I wish you a happy Easter Too!!! And a Happy birthday to padra!!! Dad..

how old is he turning? haha

sorry Kara for not writing you.. I keep forgetting.. I will do it first thing! but until  then love ya!

This week has been great and there has been a bunch of great miracles that have been happening in Waukee and throughout the zone too! We were able to pick up an investigator that some Elders in the zone received from a member, which happened to be in our area. It was an awesome blessing! We have been teaching Nelson now and hopefully we will teach his family to when the time comes. The cool thing is that he’s from Africa! He is a very humble man and understands the gospel very well, it also helps that his brother is a member too.. We also set a date with him for April 27 and he accepted! Another miracle was a man named Dan, who has been coming to church for 5 years with his family. the missionaries have been teaching him a lot, but he has never accepted a date to be baptized. He lives the gospel, but isn’t able to receive all the blessing yet.. well the miracle is that we set a date with him for March 30th! which is this Saturday! It would be so cool, since its Easter weekend!

Interviews with President Jergensen were on Wednesday, its super sad though, because this was the last time that I will ever get the chance to have another interview with him. He will be going home here in July.... than we will be getting the new President in. It’s been a blessing to serve around such a consecrated man!

On Sunday it snowed again here.. it’s really weird that it keeps snowing.. I like the snow but I would love some warmer weather sometime.. haha but anyway Sunday was great Nelson came to church even though the weather wasn’t the best. Also they had an Easter devotional at the Stake Center, where the stake president gave a short message preparing us for the Easter weekend. I really hope that everyone will focus and study the atonement this week... I definitely am.. that is the greatest message that you could share to anyone really.

The zone leader stuff is fun, but it’s a lot of stuff to remember and a lot of people to keep track of. I really enjoy it for the most part. it’s not too much different than district leader, other than there’s more numbers and things involved..

o ya Kara wasn’t the only one that got sick, I had the flu for a couple days.. I forgot how crapy it is to be sick... it kinda reminded me about the atonement though.. it was a little painful, so it made me realize how much the savior went through enough to bleed from every pore! my sickness was nothing compared to that..

Well I love you again! I ll see you next Easter though.. have fun at the Easter egg hunt!
ps... sorry for not having any pictures this week, but next week..

Dear Family, ... the best ever....!

 

Thanks!! The article was a big surprise to us as well, we didn’t know that it was going to be such a big hit... I hope that it will help the missionary work grow a ton in Mason City. I was super sad to leave that place, but the lord has called me to another place for the moment. I am serving in Waukee, Iowa, which is right by Des Moines. It is such a great place and a very nice one at that. I am super happy to have this opportunity to serve him with a great elder..his  name is Elder Meservy. He’s from Salem Utah. We are going to have a couple of great transfers here.. I can just fill it. It’s been really stressful for the last couple of days.. But it’s nothing new, being in a new area with all new people. I am loving it though :) There is 3 times as much stuff to do as a zone leader than a district leader.. It’s definitely the hardest thing that I’ve ever done.. but it’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything else.. The atmosphere is a lot different here as well.. I guess I mean the how the everything is here. The areas here a lot smaller, do to the fact that there are a lot more members and people here. Its kinda like back home.. there are three wards in the building that we go to, in all of my last areas there has only been one. It’s super awesome though. There was a baptism on Saturday that I had the opportunity to see, that the missionary here before taught. The work here is really fast paced and there’s a lot of stuff going on.

I just want to say thank you to everyone that has written me in last few weeks or months... sorry for not getting back to you sooner... there is just so much going on right now that it is hard to keep track of everything right now. I promise that it’s not because I hate you or anything... I will do my best to get out a few here and there, but I can’t promise a whole lot for the moment. I really do love you all and appreciate everything that you do for me.

So for the apartment.. I guess if you can call it that.. haha we live in a members home here in Waukee that let’s just say is absolutely huge! It’s super nice... We are having a great time! The members here are really nice and they love to do missionary work! The last area was great at being missionaries too.. I would invite everyone to be their own missionary and invite someone to the Gospel.. I promise it is a lot easier than it sounds and you’ve got missionaries in the area that would love to help you out too.. To help you or anyone else to become a better missionary and member.. I would exhort you to read “when thou art converted" ... if I already haven't told you about that. It’s one of my absolute favorite talks out there. Just lay down any fear like it’s your worst enemy and give everything to your Heavenly Father and he will provide for the necessities:)

so the weather was filling pretty good the other day, but it just snowed a couple inches last night so we still have a little while to go. How about you? O and there are a ton of people from Utah that live here.. it’s pretty awesome.. The lord has really blessed us here in Waukee and I would expect to stick around here for at least 6 months... It’s going to take a month or two to get everything down. they will hopefully split the zone here in the next transfer or two.. because there are a ton of missionaries that we have to keep track of right now.. like 28 of them.. it’s pretty crazy and really makes you stretch a whole lot.. I am grateful for it because I need it. I have got lots of years to make up for the lost time and laziness that were a part of my life.. before.

I love you guys so much!!! LOVE,

ELDER THOMAS KIRTON!!

p.s. .. So not that I don’t love the packages that I’ve received in the past, but I am really low on room right now as far as the suitcases go.. I’m doing very well on everything and shouldn’t need much right now.. but I will let you know if I do..Thanks so much! I really love the letters and the pics so you can save the money on the packages right now..

Pictures from Mason City

 

 

 

 

 

We just got a package from TJ today, in it was a newspaper article about him and his companions. It's super cool. If you'd like to read the article go to this website. http://globegazette.com/news/local/mormons, then click the article Mormon missionaries share their faith with North Iowans. It's a great article.

 

 



Super Awesome news from TJ!

IT SNOWING IN IOWA! WHATS UP AND WHATS HAPPENING?

SO KARA DIDNT GET A LETTER YET... O MAN I SENT IT OFF THE OTHER DAY HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET THERE.. WELL IM  PRETTY SURE I SENT ONE OFF, SOMETIMES I START TO LOSE TRACK SOMETIMES.. SORRY! STILL LOVE YA THOUGH. :) IF I DIDNT SEND ONE I LL GET ONE OFF FIRST THING, BUT THE ONLY PROBLEM IS I MIGHT NOT HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME THIS WEEK. I WILL TELL YOU WHY IN A LITTLE BIT.. WE JUST GOT HAMMERED WITH SNOW LAST NIGHT.. ABOUT A FOOT OF SNOW. SO WEVE BEEN GROUNDED FOR A LITTLE WHILE UNTIL NOW. ITS BEEN A CRAZY WEEK, SO FAR.

THIS WEEK WASNT THE BEST FOR DUSTIN WHO WAS GOING TO BE BAPTIZED ON THE 23. HE WENT ALL ANTI ON US THIS PAST WEEK.. ITS SUPER SAD TO SEE HIM GO LIKE THAT. HE WAS SO CLOSE TO BREAKING THE ALCOHOL ADDICTION. THAT WAS THE ONLY SAD NEWS THIS WEEK.. WELL ALMOST ALL OF IT. I WILL BE GETTING TRANSFERRED ON THURSDAY SO I WILL HAVE TO SAY GOOD BY TO ALL OF THE AWESOME MEMBERS HERE AND THE INVESTIGATORS THAT WEVE BEEN TEACHING... :( THATS WHY WE ARE GOING TO BE SO BUSY FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE TRANSFERS. ITS BEEN A REALLY UNEXPECTED TRANSFER CALL THIS WEEK. ELDER FIRTH WHO I HAVE BEEN SERVING WITH FOR THE LAST 4 1/2 MONTHS WILL BE STAYING IN THE AREA FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER... HES BEEN IN THE AREA FOR 7 1/2 MONTHS NOW AND WILL BE HERE FOR 10 1/2 ITS SO CRAZY.. THAT NEVER HAPPENS... AS FOR ME I WILL GET THE WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS A... ZONE LEADER.. YAAAAAA... I AM SUPER EXCITED! I DIDNT THINK IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TRANSFER BUT IT DID.. I CANT WAIT.. I AM STILL REALLY SAD TO LEAVE ALL OF BAPTISMS THAT ARE COMING UP, BUT ITS SUCH A BLESSING TO GET THE CHANCE TO SERVE AS A ZONE LEADER.. THATS THE MOST EXCITING NEWS THIS WEEK.. O AND ON SUNDAY WE HAD THE GREATEST FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETING EVER.. RIGHT AFTER CHURCH WE WERE ABLE TO SET A DATE WITH JOSH FOR APRIL 2OTH. HES IN THE PICTURE WITH THE PRIESTLY FAMILY.. I CANT TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE SERVING IN SUCH A GREAT AREA AND MISSION. ITS BEEN ALL UPS FROM THE DAY I GOT TO THE MTC TO NOW... THANKS SO MUCH FOR GETTING ME OUT HERE AND FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOUVE GIVEN ME THROUGH OUT THE MISSION.

YOU WILL BE GETTING A PACKAGE HERE AT THE END OF THE WEEK WITH A FEW THINGS IN IT.. SO I WONT DISCLOSE EVERYTHING TO YOU RIGHT NOW.. BUT ANYWAY, LAST WEEK WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LITTLE ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER HERE IN TOWN. EVERYONE HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT LATELY. HOPEFULLY IT WILL REALLY HELP THE WORK MOVE FORWARD FASTER HERE IN MASON CITY.

TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOUVE LEFT ME... THE GREATEST WAY TO HELP ANYONE IS TO SERVE THEM AND TO GAIN ENOUGH TRUST TO ASK THEM THE TOUGH QUESTIONS. YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEE THEM THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.. HAVING CHARITY AND LOVE FOR THAT PERSON. WHEN YOU DO THIS THE LOVE WILL CAST OUT ALL OF THE FEAR THAT THEY HAVE.. IF THEY ARE AN HONEST SEEKER OF TRUTH. (MORONI 8:16) HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP.. LET ME KNOW?...

AGAIN I LOVE ALL OF YOU AND PRAY FOR YOU ALL THE TIME! KEEP BEING SAFE AND ENJOYING YOUR STAY IN UTAH... HAHA HOW ARE YOU AND DAD AND NICOLE AND KARA AND CONNER AND BRET DOING? :) GOOD BYE MASON CITY.. AND WELL I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHERE I AM GOING NEXT WEEK..

 

LOVE YOU! SUPER LOVE ELDER THOMAS JAY KIRTON.. .... IT CAN GET CONFUSING WITH ALL OF THESE ELDER KIRTONS OUT THERE.. GOSH..

 

His Zone

The Till's, Gloria and D. Earl

The Billings

Sister Herndos

The Preistly's and Josh

 

His District

Another great week! has just gone by again! and another week in my memories!

DEAR FAMILY,

At first glance I really thought someone lost their leg... man it kinda freaked me out at first.. but I am glad you have had a great time doing the cert training. Prom wow that is awesome reminds me of the old days of high school and how fast it flew right by. Sounds like everyone is having a great time and ice fishing huh? that sounds super fun right now.. the ice is starting to melt over here now, but it’s still got a long way to go. We just received some more snow last night.. about 2 to 3 inches.. it sound nice over there though..lucky..

It’s been an action packed week, full of teaching appointments. We were able to teach a new investigator again this past week, that is super prepared and totally ready to be baptized. We’ve been really working hard with Dustin who is going to be baptized on March 23... he keeps slipping up every once and a while so we have to push the date back if he messes up.. but it’s totally fine. Becoming a member of the church is a hard thing to do in the world today. On Sunday, which was stake conference we were able to listen to Elder Dallen H. Oaks and a few other general authorities over the tv. He said "the world will hate us for doing the lords will" it so true.. I have noticed that even more out here. It’s not easy being a member of the church when you are a minority and you are all alone. Just remember who you are and everything will be okay. That is what the Atonement is for.. The other lesson this week went pretty well, other than one of our investigators started to get a little frustrated during our lesson and started cussing and stuff it wasn’t that great.

Sunday we received some awesome news about a couple of the new investigators that we’ve picked up just recently. One of the members told us aboutJosh and how he posed on Facebook that he "got his answer", he’s 17 and so prepared to be baptized. Hopefully we can get him out on a mission as well. The other new one was Susanne who left a member a message on her phone and told her the this is the path that she needs to take. The Book of  Mormon has a lot of power when you read in with a sincere heart and real intent.  We should set a couple of dates this week, I will update you on that..

I know that what the apostles and prophet teach us are so true and when we yield to what God wants us to do everything is always going to workout. The book of Mormon teaches us all about this.. following the gospel and not following the gospel.. it teaches us what happens to those in both situations. Again I know that the church is TRUE!

That is so exciting to hear about the areas that Ryan and Andrew are going to serve at. They are going to have a great time!

What’s something you would like to know more about, mission or anything really.. ? You guys are the best and I really love you! How’s the ward doing? How’s school going for everyone? How are you doing?Take care and I will talk to you on Monday and let you know what’s going to happen for transfers, since transfer calls are Saturday. LOVE YOU AND PEACE BE UNTO YOU!

LOVE ELDER KIRTON.. the one in Iowa. haha