Monday, September 28, 2009
Group Email, 9/28
Afterwards we went up to Ozard Hill and dedicated this moves. Elder Jensen and I made a goal of two baptisms this moves. We are bound to this goal and are going to work as hard as we can to acheive it. We took our goals to the Lord and feel strongly that when we put in the underlying effort, the Lord will be able to bring about many baptisms. We're excited to work!
This past Sunday we had a missionary musical fireside. there was a great turn out and things went smoother than anticipated. We technically started work on it just this past Wednesday because we didn't know who would be here and who would move. After we knew though, we started ing out the program and the song practices. We involved much of the ward. We went through each principle and had a song for each, and elder Talbot had narration for each principle. We started off with Lydia McPhee (7years old) and Elder Jensen singing a child's prayer and got all of the older women crying (good start :) We wanted the section on Christ's earthly ministry and atonement to be powerful so we sang 'I Believe in Christ' with the congregation, and directly following that we flowed into 'This is the Christ'. That was my favorite number. Some nonmembers were there and the bishop's ending testimony was perfect for them, that if they prayed about the Book of Mormon, then they would know that it was true.
The Zone and bishops and priesthood auxilaries in the stake had a meeting with Elder Kerr, an area seventy. It as well was paterned after elder Bednar's meeting and we didn't get the planned slides into the meeting, but we all learned from the spirit. These are revelatory experiences rather than meetings. We're changing how we correlate with the wards and it's exciting. We're doing a lot more less-active work and it should increase our teaching pools as well, by those we find through those who have been invited to come back. The Lord knows what he's doing. I love the gospel. This work truly is the Lord's work and he is so close to it. The church is true,
Elder K. Anthony
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tales of the Military Tattoo, and Pictures, too!!
"Over the years, the process became more of a show and often included the playing of the first post at 21:30 hrs and the last post at 22:00. Bands and displays were included and shows were often conducted by floodlight or searchlight. Tattoos were commonplace in the late 1800s with most military and garrison towns putting on some kind of show or entertainment during the summer months. Between the First World War and the Second World War elaborate tattoos were held in many towns, with the largest in Aldershot.
"One of the best known Tattoos is held on the Esplanade in front of Edinburgh Castle each August and forms the centrepiece of the annual Edinburgh Festival. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was first staged in 1950; it combines the traditional sounds of the bagpipes and drums with the modern aspects of the armed forces."
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_tattooThis morning Elder Anthony sent us pictures of the Tattoo and other fun things as well. The captions are his.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tales of the Military Tattoo
So our preparation day was moved to Thursday this week. We carried out the annual mission tradition of going to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo! It was fantastic. The Dundee and Aberdeen zones had a joint zone conference first. We received so much good instruction on following the spirit. That's been president's focus; the "Divine Companionship", which consists of two missionaries and the Spirit. We're always at least in a trio. We spoke a lot about planning as well, and how to do our planning more effectively. The Zone Leaders taught us about making our studies more effective as well. I'm so excited to apply the things we've learned. Meeting together is pointless unless we do something from it, so Elder Jensen and i are going to apply many things to our companionship, and I know it will help the work so much as we focus on what the Lord has most recently taught us. Elder Garner and Elder Rose, with whom I have performed many hymns up in Aberdeen, approached me before conference and let me know that we were all singing for zone conference. It was good to perform with them again. We sang Be Still My Soul.
After an amazing zone conference, we all hopped on a bus and drove down to Edinburgh. It was great to be with all of my good friends from my former area, Aberdeen. We all sang Hymns on the way down. It's great singing 'Ye Elders of Israel' with a bunch of elders who have enthusiasm for the work. I don't know what our bus driver was thinking though, especially when we sang 'If you could hie to Kolob'.
When we got to Edinburgh we had a few hours to tour before the Tattoo started. There were so many street performers we didn't know which ones to watch. Clowns mounting fake horses and juggling. Acrobats jumping through flaming hoops. Singers. American Indian bands. Bagpipers, of course. Drum bands. So many exotic instruments. It was a real treat being able to see all of it. When it was time we shuffled into the large bleachers at the foot of Edinburgh castle. The show was fantastic. There's something about two hundred bagpipers playing the Scottish anthem that makes you want to rise up and spread the gospel like Dan Jones. Needless to say, all of us missionaries were exhausted by the time the end of the show came around. It started at nine, so it ended pretty late. We were shattered on the bus ride home. When we finally got to bed it was about one in the morning. Today was the only day they let us sleep in in the mission.
We should have a baptism pretty soon here. Cheryl's sister is doing well. She should be baptized next Sunday. I'm so excited for her. She'll do great in the gospel.
The church is so true. The gospel and priesthood has been restored to the earth!
-E. Anthony
{Elder Anthony told Mom that he'll be taking pictures of the Tattoo when they go again next week, and he'll send them. So stay tuned...}
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Email from Monday, August 17th, 2009
Cheryl Murphy got baptized!!! The service was great. Sister Williams and I sang a duet. Elder Ozard baptized her. She couldn't stop smiling after the service and she got up after the closing prayer and thanked everybody for being there. She fits in great with the ward. The Nikitichev family invited them over for dinner on their own after church. It's great to see member fellowship without missionary invlolvement.
We had a wonderful meeting this morning with all of the district leaders and the bishops of the wards as well as the high councilman for missionary work, and we all coordinated and learned from one antoher about bringing people solidly into the gospel. We've all got a new motivation for the work.
Being with Elder Jensen is really fun. It reminds me of when I first came out and was learning everything, and passing off teaching the lessons to my leaders, and memorizing everything. Good times. I'm excited for him. He has so much faith.
Love,
Elder Anthony
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
This Week Is Transfers Week
August 3, 2009
"This week has been fantastic! We had a couple of investigators at church yesterday, and the lessons were exactly what they need. Cheryl is getting baptized on Wednesday! We're all really excited. We had a family home evening at the Palmer's home on Saturday with Cheryl and her two kids. We had a fun activity where we all learned about the tree of life and drew our own trees and glued on fruit.
"We had three confirmations in church and one baby blessing. The theme seemed to be families. I had the privilege of confirming Owen. I interviewed him, and he told the other missionaries that he wanted me to confirm him, which I thought was touching. He's a good kid.
"The work is moving forward! I'm so grateful for these wonderful experiences I'm able to have on a mission. Invite your friends to learn.
E. Anthony"
Monday, August 3, 2009
Quick Recap
Elder Kevin Anthony
Click on the youtube video posted below to hear Kevin's amazing voice singing "Face to Face."
