Final Days in Pleasant Grove, UT then transfers!

Kirk's spongebob imitation.

Running into friends from VA!

More friends from VA!

My companion Elder Leavitt.

Elder Leavitt

Hello madre y padre!

So since yesterday was always on the move, I didn't have "time" to get a good solid email home! So here we go!

So last Monday night, we went to a Family Home Evening night with one of our YSA wards. Their activity for the night was Life Lessons 101: Auto Maintenance. I decided why the heck not? So I told the guy running the show that I was a bit of a gear head and could help him with anything he needed. This night consisted of taking this girl's car and inspecting the basic things. Oil, tranny, washer fluid,antifreeze, tires, etc. I soon realized that this car was on the verge of killing itself. It was about 1.5-2 quarts low on oil and the tires were over-inflated by about 20 pounds. Yikes! I ended up talking more than I expected. I guess when you know your stuff, people expect you
to use it! It was fun! Good people. I got to help a bunch!

So on Wednesday we had interviews with President Killpack for the first time ever! He took us in one by one, and interviewed us briefly.

Anyways, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, we met with one of our recent converts who has asked us to teach him the Temple Prep Lessons. It was kinda cool to go through those with him just because I never went through them before I went through for my own endowment. There is some interesting insight shared in the manual. It was all stuff I knew but it was cool to see what it said.

On Friday, we had Zone Training Meeting. This is where our whole gets together and we're taught by our Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders. It was one of the longest ZTM's I've ever been to but was really good.

Saturday we had exchanges with Elder Carder and Elder Romriell. I went to their area with Elder Romriell and man did we have fun! Elder Romriell and I get along really well. We have similar interests and all of that good stuff. In the morning, we did some service from Bro.Edwards. We took three loads of crap to the dump with his big ol crew cab Ford. It was fun! After that, we did some contacting. I met one of Elder Holland's mission companions! There is a story that he shared that I'm going to have to put in a voice memo or something because it's way too long to type. But yeah! After that, we had a few lessons. They went really well! After the lessons, we went and talked to Bro.Capt (Elder Capt's father) who was outside working on his boat getting it ready to head down to Lake Powell for the weekend. Elder Romriell wanted to take a picture with his 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger. I asked
Bro. Capt to back it out. I'll send some pics. Then we talked about a bunch of stuff! After that, I packed my stuff up and went back to my area with Elder Leavitt. Good day!

Sunday was where things really were put in to perspective. Fast forward to the evening where we had a fireside at the AlpineTabernacle in American Fork, UT with the Alpine YSA Stake. President Larry Gelwix was the keynote speaker. President Gelwix is the head coach of the Highland Rugby Team and he and his team are the ones
represented in the movie Forever Strong. He also presided over the California Fresno Mission. He told of several experiences that helped him acknowledge the promptings of the spirit in his life. Another experience I'll have to share in a voice memo because it's too long to type out.

So yeah! Better late than never, but there it is! My week! I love you sooooo much!

-Elder Ahrens

Sent from my iPad

Greetings from the Utah Orem side of the Utah Provo Mission! Yes, I'll admit it. I'm having a hard time accepting the name "Utah Orem Mission". Anyways, this morning at 8:00 a.m. our mission divided right on the Provo-Orem line. Orem consists of north Utah County, stops at Point Of The Mountain on the east side of I-15, however continues on past the point on the west side of I-15 tracing up to Herriman, Bluffdale, and Riverton. The Mt. Timpanogos temple is the only temple in the Utah Orem Mission! The Utah Provo Mission will keep its original boundaries but expand south in several directions. It will be acquiring Price, Nephi, Mona, and Moab. The UPM
will have the Provo Mtn, Provo City Center, Payson, and Vernal temples within its boundaries. The Manti temple will just be outside of the boundaries, much like Oquirrh Mtn and Jordan River are just outside of the Orem boundaries. Crazy stuff happening! Me, as well as 96 others from the Utah Provo Mission are leading the pack as far as being the first missionaries ever in the Utah Orem Mission. Ya...we have bragging rights.

So over the course of last week was Strawberry Days here in PG. One of the biggest community events of the year. There was this huge carnival set up in town that had tons of people and little shops to check out. It was a great contacting tool! We got a few referrals from it! Also, if you haven't tried strawberries and cream, I recommend you do so now.

So last Tuesday, I was talking to Jason R. from Spanish Fork, UT and he and his Priests were coming up to American Fork, UT to have a celebratory dinner for one of the priests, Dallin,who left on his mission to Indianapolis, Indiana last Wednesday! Jason wanted us to come with them since I was really close with him and the priest quorum...so we went! It was a lot of fun! It was nice to talk and hang out like the good 'ol days.

So on Thursday we went to the Pleasant Grove Rodeo! Now, you gotta understand that I LOVE rodeos! Elder Doherty and I went to one like every week in SF. They are so much fine and the environment and vibe is just fun! To compare it, it's almost like going to NASCAR race. People are fun, the music is crazy, and the only difference is they aren't drunk because we are in Utah! So in this rodeo, there was this famous rodeo clown that would come every year! He was a crackup! At one point, he had this horse that he was messing around with. Talk about the tamest horse ever! He had it do yoga (put its face down and legs extended forward), it had it roll on its back and he sat on it, raised his front arms up like pretend motorcycle handles and pretended to "ride" the horse. It was hilarious! After that, he jumped up on the horse now standing and it picked up his whip from the ground and
handed it to him with its mouth! It was awesome!

On Saturday, a guy who we had been working with who was excommunicated from the church was re-baptized in a member's pool! It was sweet! Once he was baptized and confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost
again, we could literally see a light emanating from him. It was so rewarding and humbling to see him re-enter the waters of baptism to make those sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father.

Fast forward! Now we're back to this past week! On Tuesday, the entire Orem portion of the Utah Provo Missionaries gathered together in AF to hear President McCune address us one last time. After that, each of us
had a few minutes to speak with President, Sis. McCune, and their son,Daniel. It was so rough. I love the McCune's! President is such a great man. He lead the Utah Provo Mission to great things over the past 3 years. It was truly a humbling experience to serve with him. I look forward to all of the reunions in the coming years! I'm going to all of them!

On Wednesday evening, we had the privilege of attending an Eagle Scout Court Of Honor for a member in one of our wards. Elder Leavitt and I had the privilege of sitting in the Eagle's Nest. The Scout Council Member for the area also happened to be the stake Young Men's President. So...go figure...he recognized our presence in the Eagle's Nest and he thanked us for setting a good example for the youth. Not that I'm bragging or anything, It's just cool for these boys to see two missionaries sitting up there. I would want each of them to reach that great accomplishment!

Sunday was probably the busiest day of the week! We attended the Ward Council of one of our YSA wards, stayed there all three hours, went to coordination meeting...and then things slowed down. We had dinner,
taught a lesson...THEN! we joined one of our recent converts in his conferral and ordination to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood! I've mentioned this individual in the past. It was so great to see him move forward with this! Now he has the opportunity to go in the temple and receive his endowments! We're super excited
for him!

Okay...my fingers are wore out now....that does it for this weeklyemail x2! Until next week!

Love you all!

-Elder Ahrens