[editor's note: Elder Kelly is coming home Friday, March 20th. Maybe we'll get one more post out of him before he's back. I can't believe it's already been two years.
The boys have been counting down since day 60 or something. Less than two weeks. Woo hoo!]
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
February 2, 2009
Hey family!
Alright! A great week just flew by! This Sunday, we road tripped out to the field with the president and his wife to visit Saladillo. It was great! I love that little branch they are becoming very successful out there and it is such a blessing from the lord.
We also had a sister's conference for all the sister missionaries in our mission. There are 16. Wow what a great example they are, we really have awesome sister missionaries so full of faith and they are so diligent. It is a blessing to be able to be associated with such valiant people.
Today, we had our transfer meeting with the whole mission! It was a great success as we welcomed 5 new zone leaders and 11 new district leaders. 14 will be leaving this week and the new elders come in tomorrow and there are 4 of them so we had to close 5 areas this transfer. I love the transfer meeting and being able to report how the mission is doing. Especially when the lord is blessing us and we are doing well.
Another fun part was the new technical equipment that the stake center just got that we were able to utilize. I got to use a wireless clip on mic that was way fun. I clipped it on behind my tie so no one could see it and nobody knew where the mic was. It was pretty good.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and in it comes the power to change lives in this life and give eternal life. I know it because if witnessed it. Those who don't know so need only to test it in private with faith, and they will come to know by the power of the holy ghost. It is so simple.
God promised it, try him! I love serving the Lord, thank you for your prayers,
Elder Kelly
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
January 13, 2009
Hello family
Its been a long time... far too long and I'm sorry about that,
Anyways... last week was one of the most memorable weeks of the mission. My companion Elder Pollock and I were given a special assignment by president to go out to the little towns in the countryside and investigate and do splits with the missionaries out there and finally to be present at the first meeting in the town of Saladillo for the first time in 15 years!
We left on thursday night and thursday through Saturday we visited the missionaries of the towns of Lobos, 25 de Mayo, and Chivilcoy, as well as investigated the little town of Navarro to see if it was a place where perhaps we could send missionaries. After a serious migraine and a couple side-of-the-road throw up instances we knew that nothing could stop us, as finally Saturday afternoon we pulled into the town of Saladillo.
There, waiting for us were Elder Singleton (a dear friend who recently left the offices) and Elder Cataldo, a great Elder from Chile who is going home this transfer. After settling down for 5 minutes unpacking the 20 chairs, and looking through the Apartment/Chapel to see how we would set it up for Sunday, we set out to invite all of the old members and new investigators to church, E. Singleton and I went together in the car, and Elder Pollock with Elder Cataldo.
We went through 10 names on the old members list but the problem is that those who were members 15 years ago had either grown-up, moved out, or died. Finally with about five minutes before we were to meet up with the other elders we passed by this last family where we found and taught Julio, an inactive 18 year old who was very excited that Saladillo had the church again! We then the 4 of us elders (corn field photo) went out to visit the family Quiroga who were absolutely excellent. We watched the restoration movie and we all felt the spirit very strongly and the 5 of them all committed to coming to church. So we finished the night with many people committed to come to the first sacrament meeting.
The morning finally came... and the church was to start at 10. We prepared all of the rooms, the outside, and the sacrament. We made all the calls and the district presidents counselor arrived 15 minutes early. The family that came from a nearby branch to support us arrived. But no-one. By 5 minutes to 10 no-one from saladillo still and the Elders got back with the car from searching for people without and luck. Suddenly at 9:56 people started coming. The family Quiroga, the investigator family, the Sister Nini who had been praying for the church to come back for years. Another investigator family, Soon the rooms was filled with investigators and members and even though it was very hot we knew that we had been greatly blessed by the Lord.
In the end, 23 people came to the meeting 2 arriving right at the end filling up every seat we had. To put it in prespective, other branches in the district the same day had an attendance of 15 or 10. But the most important of all was the incredible spirit that was felt as old members bore their testimonies of the truthfulness of the restoration of the gospel. What an absolute blessing it was to participate in such a meeting. At the end the four of us elders knelt in pray to give gratitude for what we had witnessed and we were off home again to give a report to the President.
Oh and that night the President had arranged for Elder Pollock and I to have dinner with Elder Pollock's good friend who came down from Utah to deliver a camera. Great times. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true, it has the power to change lives and give true happiness.
I love you all and will talk to you soon!
Elder Kelly
photos
1. Elders Pollock, Singleton, Cataldo and I as the sunsets in the feilds of the Quiroga family.
2. The four of us, very content after the meeting on Sunday in the back row of the chapel/apartment
3. The Saladillo group after sacrament meeting (its not a branch quite yet)
Dec 30, 2009 (email to Mom Kelly)
[Editor's Note: in lieu of his blog updates, here's an email from his mom]
Anyways, this week was probably the most craziest of my life! We were running and planning and teaching and preparing! It still hasn't quite settled down yet, but this next week things should settle at least a little bit.
My companion is such a great elder, were good friends and it maks the work so much more fun when you get along well with your companion. We have zone conferences all week long and then at the end my companion and I will drive out to the country side to do divisiones with a few elders out there and to open up a branch. Pretty exciting!
On Sunday we went to the hospital where one of our elders was sick. What happened is that he passed out in church so they brought him to the closest place. What you have to understand is that he is in the most ghetto part of the mission and the members and his latin companion brought him to the public health care or free hospital. It was inconceivable, Dirty diseased hairless street dogs walked in and out freely and I had to try to block them from entering where the patients were. It literally was just like a dirty jail. There was blood on the walls, the doctors did not care about anything and were wearing jeans. The sheets on the beds hadn't been washed obviously for months. I felt so bad for the people for whom this is their only choice.
We immediately talked to the man who was supposed to have been the doctor upon arrival and told him we were leaving, but he wouldn't take the IV out. My companion was super persistent until finally the doctor put down his ice cream and had a police officer come over to ask what we would do with the Elder and where we would take him. Finally, we got him out and everything ended up all right.
That was my story for the week. I love you!! Talk to you later! Happy New Year!
Elder Kelly
Anyways, this week was probably the most craziest of my life! We were running and planning and teaching and preparing! It still hasn't quite settled down yet, but this next week things should settle at least a little bit.
My companion is such a great elder, were good friends and it maks the work so much more fun when you get along well with your companion. We have zone conferences all week long and then at the end my companion and I will drive out to the country side to do divisiones with a few elders out there and to open up a branch. Pretty exciting!
On Sunday we went to the hospital where one of our elders was sick. What happened is that he passed out in church so they brought him to the closest place. What you have to understand is that he is in the most ghetto part of the mission and the members and his latin companion brought him to the public health care or free hospital. It was inconceivable, Dirty diseased hairless street dogs walked in and out freely and I had to try to block them from entering where the patients were. It literally was just like a dirty jail. There was blood on the walls, the doctors did not care about anything and were wearing jeans. The sheets on the beds hadn't been washed obviously for months. I felt so bad for the people for whom this is their only choice.
We immediately talked to the man who was supposed to have been the doctor upon arrival and told him we were leaving, but he wouldn't take the IV out. My companion was super persistent until finally the doctor put down his ice cream and had a police officer come over to ask what we would do with the Elder and where we would take him. Finally, we got him out and everything ended up all right.
That was my story for the week. I love you!! Talk to you later! Happy New Year!
Elder Kelly
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
December 16, 2008
[Editor's Note: he says sorry that he hasn't been getting his weekly blog updates in. He's really busy and always short on time on Tuesday]
Hello everyone!
I know its been quite some time and I apologize. We just finished our yearly Christmas activity and it went great! We had a talent show, a big lunch, a contact competition, and a gift exchange and a devotional. It was quite eventful. The night before we homed 20 missionaries who came in from the country to spend the night for the activity. We also had a very nice night with a missionary couple.
Wednesday, we are sending off another mission couple from the airport. Thursday we plan all of the transfers. On Friday we finish planning and then do the temple and the mission tour with the Elders who are going home.. my companion included. Then lots of other things as usual.
I enjoy being tired after a long day of service to the Lord, it's a great feeling. I wish I had more to tell you, but honestly everything is just going great! The mission is on fire right now having lots of success and being blessed. I really love the missionaries and am grateful to be able to serve however I can.
I hope you have a great week before Christmas.
Love you all,
Elder Kelly
Hello everyone!
I know its been quite some time and I apologize. We just finished our yearly Christmas activity and it went great! We had a talent show, a big lunch, a contact competition, and a gift exchange and a devotional. It was quite eventful. The night before we homed 20 missionaries who came in from the country to spend the night for the activity. We also had a very nice night with a missionary couple.
Wednesday, we are sending off another mission couple from the airport. Thursday we plan all of the transfers. On Friday we finish planning and then do the temple and the mission tour with the Elders who are going home.. my companion included. Then lots of other things as usual.
I enjoy being tired after a long day of service to the Lord, it's a great feeling. I wish I had more to tell you, but honestly everything is just going great! The mission is on fire right now having lots of success and being blessed. I really love the missionaries and am grateful to be able to serve however I can.
I hope you have a great week before Christmas.
Love you all,
Elder Kelly
Sunday, November 30, 2008
November 25, 2008
[Editor's Note: I post Elder Kelly's blog emails as often as he sends them...He has just focused on writing everyone back personally that he saves those for last, and if he doesn't have time, he tries to make time later.
In the meantime, here are a few photos he just sent...enjoy!]
In the meantime, here are a few photos he just sent...enjoy!]
Thursday, November 13, 2008
October 28, 2008
Hello family!Another week in glorious paradise Buenos Aires Argentina. After another couple of weeks have gone by I´ve finally been able to write a blog email. Again, I apologize for the tardiness of my email.
Anyways another great week has come and gone here, and some crazy things have happened, to me no, but to the mission yes. 3 Elders got robbed and 2 beat up this week, but don't worry they're ok. And don't worry about me, I'm in the offices!
We have had sudden changes or transfers this week and other events that help keep us on our toes. Today after dealing with some issues the President invited us to go play Golf!!! It was soo excellent! President loves to play and he and I helped to teach the other 5 elders how to play as many had never before swung a golf club. It was incredible to see how well and fast they progressed and the President and I didn't play to poorly ourselves each making par on 3 holes and hitting 3 out of 6 regulation greens. It´s not PGA caliber but it's good enough!
We have interviews tomorrow and thursday, and then on Friday we will be getting our new Apartment Specialist. We will also be going out to the farthest areas of our mission for a district conference with next week and will have 5 stake conferences in 6 weeks.
We have Lots of things to do over the next two weeks so please pray for us and the President so we can accomplish everything. I really do love the work, and it is work as a prophet once said. I love the Lord and the gospel, thanks for your prayers and support.
I will write you later and have a great week,
Elder Kelly
Sunday, October 12, 2008
October 7, 2008
Hello family
How is everyone?!? I'm doing very well and I'm sorry for not having written in so long. Last week on P-day we were at the airport picking up the new elders. It was actually an excellent experience. We picked up 5 americans and 12 Latin Americans including 4 sister missionaries. It's such a great day for me and it makes me remember my first day! They are always so excited and its great to feel that MTC experience again.
The day after we had the dinner for the returning missionaries. That's a different experience but still excellent. It's great to see missionaries complete their missions and to be a part of their last day.
Yesterday, we had the meeting with the Zone leaders and it went very well. There was a very strong spirit felt. We spoke about what we need to do to be the best mission in the world. It was really very inspiring and great to see all the Zone leaders, my old friends and companions.
This week we have a lot of meetings and interviews planned so we´ll be in and out of the offices alot. This transfer is going to be a great one I can really feel it! Ah yes and on Monday Elder Nelson from the 12 will be coming to our mission! I'm very excited.
Speaking of which, wasn't conference excellent! So many wonderful talks, I wouldn't be able to choose a favorite. If you didn't go to all the sessions, I exhort you to go online and watch them during some free time or during lunch, you´ll be extremely glad you did! 4 new temples too!
Well family I have to go but I love you all and i'll talk to you soon!!
Elder Kelly
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
September 23, 2008
Hello family!
I´m sorry for having missed a week. I've been a bit busy as of late.
Well I´ve almost seen all of the mission now. We went to Luján yesterday for interviews. It is great to be able to work with all of the Elders so close and get to help them with their work. I´ve developed a love and admiration for all the missionaries for the effort they put forth daily.
Last week we were able to go on divisions with the Zone Leaders from the Castelar Zone (zone of parque leloir). It was great! One of the zone leaders is Brazilian and the other was my old apartment mate so it was great to work together with them. They are two great elders! Personally I loved working again in the field. It was nice to be able to go out and just do the work for a day. I really do enjoying the every day work.
Other news, we got a new van and it is intense. It's like a mini bus. It has swivel sit and everything! Really hightech. The only problem is that everything is written in German because its a VW so we cant understand when a warning flashes up.
Anyways, I hope everything is well at home. I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Kelly
I´m sorry for having missed a week. I've been a bit busy as of late.
Well I´ve almost seen all of the mission now. We went to Luján yesterday for interviews. It is great to be able to work with all of the Elders so close and get to help them with their work. I´ve developed a love and admiration for all the missionaries for the effort they put forth daily.
Last week we were able to go on divisions with the Zone Leaders from the Castelar Zone (zone of parque leloir). It was great! One of the zone leaders is Brazilian and the other was my old apartment mate so it was great to work together with them. They are two great elders! Personally I loved working again in the field. It was nice to be able to go out and just do the work for a day. I really do enjoying the every day work.
Other news, we got a new van and it is intense. It's like a mini bus. It has swivel sit and everything! Really hightech. The only problem is that everything is written in German because its a VW so we cant understand when a warning flashes up.
Anyways, I hope everything is well at home. I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Kelly
Thursday, September 11, 2008
September 11, 2008
Hello family,
I’m sorry for not having written this week. We had meetings early and had to go to capital so I was only able to send off a few emails.
The office life is going great! I’m adjusting very well and really enjoy getting to know all the missionaries and the President better. The transition is still a little rough at times. I feel like going out and doing normal mission work but then I just have to remember what the Lord called me to do and depend on him.
We just finished all of the zone conferences for the transfer and now we are doing all of the meetings with the stake presidents in the area and the interviews for the missionaries. We go with the President to do them all. I have an area to work in but I’ve been in the offices for almost four weeks and have yet to step foot in my area… maybe someday.
My companion is a great Elder and assistant and I am learning a lot from him. I’m having to re-learn all the skills I once had such as driving, eating politely, counting, speaking English and other simple skills learned in 1st grade.
No real stories as of yet.
The mission is still improving as a whole and we are working very hard to see that the growth continues. Oh yes, we threw a surprise birthday party for the mission president and his wife! It was excellent. Elder Steele the mission secretary made an excellent cake, and we all ordered ice cream. It was lots of fun.
Anyways, I love you all, thanks for your support and prayers!
Elder Kelly
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
I’m sorry for not having written this week. We had meetings early and had to go to capital so I was only able to send off a few emails.
The office life is going great! I’m adjusting very well and really enjoy getting to know all the missionaries and the President better. The transition is still a little rough at times. I feel like going out and doing normal mission work but then I just have to remember what the Lord called me to do and depend on him.
We just finished all of the zone conferences for the transfer and now we are doing all of the meetings with the stake presidents in the area and the interviews for the missionaries. We go with the President to do them all. I have an area to work in but I’ve been in the offices for almost four weeks and have yet to step foot in my area… maybe someday.
My companion is a great Elder and assistant and I am learning a lot from him. I’m having to re-learn all the skills I once had such as driving, eating politely, counting, speaking English and other simple skills learned in 1st grade.
No real stories as of yet.
The mission is still improving as a whole and we are working very hard to see that the growth continues. Oh yes, we threw a surprise birthday party for the mission president and his wife! It was excellent. Elder Steele the mission secretary made an excellent cake, and we all ordered ice cream. It was lots of fun.
Anyways, I love you all, thanks for your support and prayers!
Elder Kelly
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
September 2, 2008
Hello!
This was a great week. Things are settling in quite nicely in th offices of the mission. I'm enjoying learning and working with all sorts of Elders from all parts of North and
All week we were doing Interviews, zone leader´s conference, zone conferences and other interviews and meetings. I have so much love and respect for the president. I'm sure you already are but if not, please pray for him and his wife. They are learning an entirely new language and running a mission,they could use all the prayers they can get. They are doing a great job and I know President Benton is truly an inspired leader. It's been great to learn from him over this last week.
On Sunday, we had a meeting here in the offices of the mission with Pres. Benton, 7 stake presidents, and Elder Ávila an Area 70. My comp and I translated for the president and gave a presentation on the mission´s focuses. It went very well. Many things happened but I'm very busy so I'll have to tell a story next week.
I love you all, thanks for you prayers!
Elder Kelly
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
August 26, 2008
Hello,
First off, I'm sorry for not having written last week, it was quite the busy week.
Next, Happy Birthdays and Anniversaries to everyone! Dad and Ian and Grandma!! I'm very happy for you and I did think of you this week. I hope that everything went great!
Well, last week as I said was very busy. The transfer ended and instead of staying in Gonález Catán 3 as I expected, I was called to my 6th area but this one is in the offices. I´m now serving in the offices as assistant to the President and serving in the area of Caseros 2! (That may sound familiar because I started my mission in Caseros 1 which meets in the same building).
Sunday, we went to church in the same building and I got to say hello to all the members of that great ward. It was soo excellent! I couldn't believe that people remembered who I was. And the BEST part was that one of the part member families I found and started to teach, the husband was baptised!!! It was so excellent to see him and see how happy he was. We talked for a few good minutes and perhaps I´ll be able to visit their house in a couple of weeks when things in the offices settle down. It was so nice to be able to see the fruits of my labors even though I wasn't there for them to blossom.Anyways, three days ago Elder Scott came here for a leadership meeting and was in the building right next to us, so us six missionaries from the offices were able to go over there and see him. We sat in the fourth row away from him and it was incredible. The spirit was so strong and testified of the truth of what he was saying. There were only about 100 priesthood
leaders there so it wasn't too overcrowded.Also in attendance were Elders Bowen, Zivic, Adukitis, and Gonzalez of the 70 and 10 mission 'presidents who sat right behind us. It was great company and I really enjoyed basking in the spirit that was there. I also got to shake Elder Scott´s hand, the first time for me shaking an apostles hand.
Well anyhow, Things are going great, I thank you for your prayers but please keep praying for me that I can fulfill this great responsibility that the Lord has blessed me with.
Love you all!
Elder Kelly
Caseros 2
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
August 12, 2008
Hello Family,
Great week in Catán. We had a great time running around the zone doing divisions and working hard. We are now entering the last week of the transfer and we´re hoping to survive another transfer meeting! We´ll see, the next email we´ll know who my next companion will be or if Elder pollock and I will continue rocking out in Catán.
We are very close to the baptism goal for this transfer with the baptismal dates for 25 and the goal is 26. In our area we lost a couple of baptismal dates due to the lack of church attendance but we had some excellent experiences anyways.
We went to the house of a recent convert and the sister who is not member who we are teaching to teach a lesson and we brought brownie mix to cook in their kitchen. It was excellent but the only problem was that we brought the brownie mix in a bag with the recipe to make a lemon cake and we didn't notice until the brownies were in the oven. It came out brownie lemon cake and was... interesting. It kind of had a weird texture but it tasted alright.
We all laughed.
I found out that I still haven't learned how to cook on the mission. I doubt I ever will.
This week we have 14 baptismal interviews to do and two meetings with the area president do we will be running around from now until next Tuesday. Ah yes, Elder Bowen the South America South Area President will be coming to our humble chapel in Catán 3 this Thursday for a meeting with three zones in the mission. We are very exited.
Even more exciting is that on Wednesday all the zone leaders have a meeting with Elder Bowen. I'm excited to hear what he has to say.
Well I hope I haven't bored you and that my email was inspiring. This is the work of the Lord and it is a blessing for me to be involved in it. Thanks for your prayers and I'm Praying for you, till next week....
Go USA!!
Elder Kelly
Catán III
Zona González Catán
Great week in Catán. We had a great time running around the zone doing divisions and working hard. We are now entering the last week of the transfer and we´re hoping to survive another transfer meeting! We´ll see, the next email we´ll know who my next companion will be or if Elder pollock and I will continue rocking out in Catán.
We are very close to the baptism goal for this transfer with the baptismal dates for 25 and the goal is 26. In our area we lost a couple of baptismal dates due to the lack of church attendance but we had some excellent experiences anyways.
We went to the house of a recent convert and the sister who is not member who we are teaching to teach a lesson and we brought brownie mix to cook in their kitchen. It was excellent but the only problem was that we brought the brownie mix in a bag with the recipe to make a lemon cake and we didn't notice until the brownies were in the oven. It came out brownie lemon cake and was... interesting. It kind of had a weird texture but it tasted alright.
We all laughed.
I found out that I still haven't learned how to cook on the mission. I doubt I ever will.
This week we have 14 baptismal interviews to do and two meetings with the area president do we will be running around from now until next Tuesday. Ah yes, Elder Bowen the South America South Area President will be coming to our humble chapel in Catán 3 this Thursday for a meeting with three zones in the mission. We are very exited.
Even more exciting is that on Wednesday all the zone leaders have a meeting with Elder Bowen. I'm excited to hear what he has to say.
Well I hope I haven't bored you and that my email was inspiring. This is the work of the Lord and it is a blessing for me to be involved in it. Thanks for your prayers and I'm Praying for you, till next week....
Go USA!!
Elder Kelly
Catán III
Zona González Catán
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
August 5, 2008
Hello Family!
What a stellar week. We´ve been working very hard down here in Catán Buenos Aires. The area is going great and the Bishop and Elder´s quorum president who previously were upset with the missionaries are very excited with the work we are doing. Apparently the less active members who we´ve visited called them and said how we passed by. Now we are able to do divisions alot more with ward members and it is a huge blessings.
Also we have a new program we are testing in our ward called the "Mission Catán 3", where the ward missionaries go out and do missionary work and then report to us references and contacts. It has already born fruits! We had a meeting on Saturday and did some practices, it was way fun and is helping the ward get pumped up about the work! We have 2 investigators who have baptismal dates for the 16th and Sonya and Brenda are excellent and progressing very well.
Sunday was a great day as we had 3 investigators and many less active members in church. Later on that day we had a meeting with the Stake President the AP´s and the Mission president, and the meeting went great! We discussed the statistics about the stake and the programs of the mission. The stake has been improving in almost everything.
President Benton is improving greatly in is Spanish as is the sister Benton. Even so, it was tough to understand so the APs had to translate a bit of what Elder Pollock and I were saying. After that, I rood to the offices with the President and the Aps to record "Oh that I Were an Angel" for the mission CD. It went well except that during the recording I had to cough, so I will go down in mission history as the guy that coughed during that song on the mission cd.
I will be a legend.
It was way fun. It's weird because the Sisters were there and the ones I was in the Mtc with go home at the end of the next transfer. Crazy....
Well I love you lots, I will send pictures soon I expect. Thanks for your emails...
Elder Kelly,
Crazy Catán 3
G. Catán
MIsion BAO
What a stellar week. We´ve been working very hard down here in Catán Buenos Aires. The area is going great and the Bishop and Elder´s quorum president who previously were upset with the missionaries are very excited with the work we are doing. Apparently the less active members who we´ve visited called them and said how we passed by. Now we are able to do divisions alot more with ward members and it is a huge blessings.
Also we have a new program we are testing in our ward called the "Mission Catán 3", where the ward missionaries go out and do missionary work and then report to us references and contacts. It has already born fruits! We had a meeting on Saturday and did some practices, it was way fun and is helping the ward get pumped up about the work! We have 2 investigators who have baptismal dates for the 16th and Sonya and Brenda are excellent and progressing very well.
Sunday was a great day as we had 3 investigators and many less active members in church. Later on that day we had a meeting with the Stake President the AP´s and the Mission president, and the meeting went great! We discussed the statistics about the stake and the programs of the mission. The stake has been improving in almost everything.
President Benton is improving greatly in is Spanish as is the sister Benton. Even so, it was tough to understand so the APs had to translate a bit of what Elder Pollock and I were saying. After that, I rood to the offices with the President and the Aps to record "Oh that I Were an Angel" for the mission CD. It went well except that during the recording I had to cough, so I will go down in mission history as the guy that coughed during that song on the mission cd.
I will be a legend.
It was way fun. It's weird because the Sisters were there and the ones I was in the Mtc with go home at the end of the next transfer. Crazy....
Well I love you lots, I will send pictures soon I expect. Thanks for your emails...
Elder Kelly,
Crazy Catán 3
G. Catán
MIsion BAO
July 29, 2008
Hola,
Hello family, how are you doing? I just saw erynn´s blog and it makes me so happy to see the progress she's making! Congratulations Erynn, keep it up!
We had another great week in Catán, and I tell you this place is nuts. I would send pictures but my camera is hidden deeply within my luggage, it's just not something you bring out in catán. Mike and Jen sent me an awesome package and I´ve worn the mariners hat they sent every allowable moment.
In the area we are solidifying two baptisms for two weekends from now, one, Sonya, to complete an excellent family and the other, Brenda, a very faithful girl who goes with one of the ward´s grandmas!
We went on splits with the ward on Sunday and I went out with a rather timid brother named Hernan. Elder Pollock and I were behind on our weekly goals and we wanted to achieve them so we had a lot of work to do and we only had one hour till our meeting. So I talked to literally everyone I could see and one right after the other!
I think Hernan got a little flustered because we would literally finish talking to one guy, turn around and start talking to the next immediately. We also had to run/walk to be able to teach the lessons I wanted to within one hour. By the time we got back to the chapel for the meeting poor hernan was sweating and almost exhausted.
I felt young =) and thought, "you still got it, old stevo".
Yes.... That night the meeting went excellent! We organized the before unorganized ward missionary efforts. We called new ward missionaries, put them in companionships and assigned them families and goals for contacts and references. It felt so productive as the ward was rather stagnant when it came to missionary work. We will see how it turns out. We called in Project "Mission Catán III" with our ward mission leader as mission president.
Not too much else to report other than hollowed out horse carcasses, terrential downpours, and close call encounters with the "youth" of BA, but those are stories for another day. I love you all and thanks for your support... till the next time,
Elder Kelly
Catán III
Gonzalez Catán
MBAO
Hello family, how are you doing? I just saw erynn´s blog and it makes me so happy to see the progress she's making! Congratulations Erynn, keep it up!
We had another great week in Catán, and I tell you this place is nuts. I would send pictures but my camera is hidden deeply within my luggage, it's just not something you bring out in catán. Mike and Jen sent me an awesome package and I´ve worn the mariners hat they sent every allowable moment.
In the area we are solidifying two baptisms for two weekends from now, one, Sonya, to complete an excellent family and the other, Brenda, a very faithful girl who goes with one of the ward´s grandmas!
We went on splits with the ward on Sunday and I went out with a rather timid brother named Hernan. Elder Pollock and I were behind on our weekly goals and we wanted to achieve them so we had a lot of work to do and we only had one hour till our meeting. So I talked to literally everyone I could see and one right after the other!
I think Hernan got a little flustered because we would literally finish talking to one guy, turn around and start talking to the next immediately. We also had to run/walk to be able to teach the lessons I wanted to within one hour. By the time we got back to the chapel for the meeting poor hernan was sweating and almost exhausted.
I felt young =) and thought, "you still got it, old stevo".
Yes.... That night the meeting went excellent! We organized the before unorganized ward missionary efforts. We called new ward missionaries, put them in companionships and assigned them families and goals for contacts and references. It felt so productive as the ward was rather stagnant when it came to missionary work. We will see how it turns out. We called in Project "Mission Catán III" with our ward mission leader as mission president.
Not too much else to report other than hollowed out horse carcasses, terrential downpours, and close call encounters with the "youth" of BA, but those are stories for another day. I love you all and thanks for your support... till the next time,
Elder Kelly
Catán III
Gonzalez Catán
MBAO
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
July 22, 2008
Hello,
Week two in Catán has come and gone and being an elder has never been so exhausting. We are working very hard in the area and we are working very hard with the zone too.
It's kind of like a roller coaster with the zone. When they do well we´re all excited and when they struggle me and elder pollock are sad too. But all and all we are doing very well as a zone. We are planning on three baptisms for next month and are working very hard to help the three people progress.
We´ve been enjoying working together again very much. We are entering the raining season again and yesterday it poured. My area is all mud, I mean everywhere! When we left the house, for about five or six steps we tried to keep our shoes clean and then we just kind of gave up and slopped our way along for the rest of the day. The mud literally reaches the knees of our pants. It makes me remember of how nice the stuff I bought before the mission was before I got here... then I laugh a bit.
Saturday we were doing service at an investigators house and we were cutting down what looked to be a giant weed or bamboo or something. Turns out it was sugar cane. Carlos chopped off a piece and handed it to me and said chew! So I chewed, and it's incredible! He said that's how his mom (from paraguay) always eats it! Now I love eating raw sugar cane! So if you can plant some for me before I get back I´d love it.
The work progresses, thanks for your prayers and your love, and yes Oma, I do appreciate the clippings you send me very much!!
Love you all, till next week!
Elder Kelly
Catán 3
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
July 15, 2008
Hello!
Well how is everyone doing? I'm doing great down here. I just finished my first week in Catàn and it's crazy! The zone is much larger and instead of 2 districts there are 4. I already love it here though.
Elder Pollock and I get along famously and we have great ideas hopes and aspirations for this excellent zone! We are going to have a theme this transfer, The NBA in Catán! Every area will be a team and for each lesson with member, baptismal date and new investigators points will be allotted.
Game nights are Friday and Wednesday when one area goes head to head against another. We are the Catán 3 Supersonics since they can´t decide where to go, we´ve decided that they're coming to catán. It's something to kind of break the day to day grind of the mission and I hope it catches on. This zone is the heart of the mission as it has the most elders and always does the best so I really am excited for the challenge and the responsibility!
There is lots of work to do out here. A lot more people listen but a lot less progress so we are always running from place to place. Maybe things will settle down a bit this week as it is week 2 of the transfer.
We had the ZL meeting yesterday in the Mission home! It was the first time I´ve seen carpet in a year! It was excellent. The new President is so inspired. It was very uplifting and constructive and elder pollock and I are very excited for this transfer!
There was a Brazilian Elder named Elder Lopez and I tried to learn as much portugeese from him as I could. Lets see Mike and Sean.... vocé e ediota or something like that! ou ten fome!
We also had a baptism on Saturday! Very spiritual and a great guy! I'm trying to get to know the area and the ward, it seems every time I get comfortable in an area, it's time for me to move again!! It's great, a real great learning experience and it keeps everything on the edge!
I hope you all have great weeks! Love you!
Elder Kelly
Los Catán 3 Supersonics!!
Well how is everyone doing? I'm doing great down here. I just finished my first week in Catàn and it's crazy! The zone is much larger and instead of 2 districts there are 4. I already love it here though.
Elder Pollock and I get along famously and we have great ideas hopes and aspirations for this excellent zone! We are going to have a theme this transfer, The NBA in Catán! Every area will be a team and for each lesson with member, baptismal date and new investigators points will be allotted.
Game nights are Friday and Wednesday when one area goes head to head against another. We are the Catán 3 Supersonics since they can´t decide where to go, we´ve decided that they're coming to catán. It's something to kind of break the day to day grind of the mission and I hope it catches on. This zone is the heart of the mission as it has the most elders and always does the best so I really am excited for the challenge and the responsibility!
There is lots of work to do out here. A lot more people listen but a lot less progress so we are always running from place to place. Maybe things will settle down a bit this week as it is week 2 of the transfer.
We had the ZL meeting yesterday in the Mission home! It was the first time I´ve seen carpet in a year! It was excellent. The new President is so inspired. It was very uplifting and constructive and elder pollock and I are very excited for this transfer!
There was a Brazilian Elder named Elder Lopez and I tried to learn as much portugeese from him as I could. Lets see Mike and Sean.... vocé e ediota or something like that! ou ten fome!
We also had a baptism on Saturday! Very spiritual and a great guy! I'm trying to get to know the area and the ward, it seems every time I get comfortable in an area, it's time for me to move again!! It's great, a real great learning experience and it keeps everything on the edge!
I hope you all have great weeks! Love you!
Elder Kelly
Los Catán 3 Supersonics!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
July 8, 2008
Hola Familia!
Wow a crazy week. Yesterday´s transfer meeting finds me in my 5th area! Yesterday morning we had our transfer meeting and after two transfers in my favorite zone Marcos Paz, I'm out again!
I'm on my way to the poorest zone in the mission, Gonzalez Catán to be Zone Leader with, and this is the crazy part, my old companion Elder Pollock who was my first companion in Parque Leloir! Crazy turn of events for me.
Here´s the best part, the New President (Benton) (whom I´ve never met in person before) after the transfer meeting, sees me standing in the offices waiting for me comp to take a test. Without looking at my plaque he looks me in the eyes and says "Elder Kelly, come in here". He pulled me into his office and shows me the transfer board. He shows me my name next to elder pollocks and told me... a lot of inspiration went into this decision. We prayed very much to make sure you belong there with Elder Pollock again.
It was really a great experience and I really do know there is a reason why I am where I am! Speaking of the new President, he is excellent. It is a very big change from our other president. President Benton is very outgoing and very excited about the work! He said that we are the best mission in the world! Why not!
I really like the excitement and I think it will be hugely beneficial for the mission and will play well to my strengths. I'm sure now the Lord´s purposes are always fulfilled and there are reason´s behind occurrences that we are not always able to see.
I'm going to miss Loma Grande and Marco Paz! Right now I'm with Elder Bracken and Pollock who were both my old companions.
Well I Love you all very much and am praying for you. I hope all is well. I couldn't get pictures sent as my stuff isn't unpacked yet. Hopefully next week!
Elder Kelly
Catán 3
Zona Gonzalez Catán
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
Wow a crazy week. Yesterday´s transfer meeting finds me in my 5th area! Yesterday morning we had our transfer meeting and after two transfers in my favorite zone Marcos Paz, I'm out again!
I'm on my way to the poorest zone in the mission, Gonzalez Catán to be Zone Leader with, and this is the crazy part, my old companion Elder Pollock who was my first companion in Parque Leloir! Crazy turn of events for me.
Here´s the best part, the New President (Benton) (whom I´ve never met in person before) after the transfer meeting, sees me standing in the offices waiting for me comp to take a test. Without looking at my plaque he looks me in the eyes and says "Elder Kelly, come in here". He pulled me into his office and shows me the transfer board. He shows me my name next to elder pollocks and told me... a lot of inspiration went into this decision. We prayed very much to make sure you belong there with Elder Pollock again.
It was really a great experience and I really do know there is a reason why I am where I am! Speaking of the new President, he is excellent. It is a very big change from our other president. President Benton is very outgoing and very excited about the work! He said that we are the best mission in the world! Why not!
I really like the excitement and I think it will be hugely beneficial for the mission and will play well to my strengths. I'm sure now the Lord´s purposes are always fulfilled and there are reason´s behind occurrences that we are not always able to see.
I'm going to miss Loma Grande and Marco Paz! Right now I'm with Elder Bracken and Pollock who were both my old companions.
Well I Love you all very much and am praying for you. I hope all is well. I couldn't get pictures sent as my stuff isn't unpacked yet. Hopefully next week!
Elder Kelly
Catán 3
Zona Gonzalez Catán
Misión Buenos Aires Oeste
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
July 1, 2008
Hola,
Wow, another packed full week with lots of stories and exciting events. We had a night of Karaoke in the chapel in which me and my comp sang Kaycee and JoJo All my Life. It went over very well but I forgot how to sing and butchered it, but hey it's Argentina and no one could hear me anyways. Everyone had a blast and we all rocked out to Bon Jovi as the closing song. Great night.
The next day we had the baptism of Nahuel, if you want to see who he is scroll down to a picture of me and E Pratt with a family and Nahuel is the kid in the middle with his eyes crossed. He's actually the cousin of that family and comes every single week without the help of anyone! He has great faith and doesn't really have support from his family but he's a trooper and a future missionary!
Yesterday our new President arrived from the MTC!!! President Benton! I already know he is an absolute stud. The night he arrived he took time out of his schedule at 9:30 ish to call all the zone leaders and introduce himself and ask us about our families. I'm really excited to meet him in person and that happens in one week in the transfer meetings.
He is from Boston and he didn't speak any Spanish I don't think before the mtc! His Spanish is coming along great and he seems very personable too. I told him I was from Seattle and that my parents went to the same mission. I told him that my Mom was baptised in her youth and he said he was converted at 22 so we already have something in common. I'm looking forward to these next 9 months together.
I hear ELDER HOLLAND came to Redmond Stake and talked with grandpa at the stake reorganization. I bet that was excellent. A bit jealous! Send my best to President Tanner and thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for that excellent letter they sent me.
As I just said, transfers are this next week. Pres. Benton and the assistants will be doing them on thursday, pres bentons 4th day in argentina! There might not be too many changes so we don't think that me or Elder Jeppson will be moved. I expect 6 more weeks at least in Loma Grande, but who knows what the Lord has in store for me!
Things are great, investigators are progressing.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Love you!
Elder Steven Kelly
Loma Grande
Zona Marcos Paz
Misiòn Buenos Aires Oeste
Wow, another packed full week with lots of stories and exciting events. We had a night of Karaoke in the chapel in which me and my comp sang Kaycee and JoJo All my Life. It went over very well but I forgot how to sing and butchered it, but hey it's Argentina and no one could hear me anyways. Everyone had a blast and we all rocked out to Bon Jovi as the closing song. Great night.
The next day we had the baptism of Nahuel, if you want to see who he is scroll down to a picture of me and E Pratt with a family and Nahuel is the kid in the middle with his eyes crossed. He's actually the cousin of that family and comes every single week without the help of anyone! He has great faith and doesn't really have support from his family but he's a trooper and a future missionary!
Yesterday our new President arrived from the MTC!!! President Benton! I already know he is an absolute stud. The night he arrived he took time out of his schedule at 9:30 ish to call all the zone leaders and introduce himself and ask us about our families. I'm really excited to meet him in person and that happens in one week in the transfer meetings.
He is from Boston and he didn't speak any Spanish I don't think before the mtc! His Spanish is coming along great and he seems very personable too. I told him I was from Seattle and that my parents went to the same mission. I told him that my Mom was baptised in her youth and he said he was converted at 22 so we already have something in common. I'm looking forward to these next 9 months together.
I hear ELDER HOLLAND came to Redmond Stake and talked with grandpa at the stake reorganization. I bet that was excellent. A bit jealous! Send my best to President Tanner and thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for that excellent letter they sent me.
As I just said, transfers are this next week. Pres. Benton and the assistants will be doing them on thursday, pres bentons 4th day in argentina! There might not be too many changes so we don't think that me or Elder Jeppson will be moved. I expect 6 more weeks at least in Loma Grande, but who knows what the Lord has in store for me!
Things are great, investigators are progressing.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Love you!
Elder Steven Kelly
Loma Grande
Zona Marcos Paz
Misiòn Buenos Aires Oeste
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