A few more GREAT moments!!!

  A few more photo's!! Desmond has been AWESOME about sending photo's and then since I have "Aunt Privilege" I can add what I think is going on......Elder Killian can always correct me later!!!

                    It appears that the Elder's may have helped build a walk-way to this RV.  Well done!!!

The Elder's showing off their haircut's????  Desmond had mentioned before they were cutting their own hair to save money.

Elder Killian always makes sure that he remembers the important things, like his FAVORITE sisters birthday!! I also LOVE the advice that Kody gave Desmond and Desmond is passing on.  I agree 100%

Adventures with Elder Killian!!!!

                                                    A Few Pictures of Elder Killian!!!

Desmond has lots and lots of memories with fishing, including kissing a "sucker" (a type of carp like fish in Idaho).  Granted he was only 2......

One of the benefits of being a missionary in a warm climate....you have got to enjoy the ice cream.

                                                    Serving by roofing and helping others.

It appears if you look really close an alligator maybe waiting to head up the trail once they leave and the "gator" feels safe.

                            Note:  All comments compliments of Desmond's FAVORITE Aunt!!!

Another 6 in Rockledge

 I have often had the thought that after the mission, every job I have will seem easy in comparison. I thought that because with a job I will clock out, have time off, and the demands won't be nearly so high. As I have thought more about it though, especially after finishing a particularly great lesson or after feeling the Spirit strongly, I really feel as though no future job will be as rewarding. Serving a mission may not be easy, but it is simple! Trust me there is a difference, haha.

My companion and myself got the vaccine recently and it didn't seem to affect me much at all, but I was just recovering from feeling pretty sick so perhaps I just didn't notice. We actually had an amazing ward member help us get signed up since we are unable to on our own phones. I am always so grateful for the ward members and all they do to help us. I like to think they do stuff for us so that we can devote all that time and energy they saved us to doing missionary work. In which sense the member is indirectly doing missionary work by directly helping us! 

Remember, everyone can be a missionary!

Elder Killian

PS- email didn't send last night for some reason, hope it works this morning 

Pic #1 -me after a four mile bike ride to a lesson we had the day we for the vaccine, we lent the car to some other elders who really needed it that day

Pic #2 - elder Moses and myself heading down to the beach early in the morning for P-day

Pic #3 - bowling with the district again, still haven't hit triple digits but I'm getting there

Change is in the Air!!!

 Having had two companions in the last five weeks, I didn't realize how fast time was flying by. The next transfer (when missionaries can be moved to new areas) is approaching next week. While I have only ever been in Rockledge my whole mission and am due to be moved around, I also have a companion who hasn't been here long and therefore hasn't met all the members. For these reasons I really don't know if I will be moved this coming week and I don't mind all that much. I would miss Rockledge greatly because of all the wonderful people we are teaching and the members who are helping us to do so, but the opportunity to make new friends and connections is pretty cool as well. (Also, all the members here know my object lessons so if go to a new area I can finally use them again, haha). I also need practice packing my bags should I go to England eventually!

One real cool thing I had the opportunity to gain experience about was priesthood blessings. There have been a few opportunities to give them so far, but I was asked to give one not long ago where I truly realized that they work based on the faith of the person receiving them. I felt pretty nervous at first when I was asked to give one on the spot (one reason it is important to ALWAYS be worthy). As I gave the blessing though, I felt the Spirit incredibly strongly. I haven't cried on the mission yet, but I must be getting soft because there have been a dozen instances where it was close and this was one of them!

Staying busy,

Elder Killian

Pic #1 - jar of honey, harvested last Saturday, we got a spoonful with comb and all, it was way good

Pic #2 - pday soccer, getting my tan ready for crossing the pond eventually

Pic #3 - getting ready to respond to Facebook responses

Pic #4 - extra Pic because I forgot to attach them the last time

Note from Aunt Wendi....I can take it all and we have 2 of those things up where we live...but the top one is a NO GO!!!

Starting Today

 So a few weeks back I was called to be a member of someone called the "Facebook Response Team". It is exactly what it sounds like, I was added as a moderator on all four of the English Facebook pages our mission runs and for one hour each day I respond to all the messages that come in through it. I actually have the first hour of the day which is arguably the best since I have all the messages from the night before to respond to. It is super nice! Anyhow, as we are messaging people, we ALWAYS testify. 

Every message needs to have some form of a gospel doctrine in it. At first I thought that would be difficult and we would be making outlandish references and connections to make that happen, but I learned pretty quick just how easily everything ties back to Jesus Christ. Speaking of which, we also have been sending out "Starting Today" video link alot, I watch it every morning so when I describe it I can do so sincerely, I highly recommend!!

We had a quite a few lessons these past few days and more on the way. About half cancel the day of, so we pack our schedule full just to be safe so when they cancel we still have other lessons to count on, it is kind of disappointing but, when we do have zero appointments cancel in a day, we will really earn the pillow that night! One such lesson went magnificently, the friend we are teaching has made all the necessary commitments to be baptized, has had all your questions answered, and is even in Mosiah as she is reading the Book of Mormon, we are going to teach her this week on the sailboat she lives on! It has to stay docked for our mission rules but I am still real excited!! It is kind of sad we have to pass her off to the more local elders, but still a pleasure to meet her and help her on her covenant path!!

I appreciate you! Your messages rock!!

-Elder Killian

Pic #1 - smash golf with the district, basically golf but with bouncey balls and tennis rackets

Pic #2 - missionary potluck after district council, I supplied the fried rice on the end

Pic #3 - the table we used to play ping pong on for our dinner hour one night 

What we believe.....

 I AM OFFICIALLY AN UNCLE! I have been showing pictures of my new niece Paisley Ann to everyone I meet! I really look forward to coming off that plane in just under two years and seeing her but until then the pictures my family sends will do! It really makes you grateful for family when you have such an amazing one supporting you, so when I do share my testimony on the importance of family I hope that I can convey just how much I love my own and how grateful I am for the gospel which makes it possible for us to stay together! For the people we teach, family makes an incredibly massive difference in how receptive others are to the coming closer to Christ. We know it to be the most important social construct on earth and I have felt that more and more as I have seen families in varying stages of growth in Rockledge!

We have stayed very busy with lessons and service, sometimes changing out of our nice clothes, into service clothes, and then straight back into nice clothes for different activities we scheduled. One such activity was a lesson we were able to teach to an incredible lady who owns a sailboat that is currently having work done on it! We got to teach on the boat! Other teaching opportunities have been over the phone but those are far more difficult so we do our best to meet in person when we can, or zoom when we can't.

One big thing I have noticed this week is how many people want to learn more about the gospel, or just talk about it, but they are just waiting for someone to bring it up. I have seen so many blessings from just being bold and upfront about who we are and what we believe. It seems like in many cases it is almost as though they were hoping I mention I am a missionary for the "Mormon" church because they are genuinely curious about it! We have nothing to hide but eternal salvation to share so I don't mind!

I hope you enjoyed conference!

Elder Killian

Pic #1 - first gator of about a dozen we saw on a walk in a place called the Viera wetlands, it is strange seeing them with no railing or enclosure

Pic #2 - the boat we taught a lesson on

Pic #3 - we played smash golf as a district, it is a combo of golf and tennis

Easter Pictures and Meeting his Niece as he becomes an Uncle!!!

 It is always so fun when Desmond sends some of his great pictures!!!  The upside is that I get a chance to add what I think the pictures are all about!!!

Desmond meeting his new niece Paisley Ann Killian.  I think he is pretty excited to be an uncle to such a cutie!!!

                Arrival of Easter packages from family and I am guessing some relaxing as well.

Desmond is requesting a video...and then I believe is companion coming down behind him.

The Easter Bunny still found Desmond in Florida.....nothing beats some chocolate.

                                                                                             Yeah!!!!!

In the last letter Desmond said they would be giving a lesson on a sailboat....I am guessing this maybe the boat.....