E-mail #52 of 2011 12/27/2011 Week 88

Carta # 52 Dec. 25-the last letter of 2011

They asked us to come by often.

Hola familia!

Well, it's hard to hear about grandpa's conditions. My prayers are with him and y'all.

The libraries all over Knoxville were closed yesterday, so that's why I couldn't email y'all until now.

As I said on Christmas L. still hasn't been confirmed. We talked with the Spanish branch mission leader about it and he's going to call President C. We'll see what happens.

Oh, I have a couple of questions. Do I need to do anything for my college stuff? We're y'all able to see if I could begin with the fall semester instead of summer?

There are a ton of Guatemalans here and most of them speak one of several dialects as their first language. Are there any dialects in El Salvador or is it just Spanish?

Well, I hope y'all had a great Christmas! Thanks for all of the presents. I like them all.

This past week we found a family of two parents and one infant. The parents are M. and S. and their boy is C. As of right now S. seems a bit more interested. They are both open and both committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. When we shared the first vision S. was just like, "wow". Pretty cool stuff.

We saw a family called the R. They are a part member family. The husband is a non member. They have several kids, but we aren't sure if they are members or not. Bishop R. asked us to see them. They like the missionaries and they seemed to really like us. They asked us to come by often. They said they'll feed us and everything. They seem pretty legit.

Guess what! I'm officially all caught up on my journal! That was my Christmas present to myself haha

Oh, in the next little bit I might send home some boxes of letters and other things. I've thought of a couple more things y'all can send. I'm trying to provide my mind with evidence of baptism. So, if y'all find any pictures of baptism send them my way please. Also, if you come across any quotes from church leaders about success with baptism or something like that. I think you get the picture.

Well, that's all for this week. Things are going well here. Take care and have a great week. My prayers are with y'all. I love y'all. Tell everyone I say hi and I love them!

Love,
Elder Kreyling




Mom’s weekly questions

Q. Did you ever received the dear elder in which I res-send the lost e-mail?
A. Si!

Q. Did finally get to open all you Christmas presents?

A. Si! Gracias


Sam’s questions


1. Did you find out what that scripture meant for me?

No, I'll get back to you.

2. What do you think is the biggest change you have made in yourself, being on a mission?

Taking and loving people for who they are.

E-mail #51 of 2011 12/19/2011 Week 87

Carta # 51 19 de Diciembre de 2011

He'll be getting the best Christmas present ever! :)



Hola familia!

Just FYI our phone call on Christmas can't be longer than 30 to 40 minutes.

Well, I'm glad to hear that everyone got the Christmas cards. Don't mind the manikin (spelling) in the top right corner. We were in a thrift store when we took that pic J Well, L. wasn't able to make it to church yesterday so he still hasn't been confirmed. President C. said he can be confirmed next Sunday and that will be ok. Of course the zone leaders didn't seem too happy about that, but we can't change that. We'll just have to make sure he's confirmed this coming Sunday (he'll be getting the best Christmas present ever! J

Miles is home! How crazy. It sounds like he's doing well. Way to go Ben! J Haha. (Cousin Ben will be a first time dad next June)

E. P. went down to Dalton west! Lucky dog.

Well, I don't have many updates for y'all. We've had to drop some investigators because of lack of progress. Others we will continue to work with for a bit to see if they will start progressing.

We are working with a new less active family named the L. They fed us. They are pretty legit. The mom and one daughter went to church yesterday. Hopefully we can get the rest there soon.

Our new DL is E. P. He served with Elder B. for a transfer. It's hard to believe that E. B. has been home for almost seven weeks now! Well, E. P. just finished serving as an AP. He's pretty cool. This should be a good transfer.

I think that's about all for this week. I can't wait for Sunday either! J Until then take care and I love y'all!! J
Love,
Elder Barry Kreyling

Las preguntas de Mamá

Q. ¿Te llego el paquete? Did you get the pkg?

A. mamá. No, no voy a recibirlo hasta la fiesta de navidad de zona. No mom, I will get it for the Zone Christmas party.

Q. ¿Compartiste las cosas de comer con tu compañero? Did you share the snacks with your comp?

A. Si yes

Q. ¿Cómo se llama tu nuevo compañero? What’s your new comp’s name?

A. Elder N. Elder N.

Q. ¿De dónde es tu nuevo compañero? Where is your new comp from?

A. Kaysville, UT Kaysville, UT

Q. ¿Cuánto tiempo tiene en la misión? How long has he been on the mission?

A. un año. One year.

Q. ¿Qué sabes de su familia? What do you know about his family?

A. Sus padres montan mucho en bicicletas. His parents ride bicycles a lot. Oh boy, I’m sure he’s wishing his parents were more physical active ……sigh L

Q. ¿Tienes información para la llamada por teléfono para el próximo domingo?

A. Tal vez yo vaya a poder comunicarme por "Skype" pero no se. La llamada no debe durar más de 30 a 40 minutos. I might communicate via Skype, but don’t know. The call must not be more than 30 to 40 minutes long.

Q. ¿Sera solo por teléfono oh será Skype? Will it via phone or Skype?

A. Miren arriba J See above J

Q. ¿Te llego los dear elders? Did you get the dear elders?

A. No. No.

Q. ¿Tienen nuevos investigadores? Do you have new investigators?

A. Una que se llama Sh. Es Católica pero Ella escucho y dijo que podemos volver.

One who’s name is Sh. She is catholic, but she listened and said we could come back.

Felicidades por el bautismo la semana pasada! Hay uno más que esta listo para el agua?

Congratulations on the baptism last week! Do you have any more ready for the water?

No en el memento. Not at the moment.

E-mail #49 of 2011 12/05/2011 Week 85

Carta # 49 de 2011

It was a really uplifting

Hola familia!

Thanks for J. and J.’s new address! This is an exciting time of the year. Well, it's always an exciting time as a missionary it seems. L. still has a date for this Saturday. While we were driving yesterday Elder P. called him up because he wasn't able to make it to church because of work. Elder P. had a hard time understanding him. But, I guess L. said something about having already been baptized into the Evangelical church. So, we are going to try to see him today to help him resolve that concern so he'll be baptized this Saturday. I believe that we will be able to help him with this.

I keep forgetting to tell y'all this, but I remembered today! There is a legit member in the ward named Bro R. He is the owner of the Cancer Fund of America. Every Tuesday we do volunteer work there as a service opportunity. I have some pics that I'll be sending soon. It's a really nice place to offer service.

Each Sunday we meet with the Bishop here. He gave us a ward directory when we first arrived and we have been helping to update it. On Sundays we let the Bishop know the things we've done. We tell him if people have moved and so on. It's been a really great way to gain the trust of the Bishop here. Because we've been working on it, there have been a few less actives in our area that’ve come back to church recently. The Bishop seems really happy about that. One unique thing that we did yesterday is we received a blessing from Bishop R. That was a suggestion from Elder H. when he came to the mission a couple weeks ago. It was a really uplifting experience getting that blessing.

For this past district meeting Elder G. asked Elder R. and I to do the training. The zone leaders and the assistants were there. It was a good district meeting. Elder R. and I had a good time preparing and giving the training.

Well, that's pretty much everything this week. Hope y'all have a great week! Take care and I love y'all!

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

Q. ¿Cómo está el tiempo? How is the weather?

A. Frio a veces. Pero, estoy bien gracias. It’s cold some times, but I’m fine thank you.

Q. ¿Cómo están los investigadores D. y L.? How are the investigators D. & L.?

A. D. esta más o menos. El jugaba al futbol americano en la escuela. El y su equipo jugaron en el partido final pero perdieron... L. todavía tiene la fecha. Vamos a tratar de visitarle esta noche. D. is more or less. He played football for the school. His team playesd the final game ,but lost…. L. still has a date. We’ll try to visit him tonight.

Q. ¿Ya esta lista la pila para L.? Is the fount ready for L.?

A. Todavía necesita un poco más prep. Not yet, it still needs some prep.

Q. ¿Sabes algo de las personas de Etiopia y de Tailandia? Anything on the Ethiopian & Thailand people?

A. No, no han estado en casa... No, they have not been home….

Q. ¿Encontraron nuevas personas para enseñar esta semana? Did you find new people to teach this week?

A. Algunas. Some.

Q. ¿Qué quieres o necesitas que te mande para Navidad? What do you want or need me to send you for Christmas?

A. Tal vez el libro que se llama "The Infinite Atonement". Si lo pueden encontrar. Maybe the book “The Infinite Atonement” if you can find it.

Q. ¿Sabes cuándo tendrás traslados otra vez? I know it’s coming up soon-man time is flying by so fast! Do you know when you’re getting transfers again?

A. El 14. The 14^th

Q. Do you have pictures for today?

A. No, lo siento otra vez. No, I’m sorry again.

Q. can you write a list of questions to have ready for the Christmas call?

A How is the family mission plan? Have y'all made profiles on mormon.org?

We are being so lame….. He asked us to do this a long time ago, and we’ve been slacking off what’s wrong with us?!

E-mail #48 of 2011 11/28/2011 Week 84

Carta # 48 de Noviembre 28 de 2011

We're going to baptize!

Hola familia!

I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving! It sounds like it went well. Here we had two meal appointments. They were both good. It was an all day p day! Other than that we just chilled with other missionaries.

I can't remember if I've already told you, but Elder G. is my district leader! This past Friday we went on an exchange! It was fun. We did a lot of catching up. We saw their progressing investigator, D. I think. He was just baptized! We had a good time.

Most of our investigators are doing about the same for right now. We are still working with them. Hopefully they will start to make some more progress soon.

This past week we had an investigator in the Spanish branch. His name is L. Elders P. and R. had taught him a couple of times. But, he lives in our Spanish area, so we will be taking over now. He has a baptismal date for Dec 10th! So, we are going to teach him and get him fellowshipped by the branch and we'll be baptizing him soon!

Overall things are going well here in Tennessee. We're working hard and we're being blessed for it. We're going to baptize! Those are the main highlights for the week. I hope y'all have a great week! Tell Bishop S. and the Priest quorum that I say thank you for the letters Tell everyone I love them! Love y'all!

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

Q. ¿Cómo estas esta semana? How are you this week?

A. Bien! Gracias. Fine. Thank you.

Q. ¿Cómo te fue en la entrevista con Elder H. and how did he choose whom he was going to interview y de que hablaron?

How was your interview with Elder H. And what did you talk about?

A. Bien. El Presidente I. nos escogió. Hablamos sobre la obra y ustedes.

Good. President I. chose us. We talked about the work and you. (As in the parents)

Q. ¿Cómo va la obra en tu área? How is the work in your area?

A. Bien! Good!

Q. ¿Tienen nuevos investigadores? Do you have new investigators?

A. Si! Uno con fecha bautismal! Yes! One with a baptism date!

Q. ¿Cómo te fue el jueves, el Día de Acción de Gracias?How was Thursday, Thanksgivings day for you?

A. Bien. Comimos mucha buena comida. Good. We ate lots of good food.

Q. Te llego la carta de dear elder? Did you get the dear elder?

A. Si, gracias. Yes, thank you.

Q. ¿Saben si los otros elders visitaron al mesero del restaurant Mexicano? Do you know if the other elders have visited the waiter from the Mexican restaurant?

A. Creo que no lo han hecho. I don’t believe they have.

Q. ¿Cómo les va con D.? Les están ayudando con él los miembros? How is it going with D.? Are the ward members helping with him?

A. Más o menos. El ha leído un poco en el Libro de Mormón. Ha buscado info en el internet. Los miembros van a ayudar más. Tal vez vayan a invitarle en su hogar para ensenarse.

More or less. He has read some of the BOM. He has looked for info in the internet. The member will help more. Maybe they will invite to their home to teach him.

Q. ¿Algo nuevo con las personas de Tailandia y Etheopia?

Any news on the Thailand & Ethiopian people?

A. Más o menos por el momento.

More or less for the moment. (whatever that means)

E-mail #47 of 2011 11/21/2011 Week 83

Carta # 47 de Noviembre 20 de 2011

He's going to be a baptizing machine……..

Hola familia!

Well, this week hasn't been dull haha. We met a seventy and his wife! Elder and Sis H. He's in the second quorum of the seventy I believe. He talked to us in a bi-zone conference about several things including how temple marriage is the only option for us returned missionaries. After his talk to us we enjoyed a nice lunch. Then, he interviewed several missionaries including my companions and I! He is a really cool guy and he offered a lot of really good advice. After the conference we drove home with the assistants. We decided to eat out somewhere. We decided to pray about where we should go so we could meet some Hispanics to teach and baptize. We decided on a Mexican restaurant. We talked with our waiter and we got him to become a potential. Dad, he has family in Ventura that are member! You could have baptized them. Anyways, we found out that he lives in the other Elders area, so hopefully they go see him.

So, at the H. conference we found out that Elder J's visa came! He's leaving today. President I. is picking him up at three and his flight is at 530. It's bitter sweet. I've enjoyed training him. He's going to be a baptizing machine down there in Brazil!

So, right now we are working mostly with D. He's shown some good potential. We are going to try to get those members he knows involved in the lessons. We also are thinking about giving him a church tour. He seems pretty solid though. We have high hopes for him.

Thanks for the package! Y'all are awesome! Peach cobbler oh yeah! So, that is just the Bisquick stuff right? I still need to mix the sugar with it, correct?

Well, I think that's everything for this week. Thanks for the pictures also! I love those kids! I hope y'all have an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Barry Ryan Kreyling

Tiempo para las preguntas………..

Time for Mom’s questions……..

Q. ¿Como estas de salud? How is your health?

A. Bien. Gracias! Fine thanks!

Q. ¿Cómo va la obra del Señor en tu área? How is the Lord’s work going in your area?

A. Bien. Estamos trabajando. Good. We are working.

Q. ¿Visitaron a Timmy esta semana? como les fue con él? Did you visit T. this week and how did it go?

A. No. El nos dijo que iba a llamarnos pero no lo hizo. El nos dejo. No. He said that he would call us but he didn’t. He left us.

Q. ¿Cómo les va con D? How are things with D?

A. Bien. Nos hemos separado algunas veces esta semana. El Elder Pattison visito a Darrian y tuvo buenas lecciones. El no asistio ayer. El y su familia tenian que llevar su padre al hospital para "get his stomach pumped". Pero, el conoce a algunos miembros entonces vamos a visitarle durante la semana con esos miembros. El va a asistir el proximo domingo.

Good. We have gone on Exchange a few times this week. Elder P. visit D. and had good lessons.

He didn’t come to church yesterday. Him and his family had to take his dad to the hospital to get his stomach pumped. But he knows a few members, so we will visit him during the week with those members. He will come to church next week.

Q. ¿Cómo les va con las personas de Ethiopia? How is it going with the Ethiopian people?

A. Les visitamos y fijamos otra cita pero no estaban. We visited them and set an appt. but they were not there.

Q. ¿Visitaron los miembros de la lista que les dio el Obispo R. y como les fue? Did you visit people from the list you got from bishop R. and what happen?

A. Fue bien. De esa manera conocimos a D. It was good. We met D. thrugh that list.

Q. ¿Qué ha pasado con la señora de Tailandia? What has happen with the lady from Thailand?

A. No ha asistido. Creo que tiene dudas o preocupaciones de la cristiandad. She has not come. I think she has doubts or worries about Christianity.

Q. ¿Te llego la caja? Did you get the box?

A. Si, muchas gracias! Oh, si no han obtenido "The Book of Mormon on Trial"

no se preocupen. Puedo leerlo después de la misión.

Yes, thank you. Oh, if you still have not found “The Book of Mormon on Trial” don’t worry I can read it after my mission.

Q. ¿te llego el dear elder? Did you get the dear elder?

A. Todavia no. not yet.

E-mail #46 of 2011 11/14/2011 Week 82

Carta # 46 de Nov. 14 de 2011

Huh?……… Thailand and now Ethiopia? I thought he was in the South, Spanish speaking?

Hola familia!

Sounds like things back home are going pretty well. Jule got married! Crazy. Things here have been going up and down. We have still been working with T. We committed him for a new date since he didn't go to church. Things were going well. He was liking (still likes) the Book of Mormon and believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet. On Saturday we went by his home, but he wasn't there. His brother said that T. wanted to tell us that he's from a different religion. Then, he didn't come to church. So, we stopped by his place after church and he said that he's going to church with his family. He really appreciates us and what we've done for him. He asked us if we can meet later on in the week. So, we aren't exactly sure what we're going to do with him right now.

This week we found some pretty cool investigators. We found a few from Ethiopia. We also found a 17 year old named D. He asked really good questions like Joseph Smith. He was really into the lesson. He knows a member. He showed a lot of potential. We are seeing him tonight.

It's pretty fun being in a trio-nionship. It makes things a bit more entertaining haha. We are having a good time together. Elder J. thinks he'll be getting his visa in a couple of weeks. Oh, did I tell y'all that Elder G. is our district leader here? Pretty cool. Oh, and Elder S. is still our Zone Leader. Well, we did a lot of cleaning today (it was left pretty messy) so I don't have much time again. But, it was really great to hear from y'all! I hope y'all have an amazing week!

Tell everyone I say Hi and I love them! Love y'all!!!

Love,

Elder Kreyling

Las preguntas semanales de mamá

Mom’s weekly questions

Q. ¿Cómo va la obra en tu área? How are things going in your area?

A. Bien. Good,

Q. ¿Mandaste otra vez la carta para Shan? Did you re-send the letter to Shan?

A. Todavia no. Not yet.

Q. ¿Encontraron nuevos investigadores esta semana? Did you find new investigators this week?

A. Si. Uno se llama D. El mostro potencial. El tuvo preguntas semejantes a las de José Smith cuando el estaba buscando la verdad. Yes, his name is D. he showed a lot of potential. He had questions like Joseph Smith when he was looking for the truth.

Q. ¿Tienes alguna experiencia espiritual esta semana? Do you have a spiritual story to share with us this week?

A. Nos reunimos con el Obispo R. Tuvimos una buena plática sobre la obra. El nos dio una lista de los miembros que él quiere que visitemos. We had a meeting with bishop R. and a good talk about the work. He gave us a list of the members he wants us to v visit.

Q. ¿Tienen alguien listo para la pila? Do you have somebody ready for the fount?

A. En este momento no. Not at the momento.

Q. ¿Cómo te va con tus compañeros? How is it going with your companions?

A. Bien. Good.

Q. ¿Cómo les va con señora de Tailandia? How is it going with the lady from Thyland?

A. No pudimos visitarla. Estaba enferma. Trabaja todos los días menos los domingos. We were able to see her. She is sick and Works everyday except for Sundays.

Q. ¿Cómo te va con el frio? How is it going with cold temperature?

A. Bien. No hace mucho frio por el momento. Good. Not too cold for the mement.

Q. ¿Cómo les va con T.? How is it going with T.

A. Más o menos. More or less

Q. ¿ Escritura favorita de esta semana? Favorite scripture for the week?

A. Hechos 3: 19 – 21 Acts: 3: 19-21

Esta es mi favorita de esta semana: This is my favorite scripture of the week.

"...for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up..."

(Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)

Dad’s Questions:

1. Are you being obedient? Pretty much. There are certain things that can be tightened up but we are doing well.

2. Are you working as hard as you can? With all your heart, mind and strength? I'm trying. I want to. Sometimes it feels like I do and sometimes no.

3. Are you writing in your journal? Yes! I'm only a week behind now.

4. Are you taking lots of pictures? Not as many as possible I don't think.

5. Are you praying always? Pretty much, I at least try to have a prayer in my heart.

6. Are you being a good companion? I think so.

7. Do you love the people where you serve? I feel that I do.

8. Are you in every way striving to be the best missionary that you can be? I'm trying.