Sunday, June 23, 2013

You've probably guessed where I'm going with this. . . . my bike was stolen.

Dear family,
     Yes, this is definitely one of my slower areas. My companion, Elder Hopman, is doing good. He's just a very quiet guy but a good kid!! I'm coming close to the end of my 4th transfer here in Atlanta so there's a good chance I may be transferred, but you never know I could end up staying another transfer! I did get grandma Sharon's package so thank her for me and I did get Aarons letter so that was some good highlights of the week! So I will go on to tell you more about my week.
Monday the 10th
We went down to Shreveport the day before and spent the night with Elders Eisinger and Elder Huntsman (who is actually from Midvale) It's the first time I've met someone from Midvale, UT in the mission! We eventually got to talking about all the people that he and I know and I guess he knows Josh and his family and he Todd and Brendon and Nate. He knew a lot of the same people that I know! It was kinda crazy actually! We got ready and headed to Zone Conference and had a great meeting about becoming better teachers. I enjoyed it a lot! After lunch Elder Eisinger gets a call about how 2 kids were on their porch area snooping around.  So let me explain I brought my bike down to Shreveport to see if I could get it fixed and I left it at the Elders place during Zone Conference, in the porch area. Anyways, you've probably guessed where I'm going with this but my bike was stolen! So I have no bike now, that was kind of a bummer. Anyways we got done with Zone Conference and I told President about it. It looks like I might be able to get a bike from the Mission office. So that would be good. After dinner we went and tracted with the ZLs and then went to bed because we have more meetings tomorrow.
Tuesday the 11th
There were 3 more meetings today 1 for the sisters, 1 for new missionaries and 1 for District Leaders! I had to go to the District Leader meeting and it was a good. We talked about policies that we have in the mission and making them work for everybody or at least most everybody! Another good meeting! Afterwards we had to try to get our car fixed.  We share with the New Boston Elders. It turns out the left axel is wearing out so we need to get that replaced for sure but they didn't have the part. So we decided we are going to take it to the Toyota dealership up in Texarkana. Then we headed back up to Atlanta and the New Boston Elders spent the night.
Wednesday the 12th
Since our Zone Conference was on Monday our P-Day was moved to today and we did emails and such and then we headed up to New Boston so we could leave them the car.  Oh yeah, I got Grandmas package today so thank you so much for that!  It's always nice to receive those goodies, it's most appreciated. Around 5 we got picked up by Brother Simmons and headed back to Atlanta and called it a day.
Thursday the 13th
Today we were taken out to lunch by Brother Gunn and had some really good pork chops at this place called the Texas BBQ! IT was was way good and, of course, they were fried. I swear they fry everything in the south hahahaha but it was way good! Then we went to Beth Harpers house with Dennis Gunn.  Beth Harper and her husband are really good friends with Bro Gunn. Our plan was to have Bro Gunn so that, Richard, Beth's husband might feel more comfortable and might become more interested in taking the lessons with her.  And it went pretty well so we we'll see what happens. Then we went to the Turners for an but they forgot so we weren't able to teach Janice today. After that we went over to the McQuiveys family to see how they were doing and they eventually asked if we wanted some dinner and so we stayed for dinner. We kinda lost track of time so they gave us a ride home and we called it a night.
Friday the 14th
Today the Simpson's, who are the apartment inspectors for our area of the mission, came up today to look for us a new apartment. The apartment we're in is really old and so they said we need to move. We found this duplex that is really nice so we got it set up to move in there in about a Month.   But it made me kinda sad because I will probalby be gone before that happens. But we will see. Then we went to visit Colleen. She is always so happy to see us. Then on to Jeff Brown's and then the Robinson's. They were all good visits.  I decided that we should tract this one street and to my surprise we actually got 4 return appointments! It was awesome! Hopefully something comes out of it! Headed back to the apartment and got some dinner and then called it a night!
Saturday the 15th
So today was a slower day. We tried seeing the Strader family but they weretoo busy.  Then we went to see Kenneth Webb, a less active member. He's a pretty cool guy. We talked about fishing and how much he enjoys it. Then we tried to visit an old investigator named, Shad and we also tried seeing a referral but she wasn't home. We had a short visit with Shad because we got picked up for dinner to go to the Neilson's.  We did a little service for them so that was fun.
Sunday the 16th
Church was great. We had some great lessons on Tithing and on developing and sharing our talents! It was way good! After church we headed to New Boston to do exchanges. So I am up in New Boston with Elder Bytheway and we will be doing this exchange for a while. So I stayed up in New Boston and called in numbers and called it a night.
It was an eventful week and yeah if your ready for some pictures I will be ready to send them. But I guess the only thing I need. . . . is a little cash.  I don't ever ask for money but I got pretty low this month and could really use some. So if you could find a way to send some or put some in my bank account that would be great. I love you and miss you all. It's going by way fast.
love your son
Elder Kerr

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Three buffets this week, hahahah. It was way good though.

Dear family,
That is exciting that Megan has graduated! Thats very awesome and SLCC is where I"m going to go first also. Anyways, I am very happy for her. And yeah Happy Fathers Day to Dad this Sunday. I love you so much. Thank you for everything that you have done for me.  We had Zone Conference this week so our P-Day was later in the week!!!
So onto my week.
Monday the 3rd
We hung out with the New Boston Elders today and we went up to Texarkana and had Golden Corral! It was so delicious! I haven't been to one of those since I was home! So it was way cool!! We went around to other places in Texarkana then we headed back down to Atlanta and hung out for a bit then they went home. We got picked up by the Bishop to go out to eat at Uncle Juans a Mexican resturant that I really love!! And that was our P-Day.
Tuesday the 4th
Today we got our apartmemt checked by the Senior Couple in Shreveport, the Simpsons!! Then we planned on going on exchanges with the ZLs up in Texarkana. I was going with Elder Milligan up in Texar and Elder Ison was coming down to Atlanta with Elder Hopman. We rode up to Texar with the Simpsons and checked the other apartments with them. We actually played a prank on some of the sisters up there in Texar. We knocked on their door and acted like we were the apartment inspectors! hahaha they thought we were serious. We then continued over to the ZLs and then went with them to a chinese buffet. I loved it! Then we went on exchanges and were off to do some work. We were invited to a birthday party and had a good time for a little bit over there hahaha.  We then continued over to teach an investigator of theirs and we had a pretty good lesson. Very enjoyable! But she is going through a lot of troubles in her life right now and I'm just like I know this gospel can bless your life. It was an overall good lesson. After that we headed back and got ready for bed.
Wednesday the 5th
We headed back down to Atlanta for DDM and to change back. We had a good DDM the ZLs taught it today! After Lunch we went and did some service for Carolyn one of Jeff Brown's friends. Cleaned up her yard then they took us to Pizza Hut for their buffet! It was a good day of service.
Thursday the 6th
Today we went to see Colleen in the Nursing home and then to see Beth Harper. We had a great time talking with her and seeing how she was doing on reading The Book of Mormon! I really hope that some day she will be baptized! Anyways after that we went and saw The Sheild's family and talked with them a bit. They are a very nice family. We had dinner with the Fincher's and we got to help make dinner which was a lot of fun. We made Shepherds Pie which was something I learned to make by Elder Crocket one of my old companions! It was good too. After that we headed home and called it a night!
Friday the 7th
We helped the Bishop today to set up for his family reuinon. Then he took us out to lunch at a Chinese Buffet! This was our 3rd Buffet this week!!! hahaha it was way good though. Later that day we were invited to go to his Family Reunion and had a great time! I loved it! 
Saturady the 8th 
The 2nd day of the Reuinon and we went to that, this one was down in Vivian and that was a lot of fun. I got little heat exhausted and maybe a little dehydrated so I had to rest for a bit. Then we tried to see a few more people and called it a night! We got a lot of referals today as well. 
Sunday the 9th 
Wasn't as epic of a Sunday today but it was still good! We went over to the Neilson's and had New Boston come down. We then headed down to Shreveport to get ready for the next day which is Zone Conference. And that was our week. 
love you all and the Church is true! 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

I'm 16 months out and it's going by way fast. I can't believe it really!!!

Dear Mother
     I can't believe that Megan is going to graduate so soon! It really doesn't seem like I have been graduated for 3 years already!!! Holy Crap!!!! hahahahaha And Jared, when I get home will almost be old enough to start driving that's crazy!!! And now I am 16 months out! It is going by way fast I can't believe it really!!! It's exciting!!
So on to my week
This week isn't going to be a very detailed week because we ran out of planners so I didn't have something to go off of for details. I now have a planner for this coming week.
We had a zone P-day this week and had a blast I loved it!! We played all types of games with everyone!!!! It was great! We tried seeing a lot of different members this week as well. We did service for Jimmy Phillips. We helped him sheet rock and got a lot done!! We tried to go see the Reynolds family.  They live on a giant farm with like 400 acres!! We did a lot of hometeaching with Brother Doran and we saw Beth Harper! I love that lady so much I plan to keep in contact with her when I leave this area! 
 
We also had a crazy Sunday this week. It's a very long story but basically there was a really strong member of the church a while back that was one of the first Bishops of this ward.  He was such a hard working Bishop getting the attendance up to like 200 a week. Anyways he lost his hearing and I guess he read some stuff and fell away from the church. Nobody knows exactly why but he did. Recently he got cancer and is dying and so he's been on everyone's mind. He is a very well respected man in Atlanta. Anyway, he came to church this last Sunday. Everyone was shocked and a lot of people were worried as to what he was going to say. It was fast Sunday.  He had a lot to say and he said a lot of good stuff as well. To work better as a ward and to help the Bishop. It was an epic week! Sorry for not that many details this week but I love you and I hope all is well.
love your son
Elder Kerr

Friday, May 31, 2013

We got to go fishing and I caught 3 Bream and 2 Bass and I learned to fillet a Bass. It was a lot of fun!!!!

Dear family,
Thank grandma Ivy for me, I got her card. I also got Connie's package and I loved the cookies. They're already gone hahahahaha. I want more actually! We will all really need to go up to Twin Falls now! Okay, onto my week
Monday the 20th
It was P-Day and we did the usual stuff but we also got to go fishing and I caught 3 Bream and 2 Bass and that was a lot of fun. I also learned to fillet a Bass (however you spell that). So I know how to do that now and that was a lot of fun!!!!
Tuesday the 21st
Today we went out with Brother Doran and did some home teaching. Afterwards he took us to Subway. Then we caught part of the storm that happened up in Oklahoma. It started raining pretty badly but no tornadoes. But we were walking around heading back home and  a cop pulled up and asked if we needed a ride.  So we totally got to ride in the back of a cop car hahaha. Then we just hung out throughout the storm.
Wednesday the 22nd
We had our DDM today I taught on teaching with your companion in unity. Then we tried visiting members in Bloomburg a part of our area. We have been working a lot with members we haven't met going through the ward directory. A lot of members we couldn't find but we did meet the Bates family who are a very nice family. Then we got fed by the Neilson's. It was an alright day.
Thursday the 23rd
So today we got to see Beth Harper and she is doing great but one of her big things about joining the church is that she wants her husband to join as well. We were discussing how we may be able to get him interested and I thought of member that I knew might be able to help, Brother Gunn! When I mentioned his name she just started to tear up because she knew that he could probably definitley help. I give all my thanks to God for inspiring me with his name. We are planning to bring Brother Gunn with us to see them. After that we went and taught Janice Turner.  We taught her The Plan of Salvation and it was a pretty good lesson. But I feel out of practice with teaching because I haven't been able to teach for a while hahaha. She is having a hard time with finding her answer right now so we just need to help her with that. Then we had dinner at the Finchers and had a good time there.
Friday the 24th
Today was another one of those days that we just went all over the place trying to find members we haven't met. We had cleared up a lot of them today that didn't live here anymore. We also did some service and had dinner with the Neilson's again! We had a good time. Anyways, that was our day
Saturday the 25th
Today we decided to change it up. We went to Vivian (another town which is part of our area) and we tried seeing some members down there. We got to see the Bruce family and to meet Monica Broussard. I actually really like this town. It's small and it's just a small little town and they have the smallest Walmart I have ever seen. It was weird hahaha. Anyways it was a good day to go down there and later that day we got fed by the Neilson's again. They love feeding us. It also started to rain pretty hard today and the Neilson's lost power hahaha
Sunday the 26th
It was a great Sunday today! I really enjoyed it!!!! I volunteered to do the lesson for next Sunday in Elders Quorum. After church we went over to the Gholson's for lunch. Then we tried seeing a few people like Colleen in the nursing home but she was asleep. We visited Carrie and Jimmy Robinson and then we tried to see Amy Hills but she wasn't feeling good. Then we got invited to go to the Frank's for dinner! And That was good stuff. The Frank's are one of my favorite famlies. Then we went home and called it a night.
That was my week and it was much better then the last couple weeks.  I'm glad. Anyways that's all for now. Love you and miss you.

Your son,

Elder Kerr 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Not a productive week, sadly.

Dear family,
     Thank you (mom) for the details from Aarons homecoming! I'm glad he has grown so much and I am very excited to meet up with him and all the Foos again!!! Anyways on to my week.
Monday the 13th
P-Day and we decided to go up to New Boston for the day. We had a good time hanging out for the day but nothing much really happened
Tuesday the 14th
We had a slower day today we weren't able to see that many people! We did go to the Peacock's for dinner and had a good time there. But just a really slow day.
Wednesday the 15th
Congrats to Aaron Jackson who has come home from his mission today and I just want to say that I am very proud of him. BOO YA!! hahaha Anyways, we tried seeing a few people today but not much luck. We had to push our District Meeting later today or we would have spent the entire day in New Boston.  I had to interview Tammy Hall for baptism. And she was ready! =) Anyways I taught on going about and doing good! Afterwards we got picked up by Brother Simmons and headed back home where it started to rain pretty hard.
Thursday the 16th
It rained all day today so we weren't able to do that much without the car. We went and Saw Beth Harper and tried a few other people but we had to head back home. We got picked up by the Neilson's and we just hung out with them for a bit. Another slow day. Not having the best week. =(
Friday the 17th
HOT DAY!!!!!!!!!!! NOT FUN!!!!! But on the bright side some members brought us pizza!!! =) hahaha Really good. Since my bike isn't working still we went out walking in the heat. We saw the Straders and met with Sister Strader for a bit talking about who we could go see in the ward. Then we headed to another members which was downtown. While we rested for a bit we met Spencer Reynolds walking around downtown, a less active member, that we have been trying to contact. He said we were welcome to come over. I was very happy about that. Then we tried seeing the Strong's but no luck.  His wife only speaks Spanish and he wasn't there so we couldn't really see them haha plus she was an alone female. We tried to see a few others but no luck really. The heat made me exhausted today.
Saturday the 18th
Another HOT DAY!!!!!
Today we tracted some doors with no luck. We dropped in on the Mcquivey family to see how they were doing and left a spirtitual thought. They were active members. We did a lot of walking today! We Saw an old investigator Charles Steger and met with him for a bit but sadly I don't feel he is too interested in being taught! =( After that we stopped by at the Robinsons! And they had 2 new kitties!! hahaha cute little things. After that we headed back for dinner and called it a night
Sunday the 19th
We went to church and had a great Sunday as usual but the Elders class seems to be struggling with attendance lately!! =( We had some good lessons!!! Anyways we went back to the apartment for lunch and then got picked up by the Neilson's and hung out with them and had dinner. Then headed home and called it a night!
     So not really a productive week sadly but we always try to improve everyday until we can have that perfect day =) The Church is true!
love your son
Elder Kerr

Thursday, May 16, 2013

It was so good to see and hear my family! I'm glad you had a good Mother's Day mom!

Dear Mother
It was so good to talk to everyone!! It felt really good to do so!! Thank you for everything and I'm glad you had a good Mothers Day Mom! That's always a good thing! I hope you got my card. Here's my week. 
Monday the 6th
Today was Interviews with the President! And I sure did enjoy it! I love our President he is such a great guy and I feel the spirit around him!!! I enjoyed it a lot. When other People were being interviewed there was a meeting for everybody that basically taught about making us better planners for the future. We also did our District Meeting today as well. More like a Zone Meeting really because it was a District Meeting with the entire Texarkana Zone! Anyways we talked about what we can do to start finding more people to teach and we were taught this new tracting technique. Which we just start teaching right away the Restoration lesson and then ask them the question. Would it be important for you to know if there were prophets on the earth today like Moses and Abraham? Anyways after that we went out and tried it and I was suprised because we got into the door by tracting! And if I remember correctly this might have been the first time ever that I got in a door the first time a tried. So it works. After all this we spent the night at the Zone Leaders pad and played some games because we are going to do a Zone P-day tomorrow. It was good to hang out with Elder Ison again, I haven't done that since Meridian.
Tuesday the 7th
Was our Zone P-day so we got up got ready and went to the church and hung out there for a bit. We played a game of basketball and ate some breakfast. My companion and another Elder brought some boffer swords and we messed around with sword battling. It was fun but it might have gotten a bit too violent with me. I had no idea what I was doing so I just yelled a bunch of battle crys and started swinging like crazy and sometimes it worked!!!! hahahahahahahahahaha but I lost a lot too hahaha. After that we played some volleyball which was pretty funny and Ultimate Frisbee! It was a very fun day! I haven't had a good work out in a while so I was pretty dang sore! Then after we said goodbye to everyone we headed down to New Boston and spent the rest of the day there and spent the night at their pad.
Wednesday the 8th
Basically today was a catchup day. Since we were in Texarkana and New Boston the last 2 days we just caught up on things we needed to do.
Thursday the 9th
We visited quite a few people today. We saw Carrie and Jimmy Robinson and checked up on them. Tried some doors. We went and visited Colleen to see how she was doing. We brought her an Ensign Magazine for her to read. She is such a sweet lady. She ended up giving me a picture of her hahaha it was nice. =) Then we ended up seeing Brother Gunn and talked with him a bit on people he thinks we should go see. Had dinner with the Frank's.  It was one of there daughters birthdays. So we had some cake hahahaha and some fried chicken. I love fried chicken.
Friday the 10th
Today was kinda slow but I got that package from Grandma Sharon so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! hahahahaha Beef Jerky yum!. And also today we went down to Vivian to have dinner with the Boyle's.   We had a goodtime there I very much enjoyed it. I wish we could work more in Vivian but it's pretty far away to get to more often. After that we went home and called it a night!
Saturday the 11th
We did a lot today. We spent the rest of the day visiting a lot of Young Single Adults who are less active. Some members picked us up to go eat at a place called Smokey Joes nearTexarkana.  It was a lot of fun and some really good food! After that we went home and called it a night.
Sunday the 12th
Well it's Mothers Day and it was a great Sunday except we didn't have too many people stay for all 3 meetings today. In Elders Quorum we had like 5 people show up, hahahaha, it was bad.  After church we went over to the Frank's and ate some hamburgers for lunch. While Elder Hopman was talking to his family we watched some church movies with them. Both of the them were missionary movies! One was called "Another Mans Treasure" and we watched part of "The Other Side of Heaven". When 430 came around I called home to the family and it was so good to see and hear them!! This makes my 3rd time that I have called home on my mission! After we said our goodbyes we hung out with the Franks a little more and then went to dinner at the Brown's. We had catfish and called it a night! That was my week. Thanks for following. I encourage anyone that reads this to find out for yourself about this Church.  Read the Book of Mormon and build your testimonies!!! I love you all. The Church is true!
Love
Elder Kerr

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Read the Book of Mormon and know that God loves us all!

Dear Mother,
Everything is going good for me! We have been able to start to teach Janice but we had to drop the young girl because her Dad doesn't want her to be taught by us anymore sadly :( but hopefully when she is 18 she will look more into the church.
You will have to let me know what happens when you go to Aarons homecoming. I can't believe that he only has 1 more week left!!!!! HOLY CRAP!! hahahaha that is still blowing my mind right now.  I figured out that I will probably be staying in Atlanta for 1 more transfer at least but it's not for sure. Can you believe that I will have been in Atlanta for 3 transfers in just under 2 weeks!!! That's crazy to me and I will most likely stay in Atlanta for 4 transfers. It has gone by very fast! After I hit my year mark, especially, it has been going by so fast!!! I'm already out 15 and half months, just about!!!! That's weird! Oh and I sent Alex a letter.  When was he going into the MTC, was it the 8th? Because if that is the case he may just get it or miss it.  Here's my week.
- Monday the 29th
P-day the usual stuff I would say nothing too special happened that I remembered!
- Tuesday the 30th
Today was a decent day. We went and saw Carrie and Jimmy Robinson to see how they were doing and to check up on their house situation. In the home they are renting the floor under the bath tub is rotting out! And the landlord won't fix it because he's already giving them a discount on the rent.  Anyways, when we got there some other members pulled up at the same time. And they were there to fix it so that got all taken care of right away! But I did hurt my back trying to move the tub. And it still kinda hurts :( After that we were picked up to go to dinner at the Ward's and we had Chicken Spaghetti. It was delicious. We had good talks about missionary work and I left them with a spiritual thought on prayer. I love the Ward Family. I get a long with them pretty well. Then we headed to over to the Neilson's to see their new Chicks that just hatched for them! Chickens are so cute when they are first born but when they grow up they are so ugly. It's weird how it works like that. Anyways, it was a decent day.
-Wednesday the 1st
District Meeting today in New Boston. And the ZLs came today, Elder Milligan and Elder Ison. I taught to always have a prayer in our hearts and to pray always!  I enjoyed teaching it and it was something that helped me out with some answers that I was searching for as well. It was good.  Then we got picked up after lunch and headed back to Atlanta and went home teaching with Brother Doran. We visited the Laws, Gholsons, and Colleen in the nursing home. We gave them all blessings! I ran out of oil hahaha! But I got some more. After that we went to see Carrie and Jimmy Robinson again. To help and comfort them with a challenge that Carrie was going through! It was a good day.
-Thursday the 2nd
Every Thursday seems like it rains! And we didnt have the car. So it was kind of a slower day today. But we got to see Janice Turner today and we taught her the Restoration and it was a pretty good lesson. I realized and I haven't been able to teach a full restoration lesson for a while but we taught them. Then they realized that we had walked there in that kind of weather they got mad at us for walking in the rain. hahaha so they took us back to the apartment. And Sister Peacock dropped some pizza by. It was good too hahaha GOT TO LOVE PIZZA!!!! Funny moment though. I called them to thank them for the pizza and they didn't answer so I left a message and I almost ended that message in the name of Jesus Christ hahahahahahaha I'm in the habit of saying that now hahaha.
-Friday the 3rd
Today we did some weekly planning and after we went to see Beth Harper to check up on her. We were talking and she mentioned that she found a baby kitten the other day that was attacked but was still alive. She was trying to take care of her beings she is too young to be without her mother. So she didn't know how to eat. But I got her to the point were she felt safe in my jacket and started to feed her from the bottle. I think that she thought I was her mother. hahaha But it was a cool experience to feed the kitten from the bottle. She was so frightened anyways but we got her fed and feeling safe.  Beth was doing great and was still reading. Then we went and gave colleen another blessing and had another spiritual experience with her. She said that we have good auras they glow in a way. I was very touched to hear her say that. I loved it! That was our day.
-Saturday the 4th
Kind of a slower day but we tried seeing a few people. We were in need of some food so we got some and went back to the apartment. We went to the Neilson's and ate and got to see The Best 2 years and totally watched it hahaha.
-Sunday the 5th
It was a great Fast and testimony meeting today. Church was so enjoyable. Church is so much more enjoyable once you get motivated to be active in it. During Elders Quorum I got the oppurtunity to share my conversion story and hear other peoples as well. I loved it!!! Anyways, we did our usual and went to the Neilson's on Sunday and had a good time there. Helping them out with stuff and had a good dinner. After that we got home and New Boston came down to get ready for interviews tomorrow. And that was our week.
The Church is true and so worth being active in. Read The Book of Mormon and know that God loves us all. And whoever reads this I love you too and miss you all!
Love you Mom,
love your son
Elder Kerr
Oh and I guess I will be calling around 3:30 your time when you get home from church for Mother's Day.