February 22,2010

 

Hello again!

Things haven't changed too much because it’ only been a few days, but its good to hear from you again. We have had a pretty exciting week with all the moves and things. Elder Eyers, the Russian speaking Elder is still here, but in the other companionship. He moved to another area for about two or three days, then when Elder Fielder moved on Thursday, he moved back. He is now serving with Elder Keeble. I’ll try to send a picture of all of us soon.

The people we are working with are really good. We are excited for each of them. Last week was a bit rough for their dates, but we will be re-inviting all of them to be baptized this week! We have a few meetings over the next week that we are looking forward to. One of them is zone conference next Monday. That means p-day will be moved to Tuesday so I'll be emailing you a day late.

I love hearing about the mountain and how things are going in Pima. It sounds like things are going well. The weather is definitely cold and rainy here, but it’s getting lighter in the mornings, so spring is on it’s way. Having a car has made the winter a lot easier to deal with, we have been really blessed. It’s also good to hear that you enjoyed church. Even after being on my mission for so long, I have just recently had my testimony of the Sabbath day strengthened. Elder Bång found a really cool scripture to go a long with it - Isaiah 58:13-14.

I love you and hope this week is even better than the last! Thanks for all that you do.

Love,
Elder Kade Karges

February 18, 2010

Happy Valentines day to you too!

My email will be even longer after Valentines Day than yours, but I didn't get to say it till now. Moves day is almost over and I'm still in Staines! Elder Bång is still here too, so we are really excited. This will be the second companion I have had for 3 transfers in a row (I was with E. Christensen for that many, but they were separated). Many of the companionships in the zone changed, including the other Staines elders. Elder Fielder hasn't gone too far though. He is in High Wycombe with is still in the zone/stake. Elder Eyers has come back though! There was an emergency transfer at the beginning of the week that you actually didn't know about, but he had moved to Slough. He is now serving in the same area as us again, but in the other companionship, with Elder Keeble. We are really excited for that because we liked serving with him and he is a good missionary.

The last week and a half went very well. Emmanuel Tetteh hasn't been an investigator for very long (3 weeks at most), but he is already baptized, confirmed, and has the priesthood! He is a complete miracle. God has really blessed us to be a part of his conversion. Members played a big role in how smooth things played out. Staines Ward is really amazing. We have a few new people we are teaching who hopefully will get baptized soon. Two are from Nepal but don't know each other. Soni has a baptismal date for Feb. 28th, but she is worried because her family back home doesn't understand. Tenzing is the same way, but doesn't have a date yet. Both of them should go to the temple visitor's center on Saturday which will hopefully help things progress. Colisha is another recent baptismal date. She is Jamaican and comes from a Pentecostal background though. She came to church on Sunday, but didn't like it because she thought it was going to be more exciting, specifically she asked where the drums were :) We actually taught her husband, but he is quite strong in his faith. Both of them could be baptized very quickly if they'll sincerely pray about it. Another family we haven't see in a while, but that could still use your prayers is Margarie. She asked her husband about being baptized and he said no. We haven't seen her for a while, but hope to go by soon.

Thank you for all your love and support. I especially appreciate the new calendar! I hope you have a great weekend and I'll email again on Monday!

Love,
Elder Kade Karges

Me at Windsor castle near Slough. Apprently the queen goes there a lot.

Elder Eyers, Me, Emmanuel, Elder B책ng, and Brother Herrity at Emmanuels baptism.

Another baptismal picture!

February 8,2010

Helloooo,

We have had a pretty exciting week! Things started to get exciting on Tuesday. We went to district meeting in one district and then went on an exchange with elders from another district. During the exchange, one of the areas found 8 new investigators in one day and a new investigator was found in each area that is now a baptismal date. As we were ending the exchange and going to our fist teach on Wednesday, we got a surprise phone call from the assistants. They called both Elder Bång and I to train Elder Eyers! He is an English missionary waiting for a Visa to go to his assigned mission in Russia Samara. He has already gone to the MTC in Provo to learn the language and is doing great. He was dropped off just 3 hours or so after the phone call and we have been working nonstop every since. We don't know how long it will before he leaves, but it has been a great blessing to have a third missionary in some of our most recent teaches. We look forward to working in a tri until things get sorted.

Investigator wise, Sheila could definitely use your prayers. Her baptismal date for the 14th has been dropped because she has not been healthy enough to come to church. Pray that she will be able to live the word of wisdom and she will receive direct blessings from it. On the other hand, Emmanuel continues to be a complete miracle. We have been able to teach him in a few members' homes and he went to the temple visitor's center on Saturday. On Sunday he bore his testimony to the whole ward that everyone needed to be baptized a member of this church. His baptismal date is now for the 13th of Feb so that he can get confirmed the day after. There is another brother named Shane that is preparing for baptism on Feb 21st. He needs to show a bit more initiative and come to church.

All and all everything is going amazing. Things seem to go quicker and quicker. I hope you all have the best week ever!!

Love,

Elder Kade Karges

February 1, 2010

February 1, 2010

Hello again!

Wow I can't believe another week has passed and now it’s February! It sounds like things are going really well back home. I’ll be praying for things to be in our favor on the mountain. I do work in a car area and yes most Zone leaders do have cars, except the ones in central London. Elder Bång and I switch off driving every day.

The past week started off a bit slow teaching and investigator wise, but we had a Zone Training Day (basically what we used to call a Zone Meeting, reinvented). We prepared a presentation that went well and President interviewed the whole zone. Things picked up throughout the week and we had a couple really cool miracles. I’ll tell you of two. We have felt that we needed to work right around the church for a while and chose to set up the church to give tours (piano music). As we walked toward the Staines high street we found Jolene, from Australia.  She had just move here the day before and was looking for the supermarket. She ended up asking if she could have a tour of the church right then. We gave her one and then we arranged to meet her at Belinda's house (recent convert) the next day to teach again. She said she is now feeling so much less homesick and accepted a baptismal date for Feb.21st! The second was a man from Ghana named Emmanual. He saw us walking down the street and when we said hello, asked if we were Latter Day Saints. When we said yes, he got very excited and said he had been looking for us! Apparently around 10 years ago he was taught in Ghana and left everything behind to come here! The next day he came to church and told the whole gospel principles class of his experience praying just before meeting us that God would help him sort his life out. He is now preparing to be baptized on Feb. 14th!

Thank you for your prayers because they are obviously working. I love you all and pray for you as well!

Love,
Elder Kade Karges

The Staines Zone with President and Sister Shamo

Me with my driving certificate (until I get my license in the post) and the blank test sheet :)

Elder B책ng and I baught another crock pot a while back and since then have added salads to the menu... this is the best meal either of us have ever made for ourselves!

January 25, 2010

January 25, 2010

Na Mas Day!" (how we say hello to the people from Nepal)

This week has been another great week, both for us and the zone. We have taught quite a lot of people from Nepal who are so humble. Their main struggle however is finding work. Two of them were preparing for baptism in the coming weeks, but haven't been able to stick with it. We are still trying to teach them and hopefully they'll be picked back up soon. The zone has either improved or stayed steady in every area.

The highlights of the week were actually postponed from last week (we had a mission wide temple conference that got cancelled because of the weather as well as my driving test). It wasn't mission wide, but we had a multi-zone Temple conference on Wednesday and I passed my practical driving test on Thursday morning! The temple was a wonderful, spiritual experience and it’s also exciting to officially have my license! I have enjoyed driving through the streets of London. It can get pretty crazy at times, but its fun. I actually passed my test without any marks this time (British for no faults or 100%). You are allowed like 14, so I was quite surprised. The instructor was really cool and said that he only has a clean sheet like once every 3 months. We actually talked quite a bit about the gospel as we drove around. He recently found out that he had relatives that were members and met them. He shied away from having the missionaries visit though. While I took my test, Elder Bång actually taught a whole lesson to a lady waiting for someone to finish their test at the same time. She accepted a pamphlet, but no appointment. Hopefully the Elders in High Wycombe (where I took my test) will find them again soon.

Our only baptismal date right now is Sheila, Belinda's mum, but there are several others in the works. Craig is also doing well, in fact we got word today that he’s got a new job! We have been praying hard for that because it means as soon as he gets a new flat, he can be baptized! A mother and daughter named Marjorie and McKayla are really close, but are hesitating to ask the father of the family for permission. As soon as they get permission they could be baptized. Marjorie's other daughter is a recent convert already, which is how we have been in contact.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Love,
Elder Kade Karges

The latest Zone Leader Council.

Elder Warner (my trainer) and I at ZLC. He goes home next month, so this was probably our last time to see eachother