E-mail #9 of 2012 2/27/2012 Week 97

Hola familia!!!

Hey so, I'm trying to figure out what those two things are... If you are wanting more pictures I don't have my camera with me today. Sorry! Oh, I can't remember if I've already commented on this but tell the Hurts that I say thanks for their letter. Also, I got a letter from Abuela Cristina. Gracias! Oh! I got the wedding announcement for Jack'ee and Jason. The last of my three sisters is getting married. Crazy! Tell them I said thanks for sending it I hope these are the things you wanted to hear from me.

Well, things are going pretty well here. The zone is doing great right now. We currently have 12 investigators with a baptismal date. There should be more on the way soon! We've been working with a family called the M. The mother (J) was a member down in Athens, TN. For whatever reason she no longer is a member. She has no hard feelings toward the church or anything. She has two unbaptized girls named H and A. They are really sweet girls. But, just recently we helped them move to a lower apartment. The reason for the move is that A is in a wheelchair because she has s. So, we helped them move and that got our foot in the door We taught them this past saturday. They really want to start coming to church. We arranged a ride for them and they came yesterday! So exciting! We are hoping to set a baptismal date with them asap. They are sweet girls and deserve the blessings that the gospel has to offer them.

This past week was quite eventful! We had two exchanges. One was with the Assistants and the other was with Bays Mountain (Morristown). I was in our area for both exchanges. I was first with Elder J. (AP). It was fun. He went to Orem high school. I told him that we played his school in soccer my senior year but I didn't mention that we beat them Then, I was with Elder R (not from our ward) and he too is from St. George! He went to Pineview but doesn't know any of our friends or relatives that went there. We had a good time on both exchanges. We are in the process of finding a new apartment to move into. We thought we had one lined up. We went over with the Sr. Sister missionary who's in charge of the housing for missionaries. She really seemed to like it and it was in the price range. Last night she texted us and told us to go sign the paperwork. We were going to go over to do that today but she called this morning and told us that we won't be moving there anymore. She didn't say exactly why but she said moving us there would be like trying to jump the grand canyon. So, we will be doing a bit more searching in the next little bit.

Those are all the highlights for this week. We are really excited for the M girls. They have a special place in our hearts. The work is going well here and I love being a missionary! The church is true. I know it!

I hope y'all have a great week. I love y'all!!!

Love,

Elder Kreyling

Las preguntas semanales de mamá

Q. ¿Como estas esta semana?

A. Bien!

Q. ¿Cómo están los investigadores?

A. Bien

Q. ¿Cuál es tu himno favorito de esta semana?

A. Mas santidad da me

Q. ¿Escritura favorita?

A. Jacob 2 : 18 -19

Q. ¿Te llego la caja con tus golosinas?

A. Si! Muchas gracias!

E-mail #8 of 2012 2/21/2012 Week 96

Hola familia!!!

Things are going well here. To answer one of your questions, yes, I've read my patriarchal blessing lately... Love it!

We had a great Zone Conference! Dad's mail still hasn't arrived. We weren't able to make it back to the library so I could print off the emails before Zone Conference. So, we weren't able to use those things during the conference. But, I'll print them off and I'll probably use them for other training opportunities. So, thanks dad!

So, like I said before Elder S. and I trained on the Mission Vision of every companionship baptizing every month. We played a portion of the conversion story of Bill Carpenter. We also read part of The divine call of a Missionary by Elder Rasband. We shared some experiences that have let us know that we are here by revelation. We helped them see that it's the same with President I.. He is called and set apart to preside over and direct the work here. He helps us fulfill our purpose as missionaries. We helped them understand that the mission vision has been revealed to us through President I. by revelation to help us fulfill our purpose. We testified A LOT about these things, how they are divinly inspired. I felt the spirit strongly. When we first started the training we asked the missionaries to voice any concerns or doubts with the mission vision. It took a few seconds for someone to start off. But, they started saying possible ones like "it's a hard area" or "little or no member support". As they were saying these things we wrote them on the chalkboard. We gave them a minute to write them down and to write down some personal concerns or doubts that they didn't want to voice. After that we promised them in the name of Jesus Christ that if their hearts were open to the spirit and they really wanted to receive a witness of the mission vision those doubts and concerns would be resolved during the course of zone conference. That got the attention of some missionaries who weren't paying as much attention before haha. We had them hold on to those papers with the doubts and concerns that they'd written. At the end of the training Elder S. went around with a trash can and the missionaries "threw away" their doubts and concerns. They seemed to be really excited after that!

President I. trained on the "Ask in Faith" tool. It's a tool to help members fulfill "Every member a missionary". It's based on the talk "Ask in Faith" by Elder Bednar. We are going to use it to help us achieve the mission vision. Sister I. trained on "the armor of God". Maybe you can see now why Elder S. and I are wearing armor in a couple of those pictures that I sent you Oh! this might seem a bit random at first but just keep reading! So, we had dinner at a members home the day after Valentine's. When we got there we saw on the table plastic guns with plastic balls for ammo. The members bought them for us! As part of Sister I. training there was one missionary that put on all of the armor. Then, random missionaries would shoot nerf guns at him and he would block them with his shield or something. Well, Elder S. and I already new about the training so we brought our own guns and caught him by surprise as we shot at him from the side haha! The Assistants trained on the Role of the Holy Ghost in conversion. All of the trainings went really well and the spirit was strong in Zone Conference.

Well, zone conference was my favorite part about the week. I really enjoyed it and there have been several missionaries that have said they enjoyed it too.

Oh, one quick random thing. I can't remember if I've told y'all this but we cover a ward (Knox 1st) and a Young Single Adults (YSA) branch. Well, the YSA branch President dated Aunt K. before he left on his mission! His name is President I. Crazy!

Well, I'm about to run out of time. Just know that the work here is rolling forth. Everything is great here! I hope y'all have a great week! Thanks for everything! Love y'all!!!

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

Las Preguntas semanales de mamá

Q. ¿Cómo te fue en tu día especial y que hicieron?

A. Pues, no hemos hecho nada. Hemos estado ocupados haha. Pero, voy a conseguir dinero de la tarjeta y comeremos en un restaurante... Algun dia

Q. ¿Qué planes tienen para el día de preparación?

A. El que viene? No se. Ayer jugamos al volibol y "mission impossible". Nos divertimos mucho!

Q. ¿Cómo les va con los investigadores y nuevos miembros?

A. Bien, hemos ayudado a la familia M. con cosas varias y vamos a ensenarles lo antes possible.

Q. ¿Encontraron nuevos investigadores?

A Si algunos.

Q. ¿Has recibido cartas de familia o amigos en los últimos días?

A. no. Pues se me olvido dar gracias a la familia Hurt. Ellos me mandaron una tarjeta mi primera semana en esta area.

Q. ¿Cómo estás de salud en estos días?

A. Todo bien.

Q. ¿Cómo está la temperatura?

A. Bien.

Q. ¿Has tenido que usar los hand warmers yet?

A. Algunas veces.

Q. ¿Sacaste el dinero para celebrar tu cumpleaños?

A. No, todavia tengo que hacer eso.

Zone Leader Council 1/31/2012

E-mail #7 of 2012 2/13/2012 Week 95

We got our foot in the door

Hola familia!

Well, things have been exciting! I haven't mentioned it in the past couple of emails but I. was baptized!!! I'm including a picture. Elders N. and K. are now working with his father. He has been attending church recently with I. Apparently he's praying to know if he should be baptized on the 25th! So so so exciting! He'll get baptized and a year from then they'll go to the temple!!!

Well, this past week we had FHE with the YSA branch at the institute buildling. It was fun! It helped us get to know the members a bit more. In the YSA branch we are still working with the assistants on having a transition lesson with C. We were going to teach her but she got sick during the latter part of the week. She wasn't able to make it to church because she was sick. She is still solid as far as testimony and desire go. So, hopefully we can have the transition lesson soon!

Elder S. and I have been preparing to train on the new mission vision for our zone conference this Friday. I sent an email to dad asking him to send something to me that we could use for the training. So dad if you are reading this check your school email! Haha We are excited for Zone Conference. We actually went to the Cumberland Zone Conference this past friday. It went really well. So, we are looking forward to ours this Friday.

We helped Sister M. move to a new apartment. I'm not sure if I've mentioned her before. Her daughters aren't baptized. Their names are H. and A. and they are ten and eight. We got our foot in the door so hopefully we can start teaching them soon!

Yesterday a member named B. brought a friend to church. His name is D. He seems pretty interested. We will hopefully been teaching him at B's house this week. Member missionary work is awesome!!!

Well, I still need to email President and I'm running out of time on the computer. But, I love y'all! Thanks for everything! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Kreyling

E-mail #6 of 2012 2/6/2012 Week 94

I gave my two cents

Hola familia!

Well, this past week and a half has been eventful as a ZL. I didn't know that President I. told you that I'm a ZL now!

I'll tell you the story just in case President I. didn't already tell you when you talked with him. So, I didn't get any notification that I was going to be a ZL. Elder N. and I went to transfers to pick up our third comp Elder K.! I had been wanting to serve with him for a while. We worked through that first day and had finish our daily planning session. We were just chilling around when we got a call from President. He told me that he had good news and bad news. He told me that I would be serving with Elder G. for a few days until he went home for knee surgery and that I was the new Knoxville Zone Leader! Crazy. I didn't sleep too much that night haha. The next day we had a DL training where we trained the DLs on their responsibilities. It was originally just going to be Elder G. and Elder S. giving the training. But, I was asked to join them so I gave my two cents haha.

Elder S. and I are both new to this area and we are both brand new ZLs! We had Elder G. with us for a few days but he flew home last monday. So, Elder S. and I are pretty much whitewashing as brand new zone leaders. We are super excited though!

Last tuesday we had ZL conference. All eight of the ZLs and the assistants met at the mission home with the I. We had a big discussion on the "mission vision" that has just recently come about. Basically the mission vision is that every companionship can baptized every month. There are three main things that President I. highlighted. They are Faith to baptize, diligence and becoming Master Teachers. President I. received it as revelation when they were trying to set a mission baptismal goal. So, as we talked about it we all shared ideas on what can be done to achieve this vision. All of the ideas were written on the whiteboard. Elder S. took a pic of it but I didn't have my camera so I will copy it onto my memory card and send it later. It was a neat experience full of revelation. Since then the assistants have compiled those ideas into a printed plan which will be presented to the missionaries at zone conference. The ZLs will be training on the mission vision during the zone conferences. We are super excited for it!

Things are going really well as far as the work in our area goes. Oh, our area is called South Knox. We cover the Knoxville first ward and the Knoxville 2nd branch (YSA). We've found some investigators with a lot of potential. Our biggest highlight is that the assistants OYM'd a young lady named candice. She didn't make it to services yesterday but there was a "break the fast" dinner yesterday after church and she made it to that. The assistants taught her a lesson and she committed for baptism on the 25th! This wednesday we will be teaching her a tag team lesson with the assistants and then she will be transfered to us!!!

Overall everything is going great here! I love being a missionary! I know that this is where I need to be. Tell everyone I love them. I hope y'all have a great week! Love y'all!!!

Love,

Elder Barry Kreyling

Mom’s questions

Q. So how is life as a zone leader?

A. Great and busy! We have a lot of meetings as ZLs. But, we still have a good amount of proselyting time

Q, what is your companion’s name?

A. Elder S.

Q. Where is he from?

A. Missoula Montana. He met Chris B. while he was serving!

Q. How are you getting along?

A. Great!

Q. How long has he been out?

A. About a year and a half

Q. Which classes do you want to take? We need to hurry to sign you up.

A. Ummm. I haven't really looked too much. I know I want to take math. But, I was thinking of starting at a lower math level even though I got an A in Calculus. I don't really remember much. So, I was thinking of starting with something lower and going through calculus again. I'd like to take a spanish class or I've heard that there's a test that I can take and if I pass I can get 16 credit hours for spanish! But, as far as exact classes go I'm not too sure. I haven't had much time to look....