Transfers - February 6, 2017

So this week was pretty boring except for the fact that we had 3 baptisms! It was super cool to have them, there were 3 young girls named, Amanda, Luyanda, and Nqoblie. I baptized all 3 of them and it was super nice because we have to drive to the Hillcrest chapel about 20 minutes from where we go to church, but they have the nicest chapel, and the font water was SO HOT. I wanted to just sit down and relax after I was finished baptizing them. I don't have pictures yet because the senior couple who attends church with us took all the photos for us.

This week was kind of slow because it was my companions last week on his mission so he was saying goodbye to lots of people and taking pictures. I'm excited to get my new companion on Wednesday - his name is Elder Parson, he is from the Florida USA. It's also cool because it will be the first time I will be older on my mission than my companion. I guess it means I'm finally getting old on mission being over 10 months.

Things are going well here, the work is going, we have tons of people to teach and people preparing to be baptized which is great.

I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Knutsen

Hunter - January 30, 2017

So today has been an interesting day, I received the tragic news of a good friends passing when I opened my email today. For this weeks email I would like to honor and remember him.

Hunter was an amazing kid. My heart was broken and aching when I learned of his passing this morning. I will always remember the times we spent together, first while I played football with him, then as his coach. I will remember his smile and laughter that filled every single practice. I will remember how he was always willing to do anything and play any position he was asked. Even offensive line on the scout team a couple times. As his coach he did everything I asked him to do, exactly how I asked him. In the weight room, his effort was unmatched. He was one of the hardest working kids I have ever met.

People wonder all the time, "what happens after we die?" I'm not going to go in to super great detail about it right now, (if you want to learn more, invite your local missionaries over) but what I do know for a fact is that death is not the end, it is merely a step in the process of life. We can and will see our loved ones again, we all will see Hunter again one day. We will see everyone we have ever loved and cared about one day. Because our Heavenly Father loves us so much, he has made sure we will see them again.

Our life on earth is short, it is simply a test, to see what we become, "our task is to become our best selves". It hurts to lose people we love, even 10,000 miles away I am in shock and pain at this loss, but it is just for a short time, it is not goodbye but simply "a we will see you later."  It hurts now, but things will get better. Happiness, joy and peace will come back into your life. I promise you it will.

I love you all so much, I love the emails I get each and every week. I think about many of you all the time. Stay safe and have a great week.

Love,

Elder Knutsen