E-mail 10/25/2010 Week 28

Hola Familia!!!

Sweet Home Alabama! Ok, so as ya'll know, transfers was this past wednesday. I found out that I was finishing training a missionary who had been trained for a transfer already in the East Knox area(English). His name is Elder Hart and he is a good guy. East Knox is a good (bike) area. So, ya'll may be wondering why I said "Sweet Home Alabama" at the beginning. Well, I was training Elder Hart for a couple days and things were going well. We were being obedient and working hard. We had some good investigators we were seeing and all that good stuff that is awesome about missionary work. Then, on saturday morning I got a call from President Griffin. He asked, " Do you still want to learn spanish?" I said, "Yes, if that is still ok." He told me he needed a spanish missionary to go to Fort Pane, Alabama. So, I was E.T.'d here to Fort Pane which is a spanish area. My new companion is Elder Sexton. He is cool and he speaks good spanish! Fort Pane is an awesome place and I love it already! We got a commitment the first day I was here which was saturday! Her name is Vanessa and she is hispanic but speaks fluent English. She is 17 and her mom is a member. She has been meeting with missionaries on and off for about five years. Anyways, we had a dinner appointment with Vanessa, her mom, and some of their friends who are also members. We had finished eating and were about to give a spiritual thought. Then, out of no where she says, "Oh yeah! I want to be baptized." Can you believe it?! We committed her for Nov. 2nd. Also, we had another meal appointment the same night with the hispanic group (they aren't quite a branch yet). There were two investigators there and it was awesome! On Sunday there were two confirmations. Their names are Travis and Vinicio. So, the English branch and the spanish group each have new members!

Mom, yes I got the package and thanks! It's going to take me a while to eat all of those gummy bears haha! And I've been using the oils and they seem to be helping. I'll continue using them and let you know how it's going.

Dad, I'm sorry to hear about the girls. Tell them I still love them and I'm proud of them! That's great that Zach and Jordan got there calls. Tell them I say good luck. I should be able to start sending letters again because there isn't much to do on P days here.

Well, that's all for this week. I hope ya'll have an awesome week. I love ya'll!!!

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

E-mail 10/18/2010 Week 27

Ok, here is the motivational thought. I don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for but here we go. Since I've been on my mission I've been trying so hard to do what is right, trying so hard to help others come unto Christ. There have been many trials here in the Mission Field. One major thing that has helped me overcome these trials and have success is the Charity, or love, I have for this great work and for the people here. This love has helped me do things I never thought I would be able to do. It is the same for you girls. I know you can do this as you must have an absolute love for this game and for each other. I love ya'll and wish ya'll the best of luck!!!

Sorry I couldn't write more. I don't have a lot of time. But it sounds like everything is going great back home! We found a guy named Jeremy while tracting. He accepted the committment to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Well, I got the call and I'm leaving Loudon on Wednesday. Also, Elder Follett got a leadership packet. He's going to be a District Leader! After he got that we got a text saying there was a conference call on saturday morning for all the leaders. So, he tuned in and put it on speakerphone in case I wanted to listen. During the conference call they announced all of the trainers and... I'm training next transfer!!! Haha it came as a surprise because I didn't get a trainers packet and I thought the conference call was just for Elder Follett. But, since I'm leaving it means I'll either be white washing or opening an area while training. Or I could be finishing another Elders training. Elder Follett thinks I'm going to Dalton to do the latter. But, I'll find out at transfers and let ya'll know haha. Well, that's pretty much it for this week. I love all ya'll and hope you have an incredible week!

Love,

Elder Kreyling

BUMP DAY

Today is Elder Barry Kreyling's Bump Day. That means that 25% of his mission is done. How time flies.

E-mail 10/11/2010 Week 26

I still need to talk with my Zone Leader about the stuff he has. At the spanish conference we were all sitting down and he just showed them to us for a min. I couldn't see what it was called and I don't remember him giving us the names of them. The coconut oil is for my dry skin. It's crazy my skin is still quite dry even in this humidity haha. Oh, thanks for looking into that stuff mom I hope that helps out a lot. It's hard focusing sometimes when I have those problems going on. Are you talking about Elder Summerhays? He has been out for about two transfers more than me. He is from sandy and after staying in Loudon with me for a transfer he went to Dalton Georgia. All of the spanish missionaries love Dalton because they cover a spanish and english ward. The members in both are all about missionary work. So, it's good that he went there. He should have a lot of success. Elder Badal is still in Athens and he is training again... I have a brother in the mission! haha. Oh, don't worry mom I'm not planning on coming home anytime soon. I have to baptize all the people the Lord has sent me to!

Dad, that is quite a crazy story. I'm glad to hear that everything turned out ok. Woo hoo the girls took region! I knew they could do it. Well, we've had to drop our two most promising investigators. We had Angel committed for oct. 16th. She seemed excited and all that. But, we've only been able to see her twice since then. And she hasn't come to church. So, we have been giving her a break but will try to see her again this week. The other one is named Mike. He came to church a few weeks ago. He's had a bunch of concerns. We committed him to fast and pray about the Book of Mormon and what we've shared with him. He called us on Sat. and we went over. He said he'd fasted and prayed and he got an answer to stop. So, he's not really investigating the church anymore. But, he told us we could come by whenever we want. So, he likes us but not the church. It's interesting how that works out. But we aren't getting discouraged. Well, I need to be going now. I love ya'll!!! XOXOXOXOXOXO

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

Hand Written Letter 10/08/2010

Hey, Sorry I didn't get this to ya'll sooner. Anyways, I told ya'll I'd explain the pocket sized New Testament but I'm not sure if I did. Well, a couple of weeks into my second transfer Elder Badal and I went to the Mission Office. They had several little green books called "Tracting and Member Missionary Work". We got one for each of us. It has some really good suggestions and advice to increase success. The guy who wrote it served in the south so he knows what it's like here. Anyways, he suggests having your hands free by having a pocket size Book of Mormon behind your back and the pocket sized New Testament in your shirt pocket. He says it's less intimidating and you can still answer almost any question. So I'm just trying to do as he suggests to see if it produces more success. I already ordered and received a pocket sized book of Mormon from the church. But, they didn't have a pocket sized New Testament so that's why I asked ya'll for one. Just so you know I'm writing this letter at nights during the week . Elder Summerhays doesn't like planning time on p-day to write letters and I guess he'd rather be golfing or losing our our keys . Haha. OK I've been writing this for the last week or two. I'm writing this part after transfers. I mentioned in my e-mail that I am staying in Loudon for another transfer. So, I got a new companion! He's another Spanish speaking Elder. His name is Elder Follett... He has been out for about 17 months I believe he said. So he is the oldest and most experienced missionary I've been with so far. I really hope/think we can baptize in Louden this transfer or even this month! Oh, I forgot to tell ya'll a bit more about Elder Follett. He is from Pocatello, Idaho. However it's spelled haha. He has served in 4 of the 5 states that the mission covers! He just needs to go to Kentucky & he will have served in all five states! Oh, it was a pretty funny thing @ transfers. Elder Follett & I sat next to each other for the meeting. We didn't know we were being put together because that's how transfers are. You don't know who is going where until President Griffin announces it @ transfer meeting. Anyways, President announces that Elder Follett is leaving. He stands up next to me as President says he is going to serve in Louden w/me. He looks my way before he gets a chance to stand up for him to see it's me. He looks the other way as I stand up. He's still looking the other way while I'm standing there. So, I just put my arm around him, he sees that it's me, & I look up at President and smile. Everyone laughed. It's probably funnier than I was able to explain it. When that happened I knew it would be a great transfer. :) Well, There's no more room to write more. I love ya'll!
Love, Elder Barry Kreyling

E-Mail 10/4/2010 Week 25

Haha well Mom I was going to tell you about the spanish conference after anyways. I was waiting until after it happened so I could let you know how it was. But, I'm sorry if I'm not giving enough detail. That's something I need to try to work on. You can keep sending Hazelnut, it is good. Also, could you send some coconut oil if possible? Thank you for the scripture and thought! BTW, I finally got a chance to send your black bag this morning so you should be getting it soon.

It sounds like things are going well back home! At least the girls are making it exciting for you haha. Tell them to keep it up... the winning part that is. Conference was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. I hope to take the things I learned from it and apply those things to the work.

Well, this last week we got a committment (it was in spanish and I did most of the committment so my spanish is improving)! On monday we didn't have anything to do so we ended our p day a bit early to work. We went to see Angel. We asked her if she had still been reading and if she'd prayed. She said yes. I read Galatians 5 where it talks about the fruits of the spirit and she said she felt those things so she believes it's true!!! Then, I read 2 Nephi 31 where it talks about following Jesus Christ by keeping the commandments and BAPTISM. I asked her if she wanted to follow Jesus Christ and she said yes. I asked her what she needed to do to follow him. She read a bit more and said baptism. Then, we committed her for the 16th of October and she said yes. We set up an appointment but when we went there she wasn't home. We have been by every day and we still have not seen her again. We aren't giving up though. We will continue going by. We will need to move her date back a bit because she didn't come to General Conference this week. She is our best investigator right now so we are going to do everything we can to recontact her. Well, I need to get going. But, I love ya'll and appreciate everything you've done and continue to do. Have an amazing week!!!!!

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling