Black Mesa Hike Pictures!‏

Here are some pictures from the hike we took Monday! Most incredible view I've ever had in my life! Elder Hakala is my handstand buddy ;)

Ya'at'eeh! First Week in the Field!‏

Ya'at'eeh everyone!

This first week has been incredible! We flew into Durango from Denver on Monday, then stayed at the AP's house Monday night! I got assigned to Elder Hakala in Kayenta Arizona on Tuesday, then we set up camp and went to work! This is Elder Hakala's last transfer, but that doesn't stop him from working like a tank! (He's 1/4 Alaska native, so cool right?) We wake up early every morning to get a good workout in, and then we teach and serve all day after studies! Here are some highlights from the week:

Wednesday: We went to the Flea Market to scope out a place to set up a booth sometime next week! Should be a great opportunity to share our message with a lot of people :) There are so many Rez Dogs here! Literally everywhere we go. We went up to a trailer and found a momma with tons of puppies! :) Also got a chance to teach an amazing couple, Jimmie and Virginia. The things people have went through out here... It's amazing how strong people here can be :) Also met a couple of drunks! Today was interesting for sure...

Thursday: First District meeting! We got to meet with this incredible guy named Coleman. He's on date to be baptized, he just needs to get over some Word of Wisdom issues. He's read all of the Book of Mormon, and is speeding through the Bible! Absolutely brilliant. We also brought brother Thinn out teaching with us. He taught in Navajo, relating a ton of Navajo traditions to the Book of Mormon! It's incredible how many prophecies there are in the Book of Mormon about the Navajo People.

Friday: I've been finding the time to learn Navajo in the mornings before personal study! We're allowed 30 minutes a day, but with how busy we are teaching people, it's been hard trying to find a time to fit it in. We got to do quite a bit of service today! We dug around this guys house so he could lay some grass down. Grass is incredibly rare on the Rez, so that was really cool :) Also got hit by my first dirt devil during a lesson! We were teaching this woman outside when we looked over and saw a mini tornado of sand come in! Sand and wind hurts! It was super good though :)

Saturday: We got to teach a bull rider named Heston today! He's preparing to be baptized, and the faith with which he's willing to keep the commandments is incredible! His wife is a member, and they have this adorable child, Weston. They taught us about some awesome Navajo traditions-- the person to make a baby laugh for the first time cooks the entire family dinner and they have a party! And they grow out a baby's hair until they first begin to talk, because the length of hair is their knowledge! So cool! I'm definitely doing these things when I'm older. We taught Coleman again today! He lives in an old hogan about 3 miles outside of Kayenta on this dirt road. We walk in and see his old Shuma in the corner making a basket, his little brother making something with a knife, and Coleman jamming out on the guitar! He's been playing for years, but learned by ear. He's so good! We got the chance to teach him about temples and family history! He's pretty pumped :)

Sunday: Sundays are so good here! Kayenta covers two wards, so we get to go to both! Ten of our investigators showed up to church! Troy, a man we committed to be baptized on Saturday, went to both meetings with one of his member friends. This gospel has changed his life so much. I've never seen someone as happy at church as he was! We went tracting in the Old Trailer courts after church, when we felt prompted to walk up to a house. The people there were like Oh good! You're here! There was a really old member inside who'd been praying for the missionaries to come and give her a blessing! So cool!

Monday: We got to hike Black Mesa today! Brother Singer told us so many stories and taught us so much about Dine Bizaad (Navajo Language) He's such a cool guy! Now I'm on exhanges in Monument Valley until Zone meeting on Wednesday, we live in an RV in Monument Valley and a trailer type of thing in Kayenta!

Well, that's all the time I have for this week, but life here is fantastic! The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth again! He lives! 

Hagonet!

Elder Kraus

Only P-Day at the MTC!‏

Hi everyone!

Elder Blazzard and I at the world map!

  The MTC is going so great! Life here is so busy! It feels like it's been over a month here, but it's fantastic. Lets see... Wednesday, I got here, then immediately orientation started! I met my district, and we learned and studied and role played until 9:30, then a weeee bit o'time before bed to write in the journal before lights out time. How is the journal writing going? :) My companion is fantastic! He's a giant, spiritually and physically. Elder Blazzard is 6'6" of pure spiritual light (I'm 5'6" btw). Apart from that.... Thursday, we had a little time for breakfast, then immediately got into more teaching and roleplaying and studying! I've never felt the spirit as strongly as I have here (except for maybe the temple, we got the opportunity to go today, and may I just say, Ahhhmazing :)). Thursday night we met the branch presidency for our zone, and then we got callings! I was called as the District Leader for my district, which is comprised of 4 elders going to Farmington, 4 sisters going to Calgary Canada (One of them, Sister Joe, is actually from Farmington! It's been fantastic getting to know her, she's taught me and Elder Blazzard some Navajo, and told us alll about teaching with the missionaries there!). It's been quite the experience getting to serve them all. I know there's no way I could do it on my own; I testify that the enabling power of the atonement is very real. Friday and Saturday were a bit of a blur, but I do remember the spirit Elder Blazzard and I felt as we got the opportunity to bless some sisters on Friday... I don't have much time to express, but I know this gospel is true! Sunday, Elder B and I got the chance to watch Elder Bednar's talk on the character of Christ... We can become more like him as our entire beings are focused on the service of others! Christ was perfectly selfless, and I know that, although I won't be able to achieve even close to that level of selflessness in this lifetime, the atonement can help us to be so much more than we could be on our own. I love this gospel. i know He lives. 

The district flies from Salt Lake to Denver, and then from Denver to Durango on Monday! From there, we'll drive to Farmington! It's impossible to put into words how excited I and everyone are! 

Ummm..... I think that's all I've got for this week! 

Shout out to the Redd family for the awesome care package! and Shoutout to Aspen and Rachel for the cupcakes! You two are my favorite :) 

Remember, Dear elder is awesome! :) And I'll be out of the MTC this time next week, so I'll update my address when I know what it is!

Sincerely,

Elder Kraus

Elder Blazzard and Dupen from my District

Elder Peahopa and I, He's going to Calgary Canada

Farmington Elders in our District!

                                                        

Tribute to My Brother Dustan!

Dustan doing a  flag

Missionaries going to Farmington on the 18th!