What A Week!!

Talk about a quick week.... we had an excellent exchange with Elder Birch. He's really striving for improvement in every aspect of life. These last few weeks have been pretty humbling for Elder Tollefson and I. We've decided to use the lack of progress in the area as an opportunity to enlist the ward members as Amuleks, as we really need them and their help. Seeing success with that has been encouraging. It's hard to believe how quickly this transfer is already going by... If at all possible, please keep Elder Tollefson and I together next transfer. We have capacity for a 3rd missionary if needed, and would love to show anyone you send us the joy of missionary work in the Christmas season :) We did see quite the miracle this week, which came by way of meeting Kwasi. He's a neurosurgeon here in Farmington, who's now investigating the church. While there, we shared a lesson on the central role of agency in this life, and how it's best used in choosing to follow the Savior. He committed to begin reading the Book of Mormon, and we're excited to see where things go in the future with him. Through learning a little more of how Kwasi became who he is, the Spirit testified to me rather strongly of the importance of time. The wise use of it yields incredible results: we become like the Savior, and progress His work on the Earth as we help others to do the same. An unwise use of it yields, to put it simply, damnation (in just about every way). That's a lesson I will apply to the rest of my life.

In other news, today is Halloween! Which means we need to be inside by 6pm. Tomorrow is MLC, which means missionaries are coming in from all over the mission. It's going to be a missionary party at the assistant's home.... Woo!

Have a wonderful week, 

I love you all!!

Elder Kraus

How to Find JOY

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-01-1060-following-god?lang=eng&category=mormon-beliefs

Hello all!!

My lanta...how do I describe this week... had to say goodbye to some of my favorite missionaries as they finished their missions; investigators and others we're working with had crazy setbacks across the board. It was a tough thing (to put it lightly) seeing them suffer, either due to their own choices or the circumstances they were in. All of us, at some point, suffer grief, guilt, pain, regret, etc. The reason that I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that I have found the way to overcome those effects, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The principles of which will bring you to greater peace and happiness than anything that the world can offer. Regardless of circumstance. The link up top has a brief video which shows us how. Challenge for today: watch it, learn more of it (ask the missionaries! They can help!), and then share it with others. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it, feel free to email me here with any questions. 

Have a wonderful week, 

Love,

Elder Kraus

Enclosed below is a transcript of said video, if for any reason you're unable to view it.

God sees us for who we can be. So how do we get there, and what if we make mistakes along the way? Every day we are faced with choices. To help us make good decisions, Godgives us commandments. Try not to think of them as a big list of rules that get in the way. Instead, each commandment is a light.

Together, they show us the best path in life so we can avoid things that make us unhappy. But we're not perfect. And sometimes we lose sight of God's path, and we find ourselves indarkness. It's a lonely feeling.

That's why we have repentance. It's not about feeling guilty. It's about asking God for help. After all, He loves us. In fact, because His Son, Jesus Christ, paid the price for all our sins andmistakes, we can experience one of the most joyful feelings in the world: forgiveness. It's a light so bright, it makes the shadows of our mistakes disappear. As far as God is concerned,it's like they never happened at all.

Temple Trip!!!!

Hello loved ones! 

Not a whole ton of time, soo here's the highlight of the week: We were given the opportunity to go to the temple!!! Annnd I didn't take a single picture. Sorry. 

Why is going to the temple such an exciting thing you may ask? It's in temples that families are sealed together for time and all eternity. It's in temples where those who didn't have the chance to hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ while they were on Earth are given the opportunity to do so after their death. "The end of all activity in the Church is to see that a man and a woman with

their children are happy at home, sealed for eternity." It's in the temple that that dream is realized. I love that place. If you want to learn more about the temple, ask the missionaries! They can and will help you! The blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are not meant to be reserved for a select few. You can learn how to receive them, and then you can act. Do something to come closer to Him today. Now. Don't wait! 

I love you all, and I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Have a fantabulous week.

Elder Kraus

Short Time

Hey hey hey hey hey!

Wow this week flew by... not much time, so suffice it to say, people were taught, service was done, testimonies were born (you may take that both ways), and lives were blessed (especially our own... kinda interesting how that works out.). Next Monday, we'll have the opportunity to go to the temple, and we could not be more excited. That's what it's all about. Loving God, making promises with Him to follow Him and His Son (thereby receiving His promises of peace in this life and Eternal Life after), and loving His children (our brothers and sisters) enough to share the way back to Him with them. There's not a greater joy to be found.

Do something to show your love for your Father and his Children this week. See how much joy it can bring. 

I love you all, have a phenomenal week.

Elder Kraus

Annnd here's a selfie done by THE Elder Hughes (front and center)

P.S. BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUT TO LEVI KRAUS!!! He's 14, and one of the greatest human beings I know. Keep growing buddy:) 

Transfers!!

Hello all!!! 

This week was quite the incredible one. I'll save the suspense--Elder Tollefson and I are both staying in Farmington 1st Ward!! Woo!!

We had quite the experience this week giving a priesthood blessing. We've been working with this guy named Manny. The Gospel of Jesus Christ astonishes him. He's been loving everything he's been learning so much. He's also had a ton of challenges in his life ever since he began investigating the church. Satan's really working hard on him... This past week, his car broke down, among other things, and he was really feeling the weight of it all. His main friend in the ward let him know about priesthood blessings, in which one holding authority given him from God is able to give a blessing of comfort, counsel, and healing from God to an individual. Manny was pumped to receive one, and the spirit present during it was powerful. Manny truly was able to feel the love God has for him... We're excited to see where things go for him this week. 

Apart from that, we went hiking at the badlands! Twas brilliant. All things testify of God's love for His children. I'm grateful to be in such an incredible place. 

Have a phenomenal week everyone! Annnd the challenge for the week: Let me know of an experience you have in which you recognize God's hand in your life. 

I love you all,

Elder Kraus

Week of Miracles

Hellooooo loved ones!

My lanta Farmington has been some of the fastest part of the mission so far.... feels like last Monday was just yesterday...

Anywho, time is short, so here's some highlights!

Zone Training Thursday!! That went really quite well... The dynamic here is definitely a little different with 24 missionaries, but it went well--hoping to see some powerful changes in the near future.

Other administrivia..... Annnnnddd

6 new people were prepared this week to start receiving the restored gospel!!! :D

The first is Charlene and her daughters. She's had quite the hard life, and is eating up the Gospel of Jesus Christ like my little brother used to eat up jello. Had a church tour with her and some members, and the spirit was there so strong! She told us she'd seen the church before, while in a coma sometime before. Super pumped to see what'll happen in her life in the coming week. 

Then there was another family, whom I'll have more details about next week. 

And this absolute champion named Manny. We'll be teaching him again tonight. Be pumped for an update next week. 

The most incredible thing about all of these people is the fact that they were found through the members. You have no idea how much of an effect you have on the people around you. The way you live the gospel, the way you treat others, say more about your testimony than anything else. Don't be afraid to invite your friends. That might be the only thing holding them back from receiving the gospel. 

Anywho, love you all!!!

Elder Kraus

Farmington Week 2

Helllllooooo family!!

This week flew by; twas insane. 

Took out the youth of Bloomfield for a day with the missionaries; that went pretty well!!! 

It's so hot here, but I'm starting to get used to it :)

Building relationships with the Zone every morning through Rugby; starting to get  a little better at it... Apart from that, life is going on as normal! Trying to up the member missionary work here. It's a work in process, but it's coming :)

Love you all!!

Elder Kraus