Thursday, April 26, 2012

I know Jesus is the Christ, our Savior, Redeemer and greatest example. I know He lives.

     Today is a wonderful day in Mississippi, weather wise.  It's sunny with a real cool breeze.  People here don't like the cold but we do.  I'll probably look forward to getting back to Utah weather because I love the cooler weather.   I do not like it hot at all. 
     Nothing has really happened with Barbara Young.  We've only been able to teach her one other time as I went on exchanges with the zone leaders and she isnt doing so well.  She hurt her leg and has been in a lot of pain.  She still wants us to come though so that is something good.
     I really enjoyed exchanges with the zone leaders.  I went with an Elder McMullin.  He's from Canada and loves playing Rugby which he's got me interested in too.  We went around in Oakgrove and was able to teach a guy named Danny.  He seems very accepting so I hope all goes well with him and the zone leaders.
     We have a new investigator named Ashley Thomas, she's Buddhist.  We taught her the first 2 lessons and she came with us to church.  She said that was one of the best experiences at church she has ever had.  I'm just thinking, oh yeah, the Church is true that's why you enjoyed it so much but I'm trying not to get too excited.  She loves us.  She's actually one of the Dietician's at the Hospital.  Her dog loves me too, he's cute.  We are taking a very gentle approach with her.  I hope the Spirit will touch her and she will be open to it. 
     I had my first and last interview with our Mission President.  President Tucker is a way cool guy.  It seems weird that we'll be getting a new president in May. I'm loving this work and my testimony is growing so much out here.  I know this church is true and I know Jesus is the Christ, our Savior , Redeemer and greatest example.  I know He lives.
                                                             Love your son

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

I had an awesome birthday! Got to ride on one of the oldest carousels in the United States.

     I had an awesome birthday!  Thank you everybody!  Some investigators took us to Cici's Pizza for lunch.  First time ever going and I thought it was delicious!!!  I bought a pair of shorts with some of my birthday money.  And the cake did get here in one piece although a little beat up but sooo delicious!!!!  I'm loving the new compact bible. Thank you so much for the package, I loved it!!
     It's one of those hot and humid days today 87 degrees and so humid.  It's crazy because not even the people from Mississippi get used to this weather. So that's going to be crazy.  I did my own hair cut out here for the first time.  It feels so good to have short hair.  I don't like it long even when it's only a couple of inches long.
     We walked around downtown and realized that half of the buildings are boarded up and not being used.  But we saw some really cool places and were just thinking that this place was probably so cool back in the day.  Oh, and I got to ride on one of the oldest carousels in the United States last Saturday.  It was in this park (Highland Park) and it was pretty big.  Apparently it's a big thing down here so I feel pretty cool having been able to ride it.  We did this thing called Chalk Talk that day too with the sisters.  We drew gospel pictures in the parking lot to see if anyone would ask us questions and it worked we got two new investigators. They told us to come and visit them this coming Wednesday or Thursday.  So that was cool.  We have interviews with the Mission President tomorrow. 
     This week out in the field has been way good.  I got the approval to drive now.  The first car I got to drive out here was a 2011 Chevy Malibu.  We have taught quite a few lessons already and usually most of our lessons come on Saturday's since most people are home then.  And I got to give my first blessing on Wednesday.  It was awesome to finally do one.  I have only done the anointing part but finally I have done the actual blessing. 
     It's wierd, why do so many people want us to break the rules?  We have this potential investigator named Ashley that always wants us to go with her to do things like go to New Orleans or the coast of Mississippi or to a movie for my birthday.  It's frustrating getting asked to do things that we can't.  The one thing about this mission is that alot of missionaries have been disobedient or so I've heard alot of stories.  And I don't want to be one of them and I don't want any companions that are because that would just suck.  This mission is definitely hard especially when you can't find anyone solid to teach.  It's hard to stay motivated but I know it's part of this mission experience.
     We have some service projects lined up for today.  I'm excited because we haven't done that much service since I've been out in the field.  Well I'll end for now.  I love you dad.  I love you mom.  I love you Megan and I love you Jared.  I miss you all so much.  I hope all is well.

                                                                          Love

                                                                      Elder Kerr

The Higland Park Dentzel Carousel was built in 1896 by Gustav Dentzel of Philidelphia for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition and was later sold to the City of Meridian.  It arrived in Meridian in 1909 and has occupied its same location in Highland Park.  Its house is the only remaining original carousel building built from the Dentzel blueprint.  In 1977, Meridian's carousel and carousel house along with Highland Park were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  In 1986, the Department of Interior designated the Highland Park Dentzel Carousel and Carousel House as National Landmarks.  At the time this honor was given to 11 carousels nationwide, with Meridian's being the only one located in the South.  It was purchased in 1909 for $2,000 but today its valued at more than a million dollars and the city of Meridian views it as a unique community and country treasure.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Our investigator has a lake in her backyard. . . .we went fishing.

     Our investigator, Barbara Young,  is way awesome.  She is almost 70 years old and still has a full time job and takes care of her house and a very awesome backyard by herself.  She's a very hard worker.  She has a bunch of different plants in her backyard and a pretty decent sized lake.  We are always trying to help her so she asked us to go fishing to get rid of some of her fish.  So. . . . we went fishing, didn't catch anything but almost.  So I got to go fishing out here and it was awesome!
    Oh, I just remembered and forgot to tell you but when I first got out here I saw a picture with two missionaries and Karl Malone.  So I think Karl is an investigator in our mission.  Very Awesome!!!!  I also found a mini me out here.  There's this kid named, Riley Ridley, and he looks alot like I did when I was younger.  Everybody thinks he looks like me and so do I, it's pretty funny.
     I received my Easter Basket and poster and I loved it so much.  I really like that picture too, I feel like a stud in that picture hahaha. . . .no just kidding.  My Easter was awesome!  We did an intense Easter hunt and I loved this Easter because of my love for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His ulitmate gift, the Atonement.  I'm so grateful for this gift, I have felt the power of the Atonement and have a strong testimony of it.
     I heard you guys all talked on Easter.  I'm sure you did a fantastic job.  I wish I could have heard.  I've learned tons and have only been out 2 months, holy crap, that went fast.  The new City Creek Center mall sounds like a place I will definitely have to check out when I get back.  Anyplace that has a Disneyland atmosphere is going to be a cool place.
   I'm glad to hear Megan was so excited about "The Hunger Games" that makes me all the more excited to see it when I get back.  Everybody talks about it here all the time and I heard the 2nd movie won't be out until next November so it might still be in theaters when I get back.
    Thanks for the package and my coming birthday present.  I'm way excited for the compact Bible.  I'm loving my mission, I'm so glad I chose to come.  I love teaching people.
                                                                  Your loving son,
                                                                     Elder Kerr 

P.S.  I don't know if I'll be on the coast during hurricane season but I really want to see the coast.  I think it will be way cool.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Staying in Meridian for another 6 weeks and it's hot.

     Conference was amazing!  I loved it, especially the Priesthood session although it was all good. I finally got the Priesthood Line of Authority you sent and I think it's awesome!  My companion already had his.  I think they are way cool!  I also got grandma's birthday card.  The mission office forgot to change our address so they were still sending everything to our old address but it's corrected now.  I think I've received everything now but it was delayed about 6 or so days.  I forgot to mention that our ward doesn't have any computers so I do my emailing from the library and they only allow you an hour.
     I'm staying in Meridian for another 6 weeks, no transfer this time.  Our transfers can occur every 6 weeks so the next one will be May 15th, then June 26th, August 7th, September 18th, October 30th and November 11th.  Those are all of my possible transfer dates for 2012.
     So the weather is pretty dang hot lately, I'm not enjoying it at all.  And May and June are going to be super freaking hot.  Then hurricane season will start in July and August but I probably won't be near the coast during that time.
     Let me tell you a little about this week.  I got to teach a full on lesson, with confidence, on "The Restoration" to one of our investigators named Barbara Young.  And challenged her to read the Book of Mormon.  I'm really starting to enjoy teaching especially if they could all be like the way we taught her.  I do not like finding but, oh well, that's part of the work.  She is our solid investigator right now and hopefully she stays that way.  She has a daughter in Texas who is a member and two grandsons on missions.
     Hey, I finally had some southern food.  I had some "Brim" fish (I think that's what it was called).  It was the entire fish without the head and guts battered and fried and I was able to eat it just fine.  And I had some "hush puppies"  which is pretty much dough rolled in corn meal and fried and some fries.  So some classic southern fried food.
     I've heard a ton about the movie "The Hunger Games" so I definitely want you to get me that movie so I can watch it first thing when I get home.  I know it's a long ways away but still, haha.
     People down here have no idea what we believe.  We ran into this Baptist girl and she told us that she knows alot about our church and she's not of our faith, she is a Christian and they believe that Christ has already come and will come again.  We said,. . . ."so do we".  It can be quite frustrating.  They are constantly fed lies about us by their preachers.  You can just tell that we are the true church when every other church is trying to prove us wrong.  And nothing can.
     Well I'll end for now.  I'm loving the mission.  I hope all is well with everyone back home and I pray for you all.  I love ya and miss ya a ton.

                                                               your son

                                                              Elder Kerr

Side note from the mom (Elder Kerr will turn the big 20 years old on Friday the 13th.  April 13th that is:)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Got a new car, did exchanges, ate broccoli and had a tornado warning

    We went to the McInnis family for dinner today and they fed us a spaghetti dinner with toast it was way good.  We've had spaghetti alot since I've been here, 7 times I think.  They gave us a referral and we went but it wasn't a good time.   His wife was busy with the new baby but he wants us to come back.
     We got a new car on Tuesday, a Chevy Malibu.  It's a downgrade from our Mazda 3 but it's still cool.  The Mazda got better gas mileage.  Lily Artman took us out to dinner at a Mexican Restaurant called "San Marcos".  Had some of the best Mexcian food ever, a chicken quesadilla and rice and beans. 
     I did exchanges on Wednesday with Elder Dietz.  My first exchanges with the Hattiesburg Zone Leader.  Awesome guy, pretty funny in a weird kind of way.  He's going home in one more transfer.  Sadly we didn't get much done because we were in the worst rainstorm I've ever been in with a tornado warning going on.  We were stuck indoors but he give me a hair cut and showed me how a Rubik's cube works.  He gave me some good advice too.  He said to make the mission fun so I'm going to do that.
     We did our first service project on Friday.  We painted the Reinfields house.  My first time painting a house.  I really enjoyed it.  And I almost tried some Sushi but I didn't.
     So today we walked around the Bonita Lakes for a 4 mile hike.  We did some additional invites and I'm definitely getting better with talking to people.  We got 6 new investigators and gave away 4 more Book of Mormons.  It was a really successful day and I'm hoping we get a solid investigator by doing this.
     You will be proud of me today, I ate broccoli and to tell you the truth it wasn't that bad. 
     I'm getting better with the consecrating oil.  We gave the ward mission leaders wife a blessing today and it felt so powerful.  I did the oil and brother Snow gave the blessing.  It was so awesome!  
     Oh, and I also learned how to open a locked door with a card today.  So here's the story.  We got back from church and I noticed the key is kind of bent but I didn't think much of it.  I put it in the lock and it breaks.  The key breaks in the lock.  Here's the funny part when we moved into this apartment we were told not to make any new keys at Walmart so what do they give us but a key from Walmart.  So we eventually opened the door with a library card.
     I'm way excited for Conference.  We'll be watching all 4 sessions and the Priesthood session at our ward building.  I can't wait to listen to the prophet I've never been so excited to watch conference.   
     Sadly I haven't received the Line of Authority you sent yet.  The mail has been really weird but I'm sure it'll get here soon.  Transfers happen on the 3rd of April but I most likely won't get transferred yet but I'll let you know next Monday for sure.
    I'm glad you got my pictures.  I'm always worried when I send it that it won't get there.  Well I'll end.  I love you and miss you a ton.



One of my last days at the MTC.  I'm in the center.
                                                       
                                                                 Elder Bloomquist

Meridian is only about 20 miles from the Alabama border.


There's an actual town named Whynot.

My new bike.
                                                                   





                                                

Monday, March 19, 2012

This week was kinda crazy.

Dear Parents,
    So this week was kinda crazy. We've spent most of the week packing and moving.  We had to move everything and we only had a small Honda Ridgeline truck to do it with. Our new apartment is smaller but much better.  It actually has air conditioning and is by some lakes called Bonita Lakes. They are man made but really nice. The lakes have a track that my companion and I are running around. I'm excited about that!
The only bad thing about it is that it's pretty far out there and it kinda uses up all of our miles like crazy.  But overall it's really nice and cozy.
     I should be sending the memory card off today.  There are plenty of pictures with my companion because we had a lot of fun with the package you sent me.  We loved it!  And yes we did wear our ties on St. Patrick's Day. 
     I have learned a lot and totally understand this gospel way better than I did before and it makes so much sense.  It's amazing!  Especially what we learned Sunday in Priesthood.  We were discussing the Priesthood and how amazing it is to have.  Did you know that only about .025 percent of the world holds the Priesthood?  I'm so grateful to be a part of this percentage.  I love this Gospel so much and I'm trying to do better everyday.
     Those 3 investigators you asked about seem to really love the Gospel and want to be baptized but one thing that's not so good out here is that people seem lazy when it comes to times and appointments. 
     I got my first door slammed in my face. 
     I am loving it out here.  General Conference will be my 2 month mark, already.  That's insane!  I'm sure this mission is going to go by like crazy.
     Everyone here is talking about the Hunger Games.  Are you guys going to see the movie?  My companion read the books and he's freaking out because he won't be able to see it.  That is something I really miss, movies.
     We are planning to have a really good week this week so hopefully that works out. 

                                                             Love ya and miss ya.

                                                                     Your Son

Monday, March 12, 2012

It looks like the "Tower of Terror".

Dear Family,
     Things are going great here in Mississippi!!!  It has been raining a lot at night but not so much in the day.  It's been between 58 and 65 degrees.  It's perfect, but the people here think it's cold.  We were tracting and almost every door we went to the people would ask us if we were cold.  We just told them we were from the West and they understood.  I'm not excited for the hot summer.  I got a taste of it about a week ago, it was 86 degrees with a lot of humidity.  It was really hot!  My companion said,  "This is nothing compared to the summer".  Apparently, you are able to see the humidity.
     Surprisingly, Dad, I haven't had any BBQ here yet.  Maybe Meridian isn't big on BBQ but we will see I should be in the area for about 10 more weeks.
     That's awesome that Milo Lefler is our new Stake President.  Honestly, I can see him becoming a General Authority in the future.
     So let me tell you a little bit more about Meridian.  Apparently, it was a very popular town back in the day.  I saw some pictures of it and it looked awesome but now it's really fell behind.  There is this really tall building right in the center of downtown, probably the tallest building in Meridian, and it's completely abandoned.  It's actually kind of creepy.  It looks like the  "Tower of Terror".
         The other day we went to a members house to have dinner and we conducted family home evening.  We had this soup that was good for the most part but I had to muscle my way through a lot of it and I did.  I think if it had just had the noodles and the meat it would have been the best soup I ever had.
     I got my bike.  It seems like a really nice one so far but we will see when I start riding it around.  It's a Genesis 29.  I think that's what it's called.
     Pretty much all of my homesickness is gone.  I still miss everyone back home but I have become very comfortable out here. I'd rather be doing the Lord's work more than anything else right now.  I hope I become more Christlike while I'm out here.
     Sometimes the work can be frustrating but I love it.  I'm still my quiet self with new people but I'm getting better.  I'm understanding the Gospel so much more.  It's amazing!  I love it and want everyone to have what I have.

                                                      Love you Dad, you're my Hero!

                                                                   Your son