Mostly pictures

Hey Momma, 

I probably won't be able to send a weekly email this week, not much happened, and I want to reply to the kids this week. I am really sorry, I will send pictures though! I love you so much!                                                                                                                             

                                          

         **  Even though I love his weekly emails and being able to blog them, the joy on my other kids faces because they received "long" emails this week was priceless!! Enjoy the pictures!! I also received a phone call from a widow in his ward. She called to tell me what a wonderful job he was doing and how excited  him and Elder Kendrick were about the baptism last week!! It's so hard to have him gone but I know with all my heart he's exactly where he needs to be!

 Dinner at a members!

 Middle of nowhere Nebraska

When something besides mo tab comes on the radio..

A week to remember

This week was so awesome! To start off, Elder Haire and I went on exchanges. It was a blast, and we had a ton of fun. Both of us haven't really gotten the opportunity to ride bikes on our mission so we decided that we were going to be "real missionaries" and ride our bikes everywhere. Well, it was super fun in the beginning, but the sore butts and tired legs at the end of our day made it slightly less  fun haha. We had a good time though! Elder Haire is so awesome I love him a ton! Another fun part of the week, was we got one of our investigators to go to the Elders quorum activity, and we got to go with him! We played dodgeball! I was a little scared because last time I played dodgeball with the missionaries, I broke ones finger. And karma hits me fast. Luckily nothing happened so we were able to have a good time!

My favorite part of the week was on Saturday, Dameris was baptized! And it truly was one of the greatest experiences of my life. She is a completely changed person, it was a testimony builder to me to see Heavenly Father take someone who was so sad and so down, and mold them into a happy and vibrant person who is full of love for all those around her. I love this work so much, and I cannot take any credit for her conversion, Heavenly Father did all of the work, I just said words. Dameris is now sharing the gospel with everyone! She invites people over for us to teach all the time! She has given away 2 Book of Mormons so far, and is in Mosiah now.

Oh I almost forgot, after Dameris was baptized, in the program after, her 4 year old son comes up to Elder Kendrick and says "hey you drowned my mom" when it was dead silent. I lost it. It was seriously the cutest and funniest thing I have ever heard. He proceeded to ask Elder Kendrick why he drowned his mom? for the remainder of the meeting haha!

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to confirm Dameris a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Wow...it was a feeling and an experience I will never forget. I could barely get any intelligible words out through my shaking. But the feeling I had was one that I wont ever forget. I love this gospel, and I am so thankful for the restoration, so that we can truly have the fullness of Christs church here on the Earth today. What a wonderful blessing we have been given. I cherish this gospel, and the knowledge that we have of our Savior. I love the Book of Mormon, and all of its teachings. It is true. And I can bear witness of its ability to change lives. I have watched it. This is the true church, and I am thankful for the opportunity that I have to be a missionary and share the message of joy and happiness that this gospel brings. I cannot wait to continue to share. And I leave this testimony with you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Sincerely Elder Kirby

 Group photo

 Disc golf crew

 Humor

Real missionaries ride bikes

Best decision I ever made!

This week was a good one, we had a zone conference that we had to drive to that was all the way to in Kearny. Its about a 2 hour drive, luckily I didn't have to drive, Elder Kendrick volunteered. However, we did have to wake up at 5:30 so that we could leave and make it on time. It was a long flat trip, but we eventually made it haha! It was interesting though, because I got a bloody nose on the way down, and went to spit a blood clot out the window...long story short, we rolled into Zone conference with our car looking like we had just ran someone over. I got a lot of crap from Elder Henry who is in charge of the cars. Zone conf. was legit though, we learned about how we  need to be carrying our Book of Mormons and Bibles around with us all the time so that we have the fullness of the gospel on hand all the time. I loved it. We also learned about how bad Energy drinks and pop were for you. It was actually a really good training. President Gardner also gave a training on how we need to find the Elect. We were told basically that we are here to find converts and families. So all of the less active work we are doing will be put on hold so that we can find more families. I am pretty excited! I trust president. And since then,we have found two families!!

 So in lieu of the Mission Olympics coming up in March, Elder Kendrick and I have decided to start working out more. I am definitely looking forward to participating! As far as the work goes this week, it has been awesome. Elder Kendrick and I came to a mutual agreement that dinner and lunch are a waste of time, so we just skip them so that we can spend more time visiting our investigators. We just snack on things throughout the day, and we will go to members houses if they sign up to feed us. It has been sweet though! Lots of work being done. I am so excited and so happy to share the gospel. It the most fun I have ever had in my life.

Dameris is getting baptized this week!!!!! I am so excited for her, we took her and her family to the trail center in Omaha this week, and she loved it! We also took her into the waiting room of the temple, and she didn't want to leave. She is truly converted to this gospel, and I am so thankful that I have been able to watch Heavenly Father work in her life the way that he has. She told us that for her birthday she wants to fly out to General Conference! She is so awesome,  she feeds us every time we go over, and her Mom calls us her boys! We are also helping her parent her kids cause they are crazy. Everytime they are good for the day, we ask their mom, and they get a gumball! It has been so much fun getting to know their family! She asked Elder Kendrick to baptize her, and me to confirm her! I am really excited, and a little nervous, but overall just happy for her and her kids. Her 10 year old son has warmed up to us too, and I think we are going to teach him the lessons as well! Other than that, not much else happened this week. we are just working hard and preparing for the baptism! I am so happy and grateful for this opportunity that I have to serve my brothers and sisters. Truly this is the work of God. 

On a side note, we took a trip to the capitol building this morning, and watched a session of some public bill thing,  some guy went ham on everyone else there and we were pretty hyped up about it haha! But it is a massive building that looks like Hogwarts,  it so sweet!

More to come next week! thank you for all of the support, sending my love and prayers your way.

Love, Elder Kirby

 Zone conference

What's something that inspired him this week?  A talk called, "Missionary work and the Atonement", it makes me cry every time, and it gets me so pumped.

Strangest Smells? Weed mixed with incense.. our neighbors are crazy.  :)

Something you'd never see in Idaho? "RUNZA" fast food chain. 

 Weird habit that annoys  your companion? I can't think of any, he gets mad when I don't wake him up sometimes haha!

Favorite new food? Chinese

How much do you weigh? I don't dare weigh. Pants still fit tho!

** Thank you to those who helped me with questions!! ( Mom Note)

Tender mercies

This week was truly a week of miracles. I cannot take any credit for all of the success we saw this week. Truly our Father in Heaven had his hand in this week, and all of the credit must go to him.
 This week was one to remember. So Elder Kendrick and I have decided to walk a lot recently,  because we can talk to more people that way. So this week because of just walking and talking to everyone, we were blessed enough to find 7 new invesigators that are all really solid. We got 2 people set for baptism, and Dameris is still on track for her baptism coming up in two weeks. Truly this week was amazing. A few miracles and cool experiences happened this week that are some of the most memorable of my mission thus far.

The first one: Elder Kendrick and I were walking down the street, and we were just kinda chatting back and forth and having a good time, and all of the sudden, we turn a corner, and this African American couple stops us and says "yall church people?" we responded with a yes. "wheres church? we just moved here and need one." A little bit taken back, I scratched down the church address on a pass a long card, and gave her a pamphlet, and a Book of Mormon as well, she said "ill need a ride, can yall do that?" so we said of course, we will have a member of our congregation come and pick you up she said "cool." That next Saturday, we went to see just how legit her intentions were, so we stopped by her house and she was all gung ho for coming to church. So that Sunday rolls around, and sure enough, 5 minutes late, Katrina and our member roll into sacrament meeting, she comes and sits by us in the seats we had saved. Well about 10 minutes later, I look over and she is just crying her eyes out. And she would say "AMEN!" after each testimony. She continued her crying all the way through gospel priciples, and all the way to our lesson with her on the stage after church. She told us in our lesson, "I knew this church was true as soon as I saw you boys that day" and she continued by saying "I served the devil for 26 years. I'm finally serve the Lord now!"  She is one of the funniest ladies I have ever met. She is set for baptism on the 5th of March. But she said that she would be back next Sunday. I am super thankful for the opportunity we had to be guided to her that day, she is so prepared for this gospel, she loved every second of church and ate it all up. Heavenly Father provided a pretty sweet blessing for us that day.

The other amazing thing that happened, has been a process of hard work for the past Year. Dameris has been smoke free for 11 days now, and is absolutely loving the church. She is truly converted to this gospel. Well this week, she invited us over to teach with the Spanish Elders, to teach her mom the restoration. It was so awesome, because we got to teach in her back yard next to a burning trash fire, in the middle of the hood. It was amazing and truly a surreal experience. Dameris is progressing so fast, and she wants to be baptized so badly. And she is working hard and preparing to make that covenant on the 18th of this month! She even paid her tithing yesterday,  which was cool, because she was totally down and I was so worried about teaching her that lesson! but it totally worked out! Her kids are so funny as well, and they love coming to church! i sure love them,  they make my day a little bit brighter every time I see them.

Overall, it wasn't a whole bunch of big miracles this week, rather, it was a good amount of small tender mercies that are leading to big things. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for all that he does for me, I truly could not do any of this work without him. I love being a missionary, and I love this church more than anything. I cannot wait for the next few weeks.

God Speed.

Sincerely,

Elder Kirby

1. Do you have a bike now? No just decided to borrow one for the day to save my feet!

2. How are the baptisms coming along? Good! One is scheduled for 2 weeks, and 2 more are set.

3. Have you cooked anything good for your companion and yourself? I cooked eggs once.

4. Have you gotten the car fixed? We actually got a new one! Haha

 Civil war Bible

 My BOM compared to a new one

New car!

Blessings

MY WEEK WAS LEGIT!!! So this week, we got the new missionary schedule, and at first I was a little apprehensive about the whole planning the next morning thing, but I came to find out that it fits in a lot better and helps you have more inspired days! Speaking of which, this last Friday was the best day of my mission so far. Heavenly Father Blessed us with so many people to talk to and teach. We probably talked to about 25 people and all of them listened. However my favorite miracle of the day was right at the beginning, we were getting ready to walk on the bike path, when a skinny older gentleman slammed on his brakes and stopped his bike, he asked us if we had any money, to which we replied sorry but we don't. The man explained that he would take a pamphlet, and that he was on his way to buy a Gatorade for his daughter. We again apologized for not having money, and he went on his way. Well about 10 steps down the trail, Elder Kendrick discovered that he had $1.20 in change in his pocket. I felt impressed that we needed to give the money to that man and teach him. But he was long gone. So we bowed our heads and asked Heavenly Father if it was his will that he would put that man in our path again. So we continued on and visited some investigators, and started down the bike path again. And wouldn't you know it. We ran into the man again. We stopped him, introduced ourselves, and gave him the money. And then, feeling impressed, I bore my testimony to him, and he began to cry. I felt the spirit testify to him that what I was saying was true. We gave him a Book of Mormon, and got his info. I also found out that he lived about 10 minutes away from where I lived in Omaha. Truly a great blessing and miracle was Provided by our Father in Heaven. The power of prayer is so real, and I know that this gospel can change lives.

Dameris has not smoked for 4 days now! And she is on track to be baptized on the 18th now. She is so ready, we took her to another baptism with her kids to watch this week, and she told the wards relief society president that she would be doing that in a couple weeks! it made me laugh! She is an amazing woman who has almost died 4 times.  She is a single mom of two that is taking on the world, she recognizes that our church blesses families and brings happiness, and it is so cool to watch her life change every single day. I love my mission so much, I don't want to be anywhere else. Serving a mission was the best decision that I have ever made. I can't wait for this week, we found a lot of solid people to teach, and I am excited to teach them! So more miracles will be on the way next week!!

Love Elder Kirby

1.How do the new changes effect your mission?  We plan in the morning now, and it is a lot nicer, I love the changes.

2. Emma wants to know if the food is different in Lincoln? Lol  The food is about the same.

3. Oakley wants to know if Nebraska has cute boys? NOPE. NONE.  (spoken like a true brother)

4. How often do you get to the temple? We usually go once a month, but because of changes and stuff, we haven't got to go yet.

5. You wrestling your companions still? I wrestle my companion everyday!!

6.Message for your readers, or any scriptures to study?  I am studying in 2nd Nephi chapter 9 right now, and I would encourage everyone to read it. It's my favorite chapter thus far! I love it!!!

 Teaching with Elder Kendrick!

 Riding and selfying!

Photographer on a bike!
Sent from my iPhone

Car wrecks and baptism dates!

Hey everyone!

So my week was a good one, it started off with getting into a car accident. We were just sitting there getting ready to pray so we could go in to our appointment, and all of the sudden there was a huge crash sound and the car lurched forward. Elder Kendrick got out and was pretty irritated, and I got out as well, when we looked at the damage, only a small part of the bumper was dented. We were really lucky. So Elder Kendrick got on the phone to start the paper work and such, and I talked to the young woman who ran into us. Her name was Kenezsha and she was on her way to work, and swung in to call her friend to come out, and her brakes went out. And she hit us. Upon talking to her more, I discovered that she was looking for a new church in the area, because she was tired of the hypocrisy of her current church. So I was able to give her some cards, and a book of Mormon, as well as directions to our church. Sadly she doesn't live in our area, so we referred her to the capital Elders. It was a really awesome miracle that was provided for us, I am so thankful for Heavenly Fathers loving guidance. On a good note, Dameris committed to be baptized on  February 4th. we had a few good lessons this week, one in the chapel where we taught her the plan of salvation. She cried the entire time. And her kids are the cutest, we gave them there own book of Mormon, and they brought them to church on sunday! Dameris is so awesome and so prepared for this gospel. Lots of things have happened to get her where she is now, and I am so excited for her. Not a whole lot else happened this week, besides interviews. Which were awesome! My District meeting was pretty good, except the other Elder I assigned to give a 15 minute training gave one for 40 minutes, so I had to condense my training a ton just to get all of the major points in. It was still ok though. I will be interviewing one of the sisters investigators for baptism this week as well. I am pretty nervous for it, but I know it will go well! Overall, I am having a ton of fun here in Lincoln, I cant believe how fast the time is going. It seems like just yesterday I was in the MTC. And now its been almost 7 months! I love my mission so much. I love all of the people.

Sincerely,

Elder Kirby

1. Have you been sick at all since you left? Not really sick at all

2. How's your apartment? Is it sketchy? My apartment is pretty nice, especially with my deer mount.

3. How are your teeth? Any cavities? Teeth are good. Probs have some cavaties lol

4. What's the biggest difference between papio and Lincoln? Lincoln is a lot more hood. It's so much fun!

5. How are all your clothes and shoes holding up? My clothes are good...other than the blood stained suit....(bloody nose)

6. How's your money situation? Money is tight all the time haha

7. Do members feed you in Lincoln or do you have to do more cooking now? We cook quite a bit more here in Lincoln.

8. What are you eating for breakfast? Lunches? I usually don't eat breakfast, and lately lunch is Nutella on toast.

 Car wreck

Deer mount in our apartment 

Elder Horne

*** Elder Kirby wanted to let everyone know that he is really cramped for time to send emails on p-days, so if its awhile before you get one he's sorry! He said he misses everyone and sends his love and prayers!! Keep the emails and letters coming they brighten his day!****

Transfers, DL, New companion

 I am in LINCOLN now!!! It was so crazy to be transferred this time, because President wouldn't tell us where we were going until we got to transfer point on the day of transfers.  So all I got told in my call from him was "you will be a District Leader in your new area..."  so I had no idea where I was going. But I am super stoked now, I have 4 companionships in my stewardship, and I have to give trainings and lead meetings, and set up exchanges every week! Its going to be so much fun!! Also, my new companion Elder Kendrick, is from Bountiful and I LOVE him!!!! He was a wrestler just about as long as I was, and we have so much fun together! He is 6 feet tall and like 240 pounds, so we look kinda odd, but we have so much fun together, and we just click. He is definitely one of my favorites! So Lincoln is like kinda scary, we teach some pretty crazy people, like a drunk guy named Gerald who gave me a Porkchop Sandwich. I ate half and then he took it from me and finished it haha! However we have 3 people set for baptism and about 2 or 3 more that have expressed the desire to be baptized. So I am super stoked. I am so excited for this transfer, I feel like its going to be a really good one. My apartment is pretty nice, we have a sweet view and we now have a deer head mounted in our living room that I got today from our Zone Leaders. Its the coolest thing ever. Lincoln has so far proved to be my favorite area, I love the feel of it, and the people are so awesome! Overall, I am stoked to be a missionary! Especially in Lincoln now!

Elder Kirby

New address: 5330 R St. #9

Lincoln, NE

68505

*valuable packages can still be sent to mission home address, as packages left at the apartment are unattended while out.

 Saying Goodbye

 More goodbyes

 New companion Elder Kendrick

Gift from the Zone Leaders!