more so we are going back in a week to see what he like about The Book of Mormon!

Wednesday the 2nd!

We had district meeting held my Elder Paul out District Leader! We had a good lesson on finding investigators mixed in with planning to find them! It was good! We then went to Raising Canes for lunch! I'm going to miss Raising Canes so much when I leave here! After that we went and practiced teaching and then went back home. Later that day the Waits brought us food and it was Pizza Hut! Good stuff! We also got a referral for a Micheal Parrow! We were excited for that!

Thursday the 3rd!

So today we went out to see a bunch of less actives! And did a lot of tracting! It was good but not much came from it! I felt good because I was working way hard but sad because not much came out of it! Oh well, we did find a potiential! That will be exciting! Then we went and ate at Subway! I'm greatful to get free subway once a week here! hahaha good stuff!

Friday the 4th!

So today sucked because my front bike tire went flat and there was no fixing it! We had to walk all the way to Walmart and back to get a tube! We got it and fixed it up and then we went and did some tracting. We met with the referral that we received the other day and him and his family seem way legit! I'm way excited to teach them! After that it was pretty late! We were picked up by the south Gulfport missionaries and spent the night there so we could go to the church in the morning to watch conference and play ball! It was way awesome!

Saturday the 5th

We got up played some backetball and went and watched conference all day! It was a lot of fun. The hurricane sucked, we had a couple of rainstorms here and there, a couple of really dark clouds went by but nothing much at all.   I was disappointed hahahaha! But General Conference was legit and I loved every minute of it! We were fed some pizza in between and then had some rootbeer floats after priesthood!

Sunday the 6th

It was the same good stuff and then afterwards we went to the Harper's for dinner and we were basically done for the day! It was a good week! And I loved Conference! It's the best! And it is my last conference in the mission the 4th and final one in my mission! THE CHURCH IS TRUE! Doubt your doubts, don't doubt your Faith!

love

Elder Kerr

 

 

 

 

Sept 23rd - 29th

Dear Mother

So we had a pretty good first week Elder Henrie's last day was Monday the 23rd.  We basically just did things that Elder Henrie wanted to do! We went around so Elder Henrie could say his goodbyes. I also got my haircut professionally, this is the first in the mission field. The last time I did that was in the MTC. HAHAHA. It was good! Sister Slatten usually does my haircuts for me! I love it!

Tuesday the 24th

Transfer day! I said goodbye to Elder Henrie and Elder Mossman, who were leaving the District. Then basically just hung out at the church all day until the new missionaries got there. Got a text message saying that I would be training Elder Fisher. He came in and he is a way awesome guy. He just barely graduated High School so he is about Megan's age. He's part Tongan, he loves sports and especially Rugby! A sport that I really want to try out when I get home. Sounds way fun. hahaha. We had a dinner appointment with the Clawson family. His first dinner appointment with the guy who played for the BYU football ( I think I told you guys about him, he was the one that took Sam Bradford with a broken collar bone!) haha anyways it was good. I was planning on taking Elder Fisher tracting right away but it was raining super hard all day! It kinda sucked! Oh well, we went to the pad and he unpacked and we then planned!

Wednesday the 25th

District meeting today! It was a great meeting with our new District Leader Elder Paul. He has been out about 8 months or so! He is way cool. So I guess president wants young leadership in the mission. I guess he doesn't want missionaries going home as leadership anymore. We have a lot of young leadership. Anyways after the meeting we went out to lunch and then we went out to see Howard and the Smiths! After that we went out tracting for the first time and surprisingly the first door we knocked on, the guy is a less active Mormon hahahahaha. I was like well that's convenient! His name was Gilbert Dasiova and we are going to try to come back and see him. Anyways, we didn't have a lot of success but we got a return appointment with a guy named Tim. We lent him a copy of The Book of Mormon and got a return appointment! We will see where that takes us!  He was pretty dang nervous! But so is everyone really there first time haha! After that we went to see the Slattens. Some really cool members and we talked with them for a bit. Sister Slatten loves missionaries coming over (she was the one to cut my hair) and we got to talk to her for a bit.  After that not much happened but it was a pretty good day to break him into missionary work.

Thursday the 26th

Now today was not a good day we went tracting and got nothing we tried a bunch of people and no one was home. But the Gulfport South missionaries hadn't emailed yet so we went and picked them up and took them to the library. Then we went to the Stevenson's for dinner and they made us MANTI TURKEY!!!!!!  I WAS LIKE, YES!!! I REMEMBER GRANDMA SHARON MAKING THIS FOR US! It was GREAT hahahaha!

Friday the 27th

We did our Weekly Planning! It was kinda slow because basically I was trying to show Elder Fisher how to do it and he was basically making the decisions. But it made sense, he's brand new but he definitely is catching on.  Then we went and tried contacting this referral that we received! She was hesitant at first but we lent here The Book of Mormon and got a return appointment with her so, hopefully, she is solid!  Then we went and got subway because we get free Subway once a week here in this ward! It is sick!!! Love it! We did quite a bit of tracting today, it was good! We did about an hour and a half tracting which can be a long time. But we tracted this big long street! Mt. Bass! And really for most the part no luck but we were going to this house and for some reason I thought this guy was going to yell at us so I was hesitant! But I said a prayer and we went anyways and he comes out and is like, "I'm not interested in anything you're selling boys" and we just say "We aren't selling anything", He says "is it free?" and we say "YES" and he says "can I eat it." You could but it wouldn't taste good haha. We started teaching him right there and he was interested he started reading The Book of Mormon right when we walked away and we got a return appointment and he said that he is looking forward to it! So me and Elder Fisher are really excited! His name is Frank and we are planning to see him on the 1st (so tommorow!) It will be good I hope :) After we tracted we went out with Brother Clawson and went and tried seeing a bunch of less actives! We got to meet 2! One was Amanda Cross and her husband Daniel. We just told her straight up, "we are here to invite you back to church" and she started to open back up to us! We got in and left a little message and we are going to start teaching them. I don't think Daniel, her husband, is a member! So I'm excited about that! Then we met a girl named Sherri Allen and we were straight up with her as well and invited her back and she started opening up to us. She said that she is interested in giving us a call and having us teach her and her family!  This is a part member family so the first thing that popped into my head was to teach them that Families can be together forever! It's going to be good!

After that we went to correlation meeting with our new ward mission leader, Travis Engebretson! And then went back home and planned! It was a great day!

Saturday the 28th

Today we saw Howard again, with the Smith's and then afterwards we went and saw Ezzard a recent investigator. We invited him to be baptized and he wants to! He basically has been taught everything, he just needs to read and pray and come to church. And have the Faith to do it! So we will be working with him! It will be exciting! We committed him to come to church and to read and pray to prepare himself! It will be good!

Sunday the 29th

Fast and testimony meeting!! I love it!  It was a great Sunday! Elder Fisher's first Sunday in the mission field! He got up and bore his testimony! And it was awesome! Not much happened after church but it was a great week! I loved it! And I love Elder Fisher!  He is from St. George my 2nd companion from that area. Elder Averett was the first!

Well I'll end there! The church is true everyone, the church is TRUE!

love

Elder Kerr

Elder Henrie is headed to El Dorado for his last 6 weeks and I'm training!!

Dear Mother,

     Guess what? I'm training a brand new missionary!!!! I'm super excited!!! This is my first time training someone! I'm very nervous but I'm also very excited as well. I plan to take him out tracting right away! It's going to be super awesome! Elder Henrie is going to El Dorado, Arkansas his last 6 weeks. This was very unexpected we both thought he was going to stay in Long Beach until he went home but nope!! He is leaving and I'm going to be training anyways I will send a longer email tomorrow! I love ya and talk to you later

love Elder Kerr

We had a Stake Priesthood meeting that got us pumped up!

Sept 2nd-8th

So this week went alright! It was a very hot week and I sweated a lot!!! Hahahaha

Monday the 2nd

We had a our P-Day and did our usual! We played basketball and some football, just for a little bit! Then we did our shopping and all that kinda stuff! No emails because of Labor day so we did them the next day!

Tuesday the 3rd

Today Howard Dunaway came back from out of town.  He was up in Picayune! So we went and visited with him for a bit and then set a return appointment! Later that day we went and saw TJ and Jamie Evans and taught them a new Member lesson! Jamie is a recent convert and we are trying to start the new member lessons with her! It went really well! We committed them to have Family Home Evening, amily prayer and family scripture study! It was awesome!

Wednesday the 4th

We had our District Meeting today and that was way good. I love District Meeting especially because we get to see all of the other missionaries in our district! We talked about planning. Later that day we made a less active list and organized it so we can start trying to see some less actives and bring them back to church! Way exciting!

Thursday the 5th

Today we saw a guy named Webster and he was nice and ended up giving us each a tie! He showed us all these pictures of his distant relatives! And we talked to him about our church and family history program! We also did some tracting today but nothing. We went and saw the Favre's, today a less active family, who we asked if we could come by and teach them the missionary lessons again. They agreed and then we committed them to come to church again, ( they ended up coming too). We saw some other members today as well! Sister Henson and Brother Capps! It was a decent day but we were very hot and sweaty at the end of it!

Friday the 6th

Today we did our weekly planning and then we went and saw Howard. We read in Doctrine and Covenants section 1 with him! After that we went tried seeing several other people but no look! We rode a good bit of bike miles today! And sweated a ton again! We ended up riding into Gulfport and we live pretty close to Pass Christian! Anyways we ended up tracting for a bit! During tracting we were able to teach some people on their door step! It was way cool! It was a decent day!  

Saturday the 7th

Slower day today not much happened! Except we found out that we are getting a new Ward Mission Leader! We will find out next week at some point who it is!

Sunday the 8th

Today was a great day! We got the Favre's to come to church today.  Howard was ordained to the office of a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood! We then got to go see some people with Brother Butler! Later that night we had a Stake Priesthood meeting that was awesome! It got us pumped up to do even better! The mission has a plan to work with the members more and bring the people back to church! It was a great!

Well that was my week and I was very excited to hear BYU beat Texas!

love you all!

The Church is true!

love

Elder Kerr

 

 

August 26th-Sept 1st

 

Dear family,

The Baptism went really well! Elder Jones the guy I replaced came down from Jackson to perform the baptism.  It was a good day and everything went really well!

Monday the 26th

It was a P-day and we had a Zone P-day and played a bunch of Volleyball which was a lot of fun! I loved it! Anyways after that we went to the Brush's for dinner and we had some smoked pork with rice which was delicious!

Tuesday the 27th

We went over the stop smoking workshop with a less active named Jeff! It went pretty well! I hate seeing people so addicted to Smoking, it's never a good thing! Later that day Elder Mossman came down and interviewed Joel for his baptism. During the interview I sat out in the back and looked at Joel's Harley and I'm just like it would be so cool to have a Harley! Way sick but anyways the interview went great and he was ready to go!

Wednesday the 28th

We had a Zone meeting today! So the whole zone got together and the Zone Leaders taught us! We reviewed what the Seventy taught us last week! It went really well! Anyways it was a great meeting very spirit filled!

Thursday the 29th

Joel's Baptism was today and Elder Jones came down and performed it! The Baptism went great and Elder Jones and the guy he was training spent the night here! His Trainee is from Uganda Africa! He has a crazy accent and is a way cool kid!

Friday the 30th

Today we did some weekly planning which took most of the day!  After that we went and tried seeing a bunch of people but not a whole lot of luck really! We decided to go to Subway for dinner and when we got there we ran into the Harper's.  They ended up taking us next door for dinner at a Chinese Buffet! It was way nice of them.

Saturday the 31st

Today we went and practiced teaching the Slattens The Plan of Salvation! It went pretty well! But then Our next appointment cancelled on us. But they did feed us dinner for Lunch which was way cool! Anyways we went to see the Smiths. And then we were Invited back over to the slattens for a Birthday party! It was Fun! Sister Slatten loves having us over and every time we say we need to leave she doesn't want us to hahaha After that we went and had correlation meeting with our Ward Mission Leader and Then went home and went to bed!

Sunday the 1st!

Happy Birthday to Todd! I heard he got himself a pretty nice present! =) Today was fast and testimony meeting! It was a good Sunday! After that we tried contacting a couple of referals and then later we went out with Brother Gentry and saw a former investigator named Ezzard! He is a way tight Black guy that really wants to be baptized! And I think he will be. Anyways, we were able to talk with him for a bit! Then we went to see a recent convert to try and help them with Bro Gentry! TJ and Jamie Evans! We talked with them and then we all shared our favorite scripture! It was a good meeting and we set a return appointment to go teach Jamie the New Member lessons! It will be good!

That was my week! I hope yours went well!

love your son

Elder Kerr

We should be having a baptism this coming Thursday!

     This week was a fantastic week because we got to hear from a member of the Quorum of the Seventy! Elder Kopischke was his name! He taught us so much and we were very blessed to be taught by him! General Authorities are amazing men! He was way funny and he was able to teach us very well! I learned a lot! And I also got to see a bunch of missionaries I haven't seen in a long time! It was a good time! Half the mission went to Hattiesburg Mississippi to meet and be taught by Elder Kopischke! Good stuff! That was Thursday! http://www.lds.org/church/leader/erich-w-kopischke there is a link to more about the seventy I was able to meet!

     We didn't get to officially teach Bryan Young this week but we left him a Plan of Salvation Pamphlet for him to read and we should be meeting with him this coming Saturday to go over it! He feels like he needs to read a lot more of The Book of Mormon to be able to answer more of his questions.   Anyways, I hope it goes well!

     We should be having a baptism this coming Thursday, Joel Kozlowski! he will be baptized on the 29th of August! It will be way exciting! He has been taught ever since I came into the mission! He says he is definitely ready to get this done! We are way excited for him! We are also going to teach his kids that are over 8 years old and have them be baptized as well! There are like 5 kids that are over 8! It will be the first time for me to teach children! So I'm excited for that!

     Then we are going to start the stop smoking workshop with an in-active member of the ward! That will be good! Its always good to help people quit smoking! I believe that's all that really happened last week!
I'll end there! I love ya and miss ya! 

Love your son

Elder Kerr

P.S. I got the package from grandma Sharon! Tell her thank you for me! =)

Today we had an amazing lesson on the Restoration! I loved this lesson, it was so good!

Dear family, 

     I have sent out the memory card today! So it should make it there soon, in a couple days, I think!  School is starting! It's crazy to me that in only like 3 years all 3 of us will be graduated! So onto my week.

Monday the 12th

Today was the start of a new transfer! It was a pretty good day! We were able to meet with Joel! Who is getting ready to be baptized! We had a good lesson on Baptism with him! Then we got fed by a recent convert Mark and Sandy! They fed us Lasagna! It was good!

Tuesday the 13th

Today was the transfer day! We went and said goodbyes to the people leaving our district! It was a sad time to see Elder Hosea go home! It's weird to think that I am becoming one of the older missionaries in the mission! Super weird! hahahaha. But I got to play some basketball with a bunch of missionaries which was a lot of fun.

Wednesday the 14th

Good old District Meeting today! We have 3 new missionaries in our district, Elders Kent and Palmeri, and Sister Booth!

Thursday the 15th

It was a slower day today not much happened!

Friday the 16th

Today was a pretty good day! We got like 4 lessons in and passed out 3 copies of the Book of Mormon! Hopefully, we can bring these guys closer to Christ and continue to teach them.

Saturday the 17th

Today we had an amazing lesson with a guy named, Bryan Young! He is cop. We had a lesson on the Restoration! I loved this lesson, it was so good! We actually found him tracting and have challenged him to read and pray! He was just so legit and is going to do exactly what we have asked him to do! Anyways, It went really well and it just made me happy all day today! I loved it so much! We are going to go see him again next Saturday! I'm super excited!

Sunday the 18th

Today I experienced a Tropical Depression for the first time! It's just under a Tropical Storm! And seeing what a Tropical Depression can do, I can't even imagine what a hurricane would be like! Crazy stuff! But it was a good Sunday!

 Slower week but loved what we were able to do! The CHURCH IS TRUE

 

love

Elder Kerr

Pray for Amber and Joel. Thanks for all of the cards, letters and packages! It was awesome!

Dear family,

August 5th-10th    

     I did get a lot of extra mail for my 18 month anniversary! It was awesome and much appreciated! I got packages from Connie, Crystal, Nicole and Samantha.  Thank you all very much!  And I loved the Superman Shirt, mom! I threw that on right when I got it!  I also got several letters, cards and postcards from Jenny and the girls, grandma Sharon and grandma Ivy and some ward members.  Thank you all! 

     Congratulations Josh on your call to Tonga! THATS AWESOME! I'm so proud of you!!!! Did anybody guess right, who was the closest?  I don't have my planner on me because it's the start of a new transfer so I have a new one.  I am staying with Elder Henrie another transfer which probably means that I will stay with him until he goes home because he only has 1 transfer left!  Anyways it's coming up fast! We are still in a finding stage for new investigators. We tracted quite a bit and found a few people that told us we could come back but when we did they didn't answer.  But the other missionaries are super busy at the moment so hopefully we will start again.

     Please pray for Amber and Joel. Joel has been an investigator that has been taught for a while now.  He wants to be baptized really soon but the Bishop and others are concerned that he doesn't quite understand the commitment of joining the Church. So hopefully, we can help him to better understand!  Pray for him! 

     Our Zone Leader, Elder Hosea, is headed home this Wednesday! He is a great missionary and I look up to him! He will be missed! We had a BBQ with him on Saturday and had a little going away party for him! It was legit! Anyways sorry this week wasn't too detailed! But I love you and miss you! Not to long until I will be home too!

Love your Son

Elder Kerr

July 29th-August 4th

Monday the 29th

P-day! Today we played some ball with the other Elders and had a good time! Your average p-day! We were fed by the Bensons, that was awesome! They are a great family! He was telling us stories from his mission.  He served out of country and he was telling us all these stories and it just made me say to myself. "I'm glad to serve in the states! hahaha

Tuesday the 30th

Yesterday Elder Henrie rolled his ankle pretty badly so we weren't able to do much today! But we did finish a few things we weren't able to do on P-Day so that was good!

Wednesday the 31st

We had a DDM today! And it was about teaching the people and not the lessons. Teach what the people need not just recite the lessons! It was good! We then went on exchanges! I went with Elder Mossman in Gulfport South and we had ourselves a good time.

Thursday the 1st

We changed back to our companionships. Elder Henrie and I took a list of less active members and primary children. Nobody was home. We also stopped by and started teaching a man named Michael. Some missionaries found him a while ago and we decided to stop by to see how he was doing! We talked about the Book of Mormon a bit and set a return appointment! It was awesome! We also stopped by to see how Howard was doing,our recent convert! He was doing really well but his car wasn't he had to trash it.  Anyways, Howard and his Aunt Smith told us that the Sunday when I confirmed him a member they teared up because they felt that God was speaking through me. They felt they heard God's voice through me! I was really touched by that. Another amazing experience! I loved it! Good day.

Friday the 2nd

Today we did some weekly planning already planning for week 6! This transfer went by fast only 4 more transfers after this one! It was good! We tried seeing a bunch of people today but we couldn't find anybody. We did have dinner with Michael and Daniel today with the Sisters! That was a pretty awesome time! I loved it!

Saturday the 3rd!

Today we contacted some referals that we had and tried some other less actives! But no one was home again. We did visit with a recent convert named Mark! He showed us his big fish tank.  He had Clown fish in the tank like nemo! He had a salt water tank which I haven't seen before! It was awesome! We tracted today as well! We went out and we did find someone that wanted us to come back. His name was Bryan Young! I'm way excited for that! I haven't had too much success on my mission through tracting! So hopefully he is legit!

Sunday the 4th

Fast and testimony meeting today! It was a good, it's always interesting to here everyones testimony! After church we went out with Brother Wade, the Elders Quorum President, and did some Home teaching with him. It was awesome! We saw the Evan's and the Gramma's! Great families! After that we took our dinner! which I very much enjoyed! Good Sunday!

Well that was my week! It was a decent week and I enjoyed it! Anyways, I hope all is well and I hope everyone has a good week. 

The Church is true!

Love
Elder Kerr