Our Missionary is Home

We are proud of our missionary, but so happy for his safe return! Our home has been a buzz these last few weeks. Making signs, getting his room ready and preparing for a party!!!

The anticipation was in the air and we all watched intently at the appointed time. We looked for a cowboy hat at the top of a tall body. It seemed forever until he walked through the doors! 

... and then we saw his hat 

Sibling LOVE!

This moment just happened and shows just how much 

Elder Kershaw loves and missed his siblings:

Amanda, Hannah, Ethan & Melissa

Leaving part of my heart in Texas

Dear family, This is a sad letter. These last couple of days have been really hard knowing my mission is over. It has almost been surreal. I have had so many experiences that
I will never be able to relive. It really has been the best two years of my life. I have received so many blessings and I know y'all have also.

Our meeting with Elder Nelson was great. I received a lot of good direction it was a great visit today. We have a member in the Carrollton ward that is taking us to Texas de Brazil a steakhouse for lunch then we have dinner at Fuzzys Tacos... awesome Mexican food with a family then we have a lesson tonight.

Texas will always have a piece of my heart. I have been fighting back tears so much this last week.
I love y'all so much and cant wait to see you on Wednesday.

Love, always Elder Kershaw

Last week as a missionary

Dear Mom and family, this week was great. We worked very hard. I am looking forward to hearing Elder Russell M. Nelson speak to the missionaries here in Texas. This will be the 3rd apostle I have been able to hear on my mission. It is a neat way to finish my mission. I am so excited to come home. Only 9 more days. There isn't really much else to tell. I am just finishing up being a missionary. Have a great week. 
Love y'all!

Love, Elder Kershaw

Here are some pictures of my companion and I and an investigator we are teaching.

And my companion...

Elder Kershaw is coming home!

It's hard to believe that in a little over 2 weeks we will see 

Jonathan again. I can't express my excitement to see him. 

I feel such gratitude for his example of serving 

as a missionary for two years. 

It is not always easy but he has worked hard 

and been obedient.

He has been a dedicated and faithful missionary. 

Texas was blessed to have him, and we are SUPER excited to have him back in Idaho!

Charlie's Baptism

I didn't think I would be able to email today but I found out late that the library was open. So we hurried over here before p-day ends.
 This week was great. Charlie's baptism went awesome. He is such a neat kid. He asked me to confirm him Sunday in church. That was a very cool experience. The first time I had ever done that. I could definitely feel the hand of the Lord in the blessing.

 I am glad Mackenzie found Hannah. She is a cool investigator. She loves the Book of Mormon. It is great.
I also found out this week Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve is coming to our mission next week, so I will be able to see him speak. That will be three apostles I have seen on my mission. It will be a neat way to finish.
I love yall so much. Have a great week.
Love Elder Kershaw
P.S. I hope dad can get the roof fixed today... I bet he wishes I was there.

Working till the end

Dear family this week was good. Charlie passed his baptism interview which we were both very excited for.

That is a cool story about hannah driving I am proud of her she was able to keep it under control.

Today Elder Weston one of my good friends and our companions are going to go downtown and meet up with Elder Troseth. It should be fun I am excited.

That kind of stinks I wont be able to get released until the next day.(He was hoping to get home earlier, get released as a missionary and be able to ride his horse) I was looking at my flight plans and I might need some money so I can get food. I have some long layovers (waiting in LA airport from 2:30-6:30) I guess the Lord is just trying to keep me a missionary as long as he can.

I am excited for this week we have a lot of fun stuff planned.
I also got to see Chelsea Martinez from McKinney she was an investigator I taught.  She might be getting baptized  before I go home, which would be cool. Elder Weston is teaching her.

As far as stuff I want to do when I get home...not a whole lot just shoot a gun and ride my horse. Red Robin dinner with our family sounds like fun, I would enjoy that.

I think I might go for a drive with Chelsea that second day if that's OK hahaha. 

I love y'all so much and cant wait to see y'all! 
Love, Elder Kershaw

4 Weeks left

Dear family this week was kind of weird. On Saturday I got my flight information. I will get home at 9:30 in the evening (February 4th) I was hoping I would get home earlier. It really hit me getting those papers that my mission is over. I hope and pray I have done everything the Lord has needed and wanted me to do while I have been out here.

We taught Charlie and he is set to be baptized on the seventeenth. I am super excited to finish my mission with a baptism. It feels really good. He is such a cool kid. He sat by us all through church yesterday. It is neat to see him building his testimony in the gospel.

Tell grandma I got her letter and thank you so much. That is neat she got to go to California with the Peters. I hope you start feeling better mom. I have definitely kept you in my prayers. I love y'all so much. Have a great week.

Love Elder Kershaw 

P.S. see y'all in four weeks

Merry Christmas from Texas!

Our Skype call with Elder Kershaw was wonderful! He is happy and working hard. He has about 5 weeks left of his mission and he got a little emotional when talking about leaving Texas. 

"This has been my home for 2 years, I love the people here and love teaching the gospel. It will be hard to say goodbye." He said his goals for the next few weeks are to read the Book of Mormon again and continue working with his investigators. 

Christmas Week

Dear mom and family this week was so great.

We set a baptism date with a boy named Charlie he is a cool kid. His date is set for the tenth of January it will probably be my last baptism so that will be neat. I am a district leader and that is going good. I don't have to speak that much, just once a week at district mtg. This weekend was quite the experience of seeing family. I had dinner with Corey & Jen  on Saturday. They are a really nice family, not super interested in the gospel though. Then on Sunday I was so surprised to see Christina. 

It was so cool, it was weird to see her and talk with her but it was a lot of fun.

I cant wait to Skype y'all on Christmas it will probably be in the afternoon. We have a zone mtg in the morning on Christmas. I cant wait to see y'all and talk with y'all have a great couple days. Love Elder Kershaw

It's Christmastime

Hi Mom and Family. I had a good week. We are teaching several people... a 14 year old boy in one family and a man of another part member family. We have good lessons. Ranae and Terrell have set a baptism date for December 27th. That is exciting. 

I will be staying in Carrolton for my last transfer. Hard to believe my mission is at that point now. I am glad I will be staying here. My companion and I get along good. We don't have a lot in common, but he is a good kid and works hard. 

I am excited for Christmas. The one message we are teaching this Christmas time is that of the gift of the Savior. That is the best Christmas gift we have been given.

 Here is the link to a great video, HE is the Gift

Also here is another amazing video of The Piano Guys singing Angels we have heard on High. It is from the record breaking Largest Live Nativity in history. They so beautifully help us feel the sacredness of the Savior's Birth. 

I love y'all so much. I am excited to Skype on Christmas! 

Have a good week!

Love, Elder Kershaw

Working Hard Again, makes me happy!

Dear Mom and family,

This week was pretty good. We are working very hard. We are teaching Ranae and Terrell. They are going to get baptized sometime this month. They are progressing very well. We are also working with a man named Jon. He is a very heavy smoker, a pack a day plus 6 cigars. We are trying to help him quit smoking. He is a very cool guy.

I am a district leader over a trio of sisters. This last Saturday they had a baptism so my companion and I went to help. I was able to give the baptismal interview. It is a cool experience to interview for baptism. I could feel the spirit so strong. My companion helped with the baptism. 

I think I am going to Momma Holm's for Christmas. I am excited to be able to Skype y'all.

This next week is transfers, my LAST one. I don't think I will be transferred, but you never know so just don't send anything that wouldn't get here before next Monday. 

I am glad Dad was able to change the water pump. That is really cool the experience he had. The Lord truly does answer our prayers in all things. I'm sure he is glad to have it done, I wish I could have been there to help him. 

I'm excited for Boise State, I hope they win the Fiesta Bowl again. Thanks for my Christmas package. It was fun to put up my tree and ornaments. 

It sounds like everyone is growing up so much. I love y'all so much!

Love, Elder Kershaw

Thanksgiving

Dear Mom, this week was good. It is kind of crazy taking over three wards, but it keeps us busy which is good. My companion that left is just with the assistants now. I'm not sure where he will go. He and the missionary that was here last transfer made some very stupid choices so my companion and I are cleaning up their mess. It is good though, I like this area, the members are fantastic here and really help us out. We have one family we are teaching pretty regularly, Ranae and Terreal they are getting baptized hopefully on the thirteenth of December. They are pretty cool. 

Thanksgiving was ok, the food was good it just wasn't turkey and mashed potatoes. Sounds like y'all had a fun Thanksgiving. I cant wait for Christmas and it is in only three weeks away. I also got to speak in church Sunday. That was my first time speaking in awhile I talked about the power of true conversion, it went very well. 

That is so cool about Boise State, I hope they go to the Fiesta Bowl... Go Bronco Nation! 

I talked to Momma Holm, she said they loved going out there and they had a great time.

I love y'all so much! Have a great week,

Love Elder Kershaw

Dear family this has been a crazy week! First of all, Elder Verdine my last companion got emergency transferred. My new companion is Elder Roberts from Driggs, Idaho. He has been out about 7 months. There was a bunch of really bad stuff that happened last transfer before I got here, so basically I am cleaning up other elders messes. I don't know the area so it is a little stressful, but it is ok. Pops Holm came and gave me a blessing last night which helped a lot. I feel like the Lord is just putting me through the refiners fire this last part of my mission. 

It is a good thing this ward has work and we have a baptism date coming up on December 13th, which will be very exciting. It is Ranae and Terreal, they love the church! The members here are goo. Because we cover three wards, it is going to be kind of hard to get to know them very well. But I feel there is lots of potential in this area. 

It has gotten warmer here, it is in like the sixties and  feels pretty good. Sounds like y'all have fun plans for Thanksgiving. We are going to just go to a couple members for dinner and lunch. I don't think we have too many plans.

I think Boise State will win over Utah State...I am converted to Bronco football since I have been away from it for so long.

 I love y'all so much, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 Love always, Elder Kershaw   

Karma's Baptism

Dear Mom and Family,
This week was great. I love Carrolton. it is right next to where I started my mission in Coppell. Elder Verdine is an awesome companion. He is from Portland, Oregon and has been out for about 6 months. He is a great guy to work with. This change for me was definitely inspired. I am so happy and doing great! We cover three wards in Carrolton so we stay very busy. Sunday we were at church from 7am - 5pm. It was very long, but very rewarding!
On Saturday I had the time of my life going back to Tyler, Texas. I was able to go back and baptize Karma. She didn't know I was coming, so it was a surprise for her. I also got to see the Gallamore's, and Brother & Sister Brock. It was so much fun! I got to meet Karma's dad (who she hasn't even seen in a few years. He came for her baptism). It just made me so grateful to have a family together that loves each other. I loved seeing all of them.  Karma lives with her mom and step-dad. I baptized her mom and sister while I served in Tyler.

I did get your letter in the mail. I noticed you didn't put the apartment # (707) on it, but the mail lady knows which box is the missionaries.  I have Corey & Jen's #, I will get a hold of them, it would be great to see them again. Tell Dad I can't wait for his surprise at Christmastime. I can't believe I will be home in 11 weeks. When I unpacked in Carrolton, I thought to myself, the next time  I unpack, it will be home in Idaho. I am doing great though, It is fun to be an old missionary. I live near an airport so when other missionaries see it, they remind me I have to give someone a blessing. I love y'all so much. Have a great week! 

Transfer Day

Dear Mom and family, this week was good. I do not like this transfer thing it is really weird and super nerve racking... we will get a call on Monday evening if we are getting transferred and then go to a meeting Tuesday morning to find out where we are going.  I am ready to leave Allen, I think I am getting transferred which will be a good change for me.

My bike is getting fixed but I don't need another helmet, my helmet is fine. I am praying to get transferred to a driving area with a  car so I don't have to ride a bike again. Ever. in. my. life! 
I will just stick to my horse.

This week we found two new investigators. Robert is the first one. He is homeless and living with a less active family. He is very cool and wants to change his life around. The other one is Ferez and he is from Egypt. He does not understand English very well so he is hard to get to progress very far but he is a nice guy.

Going downtown was fun, the best part was I got to see Elder Troseth again. I forgot my camera when we went, but Elder Weston took pictures so I will get them from him and email them to you. I love y'all so much have a great week.

Love Elder Kershaw

Today I learned that Jonathan was transferred to 

Carrolton, Texas and he will be in a car.

Pictures of Elder Kershaw

These boys are not in need of food... Texas takes good care of their missionaries!

A good week

Dear Family this week was good. We had an awesome Halloween. We had dinner at our Bishop's house and then went to another member's home for games with the other missionaries. I dominated everyone in Monopoly. It was a nice break.

We had a busy day on Sunday. It was very long, especially being a fast Sunday, but it was good. We taught Doug and Marilyn on Tuesday and helped them bring down all their Christmas decorations on Saturday. It was good but we all thought they were pulling them out too soon! They are really nice people. They feel like joining the church comes with too many rules. It is a hard thing to try to tell someone to give up things and change their life. I wish for them to see the blessings that will come from living the gospel. I have a strong testimony of that. I haven't always been perfect but I have really seen on my mission how we have to be obedient to the commandments. They keep us safe and I couldn't live the rest of my life with out the blessings our Heavenly Father has for me and all His children.

It sounds like everything is good on the home front. Tell Dad he can save that fence for February... we will have a good Kershaw work day! It has been getting cooler here which is a nice change. This week is transfer calls and I think I'll be leaving this Allen area.

We came over to Sister Barber's house early today to write. For P-day we are going to downtown Dallas with some other missionaries. I will be able to see Elder Troseth, my favorite companion. I am looking forward to that. Also we get to have dinner with Momma Holm on Wednesday, Yum!
I got my package, thanks, I love all the little notes for each day in November. The cookies were amazing, I shared them with my District. You have a good name in my district for good cookies and stuff you send. How's Amanda? I miss hearing from her. I love y'all so much. Have a great week!

Love, Elder Kershaw

A promise to finish strong

Dear mom, this week was good we had interviews, and I think I am going to get transferred in three  weeks which will be good. I am feeling a lot better and getting out more, We had an old investigator that we found his name is James. He is an old guy that is looking for something in his life. It is the gospel I know it, he just doesn't know it yet. He is super cool! He took us to Hutchins BBQ... one of the top 50 BBQ joints in the world. It was so good!

I am so proud of Ethan, he looks all grown up and like a wonderful new deacon.

These past couple weeks have been really hard, but things are starting to look up. I had a great interview with my mission president and he gave me great advise. I got my tooth fixed and my arm is pretty much healed. I am sure Momma Holm has told you all about that when you were talking to her. I was right next to her it was kind of funny. Elder Anderson is a really good kid,he is just super young/ He is right out of high school and it makes me feel like an old fart, but it is good because he keeps me obedient and having the desire to work hard. I promised my mission president I will finish my mission strong so that is what I am going to do.

I love y'all so much! Tell dad Happy Birthday, I hope he had a good one.

Love Always, Elder Kershaw

I am so inspired by the young men and women who set

 their own desires aside for a time  to serve the Lord, 

to share the message of the restored Gospel 

and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Missions are not always easy...

Dear family, this has been a week I have spent a lot of time on my knees praying to Heavenly Father to give me some direction. The Allen area is really slow, we don't have much to do and it is getting to me. I will talk to President Taylor about transferring to a new area. There must be someone here in Texas I can touch, I will keep trying and get out of this rut.

This week we had Stake Conference, there were some great speakers that really lifted me up. They talked a lot about keeping covenants and establishing righteous traditions in the home. I was so grateful that you and Dad did that. We always said prayer and read the scriptures. It also made me think of Grandpa Kershaw and every time we left Grandma and Grandpa's home, he always made sure we said prayer together. I have really felt his spirit strong these last couple weeks and it has been good for me. 

Elder Anderson is great, he is still pretty young but he is learning. He has been a strength to me because he has a strong desire to be a great missionary.  We also  got to see the movie "Meet the Mormons" and it was really good. I highly recommend it!

I am feeling a lot better this week. I have a dentist and Dr appointment this week too. The headaches are finally subsiding. 

I love y'all! See you in sixteen weeks!