August Transfer 2011

"My time in Alaska thus far has taught me many things.  And I can see now that having food and water storage is so important and I would encourage you and Mom to try and get that year supply if you are able and next year to have a good garden."


"We have an investigator who is progressing and is taking steps toward baptism.  He has committed himself to live every aspect of the gospel and we haven't had to ask him to do any of it!  Which is way cool.  The members here are way cool and are so welcoming and inviting which is way cool and makes it feel like home more."


"So this week I have been learning about work.  I always had this negative view about work, like I would rather just do nothing and relax, but I know now what a blessing work is in any form.  You can learn more, are more productive, and you can enjoy yourself more.  Its all about the mind set you have about work.  And work can make you happy which is a strange new thought.  So I decided that I am going to start some projects when I get home that I have always wanted to but I always just thought it was too much work."

I'm guessing these pictures are from Elder Kvavle's flight down to Anchorage.

 "I am getting transferred to South Anchorage in the Sand Lake ward.  I am going to have 2 companions, Elder Salvador and Elder Ashby.  I replaced Elder Ashby up here in Fairbanks.  I leave on Tuesday morning to drive down with some other Elders.  I am ready for the change but I will still miss Fairbanks a lot and the members as well.  The other missionaries say that the first transfer is the hardest one, then after that its easy as pie.  This week we have helped Brother Marshall a lot.  We tore out some carpet and put some new stuff in, we have cut up some fish and vacuum sealed it, and moved a lot of furniture.  My health is doing better this week, I am almost at 100%.  I gave a priesthood blessing on Sunday to a baby who was pretty sick. "


"So I have pretty much taken over as senior cuz they "don't know what to say" and I do all of the planning haha oh well its good for me :)  So Elder Salvador is from the Phillipines and Elder Ashby is from Utah.  Elder salvador goes home at the end of this transfer and Elder Ashby goes home at the end of the next transfer.  So I will probably kill them both off.  We live in an apartment that a member owns.  There is a lot of work to be done here.  We are having a baptism on Sunday of a couple who is getting married on Friday.  We still have to go over the lessons with them though.  They were taught the lessons in Kodiak."

July 2011

"I read 3 Nephi 28 through 4 Nephi today and I really enjoyed chapter 28,  it helps me realize how much responsibility me as a missionary has.  But this last week we picked up a new investigator.  I cut my own hair (which is a first time for me).  And the Marshall's took us to a place called the Turtle Club, they had really good prime rib.  The new investigator came from one of our other investigators named John, he has been talking to her about the church and the experiences he has had and after the lesson we had with both of them she asked when church starts, which shocked all of us including John.  So that we way cool.  So transfers are coming up on July 11th, which isn't too far away.  I don't know what will happen to me,  I could see myself leaving and staying so I don't know.  I am loving the work and am excited that people want to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ."


"I am not getting transferred, I am staying in Fairbanks for another 5 weeks.  Elder Lowe is also staying and I am excited because John is going to get baptized, maybe not this week because his job just picked up so we can't meet with him as often as we would like.  But we are having a baptism on Friday of an 11 year old."

 "We had our baptism on Friday night and we took pictures which i will send.  Our P-day didn't change.  We just had a holiday and then transfers so now we are back on Monday p-days.  Lessons now are pretty good, I can explain everything pretty well.  I just need to now more scriptures to use, which I am working on.  I am glad that the wedding went well.  Wish I could have been there, but I am needed here.  We had interviews wit President Beesley on Saturday which was nice.  He is a good mission President.  So Sister Beesley reminded us all that Harry Potter came out which I didn't need haha but oh well.  President and Sister Beesley came to the baptism of Michael Ferndandes on Friday which was cool.  The whole thing went over very smoothly, but the only bad thing was that it was super hot in the room." 


"I am loving my mission experience and wouldn't trade it for anything.  Yeah mission life does travel a little quicker than normal life does.  Its crazy that 6 months out is coming up soon.  Heavenly Father is blessing me so I don't think about home a whole lot which makes it easier to not get home sick, which is nice."

New Address for Writing Letters

This is a monument to the first guy who discovered gold in Alaska.

The mission home in Anchorage has moved so there is a new address:

Elder Scott Kvavle
Alaska Anchorage Mission
P.O. Box 221649
Anchorage, AK  99515


"We had Zone Conference and Leadership Training this last week.  It was so good and I learned so much and I feel as though I have grown a lot spiritually.  And That was our last time to see President and Sister Dance.  But they gave me some good parting advice and gave me a few predictions about my future mission life.  We taught quite a few lessons this week, mostly less active and recent converts.  But we taught and investigator this week."

"Our new mission President gets to Alaska the first of July.  We will get to see President and Sister Dance at zone conference on Friday which is good.  I have been reading the conference talks and they are great.  Elder Lowe is a good missionary and likes Fairbanks.  This transfer will be a 7 week one so President Clerk will have a week to settle in before transfers."

"We are getting a different Mission President that we thought.  President Clerk is going to Russia and the Mission President that was going to Russia is now coming here.  I think its will be President Beasliey, and I probably spelled that name wrong but oh well.  But we have been following more of the rules as a companionship since we had Zone Conference which is a very good thing."


"About 2 weeks ago Brother Marshall gave Elder Lowe and I each a beaver fur which was way nice of him, I even refused the first time because those things aren't cheap.  So I have one now."

Mother's Day Call

There is going to be a new Mission President, President Clarke and his wife are coming up from Utah (he was previously a Elementary School President).  Alittle more information about the Fairbanks area; there about 90,000 people and Elder Kvavle's mission zone has about 5,000 people in it with a total of 14 Missions int eh Fairbanks area.  Interesting note, the boundaries for Mission area, you could drive for 5 hours and still be within the boundaries.  The road that takes you up to see the norhtern lights is also in there mission area.  It's sunny most of the time there it looks like dusk when the Elder's go to bed and still light when they get up in the morning.  Elder Kvavle's current Mission area goes all the way up by the Artic Circle.  The members that live up by the Artic Circle actually conference call in to hear sacrament on Sundays (which is pretty cool).

100 members or so that are less active in Elder Kvavle's ward and there doing alot of less active work.  Teaching 3 families now that were less active but now are considered active.  One guy hadn't been to church in 40 years and now he is considered active again (he's on the Ice Road Truckers show).  2 current investigators...one from tracking...one from a referral from a few years ago. 

Elder Kvavle said the best part of the mission so far...alot of great things:

1. Set routine of things

2. Studying scriptures

3. Meeting with people that have fragle grasp on the gospel and teaching them makes it worth it

" I am so very thankful for the chance I have to serve a mission for the Lord.  I love being able to look back and see the Lords hand in my life so much.  I makes me want to do better so I will be worthy to have the Lord help me more in my life and in the work. My favorite part of my mission thus far is the people I am able to help, whether it be through the gospel or through service."

The Bishop in the ward is really pushing that everyone has their own garden this year.  "The teaching of people is going well, Sunday was invite a non member to church day and we had 3 investigators show up!  Which is great. Elder Espi has told me some stories about some of the bad areas and bad companions he has had in the past, so I am grateful for the area and for him because he is a great companion.  We also have a great district and zone.  I am able to learn and grow a lot in this area.  Yeah the temperature here doesn't bother me now.  I think I am a little more acclimated now that things are warmer.  This last transfer has gone by so fast, its crazy.  This Sunday a member is taking us up to central which will be cool.  We are going to have a mini sacrament meeting with the members up there.  Its about 5 hours away so it will be a good drive."

Elder Kvavle & Mom

Fairbanks District Pictures

Picture of Fairbank's District before transfer calls last week.



Elder Kvavle, Brother Marshall (our host family), Elder Espi

Transfer calls happened last week and Elder Kvavle and Elder Espi are staying in Fairbanks for another 6 weeks. "We have a new investigator named Elizabeth Jachim.  The first lesson was on Saturday and we are going to be working with her on Jesus Christ because she was raised a Jewish.  Her Husband showed some interest as well so we are hoping to teach both of them!  Its way exciting because this is the first investigator that i get to help teach from square one!  We haven't had any baptisms yet but we are always hopeful.  And we will start teaching them on Thursday!  And they seem interested and such.  On Sundays we try and tract in the morning and then church and then visit people after church or tract some more.  Weekends are a great time to tract because people are usually home."
"Sometimes we are visiting someone and we both just know that the person next door needs to hear the gospel.  And sometimes they don't even let us in. But I know that we helped them in some way, even if it be a smile.  The best part of the mission is all of it lol.  But something that stands out to me the most is the people here and the complete devotion of our time and efforts to the Lord."




Jeff Kvavle, Grandpa Kvavle & Elder Kvavle



Elder Kvavle & Dad



Pictures from the MTC

Elder Kvavle

Elder Kvavle is looking forward to his first General Conference out in the mission field.  " It actually snowed here yesterday.  We got like 3 or 4 inches.  Something weird about the snow is that it is very dry snow.  Like when you kick it its acts like sand.  I know odd."

Change Is Happening

Sister Dance, Elder Kvavle, President Dance

"This past week has been good with 2 referrals; one is a family of five and a guy named Justin Post. They have contacted them both and are looking forward to meeting with them.  Our investigator Art Robson was on date for baptism but he had to check with his wife and his wife told him there was no way he was getting baptized.  So we are meeting with them on Tuesday and are going to see what we can do."


"A recent convert named Brother Cerney, has an interesting hobby up here.  He does bee keeping, he was telling Elder Espi and I about it and it sounds really cool.  He is going to show us some stuff later in the spring once he gets his bees.  Apparently a lot of people up here do that.  So when I am home off my mission I am going to take a class on it."


The weather in Fairbanks is starting to warm up alittle to highs in 35 degree range and not -11 for daytime high.