January 2, 2012

To help a worried mom, I'm fine, I'm eating, I'm not cold. My bike is working great. What happends if my bike helmet gets broken or if I get a flat? I dont have one or anything. One of the dogs bit it though. Not while it was on me or anything but I left it out one time and there are like one or two bite marks on it and it made me wonder. 

I'm not gonna lie though, missionary work is real hard. Sometimes I wonder what I can even do when I have a day that is less successful. Being on a mission puts you in a situation that really makes you rely on the Lord. The song I need thee every hour really applies to missionary work. I need him every moment of the day. I'm trying my best, but often it doesnt seem to be enough. When those days happen I find myself at my bedside at night and just praying for help, and somehow, im able to feel or see how things are alright. God does wants us to improve, but its not required to be perfect right now. Thanks for the words in your letters they are really encouraging to me. It helps me see that even though things are hard, God is helping me be better, and he has great plans for me. I often see myself less than what I realy am (which can be a form of pride) but I know that God can give me help. When its hard to see, that is just God asking me to have a little more faith. Anyway, thank you for writing and sending me all the pictures and everything you do for me. You do so much for me. Your the best mom ever. I really mean it. Im glad you are my mom.

Love Kent

Letter from December 18, 2011

Dear dad
I want you to know of how much I love you. I love you so much for working so hard for me and the rest of the family. I feel like I'm learning a lot. I'm coming to understand the atonement more and more. Even though I'm out on a mission, I dont consider myself the ideal missionary. I want to be able to have more courage and confidence with talking to people. At a recent zone conference, I felt the spirit tell me of things that I need to work on. They are, faith, patience, and humility. They all work together and are connected as im sure you know. I need more faith that even though I dont think I'm very good at speaking to people, the spirit will bring truth to their hearts. An apostle once said, "it doesn't matter who's lips are moving when the spirit is teaching." I need to have patience with many things. Things like, the work im doing, my companion, myself, and others. I need to show constant respect for each of these and more. I need to do as was said in general conference and wait upon the lord. which leads into humility. I need to understand that everything is in the Lords hands while I do my part. I need to be wanting to know what the Lord wants for me as much as I want air. Jesus Christ was and is our perfect example, and he never did anything that was directly for himself. Everything was for us. His humility to our fathers will, makes so that we can eventually live with him and those we love. Anyway, enough about how I need to be better. obviously, there is room for improvement for everyone.
It sounds like things are going somewhat normal around there. So for the christmas call, make sure that people have things to talk about when they talk to me, cuz I've heard that the call can be a little weird seeing that I'm focused on the work and not much else. I'm sending you guys something for christmas and i hope you like each of the things.
Well dad, none of us are perfect, and I know you see yourself of less than what others see in you. You are great. I've seen in my life of how great you can be. I love you. Show mom and Randy individual and tailored gifts of love and time. I know that at times life seems impossible. It seems like sometimes we get overwhelmed and discouraged. There are many books and people that show us the "pill" to fix the next problem, real healing from the trails and hurts that come in our life come from the atonement of Jesus Christ. I know this and have seen it in the relatively short time I have been on this earth. I know it works. It's true, life is not easy at all, and the trials with the atonement make us stronger and more prepared to meet our father. I dont know how much this is making connection in your life or if it is making sense. I know I am weak. I know all of gods children are weak in one way or another. Rely on the Lord, and he will be with thee. He will strengthen thee. and cause thee to stand. Find out what the lord wants you to do, and do it. I love you dad. You are a great example to me.

LOVE
KENT

Kent's 1st Area-Morehead City, NC

MTC Pictures

December 26, 2011

I hope you guys had a great christmas. Say hi to my friends for me. Before I forget, I need to mention something to Randy. Randy ,when I talked with you, I talked about you reading your scriptures every day. I'm learning that the way that we do missionary work is through us inviting someone or some people to do something, the other person or party doing that thing, and then us following up with them to see how things worked out. This is in preach my gospel a lot. So my part would be to invite you to read your scriptures every day. The reason why I invite you to do this is because I know that the Lord has great plans and blessing for those who strive to do what is right but more specifically, you. So if you could email me or write me on if you accept this invitation, it would be great.
We invite because this gives us the opportunity to use our agency. So your parts are 1st, to either choose to accept or decline this invitation, and then 2nd to follow the decision that you have made. Then my part is to follow up with you. This means to see how you have been in this whole thing. I ask how it has effected you, and what you have gotten from it, but also on how improvement can be made. I do these things cuz I've seen in my life what can bring more happiness into the life of someone your age. Because I love you Randy, so much.
It was so great hearing from all of you and it made me think of a few things that I'd like to share. I looked back at our family and all the goodness of it. The gospel has really made our family the way it is. Of course we are imperfect, but there is so much beauty and love in what we do have. As I thought about this, it made me want to work harder. I wanted to bring that same kind of happiness into the lives of others. Because I have been given much, I too must give. Where much is given, much is required. I always pray for all of you at home. I pray that you may have happiness and growth. Something that I re-learned at one of my first zone conferences, is that no growth can come without discomfort. The more we sacrifice the more the Lord is willing to bless us. There is so much goodness that can come from the gospel. but if we dont rely upon what our God has given us, or apply it in our lives, it can't benefit us.
I love you guys. I know that God is aware of each of his children and loves them dearly. I know that he wants us always to come closer to Him. He wants us to be happy. In the name of Jesus christ amen.

Love Elder Masulonis

Zone Conference Video Dec-2011

Dear families of missionaries in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission,
We have had our Christmas Zone Conferences this week. They were wonderful, spiritually uplifting and festive. Each zone participated in a musical number and we also had other special numbers.

We love your missionary and feel it a privilege to serve with them at this blessed time of year. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and the Lord's choicest blessing for the New Year.

with our love
President and Sister Cotterell

December 11, 2011

I havent gotten transfered yet and I might not get transfered for a little while because usually you are with your trainer for 2 transfers ( 1 transfer = 6 weeks) and then I get a different companion as a follow up trainer for 2-1 transfers. I'm not sure if I will be staying in the same area then, but I will keep you posted. I will still be here for this christmas. I'm really glad and anxious about the packages from you and grandma. Since the transfer is happening for the past week,Elder Loftin said that they might be holding our mail till everyone is situated. I will be glad to hear from you. I cant really do alot with my camera because the screen is broken. go figure huh? I have the worst of luck with cameras.
So on christmas, I am only allowed to talk for about 45 mins. All those who will be talking to me cant be very greedy with their time talking to me. Also be thinking of something to say so that when I call, everyone isn't just wondering something to say. (hahaha) Also, make sure to somehow let my friends know when im calling, which will be at 8:00 my time, so around 6:00 your time.
So, something that happened this week. This week has been fairly slow and has helped me be much more humble and reliant on the lord. I felt like this week we didn't do very well and there was something else that the Lord wanted me to learn. Well, we were in a meeting this Sunday morning and someone called the church interrupting our meeting. One of the members named brother Crenshaw, ( who is AWESOME!) picked up the phone and started talking to the person. We couldn't hear what he was saying because the meeting went on and he spoke quietly. He also was writing some things down that we couldn't see. After the meeting, brother Crenshaw gave us the piece of paper he was writing on. It was a man that wanted to learn more about the church AKA a referral. So later that night we went to a trailer park and met at his house. When we met with this man, we really instantly saw the humility of his life. There was little light in the house, and some of the panels for the ceiling were missing. His wife had passed away from suicide two years before. He was alone. His wife was the center of his life and others. After her death, her children took allot from him. Including anything that was hers and the computer and camera that had all her pictures on it. all of this caused him to drink and smoke heavily. However he is currently working on quitting both. He had been church hopping to try and find the savior and the ability to be healed. When we got there, his phone rang and it was one of his brothers that lived in arizona and was a member of the church and was a temple worker. Elder Loftin talked to him and told him that he knew that the brothers parents were working with him on the other side of the viel. I'm sure that grandpa was there too. All of this was very humbling and sad but at the same time made us happy because we knew that he was open enough to receive the gospel and the healing and the truth that he was looking for. We began to teach him about the plan of salvation. He accepted everything we told him and bore testimony of. Truly this man was prepared by our father in heaven. It is my prayer that he will continue to accept these things and not let satan in his life to continue to obliterate his life. I know that god has heard both this mans, and my cries for his son and ultimately for help. The message of this christmas season is that God so loves us that he let his son suffer indescribable pain and agony for us so that one day we can have joy and peace in this life and in the life to come. I know this is true. I hope that we can all be able to see this and follow our Saviors example and do good for others. I love each of you and I hope that you have a great Christmas.

love Elder Masulonis.