Me & my companion at the Christmas Créche

Ol' Smoky

Hello family!

This has been a very quick week! Plenty of things going on.

Last Monday night, we went over to one member's home. We had the ward mission leader there and his wife and had Family Home Evening with them and mainly went to fellowship them. I feel so many members need to know that they have a friend at church and that we are all struggling with various things in life.

We had Zone Conference last week. That's where typically 3 zones that are relatively close to each other come together where we usually have a general authority and President McCune speak to us. This time we had President and Elder Don Clarke of the area 70. He's such an awesome speaker! He had so many insightful things to share with us all! Essentially the bottom line was that we all needed to be more obedient to mission rules because they say obedience reaps blessings, but exact obedience brings miracles. After that, my comp and I have been trying to focus more on the little things that we need to work on.

One of our stakes put together a Christmas Créche. It's a humongous display of nativities and it was open to the
public as a missionary tool and to help everyone feel the spirit. Centreville Stake needs to do something like that! It was very cool!

We were with Jason R. and his family all day. We went to a team roping event where we supported their two oldest kids. Then we all went back to the ranch and did some service, then had like a super FHE. We invited over this guy and his girlfriend (who also happens to be the Bishop's daughter) and he is getting baptized in Orem.

We went to Jason's Ward expecting it to be one of our last times going there because of transfers. After that we went back to Spanish Fork and taught some great lessons. Good day! That evening we had correlation meeting for one of our stakes and we found out that one of our recent convert's brother had been baptized in Salina over the weekend. Now granted, it's the St. George mission down there,. But we're still overjoyed that it happened! Our next step for convert is getting his Patriarchal Blessing.

This morning at the crack of dawn, we got up and went to the Provo Temple to do an endowment session as a district! It was so nice!. Then we all went to lunch in Provo.

So the transfer list came out....AND ELDER DOHERTY AND I ARE STAYING IN SPANISH FORK YAY YAY YAY YAY

I would have been so bummed if I left because I know this area so well and have created a friendship/relationship with a lot of the members and also the leaders! I'm feeling so blessed to be able to stay here!

Also, Jenise, Dad told me everything that has been going on with you! I hope things continue to end in your favor! Also, that pic of me was with Ol' Smoky at a team roping event in Lake Shore. Hope you had an
awesome birthday!

Mom, I love you unconditionally and I'm glad you hit that final stage and completely kicked cancers ugly behind! Dad, I love you so much! Brother and Sister dears, I love y'all so much! I truly am appreciative of how supportive y'all are about my mission. It truly is a privilege to lead the pack when it comes to missions! I want all the nephews and even nieces and eventually my kids to go on missions to serve the Lord! It truly is a life changing experience! The things you encounter... holy cow! So wonderful!

I can't believe I get to skype y'all in only 10 days! It's incredible just how quickly things have picked up these past few transfers! I remember very vividly saying to myself...."I'm at 3 months"....then a few days later saying..."holy cow I'm at 4 months!".....it's indescribable just how things go.

Anyways....I think that about does it for this week. Looking forward to all the many lessons we have planned next week!

Love you all!!!!

-Elder Ahrens