Hand Written Letter to Mom 4/25/2011

Dear Mom,
Hey! Sorry it's been a while. My companion only likes playing sports & stuff on p-day. So, I usually don't have much time to write letters. This will be my last transfer with him so hopefully you'll be seeing more letters soon! Well when I first got here the apartment was a bit gross. Nothing too bad. But, I've learned that keeping things clean is important for inviting the spirit. So, I bought some stuff & I said, "Elder, we are going to clean on p-day." So, we did & now it looks much better. It's still not exactly how I would like it but that will change soon. But, thanks for teaching me how to clean even though I never really wanted to learn haha : ) So, there are some members from El Salvador in the ward here. I miss your food and papusas so I'm trying to see if they can make some for us before my comp leaves. Wish me luck! : ) Well everything is going great here. I hope things are well back home. Thanks for everything Mom! : ) I love ya! Love, Elder Kreyling

Severe Weather and Tornadoes

With the severe weather and tornadoes that have gone through the southeast we thought we would give you an update. We have heard through several sources that all the missionaries from Barry's mission have been accounted for and are fine. We thank all who have prayed for Barry, the missionaries and the people in those areas that have been affected. Our continued prayers go out in behalf of the people who have suffered any kind of loss. May they receive comfort in these difficult times.

E-mail #17 of 2011 4/26/2011 Week 53

She is GOLDEN!

Hola familia!

This week we picked up a new investigator named H. and she is being baptized on Thursday the 28th. She is GOLDEN! She went to the Atlanta Temple open house with her mom, aunt, and uncle. She said she wanted to get into the baptismal font when she saw it! Amazing! We are having a lesson with her tonight and wednesday. We are having the baptism then so she can make it to the Temple Dedication.

We have been teaching W.E. the new member lessons. We have taught the first three lessons and some of the commandments. He is still solid and doing great. He has received the Aaronic Priesthood!

We are trying to get things moving in the spanish work. In an effort to do so we are going to start a free English class where we and some members will be teaching English to hispanics; members and non members. It's pretty exciting to think about and we hope that success will come from it.

Well, those are the highlights of this past week. This week is our bike week! I'm going to try to get a picture of me on by bike for y'all. Oh, did y'all get my letter? One is for Darrin and one is for you. Easter is coming up and I'll be able to call y'all! That's crazy it doesn't feel like it's been that long since Christmas. Hey so in an attempt to get lost in the work I've forgotten everyone's birthdays haha. So, I asked Janice to send me a list of family birthdays. These are all late but happy birthday Mom. Happy Birthday dad. Happy Birthday Kaylee. The church is true and it is so awesome! I love y'all!!!

Love,

Elder Kreyling

Q. Como les fue en la capilla esta semana? (How were things at church this week?)

A. Bien. Una investigador asistio la iglesia ayer. Ella se llama H. Ella es ingles.

Q. Alguna experiencia espiritual esta semana y por qué?

A. Las lecciones con H.

Q. Como están J., A., C., les active Florida lady, and A.?

A. No les hemos visitado menos A. Averiguamos que C habia estado en el hospital. El esta en casa ahora. Vamos a darle unos dias de descanso antes de visitarle. Tuvimos una leccion con A. y su abuela. Le damos a aaron un Libro de Mormon pero su abuela no tiene mucho interes ahora.

Q. Encontraron nuevos investigadores esta semana?

A. Si, H. Su tia es miembro y su mama es miembro pasado (former member?).

Q. Alguna persona interesante esta semana y por qué?

A. Do you want me to talk about anyone that we talked with when you ask this question? I think that's what I've been doing. Anyways... El jueves, nuestro dia de bicicleta, fuimos a una cita. En camino hablamos con un hombre que dijo que el es mimbro de una iglesia non denominational. El dijo, "The devil uses religion to confuse us! He's like let's throw some religion in there, let's throw some religion in there! I'm part of a non religious church ya see?" It was pretty funny. He was saying that he's not part of a religion because he goes to a non denominational church haha.

Q. Compraste los zapatos?

A. Todavia no.

Q. Regalaste los otros zapatos?

A. Todavia no.

E-mail #16 of 2011 4/19/2011 Week 52

I'm not gonna lie it was pretty rough

Hola Familia!

What?! Chase is coming here for his mission?! Woo hoo!!! That's so cool. So, he'll probably be getting here just a bit after President Griffin finishes his mission then. Wow. Anyways, I have a letter written for Darrin but I haven't been able to find his address yet. I know y'all sent it to me. I couldn't remember if you sent it in a letter or by email. I looked through the emails and didn't find it. So, I'll look through my letters when we get back to the apartment. If I can't find it I'll just have to send it to y'all and have y'all forward it. That's only if I can't find it. Well, this past week went well. We found a less active lady from Florida. She moved here a while ago but hasn't been going to church. So, we found her tracting and she has a granddaughter that lives in the same apartment building as she does. So, hopefully we can start teaching her soon! Also, we taught this guy named A. He is english but he has a friend in the spanish ward. He has done stuff with us on a couple of p days and he seems pretty cool. Anyways, the first lesson was about a week and a half ago. I'm not gonna lie it was pretty rough haha. Before we started the lesson we were waiting for the members to get there. We were talking about school and stuff, just a casual conversation. He was talkative and everything. Then, the members got there and we said a prayer and it was just like he shut down. He wouldn't talk to us hardly. We would ask him questions and he would say sure or I guess. Then, one of the members spoke and lightened things up and it was a bit better from there. Then, we taught him this past thursday and it was quite a bit better! He was more like his usual self. Right now we are still one principle one of lesson one with him. We are trying to help him understand that God is our Loving Heavenly Father. He committed to pray about it and he came to church yesterday! So, things are going well for him right now. Yesterday, we had a family home evening thing for the spanish ward. They had us get up there and do some roleplays to show them some ways they can invite family, friends and neighbors to meet with us and take the lessons. It was fun! Then, we had some good good food after Let's see... I think that's everything for this week. Oh, thanks y'all for the package! And tell Kimberly Monroy and Jamie Brown thanks for the letters! I love y'all!!!

Love,
Elder Kreyling

Hump Day!!!

4/14/2010 - 4/14/2011

Barry has now been out a year and I'm sure would appreciate some mail.

E-mail #15 of 2011 4/11/2011 Week 51

Jesus Christ knows we are Christians

Hola Familia,

This past week has been an adventure! Well, everyday is an adventure but anyways... Below I told you a bit about J.W.. She is a really great lady. We had a return appointment with her a couple days ago. We were walking through the apartment building and we walked downstairs where she lives. As we got to the bottom of the stairs we heard someone call "young men!" a few times. So, I walked back and looked up and there was this guy and he asked if we were Mormons. I replied yes. He told me we need to leave the property or he's calling the cops on us. I asked him on what grounds and he replied trespassing. I told him that J. had invited us back and that we were going to see her. He said the same thing. He called us an evil cult and non Christians. I tried not getting angry and I tried to remain humble. I testified to him that we are Christians and he repeated that we aren't and we are a cult. I really didn't want to deal with someone like him. So, I told him "We are going to our appointment and Jesus Christ knows that we are Christians. Have a nice day." Then, we just walked off to see J. We sat outside with J. and we saw a cop driving towards us haha. We thought he was coming to talk with us but he just went away. Even though all that happened we had a good talk with J.. I really hope that she progresses. She is so cool haha! Someone else that we found is this guy named C. We shared the Restoration with him and had a prayer before sharing the first vision. We asked him how he felt. He said he felt good. We read a couple of scriptures describing the Spirit. We asked if he felt the spirit and he said yes. We asked if he believe what we shared is true. He said , "Oh I know it's true." We ended up committing him for baptism! His date is for the seventh of may. We would have set it for the 30th of April but that's when the Atlanta Temple is being rededicated. By the way they are having an open house so you should tell Jule and Koni that the should go! Anyways, C. is a cool guy also. He told us that he somehow knew the guys from Lynard Skynard pretty well. He said he used to go to their concerts often and play pool with them and stuff. He has a pretty intense story like J. too. They are both really cool and I'll let y'all know how they progress. Well, that's all I can think of for last week. This week is bike week for us. So, I'll be getting some good workouts haha. But, I hope y'all have a great week! The church is true! I love y'all!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

Dad’s questions:

1. Are you being obedient? Yes

2. Are you working as hard as you can? Yes

3. Are you writing in your journal? Yes, I've been catching up. I'm just a couple days behind.

4. Are you taking lots of pictures? Yes. I sent the memory card with a letter on saturday. You should be getting it soon.

5. Are you praying often? Yes

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

7. Do you love the people where you serve? Yes!

Mom’s weekly questions because inquiring minds want to know.

Q. Como les fue en la capilla esta semana? (How were things for you you at church this week?)

A. Bien. (Good) We tracted into a Less active spanish member. He's been living here for like two months or something. We got him to church!

Q. Alguna experiencia espiritual esta semana y por qué? (Any spiritual experience this week and why?)

A. We had a good lesson with this girl named A. We tried this thing where we say a prayer before sharing the first vision. I could feel the spirit stronger when we did that.

Q. Como están los nuevos investigadores? (How are the new investigators?)

A. Bien. (Good)

Q. Alguna persona interesante esta semana y por qué? (Any interesting people this week and why?)

A. J. W.. She is an elderly lady from England. She is really awesome. She has told us a lot about her life's story. I think she really enjoys having someone to talk with. Anyways, her story is pretty intense. She grew up during world war two. She said she almost got shot down by a plane! Crazy! But, she really loves God and Jesus Christ. We've gone over the Restoration with her. I'll let you know how things progress with her.

Q. Qué tipo de actividades haces in Pday? (What kind of activities do you do on Pday? Sam's Question)

A. Play basketball (Elder Hedgecock's favorite), go hiking, play ultimate frisbee etc.

Q. How is your facial hair coming along? (Editors note: this is a random prank question from Sam)

A. I think it's thicker but I really don't pay attention and I shave everyday so I'm not sure haha.

Q. Cuando se va tu mish pres? (When does your Mission President leave?)

A. In about three months I believe.

E-mail #14 of 2011 4/4/2011 Week 50

We offered to give her a blessing

Hola Familia!

This week we had Chad Lewis come to the mission. He used to be a pro football player but now is a motivational speaker. I felt really inspired to keep working from what he shared with us. This past week we saw L. and taught her a bit. She wasn't feeling well so we offered to give her a blessing and she accepted. Towards the end of the lesson she seemed to be a bit more lively and she said she felt a bit better. We taught a part member family in the spanish ward. His name is A. and we went over a bit of the restoration and he accepted a soft baptismal commitment. We are trying to set up teaching appointments with this member and her family. They are from El Salvador! I think they are going to be living with her for four months. So, we are going to try to get in there to start teaching so they can get baptized ASAP. We saw M. finally haha. She still wants to meet with us and everything but we still have some work to do with her. That's basically all for the work this week. Now I'll just say some fun stuff haha. So, I already told y'all that I bought a cheap blender a while ago. This past week I made a smoothie that tasted exactly like the Mango Mango smoothie from the Orange Peel. It's my favorite smoothie from there so that was pretty exciting haha We had an apartment inspection this week... We passed!!! Oh, after going through your letter I guess that would be fine for you to send some money on my card. The only problem is that I have two cards so I'm not sure which one it is that I would be using and if it's checking or debit or whatever. The other thing is that I haven't used my cards at all on the mission so I've forgotten my pin numbers for them haha So, I guess you could either send that info in a written letter or just send cash. I'm not sure though haha. But, anyways the work is going well and everything is fine. Oh yeah! I almost forgot. The entire district will be the same next transfer so Elder Hedgecock and I are both staying for this next transfer. This will be his last so I will be his last comp. But, I think that's everything for this week. I love y'all!!!

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

Now for the questions of the week to share with the world……..

Q. Como estuvo la conferencia? (How was conference?)

A. Bien. I liked all of what was said... But, especially that advice about finding a wife soon after the mission. Hehe

Q. Alguna experiencia espiritual esta semana y por qué? (Any spiritual experience this week and why?)

A. Si. Chad Lewis jugaba al futbol americano (professional) y ahora es un motivational speaker. El vino para darnos un motivational speak. (Yes, Chad Lewis played professional football and is now a motivational speaker. He came and gave us a motivational talk.) He served a mission in Taiwan I think it was. He gave us a great message of inspiration and motivation.

Q. Encontraron nuevos investigadores esta semana? (Did you find any new investigators this week?)

A.Si, una mujer. El se llama A. El es hispano. El esta casado con una miembra inactiva del barrio aqui. Le ensenamos acerca de la restauracion y del bautismo. El acepto un compromiso suave.

Q. Me mandaste la tarjeta de la cámara con las fotos nuevas? (Did you send me the memory card with the pictures from your camera?)

A. No

Q. Le escribiste (Did you write...) a Darrin y a Joe Warburton? They will be home soon you know. As a matter of fact, Darrin comes home on 5/4/11 & his talk is set up for May 8^th-mother’s day.

A. I've started a letter to him and I'll send it as soon as I'm done.

Q. Como están (How are...) M, C, L y M/A y S and M?

A. M. dropped us. We are still working with M. but she is going to be moving soon. She might stay in our area and she might move to Chattsworth which is the sister's area in our district. We still haven't met with C. Elder Hedgecock thinks it's because of him they don't want to meet with us or V., C.'s bro, doesn't think he's ready. They are going to be moving to Dalton East's area soon so Elder Hedgecock doesn't really want to try teaching them anymore. It's kinda frustrating. L. is doing ok. The only thing is that we are still on principle one which is God is our Loving Heavenly Father. We have taught other things but right now we are mostly trying to help her understand that God is her Heavenly Father. I don't know if I typed it wrong last time but I think you mean A.. We haven't been able to meet with her in a while either. We weren't able to meet with S. and M. but we should be seeing them sometime this week.