Like Father, Like Son....

 Elder Matthew S. Holland came and spoke to our mission this week for a mission tour! To prepare, we were asked to read his most recent conference talk but I went back and watched his first talk that he gave when he was a teenager as well. We had two zoom devotionals with him and a four hour mission conference. It was incredibly uplifting spiritually and motivating physically. He is extremely similar to his dad Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in alot of ways, with the most important one being his deep qnd contagious love for the Savior!

As far as what I learned, this week I have really come to be FAR more familiar with the Book of Mormon. I have been reading it daily of course, but Elder Murphy and I also had the chance to join an MTC workshop that talked about the timeline and authors of the Book of Mormon. I would highly recommend studying the topic, it is really fascinating when you discover just how complex it is. It speaks volumes as to the authenticity of the scripture! Elder Holland focused in the topic alot as well and encouraged us to read the Book of Mormon with our Investigators more and trust it to bring the Spirit!

I don't want to countdown my days left on Florida because I fear it will make them pass faster, but I was recently mailed a list of to do items before I leave. It really made it seem so much more real! Elder Murphy and I have a goal to help someone be baptized before I go and I pray we can accomplish it! Thank you for all the birthday wishes as well everyone, it was a really amazing one!!

Sincerely,

Elder Killian

Pic #1 - birthday lunch from a Dominican food place called unidos

Pic #2 - selfie with my mtc comp who is also originally assigned to Birmingham England, we saw each other at zone conference

Pic #3 - the zone conference Pic, here is half of our mission, have fun finding me

Social Media, Miracles and stuff

 Elder Murphy and I are really starting to hit our stride with Facebook! We have been working hard on it for awhile now with few results, but recently things have been picking up!! With us still being unable to knock just any door, we spend alot of time with social media and following up on people who were taught in the past but are no longer interested. It is easy to start a conversation, easy to keep it going, easy to start discussing the gospel, but incredibly difficult to set up an in-person meeting or video call. We are still working on that bit.

We had some miracles this week. There are a couple people who we simply cannot get in touch with, but after having some stuff fall through and ending up on the opposite side of town we planned on, Elder Murphy and I strongly felt that we should try again. Well, we did just that and happened to catch one of of out doing yardwork, and the other answered the door. We had amazing conversations with them and will plan on staying in touch. Sadly, there was one person we met who has an amazing testimony in Christ, wants to meet with us, and defends our church valiantly, but he told us we shouldn't come back because missionaries in the past have met with him and he believes everything but doesn't want to get baptized because he has really strong connections with his current church and doesn't want to offend them. It is a hard situation, I am hoping we can stay in touch with him. He is the sweetest old man and told us to come back if we EVER need anything.

The work goes well here though and I have a testimony that God knows our weaknesses perfectly not so he can help us avoid them, but so he can help us get rid of them. In Helaman, Nephi laments over how wicked the people are and wishes he could live back when his ancestors first left Jerusalem. The Lord speaks to him however and thanks him for pressing forward steadfastly. There are always trials, but God knows what is best for us!

Have an amazing week!!

Elder Killian

Pic #1 - pday picture! with only elders in the district we go hard in all the sports we play

Pic #2 - Elder Murphy and I out on another boardwalk, we tried doing some street contacting but got pretty avoided

Pic #3 - a member dropped off groceries but we are trying to at least pretend to be healthy, so rather than snack on the oreos throughout the week we decided to be mature, healthy adults and eat them like cereal late at night all in one sitting

This is why we have comps......

Let's just start it off with the biggest thing that happened this week. The Deland Florida Stake held its stake conference. I watched the adult session while on exchanges with Elder Robinson. He has only been out a week and is being trained by the district leader. We watched that first session over zoom while we sent text messages to people. We actually found two people to start teaching from it. The talks given were outstanding as well. They had the general authority William K. Jackson of the seventy come and speak. The man is a brilliant orator. 

For the Sunday general session we carpooled with the other Deltona Elders down to Deland to attend in person. We invited almost all the people we are teaching to watch. In the middle of one particularly profound talk one of those friends actually texted us to tell us how much she was enjoying said talk. The last speaker was Elder William K. Jackson himself so I got ready to really pay attention. After talking for about five minutes he invited Sister Ashcraft (the mission president's wife) to come up and bear here testimony on the spot. She did so and then after she closed Elder Jackson whispered with her for a second and then asked, "Would Elder Killian come up and bear his testimony as well?" The problem was, I didn't hear my name, I heard Elder Gileed or something like that, so Elder Murphy saved the day and elbowed me to let me know he asked me! It caught me off guard to say the least. I actually distinctly remember thinking how surprising that would be to be asked by  a general authority to bear your testimony in front of the entire stake on the fly when he asked Sister Ashcraft to do it. The first words out of my mouth at the pulpit were, "My heart is full," but the more truthful statement would have been "My mind is blank." 

I just opened my mouth though and spoke my honest testimony. The Spirit definitely helped. It was quite the experience but it really made me appreciate the fact that we never know when we will be called upon the share our beliefs. It may not be in front of a congregation like that, but God expects all of us to be prepared when opportunities arise!

Also, my plane to England leaves October 6th, this is my last transfer in Florida,

Love you all!

Elder Killian

Pic #1 - playing gatorball with the new "dude"-strict

Pic #2 - we unknowingly parked in front of a members house to walk around a block knocking knocking few doors and when we came back she gave us this box of goldfish, she is SUPER nice

Pic #3 - exchanges with Elder Robinson