Return of the Trio :D‏

Hello loved ones!!!

This week was crazy. And Phenomenal. Mostly Phenomenal. :) 

Some big things happened this week. 

Like, really big.

We got another companion!! Seems like Durango is really the place for tripanionships, and I love it. Elder Mowrey came to be with us Wednesday morning, and it has been an absolute blast. Put together 3 missionaries who love the people, the gospel, and the area, and life is awesome. Plus, he was at BYU before he came out, so that's pretty cool too. :)

Zone Training on Thursday went wonderfully! Many great trainings, many great resolutions for improvement in the future.

One of the biggest things to happen was Andrew Lindbloom! He's been waiting to get baptized since I came here, and finally the roadblocks holding him back are gone gone GONE! :D I've never seen someone so prepared or ready for making this covenant with God. 

Apart from that, Durango is progressing forward magnificently. The members are growing in their desires to do missionary work, the people we have the blessing of working with are growing closer to God and recognizing it, and the missionaries in this area are growing in their love for the Lord and His work. I've never been happier :)

I love this Gospel. This is the way Heavenly Father has provided for us to grow, to become better, and to truly be HAPPY. Not the fleeting joy that comes from key lime pie, or finishing a race, or falling asleep after a long day, no matter how wonderful those things may be, but TRULY happy, regardless of circumstance. The peace that living the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings passes all understanding. Try it, find new life, new opportunities, and a greater joy than any ever felt.

I love you all,

Elder Kraus

Hello All! :)‏

Hi family! This week was pretty great! Here's an excerpt from my letter to the President:

Hello President Adams!!

This week was a pretty great one. We've really been working with the members here a lot, and it's beginning to come to fruition. We had the blessing of 4 new investigators this week, and 2 of those 4 new investigators came from member referrals! So that was wonderful to see :) We also had the opportunity to take Elder Vineyard on an exchange this week--he's doing so very well! His teaching skills have grown so much since the time we were together, and he leads with purpose, direction, and charity in his district. Physically, I've been feeling pretty good... Elder Gray and I have been trying to run a little more in the mornings; hoping that will help my body composition improve in the future. Spiritually, I feel like I'm doing pretty ok... Personal prayers offered this past week weren't the greatest; I have goals to improve that in this coming week. Emotionally, I'm missing home a bit right now, with family friends getting married, birthdays, new jobs, etc. etc.... It's a little bit difficult not being able to be there and be a part of that, and sometimes it feels like they're all progressing in life while I'll come home outdated and a little stagnant, but I know this is what I need to be doing at this time in my life. It's not about me, it's about those whom I have been called to serve, and I have been called to serve and bless and uplift and help everyone I come into contact with, the way the Savior would if he were here. So this week, I'm going to do my best to completely shift my focus to what I can do to help those around me. Hoping an improvement in outlook and attitude will come as a result :)

Elder Gray and I had a great Zone Training planning session, and we're super excited for it this week! And Stake Vitality looks like it should be good as well; we're hoping to discuss implementation of Phase 2 in the wards with President Johnson, to see what the missionaries in the Stake can do to best help it really get started.

Anywho, have an excellent week! Let us know if there's anything we can do for you :)

So yeah! That kind of sums up this week.... In terms of crazy cool happenings, we've been riding the bikes a lot more, and meeting tons of people! We even got to slackline with a kid named Nash and talk about the Gospel with him! We'll see where that goes in the coming weeks :) I've been loving how teaching is going with Elder Gray, and we've had quite a few opportunities to give blessings in this last week... It's been really cool to feel Heavenly Father talk through me... There's definitely been a difference since I first came out on the mission, I feel much more in tune, if that makes sense.... 

So yeah! This week was rockin :)

Oh! And a Less Active gave me some cowboy boots. They. Are. Wonderful. Best service boots I've ever owned. And they fit just about perfect (with a couple of insoles on the inside XD).

Annd adventures of P-Day. We stopped in to the local Crossfit Gym to visit a member. Got the chance to play with the rings and kettlebell for a bit. Not where I want to be yet, buuttt I didn't do too bad :)

Have a fantastic week everyone! :) Love you!

Meetings, Miracles, Mother's Day :D (And Bikes and Kettlebells)‏

Was attempting some alliteration in the subject line; couldn't figure out how to do that with bikes and kettlebells... 

Anywho,

This week was AHHMAZING! First off, shoutout to my incredible mother--twas so good to see your face and hear your voice. I apologize to any other mothers out there, but mine is numbah one :)

So, this week was pretty incredible! Tuesday was Elder Gray's first MLC; that went so well! We were pretty tired when we got back home, but still managed to have an awesome lesson with Cody on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's been really cool to see him grow in faith as he continues to read and act. Terry and Isaac are also doing so well!! We were able to teach them about the process of gaining an answer through the Book of Mormon at the Hugentoblers on Thursday, and Terry's been feeling something as she reads! We're so excited to teach her and him again later this week. We also received an outpouring of referrals from the members here! Annnd every one we've been given so far has been ridiculously promising. Teaching many of them again this week. Miracles are happening in Durango, and I couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to be here to be a part of that process :) Friday and Saturday, we took Elder Erikson on an exchange, and rode bikes all day on Saturday... It's definitely a change for an Elder, coming from just driving to riding, but he did really well :) We committed to talking to everyone we could see, and it led to some great potentials! There were some pretty awkward conversations, with people who weren't quite interested, but it was still a great growing and learning experience for us all :) Probably one of the coolest and most unique things to happen was the kettlebell guy. We were riding up main, when a hailstorm started. we went for a little bit of shelter underneath some trees in the park, when we saw this guy throwing 2 18 lb. kettlebells up behind his back with one arm and catching them. With his eyes closed. For those of you who don't know, I LOVE kettlebells, sooo we went and talked to him. He now knows who the missionaries are and what we do, and I now know how to do a 720 kettlebell swing to a catch (swing the kettlebell up, hit it so it spins around twice, then catch the handle with the other arm). Twas wonderful. I love this gospel. I know this is the Gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ. He is at its head. God lives. He loves His children. He's provided us a way to progress and become more like Him, eventually coming back to live with Him and our families forever. That way is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Have a phenomenal week!!

Pics: Remember the Macho's Challenge? We think someone beat it. And then needed the ambulance...

Annnd looks like a bit of a rainstorm hit the mountain. I love Durango :)

Oh! And I arrived at the MTC one year ago... Feels like it's been one month. Time is flying wayyy too quickly...

ransfers; Elder Cook; Elder Cook Round 2, annd general happiness‏

Hello my favorite people!!

This week was phenomenal. Difficult at times, but phenomenal. Tuesday, we said goodbye to Elder Longino. It's been a little weird without him, but change is good. Tuesday night, we got a call from President, asking if Elder Waite would be willing to transfer to Bayfield! He was ready and willing, so Wednesday we dropped him off. He's doing so well there!!! Elder Gray has been doing so well here. We've been riding bikes quite a bit more, which is a bit of a change for him, but he's getting used to it! :) Meeting many fantastic people, and investigators are progressing so well!! We've been teaching by the spirit more and miracles are happening as a result. Sorry for lack of details; time is shorter than I am. Saturday and Sunday we saw Quentin L. Cook... oh my lanta. Talk about a powerful experience! I know more than ever that God lives, as does His son Jesus Christ. This is their gospel. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. You can know this through reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. Anyone can, as long as they have real intent. 

Expect more detail next week, but have a phenomenal one this week!!!

Love you all!! 

Stay strong in the faith. 

Elder Kraus