Elder Robert Scott Killpack March 21, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was truly amazing. I was able to be by the Temple a lot this
week. I will tell you about those experiences. First, was on March
17th. Elder Bakewell knew that that was the ten year mark, and so he
said he was willing to go to the temple with me for our dinner hour.
There I was able to light a candle for my mom. And could feel of her
love. It was really a special experience, and then later that night I
was able to write her a letter. I wish I knew her more than I do. I
know she was an amazing lady, but it's hard sometimes to remember
everything about her, being only 10 years old. Oh how I wish I could
just sit down and talk to her, and get to know her. I love my mom so
much. I am so grateful for the many times she was able to be there for
me, even after she left this earth. Then the next da March 18th, I was
able to go through the temple for the first time since I left the
MTC!!!!! It was really cool and so peaceful to be there again. To be
honest it felt like the first time I went through ha. It all just felt
so new. Not that it changed, but it had just been so long! While in
the temple I was able to feel the comfort and love of my mom. The veil
felt so thin. She told me to tell the family, how much she loves each
and every one of you, and she is so proud of you. I know it is a
simple statement, but I hope you feel the power and reality, that this
comes straight from her. I also learned in the temple this week, that
our answers that we receive are heavily dependent on how specific our
questions are. I went to the temple wanting so many answers, but all
my questions were too broad. And some questions I only wanted a
confirmation that my answer was already right, and so that blocked
some of the spirit out, from helping me receive the answers from God.
So what I learned simply stated is, ask specific questions with a
humble heart, realizing that God may have a different opinion or
answer. Then on Saturday the 19th of March, I was able to be a part of
a temple tour! A group from Tübingen came down and had the YM and YW
and some of the primary there. I learned so cool things about the
temple. For example... The Bern temple was the first temple to be
built outside of the USA! Cool huh!? Well I am so grateful for the
temple. I am so grateful to live so close to the temple again, what a
blessing. I am so happy out here, I love life, and I love this work.
Love you so much mom, both Michelle, and Kim. I am so grateful to be
able to call you mom. Thanks for what you do for me. If there is
anything I can do let me know!

Elder Killpack

Elder Robert Scott Killpack March 14, 2016

First off, I want you to know I did not forget your Birthday last week!!!! I thought I had written about it my big letter, but I now realize that I didn't... So I am so sorry about that! But Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week was really cool! We were able to go to a mini MTC that they had here in the stake of Bern. It was really cool. There were about twenty youth from the stake that took part in this amazing activity. We all arrived Friday evening at like 6:00 o'clock and we had some dinner and a  spiritual thoughts and then all the youth opened up their calls to see where they were going on their missions. Then we slept over with the Interlaken Elders, and woke up super early to get up to the MTC again ha! Then we were with them for their District meetings, then breakfast, and then we were able to be MTC teachers for a little bit. We taught them how to teach people, or what are some important principles someone would need to teach a powerful successful lesson. Then were able to be the investigators for these youth who were paired up in companionship. That was a really cool experience for me, as I put myself in one of our investigators shoes, and to hear the testimonies of these two future sister missionaries, and to feel the spirit with which the taught. It was one of many confirmations to me that this church is the true church of Christ. Then later that day we were able to have a testimony meeting in which all these future missionaries bore their testimonies about how they are so excited to go on a mission. I could feel the spirit so strongly as they testified of what they knew was right to do. It really made me realize how lucky I am to be on a mission, and it gave me a new energy to do everything I can to live up to these expectations of the mission being the most amazing time of my life up to this point. I found a new desrie and a stronger desire to serve the Lord. I am so grateful for all these youth in our stake, who strengthened my testimony of being a missionary, what an honor to have been with them.

We were also in charge of Zone Sport, for the mini MTC and we played some Flicker ball, and that was alot of fun to play in the snow and in the middle of the alps I will put a picture of the field on here later:) well I love you and I am so grateful I can call you my Mom!!!!!!! Love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Killpack

The Field 

Elder Robert Killpack 03/07/2016

So Switzerland is LEGIT!! I love it. It is super expensive, super
pretty and MOUNTAINS! I love it. I am known as the "American" by the
missionaries and the members, so that will get old real fast, but that
is just the culture of this mission right? This weekend we had Stake
conference, and President Kearon was there, he is one amazing guy!
During the first session, I was super tired and was in and out of
sleep. Then we were lucky enough to sing an intermediate hymn so I
could stand up and wake up, then I leaned over the Elder Bakewell
after the hymn and said, I am so bored right now and so tired, I can't
keep my eyes open. We chuckled about it, and then the Stake President
got up and said, we will now hear from our new missionary Elder
Killpack.... President Kearon had told him to call on me to give a
quick five minute talk on the spot! Safe to say I was wide awake on a
matter of Seconds. As I walked up to give my talk President Kearon
just smiled at me and said, Thank you. Ha then I proceeded to teach of
Christ. 2 nephi 25:26. I finished my part and then President Kohler
who was there, gave me the thumbs up. I am sure he was more nervous
than I, because one of his missionaries had to get up on the spot in
front of the area president, but I think he was relieved by the time I
was done ha! But ya after that my legs couldn't stop shaking as I sat
down, and I was WIDE AWAKE.

Life is good! I was able to see the TEMPLE for the first time in
twenty months on Saturday, and I about cried. I could feel the spirit
of the temple just being on the temple grounds. It was incredible! I
LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE, I am going there someday... NEXT WEEK!!!!
Wahoo!

Love Elder Killpack

Elder Robert Scott Killpack Feburary 29, 2016

Hello! How are things going back home? How is planning for the wedding
going? So the the heading is a quote from Elder Bos, the senior couple
here in Stuttgart Military ward. We were going to the Schloss
Lichtenstein today, and it was kinda cloudy where we live, but by the
time we got the castle, it was snowing and super thick fog, and Elder
Bos continued to remind his wife that she promised him spring a week
or so ago haha! But it was a lot of fun being up there in the snow,
even if the castle was closed for the day... It was a pretty cool
place. You should look it up and see the pictures! I will send you
some over iCloud.

Now as you asked last week... Transfer came. I will be leaving
Stuttgart, after 7 amazing months, and I will be heading down south to
the city of BERN, SWITZERLAND!! I am going to the SCHWEIZ!!! Wahoo!!!!
I will be right next to the Temple too!! It's only like 30 mins away!
I am super excited. It is the first time in like 5 years that
Americans have been allowed to be missionaries in Switzerland so it is
a big change. And we are only allowed to stay 90 days there... And
that is exactly how many days I have left too. So I will barely make
it until the end! I now have to learn a new language... Swiss
German... But I am super sad to be leaving all the people in
Stuttgart. I have really come to love this ward! Especially the jungs
here. The guys who are about to go on their missions! They really feel
like some of my best friends! I love those guys so much, and it stinks
to have to leave them, but we already planned a sport night when I
come back in June haha! I am very grateful for my 7 months here in
Stuttgart, words cannot describe how I feel about this place, and
especially the people I have come to know. They will forever have a
place in my heart! I am also very sad to be leaving one of my best
friends Elder Rahlf. He truly is a great guy! We have had such an
amazing time together these last four months. We will be friends til
the end! But ya it was a great week! 
Love you mom!!!

Elder Robert Scott Killpack February 22, 2016

Dear family,

 Things are starting to get warmer over here. I wore shorts and a longsleeve shirt today! crazy huh?? We played some more handball today thats why! I hope you are having a good time back home!!!!! I am super excited for you guys as ward missionaries! I will be your third wheel with everything when I get home okay?? Missionary work must go on when I get home. It is kinda like what Elder Bednar says about the spirit. The best way to always have the spirit is to never lose him! Same thing with missionary work, if I never lose the drive to do it, then I will always be doing the work!! I will let you know haha! I am 95% sure that I will be getting transferred... we find out this week on friday, and then the following thursday I will be in my new area. I HOPE ITS LANDSHUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but we will see what happens right? But ya life is good I love being here and these next few months are going to go by way too fast I know it, but I will work hard and finish like my days here never will!!!! Love you and I am so grateful for all you do for me!

Love,

Elder Killpack

Elder Robert Killpack February 16, 2016

Dear mom,

What a week! We were able to experience two miracles!! First, we have
been a man from China, Jim. He was making amazing progress, and is so
receptive to the spirit. He was rock solid and accepted and prayed
about everything we taught him. But for the last month we lost contact
with him. He wouldn't answer his phone when we called and wouldn't
reply to txt... It was super lame, but then I called him on my phone
this last week, because he didn't have my number saved, and we got a
hold of him!! He told us that the commandments were just too hard to
follow, and that he didn't think he could do it... So we told him,
that of,course it was hard, especially when you have only known about
them for a month haha! So,we decided to take things easy with him. We
were able to get him to meet up with us and we played basketball
together. Then we talked about our families and we showed each other
pictures of our hometowns! He really enjoyed the time we spent hanging
out. I think it was really good for him to see us just being there as
his friend, not just missionaries. We will start teaching him again
soon! Pray for Jim to be strong in his faith, and stay true to the
answers he has received! Then Elder Hunt came into town for Austausch!
It was really fun to be able to work with Elder Hunt again! He is a
great guy. But when we were together we were trying to get a hold of
Bruder Heuer, because his phone no longer works, which means we have
to go to his house and call for his name, it's kinda complicated
because of where he lives... But anyhow, we went and Bruder Heuer
wasn't home, so we went back to the Ausstellung on KÖNIGSTRASSE and
within 2 mins Bruder Heuer was there! What a miracle! We were then
able to meet with him, and teach him, he has forgotten basically all
doctrine we have taught him, but he remembers the spirit he felt when
he met with us! So we are going to just start building from there
again! He is super excited to be back in church again. He is such a
good guy, I just hope his brain tumor gets better! Love you so much
and I am grateful for all you have done for me! And that will work out
with the 12th of June being my homecoming no worries! I am just glad I
will be there for the wedding! Love you guys! Have a great week!!

Elder Killpack

Elder Robert Scott Killpack, Janurary 18, 2016

The work is what's most important I will be here for Lao Chin Hao's
baptism! He is getting baptized the week of my birthday! How cool! He
is so amazing. He txted us Sunday morning saying, that he had played
video games through the entire night, so he wouldn't come to church
because he was so tired. But we helped him out to convince himself
that he could do it! And then he made it to church even though he was
dead tired!! He is so amazing!!! I love that guy!!

Love you,
Elder Killpack

Elder Robert Scott Killpack. January 11, 2016

Family and Friends, 

What a week! We went to Taco Bell last week again with the Bos's! It
was yummy. I learned a lot from Elder Bos about schooling, and how to
go through school, amd what might be good options. I love learning
from the Ehepaars here in the Mission.

Tuesday was good. We tausched with the Elders in Esslingen, which
means, Elder McDaniel for me! We had a good time! Found a cool guy
from the Philippines named Roy. He was way sweet! We doored quite a
few houses, and met some nice people, hopefully they will see some
success through that!!

Wednesday we were at Esslingens District Meeting. It was a good time.
That district is doing great things! In fact Tübingen Elders just had
a baptism this last week, which is like the 10th one in the last year
for that branch!! Things are going great down there!! I am proud of
those guys! We also taught Jim ( Lao Chin Hao). He is for sire getting
baptized. The only question is if I will be there for it... But that
doesnt matter so much, because he is doing the best possible thing he
can do for himself at this time!! Man, I love Jim!! He is so amazing!

Thursday, we rode a bus to Munich for MLC, and watched a talk from
Elder Ballard. We need to use the time in our life/mission, not kill
it. Then I was able to meet up with my old buddies, Elder Bates from
Pforzheim, Elder Hadfield from Passau, and Elder Hunt from stuttgart!
Oh it was great!! We also ate some Hans im Glück and it was tasty!

Friday MLC. It was a good one. A lot of frustration, because we are
trying to change the culture of the mission, and there are just some
things that I just dont understand why missionaries do them, or talk
back to president about some rules.. Ah just makes me so sad in the
end to see missionaries we have worked 20ish years to be here, just to
kill time for two years... I also had to talk at MLC and that was
intense... Ha! It was a good time! Then Tausch with Elder Albrecht
started in Munich. He was kinda sick the whole tome, but we were still
able to make it to a part member family appointment at night time.
They were so cool the son is getting baptized this Coming Saturday!

Saturday was the end of our tausch. I learned a lot from Elder
Albrecht. He is a way good guy! We had a good time together, and cant
wait until simmer when we will go golfing together ha! He is a stud.
Then we rode the train home.

Sunday was funny ha. We had three investigators make it to church, but
it was funny how it happened. So we now have church at 13:00 and so
church starts and none of them are there... Jim shows up 5 mins late,
then Felix 15 mins after that, and then another 15 mins later Dogbo
shows up! It was funny because there was no room in the inn, and so we
could spread them out in the chapel, so then ended up just sitting all
together ha! Then we had dinner with the Bos's it was great!

Love you all,
Elder Killpack

Elder Robert Scott Killpack, December 23, January 4th, 2016

Dear Family, 

I had a great time Skyping you guys!! It was so weird to see all the
grown up kiddos!!! My nephews and niece are the best ones!! I am glad
Elder Kingsbury is out here!! I will have to get his email so I can
write him! He is a great guy. 
So I will give you a quick but powerful update on Lao Chin Hao! He is
golden and going to get baptized! He understands everything we teach
him, and he remembers it all! He bore his testimony to us last
Saturday about how he knows the BOM is true! And that Joseph Smith is
a Prophet! And that this is the only true church! He wants to get
baptized, he just needs to hear all the commandments now!

Crazy stuff! Thanks for everything you did this Christmas season! Not
only for me, but for the whole family! I am so grateful for you in my
life!

Love,
Elder Killpack

December 23rd, 2016

HELLO!!!!!!!!

We had a fun week here in Stuttgart. Last week we were in Esslingen and had a lot of fun. We went to their Christmas Markt, and it was amazing! You told me in a letter that you bet Germany is a dreamland during Christmas... That was an understatement! I love it here! It truly is magical! Work wise was a little harder this week... And it was mostly our faults! We were calling as many people as we should have been. We were just scattered brained the whole week with transfers, chirstmas stuff, sport abend, and the list goes on, but we didnt call everyone we needed to in order to meet with everyone! But we will do better this week! I have gotten into the christmas spirit this last week pretty hard, especially on the German side. I decided to change my gift idea... Instead of getting every sibling, and Madi something I got you and dad something... It was a little more pricey than what I had planned, but I couldnt resist!!!!!!!!!!! I will just say it is a classic german christmas item:) I really hope you like it and that it gets to you guys soon! I still have to send it! Oh and that reminds me! Bruder Klemm from Landshut sent me a package with German christmas sweets! It was great!!!!!! Well I love you so much!!! Have a great week!!!!!!!!

Love, 

Elder Killpack