13 Dec 2010

This week has been awesome alot of cool contacts many new people met and taught no just a hope for them to accept the gospel!
This week we contacted a man named Larry. He has had a real tough life and has been struggling real bad! He has had everything drugs, alcohol, tobacco, the whole nine yards. We gave him our number and committed him to throw out his tobacco and he was a little shaky about the cigarettes, but we gave him a book of mormon and the lord promised him if he threw them both away they would be not be a bother to him anymore! he later that night called us andtold us that he flushed his tobacco, but still yet to throw the cigarettes away. he said he would read the book of mormon it was great!

we also met another man outside a deaf members house who has been through the wringer. he has many of the same problems as larry, but even worse. He loves to party and Loves to drink, but he knows it is getting him no where. he wants to stop but doesn't know where to start. we gave him a book of mormon and told him to keep it with him everywhere he went, because other than a set of clothes and the book of mormon and a cd he has nothing. his family has disowned him and left him alone. he transfers from friends house to friends house trying to have a place to sleep. what a rough life he has!! we then shared the footprints in the sand the poem with him and we all started to cry and got a little choked up! he wants to change and i truely hope he will accept it! since none of there are deaf we aren't allowed to teach them except in the initial contact. What a great opportunity to be an instrument in the hand of the lord!!
He is awesome! are we ready!

well For the change this week i'm not really looking forward to it at all! i'm gonna miss that kid way too much but i'm ready and looking forward to being with elder bohman! he is awesome! and the next 6 weeks are gonna be a blast!! by the way this next week will be transfer week and well email will be on tuesday!
Next weeks call can be well really almost anytime i'll have to consult my companion when he is going to call to Florida then I'll tell you next week! let me know when will be the best time for you!!

Thanks!
Love you all!!!

Elder karlson

Merry Christmas

8 December 2010

This week as you can see is kinda crazy!!!! and well I write today from the Gila Valley. We just finished up with a temple session, and are getting ready to head back but thought it would be good to stop real quick for an Email. This week has been crazy we haven't really been able to teach this week, lots of finding, many of our investigators have dropped, one is in jail and well that's how it has been the last week!
Elder kane and I are having a blast and are looking forward to Zone Conference tomorrow! Elder Kane has well 10 days left, and is looking forward to going home. The deaf work will then be turned over to me for the remainder of the time possibly until i go home!! I Recieved a package in the mail from M&D and Family along with one from the Peterson's. Thanks for all you do! Hope you are staying warm and all is well!!

love you all!!!

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

P.s. it is well about 70 outside and I'm still freezing! : )
16 days til christmas wow! crazy! :)

29 November 2010

Hello Family,

Hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving even if it is a little snowy! :) little? yeah right!!! ha well if it is any consolation there is no Snow here at all and well it is a bit warmer I believe!! haha! :) It is 45 now here and Getting warmer! :) it was 41 this morning when we woke up. THanksgiving day was beautiful! 65-70 degrees!! We went to President Warrens House for thanksgiving Lunch and then off to the Hubbles for Thanksgiving dinner!!! President warren Is the Branch President of the Deaf Branch here. we had lot fun! and well really this week there isn't much new just the same ole thing! I went on exchange in the Hearing area this week ooh boy I don't miss that at all!!
We get to do a christmas song next week for zone conference elder kane and i and we sure and heck ain't singing!! better bring your ear plugs!!!! :) haha no we will sign and hope they will understand! :) Well I'm afraid it is well getting started with the winter season now! and well it's down right cold! :..( But the most important part to remember is the true meaning of Christmas found in the 1st and 2nd chapters of Luke. take the time to look it over it will help you to remeber the true meaning and the reason for the season. after doing so read Mosiah 14 and Alma Chapter 7. Though we are week we can be made strong only in and through Christ, He is the way the truth and the light!! Search to find the light, the true meaning of the season. I'm all to afraid that this world is worried about the time for gifts and the season of giving and focusing too much on the wisemen's role in the story that they don't focus on the Babe in the manger. Take the time to really think of the season and it's meaning!! CHrist was born of mary for if it weren't so we couldn't be redeemed, and there would be no reason in life. God lives! Jesus is the Christ!!

Love you all!!

--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net

22 November 2010

Hey,

It has been a pretty good week this week! pretty cool!! 1 New investigator. the man from Nogales moved here to Tucson. We have a baptism Scheduled for him for the 23rd of December, it will take great faith to get him ready for that point. He is super busy and works on Sunday. Our next baptism is scheduled for December 11th, 2010. Veronica is her name she struggles with comprehension and the drive, I thinks she is more in it for the social than the gospel itself.
We are striving for her to understand and praying for what to do to help her, it is challenge. also the guy who threw out his beer is now drinking again, it is so difficult to see it happen that way, but we are working to help him overcome it! well
Happy Thanksgiving! hope you have an awesome one!! we for sure will!!! :)
Also christmas, I would like copy of Claus journal, I still not get that from longgggggg ago!

thanks love you
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_


Have an awesome thanksgiving

15 November 2010

This week was great!!! One new Investigator and well we had drop a few too. they weren't progressing and we had to move on. it is sad to see them go and to see them and their desire no more!
This week we found one new investigator, Veronica Williams, a Black deaf lady who is really interested in learning about the church!! She is so excited about being baptized on Dec 11 she asks us about it every time we see her and she prays about it all the time! It got super cold this week!! Got down in the 50's this week and I almost FROZE!!!!!!!! yeah that is right! cold hands and cold feet!! woah it's Winter already!!! ooh no! Time here is flying by sooooo fast it feels like I just wrote you last week! crazy!
We also had a fireside with Joseph Smith's Great Great Granddaughter last night! was way cool! Learned lot of him and why none of his family is a member of the church! now that has changed!!
Well there isn't much left from this week is was soo fast! Love you much!!! thanks for all you do!

ATTN: All Packages for christmas must arrive at the mission office NO later than December 1st, 2010, or they will not be distributed in time for Christmas!!!!

Love,

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net

9 November 2010

Wow,
This week has been NUTS yep that's right totally nuts!! we Found 5 new investigators this week! 5!! yeah! 3 are in one family the father is deaf and the mother and daughter are hearing along with thte rest of the family!! the other 2 are singles! Also this week we had a great experience! on of our LEss active memeber has been on beer for the last I don't know how long and well he took the long walk to the garbage can this week! to throw the last of his beer in the trash it was such a great experience. anyway back to the Family, They are truly humble and are ready for the gospel. the mother has been looking for a church now for a long time and hasn't found the right one yet!! That's right the word yet is in that sentence!!! we also had a third companion this week! he was our zone leader, but his companion got assigned to a different assignment, Assistant to the President. ha so he was with us for the last few days! It's been a really interesting week this week, but all is well!! :) lots of fun had and well way lot more to be had! Elder Kane is beginning to become Trunky not lazy though! well i'm off for now!! Hope all is well!

Love you,

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

1 November 2010

There isn't much to write about! just same old same old this week! it's been a crazy week! I did go to an English area this week while on exchanges it was way different and really tough!! I like the deaf area alot better Alot more is required in the deaf area than the english area!! anyway!! we are doing great here!! the weather is finally cooling off and it is getting bearable now! it was in the mid to upper 70's and in to the 80's this week hopefully next week is cooler!! The work is slow right now, but we do have 1 investigator who is in town and the other is out of town! Ed Mace is the one in town, the is a Baptist and is really having a hard time letting go of his church! he knows the church is true, but doesn't want to act on it! really sad I must say!!! We had a halloween party on my birthday day at the church and interpreted at a family history fair in the morning!! For halloween we went to church of course then a few appointments dinner and back in by 6 p.m. for weekly planning!! it was changed out from friday cause of halloween!! well I think that's pretty much all!!! Thanks for the gifts!! Hope all is well! with you!!!
Love you all!
The gospel is true!! :)
Love,

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net

25 October 2010

Hey mom,

This week has been great! lots of new things are happening and well yeah! We found one new investigator this week his name is Ed. That now makes 2! :) yeah! I have been doing well!! the work is great here!! This week I have been studying alot about the atonement of Jesus christ and the role it plays in our life and also about authority and how to help understand that the authority his pastor has is not from God, but from a paper and a college. I am truly greatful for the opportunity to serve the Lord at this time here in Cold Arizona! It is about 65-75 degrees now and it bites! ha probably not as cold as it is there! Hope you are enjoying the rain, better get our your waders! :) your gonna need them it looks like! No gas for you! bummer! Thanks for all the Birthday wishes! I did recieve a card from your mom, and the JC penny stuff thanks so much! As the Fall here begins I want to share my love and gratitude for our savior and the love in which he gives the peace he affords and as we follow what he teaches we shall be truly happy. I would not rather be anywhere than here at this time serving the Lord and his Lost sheep. As you strive to do so the love you have for the savior yourself and the rest of the family will grow. don't be afraid to share the gospel. If I can overcome my fears so can you pray for help and you shall recieve it! You probably can't imagine me going up to a man or woman on the street and starting a conversation well guess what I can! Some days are easier than most, but if you don't ask they can't say yes. I found out my new companion this last week he comes the first week in February, Elder Bradley, and supposedly he is completely deaf! ooh what fun! :) can't wait! it will be a super challenge for me and for the mission as a whole, but it will be truly worth it!:)
Well gotta run thanks for all you do
Love,
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net


Don't be shocked it is longer than most! :)

18 October 2010

This week as been Crazy!! feels like we drove around a lot and didn't really accomplish much, but a lot came from it! We have one new investigator, His name is Jay Busby, we met him at the grocery store about 4-5 months ago before i went home, We had forgotten about him and we received a referral for him from some other missionaries, He came to the church and well it is all history from there! he doesn't have a baptismal date yet. he is very methodical! We called him this morning and set up an appointment with him, he wanted to compare the teachings of Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ! ooh boy is it our lucky day! he said he as yet to find a church with it all in the box! :) yee haw! :) cant wait!! keep searching for missionary opportunities and don't let satan get in the way of you accomplishing that! :) You can do it! I'll be waiting to hear from you!! As you can see the time is very short today, and it's been super hectic! gotta run! Love you all! :) Thanks for the update! Tell everyone hello! Love you
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

11 October 2010

Hey,

Another week and well for the answer to your questions!
Mom:
Normal schedule is as follows and well it's also in preach my gospel in the 1st chapter
6:15 wake/ workout/ pray individual and companion
7:15 Sacred grove experience ( reflection time as if in sacred grove) preparation for prayer and personal study
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 companion study
10:00 Languge study
11:00 Lunch
12:00 out for work
5:00-6:00 Dinner
9:00 Planning and
10:30 light out
in between 12 and 9 we have many different finding opportunities, tracting ( knocking doors), meeting people, teaching meeting with less active and ward members ect.

Recently we saw a huge miracle and are praying hard the it will continue to lead to success for The Lord in this area.
We were in an area far away from our Apt so we dont go down there too often however when we were there on our way to visit another person Elder Karlson was prompted to go and visit a person from the Branch. Age 17 who hasn't been to church in about 5 years i think. The youth leader has tried and tried and tried to contact him. No luck. He has moved here and there or whatever reason. ANywho he asked me if he lived Close. I said Yes he does actually Thats not bad idea. We went by and he was home! (i have met him once before in the VERY beginning of my mission. He wasn't interested in doing anything or coming back to church) Anywho we talked asked how he was doing and literallly about a minute into the conversation he asked us (yes HE asked US) about church. How it was going. We said GREAT! and in efforts to stay on that topic but turn the tables to HIM. i searched for what to ask. I asked "Do you miss church?" I feel i already knew that answer and was searching for something else. However nothing came so i asked. ANd he said no. but went on to explain why he was baptized 7 years ago and why he left the church. (both reasons mostly just family His uncle converted. everyone else was still catholic) and then he went on to explain lately he has really wanting to learn more about God and he had questions about Him he has been wondering and striving to find answers too. We asked Him about the Book of Mormon if he has been reading it and if we could visit him to answer those questions. He did not know where HIs Book of Mormon was. His mom put it somewhere he just didnt know where. ANywho he then said i don't have much time my uncle is on his way to pick me up. But you might could come in for a few minutes. Let me ask when he will get here. He would arrive in 15 minutes but Ricky invited us in anyways. We went in and had a very great short talk with him. Asked him what he wanted to know about God explained our purpose and what we would be striving to accomplish. We are excited to meet with him. He didn't know his schedule but will let us know soon. We are praying Things will work out. This could lead to a lot of success for the Lord here and lead many of His deaf children back to Him. Ricky is a senior or junior at the local Deaf School. Many youth who haven't already been stuck in their ways or worn out by missionaries over the years. We hope and hope. ANd have faith in miracles. Whatever the Lord will. We are excited to see what happens. :)

It is great for to hear from you all this week I hope it seemed to answer you questions if have other let me know i can answer!
Love you! take care!
Elder Karlson

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

04 October 2010

Hey cripple haha!!! Arm, leg, you almost got the whole body covered!! :)
The weather here is super hot still it looks like rain today but we have yet to see it! :) it's about 100 still and getting warmer every day!! but it's gonna cool down way too soon!!!!!! I need a few more white short sleeve shirt 17.5 neck 33/34 sleeve, and a sweater vest it's gonna get down right cold soon!!!!! it gets cold here at night now down about 75 or so but yeah!

As for the ASL area here
the boundaries are
1 hour north of San Man well ( i know that is wrong spelling! Spanish word can't spell it) manuel maybe
to the border with Mexico to the south Nogales, Sierra Vista, Ect
east to Silver City and Deming New Mexico ad West just 1 hour west of Phoenix!

Elder Kane and I Cover it all! mostly on referrals, so we cover the length of Tucson almost everyday! we average about 50-100 miles everyday in driving. Here no 2 deaf people live close together as you can tell!!

We are never home but for studies in the morning and usually have either a dinner appointment, which is VERY VERY VERY RARE, 1 maybe 2 a week if we are lucky! ha ha but if we don't we normally will take something or go to eat! most often we have to just pick something up because we go west with the intent to return to the east for dinner and the evening but most often something comes up and we have to eat and drive at the same time. on the phone or texting, emailing, checking updates on the web to the next deaf activity for the organizations around here and off to the next appointment. i can't imagine if it gets much busier than this! the work is going great!

Well gotta run! Check out the new advertisements floating around Tucson lately! they are on http://mormon.org/people/find/ then click on the list feature they are awesome! :)

The mission is the best!! best thing I have ever done!!!! it's been super busy no investigators yet!! deaf people are very stubborn and are not willing to listen to our message it's really sad, but all good! Elder kane is a District leader so we get to exchange alot with other elders i'm not real fond of that it slows down the work but it's great!!:) makes me appreciate my companion more! :) I love it here. the heat the sore feet the pain in the back are nothing when we focus on the reason we are here!! :)

ooh a nice wild couple of ties would be great! more bright colors other than red! no dark colors. :) thanks :) A few food gift cards would be nice too :) thanks :)

_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net

28 September 2010

Bummer poor grandma! haha! :) Love it! :) stuck there with kijsa! ooh boy! haha! just kidding! :) the weather is great it's starting to cool down now mid to upper 90 and in to the lower 100s :) yeah! :) finally down! :) Awesome you got to go to Bradley I'm way jealous! i heard John denver yesterday and it made me wanna go there!! or Back to philmont! :) haha! :) this week has been super crazy No new investigators yet deaf work is super super hard but it's great! :) having the time of my life!~! we had 2 exchanges this week one with the zone leaders and one with the other elders in our district, my companion is the district leader!! :) way fun for the most part but slows down the deaf work a lot! anyway gotta run! :) lOve you!

Elder Karlson

20 September 2010

:) Great week this week! seems to get more busy than we truly can handle! lots of work is being done here and lots lots lots more to be done! we had the opportunity again this week to be trained and edified by yet another general authority Elder Paul Johnson of the 1st quorum of the 70. it was great to meet him and to be trained by him and his wife! most importantly this week we have been focusing on teaching people not lessons. the numbers really don't make a difference, it is the quality of the lessons, the sincerity of the message we share that matters most. that is the reason i write today it to encourage you to do just that, find a friend to share the message of the gospel with. seek and pray for that missionary experience and then act upon the prompting that you will recieve as you pray and seek. I promise as you do so you lives will be improved, your lives and the desire you have will change in helping those to come unto christ!! The greatest happiness we have here on this earth is the atonement of jesus christ and the opportunity to be together as a family forever, don't allow anything to get in the way of making it happen! there is nothing better to know of that surity. Love you all!


Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net

13 September 2010

This past week has been crazy!! :) lots of fun has been happening, finding running around and Exchanges... huh? yep that's right!! they sent me with a hearing elder to a deaf area lots of fun! now i had the opportunity to practice my interpreting skills crazy!!! haha! well we been super busy this week! we taught 20 lessons this week which is a new record for us for just starting out!! finding and all! :) So we went to this Less active deaf mans house who is wanting to go to the temple!! we have been preparing him for the temple. Imagine temple prep class for dummies ( you know those books well i could write one by now) how to explain the temple to people who can't hear and have no language skills! LDS temples for dummies! you got it! maybe i'll try that when i get home!! This week we were trying to get the Branch excited for missionary work and get referrals. we did the excitement part, but the referral part is a work in progress!!! haha! deaf are very open to talking but not to committing to anything! ANYTHING!
Ha we got our carpets cleaned this week ooh what a blessing in disguise. we found out that the carpet was originally a grey color not a black color that it appeared to be! ha well now you know the life of a missionaries apartment.
I got bawled out by a deaf lady this week! we were helping her doing some service and mowing her lawn and we weren't doing it right i guess. I wasn't holding the wimpy electric weed eater right, so she got all huffy and puffy, ha i told her she could fo it if she would like. ooh would that be fun to see a deaf lady who recently had back surgery using a walker and mowing the lawn. what a sight! ha so we quickly finished up and come to find out she is that way with everyone! ooh how it must suck to get old! No offense! haha well i gotta be running!! love you all!

--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net


FYI the filling that monte fixed while i was home will be replaced tomorrow! it fell out last night before bead while brushing my teeth, we go to a member dentist so it shouldn't cost too much, if at all we'll see i guess! hope all is well! love you!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net

September 7, 2010

This week was awesome! :) way fun!! :) we found a new investigator this week!!! She is super LOW LOW LOW Educated. she has what we call LLS or limited language skills! she knows how to spell her name and do a few other things so the lessons we teach are mostly well Acted out. i guess all those days in drama are finally paying off if you want to say it that way! :S Also this week we have a few other things going on the work is finally picking up and it is super cool! :) few referrals left to contact and a few other things this week! deaf people LOVE to set appointments in advance, meaning well like 2-4 weeks in advance! so good things will begin to happen soon! :) We have been packed full all day every day at nights for the last 3-4 days! it's awesome! :) we are really being blessed! This morning is was reading in Helaman 5 an amazing chapter suggest you read it! :) read it once for the story and what is happening then again for the principles taught! wow it's amazing! the work is great! all is well here the deaf branch is beginning to respond! :) we had 2 Less Active members back at church this week! :) all is well! It's finally cooled down! under 100 for the first time in well along long long time! :) Great to hear from you all! :) Love you!
--
_\../ Elder Karlson \../_

korbyn.karlson@myldsmail.net