The Week After Christmas

The rest of Christmas day was very fun. We ate dinner at the Jarrett's house, and then at 5 we had dinner at the Simons house and at 7 we arte at the Murphy's'. I tell you what; Thanks giving really prepared me for Christmas in the fact that I had tons of room for food! When we got to our last dinner appointment Elder Jacobson turned to me and said he couldn't eat anymore. So we said a little prayer before we went in and asked for the room to eat the meal. The funny part about it was when we left he tells me he was about to burst and I told him that I was a little sad because the Sis Murphy took my plate away before I had seconds  When I told him that all he could do was laugh and try to keep everything he ate down. We did get doggy bags at every house, so now our fridge is full of good food and we didn't have to buy food this week.
My companion and I had to give talks this past Sunday! His topic was "traditions of our Fathers" and mine was "Do you know who you are?" Both based of conference talks from this last one. This whole week Elder Jacobson has been pretty stressed out about it. He said that he couldn't fill 20 minutes and that I would have to make up the rest of the time. This had me nervous because I have never been able to talk to long. I don't know if bishop ever notice when I gave talks, but I shake so bad. But it all went well, he gave a way powerful talk on giving our families traditions of missionary work, and it was 18 minutes long. Then I got up there and talked, and this time I wasn't shaking at all. I was able to give my talk as I had prepared it and got my point across. Which was, if we truly know who we are, and know what we have been given; i.e. the plan of salvation and the real meaning of life, we must share that with everyone because they are all sons and daughters of God. I was pretty stoked about it because I wasn't shaking up on the stand, and that I didn't trip over my words to much. It was a way fun and growing experience for me.
I met with my mission president this past Monday; he told me that I will most likely be transferred in two weeks. I'm looking forward to the growth that will come with it. He also answered some questions that I had and helped with my confidence. His talk in our district meeting helped out as well, it was about having faith to baptize and how we can grow faith. I have some new goals now because of what I learned from him.
Well there's not much to write today. The day after Christmas we went back to doing missionary work, which was kind of slow because not a lot of people where out side. So we rode around trying to find new investigators and people to teach. Nothing to exciting, sorry there is not much to write about.
Mom I asked my President Seal if you could call him and let him know where Tyler will be going when he gets his call and he said that that would be awesome, his number is 4796719578. He will call me after you call him.
I got to go, but I will be writing hand written letters later today, I love you and thank you for your support.

Love your son
Elder David Kelly Conrad

Elder Conrad Calls Home

Kelly called home on Christmas day and spoke to all of the family. It was wonderful to hear his voice and for him to talk to all of his siblings. He was able to call Erin and Skyler in Texas, Megan and Joe were with us, and he called back later to speak with Tyler (who had been working that morning and missed the main call). He is doing very well and loving his time serving the Lord.

He was having Christmas dinner with 3 different families that day. Megan suggested he take a "doggy bag" rather than try to eat it all and go home miserable! He decided to take some tupperware instead! He's still riding his bike, he said it's cold no matter what, so better to just go fast and get there in the cold, than walk and be in it longer. There wasn't any snow, but it was bitter cold when he called.

At the end of the conversation we put him on speaker phone and he bore a fervent testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Christ's mission on the earth, his love for the Lord and the Savior and of the work we have here to do to help all our brothers and sisters know of Christ's mission to bring us home. We then knelt as a family and had a family prayer with Kelly listening in as his father offered the prayer. It was a tender and beautifull moment to bow and pray all together as a family again. It will likely be a very, very long time again before we can do that with so many of us present. Tyler is waiting on his call and will be gone soon.

I will be trying to catch up on back log emails, letters and pictures Kelly has sent to post here, as this has been my first break from school and activities to do any blogging. So, stay tuned!

Carol Ann
(Kelly's mom)

Christmas Thoughts

I sent this letter out to all the missionaries presently serving from our ward, and a similar handwritten letter to Kelly.

Dear Elders and Sisters,

As we baked and ate and sang and played games and held FHE last night my mind was taken with thoughts of the missionaries in our ward, my own son and his first Christmas away from home and wondering how each of you are faring at this time away from your families.

What a wonderful reason that you are each away, as you teach the world about the real reason we even celebrate Christmas, why the world needs a Savior and the message of good news to all men everywhere! That Christ is born and came to bring us home! Back home to our Heavenly Father and Mother as we have been away from the glow of light and love, joy and connection with our first family. The message your bear offers us all the chance to come home to the arms of loving parents that miss us, long to hold us close and to share the bonds of belonging.

We are so grateful that if you have to be away from home at this time, that it is for this reason, to bring the family of God together and teach them the truth of their life, that we may all have a joyous rejoining with all our brothers and sisters that hear and follow our brother, Jesus Christ. He is truly the reason for this season and the reason you are away.

God bless you, and may you be warm and attended to by members of your ward families in the places you are, as you labor and endeavor to bring the Christmas message every day of the year to the world.

Our love and prayers,

The Conrads

Turn the negative around

I love my companion Elder Jacobson. He's helped me grow so much from his example and from making me take charge sometimes. We have set some goals that have pushed us to be better teachers and listeners, which have really helped us out in lessons and with helping people progress toward having faith in Jesus Christ. It also helps when we are with the ward members, we have gained their trust and respect. When we go on exchanges and are waiting for church to start we go around and talk to as many of them as possible and get to know them, which is sweet!

The Jarretts were the first couple that got baptized when I got here and they have been slipping a bit and mission church. So we called and talked to some of the ward members and they have been helping them out with what's been stopping them from coming and got them there this past Sunday. I hope that makes sense. Sorry if it doesn't. It's just so sweet to get to know the ward members, because when I was back at home I never really got to know the elders there in the ward and pray for them by name. By doing so you will help encourage them to become better missionaries and the work will continue to move ahead.

I learned that if I have time to sit and think about my faults and be negative, then I'm missing the point of missonary work. Just recently I have started to think about my investigators in my spare time. I think about what they might need to hear, or a certain lesson they might need. This really helps keep the negative thoughts away because when I'm so focused on others I lose focus on myself and home. I have seen it really bless my area and those we teach because now I'm focused and lsitening to them and what the spirit wants for them.

There is no snow here, but it's been -22 degrees, and out on our bikes it gets even colder. We are supposed to get snow Wednesday I think but when it snows here its more like fog, which is weird, but I'm not complaining. I heard about Tyler becoming an elder, that's so awesome! I can't wait to hear where he is going; I'll have to give you my mission home number so you can call it when he gets it so that I can hear about it sooner than snail mail.

Merry Christmas!

love your son,
Elder David Kelly Conrad

The Big GROWTH!

Mom, Dad, I want to thank you for what you have written me, it helps out a lot, and gives me hope and courage to take on my fears with more assurance that the Savior is going to be there for me when the fear comes. At Zone Conference yesterday we read a very powerful talk from Elder Oaks that was along the same lines as your e mails to me. It talked about true conversion and how we are to achieve that over the whole course of our life time. Later in the talk he makes a very powerful statement that hit me and opened my mind to a whole lot of understanding. He said that a testimony is going to grow more in times of hardships and pain, then when in peace and easiness. At first I thought of my self and how this is very true, I have had so much growth because of this past week with my new companion, Elder Jacobson. Mom, when I wrote that I was at my lowest point. I'm more over that fear now and have grown over it. "It is better to face your fear one time and get over it then live its shadow" So that's has been one of the things I learned this past week.

Things in our area have been great. The weather has turned really bad and it's been 19 degrees for the past few days. We are still out riding our bikes; fifteen miles average a day. Even though it's so cold we have been finding more people outside and OTM's then ever before. We stop and talk to everyone and share the gospel with them. I really like to OTM's where some one is fixing a car, I can talk to them about the cars and sound smart and tie it into the gospel some how. Like last Friday we met a man who was just as old as I am and was fixing up and old step side dodge truck. He had dropped a magnum engine in, but was looking to put the old 360 back in to it and beefing it up. His name was Nick and then we met his friend David. I tied it to the gospel by saying sometimes things work in our lives but don't feel right, and that when they don't feel right we change them. It might make sense writing it out, or I didn't do a good job explaining how I tied it in but I know that no matter what some one is doing or saying I can tie it into some principle of the gospel. So OTM's have been awesome but by Thursday of last week I was a little angry; every time I talked to some one I could see the confusion. I wanted to cut through it and help them out so much that I began to get impatient. Most of them tell me that their either Baptist and they have a whole sluu of anti that has been taught to them, or they just say that just believing in Jesus Christ is enough to be saved and that they don't have to be apart of a certain church. It's pushed me a lot, because now I'm trying to find better ways to OTM and to teach lessons so that people understand what it is that we have to offer them. So that's been real fun. The other day I had my first book given to me! This lady we OTM'd said she wouldn't leave till she gave me the book. Come to find out her husband is an X'd member. That was a way funny experience.

Elsie and her family are doing well, they are still coming to church and are growing, but Elsie didn't come to church last week, and she hasn't answered my phone calls or returned any of them, so we will be going over and seeing what's going on with her.

This past week was all one huge growth spurt for me you could say. New companion and having a lot of things heeped on me all the sudden wasn't fun, but now I'm getting a little rest, I guess it's to get ready for the next trial.

. I love you Mom and Dad!

Your Son,
Elder David Kelly Conrad

Letter of encouragement from dad

Dear Kelly,

I know this may be strange using Mom’s email site. My right thumb is making it hard to write legibly. I am getting pretty good at typing so I thought I would try this. I read Mom’s letter to you and I would concur with her thoughts on your feelings of inadequacies. I too struggle with them frequently. When I get deep into those feelings and thoughts it is very hard to pull out of it. I want to isolate and not be connected to anybody and it is difficult to ask for what I need, especially if I have hurt the person(s) that I need the connection with.

It is difficult to tell yourself you are worthwhile and doing the best you can. As long as you haven’t done anything to chase the spirit away and can turn to God you should do well. Don’t let your fears take over. As a missionary it is a constant challenge to be vigilant and in tune with the spirit. Some days you will be more successful in doing that than others. The key is to keep getting up and trying to follow the spirit. You have already had more successes in these few months than I had in a year. I am very proud of you. Yesterday during sacrament meeting I was looking at the back of the program all the missionaries from our ward. When I saw your name I was overcome with the spirit and started sheddi8ng tears of joy and happiness. I was also humbled at the blessings Heavenly Father has given me through you. Even now tears come to my eyes. I often feel you have grown up and developed a desire to do what is right in spite of me. I am grateful for the good choices you have made in your life.

I hope you will be taken care of for the holidays. It is always nice for the members to take care of the Elders during these times. We all look forward to hearing from you on Christmas Day.

Today we got our first taste of cold and snow. I got up early and drove the roads. School was delayed 2 hours mainly because the wind was blowing pretty good. The wind chill was -9 degrees. We had the usual challenges with getting buses started and keeping them on the road but we got through it. Tonight it will get even colder. I hope Megan and Joe will be able to come this weekend. It is supposed to be like this all week.

Tyler interviewed with the Stake President last Thursday and received the Melchizedick (sp?) Priesthood Sunday night. That was very nice to be able to do that. It is also nice that he has been able to make the progress that he has. He papers should be sent in by now. Awesome!

Keep doing what is right and the Lord will take care of the rest. I love you!

Your Dad

Letter of encouragement from Mom

Dear Son,

I hear how painful sometimes it gets inside for you as you struggling with feelings of worth and adequacy. That fears take over and worry about how you might be to others, if they see you through your negative view of yourself at times and when you look at yourself that way you feel ashamed and unworthy, not good enough. You wonder if they see those things and thus fear their reactions. It becomes an internal negative pattern where you then withdraw from others and emotionally beat on yourself, creating an “unconquerable enemy” as you might recall Splinter telling the Ninja turtles. There is no relief if you are your own enemy.

Yes, of course you have failings and inadequacies. Of course you are not perfect. Sometimes people in their own fears of self-inadequacy can project that onto you and you can then feel like you’re not good enough to them and shrink away, withdrawing from them as well. However, it is their own stuff, not yours, just as your stuff is really yours, not them.

While you feel that maybe you could have done more to learn about yourself through counseling when you were younger, you are now facing these terribly painful internal feelings here on your mission and using your failure in the past to beat yourself even more.

You are where you are Kelly. It is where it is, it is good enough, YOU are good enough—faults and all, you are His and He is yours. The Lord qualifies you for the work, you don’t. Your job is to be compassionate with others—including yourself. The scriptures contain all the “counseling” you will need here on your mission. I was preparing a lesson this morning for R.S. and came across this quote by Elder Eyring from last year’s conference talk, I include the part that I think might be of help. I encourage you to ponder deeply about this meaning and then apply it to yourself. The Lord will give you the relief you need from the painful internal negative self-talk if you allow charity to cover you from the Savior and from yourself.

The Apostle Paul was telling us how to love in a world of imperfect people, including ourselves, when he said, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:4–5). And then he gave solemn warning against reacting to the faults of others and forgetting our own when he wrote, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Please know that your father and I, even in our many, many imperfections, trust you, know you are doing the Lord’s work with all your heart and it is more than good enough. It is what you have to give, and the Lord will bless you for it. Humble yourself, let Him succor you from your internal pain. Relief will come as you bend your will, give up your fears and risk turning to him even though you want to hide.

All my love,

Your mother

Ps/ did you get your box of “12 days” of Christmas? 3 of those items were given by Sister Ballentine. I think Clarissa is going to be sending 3 at the end of the 12 days so you should be receiving an added bonusJ I didn’t put instructions in, but you are suppose to only open one day at a time (you probably figured that outJ mom

Follow Up Trainer!

Hey Mom,
This past weeks has been very crazy with my trainer being transferred and my follow up trainer coming. The day of transfers was the craziest. That morning at three I hear my companion Elder Harrison hurling and puking so I wake up and check on him to see how he was doing. When I walk in puke was every where and he was hunched over the tube puking his guts out. He had gotten some kind of stomach bug and he couldn't keep anything down. He was up all night puking so I was up the whole night helping him out. He lost 13 pounds over the course of the night and in the morning we called Sister Seal who is who we call when missionaries get sick. She gives us some tips on how to help, but nothing would help. Well long story short we were afraid that he needed to go to the hospital because he was losing so much water and it was getting better. I have to say that I was kind of hoping that that would happen because that meant he wouldn't have left that day, but later President Seal told me that I had to get him to transfer point and there was no buts about it. So the last memory I have of him is him being dressed in sweats lying on the pavement at the Bentonville stake center waiting to be picked up.
My new companion is Elder Jacobson, who is from Sandy, Utah and was trained here in the Har-Ber area that I'm serving in. These past three days have been so sweet; we already have so many awesome experiences and have met a ton of people. We have made some goals that will push us and will make us grow. He is a way sweet missionary; in the past few days he has helped me with overcoming my fears of OTM ing in awkward situations, the other day before church we walked around and we saw this lady who was walking to her car, and there was some one else on the other side of the street so we split up to get two OTMs. I shout, "How are you doing today?" and start to talk to her while I walk up to her, she kept getting into her car but we still talked. Then she gets into the car and rolls down her windows to keep talking to me. I find out that she has "mormon" friends and that she has the Book of Mormon. She wasn't interested but the sweetest part about it all was that it wasn't awkward at all. If you have ever been on a mission, or knocked doors for sails you might know what I mean by awkward. It was just so sweet because now I don't rationalize why I shouldn't talk with someone, because when I do that I let satan win in my not sharing the message of the restored gospel. So there is going to be a lot of growth these next 6 weeks while I serve with him. I've been stressing out about a lot, about relationships in the ward, with investigators, with my new companion and with planning successful days. He's helped out a lot and I can't wait to learn more from him and serving with him.
We had a funny OTM the other day when we came out of a less active member's home, this man was walking by and I asked how he was doing and he didn't respond. So I left him alone but Elder Jacobson didn't, he asked how his day was going and he flips us off. Elder Jacobson asked what have we ever done to him and he told us about several "mormons" that he has known his whole life that had screwed him over one way or another. Elder Jacobson asked if the man believed is every body is perfect and he just goes off on us, telling us to get off his property and ranting and raving. All I could think about was how just a few members bad examples had hardened this mans heart towards Christ true Church. Man I really hope none of the dumb things I did growing up affects someone like this. That would be awful!
I did lose the eight pounds; actually I have lost a lot of weight because I go running every morning in our work out gym. I'm really going to miss this place when I get moved because I have really become more fit because of it, which helps out when riding our bikes, we don't get tired so fast.
Man that so exciting that Tyler's going to get interviewed. I can't wait to here and see the growth that will come from his mission. I can't wait to write him letters and share what's going on in our mission life. Speaking of Tyler I got the camera and its case the other day, which is way awesome! Thank you very much for it!! I'll be sending a memory card full of pictures and a cassette tape soon.
Well Mom I love you and the whole family so much! You all have been the best blessing in my life and I can't wait to talk to you all this Christmas! Tell Erin and Megan that I love them and that I will be writing them letters soon, I'm not sure if will get to them this Monday, but next Monday for sure.

Love
Elder David Kelly Conrad

Thanksgiving of many!

It took all week to get better, but I'm whole now and back to work. I got myself a box of that Emergen-C and have been taking multi-vitamins, which have really helped. I did get the conference talks this past Friday, thanks for sending it.
We got to play football thanksgiving morning with a bunch of non members and members at Tyson practice field, which was very awesome. We were only able to play for 2 hours and only got two games in but they were so fun! Well we lucked out and had only 2 dinner appointments for thanks giving, both at members homes, we had a lot more invitations but we were only able to make it to two of them. The first one was at 1:00 and the next was at 5:00. We went to the Lazartas and watched a movie on Emma Smith while we waited for dinner to cook. So we ate at 2:30, 3:00. They had all the classic thanksgiving food, except for yams, I have never had them before I cam out here, so that was a little different for me. When we get done eating we sit there the table telling them stories from our missions and answering there questions. While my companion is telling a story he unexpectedly yells and straitens out his right leg and tries to stand up, then he yells again and straitens his left leg out! By this time everyone is looking at him thinking "what the heck?" I helped him stand up and he tells us that he is cramping up and stands there yelling as it tightens up on him. It was so funny! He walked it off and everything settled down. Then we went to Brother and Sister Simmons, he is the funniest Philippine man you will ever meet, Tyler will know what I mean when I say he is funnier then Jun. So we start eating and start on seconds and by this time we are stuffed and just ready to pop. Brother Simmon just keeps putting it on my plate telling me that I can't stop eating till he does, telling me that it is a Philippine custom. So by the time he gets done eating I can't take deep breaths or bend my back because of how full I was. Then he brings out desert and it's a huge piece of some kind of cake. Man eating that think felt like an eternity and I thought that I was never going to get through it! I have never been so full in my life! Earlier that morning we all weighed our selves to see who at the end of the day would gain the most, which I gained 8.3 pounds! When I got home all I could do was lie in bed and think of how much I hate food.
Well Elsie and her family (Janet and Joanna) got baptized this past week end! They finally did it and it was so awesome to be apart of it! They have made it past all the trials that come before that huge leap towards Christ!
I'm a little sad this week because we got a call this past Saturday and my companion Elder Harrison is being transferred. I have learned so much from him and hate to see him go. Now I have to face another companion and start all over again with another relationship. But Elder Harrison knows who my new companion will be and says that he is a great Elder, and that he came out with him. His name is Elder Jacobsen; all I know is that he is 5'5'' and that he's way sweat missionary. I'm a little excited for the change, but there are a lot more unknowns now and it's pretty daunting.
So that's awesome that Tyler will be getting out here sooner, I'm so excited for him! That means it will be less then three years that I won't see him! Oh my suit size is 44 and I will be mailing those suits back this Monday or next, depends on if we get to the post office. It's gotten very cold here and has been snowing for the past two days, which looks really pretty, but makes it even colder.
Mom I'm thankful for you and the whole family, I can't tell you enough how thankful I am for the sacrifices made by you and Dad for me. I love you and pray for you always!
Your son
Elder David Kelly Conrad

The sick week

I have been sick for most of the week so I have done a lot of sleeping these past four days. We still did missionary work but it's been really tough. We mostly went to Elsie's and re-taught them (Joanna, Janet and Elsie) so that they were ready for their baptismal interviews this past Sunday. They have become like a second family to me. I love them so much and would do anything for them. It's so sweet that I got to know them. If the only reason I came out here on this mission was to meet these three people and share the gospel with them that would be alright with me. I have seen this family come so far since I have been here. I have seen a night and day change with Janet. When I first met her she was very negative about everything and was a heavy smoker. Now over the course of the past few months she is more positive about life, she has stopped smoking and has a new light about her. When I sit back and think about it, it's been all one huge miracle the change in this family. It's very humbling to see that this family has changed even though I have so many short comings. The fact that they have come this far proves to me that it's not me or my companion that is making this change in their lives.
Anyways, other then being sick and meeting with this family everyday there is not much else to say. It's gotten very cold lately and it's not helping me get any better. It's to cold to ride a bike so we have been on foot.
I feel a lot better about myself and where I'm at with things; this past week has been tough because we didn't do much because I have been sick. But I'm feeling more confident in my planning skills and have learned a lot from this experience. I'm learning how to plan to investigators needs and plan to progress them towards baptism. I have focused on Elsie and her family, but there are others that we are teaching that we have kind of lost track of because I've been sick and my Companion Elder Harrison baptized our cell phone while washing dishes last Wednesday. Speaking of Elder Harrison, we get the call this coming Saturday on wither or not one of us gets moved. He's been here for four and a half months and is due to be moved and I'm not looking forward to it at all. We get along with each other so well; he's like another brother to me! We are going to get matching hats and ties today for preparation day, its going to be way sweet!
About the suits, Elsie's sister has a sowing business and will do the suits and pants for free, but from what she tells me is that the suit top will still be to small for me, so some time this week I'm going to go over there with them and get a professional opinion on wither or not they can be fitted to me, and if they cant I'll send them home for Will t use. They are way classy suits, you just got to make sure that you give him a lot of blue socks if he does use them. I think my blue suit is 44 inches long, I'm not to sure, I will go back to the apartment and write you a hand letter with that info in it. Don't worry about getting me a cord for my Alpha Smart, I'll be getting one today if everything works out, we will be going to some electronic stores that hopefully will have what I need.
Yeah I hear from Clarissa every week! She's doing real well from what I hear. She's been telling me how she is making plans to go to Africa or China and teach English to children over there, which sounds like a sweet deal to me!
So life is good for this missionary, things are getting better and I'm learning more and more, I started to read Jesus the Christ the other day and to my amazement I actually understand it! I have been feeling like I have learned all that I can lately and that's what got me reading this book. The other day in church, while I was thinking of why I was feeling this way, I figured that I didn't really understand the role Jesus Christ plays in my life and to those around me, and I have been told that this book really helps you understand what His role is, so I'm reading it for deeper understanding.
So that's what's going on with me and what I'm learning, I hope all is well with the family( I didn't here from them this past week because you weren't there to twist arms and get them to write, which is alright) I love you all and pray that you all grow and learn.

Elder David Kelly Conrad

P.S I did get the second sweater, it came a week after the other one, sorry I forget to mention it :P Love you!

Investigators

the best week!

This past week has been one of the best weeks I have had so far in my mission; I've been learning how to plan effectively and how to study more effectively as well. I'm still not the best art it but it's a continual process of learning and progression. I went on exchanges with my zone leader this last Thursday and had a blast; we went tracting around some apartments and met a lot of people. We found several people who are inactive members that we didn't know about, or they have family members that are members. The only bad thing about it is that all of them were either Mexican, or Marshallese, so we gave the Spanish and Marshallese Elders a whole list of referrals at the end of the day. At first I was a little scared to knock on some of the doors, but after I had gotten a couple under my belt I was way excited about it. It was so sweet to go around and tell people what I believed in and bear testimony to them.
that night we met with Janet Henderson, she is Elsie's 50 year old daughter who is going to be baptized on the 29. Well she is being put through that "refiner's fire" you can say, satan is doing his best to stop her and her family from making the commitments that will progress them towards the savior. When we went over to her house the plan was to teach her the third lesson, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We walk in and she is almost in tears, you could just fill that something was wrong. She told us a little bit about what she is going through and mentioned how she is having second thoughts about going to church and be baptized. She said she was lacking faith and that she feels weak. The first principle of the third lesson is faith in Jesus Christ, so I flip to the scriptures and tell her how she has faith. We taught her that because she has faith in what we as missionaries tell her she has repented and stopped smoking. I could feel the Spirit so strong the whole time! It was so awesome! Then our exchange, Brother Athorton bearded his testimony about when he was converted and how he knows what she is going through. He told her that just before he was baptized that his world was falling apart and that satan tried his all to stop it from happening. I knew Brother Athorton that he came with us for a reason, normally he would have called and cancelled on us because he really busy, he's the first counselor in the Bishopric, but he called and came with us. It's so sweet to have members who go out with us and have them tell of their experiences and what they have gone through. Janet had a rough couple of days after this, but she came to church this past Sunday and is completely over her smoking addiction. It's so sweet to see how others change and the progress that they make.
Now tonight I get to go to a part member's home all by myself and tell someone with boldness that he needs to stop chewing. I get to tell him that he needs to act on the testimony that he has and follow what he knows to be true and let him know that he will be help accountable if he doesn't.
Mom I'm sorry to say that these suits aren't going to be able to fit me I'll send them home so that you can turn them back in or what ever you want to do with them. Don't worry about getting me any other suits, the two that I have will be just fine.
Remember how my Christmas present is going to be a camera? Well, I've been thinking about what kind I would like to get and I think the best would be a cannon power shot, they have editing tools on them that make it easier to fix and doctor pictures up so that I don't have to use a computer. I can edited them on the camera and send them to you over the internet. So what I was thinking was that if I let you know now you could get a deal on one on the day after thanksgiving, I think its called black Friday. If you take Tyler with you he could show you which one would be best to get. And if you get it at best buy it comes with a one year warranty that you can extend to two years. If you have already got one, or have one that's ok, I'll be happy with what ever, I just want something that can hold more then 512mb of memory and doesn't take forever to load and take pictures. Just thought I would give you some ideas. Sorry if it sounds like I'm asking for more thing, I don't mean it that way, I know how much of a sacrifice it is to keep me out here, so do what you can do and don't stretch yourselves for me.
That's all I have for you all today, I'm going to try and get the cord I need for my Alpha smart this next Monday, so my next email will be my journal hopefully.
I love you all and hope all is well with Erin and her new baby, and that Mom had a safe trip.

Love Elder David Kelly Conrad

FW: The Switch

Hey Mom, I did get the box with all those goods in them! The boots will be fine, I'll most likely use them because I'll be in a bike area over the winter and probably be walking every where. The suits are a little tight on me though, their tight around the chest and the sleeve length are way short, so I'll have to get back to you on what I'm going to do with them, I'll go see if they can be altered next Monday. I got the Garments and one of the sweaters, the other one you ordered was out of stock so they will be sending it later. The Garments and the sweater fit perfect. Thank you so very much for doing that for me!It's really gotten cold this past week and you saved me just in time.
I have so much that I want to say that I don't know where to start. My companion and I kind of switched places this week, he put me in charge of planning out the days and making sure appointments and exchanges were set. It's been a growing experience that I really hated at first! But with his help he has shown me how to be a good planner and how to keep everything in mind all at the same time. That might not make sense, so maybe I can explain it this way; we meet a lot of people each day and establish relationships with each and every one of them. We talk with them and listen to things they tell us and gather information about each and every single one of them. So it's really hard sometimes to remember facts about any one certain person and be able to recall that when it's needed. Every thing we do, or at least this is how I see it, is built on relationships. Either it's Relationships with the members, investigators, my companion and the Spirit. So when it comes to planning, for me, its remembering peoples needs, remembering when they are home, or what they are doing for the week and being able to be quick to observe all these things and plan out the day using the Spirit as a guide.
So this week I have been getting a taste of why missionary work is going to be that hardest thing that I will every do in my life. I'm responsible with other peoples souls and that is the greatest responsibility anyone can be given.
We met our next door neighbor this Sunday, we were standing outside the apartment waiting to be picked up for PEC and he came out and told us our suits looked good. Elder Harrison was on the phone so I was the only one that heard him and turned to talk with him. He told me that he had met other missionaries and that he had some questions about the church, so I told him how Christ set up his church on the earth and how it was rejected and was taken from the earth. I told him that that church has been restored and that we have a prophet on the earth today. It wasn't that smooth when I was talking to him, I start to speak faster and sometimes trip over words but that's the jist of what was said. He said that he would like to hear more and that we could come over some time. I asked him if 7 that night would be ok and he said sure. So 7 comes around and we met with him. We talk to him abit and get to know him and he's a big computer guy, has a ton of servers and things in his apartment and has all the newest gaming systems. He gets on the computer which is hooked up to his big screen and we teach him a first lesson off the T.V. He asked us questions about the second coming and about Christ resurrection, and we explained to him about how Christ came to Jerusalem and told the apostles that he has other sheep that he is going to visit and told Mark that the Book Of Mormon is a record of the other sheep and that he visited the America's. We left him a Book of Mormon and went to our next appointment. It's so sweet to be out here and to be a missionary!
So how is every one else doing? I have felt like I needed to write Erin back but haven't gotten the time, I will get to it today though and I'll be writing Cori as well. It's so sweet to have our family growing and changing. I love you all and hope all is well, I've got to go

Love
Elder David Kelly Conrad

My day as a missionary

Alrighty then, sorry for not writing the other day we had a zone conference up in Rogers the other day so our preparation day was moved to Tuesday so that's why this is late.
Well live for me is good down here, I've been learning lots still and have been having a lot of experiences that I cant even begin to tell you all about, but what I will do is give you a general idea of what I have been doing for the past 7 weeks I have been a missionary and what I will be doing for the rest of my mission.
At 6:00 am my companion and I wake up and say a prayer together, and then we have personal prayers. we get dressed and ready to go to the work out gym they have here which is way sweet, they have several tread meals and a full set up dumb bells and every machine imaginable. So we work out for an hour then go back to the apartment eat, shower, and get into our cloths and prepare for personal studies. This is my favorite part of the day; we get an hour of personal study which could include reading from the Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel and the other mission library books. We have a huge stack of old ensigns and I like to go through them and pick out old conference editions and read articles out of them. So after that hour we have Companionship study and go over what we studied in the previous hour, and make lesson plans for people we are going to teach that day. We outline what we feel like we need to teach them and what commitments we are going to leave with them. At 10:00 we head out on our bikes to our first appointment and move on through the day, as best to our plan as possible. On our ways to appointment we stop and talk to everyone, when we contact someone on the street its called an OTM, Open Thy Mouth, which is kind of hard. I have had a lot of fear over being rejected at first but with a lot of help that fear is going away. I have only gone tracking once while I've been out and that was on exchanges with the Spanish Elders who just moved in with us. SO through out the day we have several people to meet and check up on. We bike or walk every where and met a lot of people that way. We come home for lunch at 12:00 and check the mail and then go back out and follow the planned out day as best as we can. We may meet with 3 to 4 families and at 6:00 we either come home to eat, or a member has signed up to feed us. We have meals for most of the month and when we do we talk to them about missionary work and try to give them a desire to do missionary work. We are going to start asking the families to create a "Family Mission Plan" and show and help them with that. After we eat we will get dropped off at our apartment and get picked up by our exchange and go to the last two appointments for the day. We get home somewhere around 8:45 to 9:10. the first thing we do when we get home is plan out who we are going to meet with the next day and call them, along with calling the dinner appointments and exchanges to make sure that they are still going to follow through on their commitments. After that I will wash the gel out of my hair and get rid of the part that is required for us missionaries to have. I will write in my journal and get ready for bed. We will say prayers together and then our own and get into bed before 10:30. So that's my day in a nut shell, that's really my mission in a nut shell, lol.
Well mom I love you and the whole family and know that you are in his watchful eye.
About the AlphaSmart, ill just use batteries, but I need the data transfer cable, once I get that my letter will be filled with more details and will help you all track what's going on down here with me. This coat will be ok once I get the sweaters you ordered for me, it got warmer this week so I've been doing ok. Mom thank you for all that you have done for me and what you are doing for me now, I love you and am proud to be your son.

Love
Elder David Kelly Conrad

P.S, sorry I didn't answer all your questions but I'm kind of rushed and had to type something fast. I'll try to answer more next time, sorry if it's a little frustrating,

First transfer is over!

Alright the crazy things first; its funny you mention Elder Clements because I had something really crazy happen the other day. My companion, Elder Harrison, came from Grantsville Utah and his whole family lives there. He got a ton of pictures from his aunt who lives there in and I was looking through some of the pictures and I almost feel out of my chair! It was a picture of all my companions' cousins and on each side was a missionary and on the right side was Elder Clements! It was so weird and I was in shock for the rest of the night! Out of all 53000 missionaries and out of all the pictures taken of them we have two pictures of an Elder who came from my small ward we is thousands of miles away in our apartment! Which I am very happy to be back in; I love my companion and have been learning a lot from him. We had a long chat the other day and set some goals to focus on to be even more obedient and have a celestial next transfer, which starts today.
When I look back at who I was 2 month ago I see a lot of growth in myself, but im still not where I want to be. One of the hardest things for me out here is my self confidence. I know the gospel and know how to teach, but im not confident in myself. I have let my being humble take away any confidence that I had before I came out here. Its gotten way better but I would say that that was the main trial for this last transfer, and for this transfer its going to be "becoming a better teacher transfer" and what ever trials the lord see fit to inflict upon me that will give me that growth.
Mom im sad to say that I can't read that book that you sent me, its not in the missionary library. It looks like a book that would help me out a lot but what I have come to figure out is that the Bible and Book Of Mormon has the same message that any book can hold. Just a thought, most books that are written by Prophets or Apostles are inspired by the Spirit and by the pondering the meanings of the Book Of Mormon or the Bible. But what you can do is keep sending articles and stuff like that. Doing that helps add to my library of knowledge and aids for teaching. I got your last package before I can to email so I got to read all of the family's letter and that book you photo copied for me. Its weird how these past few weeks I have been noticing how relationships are build on trust and how relationships are what bring us the most joy in life. For me its forming relationships with ward members and gaining their trust. So when I read what it was about it hit home and is going to help me learn and grow.
Elsie and her family are getting closer to being baptized and that only thing that is holding them back is that we are required to have them come to church five times before they can be baptized, and we have 2 others who has dates and are progressing. It really sweet when you can see someone grow in the Gospel, to see their life's change and there understanding of the scripture grow and change.
If you have a Preach My Gospel handy turn to the 3 chapter and those are the lessons we teach. WE make lesson plans according to the needs of the investigator and focus on a certain commitment that we want to leave with them. But the lessons we teach are not just from PMG, the spirit might lead us to read a chapter out of the Book Of Mormon to them, like for example when we go over to Elsie's today im going to read Lehi's vision with her and commit her to study the scriptures and my companion is going to teach the rest of the family out of Alma 32 on faith and how we can grow it and so on. We really rely on the Spirit and that's where self confidence comes in, if I don't have any confidence in myself and im not confident in a prompting I lose trust from God and have to gain it back. If you didn't catch it I referred to the trust and relationship lesson I learned. I want to have my Heavenly Fathers trust, so to get that I must show him that I am trust worthy.
New topic, I got this keyboard thing called an "Alphasmart 2000", witch is like a digital journal and I have been writing in it and it has the capability to plug it into the computer and download what I type and send it through email to you all. The only problem I have is that I don't have the right cords that I need to do so. So I was wondering if Will could do something for me. Could you ask him to look up what cords I need and anything else he can find out about it? It would help out so much and I would truly grateful if he would do that.
Mom, Dad I love you and am thankful for all that you are doing for me and know that God is Blessing are whole family because of your examples and your faith in the gospel. I feel like I grow closer to you and the whole family every week im out here and know that I have bee blessed to have you all as my eternal family. I pray for you always and want you to know how much I love you all.

Love
Elder David Kelly Conrad 

Back at the Links

Well everything was fixed and I was moved back to the apartment on Links drive! Man it has been a crazy few weeks! I've learned so much from my little time over in the Springdale area that I was moved to while things were being sorted out. Once again I have seen the Lords hand and have learned from the trials of being his missionary. He placed me the path of several people who were meant to bless me and answer my prayers. On Monday my new companion and I went to a couple house for dinner, the Heiners, they have just moved here from Utah two weeks ago. They reminded me of Megan and Joe because they are the same age as them and have a two year old son and a few week old baby girl. The cool thing was that they are both return missionaries and still have that desire to help and do missionary work. Brother Heiner gave me some advice that I have heard before, it was that there is no substitute in missionary work then work, work, work! Never had that simple phrase hit me as strong as when he told me it. He quoted it from his mission and it is found in Preach My Gospel and I have read it several times. It has been the answer I've been seeking for; I've been felling pretty blue because I feel like I'm not learning or growing fast enough. But after that night I have focused on my goals and what I want to become, I have since then set out a plan on how I'm going to work and learn all that I need to. One of these goals is to memorize a scripture every day, I'm on my third day and I have noticed several things because I've started doing this. All day I have that scripture running through my head and I am actually remembering it. Next is that I feel happier and have the Spirit with me in lessons and during OTMs, (which we only got 70 this week, but we taught 40 lessons!) Reading the scriptures is the best thing you can do to invite the Spirit!
Remember Elsie? The women who called you mom? Well we have been teaching her daughter Janet and her Grand daughter Joanna and have been making head way and progress with all three of them. They all three came to church yesterday along with 4 other investigators. My companion and I watched a movie, the restoration, with them last night and after the movie Janet says that she has something to tell us that is going to blow us away. My companion and I thought that she was going to tell us that she wanted to get baptized so we were way excited! She then says "I can go to the temple!" we were like what? She kept saying that and we didn't understand what she meant. Then it hit us, she already is a member! For some reason she remembered that she was already a Mormon! So after teaching her for the past two months she just now remembered that she has already been baptized! That's way crazy! Now Elsie can't remember if she has been baptized or not. I know that it's hard for you to see what I see from this but God works in the weirdest ways.
I love being the Lord servant, He has helped me learn and grow so much. My testimony has grown so much. I have a testimony of families, every time I think about my family I think of all the fun times we have had and the great blessing each and every sibling is in my life. I love my Mom and Dad and find great joy in knowing that we will live together for ever. I love my savior Jesus Christ and his willingness to come down here to create the path that will lead us back to our Father in Heaven. I know that the book of Mormon strengthens our faith in Jesus Christ and was translated by the authority of God that Joseph Smith held. In every lesson we start off by saying that God is our loving Father. If there is any message that I want to stress to all of you is that God loves each of us, Jesus Christ is a blessing to us and is Gods way of showing us that he loves us. I could go on for ever about this; let's just say that I feel very deeply about this and know that its true.
If that package you sent had that book in it then I got it, other then that my address is the one on links drive. That's very sad that that women is not willing to open her heart and to see what help others can be, it makes me sad that she will not soften her heart, that's one of the hardest thing about be a missionary, my heart breaks when some who is in pain and is suffering rejects the message we share. It has blessed my life and I know how it can bless their lives but the reject it. If only they would soften their hearts and repent and come unto their Savior and find that there is rest in him.
Mom, Dad I love you and thank you for all that you have done my whole life, you are examples in my life and I am still learning from you even though I'm out here. Thank you for sacrificing so much for me and I want you to know that I'm giving my all. I miss you all and pray for you always.

Your son,
Elder David Kelly Conrad

P.S my address is;

4193 links dr 206
Springdale Ar 72762

long week end

So this will be the Fourth and final try to write this letter! You all wont understand what I mean by this but I will in two years and I will remember how frustrating it was and how some one really didn't want me to share what im going to share.
I have had really rough weekend and have gone through a trials set up to refine me and to give me growth. I have had all my prayers answered and have had a certain lesson taught to me by several means. Megan sent me a letter in the middle of me going through a time in the refiner's fire. She send with it an article called "a Disciples Journey" it has really opened my eyes and has let me see and understand what is all going on around me. I know that every thing that I have ever gone through has been for my benefit and has happened because God has let it happen to me. Instead of me asking Why me? Or Why this? Or Why now? I ask what I am supposed to learn from this. I've been thinking about why I have been given so many weaknesses and have come to this small truth, Trials are how God will turns our weakness into our strengths, and if I have a lot of weaknesses I can have a lot of strengths! The key is to look at trials as growing opportunities and ask the Lord in prayer what you are to learn from what you are going through. I've been asking for the lord to change my weaknesses into strengths and I have been given my answer. Every hard time is like every pass of a diamond over the grinders stone, every time I walk up to someone and share the gospel I am being touched by that grinder being shaped into what the Lord wants me to be, and I desire to be who He wants me to be. You must feel pain to fully appreciate joy, and boy do I love joy!
We must walk through our own Gethsemanes to grow and be changed and to fully understand that event that happened 2000 years ago that makes it possible for us all to have the opportunity to return back to our Father in Heaven. I have a testimony that if you have this desire to seek to learn and to grow from trials and keep going to the Lord and enduring it he will make you whole and will show you what you are to learn and become. I know this is true and want you all to know that it is to.

Mom that's way sweet about the suits, just mail them to the links dr address caz hopefully I will be going back there after this whole mess is taken care of, also I have to buy a new seat and have to fix the bearings in my bike, ill write a separate letter explaining, sorry:P

I love you all and hope you all are doing well

Elder David Kelly Conrad

thanks

Mom I love the letters from the family so much, I really do love them all. I also got that wallet picture thing in the mail today, it's not broken but the USB cord end was pinched so I had to bend it out, and Tyler might know what I mean. But I love it! I'm loading all my pictures on it right now and am going to send them to you!

So to answer some of your questions my meeting with president Seal went really good, he gave me some advice, "don't let Satan confuse you! Pray always for guidance and for the Spirit" he is always looking for ways to stop the missionary effort. I'm convinced that President sees my full potential. I really can't see my full potential, but have come to see more of it with each day I strife and give my all.
I got to see all of conference, which was way amazing! I learned so much and felt such a strong Spirit! Before conference started I had in my mind only two thing I wanted to learn from conference and that was guidance and knowledge and boy did I get it! Every talk had very powerful and deep principles! Elder Eryings talks were amazing! Through out all my notes I have little sentences written in red that out line a principle and or thought I had during the talks. Several of the talks give us guidance for our every day activities, the talk that Elder Scott gave in the Priesthood should be a standard held by all of us priesthood holders. It will be mine. That's another thing; a lot of the talks were about a standard being raise. I want to be like Captain Moroni and hold fast to a standard for all to see. That's only a fraction of what I learned from conference.
I went on splits with our Zone leaders on Friday and learned way lots from it. I learned to just act on prompting and not to second guess myself.. Because of what I've learned I've come to small understanding of how missionary work is to be done. Lessons are going good, even though we teach with the Spirit the families we are teaching aren't acting on the knowledge that they have come to, something is stopping them. Its really frustrating when they tell us that they know the book of Mormon is true because they have prayed about it and procrastinate baptism. We made a little head way on a few of them but it comes down to them accepting what we teach them. Its really frustrating to have the knowledge that I have and the desire to share it with others and they reject it. It crushes me!
Its gotten a little bit easier to talk to people, but its like jumping off a cliff, when you get up there you always have that beginning fear, but then you count and leap. After the fun filled fall and streaming you hit the water and the first thing you do when you come up for breath is scream "WOOOO!" You say to your self "I want to do that again!" that's the best way I can explain it, there is always a fear at first, but you have faith and knowledge that everything will be alright and that you will like it. Now that's not to say talking to some one always turns out good, but what's the worst that could happen? They reject you, and maybe a swear word or two, it's not all that bad. The more I get up on that cliff the more faith I have in the fact that everything will be ok when I take that leap. The joy comes in knowing I gave it my all and tried, that's when I take a breath and says "I want to do that again!" I hope you can find a principle some where in there and that it makes sense: P
I haven't been able to write all that I want to, and can't tell you have strong I feel about everything. All I can do is bear a sincere testimony that we have a Prophet on the earth today, Jesus is my savoir and yours, I have been entrusted with this knowledge and it is my duty to share it with others. Missionary work is the greatest work we can do on this earth, nothing else matters. I will continue to give my all and grow in faith and help all that I can come unto Christ by helping them receive the message of the restored Gospel. I love you all and wish that you could feel what I am trying to convey to you. I pray for you always and give thanks to my Father in Heaven for the many blessing he has given me and my family, I thank him for sending His only Begotten son Jesus Christ and for his willingness to make it possible for me to return with my whole family back to live in His presence.

Yours truly,
Elder David Kelly Conrad

FW: Lots of answers!

Its funny because when I was thinking about what I was going to write today I started to think that I haven't done a good job about telling you about where I'm serving and what goes on down here, so here goes!
Just some info about Springdale AR, the Springdale stake that I'm serving in was just created 8 months ago and has eight missionaries serving in it. There is one companionship that is Spanish speaking, another who speak Marshallese and my companion and I and two others who speak English. My district leader is Elder Wride who is a Spanish elder who's been out for 20 months and is from Spanish Fork, UT. I went on exchanges with him on Friday and I learned so much from him. Part of the exchange is that we teach each other a principle. I taught him about having faith in Christ and how we obtain it. He in return taught me what it truly means to be quick to observe. It is a two part principle, we must watch and observe, and we must also act according to what we have observed. For example, if you observe the law of tithing and fasting you are doing it. Another principle that I got from this is that if we observe, or act in faith, you will gain more faith because you have lived it. This is true with anything, if I want to have faith in Jesus Christ I need to act in faith. Elder Bednar says it best in one of his talks, some times we must step into the darkness in faith, and that's when we gain more faith. It's from the talk on seeking learning from the Spirit, or something like that. Another cool thing, Elder Bednar used to be the stake president over the Rogers Stake which used to cover my area until it split. Some of the people in are branch have met him and talk about when he was still their stake president, its way awesome!
Also Wal-Mart's head quarters are here near us. Tyson's chicken's plants are all around us and all there chicken farms too. Think of G-way real quick; think about standing on the side walk watching all the cars go by. Now imagine that every other car is an eighteen wheeler with a 50 foot trailer behind it. That's what I see every day! We also had a huge bike rally here this past week; some 10,000 bikers were here from all over riding all sorts of tricycles and bikes. Every where we went is was loud!
The weathers pretty nice, the first week I was here we had a lot of rain and wind from the storms, but other then that it's been nice. I just missed all of the humidity, and I am truly grateful for that. But when it rains here there is no tree that you can stand under that will stop you from getting socked! I have a testimony of it! Me and my companion got stuck in one on Sunday last week and stopped under a tree. The water comes down so hard and so fast that it just goes right through the trees.
Springdale has a wide variety of people; there are a lot of Hispanics, and Marshallese people here. It has its higher class and lower classes, but we are serving mostly in the mid to lower ranges.
We just had our zone conference this last Saturday, and I was told this morning that I am going to be meeting with President Seal on Thursday. Elder Wride happens knows who Jim Marino is. That's way sweet that you knew him Mom, I hope I get to meet him.
On Preperation day we start the day as normal, we have a work out gym here at our apartment which we go to every morning at 6:15, and then we have personal study and companion study. We then do laundry and clean the apartment and come to the apartment office to email, and that's where I'm at right now. Later we will go to Wal-mart and see about buying food. We will most likely look around and think about buying food and walk out, we are kind of tight on money; you know how it is being at the end of the month. We will gain a testimony of fasting this next week, Lol  we are going to play basketball later today, but we have the option to golf, the apartment has an 9 whole course around it and we can golf for free. We are going to golf next week when the Spanish elders move in with us.
But on a normal day and after we have our studies we pretty much have a full day of appointments. We don't really knock doors, we have a think called OTM's, Open Thy Mouth, which is basically going to people who are outside an talking to them, we share the message about Jesus Christ, or about the Restoration and see if we can come back for an appointment. OTM's is something we can all do I figure, just have faith to open your mouth and let the Spirit guide you.
I'm getting feed pretty good here, the members of are branch are so awesome! Most of them are converts themselves and really help out in the work. We had over 50 people at the Jarretts baptism last night. We baptized Elvis and Rosanna Jarrett and the members have helped them so mush. Fellowshipping from members is critical in missionary work. I can't even begin to explain how important it is. Think of this analogy, how would you feel if you walked into the church and nobody talked to you, and you felt way awkward, would you want to go back to that church? Its goes along with the lines of making some one feel like they are home, and that's what we teach and want to have people feel. We want them to feel like they are at home when they come to church, because they are home.
Well my hour is up, ill be writing more in letters, and sorry if some of what I wrote makes no sense. Keep me in your prayers. I love all of you and pray for you.

Sincerely
Elder David Kelly Conrad

Made it to Tulsa

Hello again everyone!

We just heard from Kelly again today. He writes this letter from the mission home in Tulsa the day after arriving and by now has been transferred to his first area. We have his new address—he’s in Springdale, Arkansas, which is about 100 miles east of Tulsa. From the looks on the map it’s a fairly large area (okay population is about 66K, that’s the size of Richland, we’re big aren’t we?)!

I’m typing his letter in entirety and attaching some pictures he sent. The first one is with his companion in the mission home, Elder Madson. The second picture says he is sitting on an “ironing board?” Maybe he’s trying to get “straightened” out about some point of doctrine?? Lol!

9/11/08

We’ll we made it to Tulsa! The flights were long and cramped, but I survived. We met President Seal and Sister Seal, they are way awesome. They have greeted us warmly and with hugs. I have been thrown back into the blender and am being chewed up again, just as I was getting use to the MTC and getting comfortable there. But that how this works, when we get built up, we get torn down and put in the refiners fire.

We had our first outing with REAL missionaries! We taught 3 lessons. The one I really liked was to a man named John Weddington. He is an older man who is full of stories and has been taught the first lesson. It was so good to teach him about baptism and having faith in Jesus Christ. When I bore my testimony to him I was overcome by the spirit.

I am sad to be leaving my district and all the friends I have made. Elder Pack and Elder Madson have become my two closest friends. I love them dearly! Elder Pack and I are going to be in contact during the whole mission. So that will be cool. I’m looking forward to having a moment like Alma when he met the son’s of Mosiah and have that great joy in two years and seeing them grow!

My Preparation day is on Monday. So I’ll write more then. But for now I’ll let you know where I am going and who’s my new companion. His name is Elder R. Craig Harrison. And my address is:

Elder David Kelly Conrad

1633 Wingfoot Drive #102

Springdale, AR 72762

I’ll be there for 12 weeks. Make sure you tell everyone to write me there! If it goes to the mission home it will take longer to get to me!

Thank you for all that you have done, and for being a loving family. Mom and Dad I thank you for all that you are sacrificing for me. I love you all and wish and pray for you.

Love,

Elder David Kelly Conrad

Carol Ann Conrad, MS, LMHC

Certified EFT Therapist

8045 W. Grandridge Blvd. Suite A

Kennewick, WA 99336

Center For EFT of WA, INC

http://www.carolannconrad.com

509-735-1221

Carol Ann Conrad, MS, LMHC

Certified EFT Therapist

8045 W. Grandridge Blvd. Suite A

Kennewick, WA 99336

Center For EFT of WA, INC

http://www.carolannconrad.com

509-735-1221

Elder Conrad 9/16/08

well after reading all of the emails from family, friends and loved ones I'm
starting to see and realize the lords hands being in everything. from the
growth i hear in clarissas e mail, and all that she is exspirenceing and the
testimony she is growing, and elder skousen growing in the mtc. i also had
the opportunity to hear from Dieter F. Uchtdorf. i had the chance to see him
in person, my district was one of the lucky ones that got to sit in the
building where he gave the devotional. When he entered the room everyone
jumped to stand! an apostle of the lord was standing in front of us and i
can bear whiteness to the Spirit which filled the whole GYM. He taught me so
many lessons and answered all of my prayers. Ive got five pages of notes
from him and his wife. what a way to be sent off into the feild, we were all
excited and ready to enter the field.
And now here i am, sitting in a room with my new companion e mailing you
all. i have three full days under my belt and already look back at those few
short days and see blessings from the lord, and lessons that i have learned.
i said that my preparations day would be on Monday, well i lied, this Monday
was special, we had a mission tour. president Seal and his wife came to our
Zone to teach us, we also had a member of the seventy there too. Elder
Packer and his wife! Hes president Packers son! my companion was told the
day before that he would be interviewed by Elder Packer. well when Elder
Harrison was done Elder Packer asked who's his companion was, and low and
behold i was called in, man was that a testimony building exspirence! Elder
Packer gave me words of advise and answered my prayers by telling me that i
can do this (missionary work) and that i have one of the best trainers. i
have been blessed, my companion is one of the best, i learn from him every
day and am glad that i have been paired up with him. Elder Packer also
instructed us for several hours. i have several pages of notes and things
that i have learned because of what he said to us. he gave us a quote by one
one of the General Authorities, i cant remember who but it pertains to
knowledge and what we are to do with it, "To benefit from new knowledge one
must hear, remember, practice, and apply it until it becomes a habit or
characteristic witch is natural or atoumatic, it changes the way you think,
feel and act."
a very powerful quote, and since it came from a member of the Twelve
apostles it holds even greater meaning, it came from the Spirit! This quote
is going to be what drives me, because if i am learning i must apply what i
am learning, and once i do that and show the lord that i am will to act on
my knowledge, the lord will bless me with more knowledge. Its a principle of
learning based on our action and the lords promise to us.
i have learned so much and have so many more stories that i would
like to share with you all but that would take for ever. But there is a good
thing, i write several pages in my journal every night and try to keep that
record up to date. my companion told our district leaders the other day that
i am the most dedicated journal writer hes ever seen. Just something funny i
thought i would share.
I have seen the lord bless me time after time. We are teaching a
family whos mom is a member, but her four children aren't, three boys and
one girl, jazzy is her name, she is 13 and has so many questions for us that
its hard for her brothers to get a word through. we all had a wonderful
exspirence the other day, i think it was on sunday. we watched a movie
called, "Small and simple things" its has clips from Elder Eyring and from
several people who are converts and them telling thier conversion story.
while coming to the end of the film i had a very Spiritual exspirence, i was
filled with the spirit more then ever. It bore testimony of missionary work
and how i am doing whats right. it was very powerful! those children felt
that spirit to! its one of those lessons were when your walking away you are
just stunded and are tring to collect your thoughts and feelings. It was so
powerful!
well ive got to go, my next preperation day will be next monday so
exspect to hear from me then. ill be writing every one and be sending out
the letters tommorrow, so hang in there, ive not forgotten about any one. i
love you all so much and am thankful for the blessings you have all been in
my life!

love
Elder David Kelly Conrad

last week in the mtc

This weeks been great. my teachers are pushing us so much and i am learning and retaining so much! when i read the scriptures and study from preach my gospel the words and stories come alive and i have a thirts and desire to just read and soak up everything i can. my testimony grows with each day and i am coming to love the gospel and the doctrineof Jesus Christ more then i ever thought i could have!
my companion and i are doing really well, we are the zone leaders over our zone and are having a blast. Elder Madson has become a brother to me and i have enjoyed being his companion. we have taught the first lesson several times and we are so good at it, the words and testimonys flow, and we are teaching by the Spirit, its really exciting to have the Spirit give you a huge of warmth and comfort while you bare your testimony to someone during a lesson. even though sometimes its to fellow elders the Spirit is still there.
we are so excited and pumped to be leaving this place and enter the feild, we will leave at 6 30 am on wedsenday and are fly to atlanta, then to Tulsa. i think i will be able to call you, mom and dad, just before we take off both times. so be exspecting that.
oh, ive seen elder skousen here several times, at every meal, and at choir. but ill be leaving here before he will and it is a blessing! I could not stay here a week more! its getting to all of us. We are starving for the field and are really looking forward to leaving this place.
mom i took 20 dallors out of my account today... ill type more, ive got to change my laundry around....

Elder Conrad's in the MTC now!

Well ive been here for eight days and i finally got set up for an email account!
When i left the Pasco airport on wednsday i was very scared and sad because i was leaving and had no idea what i was getting myself into. When i got on the plane, still crying i said a little prayer. I told the lord that i was thankful for my family and friends. Also thet i would be comforted and have peace during my flight, i hate flyinf in airplanes! But i knew that everything was going to be ok and that my flight would be ok. There was no worrie or anxiety after that.
i got to the airport and met with some other elders and one sister who where from all over the states. We all hoped on a bus that brought us to the MTC. everything from there on is kinda a mixed and mingled memory. I remember that my first exspirence here was being called to say the closong prayer during our orientation meeting. My heart pounded so hard and my body temperature raised several degrees. I didnt pay any attention to the meeting, just what i was going to say in the prayer. I prayed several times through out the meeting. then it was over, i walked up to my fate and stood there looking over all the new missionaries and there families. I started and to my amazement i didnt stumble once! Words just came out of my mouth and then it was over! as i walked by the first row to leave through the missionary exit i got hand shakes from several crying parents. My testimony of prayer and having them answered by the Spirit doubled!

I've only got thirty minutes and im a pretty slow typer so ive got to be fast. Ive anyone wants to know more you can just write me, you can get better detail and more stories that way. Mom could you email my address to everyone that you can? and id also like to see if i could get Daniels address so i could write him. Thanks
oh and i got the mail today with my bank card in it today. i wrote everyone letters and sent them out today. tell them that i love them and miss them. i love you mom and dad and all that you have done for me.

love
Elder David Kelly Conrad