July 4,2012 Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan! It is crazy that it is already the 4th of July again... This has been a really quick week. The exchange in Bandung was pretty good, it is really nice there because the weather is a lot cooler at night than it is here. I woke up in the morning a little bit too cold! It felt good. That is crazy about all of the surgeries going on! What is up with all of the problems lately!!!??? All will work out, that's for sure! So what is the whole scoop on the work thing, after Dad is done at HP where next or is he just going to retire really early and spend the rest of his time mountain biking!? :] Luckily this week we are not going out of town, but we are busy and a little bit stressing trying to prepare for zone conference next monday! I am excited for it, but it is a little different this time around because Elder Marsudi and I have to teach. So far the prep has gone well though. Unfortunately Hendry and Novi could not come to church again! A family member passed away so we have not been able to meet with them at all... It is a total bummer. But two sundays ago a member brought his nephew, Dennis to church and he is really interested and I am pretty excited about him. He is young, only 16, but his uncle is a super strong new member that is way pumped about missionary work. So Dennis has a pretty good support system. So what are your plans for the 4th of July? Hopefully it is a good day! I am excited for Indonesia's independence next month, I am guessing it should be pretty cool in the capital city! Last sunday we had a really good lesson with a former investigator that we are trying to teach again. WE read together with him Mor. 10 and talked about it. We wanted to commit him to read and pray about the BoM. I hadn't read mor. 10 all the way through with an investigator, usually we just use verse3-5, but this time we read all of it and broke it down and the Spirit was definitely there testifying! It was really good. Moroni 10 is amazing! You all should read it and just ponder the fact that they are Moroni's last word for us, the messages are amazing! Well, my time is up! I love you all, the Church is true! Kevin

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Hey ya'll! Wowzers! That was a lot of big news to get all in one week! Hopefully everything will al work out for the best, it definitely will because it will go according to the Lord's will! I will pray for you all. Unfortunately Hendry and novi didn't come... but this week they said they will come. Something came up and they had to leave town! We had a geat lesson with them on the Plan of Salvation, I think they are starting to feel that the things we teach are true. I have to apologize today I don't have a lot of time, we took a little pday trip to a big zoo kind of like the one I went to in surabaya... It was really fun, I go to feed zebras and elephants and what not! Next week I will hopefully send some pictures! We have been blessed with lots of new contacts this past week and I am really reall excited to be ableto try and meet with them in the next few days. We actually have to leave town tomorrow morning and go to Bandung for another exchange there. I am excited because I will get to see my last companion Elder Yarkasi again! Hopefully it will go well, I have to admit all the traveling is way tiring, I hope I can avoid a job with lots of business trips in the future! But I also enjoy it. Ok sorry, I have to go! I love you all and I pray that all of you will continue to well! I know all will work out for the best! The Church is true! Kevin

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 Hey! I cannot believe you all mentioned bacon.... It has been a long long time since I have had a real piece of bacon. I guess that's what I get for being in an Islamic country... haha Well it has been a pretty great week, a little bit stressful, really dirty (because it's Jakarta), but definitely rewarding! The best news is that on Sunday Hendry and his wife Novi and two of their kids came to church! It was kind of out of nowhere that they came, because we were not able to meet with them all week. They came late, but never late than never and this week we have had two awesome lessons and they want to come again on sunday! So it has been great to teach them, it is really fun too because they are from Manado, and it reminds me of my old stomping grounds! Thanks for the quotes and scriptures! They are great, and definitely reminded me of lots of things. It sounds like Maddie still hasn't quite grown out of being shy yet! that is so funny. I bet they are all so funny! Oh ya! Happy late Father's Day!! It sounds like it went really great. On sunday the sister missionaries' investigator was baptized, I got to baptize her which was a really cool experience. It still just amazes me that the Lord trusts us with the power and authority to perform such important ordinances as Baptism. I think it is such a huge sign of his love for us, as well as his trust in us that we can live worthy of such authority! Because it is such a holy and sacred power that is why it was removed from the Earth for such a long time, because mankind wasn't ready to hold it again. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith, and the Restoration and the truths that we have because of it. God really does love us and He really does want us to return to Him. I guess what I am trying to say is that the Priesthood is amazing! It is good to hear that Mikey is still doing the band thing! I look forward to being able to hear him play again, it will be super neat! That is crazy that Logan has been touring and what not, is Mikey thinking about touring at all?? So right now we are in Bekasi, another "suburb" of Jakarta which was actually the first city I served in when I came to Indonesia, almost exactly one year ago! It is amazing how much different it feels, but also how much it has not changed at all! It seems like just yesterday I was in complete culture shock and had no idea what people were saying or what was going on. Well Mom, I hope you are doing well with your new calling! I bet you are doing such a great job. I have realized here how important reactivation is! It is such an important responsibility that we have as members to reach out and help those that are struggling, and they really do recognize each and every effort we make! It always makes such a huge difference, even if it doesn't seem like it at first! Ok, my time is up! I love you all a bunch! Keep being awesome, and keep enjoying the summer, but don't forget to read your scriptures and pray! Sampai Nanti, Kevin

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 Hey ya'll! I am super sorry, but I dont have a whole lot of time today!! We have to go out to tangerang tonight... I would love to try and meet with your friend tim some time! Maybe you could get me his number or something and I could see what I can do! We will go out there about every 6 weeks or so! This week has been crazy busy and fast!! We are still trying to find people prepared... The people here are a little tough, like that old mission pres. said, they love receiving us but struggle to keep commitments! I know there are people out there who want to though! I hope everything is going great, it sounds like it is! Enjoy the summer!!! For the most part things are going great, I really have no complaints! I love you all! Kevin once again sorry this is so short.

Wednesday, June 06, 2012 Hey everybody! Jakarta is still jakarta, crazy and busy... It has been a very quick week that is for sure. So about the house, it isn't THAT big, it is just throwing me off to have an "upstairs". I still just miss the tiny little house in surabaya, it was great and easy to keep clean. This week has definitely been different than most, in fact right now I am actually not in Jakarta but in Bogor, a little outside of jakarta. We are on exchanges. I am not District Leader anymore, but instead Elder Marsudi and I are serving as zone leaders for Jawa Barat, which includes jakarta, bekasi, tangerang, bogor and bandung. Pretty much every week we go out on exchanges now with one of the districts... Yesterday we had a meeting with President Groberg, the AP's(one of which is my old comp Elder Kujanpaa) and the other ZL's(one of which is my trainer ELder Marijanto). So it was super fun to see them again, especially Elder Marijanto! He is the best.. we had a good time remembering the good ol' times in Manado. I am not the biggest fan of exchanges and meetings, it kind of takes up a lot of time, but it is what it is... That is super sweet about the Baptism in the ward!!! And also way cool that Hayden is home! tell him hello for me! I miss that kid!! haha Also, way cool about the rededication, but I am a little confused what the cultural celebration will be... what exactly does Idaho have for culture?? hehehe just kidding, Idaho is the best. Do we know yet who will do the rededication? It is good to hear all of the kids are doing great! I bet they are growing and getting so big and funny! hopefully I have not been forgotten yet... As far as our area goes, we are trying to just find some more investigators to teach. We have taught this guy from Manado the past couple weeks, but he has been super tough. he is a seventh day adventist, so we have to deal with the whole sabbath day issue... He is kind of having a hard time receiving Joseph Smith, so that is the really big issue right now. The good thing is he loves the BoM and has read til the end of 2nd Nephi. I think he will come around, he is a great guy, and it is fun to throw out some bahasa manado with him every once in awhile. Earlier this morning we taught him, shared Ezekiel 37 with him, I have never realized how powerful that is until now! That is such a sweet prophecy about the Book of Mormon, I could tell it taught/ testified to him as well. So that was cool. Oh yeah, yes I have been able to go to the mission home, we go there once a week for district meeting so I have been using the soap and what not that I brought here. Unfortunately there is a ton of stuff that I did not need to bring, but I am holding on to it all just in case. Well, I don't have much else to say. I am grateful to be serving,as humbling as it often is. There's often days where I feel like I know nothing, but I am grateful to be able to learn and grow each day. The Church and Gospel are true! That one is for sure! I know is we faithfully obey the words of the Prophets we will be blessed with peace and happiness, and what else more could we need. I love you all! Kevin