September 2012

Well this last week was lots of fun down in Juneau.  Zone Conference was great and I was able to learn a lot.  The drive down to Skagway was awesome and then we took the ferry. We got back Saturday night after our ferry was delayed for about 3 hours.  We went shopping for food down in Juneau at Costco so we could bring the cheaper food up here, so we stocked up probably for the whole transfer or more.  The theme for our Zone Conference was Zion's Camp, so for our zone activity we did lots of stuff in the rain, plus it was cold and windy, but I think they planned it that was so we would murmur more.

I gave a talk at church on Sunday on why we go to the Temple and the blessings involved by going there.  It is hard for the people here to go to the Temple too often because it is a good 13 hours away, and the jobs here don't pay that well so money is a problem as well. 

 

 

 

 

New Mailing Address: 

Elder Scott Kvavle

Anchorage Alaska Mission

68 B Teslin Dr.

Whitehorse, YT Y1A3M6

Canada

August 2012

This week has been a busy week for us.  You are right mom, we do a lot
of less active work here. We taught 14 less active lessons this last week.  A lot of them want to come back, but something gets in the way. But there isn't anything too exciting going on here at the moment, just the usual working hard for the kingdom of God.  Oh we have been meeting with a nonmember guy and this week he is inviting his minister to come and talk with us. He is a pentecostal guy.  So we will see how that lesson goes with him.

Well I am learning how to play the guitar now, started a few days ago so we will see if I am any good by the time I get home. 

We had the same lesson on sharing the gospel on Sunday out of the George Albert Smith book.  He was a great missionary. we are finding quite a few new people to teach, we got 2 new investigators last week and we are hoping to get another new one today from a less active family.  Transfers are coming up, we will find out not this Saturday but the following one.  So we will see what happens. I would like to stay but I also want to go somewhere new too, so we will see what happens.  

 

 

 

 

I am getting transferred to White Horse Canada!!  

 

Yeah a big change, there is a branch out there and another missionary set too.  To get there I am taking a plan to Juneau and then taking a ferry to Skagway and then drive to White horse.  It will be and adventure.  My companion is Elder Gardner.  He is still pretty new on his mission.  So it will be crazy.  I am excited though for a change.  The ward is sad to see me go.  So we will see if I finish my mission there.  

 
So the last update on the work here in the Tongan ward is that we have someone on date to be baptized on September 3rd.  She is solid, she the girlfriend of a less active member in the ward.  But she has a few member friends in our ward already, but she isn't Tongan though so it will be up to her if she decides to still attend the Tongan ward or not.  I will still keep in contact with the Elders here in the Tongan ward to check her progress.  Elder Kafoa, one of my old companions, is coming to serve with Elder Tonga.

July 2012

This was a good week,  that scout encampment was a lot of fun.  Boys from all over Alaska were there.  The Lady we are teaching, Tabitha, and her less active boyfriend might be getting married this week and the baptism would follow shortly there after, she is ready but her boyfriend has been dragging his feet.  She will bring the kids to church even when he doesn't come, and HE IS THE MEMBER!  she came 13 Sundays in a row!  So we are pretty excited.  So we will see what happens this week.

I love you both and miss you both,  I am very thankful that you raised me in the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am eternally grateful.

 

'Ofa Lahi Atu,

Elder Kvavle

 

 

 Here is a picture is what my Tongan name tag, which is actually closer to what it sounds like.

This months transfer info.  I am staying with Elder Tonga for another 6 weeks.  But this time around Elder Tonga is going to be the District Leader now!!  It is good for him, he gets to grow in other ways now, President told me I need to help Elder Tonga be a good District leader.  So Tabitha and Tevita are getting married tonight maybe and then she will be baptized tomorrow!!  We are really excited for them.  

We had a really powerful lesson with a less active family this week and we are going to help them get to the Temple and Sealed as a family.  We are going to take them to the Temple and and go in the waiting room and have a lesson about the Temple in there. We think this will be an awesome lesson for them.

 

June 2012

Transfer info, I am staying in the Tongan ward and I am getting one of my old companions again.  Elder Tonga!  We were only together for one transfer then he went to Barrow and now he is coming down from Barrow and I get to serve with him again.  I am excited to serve with him again.  Well I am feeling much better today.  The doctors didn't know what I had.  I had a cough, sore throat, head ache, my eyes were red and infected and were pussing and fatigued all the time.  And when you get up and start doing something you feel way worse.  But I am almost 100% better.  And our one investigator still just needs to get married then she can get baptized quick.  So thats what we are waiting on for right now, so hopefully soon.

So this week I saw my first black bear!  It was in the middle of town, it was pretty big too.  We were driving so we didn't get to watch it for long.  And yesterday we went to a dinner at a camp ground and we roasted 2 pigs!  Like on a stick and everything!  it was a lot of fun. The pig was really really good.  the skin tastes like bacon. It takes a good 5 hours to cook it all the way through, but we had to go before it was all the way done, so we just cut some of it off and ate it on out way out.

I am continually studying the gospel and I just keep getting amazed at how perfect it is and how much sense it makes.  I love studying it.  I am about to finish the Book of Mormon again and I am getting pretty close with finishing the the New Testament as well, then I will re-start the B of M and start the Old Testament.  I really need to read Isaiah after what they what Elder Scott said in conference and I found in the Book of Mormon, in Mormon where he says search the prophesies of Isaiah.

We had a good week this week.  The first week of the transfer the week is always slow.  But the Tongan ward loves Elder Tonga so the ward is opening up to him a lot.  There wasn't too much that happened this past week but this week there is a seventy coming for zone conference.  Elder Koliker, he spoke at conference.  We are having zone conference on wednesday this week, so I am excited for that. 

One of our people that was about to be on date to be baptized pretty much did a 180 this week which is frustrating haha, but we have some of his fellowshippers helping him, and we are still going to be working with him.  But we are doing well with the ward, Elder Tonga and I are working well together.  The work in the ward is different from other wards I have been in.  There isn't anything too new or exciting that happened.  Oh there is going to be a missionary fireside next month that we are going to try and brodcast on the internet so our families can watch, its going to be a musical fireside, so once I find out more I will let you know.  I love you all and miss you.

This week was a good week, we taught a lot of lessons.  We got a new investigator.  This week we get to go do service for the scouts this week.  They are having a scout encampment all this week and we are driving up to Palmer twice to go up.  We are going to go inspire them to want to serve missions.  it is all of the scouts in Alaska.  And a General Authority is coming as well.  They will be set up in companionships and districts and zones, just like a mission.  We are going to trian the scouts on Christ like attributes out of Preach my Gospel.  It will be really cool to be able to help these young men get excited about missions.

We have a few investigators that want to be baptized, one is getting married soon, and like 3 are just waiting to get their answer from Heavenly Father.  So we are excited for them and are trying to help them as much as we can.  Elder Tonga has a great Uncle up here who isn't a member and we had a lesson with him this week, it was very powerful and the family of the him was also listening and most were crying after the lesson, it was all in Tongan and we brought a member who could speak Tongan, I didn't understand too much but I spoke and they translated for me.

May 2012

For Mother's Day this year the family got to skype, which was pretty cool to get to see everyone.
Happy Mothers Day.  I don't think I said that over Skype yesterday.  And for dinner yesterday we ate horse.  Yeah actual horse.  Tongans eat it.. It was actually really good.  I liked it.  I really enjoyed talking to all of you yesterday.

My week so far has been interesting.  I have been sick for most of it.  I went to the doctor and they gave me some antibiotices.  So we didn't get a whole lot of work done this week.  And it was stake conference this past weekend.  We had 2 members of the sevendy come up for it.  Elder Dunken and Elder Call.  So we had lots of meetings with them on saturday and sunday.  We have and investigator who is close to baptism, she just needs to get married to her less active boyfriend.  They are working on it and want to get married, they are just working out all of the details.  So we will probably have a baptism here in a few weeks.  Something I wish I had learned better back home dad was how important members were in missionary work.  We the members should be providing the missionaries with people to see.  Missionaries are called to preach the gospel, not find people to teach.  So maybe you could use part of that some how.

I am still sick and will probably go back to the doctor again today.  I have been sick all last week and haven't been able to work like at all which is frustrating.  Oh so last week I forgot to tell you that I had my first earthquake (at least that I felt).  It was a 4.7 i think.  It was pretty crazy haha.  But Nothing really eventful happened.  We also had Elder Dunken and Elder Call from the Sevendy come up for our Stake conference.  It was pretty cool.  I think one of the favorite scriptures I read this week is one in Romans, where is says something like shake off the darkness and put on the armor of light.  I need to keep my armor of light of and keep the darkness off.

April 2012

New Address for Elder Kvavle:

Elder Scott Kvavle
Alaska Anchorage Mission 3250 Strawberry Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99502


Conference was awesome this weekend!  As a missionary it is better then holidays!  I loved the in conference when they said that you can be active in the church and less active in the gospel, I think that is how many people can tell themselves that they don't need to go to Church.  But they need the gospel. Almost all of those talks were directed toward the investigator that we had watching.  His name is mike and he wants to be baptized he is just sorting through some stuff right now.  Uncle Dave will be ready to come eventually.  I see it so much out here where people get offended and use that as a reason to stop coming,  its so sad.

It is light here now till about 9:15pm now and we are gaining a little over 5 min of light a day now so we are excited :)   I go on exchanges with the district leaders in the zone, and there are 3 districts.  We also go on exchanges with trainers and trainees.  Being a zone leader eats up a lot of time out of our day but we still are running to appointments all day with one of our awesome members.

I had a good Easter weekend.  It was very spiritual and I am very grateful for everything the Savior has done for me.   I have noticed that wisdom comes with a combination of time and diligent study of the gospel.

I got one of the Tongan books today!  Thank you so much for it!  I was fasting yesterday for the gift of tongs and for opportunities to be able to speak the language and for materials to come into my possession.  Prayer answered, and Elder Boyer (my companion) was praying for that as well.  

The investigators that we are working with mainly 3 of them, are progressing.  One is on parole for like 2 years and normally you cant be baptized till you are off parole but there are sometimes cases where they can be baptized, but the First Presidency has to OK it.  So we will see what happens.  We have zone conference once every 3 months.  We have district meeting every week that we attend.

So this pas week has been an interesting one, Elder Boyer and I had to deal with a lot of problems in the Zone.  So last Tuesday a companionship had to be emergency transferred.  So I went with one of the missionaries and Elder Boyer went with the other one.  We were just going to stay that way till transfers which is tomorrow but we got our transfer calls and Elder Boyer is going to Delta Junction to train a new missionary and speak Russian.

I am staying with the missionary who is having some trouble which is in the Tongan ward.  So I guess the Spirit new that I was going to serve in the Tongan ward so that's why I got the impression to start learning Tongan.  So I am not a Zone Leader any more.  I am a District leader Elder MacPherson from Utah.  He has been out only a month longer than me.  So I go where I am needed.  I did not see any of this coming.  But I will go and do....  I know the lord has need of me here and I know that I can help the people here and my companion as well.  Because the Lord knows his people and He knows how to succor them.  And yes I was only in the Campbell Park ward for only 5 weeks!  It didn't feel long enough, and it is getting white washed again, which is always hard on the investigators, especially since it was just white washed last transfer.  So the Tongan ward is interesting, WE EAT SO MUCH!  We get fed like 2 or 3 dinners a night!  But the Tongan people are very nice. The Tongan culture is different than ours.  They will do anything for missionaries.

March 2012

We moved to our new place on Saturday.  And we did got our transfer calls.  Elder Kafoa is staying and I am going to North Anchorage to be a Zone Leader with E. Boyer.  I have served around him and I like him a lot.  So it will be a lot of fun.  I wanted to stay longer but the Lord needs me to go to anchorage.  And yes there are missionaries in the Yukon.  They are in Whitehorse.

My investigators are doing well, and elder kafoa is ok with the transfer.  We had a really powerful lesson with Jimmy.  We commited him to come to general conference and read out of the book of mormon which was huge! for him.  I am glad that he is making progress.

My companion is Elder Boyer from Las Vegas.  He has been out for 16 months.  We are in the Campbell park ward which was the Assistants are so they kept it going really well.  We have a really nice place to live in.  Probably one of the nicest in the mission.  Being a zone leader is stressful sometimes.  We are planning for zone conference, which we have a lot to plan for and its on Wednesday and since Elder Boyer and I are both new to the area we had no clue what the previous planning meeting consisted of.  But we got everything ironed out last night in a planning meeting with president and the AP's even though we were planning till 11pm.  But it is a lot of fun being a Zone Leader.

So when Elder Boyer and I got into the area we both felt a strong impression to learn a new language.  And Elder Boyer feels like he needs to learn Russian and I felt like needed to learn Tongan.  So that's what we are both poring all of our spare time in now.  President Beesly speaks some Russian so he gave some material and CD's to him and I have a little book that helps me learn the lessons.  So we are going today to a book store to find me a Tongan English dictionary.

Last time I was in Anchorage I was in a different zone so this is new for me, I haven't seen anyone from my last ward up here but I will keep a look out.  The work in this ward is really hopping so we are excited to be able to help the ward.  The ward mission leader is so awesome he has lots of plans to help us out.  I love the gospel, something Elder Boyer and I are doing is praying every hour and we pray for the gift of tongs and interpretation of tongs in every prayer.  We have come a long way in just a week.  Reading the scriptures in Tongan helps me get the feel of the language much faster than if you read anything else, that is a huge blessing!

Zone conference was awesome.  We learned a lot of cool things.Here in Alaska we have a pair of missionaries in each ward.  So many companionship's make up a district.  So many districts make up a zone.  So our zone encompasses a whole stake.  And there only 7 stakes in Alaska.

Elder Boyer and I get along great.  He is a great missionary and a great person.  We have wanted to serve together for our whole missions.  As a zone leader we don't have a lot of free time and what little free time we do have we are studying our new languages.  But just a few days ago I said my first prayer all in Tongan!  But as a zone leader now we get a lot more time around President Beesley which is great because he is a spiritual giant.

February 2012

Elder Kafoa, Dawson, Caden, Grandfather, Elder Kvavle

 The baptism that was scheduled for this week was moved to yesterday so Dawson and Caden were baptized yesterday by their Grandfather who is in the Stake Presidency.  It was a good service and we had a couple more of our investigators were there so that was really good for them.

 I have been think about finishing strong also.  Because I get to see some missionaries finish out really strong and I see others that don't and they just can't wait to go home.  And I know which I would like to be. So I will do my best to finish strong in the work of the Lord.  Elder Kafoa has been out 8 months.  His English is good.  He is from Tonga, he is 23 years old he has 2 younger sisters.  He is a convert when he was 12.  Yep I am still the district leader.  But this last week they had a district leaders meeting, which is new, and it helps clarify what I should be doing as a district leader.  I am so happy that Uncle Matt is trying to get himself to the Temple.  That is such a huge event in his life.  I am proud of him.

I can tell that my testimony has grow so much and that my view of the world and of other things has changed, for the better.  I pray that I will have the same view and attitude when I am home as I do right now.  This Gospel does bless whatever it comes in contact with.  Thank you both for rearing me in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our interviews with president Beesley went well thins past week.  We teach the new member lessons with the ward missionaries.  We live with a member but I think we are going to get an apartment soon.  My companion speaks English better than my last companion.  He understands a lot and really wants to learn more English.

Jannuary 2012

 I have had a good week.  We taught 2 boys Dawson and Caden last week and they want to be baptized!  We are teaching them again today and we asked them to think about a date so we will see what happens today with that.  But the area is kind of slow, but we picked up a new investigator last week and we are teaching them again on Wednesday.  I am also going on exchanges this week which will be fun.  We had a really spiritual district meeting today.  Probably the best one I have trained so far on.  It is always so fun to be able to not fear that the Lord will provide me the words I need to say in the very moment I need them and that it can touch the hearts of the people I am teaching, even if they are other missionaries.  Because we are all children of our Heavenly Father and we all need help and guidance.  It was really cold here this last week.  The coldest I saw on our trucks thermostat was -28!  But that was only one day now its closer to zero.  We have gotten over a foot in the last week or so.  Which is odd for Wasilla.  So the perfect place to go snow mobiling is up here in Alaska.


So this week we got a call from some Elders from my district and they were stuck in the snow in their Subaru and it took us 2 hours to get them out and there was some damage to both of our vehicles.  When we were towing them out they were backing up at the same time and our truck was moving slower then the car was so they rear ended us.  There wasn't a lot of damage done to us but there was more done to them. So yeah I have been out 11 months now.  Its crazy how fast it goes.  We had a lesson with our new investigator Raey this week.  We taught her the second lesson and it was way powerful, the spirit was so strong in there their were even a few tears.  And that is when we invited her to come to church.  So we will set up another time with her so we can teach her again.  So today when we left it was -9 degrees which is pretty cold.


Missionary's need all the members we can get to go teaching with us.  Missionaries get stuck every now and then and more so when there is a new snow.  The church is self insured so the church pays for it.  But if the damage is a lot then you don't drive for the rest of your mission.  I have been going on exchanges with missionaries again this week and we had a good time.  The area is picking up slowly.  We had a lesson with one of our investigators we just met named Matt.  He knows a lot and is now just trying to get an answer if it is true.  I was wondering if for my year mark you could get me a year mark present.  But it is for missionary work though.  A GPS.  Addresses here are not like addresses back home.  A lot of houses don't have house numbers or a street sign.  And it being winter and snow is on everything haha.  So if not that's ok but it would make the work a little easier.

We had the best week last week.  We put
those two boys on date to be baptized for the 16th of February as long as
their dad is back in town by then. Right now the sun is starting to rise about
9 or 9:30 and is setting about 5ish.  But it is a lot harder when it is
dark.  It is harder to get up in the morning.  Right now I think we are
gaining about 15 seconds of sunlight a day.  But it will progressively get
more soon enough.  

We found a former investigator and we have had a lot of
good experiences with him.  His name stuck out and we felt like we should
see him.  We have been able to get him fire wood enough for the winter now
and hes says he sees a light about me when we speak with him which is
really cool.  He has some interesting beliefs but he wants to learn and have
the peace that we talked about.  Elder Tonga's English is improving.  Being
a district leader is fun.  For our last district meeting of this transfer we
are going down to the temple which will be awesome.  We are going down
Wednesday.  The ward is doing good.  They are doing pretty good with
missionary work and they want to be a part of it but we just have to get it
going more.  The cold is not getting me too much.  I can dress pretty warm
now. 

We had a good week this week.  I am not being transferred.  Elder Tonga is though, he is going to Barrow.  Way far north.  I am getting  a new companion who is also from Tonga.  His name is Elder Kafoa.  He is coming down from Fairbanks.  Thank you Dad for finding a good GPS form me so I can navigate better here in Alaska.  Yesterday we had a lesson with and investigator who we found about a month ago and she knows that the Book of Mormon is true!  So we put her on date to be baptized for February 19th!  She knows what the Holy Ghost feels like and she knows now what the Holy Ghost testifys of and why its important We are way excited for her and her choice.  

 

 

We had a good week this week.  I am not being transferred.  Elder Tonga is though, he is going to Barrow.  Way far north.  I am getting  a new companion who is also from Tonga.  His name is Elder Kafoa.  He is coming down from Fairbanks.  Thank you Dad for finding a good GPS form me so I can navigate better here in Alaska.  Yesterday we had a lesson with and investigator who we found about a month ago and she knows that the Book of Mormon is true!  So we put her on date to be baptized for February 19th!  She knows what the Holy Ghost feels like and she knows now what the Holy Ghost testifies of and why its important We are way excited for her and her choice.

 

 

December 2011

Elder Kvavle, Demarcus, Darius, Elder Dellenbach

The baptism was great, Demarcus was the convert baptism and Darius was the child of record baptism.  I baptized Demarcus and Elder Dellenbach baptized Darius.  They are a part member family.  Their dad isn't a member.  After the baptism we were all changing and their older brother Melek came in and hugged both of his brothers and told them how proud he was of them and that he cried when they were baptized and it reminded him of his baptism (he was also a convert baptism. He is 10 now)  So that was way awesome!

 We had a ward Christmas Party on Saturday and when had so many people  show up.  People that hadn't been to church in years.  We have been having some crazy weather here lately.  Its been warmer so lots of the snow has been melting so the roads are really bad so our mission president had us stay in our apartments a few days till the worst of it was over.  Our teaching has been going well.  Since we have reduced our teaching pool now since we have had some baptisms we are going to be doing some more finding aka tracking.

 We get to attend the Temple about once every three months if we are in Anchorage.  So next month we will probably be able to attend again.  Our Temple here is in the parking lot of our Stake center so there isn't a whole lot of Temple grounds to decorate so I don't know if they decorate them or not.  But they haven't yet.  So I forgot to tell you that for the Thanksgiving day we went over to a members house and decorated gingerbread houses.  I will include a picture.  So I have been thinking that when I get back from my mission we could go to Nauvoo some time.  Yeah so I have been out almost 10 months now.

 

Last night is snowed like 8 inches so we had a fun surprise this morning.  And the roads were not so good.  Last night we went to a part member families house the house of the 2 boys we just baptized and taught them the lesson after baptism and then we talked the the father who isn't a member and we were looking for his concern.  I was able to channel the spirit and we really got Brother Olloway to open up an I think we can help him work through his concern.  One of our investigators named Bidget, she has been on date before, came to church on Sunday!  This was a big step for her because we have been trying to get her to come for about a month and a half!  And she love church.  Epically Relief Society.  That is what made the experience for her.  So we are very hopeful for Bridget to be baptized soon.  Well transfers are coming up this next week so we will see what happens.  I have been thinking about school a lot for after my mission and trying to figure out what a I will do.  Missionaries can apply while they are out in the field so Elder Dellenbach who has applied to many colleges has told me I should apply in the summer of 2012 so I can make the dead line. 

So I am getting transferred to Wasilla.  The Settlers Bay ward.  Elder Dellenbach is also getting transferred to a samoan ward.  I am going to go be the district leader there and I am also white washing the area (2 new missionaries in the area) with Elder Tonga.  President Beesley told me I need to help him with his English and we need to go whip the area into shape.  It has been slow lately.  So it will be fun :)    

We just found out a few days ago that we can Skype home now too from a members house.  So we will see what happens.  We will just plan on the call and if a member lets us come over in Settlers Bay then I will let you know in the call. But it will be tough since we won't know anyone there.  And I leave tomorrow.  We found out Saturday morning.  So on Saturday night we had dinner with a member family and they had family over who wasn't a member.  Pretty much they want to learn more about the gospel and wants to be baptized once they gain a testimony of it.  Yeah and we are leaving haha so great for the Elders who are replacing us.  An Elder will be trained in Sand Lake now.  But it is great because the area is being blessed and we were as well because of obedience (D&C 130:20-21) and it is so great to be able to feel the Spirit testify of the truth of the things we have to tell them.

I have been a trainer now for almost 12 weeks now.   There is a new program so the new missionary stays with his trainer for 12 weeks now.  Training is hard but fun.  I am enjoying this time as just a regular missionary because President Beesley told me I will be a district leader and more later on in my mission.  So I am enjoying it while it lasts.  A few of them members who like us a lot have invited us over for Christmas day and Eve, so we will be taken care of.

November 2011

Its been snowing like crazy here the past week.  We already have more than a foot now, its crazy and I am the one driving!  A family actually gave us a gingerbread house for Halloween so we have a house to eat.

Bridget is doing well, we have a lesson set up for Wednesday,  we invited her to the Elder Holland Fireside so we will ask her if she came (lots of people, we see didn't see her.)  Yeah the fireside was way awesome!  He gave a really good talk about Peter and James I think.  It was so cool, the spirit in the stake center was so strong there.

So this past week we put 2 more people on date to be baptized and and another person said they want to be baptized but he doesn't know what day he can be baptized yet!  And that guy (Blake) has a room mate and he wants to take the lessons too!  So the work is really picking up.  So news about transfers.  Elder Dellenbach and I are staying in Sand Lake and I am going to be the District Leader now.  I am excited to be a District Leader.

Elder Ashby will be leaving Wednesday morning to fly back to Salt Lake.  He is doing well though.  For Thanksgiving we are eating at a members house, the Penmens, they are an awesome family.  And for big holidays like that they have us go in to our apartments early.

I am not a Dristrict Leader any more.  Its because our dristrict was too small so they combined it with another one.   It has been snowing here a lot.  We probably have about 2 feet now.  And I have to get acostom with the idea of brushing off the car almost every morning.  Bridgets Baptism will have to be postponed because she hasn't been to church yet.



On Saturday a family from Fairbanks came down that I taught all of the new member lessons to.  The came to take out their endowments and to get sealed in the Temple!  That was my first time attending a sealing.

It was such a wonderful experience.  The spirit was so strong there and you could just feel the love there.  There are the family in the Temple picture holding the little girl.  Their name is the Cerny's.


Later that day we had a baptism for 3 People! A mother and her 2 daughters Gracy, Kelly, and Holly.  I physically baptized Holly! That was my first time actually baptising anyone.  I could feel the spirit so strongly testifying of truth.

Gracy, Kelly, and Holly

On Sunday we had a lesson with a 13 year old boy named Aaron.  He was
tracted into on a zone tract in our area.  He has a strong Christan faith.
We shared the first lesson with him and we were about to watch the
Restoration DVD with him when His mother got home along with his sister.
And they joined us for watching the movie!  Then during the movie one of
his friends came to his house and watched the movie with us!  And after we
bore our testimonies of the truth of that message.  We challenged them all
to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.  They all accepted and they all
asked for a B of M.  Aaron is on a spiritual quest right now and wants
to know.  It was a small miracle because we had already given away 3 B of M
that day and I didn't think that we had 4!  I thought we had 2 in the car.
But we found 2 more luckly haha.  I am so thankful to be able to serve a
mission.

We have one more baptismal date right now of a 9 year old boy named Demarcus Olloway.  So I am having a beaver hat made for me up here so I will look a true Alaskan!  I found a lady in another ward that will make one if you provide the beaver pelt so she is now in the process of making it :)  I will send a picture when I have it.

I am staying warm enough, Anchorage isn't too cold. The work is going good.  Last week was pretty slow because of thanksgiving and all.  Gracy and her children are doing well, she is now engaged now and is hoping to be married soon.  We haven't been doing much tracking as of late.  But we are going to be finding a lot more since out teaching pool is getting smaller.  Our next Zone Conference is December 14th so we will be looking forward to that.

October 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELDER KVAVLE!

Kinda looks like they all have the same tie on.

I usually am at the door of the chapel greeting the members in the Sand Lake Ward in the Anchorage Stake.  The weather has really been cooling off first week in October.  There is snow on the mountains and we are getting frost almost every night now.  Our Zone Conference with Elder Walker, our last district, and Elder Dellenbach and I.

So I'm training of Elder Dellenbach is going well,  its kind of odd and I have asked other trainers about it but it doesn't feel like I do much for him.  But the other trainers say that's just how it it but you actually doing a lot for them.  We actually had just a few days that were jammed packed then others that were less busy.  I wrote Sadie a letter a couple of months ago but she hasn't respond.  We have had a few lessons this week and I just love teaching people and seeing the spirit touch them and see them want the spirit more and more in their lives.

Thank you for all of the presents that you have sent me mom!  My companions say that your awesome for paying for us to go out to dinner.  So yesterday we had a lesson with one of our investigators named Bridget, and we had the first lesson with her and at the end of it we asked her if she would like to be baptized and she said Yes!  It was a way cool lesson.  We set up a date for her to be baptized and we are shooting for the end of November like the 26th.

We just had another lesson with our investigator Bridget.  And we invited her to a missionary fireside this Saturday and Jeffrey R. Holland is coming up and will be speaking to us and our investigators!  Bridget was found through tracking a few months ago and we just started teaching her the lessons a month ago.  She is set to be baptized the 23rd of November!  Justin and Catherin, our recent converts are doing good, we have had dinner with them since we baptized them and we are trying to meet with them again so we can teach them the new member lessons.  Elder Ashby goes home November 9th.  Training is hard,  fun but hard. The first snow up here was Sunday morning!  So that was pretty cool.


So I'm not 100% sure what Elder Kvavle is eating...if this was a Birthday treat or not.  It's some kind of weird/gross looking cooked egg of some sort.

Here are a few more pictures...

September 2011

"Yeah being out for 7 months is so crazy!  The time has really flown by.  Because I am serving the Lord I have been blessed with many great things.  With the couple that was just baptized I love seeing the change in them.  Because they are willingly following the commandments they are seeing many blessings in their lives which includes happiness.  They haven't missed a Sunday since I have been here.  I have seen my own testimony grow so much in the mast 7 months,  and I can definitely say that others peoples testimony's have influenced me."


"Last week I was in Fairbanks we went to the Artic Circle with Brother Marshall.  It was a 14 hour drive round trip. The Artic Circle was not as exciting as I thought it was gong to be, but it was still really cool and to have seen it and taken pictures.  I also tore a tendon or a ligament my shoulder and a shard of calcium built up there.  So we had Stake conference yesterday and it was a broadcast from Salt Lake and Elder Holland and President Packer spoke to all of the Stakes in Alaska and Washington, so that was way cool."


"I am loving my mission and the people here and the other missionaries.  They really make it easier up here.  Transfers are coming up and I am not sure what will happen so we will see.  I still have 2 companions for another 2 weeks because Elder Salvador is going home a week after transfers due to his Visa.  But we are having transfers on Saturday so we will see what happens with that.  Yeah I see President and Sister Beesley much more often now that I am in Anchorage.  Probably about every other week.  The mission home is also pretty close to but I haven't been to it yet."


"Our apartment is really small.  A one bedroom, with three of us sleeping in it so there isn't a lot of room, and I don't have a desk yet.  We sometimes have time to cook.  I made carmel brownies and you famous chocolate cake in Fairbanks.  Here we cook fish and rice a lot.  My new thing I like making though are smoothies with protein and oats.  I have also bought some Tang.  Since we stopped buying it after I spilled it as a kid (haha).  I am excited for general conference coming up.  We also have Zone conference this week and we have Elder Walker of the 70 coming up.  And in November Elder Holland is coming up for a Stake Conference up here!  So it is exciting."

"So we found out what was happening with transfers on Saturday.  Elder Salvador is leaving to go home on October 4th.  Elder Ashby is going to be the new District Leader and I am staying with him.  I will be training a new missionary.  So there will be three of us again.  But his is coming out on October 10th due to health problems.  I am guessing he rolled his ankle in the MTC so they kept him longer.  I am really excited to train!  And I will have Elder Ashby to help me out some too.  So Elder Ashby's guess is that once he leaves next transfer I will be the new District Leader because in our district are the Zone Leaders and 2 missionaries in Dutch Harbor, so they have to call in and one of them is an ex-assistant to the president.  So we will see.  I am excited for the October Ensign too!  I can't wait to use it.  Right now I am studying 2 Nephi 20 and I am also reading Mark.  I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time on my mission a couple of months ago so now I want to read all of  the New Testament as well.  I feel like it will help me and my investigators."



"We have a part member family that we are going to start teaching this week and they will probably get baptized, I hope!  The members sign up for missionary dinners like a month in advance, and then they forget about it and they end up canceling.  So we have a dinner by ourselves a couple times a week.  But that's ok, it just helps my cooking skills."


"I learned more at the Temple today then I think I ever have before.  The Temple really is a house of learning. Conference was so amazing this last weekend!  I only have 2 more conferences left!  We watched it at our Stake center.  But we didn't have any investigators come though.  When Elder Walker of the 70 was here for Zone Conference he told us a lot of cool stories about President Monson.  So on Monday Elder Dellenbach (my new missionary) got to the mission field early.  So I took Elder Dellenbach on his greeny tract and we hit 3 doors in 1 1/2 hours!  And we got 2 return appointments.  And one of them is like a solid potential investigator.  We were with him for for like an hour and we were able to resolve some of his concerns by the power of the spirit,  the Lord spoke through us so were were able to witness the spirit toughing his heart.  It was a way good tract.  So all of us ( E. Salvador, Ashby, and me) went into the mission home to spend the night with Elder Dellenbach.  Elder Salvador Left to fly back home to the Philippines on Tuesday morning.  So there is still 3 of us missionaries."

Elder Dellenbach and Elder Kvavle

"I am learning more and more while I am out here that working hard brings happiness.  I am trying my hardest to do that so that the Lord will bless my life and the lives of my investigators and the lives of all of you.  I am reading this months Ensign and its about the Book of Mormon and it is explained so simply.  It really strengthens your testimony of it.  There is one store about someone investigating the church and when the missionaries introduce the Book of Mormon he gets up and goes and washes his hands.  He did that because the missionaries explained that it was a sacred book.  That really stood out to me because I often times take the Book of Mormon for granted." 


"Yeah my birthday is coming up soon and I am going to be 20!   That is such a crazy thought.  I will be entering my 20's, what a strange thought."

Here's a cool picture of the clouds taken by Elder Kvavle

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