Arizona Mesa Mission Address



Thursday, October 28, 2010

Second Week in the Field

Dear Family,
 
I can't believe it has already been one week in the field.  Time has flown by so fast, but it also feels like an eternity since I stepped off the plane last Tuesday.  I am learning so much and working a lot.

It's really weird to not have my MTC companions any more, but I am really good friends now with the my new companions.  I've gotten to know them a bit better since I last wrote.  Elder Reid, who is Elder Biddle and my trainer, is hilarious and really knows how to make the mission fun.  He is also a great teacher and knows how to make friends with the investigators and church members.   A lot of the members in church really like him.  He also does a good job of giving me opportunities to teach, contact, and learn from experience.   Elder Reid and I are pretty tight and our personalities go really well together.  Elder Biddle is a humble, hardworking, and motivated "greenie" who has been out for just a transfer and he really tries to be obedient.  It is usually Elder Biddle and I studying together in the mornings.  We get along pretty well, but he isn't much of a talker.  Anyway, when we are out working in the field we all work well together and try our hardest.

Right now we have two investigators who will most likely get baptized.  One of them is named Surgio, who had a drinking problem but has stopped.  The only issue is that it's kind of hard to get him to come to Church.  A lot of the people we teach don't have transportation so we have to organize rides with the members and stuff.  Even if they do have rides, its still not a guaranty that they'll show up.

My first Sunday was really good but kind of annoying since I can't speak a lot of Spanish yet.  I really want to be able to have good relationships with the members.  A lot of them recognize that I am trying and they compliment me for what I do know.  Since I've only been out for a week -- my Spanish is actually pretty good.  I can already see that my ability to understand what others are saying has increased but I still have a ways to go.

One thing about our area is that it's fairly new (only one transfer old) so the work here is still kind of slow.  One cool thing is that the temple is right on the edge of our area so we can go there and do service on Saturdays.  I have already had the opportunity to go to a sealing of one of Elder Reid's converts.

I had two contacts that were really weird -- they were really drunk and started to freestyle rap for us for about 15 minutes.  There are so many people I see that really need the gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ in their lives.

I had one really crazy lesson with this recent convert named Anita who is not very active.  We were lucky to catch her home (she isn't usually there) so we went in and taught her.  I had the opportunity to teach my first full lesson (Lesson 3) which includes the topics of faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  It went really well and the Spirit was there.  After that we gave her a blessing for her back pain.  Elder Reid then started to talk to her more about enduring to the end and what we have to do to persevere for the rest of our lives.
 
Then he started talking about the Ten Commandments and how we should not worship idols or graven images.  One big thing in the Hispanic Catholic culture is the worshiping and praying to saints.  Even though she was a member, Anita had this huge framed picture of San Judas on her wall that she prayed to prior to being baptized.  We told her that she had to take it down because it was against the commandments.  Elder Reid was very straightforward with her and asked her where her pictures of God or Jesus Christ were.  We told her we would go and buy a picture of Christ and bring it back for her.

We rode our bikes down to the Deseret Book store and picked out a framed picture of Christ that looked like it was about the same size as the picture of San Judas that she had.  Miraculously, two people who happened to be in the store while we were there asked us why we were picking out this picture of Christ.  After we told them what we were doing, they bought it for us!  So now, after the Lord provided a way for us to get Anita's new picture of Christ, we were determined to go back and replace San Judas with it.

When we got back to Anita's house, she was somewhat reluctant for us to take down San Judas, but eventually she allowed us to replace it.  Later, we talked to a member who said Anita was glad for what we did. 

By the way, the house where we're staying is a member's home.  He is really awesome and has this super nice, NONTHREATENING (dad...) PIT BULL named Sadie that we love to play with. It seems a ton of people have pit bulls in Mesa (and so far they all seem really nice).

Love,
Elder Kinney
 
PS - The food here is amazing!

Friday, October 22, 2010

First Two Days!

Dear Family,

I am finally here in Mesa, Arizona, where I will be for the next 22 months serving the Lord and bringing others to his fold.

As soon as we got off the plane, we met President Ellsworth and the AP's.  He's really nice and encouraging.  You can tell that this work is so important to him (not too surprising since he is a Mission President).  We loaded all our luggage into vans and trucks and then headed off to the Visitors Center of the Mesa Temple where we had a little bit of an orientation.  On the ride over I was taking a look at what my surroundings were going to be like for the next two years...sand, cactus, palm trees, rocks, and desert.  It reminded me a lot of Las Vegas.

When we got to the Visitors Center we were taught a little bit about the mission culture (mission standards, goals, etc.) and had an opportunity to bear our testimonies.  There was one new elder in our group that is from Cancun, Mexico.  His testimony in Spanish was really powerful, even though I was only able to understand about 70% of it.  It is kind of hard for me to understand Spanish at this point because it takes me a little while to think of the meaning of some words.  I told him that it was really awesome and he said that my testimony was the best, but I'm sure he was just being nice.  The thing is that he has the ability to speak English better than I can speak Spanish and we have both spent the same amount of time in the MTC.  I guess it is just because he is completely surrounded by English speaking people.

Anyway, after that we went back to the mission home which is literally right across the street from Jeremy's old high school, Saguaro High.  We spent a little bit of time filling out some paperwork and meeting with the President, and then we split up for overnight exchanges with some of the leaders in the mission.  I was paired up with Elder Derochie whose companion had gone home the day before.  He is currently serving in Phoenix (which is part of our mission) so we left Scottsdale and headed over to Phoenix.  He is from Alberta, Canada, and has been out 1 year and 3 months.  His Spanish is really good.

The first thing we did was do a little contacting.  The first contact I did was to a white guy who was from Yorktown, NY, which was really weird.  He was super skinny, had all sorts of piercings, black fingernails, tattoos and tight jeans.  He was pretty nice but not interested.  The next contact I did was to these two teenagers named Giovanni and Frances.  It was in English but I was able to set up an appointment to come and teach them, even though I was only in the area for one night.  One thing about the Spanish people is that they almost always listen to what you have to say and almost always let you come over and teach them.  The trick is being able to find the ones that actually care about our message and will keep commitments.  The rest of the night was spent going to appointments which were all in Spanish except for one.  I was able to bear a short testimony is Spanish at each appointment, but it is pretty hard to understand them a lot of the time.

Our last appointment was with this guy named J-lock who is a rapper who was excommunicated from the Church a while ago when he was a minor.  He claims to have rapped with 2pac, Snoop Dogg, and DMX.  He is currently signed with Universal Records and is recording an album or something.  He is a really nice guy who still likes the Church and everything.  He has actually introduced about 12 people to the Church since he was excommunicated who have been baptized.  This was the first time the missionaries have been able to talk to him in about three months.  We were able to get him to commit to come to Church.  He also wasn't really feeling well so we gave him a blessing.  I did the anointing and my companion did the sealing.  It was a pretty cool experience.  The first day was really good and I could really see the hand of the Lord help calm me when I was getting a little nervous.  I am really eager to learn Spanish so the language will not be an issue for me.  I was so exhausted at the end of that day from all of the traveling and stuff so I slept like a baby.

The next morning we went back to the Mission Home to get our trainers.  I was really nervous because I really wanted to get a trainer that I could get along with and that could teach me a lot.  My trainers names are Elder Reid and Elder Biddle and I will be serving in the Mesa North Stake (Liohona 4 ward).  Elder Biddle has only been out for 6 weeks and Elder Reid has been out for 1 year and 6 months, so he is basically training 2 people.  Elder Biddle was born in England but went to high school in Atlanta.  Elder Biddle is from Montana.  They are both really awesome, especially Elder Reid.

Last night we taught a bunch of lessons.  I was able to bear my testimony on prayer and how I have used prayer to ask for the Lord's help in learning Spanish.  The investigator got a kick out of that so it was pretty awesome.  I was also able to teach an on-the-spot lesson with this member of the Church that we found at the park.  He was a Priest and he wasn't really thinking about going on a mission, so we taught him about that.  I shared some scriptures and bore my testimony on how this is where the Lord needs us at this point.  I committed him to pray about it and I promised him that if he was diligent and sincere in asking, the Lord would answer him.  One thing that we always do is sing for our investigators, which is really awesome and it invites the spirit.

So those were my first 2 days in the mish.  I haven't spoken as much Spanish as I would have liked, but its getting there.  I'm sure within the next couple of weeks my ability to understand the language will improve and I will be able to communicate much better.  I love the people of Mesa already and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to bring the gospel to them.

Also I got the packages with my bedding and and the goodies that you sent me, so thanks a lot.  The jerky is awesome as always.  Also I am in a biking area right now so if you could send me my bike that would be awesome.  Right now I am borrowing a member's bike.  It would be awesome if you could send me the Specialized since dad never uses it, it sits in the basement forever and the other bikes we have stink.  I will need a helmet as well.  My address is:

510 North Ashland
Mesa, AZ 85203

Thank you for all of your prayers. I love you guys a ton.  I wish I could write more but I only have 1 minute left.  I attached 2 pictures of me and my companions at a member's house.

Love,
Elder Kinney

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Week 8 -- MTC

Dear Family,
 
I can't believe my experience at the MTC is coming to an end.  It has gone by so fast, but I also feel like I have been here for an eternity.  I've grown so much at the MTC in terms of my testimony and my ability to learn a new language.  The Lord has blessed me so much in both of those regards.  Right now I can have a decent conversation in Spanish (though, it would be better if it was a gospel-related conversation).  That being said, I still have a lot to learn and I am expecting my entry into the mission field to contain a number of humbling experiences.

I received my travel plans last Friday.  What's really cool is I will be able to call home if I have time once I get through security at the airport, which I'm really hoping is the case.  I am getting really excited about going into the field and putting what I have learned to the test.  During my time at the MTC, I have really gained a strong testimony of my Savior and how essential He is in this work.  The entire Plan of Salvation is dependent on the things He did for us, and our ability to utilize this infinite atonement to rid ourselves of sin and bring us comfort in our lives.  I am so grateful how blessed my life has been and how lucky I am to have this opportunity to bring this message to others so their lives can become better.

I have also gained a strong testimony of the Plan of Happiness.  I have realized that if we stay strong and endure to the end, there will be a day where we will actually see our Savior.  We will be able to look at Him eye-to-eye and embrace Him with confidence, knowing that we tried our hardest.  I always knew this was true in concept, but I have realized how real that promise actually is.  I am excited to see my testimony and the testimony of others grow as I bring this knowledge to them and watch the Restored Gospel change their lives.  I am really trying my hardest to get as much as I can out of my mission and show the Lord that I am willing to do whatever He asks of me.

Something cool happened this past week when I met Elder Nathan Ellgen.  I asked him where he's from, and he said northwestern Colorado.  I asked him if the town was Craig (Colorado), and he said yes.  I was like, " I am so related to you".  I asked him if his Grandpa's name was Lorence.  He said yes, and I said my Grandpa is his brother, Philip, and that I am one of Philip's daughter's sons.  It was really awesome.  I scheduled an appointment to teach him in Spanish and we talked about a bunch of stuff. His dad is Larry (Lorence's son), and he is going to the Torreon, Mexico, a Spanish-speaking mission.  I think he just left today (Wednesday).  Anyway, I thought that was really cool, and you can tell Grandma and Grandpa Ellgen about it.

Since this is our last week in the MTC, our Zone has a tradition-type thing called "teaching week" where our goal is to teach 35 lessons to other people in Spanish.  So far Elder Samuels and I taught 14 lessons, so we're right on track for meeting our goal.  It's really helping us polish up on our Spanish and teaching skills.

It's totally awesome that I am going to finish reading the Book of Mormon by the time I leave the MTC next week.  Right now I'm on the last chapter of Ether-- about to start Moroni. I know with all my heart this book is true, and ANYONE can receive a witness of it's truthfulness through the power of the Holy Ghost, as long as you read it with a sincere heart, with real intent, and having faith in Christ, as Moroni promises in Moroni 10.  This is the first time I've actually studied the Book of Mormon all the way through, and I plan to do it again as soon as I am done.  I am so glad to be serving a mission, and I know if I put my trust in the Lord, I can be a powerful servant in His hands as I enter into the mission field.  

I love you all and pray about each and every one of you every night.  There couldn't be a better place for me to be right now.
 
Love - Mike

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Week 7 -- MTC

Dear Family,

Another week has gone by here at the MTC at an alarming speed.  The reality that I am going to be in the mission field in 2 weeks is starting to set in.  I feel like I have learned so much, but at the same time I have so much more to learn.  My Spanish is pretty good, but I got a taste of what it is going to be like talking to native Spanish speakers this week while up at the temple grounds.  My companion and I met a Spanish couple from Mesa and talked with them for a little bit.  They were speaking so fast I could only make out the last words of what they were saying. I would've been able to understand them better if they just spoke a little bit slower.

That got me thinking that I should listen to talks at lds.org in Spanish to up my comprehension skills when it comes to listening.  This past week was really great, especially because of the opportunity we had to listen to General Conference.  It was the first time in my life that I had ever been this excited to watch conference, and also the first time I was able to watch or listen to every session.

I'm sure you guys heard they announced plans to build a temple in Hartford.  What's really interesting is that I leaned over to the people sitting next to me and said "Hartford, Connecticut", before President Monson announced the 5 new temples.  I was so astonished when he actually said it.  It is really cool that we are getting a temple in our state . . . even though the Manhattan Temple is still closer.  During that same session, I really liked Elder Holland's talk.  He talked about how grateful he was for services the members of the church provide each other without recognition and, a lot of the time, anonymously.  He related it to an experience he had with his parents paying for his mission expenses without him knowing.  He said he didn't know if there was enough money in his bank account to cover the entire cost of his mission but he was never contacted by the bank so he figured there was enough.  Upon his return home, he went to the bank and found out all of his money was still in his account, and his parents had paid all the expenses of his whole mission so he could have the money to start his life after his mission.

After that talk I felt impressed to thank you, Mom and Dad, for all of the support you have given and provided me that has gone unrecognized.  Being at the MTC around so many people has helped bring me to a greater realization of how blessed my life has been in terms of my family and the types of things that I have taken for granted (not that I was completely ignorant to it before).  My best friend here, Elder Duke, has lived on his own since he was 16 and totally provided for himself since then, though he is still very close with his family.  He has paid for 3 years of college (started at age 17) and for all of his mission by working.  He really reminds me of Dad in terms of his motivation and innate ability to be successful in all of his endeavors.  That kind of attitude is something I want too, and know I can develop it on my mission if I try my hardest.  So anyway, thank you for all of things you do for me that I have taken for granted, like letting me use your car, paying for my first year of college, all of the other stuff you do for me that I probably don't even realize.

The highlight of my week was easily the opportunity I had to sing in the Priesthood Choir for General Conference.  It was so amazing standing there in the Conference Center and feeling the spirit of the Lord as we sang praises to Him and listened to the counsel of His holy Prophet and Apostles.  It is something that I will never forget.  I read in Mom's letter that you were able to see me in the video afterward.  I watched it a bunch of times and saw myself twice.  (Video link:  http://lds.org/video/gc/index.html?bcpid=613844368001&bctid=621787340001.  Mike is more visable when the time counter reaches 02:43 and briefly at 08:37.  See photos at right to see where Elder Kinney is sitting the the choir seats.)

Something really cool happened yesterday.  I was on the elevator going to the top floor of the building to my class after the Tuesday night devotional and to meet with our Branch Presidency to share things we learned.  The elevator door opened on one of the floors to let more people on.  To my amazement I was standing face to face with Brother Watkins (now President Watkins since he is a Branch President at the MTC now).  I got off the elevator to say a quick "hi".  It was really cool to see him.  The first thing he said was that I looked like I had put on 60 pounds since the last time he saw me (do you remember he used to call me Skinny Kinney [when I was 12]).  Anyway that was really cool!  He asked about you, dad, and I told him you are on the High Council now.  He was kind of in a hurry too so that's all the time we had to get caught up.

I wanted to let you know the last batch of beef jerky you sent was amazing.  So many people said it is the best jerky they have ever had in their lives so definitely send more.


Love you - Mike