June 24, 2008

[Editor's note: Steven (through a little help) realized that his blog emails weren't super entertaining. He assures me that the future ones will be, so we have lots to look forward to!]

Hello family!!

Another exciting week in the Buenos Aires West Mission. We had a nice week in the area. We went on divisions with some Elders in our zone and it was great! I loved their area and I was with an elder from Alberta Canada!

I tell you, my respect rate for Canada keeps going up! I remember when we used to joke around about Canada, but I love our friends up there now! I told Elder Archibald(the Canadian elder) that my Mom was Canadian too, then I think he said something in French and we talked a bit about the movie Canadian bacon, but not too much.

Today we had our temple trip! It was great. Of the zone of 18, only 12 actually were there together. One companionship was sick and the other one didn't show up with us and the sisters had already went. We took pictures and really enjoyed the whole experience.

The story comes on the way back home.

After taking an hour bus ride to be able to take the train, me and my carsickness were not doing so hot. We got to the train station and I was feeling pretty sick, but we decided to take the train anyways.

I don't know if you can imagine how the train system works down here. They are sooo ridiculously packed that you are literally like sardines. In order to get in the train, everybody on the outside pushes as hard as they can on the people on the train to manage to squeeze their way in and when the train starts going the people try to run with it and squeeze their two feet on the ledge of the door. It's kind of like a mosh-pit.

Well, the first train comes completely packed and I didn't feel like fighting so my comp and I spotted a train car that wasn't as full so we ran down to hop in... We got in and of course it was the smokers car and thats why there wasn't as many. At the next station we hopped out and switched cars.

As I tried to push my own way in my comp stood right behind me. I finally squeezed my way in and my comp was still on the platform. He was like, "elder I'm not getting on!" As the train started forward he pushed on my back and squeezed in right as the door shut, but his backpack got caught between the door. After a frantic struggle and pulling war we wrestled him and his back pack free. A hectic travel, but I didn't throw up!!

Well that was my story.

Zone conference rocked and I said my goodbyes to president. President Benton is here in just one week!!

Love to everyone!

Love,

Elder Kelly

June 17, 2008

Hello!

This week was great! We had a very fun family home evening last night with a new member and her family. We were expecting to be 5 of us but there turned out to be fifteen! It was like a Kelly family home evening all over again.

One thing I have learned on the mission is not to play games in family home evenings. After my first 3 or 4 experiences ended in large arguments and even tears, I've become MUCH more relaxed about games and focused on having fun.

I thank Brad for the help on that one--he was right. If anyone thought we were competitive in the Kelly house, you have obviously not played charades with an Argentine. There was yelling and arguments and cheating, and I just sat back and smiled.

Even my companion got in on the fun. Needless to say, The Legend of Bagger Vance doesn't translate well into Spanish. Imagine a group of 6 Argentine women trying to charade that movie, I thought it was funnny... they did not.

But hey in the end, we all had a great time and shared a great lesson on prayer. After losing in the game, I was forced to do my best impression of an elephant and dog. I did it well, I hope.

Monica is an incredible new member and has already given us 6 or so new references. The work is great and I love the area, we have the conference this week and me and 2 other guys will be singing "Oh that I were an angel" without the pianio. I'm on 1st tenor. After practicing today, I remember why I never was a 1st tenor, but I'm sure it will come out just great.

Thanks for your support,

Love

Elder Kelly
Loma Grande
Zona Marcos Paz

June 10, 2008

Hola!

How is everything! The email is acting up a bit so this one may be a little short.

We had another great week here in the great zone of marcos paz! The whole zone is improving and working very hard. We are excited to see the progress that everyone is making and are working hard in our own area to continue our progression.

Elder Jeppson and I get along famously, and love the area and the zone. The new president comes in 3 weeks so we are busily preparing the mission for his arrival.

We had a stake conference this last Sunday and it went well! President Ramos came and spoke, it was very powerful the things he said and likewise what his wife said. I am sad to see them go but excited at the same time. I'm sure the new president will be excellent.

I also had our final personal interview with Pres Ramos. It was very spiritual, and helped me out a lot. He is truly a man led by the spirit.

Anyways, I love you all and am thankful for your support and prayers and you are in my prayers too!

Elder Kelly
LoMÁS Grande
Zona MARCOS PAZ

June 3, 2008

Hola,

Last week was a great week! I´ve got a great new comp and we are working very hard.

We´ve got two new baptismal dates and we are rather excited about them! Two little future missionaries!

I´m really excited about this next transfer. Yesterday we had a zone leader conference and it was great. We have some new ideas in the mission we will be putting into practice. The mission keeps climbing upward and we are very excited about it.

At the end of the month the new mission president arrives and thats a bit weird for us. We´re wondering how it will be. At the zone leader conference, I realized that the leadership will drastically be changed at the end of this transfer and it's my generation´s mission now. It's our time to shine! It made me excited to think about that and also humble to think of the great responsibility it is.

There were only 6 or so zone leaders that will still be in the mission in 3 months, and the President.

This next week should be a great one even though its a little bit cold. Elder Jeppson and I are working really hard.

Anyways, I love you all, thanks for your support!

Elder Kelly

May 27, 2008

Hello Family,

What a great crazy week we had! Two incredible baptisms and a talent night organized by me and my comp. We did a basketball dribbling dance to the music of Black eyed peas. It was a hit!

Very hectic as it was Elder Pratt's last week in the mission. Yesterday, his parents came and I got to meet them. Really great people to match a really great elder!

So my new comp is.... Elder Jeppson! From Salt Lake City, Utah! I already knew him and he's a stud. Hes got 18 months in the mission and was in the offices of the mission as the secretary of materials. I actually called that he was going to come here. We are very excited as is the rest of the zone!!!

I'm excited to start settling into the swing of things again. It's going to be a really good transfer! Well I'm going to cut this a bit short so I can send pictures-- love you all!

Elder Kelly

May 20, 2008

Hello everyone,

Thanks for everyone who was there to talk to last Sunday. I really enjoyed it!

Nothing has changed too much since then. We had a great ultimate frisbee game for our zone activity today. It was very intense and the weather was PERFECT. A crisp very overcast day without rain.

Today I brought all my stuff to send pictures but the computer isn't working. I apologize. We'll go to a different place next week.

We have a busy week ahead of us... Elder Pratt's last in the mission. A couple of good bye dinners, baptisms, ward talent shows and such. I get to meet Elder Pratt's parents too this sunday. I wonder how that's going to go.

Elder Pratt told me they´re going to bring tims cascade jalepeño chips para mi.

It should be a great week and I'm pretty excited, I hope everyone is well!

Love,

Elder Kelly

May 13, 2008

Hello family!

Sorry about my less than stellar letters. I have been alot busier than anytime in my mission, but I plan to improve next week.
Unfortunately this week I wont be taking my full hour of internet time. We have to leave and cook a barbeque for the elderes who are
doing the best in our zone.

Things are going great down here. We had a baptismal service this last Saturday and it went excellent! There were not too many people
there only 15 or so but everyone who was there participated and everything went very well. You could really feel the spirit very
strongly. The baptism was to complete a family. This week we have another baptism and the week after too. Elder Pratt and I are
working hard having fun and being blessed.

I love my area and the zone as well. We also had the zone conference this last weeek. Elder Pratt and I did a workshop. He dressed up as
alma and walked around talking about what he would do if he were a missionary now a days. It went very well. I have some pictures too.

Well I'm sorry but I forgot my memory card. I hope that next week I'll be able to send you some pictures. After that, I´ll be mailing my
memory card home so Dad can take off the pictures.

Well I love you all thanks for you support!

Until next week!

Love,

Elder Kelly

Editor's Note

I guess Elder Kelly spent all of his internet time this time doing something else, so we're going to let him know that we need more details! How can you not tell us about the dogo and the hairy man???

(p.s. he reads this blog, so if you want to get him any notes, you can also comment on his letters.)

--Jen

p.p.s. E. Kelly---we need more pictures! This is becoming an empty blog!

May 6, 2008

Hey,

Another great week in Marcos Paz. We are working really hard and enjoying ourselves doing it.

We have 4 baptisms planned for this month and are working to continue until the end of elder Pratt´s mission... so we are working hard.

Some interesting stories this week involving a large dogo (argentine dog outlawed in the states for being dangerous), waist length haired man on drugs and a burnt down house, I'm sure it would bore you...

Anyways, for the mothers day call I will call Sunday May 18th at 6:00pm sharp my time so I think its 2:00 your time.

I'm excited to talk to you, love you all and I will talk to you soon!

Love,

Elder Kelly

April 29, 2008

Hello family,

Life is really busy now. I'm still enjoying my new area. The zone is doing great and we are all excited!

I hope everything is going well. I will be calling home the 18th of May.

Out of time, love you all!

Elder Kelly