FW: 18 months gone by! Elder Kelly Conrad

Mom and Dad 22 Feb 2010

This week has been a good one. A lot of growth has
come between Elder Hancock and me. We have had several break through that
have helped out our companionship.

I learned something about myself the other day while talking to
a missionary. This missionary at the beginning of their mission wrote down
in their journal three things that they vowed to never do as a missionary.
The first thing was to never be a senior companion, next, to never serve
with an older missionary, and third they did not want to serve on a
university campus. When talking to this missionary they had ended up doing
the first two things, and said that going through those things had made them
grow. Now because of somethings this missionary is now serving on a
university campus. I have thought about what this missionary said and have
come to the conclusion that I have had a secret list of things that I have
vowed never to do. I now see that these past few transfers have tried me in
those areas. I have learned the most valuable thing that I could ever have
because I was tried enough and humbly did what I vowed never to do. I guess
you can relate it to Abraham having to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham could very
well have promised himself that he would never let anything bad happen to
Isaac, and when the Lord asked him to sacrifice Isaac it really tested
Abraham's faith. It helped Abraham see what he was capable of doing. So I am
learning that the things that I don't want to do, and the things that I
don't want to changes will be what I am asked to do and change in order to
become more like Christ.

Communication is a wonderful thing within any relationship, it
really does work miracles. My testimony has really grown of this principle
this past week. We have a thing called "Companionship Inventory" which is a
step in our weekly planning session. It's a time where you talk about the
problems in the companionship. You talk about each others strengths, and
somethings that might be triggering you, or things of that nature. I have
always dreaded these sessions. But this past week I have learned the
importance of them and see how beneficial they are in relationships. So I'm
glad that I have learned this lesson.

I got the chance to go back to an old area and go on exchange
with one of my old companions last week. It was a real eye opener to several
things. I'm learning more and more about the Atonement and how it really
amends things that have been done wrong. I guess when you look back at your
life you can see how you could have handled things better and wish to have a
second go at things. I bet that's how Nephi felt as he was praying in 2
Nephi 4. He looked back and saw what could have been done better but an
important thing that Nephi knew was that Savior's Atonement would amend what
had been done because of his faith in Him. That's what happened to me as I
went on exchanges and saw what I could have done better with my time in the
area and with my companion. It is only faith in Jesus Christ that can allow
the amending of wrongs.

So that's what I'm learning now. I have a lot more to learn
before things slow down.

I love you and am very grateful for your support!

Love your son,

Elder Conrad

PS My release date is August 26. That will be the day that I will ether fly
home or be picked up. If you can't come pick I up that will be ok. I am way
excited about the future, there are going to be a lot of challenges, but I'm
willing to do what ever it takes.

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Reminiscing Elder Kelly Conrad

Mom and Dad 15 Feb 2010

So I'm sitting here watching some of my old mission videos and
it's so sweet! I really miss those days! It's really eye opening to look at
them and think about what the next lesson is. These past few weeks have
given me alot of time to review and think about past lessons that are
supposed to be used in the present.

Last week was a draining one, but there has been a lot of
progress. After the zone conference week the mission has a renewed spirit
about it and its picking up. Things are getting organized and I feel really
good about the future.

We are still working with Shuanta; she is still looking forward
to her baptism, even though we are having a hard time finding time to teach
her with our schedule and hers.

This past week I learned the importance of asking questions and
listening. We were taught in zone conference about invitations for baptism
and along with that came some additional skills. I learned how to better use
the power of silence during lessons. Elder Holland teaches us in Preach My
Gospel that when we listen with love we won't need to wonder what to say
because the Spirit and the words that people speak will tell us what to say.
As Elder Hancock and I did some role plays this past week I have seen how
this is true. We acted as if we were investigators that we had taught before
in our past areas and practiced baptismal invites. As we went through this
role play I felt the Spirit bring understanding and the knowledge of what to
say. It has been this past week that has taught me how it is that I can
better understand and recognize the Spirit. It has really made a world of
difference. I notice things more now and I am looking for small promptings.
I have been amazed at how often small thoughts are and can be given.

I had a good birthday, Elder and Sister Bowers threw a surprise
party for me on Friday, which was really nice of them. Those two are my
favorite people. Elder Bowers is almost 70 years old, but he is able to keep
up with us elders.

That's all for this week. I love you and thank you for the
package and all that you are doing for me!

Love,

Elder Conrad

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FW: The Wrestle! Elder Kelly Conrad

I sent this to everyone the first time and it bounced back from many of you
due to the large image file-so I took out 3 pictures he sent. Sorry if you
receive this twice, the second one will be much easier to download!

From: David Kelly Conrad [mailto:david.conrad@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 8:10 PM
To: caconrad.ms@gmail.com
Subject: The Wrestle!

Mom and Dad- 08 Feb 2010

I have learned so much about the church this past week. We had some
brethren come this past week who went out on exchanges with us and taught us
so much! It was really good because it gave me the direction and focus that
I was searching for. These past two weeks have been the most confusing
weeks that I have had so far.

Today I listened to a talk given by Hugh B Brown, it the talk he was
re-telling the events that lead to his being called to be an Apostle. He
said that he was going to be a millionaire because of his oil drilling
business and that he saw this event happening. He wanted to know what the
Lord wanted him to do so one day he went into the mountains to pray and ask
God what he thought about him being a millionaire. He prayed and said
something along the lines of, "Father, if you don't want me to be a
millionaire, don't let it happen. If its going to ruin my family don't let
it happen." After leaving his prayers and returning home he declined dinner
and told his family that he wanted to be alone. He went into his bed room
and he said that he felt a presence and this presence was tyring to utterly
destroy him. He said that he had thoughts about being "Rubbed Off" and not
wanting to exist. He didn't sleep at all that night and when the morning
came his wife came in to wake him. She mentioned how she felt and asked
Hugh what it was. He said, "The devil was after me!" They prayed together
and sought deliverance, and did not receive it. Later that day he was at
work and was praying and receive the peace that he had been searching for.
He called his wife and told her that evening that things were going to be
alright, and that he didn't know why, but that everything was going to be
ok. Later that evening President David O McKay called him up and called him
to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The reason I share this is because sometimes we don't realize the
power that Satan has. In our life's we have certain things we are going to
be called to do, things to perform, and expectations to be met. Satan is
more then aware of those things and will do all that he can do to stop you
from accomplishing those things. Now I haven't experienced events of this
magnitude, but I can see times in my life where I have had to wrestle with
the devil, and had to just hold on to faith in the Lord. These experience
are called opposition in all things!

On our exchange we did a little bit of finding. We dropped by some
less active members and were lead to a wrong address and felt that we should
get out and do some finding. Just outside of our van we talked to a lady
named Shuanta. After talking to her and building a relationship we asked her
some questions about life and things like that. She told us about her
troubles and how she was trying to find her purpose in life. We read her
some scriptures and taught her very briefly about her purpose. We set up a
return appointment and met with her later in the week. During our next
lesson we really got her excited about learning about God and how the things
we shared will bless her life by allowing her to make promises with Him. I
am way excited for Shuanta. She is a really nice person who is really
searching for answers. The day after we taught her she kicked her boy friend
out of the house and told us that she was "living chaste for the Lord." It
is really faith building seeing people change and repent because of a simple
message that has been made clear through the answer to a little farm boys
prayer.

Alright, so I put some picture with this. I have a picture with Elder
Fisher, Buhler, and Elder Hancock. Then later I have some Ice and Snow storm
pictures. Then I have a picture of my favorite one week companion, elder
Johnson. Then I have a picture of Elder Bowers, who is my best friend and
the vehicle coordinator. He is the one who keeps me sane around here.

That's all for this week! I love you and thank you for all that you
are doing for me!

Love

Elder Conrad

** I will be gone all week doing zone conferences. Today we went to Fort
Smith, we left at 6:45 in the morning and weren't back till 8:30, and that's
when I started to email. I will be gone from Tulsa for the next three days,
we will be in Joplin Mo, Tuesday, St Robert Mo, Wednesday, Springfield Mo,
Thursday, then back to Tulsa Friday, then Springdale Ar, on Saturday.
Everyday is going to be full with something to do. Even Sunday we will be
full because going to two wards! Things are going so fast around here. It
feels like it was barley the new year, and now here we are in February!

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