Dang what a week!

This week was packed. We had 4 Zone Conferences, so we were running up and down the mission! It was nice though, being able to see all the missionaries in the mission. That is probably the best perk about this assignment is being able to see everyone and to see how they are doing! My companion Elder Woodbrey got surgery on his chest because the doctors said he had a lipoma but something weird happened! When they opened his chest up there was nothing there... It was a miracle and I truly believe it was because of the blessing that President Jackman gave him the night before! But it was funny during all of the zone conferences he was slumped in the chapel haha. But it was all good cause me and Elder Despain held it down. Zone Conference was so good though! President and Sister Jackman gave amazing talks about what it means to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ. Sister Jackman talked about being all in and trying the best we can and then doing a little more. Man when she was talking it really hit me that I can be doing a lot more than what I am doing right now. I can be sacrificing more, I can be serving more, doing more for the missionaries that I see everyday. It was amazing to think about what I can do and make the goals and plans to be a better Disciple of Jesus Christ and I can literally see the change in me, in the way that I think, the way that I act and the way that I serve others! After Sister Jackman talked, president Jackman talked to us about the new Missionary Standards book that the 1st presidency brought out! It is very principal based! Which I love because it allows more of the missionaries and myself included to be able to make choices for ourselves and honestly it's going to show a lot of missionaries that following the rules and understanding the principles makes the mission a lot more easier and fun because you can see the blessings from your decisions and work! I think it's going to be amazing and really help us missionaries understand that it's not about what we can do and can't do but its about "is this decision going to help me get closer to jesus christ or farther away from him?" and that's what it all comes down too... even off the mission! Overall Zone Conferences were awesome and I was able to have a lot of spiritual experiences... BEST WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR! The funny part of Zone Conference was the theme. It was "Mission Possible" copying Mission Impossible. It was so sweet haha So me and Elder Despain and then some of the STL's acted like spies and the objective was to get to this box at the front of the room, which had a phone that played President Jackman's voice talking about how on this mission we are trying to emulate a guy named Jesus Christ. it was so fun and probz the best intro to a zone conference ever! haha!

Yesterday the hermanas that came in with me finished their missions and went home... It was insane to see them go home and realize how fast it's all going! Me and Elder Woodbrey were like dang we only have 6 months left on our missions... we have to go all out! And that's the plan. I want to finish these last 6 months with no regrets!

We have been preparing together as a mission for the special general conference and its been so good! We are reading the saints and the book of mormon all the way through before April and it's been so good! Being able to read the Saints and focusing on the life of Joseph Smith has grown my testimony of his prophetic call so much! He was truly called to be a prophet of this last dispensation! Being able to read the Book of Mormon has been so good as well. We are studying it together with the 3 questions that President Nelson invited us to think about when we read about 3 years ago! and it has been so good! I invite you all to prepare for the Special General Conference... Prepare, Prepare, Prepare and you will get the most out of General Conference this April! #RushOFRevelation

I love you all and hope you guys have a great week!

Con Amor,
Elder Ka'ili

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Ahh what a year 2019 was! I have officially finished my 1 year in my whole life where I will be a missionary everyday! Its lowkey sad and I can't believe that my sister is home now from her mission! I'm going to miss her example serving the lord so bad! But I am so excited to start this new year! 2020 is going to be so good! I have learned SO MUCH in the year 2019. Some of the things I have learned is..... I have learned to love more, learned to be more patient and I have gained such a strong testimony of this gospel and the love that Heavenly Father has for each and everyone of us! The Plan is perfect... We just have to accept it and accept the timing of our father! I have learned how to follow the promptings of the spirit and to humble myself when he needs me to do something! I have learned how to conquer fear with faith. I have learned that the Book of Mormon is true and that God really does answer prayers! There's too many things to list but I will forever be grateful for 2019! It was such a good year!

This week was busy! We had Trainer/Trainee and Doctrine of Christ meetings and then Super MLC too! So a lot of training with the younger missionaries and then the Leaders of the mission! My favorite part is just seeing all the fire that the younger missionaries have to be out here and do the work! They are all going to be great!

Amaya got baptized this week! It was such a good baptism! So many members came out to support her from the ward! Elder Woodbrey, Depsain and I sang for her as well. I played the uke to When I am Baptized and we even wrote her a little verse at the end! It was seriously one of the best baptisms that I have been apart of! The next day I had the opportunity to confirm her a member during sacrament meeting! Amaya has changed my life so much... being able so see her sweet spirit even though things dont always work out for her and her family has been such a testimony of how the gospel brings happiness to us in times of trial! She's seriously the best! and I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of her conversion!

I hope everyone has a good week and has made them new year's resolutions haha! Get to the gym! Love you all!

Con Amor,
Elder Ka'ili

Hello Everyone!

Merry Christmas to everyone! This past week was awesome! We had transfers, christmas, and we ate tons of food!

Transfers have come and gone again! But this time it was a little different! Elder Woodbrey have received another companion! We are now in a trio! Elder Despain has joined the crew! It's the first time that there has been a trio AP companionship, but it's so nice! We now get everything done faster haha! I got to drive the 12 seater "RUSTY BUCKETS" around on transfer day and it was so fun! I got to take my son Elder Barnes up to his new area and got to bring down one of my boys from the North, Elder Keller.

This past week we have been working out! There is a member in the ward that goes to the same building as us that is loaded named the Tree's. They have a way nice gym in their house and they let us come and workout in the morning. So we be up at 5:45am to go grind. Haha it's about that time for me to workout and lose this mission fat that I have gained haha!

On Christmas night we made my aunt's famous musubi! It was bomb! Actually for the past week we have had Elder Numbers and Elder Hagues(who I was living with before I got transferred) living with us due to late transfers. So we were all in the kitchen making a ton of spam musubi! We also

breakfast cooked up a huge french toast breakfast Christmas Eve. It was super nice!

Highlight of the week: Amaya Contreras will be getting baptized this upcoming Saturday! January 4th and we are so excited! We have seen so many miracles with Amaya and gone through a lot with her but to see her about to get baptized this week is going to be awesome! I will send pictures next week but pray for her to get through this week successfully!

I love you all! Happy New Years and Holidays!

Thank you to all those that sent me packages and gifts for christmas! I love you all and grateful for you all!

Con Amor,
Elder Ka'ili