How knowth a man the master

The following are some of my favorite scriptures. I pieced this chain together during my morning scripture study in Mt. Gambier. They teach the great lesson of who I am, what my purpose on earth is and what my potential is. I just wanted to get the thoughts down on paper. I doubt I'll edit it this first time around, my apologies. 

Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

What is the difference?

They sound the same, don't they?

Immortality is to live forever with a perfect body.

To understand what eternal life is one must first understand that eternal can also be used as a title for our Heavenly Father. (D&C 19)

With that in mind read John 17:3, Mosiah 5:13 and Romans 8:16-17 below. Then think about what eternal life or life eternal means for us.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Mosiah 5:13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

Romans 8:16-17

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:   

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

I love these scriptures. For me they lay out who I am and give me a eternal prospective of what I can become. In John 17:3 I would ask an investigator how they would go about knowing and understanding, truly understanding another culture. I believe we can best know another by doing the things that they do. If we wants to learn about the Maori people of New Zealand one needs to spend time with them, learn how to do the Hakka.  Try to see things from their perspective. I would apply this knowing to our Savior. We need to strive to rely on our savior and his atoning sacrifice. We would need to keep God's commandments and I promise that as you do so you will "know of the doctrine," that it is true. (John 7:17) You  will know and become more and more like the father. You will grow grace from grace. You will become more like him through the Holy Ghost more then you could ever come to know another culture, because the Holy Ghost will carry you further then you can go on your own.

In Mosiah 5:13 I feel this principle of how to know our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by doing is stated again as another witness.

Roman 8:16-17 teaches us our identity. That we can gain a witness for ourselves that we are the children of God. I know for myself that I am a spiritual child of God and that he loves me beyond my understanding. I know we all lived with him before we came to earth. In verse 17 we are reminded that we are heir of God. That we can become like our Heavenly Father through Christ. That we can to have children and help bring to pass their immortality and eternal life. We do not destroy or replace God, we join him in His work. Like a son can one day become like his father and have a family of his home. God uplifts and that is what we too must do to become like him. We lift other up and growth with them forever.

No Worries

There was a priesthood lesson about forgiveness that has always stuck with me. In this lesson a story was told about a woman that was a holocaust survivor. After the war she became a missionary and spoke in many places. She gave the following account.

“It was in a church in Munich that I saw him, a balding heavy-set man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives. ...

And that's when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights, the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor, the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister's frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!

Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent. ...

"You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk," he was saying. "I was a guard in there." No, he did not remember me.

"But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, ..." his hand came out, ... "will you forgive me?"

And I stood there — I whose sins had every day to be forgiven — and could not. Betsie had died in that place — could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?

It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

For I had to do it — I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. "If you do not forgive men their trespasses," Jesus says, "neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." ...

And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion — I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. "Jesus, help me!" I prayed silently. "I can lift my hand, I can do that much. You supply the feeling."

And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

"I forgive you, brother!" I cried. "With all my heart!"

For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then.”

I have always loved Corrie ten Boom’s response to do that which the other party needed, the act of forgiving in all her actions and her plea for help in to forgive in her heart. I try to do the same. If I have been offended I do my best not to enact offended actions. I pray that the lord can help me forgive in my heart as I forgive in my actions.

This is why I love the aussie saying “No worries, mate.” This phrase is in essence forgiveness, frank forgiveness just as Nephi forgave his brothers that tied him up and plan on leaving him for dead. If Nephi could forgive frankly that, then why shouldn’t I forgive quickly?

Revelatory

There were a number of buzz words that around during my time as a missionary. The one that was around most of my time in Australia was “revelatory”. Revelatory planning, study, in our thoughts regarding those we taught, ect… We were challenged to be revelatory missionaries. A.A.M. missionaries constantly seek revelation for the words they know God has for them to speak.

Then I returned from my mission. I had just come from a good habit of seeking revelation to help others. I expected help and direction because I was a representative of Jesus Christ. But suddenly I was left to myself, or I felt. As most returned missionaries are I was a little disoriented and still am at times. I wasn’t receiving revelation as frequently as I had been. And then the Matthew 7:7 verse came to mind and I realized I must seek revelation to receive it. To be revelatory forever one must seek revelation, seek Gods will.

I also realized I need to still trust in God, that he still will answer my prayers. Still trust in his promises. Understand that he is still anxious to help me, to direct me. To help me develop worthy goals and start down the path of reaching those goals.

Latest Pics from Mt. Gambier

South Australia border Michael


Fair Dinkum sign with Michael.



Yvonne and John
Kangaroos

Bridge water Coast


Michael and Elder Metekingi


Chinese Tower by Blue Lake with Michael looking on.

View from the Tower at Blue Lake


Michael in helping hands

Michael in a Akubra hat


Michael in a Akabra hat with Brother Blackwell.


Yvonne and Johns baptism with Michael and Elder Metekingi and Bro Maxwell

Michael on Mt Shank

Michael with a possum

Michael and Kapollo

Michael on Elders street

Blue Lake
Michael at Blue Lake
Elder Rea, Elder Metekingi, Michael, and Elder Murphy


Michael in Kingston

Faith In Jesus Christ

*posted by Michael's sister via an email.





Faith is confidence in something or someone. Faith that leads to Salvation and Eternal Life needs to be centered on Jesus Christ.

Faith in your friends, your family, or even the Prophet will not bring you Salvation...

That being said, faith in others is not a bad thing, but your full confidence should be in Jesus Christ.



Reflect for a moment on your relationship with your Savior. What part in your life does he play?

How close are you currently to Him? Are you striving to grow closer to Him?

 

May I suggest an exercise? I would invite you to read 3 Nephi 11:14-15 and reflect upon your

relationship with Jesus Christ.



14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side,

and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet,

that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth,

and have been slain for the sins of the world.



  15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their

hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and

in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had

all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands,

and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it

was written by the prophets, that should come.

 

Love ya

Michael Kelm

 
  
 






































Faith is confidence in something or someone. Faith that leads to Salvation and Eternal Life needs to be centred on Jesus Christ. Faith in your friends, your family, or even the Prophet will not bring you Salvation... That being said, faith in others is not a bad thing, but your full confidence should be in Jesus Christ.

 

Reflect for a moment on your relationship with your savoir. What part in your life does he play? How close are you currently to Him? Are you striving to grow closer to Him?

 

May I suggest an exercise? I would invite you to read 3 Nephi 11:14-15 and reflect upon your relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

 

  15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

 

Love ya

Michael Kelm

 
  
 
































Faith is confidence in something or someone. Faith that leads to Salvation and Eternal Life needs to be centred on Jesus Christ. Faith in your friends, your family, or even the Prophet will not bring you Salvation... That being said, faith in others is not a bad thing, but your full confidence should be in Jesus Christ.

 

Reflect for a moment on your relationship with your savoir. What part in your life does he play? How close are you currently to Him? Are you striving to grow closer to Him?

 

May I suggest an exercise? I would invite you to read 3 Nephi 11:14-15 and reflect upon your relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

 

  15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

 

Love ya

Michael Kelm

 
  
 






























 
  
 
   

Covenants

A covenant is a sacred promise man makes with God and in which God makes promises of Blessings. The difference between a promise between a man and a man, and a promise between man and God is that God sets the terms. He chooses what we promise him and he chooses what he promises us. Just like a good parent sets the terms for reward with a child, so does God set the terms for us.

Covenants are not there for God to control us for the sake of His own ego, God is not self-centered. God gives us covenants to safeguard us from what can really damage us. Covenants are the way by which we can return to live with Him.

How do we enter into a covenant with God? In order to make a covenant with God you must preform a sacred ordinance by one that holds authority from God. An ordinance is a symbolic act in which you make those covenants with God.

Why does one have to hold authority from God? Let us reflect on the way God organized the worship in the tabernacle during the times of Moses. There are twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi had the authority from God to preform all the sacrifical rites that symbolized the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This authority is called the Priesthood, the Authority to act in Gods name.

This authority is not taken upon men of their own accord. It says in Hebrews 5: 4 "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron". Even when Jesus ordained his apostles he made it clear in John 15: 16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you".

To get into the Kingdom of Heaven we must all first believe in Jesus Christ. Have Faith in him and desire to follow him. When we desire to follow him we will repent of our sins, our breaking of God's commandments. Once we do that we will be willing are ready to be Baptized by someone with Authority from God, which is a sacred ordinance in which we make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and leave our old life of sin.

That is not all, we must the receive the Holy Ghost from one that has authority from God. The Holy Ghost is a gift from God that will guide us as we are righteous... Then we endure to the end of our life, continuing to grow.

God restored his Authority, his Priesthood, on the earth again. It was lost after the twelve apostles where killed and has been restored by the prophet Joseph Smith. Today Jesus Christ's true church is on the earth again. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints..

Promises

Message brought to you from Down Under, posted by his sister...



My friend once wrote that "righteous men uphold their promises". Back in a time when the world was more civilized men use to make deals not with paper, but with a simple handshake. There was a sense of honor back then that does not exist today.

Far to often in our day people do not commit to anything, any Idea, or anyone. Instead of men giving their whole heart and means to the woman they cherish, and to God through Marriage, men will far to often leave a cowardly back door with which they can easily run away. This backdoor is found in partnerships. Animals have partners, we are not Animals, we are Sons and Daughters of God. These men and women in these relationships have no true loyalty, no true respect, and are filled with selfishness.

I feel like Nephi when he cried, "if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul, then would my soul have joy in the righteousness of my brethern" (Helaman 7:8). But like Nephi I do not like in days of honor and commitment. Still I can be like Nephi and be in the world, but not of the world. I will do my best to keep my promises and commitments.

I hope we can all be serious in our promises.

Love you all,
Elder Kelm.

What Gods Do

*emailed to Michael's sister from Australia to post online*

What Gods Do

Moses 1:39 “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

What is God’s work and his glory?
His work is focused on allowing man to live forever with him. He wants to bring us from our low and fallen state to His high estate.

Now, after Jesus was crucified he dwelt among His sheep in Jerusalem. Then he left them to go and teach His sheep in the Americas (John 10:16). There is an account during that time that has always made me wonder. Jesus teaches the Nephites the manner they should pray and then commands them to pray. The people do so and are filled with the Holy Ghost. Then Jesus does the following in 3 Nephi 19: 19-21.

19 And it came to pass that Jesus departed out of the midst of them, and went a little way off from them and bowed himself to the earth, and he said:
20 Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost unto these whom I have chosen; and it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them out of the world.
21 Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their words.

I am always touched by this account. I use to be confused as to why our Savior would have to bow down and pray to His Heavenly Father. I could understand why Jesus would pray before he was crucified, because he did not know everything, he was still learning about Himself and his mission. This is shown when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26: 39 he prays for the cup to be taken from him if it was God’s will. He did so, because he did not know the weight of our pains and sins till he actually did it.

What I’m trying to say is that I can see why he’d need to pray to God before completing the atonement, because he had not experience everything and needed the Father. But why would he need to pray after the Atonement was complete?

Moses 1:39 helped me understand what Gods do. By praying Jesus was giving glory to God. He was lifting God up even high. Jesus was also praying for the welfare of the people. He prayed for them to be uplifted to a point that they can receive the Holy Ghost.

What do Gods do? They lift up everyone around them higher and higher. They add joy and glory to others through their love.

Take No Offense

Take No Offense

To be angry and unforgiving is selfishness. To have unconditional love and to forgive is selflessness.

For the life of me I cannot remember when my father told me that being angry is a choice. When somebody wrongs us in any way we have the selfish choice of being reactive and childish or the selfless choice of being proactive and mature. I know for myself that only the selfless choice brings me true joy. Being proactive strengthens my relationships with others and helps me see their deeper needs and fears.

I also know that being selfish only leaves me alone and unhappy. The childish pleasure of reacting does not last, because pleasure does not last, while the joy of growing in love towards others is eternal.

Choose not to be angry.

Who are we the children of? Romans 8: 16 reads, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” We are children of our Heavenly Father. You are a either literally a Son or Daughter of God. Now, often people understand that but ignore what this also means. This means that we are all literally brothers and sister! That man walking down the street is your brother, your brother! Love your siblings…

There are times your brothers and sisters will hurt you. They will do something as small as saying a thoughtless word to deliberately hurting you. Some way or another your brothers and sisters will wound you.

The prophet Nephi was always being mistreated by his older brothers Laman and Lamuel. At one point they had just tied Nephi up and by the power of God he broke the bands that bounded him. His older brothers then became sorrowful for their actions. They pleaded for forgiveness. I love what Nephi did in 1 Nephi 7:21, “And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done.”

I would hope we could all be like Nephi and frankly forgive our brothers and sisters like Nephi forgave his brothers. Forgive right away and choose not to be angry.

Repentance

Thoughts from Down Under...


Repentance

We change our desire to think, believe, and act against the will of our Heavenly Father.

We are sorry our desires of our heart went against the will of our Heavenly Father. We understand that God’s will and his commandments bring us true joy for oneself and for the world as a whole.

We gain a fresh view of God as a loving Heavenly Father that only has desires for our welfare. God is not a selfish tyrannical leader that wants us to do things for the sake of controlling us for His own pleasure. He gives us commandments to help us towards his goal of “bring[ing] to past the immortality (living forever) and eternal life (The way God lives) of man”(Moses 1:39).

When we repent we turn away from sin and resist any temptation to go against our Father’s loving will.

Repentance is continual, we fall short and sin. Jesus asks us to continually improve and continually soften our hearts, so that we can work towards being like him.

If we are baptized by one who holds proper authority, continue to repent and develop Christ like qualities, then we shall retain a remission of sins and we shall return to our Heavenly Father again.

Fighting with Kangaroo's and other pics

Fullness of Truth, One Day at a Time

Michael emailed this to me and asked me to post it. Enjoy....



I find that there are some people that want to know everything about the gospel, about their life, and about themselves right away. Give me everything now is the call of these impatient people.

Others know that we learn line upon line, precept upon precept. These people take what they have been given and slowly savor what they know and make new connections patiently.

Still, there are even those that know that they must learn line upon line, but become frustrated when they don’t seem to be growing and learning at the pace they have decided others are growing at around them.

It is important to know that everything goes according to “[God’s] own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will (D&C 88: 68).”

In a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio, in May of 1833, the Lord declared:

“Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; …

“The Spirit of truth is of God. … He [Jesus] received a fulness of truth …;

“And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
“He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.”

When we keep God’s commandments he blesses us. There are times God doesn’t answer right away, because we are not ready for the answer. I believe as we keep the commandments we are ready for His answers sooner then we would be if we don’t keep his commandments… We can’t learn line upon line if we aren’t following the first line.

I believe it is important to note that we will be continuing to grow our entire life. If we have a complete fullness in this life our faith would be destroyed. And we need to have faith and rely on Jesus Christ to have strength in this life.

We should continue to grow in this life and one day, through Jesus Christ we will be resurrected and receive a fullness of truth.

Who do I love the most and why?

Every Monday I write an email to my Mission President. Sometimes he sends me questions to answer.

One day he asked me “who do you love the most and why?”

At first I was not sure. I wanted to be honest and ended up writing the following to my Mission President.

I love my God. Like anything love grows, my love for him has grown. The seed started with his word. I learned his commandments and as I follow them I’m happier. It’s the same with any advice, if you see the benefit, then you are thankful to the person that gave you the advice. You love them because they showed their love for you through advice. Then you notice his tender mercies in your life and your love for Him increases. Then you get to the point that your told in blessings that he loves you even beyond your understanding. You feel that love fill your body as those words are spoken by other. Then you eventually get on your knees and ask him if he loves you. This time it’s just you and your Heavenly Father. He lovingly answers yes.

Why? Because he loves me even though he knows of all my faults he still loves me.

More pics of Hackham

Michael's favorite scripture.

South of the Equator...

Does water drain the opposite direction? See for yourself...

Tim-Tam

*Posted by Tamara Kelm

Kangaroo Steak?

Here ya go folks...Kangaroo Steak!

1st Round of pics

Staying

We got transfer calls today. I’ll be in this area with Elder Murphy again for another transfer!! Woot Woot!

This week I went to Peter, Luke, and Carol’s house to teach them about the restoration with Elder Fukofuka. Elder Fukofuka were together because of exchanges. Only Peter was home out of the three when we arrived, which was nice because we got some good one on one time with him.

Peter has two main concerns; he thinks that God no longer calls prophets, and that the Book of Mormon is not of God. He believes that the Bible is the only word of God based on revelations 22:18, which reads, “if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

We tried to explain that John meant that man should not alter the words of God. This does not mean he does not speak more words through more prophets. This is evident in the fact that Revelations was not the last book written in the bible. Instead it was just placed last in the Bible. You know, all that jazz.

Well, Peter still was convinced, to him only the King James version of the bible is God’s words. So, we decided to help him come to know that God always calls prophets. We had him go get his Bible and turn with us to Amos chapter 3. We then read versus 1-6 to show that there is order to God’s creations and kingdom. Then we read versus 7 to show that God has always called prophets and will continue to do so.

While reading all three of us noticed that there were differences between our Bible and his Bible. Turns out his that version of the Bible wasn’t even the King James version of the Bible. We than help him understand that that was exactly what John had been warning about. He warned against those that would change his words for the wisdom of men.

We then had a sweet time of helping him recognize the spirit and asked him to pray about some things… I loved the irony of it all. =)

I’m pretty sure I’m going to live in Idaho when I’m done with college and whatnot. I like the look of the State and I like the people there. In fact I’ve met so many elders from Idaho here. I guess Australia needs people from Idaho and people that are from Idaho in heart. I’ll certainly have a good network of Idaho people by the time I return.

I’m already getting a little sick of the EFY music we listen to, but there is hope. Our new Mission President is truly thinking of extending our music library. I hope he allows Disney music… Okay, I must admit that I do enjoy the EFY song “shine the light” and a few others.

I might write more in a bit.

love you,
elder kelm

First Letter from Australia

Well, the trip was way long and they gave us meals based on Australian time, so it was weird to be woken up at 1:30 to eat chicken. Speaking of the time different I think we're 17 and a half hour ahead of ya'll. The half hour difference is way weird.

When I finally arrived in Adelaide I got off the plane and right there was President Quinn, his wife, and the APs. I didn’t know that the security was less serious in Australia. I didn’t know they could meet me at the gate, no worries though. While making our way to my bags I learned that this was President Quinn’s last day as President of the Adelaide mission and that the new mission president would be coming in later that evening, which makes me wonder why I didn’t just fly with him.

From the airport we drove to the mission office, there I had the privilege of being the last missionary President Quinn had a first interview with. From that interview and all that I’ve learned this last week I know that he is a great man. Yeah, I don’t really know how to explain. He just is truly a man that is lead by the spirit.

After the interview I met my companion Elder Murphy and a group of us when out for lunch, there we had some famous Adelaide pie floater. It’s a type of thick vegetable soup with a meat pie in the middle of it. You put tomato sauce (ketchup) on it and the eat it. It’s sweet as* (Australian phrase).

Then I filled out paperwork, got my bike, bedding, and my Australian drivers licence. After all that was finished we finally drove down to my area Hackham west. Hackham west is a rather poor area in Adelaide. You’ll see kids as young as twelve smoking, hear stories of violence, and see graffiti all over. Also in our area is a more middle class area, this area is so beautiful. I love the small homes and every yard is well kept. Adelaide is beautiful… At the edge of our area there are sheep fields that are so green. I really need to get ya’ll some pictures.

Anyway, we arrived at our flat and quickly dropped off my suitcases. Then we got our bikes (yep, I’m in one of the few areas that don’t have cars in Adelaide, which will help my exercise.) and made our to the Lister house, an older couple that were working with. They were less active and are now doing pretty well; they are working toward being sealed in the temple. Great people, but they’re a bit of a pack rats.

After visiting them and teaching them we went to dinner with two Elder’s, Elder Sevy and Elder Knotson in an area next to ours that have a car. =) We ate at Hungry Jacks, which is basically a Burger King or at least it’s the same company and look. Both of the Elders are legends*. Elder Sevy in particular blows my mind.

After eating we taught a Book of Mormon class at the church for new investigator, new members, and less active members. Elder Sevy taught and he was sweet as*.

Then we finally made it back to the flat, planned the next day, and went to bed. Keep in mind that I was dead tired for the time difference.

My companion Elder Murphy is a good hard working missionary. He follows all the rules and knows how to plan. He knows area so well and he teaches by the spirit. He’s from Idaho and has been out 7 months. He’s starting to gain weight, and has a bit of a belly now. This is because he doesn’t like to exercise in the morning and because he was in Elisabeth for one transfer. In Elisabeth the members feed you tons and basically force you to eat all they give you, scary stuff.

Its sad how many less active people there are in this area. That’s basically what task we’ve been given, to help reactivate the less active and get the members involve. We’re also teaching investigators to be sure, but a lot of the work is with less actives.

I’ve had vegemite and am not a fan, but it’s part of the Australian experience.

On the fourth of July we had a Tea date* with the Fekners. Ann is the only member of that family and we’re working on teaching her husband and children. While at the Tea date they cooked us hot dogs and ribs to make us feel at home. We had America flags, sang American songs, and even lit sparklers. Good times.

I’ve got so much to learn, about the geography of my area so that I can get around, about the scriptures so I can use them while teaching, and so much more. It’s a little overwhelming at times. At least I have a lot of direction from my companion Elder Murphy, Elder Sevy, and the spirit.

I love Australia heaps* and heaps.

Love you all,
Elder Kelm