'Burn Up' North Augusta!

Elder Wells and I at Zone Conference

Old Phenix City reunuion!

-Elder Wells, myself, Elder Sutton, Elder Woolley

Dear Family & Friends,

This week has been a pretty decent week. I have felt a lot more vigor for the Work this particular week. I am not sure if I have mentioned it before, President Cottle gave a training in Zone Conference about extending invitations to be Baptism more frequently, thus fulfilling our purpose by inviting others to come unto Christ and be Baptized. It has stuck with me all week and I am really excited to work extra hard this week to find new investigators and increase our teaching pool. This is area has been bogged down in the past even though great missionaries like Elder Godwin and Elder Ray have been through. I really want to 'burn up' North Augusta! Before we went home last night, Brother Dunagan gave us some less-actives and part-member families to reach out to. We will be focusing more on those individuals this week.

On Saturday, we went out tracting near Garret's house. We tracted into one lady who opened the door and said "Super-duper Catholic, but I'll take what y'all hand out". She then told us of a few of her neighbors and she then talked about a young couple around the corner, on the left in the middle-ish house. After talking to her, we realized that she was referring to Garret and his wife. Interesting... We then moved to another street and knocked on two more. We had originally wanted to do just two more, but after the first two with no success, we knocked on a third. A man opened and he was somewhat interested. I say that because he didn't stop us from talking. We did the usual introduction about who we are and what our message is, in this case we told him that God has once again called a Prophet to speak for Him. We asked him what he liked about his church and replied "I like the things the preacher says and the social gathering" . We then asked him if he has heard about the Church before and he had very minimally. After talking about the Book of Mormon and Prophets, he said he wouldn't be interested. A little disheartening, but we gave him the opportunity for us to teach him and his family and sometimes that is all we can do.

I have felt recently, completely immersed in the work I am doing. I now vaguely remember what it is like to not get up at 6:30 and in bed at 10:30 among other things. But I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing and is the most important thing I can be doing. I love this Work and this Gospel and the joy it has brought to me. It has brought me through some really tough times, but I do not despair. The Gospel can do that for everyone that is willing to listen, both member and non-member.

Garret is still interested in discussions. We should be meeting with him in a day or two. He has been caught up in taxes and such. Transfers is March 22. I feel like I will stay here at least for another. If that happens, I will have been here as long as I was back in Phenix City.

Today we have some cleaning to do and some shopping as well. P-Days can be busy or relaxing. We have fun either way.

Have a good week y'all!

Elder Kestner 

Birthday Week, Super Bowl Hype & Deep Questions

The Birthday Missionary! Happy 21st Elder Kestner

Dear Family,

Another week gone by. A lot of hype about the Super Bowl and such was heard here. There will undoubtedly be some groaning due to the outcome I was just told. Sounds like it was a WEST vs. EAST kind of game. The first time I haven't been able to watch the Super Bowl. At least the Seahawks weren't playing. That would have been tougher for me. The weather has been going up and down for a few days now. One day it's in the 30s and in the 60s the next. It would be hard to shake off an illness if I had one at the present time.

To start, we visited with Garret on Monday. It was another good visit with him and he asked many good questions. But they were the kind of questions that not too many people ask us. He asked some really deep questions like "How do you know if you know the Book of Mormon is true?". We then flipped open to Moroni 10: 3-5 which reads "Behold, I would exhort you when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts." "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things". This simple promise by Moroni ensures that anyone who reads the Book of Mormon, God will surely answer their prayers and manifest the truth to them.

I have really been enjoying this area. The members have been so willing to help and assist in any way that they can. We were able  to go with Woody to Plum Branch, SC to contact some referrals and see member couple. We nearly struck out, but we did not dismay. We pressed forward with a positive attitude. Attitude. It means everything. If you are positive, the Spirit is more likely to be felt. I have kept it my goal to be positive no matter what comes.

I appreciate all of the Birthday wishes that y'all have sent my way. I really had an enjoyable Birthday. 

Next one will be when I turn 22 and I will be at 22 months out, incidentally. 

Love y'all!

Elder Alexander Kestner

Someone got spoiled for his birthday! Is that Mtn Dew? 

Cutting the Birthday Cake

A southern meal

This meal is legit! 

Do we have to sing?

Double Digits and Stayin' in SC!

Dear Family & Friends,

To start, Saturday at 9 pm, we had our Transfer Conference call. Elder Jordan and I are very glad to hear that neither of us will be Transferring out. We both surely thought that Elder Jordan would transfer out and I would stay. But this worked out perfectly! Another note, my previous companion, Elder Bingham, just made AP (Assistant to the President). A very good Transfer call in my book. It is the first time in nearly 6 months that I have not had to pack! Which is most definitely a positive thing! Another great thing is that I can really get to know the area better and continue to work with our investigators more. 

Last Monday, after emailing, we had lunch with one of my investigators from Thomson, Becky! Also known as Grandma to over 2 dozen missionaries. She treated us to Hardee's and it was very good visit with her. I have a Mission Mom (Sis. Howells) and I also have a Mission Grandma (Becky). I just love the people that I come into contact with!

As most of y'all know I am at 10 months today! Double digits! It is indeed a reminder that time slows for no one, even missionaries, but that makes the time I have precious and memorable.

 On Thursday, we helped a member, Bro. Berry, move his retired Methodist Minister friend move. We helped from about 1pm to 5pm. We were only able to load one U-Haul van, but we got a lot accomplished. After unloading the van at their new house, they invited us to dinner. Bro. Berry had to leave to get home to his wife, but said we should have dinner with them. We did. They treated us to Waffle House and we had a very pleasant Gospel Discussion. They asked us questions about why we're serving a mission and what some of the guidelines are and such. After eating, and by the way, I had my first taste of Grits. It was pretty tasty, especially with butter, salt, and pepper. After parting we went back home and showered up.

Last night, we were invited over to the Plocha's for dinner. This was different because Elder Jordan and I made it. We had Chicken fried Steak on a Waffle with gravy. Delicious! I made the waffles and I just might have to challenge my dad to a waffle making contest when I get home.

It was a good week that definitely brought me to think about the upcoming Transfer, the resolution of where I would be, is a weight off my shoulders. It has been warming up slowly over the last few days but does get cold at night. I probably won't wear my jacket today due to weather.

It has been a good week and I am very hopeful for this new Transfer. I long to make it last and to work my hardest.

Have a good week y'all!

Elder Alexander Kestner

"Come on, is that all you got?"

It snows in South Carolina...SORTA!

Dear Family & Friends,

This week went by really fast. When the weeks are quick, it can be hard to grasp onto topics and ideas to send in my weekly email. 

To start, it snowed on Saturday! If it snowed in Pocatello like it did here, some might say "Come on, is that all you got?". 

On Tuesday, we met with Garret, one of the investigators I mentioned previously. Our meeting mainly consisted of him asking questions and us answering. He asked question about things omitted in the Bible and what the Pearl of Great Price and Doctrine Covenants is. We did our best to answer his questions, and he sure had a lot of them! We then offered to give him a Triple Combination book (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price). One of the best things of our visit was that he had a strong desire to read the Book of Mormon for himself. That is all we missionaries can ask someone to do. Read for yourself and pray to know if it is true. Some missionaries may think, and members as well, or believe that an investigator may be converted to the Gospel simply by their own words. This simply isn't true. Our purpose is for those individuals to have the chance to read it for themselves and to bear humble testimony of your witness that the Book of Mormon is true. I have certainly grown to love and cherish the Book of Mormon. On two occasions I have been able to read through it, I learn something new every time. The Book of Mormon changes lives, it changed mine. It can change your too.

On Wednesday, as you may have heard from the missionaries serving where you are, there was a Missionary Broadcast from the Mission Department of the Church. There were multiple talks and training's given that stood out to me. Elder Anderson said in his talk and I paraphrase 'The Doctrine of Christ can only be received by revelation". Elder Bednar said this which blew my mind, "We can only bring our message unto the heart". He noted that there is a key difference in saying 'into' and 'unto'. Like what I said before with the Book of Mormon, we can only bring our message unto their heart, but only they can bring it in. One more thing that Elder Bednar said that I found to be profound, "Invite them (the investigator) to prepare to learn". Let those quotes sink in. I loved being able to watch that broadcast. It gave me a new perspective with how I teach and getting down to the base of our purpose.

I know this email is a little more preachy than others, but I felt like I needed to share it. Like the prophets of old, like Moses and Alma, they speak plainly the things pertaining to God. I absolutely cherish the Book of Mormon and I want to read it many, many more times for the rest of my life.

Stay warm y'all!

Elder Alexander Kestner

The "Cup-storation" lesson

Dear Family Friends,

I would like to start off with one little tid-bit of information... Holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day when the libraries are closed and we are not allowed to use member's computers. This will continue to be the case unless the Georgia Macon Mission gets i-Pads. 

This week has flown by. I went on exchanges with Elder Haines in Evans on Tuesday. We had a lesson with one of their investigators about the Restoration, but with a twist he used cups! Elder Haines taught the 'cup-storation' lesson. In a nutshell, we have basic Christian beliefs, i.e Faith and Repentance. Elder Haines then put a card (priesthood) on them and then placed 2 more cups, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Once you remove the Priesthood (or the card), the entire stack falls apart. He then added another cup to the base, Joseph Smith (stacked inside a cup representing Jesus Christ). You then rebuild it and it is exactly the same as it was before. It was an interesting way to teach it, for sure.

Later on in the week, we were sad to hear that C.K., one of our investigators, will be preparing to go back to Nepal and is using all of his spare time to get ready. We won't be able to see him until mid-March. Fortunately, we saw him earlier in the week. We taught him more of the Restoration and we were able to clear up some questions about the Book of Mormon and the Bible. An impression came to my mind during the lesson, "Invite him to be baptized''. Without dismissing it, I asked firmly if he found these things to be true, would he be Baptized? He responded that if it felt right, he would. That impression blew my mind. We then asked him to read the Book of Mormon and he replied with eagerness a desire to read it. He said he was looking for something to read during the 15 hours he will spend in the plane going to Nepal. Why not read the book of Mormon? C.K. is very intelligent and I guess that he may read the whole thing come March. I certainly pray and hope he does.

I catch myself often reflecting on the experiences I have had and the those that I will have. It can be very difficult at times to overburden my thoughts with different things. But I am slowly starting to learn and understand how to cope with different situations that I come across. Prayer and scripture study have undoubtedly been two of my best tools I use each and every day. Some days I am humble and patient, others, not so much. But I try to rely on the Savior when I have those difficult days. I am truly grateful for many things including the love and support of my family, friends, and others that I may not even know. 

Gotta keep on keepin' on! 

Sincerely,

Elder Alexander Kestner

Holding Fast

Dear Family & Friends,

This week was a lot better compared to previous weeks. Our goal as a District was to find more Investigators and find more opportunities to teach. We were met with success.

 Earlier this week, we visited with Jacky, one of our few investigators. He has struggled to quit smoking and he wants to join the Church. That day we visited, I felt an impression to read 3 Nephi 11 with him. That prompting seemed to have come from nowhere, so I obeyed. I opened my Book of Mormon and the page for 3 Nephi 11 was the first to open. A second confirmation. We read and explained the importance of the Savior coming to the Nephites and Him fulfilling the promise he gave in Jerusalem when he said "  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." The power and fulfillment of that verse from John 10:16! We read through and the Spirit was there and the room was burning with it. We left with a prayer and a hug with hope that this may be the turning point in Jacky's conversion.

As I have mentioned from previous weeks, we have struggled to find new investigators. We knew something had to give and that we needed to keep trying to find those elect souls that the Lord has prepared. On Thursday, we were having dinner with Bishop Smith. Before we left, he told us of a recent move-in across the street and over one. Bishop Smith had introduced himself and the Gospel came up. The man with whom he spoke to is C.K. He and his wife are from Nepal. As we left the Bishop's house, we immediately went over and introduced ourselves to C.K. He opened the door and immediately invited us in. We sat down and he asked me "What do I need to do to join your church?" We don't get that question often. Maybe once in a blue moon. We replied that he needs to have Faith in Jesus Christ and to repent. We got about that far when we turned to the Restoration. We talked for about 20 minutes or so and we left with a prayer. I was quick to realize a few things. He is a Christian by faith but a Hindu by culture. That must have been expressively hard for him. He told us that his father is ill and that they may have to leave for Nepal without a moment's notice. We tried again Saturday in the afternoon and in the evening. No one was home. They must have left already. 

Another experience caught my attention. We were tracting a neighborhood near our apartment and got to about the 8th door and a man named Garret, answered. He was very friendly and he told us that he is a Christian Apologetic and has learned a good amount of what we believe. He brought up Joseph Smith, the Gold Plates, and even the angel Moroni. We were near flabbergasted! He asked us sincere and soul stirring questions. We essentially taught the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation to him. People like Garret are hard to come by in the South. We left him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read it and he accepted. We were the first missionaries, let alone members he has seen. An absolutely incredible experience. I was grateful that I had studied the Restoration and Plan of Salvation extensively in order to try to answer the hard questions that people ask. I have grown to have a deep love for the scriptures and the knowledge that God has given to us by reading them. 

These experiences this week have definitely energized my vigor for missionary work. The small things really do overshadow the hard times that accompany being a missionary. These are important lessons I am learning and I have a hunger and thirst for more. Have a good week y'all!

Elder Alexander Kestner

Winter is finally here..or is it?

Christmas Zone Conference in Statesboro for the Savannah , Augusta & North Augusta Zones

Everyone enjoyed the time together & celebrating the Christmas Holiday

 Dear Family & Friends,

Well, Winter has finally arrived! It has been in the 40s most of the day and dips into the 30s at night. Let's just say that we turn the heater on at night. The past couple days I have broken out the sweater that my mom sent for Christmas. It arrived just in time too! The sweater really helps in this South Carolina cold. 

In the last week or so, we have been in a rut, so to speak. We have been struggling to find new investigators and reach our goals. I try to remain optimistic despite  everything. Elder Jordan and I are continually getting along smoothly. There have been some nights when we're in bed when we just talk about different things. Something I have done only once or twice with my companions in the past. 

On Friday, we were tracting on a street up the hill from our apartment. We had started that street a couple days before, but we went back to finish it before we went in for dinner. We knocked on a few doors when one of them opened, and a man named Brett stepped out to talk. One thing about the South is that when we go out tracting, a lot of people stand behind their doors as to shield themselves from us. A curious thing. So Brett, stepped out and we introduced ourselves. He has seen missionaries like us before riding our bikes and such. We talked for a couple minutes, mainly about families. Now, Brett is Catholic but we were able to agree that our church and the Catholic church has a strong stance on family as well as a similar leadership structure. It was nice to have a friendly conversation. Brett said he wouldn't mind if we came back to share more with him. That happening to us brightened our day.The Ward is definitely involved here. We have been asking for referrals and we continually seek them.

As per usual on major Holidays (i.e Independence Day, Halloween, etc) where much craziness happens, we were on lockdown in our apartment from 6 pm to the end of the night on New Year's Eve. We got back and planned for the upcoming week. Wanting something a little different, we ordered pizza from Papa John's using a gift card Elder Jordan's mom sent him. We ordered the special which was a large three topping. We got one with Pepperoni, Sausage, and Green Bell Pepper. We also got an order of Parmesan breadsticks. After eating all of the breadsticks and most of the pizza, we retired to bed with full bellies. 

December, as well as most of 2015, slipped past me. I have decided to make my New Year's Resolution to be this: To make full use of the time I have left to serve the Lord with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength. I see and feel myself growing and it isn't easy in the least. I am growing to love my mission more and more as I have experiences in sharing the Gospel and uplifting others, both member and non-member. I thank each of you for the prayers you send my way, I see your prayers helping do what the Lord has tasked me to do. For that, I am forever grateful.

I wish yall a Happy New Year and may the Lord send blessing on each of you in everything you do of every day. God Bless and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Elder Alexander Kestner