Dear Family,
I apologize but we are in a huge hurry because we have a Zone activity in South Phoenix in 30 minutes and we don't have a car today. We had car inspections this past week at Zone Conference and unfortunately, Elder Stuart, the "Fleet Coordinator" (sounds like a prestigious office held by someone in Star Trek), deemed our car to be very well cleaned, but not the cleanest in our District. He told us that we had to park our car on P-day and that we could only take it out to go and get it washed. So we are really crunched on time this P-day and we have to leave soon to catch our ride to the Zone Conference.
This past week has been pretty good. We are starting to prepare for the baptism we will be having this Saturday of two of Ruth's children, Daisy and Jackie, and also Olivia's 9-year-old son, Stone. I don't know if you remember Olivia but she was the first person that Elder Ralphs and I baptized in this area. She has stayed really active and loves the church. We started talking to Olivia and Stone, so he is preparing to be baptized on Saturday as well. Elder Pierson and I are going to try to have a large part of the ward there to show support for Ruth's family, which is very new and will need a lot of fellowshipping if her husband and the rest of her daughters are to be converted as well.
I did mention that we had a Zone Conference this week. Elder Pierson and I were scheduled to give a 45-minute training on "Talking to Everyone" (basically, street contacting, etc.). As missionaries we are often giving and receiving trainings in District, Zone, leadership meetings, etc. My companion and I have had the opportunity to give a few training sessions at various times during my mission up to this point. Unfortunately, that day was probably the worst day of my mission in regards to my health. I threw up seven times from the morning through the afternoon before I felt any better. We were thinking it might have been attributed to the sushi we ate at the all-you-can-eat buffet the day before, since two other elders were throwing up as well. I felt like such a wuss because it sounds way to convenient to be sick on a day you are required to perform a responsibility. I would have done it if I had only thrown up once, but I felt so miserable and I couldn't eat or drink anything without it coming back up.
It was also unfortunate because we had our regular interview with President Ellsworth and my eyes were all bloodshot, and I was breaking out in a cold sweat and most likely emitting a mild scent of vomit from my person. President seemed to understand the situation pretty well. He is such and awesome and loving person. I know that he is God's chosen leader for the Arizona Mesa Mission and that he has the keys to guide the work here. He told me my Spanish is really good, and that I will probably be a senior companion on my next transfer. I attribute my vocabulary to the Spanish-to-English and vise versa translator that I am always strapped with and from which I am always learning new words. I guess I should probably give some credit to the gift of tongues as well. I can't believe that I am already not considered a "greenie" anymore. The mission is flying by so fast.
I am sorry but I need to go meet our ride in 5 minutes. I love you all and am grateful for your prayers in my behalf.
Love,
Elder Kinney
Monday, April 25, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
April 23, 2011 - Happy Easter
Photos from Sister Michelle Jorgensen, whose husband is on the High Council over missionary work in the Stake where Elder Kinney serves. Each Friday they have the Zone of 10 Elders at their home for breakfast, and this last Friday they also colored eggs. Some of the eggs had 3D stickers, thus the 3D glasses in some of the pictures.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
April 18, 2011
Dear Family,
This past week has been a little bit crazy. Some of our investigators have been having some pretty bad problems but thankfully we found some new investigators that have a lot of potential, including a family that accepted a baptismal commitment. Unfortunately, we can only meet with them all together once a week, which is kind of frustrating for us. Tania is still having problems with her mother so we are just going to have to wait until the end of the month when she comes for a visit. Hopefully, we can baptize them both (ha-ha).
The craziest thing that happened this past week was with Eddie, Antonia and Jose, Antonia's son. Remember when I told you we couldn't teach Jose since he had been in Tucson for about a month? Well, he came back and he was a different person. Supposedly, he wasn't making very good choices and hung out with some pretty bad people in Tucson. We had a chance to talk to them once, as a family, but he was angry and clearly annoyed the entire time we were teaching them. He ended up leaving the house without telling anyone and was picked up by immigration at 12 in the morning, walking on the highway to Tucson. There was clearly more to Jose than we had anticipated earlier. He had been such a great investigator. He came to church and the Young Mens' activities. He ended up going back to Tucson because he was causing too many problems in Scottsdale with his family. Supposedly, he lives with some women in Tucson, whose kids are all drug addicts. Antonia is the one who pays for this to go down too, which is baffling to me. This story is so nuts I don't even know how to tell it clearly.
So what happens next is even worse. We get a call from Eddie telling us that Antonia was about leave for Tucson. When I asked him how long she would be gone, he told me forever. I immediately scheduled him in as our last appointment of the day, which was originally just a pass-by. When we got to their house in Scottsdale, their 1.5-year-old daughter, Daniela, was playing outside, while Antonia was packing her bags in the bedroom and Eddie was washing some clothes. We got into the room and immediately a contentious argument erupts between Eddie and Antonia, where, basically, they used us as a mirror while they argued why the other person was wrong. As soon has we could, we said that we would like to start with a prayer. After that I recited the Scripture Mastery I had recently learned from 3 Nephi 11:29* about how the spirit of contention was of the devil and not of the Lord and if we were to come to a resolution, the spirit needed to be present. We also reminded them that we are not marriage counselors and that what we know are gospel truths about the family and their importance. To make an indescribably long story short Eddie was talking about how Antonia's son is ungrateful for everything that he had provided for him (a job, a phone, money, shelter, internet, school, etc.). He related a number of examples that clearly proved what he was saying, including a how Jose had been really mean to Daniella who isn't even 2. He wanted Antonia to let Jose do what he is going to do because she can't change him. At this point we still didn't even know why Antonia wanted to leave, and to tell you the truth I still don't really understand. I seriously don't even know what to say because Antonia didn't really have much to her argument as to why she wanted to leave. She just said that Eddie would get angry sometimes which doesn't even surprise me considering the situation. (By the way, Eddie didn't even appear that angry.) I was listening has hard as I could and praying that the Spirit would inspire me as to what I needed to say. I ended up telling them from that what I had noticed, Jose is the source of all of this. They both agreed. (I was trying not to be harsh on Antonia.) I then told them that they need to let him do what he is going to do. I compared it to the story of how Satan, one of God's beloved children, was cast out of His presence for rebelling, and taking a third part of God's spirit children with him. God loved him but did what he had to do. I told them that they should do the same, putting a ton of emphasis on how God wants families together and Satan wants them to be destroyed. I told them how Daniela and the baby Antonia is seven-months pregnant with, need two parents to raise them. It seems that Antonia really was rash in her decision to leave in one day. We convinced them to pray together and to try not to argue. The next day we came by and were able to convince Antonia to come to the Easter Pageant that night. At first she didn't want to, but we told her that it would only help the situation. It ended up being such a spiritual experience for both of them, even to the point of them talking about temple marriage in the car ride home. Sorry if I didn't explain that story to well, it is still hard for me to understand in my mind. They should be good for now but we are hoping and praying that Jose doesn't come back into the picture and mess everything up again. That's my marriage counseling story for the mission. I hope that I got that one over with.
Unfortunately I don't have any more time so I got to hop.
Love,
Elder Kinney
*3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
This past week has been a little bit crazy. Some of our investigators have been having some pretty bad problems but thankfully we found some new investigators that have a lot of potential, including a family that accepted a baptismal commitment. Unfortunately, we can only meet with them all together once a week, which is kind of frustrating for us. Tania is still having problems with her mother so we are just going to have to wait until the end of the month when she comes for a visit. Hopefully, we can baptize them both (ha-ha).
The craziest thing that happened this past week was with Eddie, Antonia and Jose, Antonia's son. Remember when I told you we couldn't teach Jose since he had been in Tucson for about a month? Well, he came back and he was a different person. Supposedly, he wasn't making very good choices and hung out with some pretty bad people in Tucson. We had a chance to talk to them once, as a family, but he was angry and clearly annoyed the entire time we were teaching them. He ended up leaving the house without telling anyone and was picked up by immigration at 12 in the morning, walking on the highway to Tucson. There was clearly more to Jose than we had anticipated earlier. He had been such a great investigator. He came to church and the Young Mens' activities. He ended up going back to Tucson because he was causing too many problems in Scottsdale with his family. Supposedly, he lives with some women in Tucson, whose kids are all drug addicts. Antonia is the one who pays for this to go down too, which is baffling to me. This story is so nuts I don't even know how to tell it clearly.
So what happens next is even worse. We get a call from Eddie telling us that Antonia was about leave for Tucson. When I asked him how long she would be gone, he told me forever. I immediately scheduled him in as our last appointment of the day, which was originally just a pass-by. When we got to their house in Scottsdale, their 1.5-year-old daughter, Daniela, was playing outside, while Antonia was packing her bags in the bedroom and Eddie was washing some clothes. We got into the room and immediately a contentious argument erupts between Eddie and Antonia, where, basically, they used us as a mirror while they argued why the other person was wrong. As soon has we could, we said that we would like to start with a prayer. After that I recited the Scripture Mastery I had recently learned from 3 Nephi 11:29* about how the spirit of contention was of the devil and not of the Lord and if we were to come to a resolution, the spirit needed to be present. We also reminded them that we are not marriage counselors and that what we know are gospel truths about the family and their importance. To make an indescribably long story short Eddie was talking about how Antonia's son is ungrateful for everything that he had provided for him (a job, a phone, money, shelter, internet, school, etc.). He related a number of examples that clearly proved what he was saying, including a how Jose had been really mean to Daniella who isn't even 2. He wanted Antonia to let Jose do what he is going to do because she can't change him. At this point we still didn't even know why Antonia wanted to leave, and to tell you the truth I still don't really understand. I seriously don't even know what to say because Antonia didn't really have much to her argument as to why she wanted to leave. She just said that Eddie would get angry sometimes which doesn't even surprise me considering the situation. (By the way, Eddie didn't even appear that angry.) I was listening has hard as I could and praying that the Spirit would inspire me as to what I needed to say. I ended up telling them from that what I had noticed, Jose is the source of all of this. They both agreed. (I was trying not to be harsh on Antonia.) I then told them that they need to let him do what he is going to do. I compared it to the story of how Satan, one of God's beloved children, was cast out of His presence for rebelling, and taking a third part of God's spirit children with him. God loved him but did what he had to do. I told them that they should do the same, putting a ton of emphasis on how God wants families together and Satan wants them to be destroyed. I told them how Daniela and the baby Antonia is seven-months pregnant with, need two parents to raise them. It seems that Antonia really was rash in her decision to leave in one day. We convinced them to pray together and to try not to argue. The next day we came by and were able to convince Antonia to come to the Easter Pageant that night. At first she didn't want to, but we told her that it would only help the situation. It ended up being such a spiritual experience for both of them, even to the point of them talking about temple marriage in the car ride home. Sorry if I didn't explain that story to well, it is still hard for me to understand in my mind. They should be good for now but we are hoping and praying that Jose doesn't come back into the picture and mess everything up again. That's my marriage counseling story for the mission. I hope that I got that one over with.
Unfortunately I don't have any more time so I got to hop.
Love,
Elder Kinney
*3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
Monday, April 11, 2011
April 11, 2011
Dear Family,
This week was kind of bitter sweet. Unfortunately, Tania, the investigator that had a baptismal date for next Saturday told us she can't do it because her Mom in Mexico doesn't want her to. It is seriously so frustrating because she is so solid. She comes to church every week and is basically the leader of the Young Women's program in our branch. We have been praying so hard for the Lord to soften her Mother's heart to allow her to be baptized. It is so frustrating when Satan gets in the way of everything. We are going to try and assess the possibilities we have with her during our next appointment. She also told us her mother is coming to Arizona but not until the end of the month -- I think the 28th. Hopefully, we can talk to them both and sort it out.
A good thing that happened this week was we set a baptismal date with Ruth's four daughters for the 23rd of April, but they didn't come to church on Sunday, which was really disappointing. President Ellsworth said the vision he has received for the [Arizona Mesa] mission is that every companionship can baptize one investigator every month. I definitely think it is possible, and I have prayed to the Lord so I can receive that vision as well. I know President Ellsworth is inspired of God to lead this mission. This month is really going to try the faith of Elder Pierson and I a lot. President Ellsworth told us to have faith that we can baptize up to the last minute of every month, and if we do everything we can, the Lord will be pleased. I am going to try and be so obedient in order to keep that from being a potential stumbling block. D&C 123:17 says: Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. I really love this scripture and am going to apply it this upcoming week as I try my hardest to help the people in my area prepare to enter the waters of baptism.
It feels like time is literally going by so fast. I can't believe we are almost halfway through the month of April. I wish I could write more but I gotta hop. I hope all is well back home.
Love,
Elder Kinney
This week was kind of bitter sweet. Unfortunately, Tania, the investigator that had a baptismal date for next Saturday told us she can't do it because her Mom in Mexico doesn't want her to. It is seriously so frustrating because she is so solid. She comes to church every week and is basically the leader of the Young Women's program in our branch. We have been praying so hard for the Lord to soften her Mother's heart to allow her to be baptized. It is so frustrating when Satan gets in the way of everything. We are going to try and assess the possibilities we have with her during our next appointment. She also told us her mother is coming to Arizona but not until the end of the month -- I think the 28th. Hopefully, we can talk to them both and sort it out.
A good thing that happened this week was we set a baptismal date with Ruth's four daughters for the 23rd of April, but they didn't come to church on Sunday, which was really disappointing. President Ellsworth said the vision he has received for the [Arizona Mesa] mission is that every companionship can baptize one investigator every month. I definitely think it is possible, and I have prayed to the Lord so I can receive that vision as well. I know President Ellsworth is inspired of God to lead this mission. This month is really going to try the faith of Elder Pierson and I a lot. President Ellsworth told us to have faith that we can baptize up to the last minute of every month, and if we do everything we can, the Lord will be pleased. I am going to try and be so obedient in order to keep that from being a potential stumbling block. D&C 123:17 says: Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. I really love this scripture and am going to apply it this upcoming week as I try my hardest to help the people in my area prepare to enter the waters of baptism.
It feels like time is literally going by so fast. I can't believe we are almost halfway through the month of April. I wish I could write more but I gotta hop. I hope all is well back home.
Love,
Elder Kinney
April 4, 2011
Dear Family,
It was really great to read the letters that you sent me this week. It took awhile for me to read them including the ones that some other peeps sent me so I don't really have a ton of time to expound.
To answer the questions I remember you asking me in the letters: No, I definitely don't need to hesitate when deciding to root for Arizona or UCONN. Arizona is nice but it doesn't come close beating the location, tranquility, diversity of seasons and abundance of vegetation in New Canaan, CT. I didn't know Sister Allred's daughter was in our ward and that she is Matt's Spanish tutor. That is pretty cool. I could tell she translated her own talk into Spanish for conference. Speaking of which, I listened to the Saturday sessions of Conference in English and the Sunday sessions in Spanish. I could understand about 95% of the talks in Spanish, but what I realized afterwards is that it is still hard to recall specifics later on. This isn't super surprising becasue I have realized when someone tells me a telephone number in Spanish it is harder to remember than if they were to tell me in English. Also with the Spanish talks, I need to pay almost 90% of my attention to the words and not my notes if I want to get the most out of it. I have literally learned so much Spanish, memorized 10 scripture mastery's in Spanish, memorized all of the US state and Canada providence/territory capitols (probably should've started with Mexico, but that's next). I am getting to the point where I don't even really need to think to speak Spanish and it feels awesome.
Sorry about the picture with the birthday shirt. It was the only one on my camera when I saw you wanted me to send a picture and I was barely paying attention when Elder Pierson took it. I actually sent President a different letter than this one. I always click spell check and then send it to you guys. I'm usually in too much of a hurry to proofread the whole thing.
As far as my weight right now, I am 178. I'm still rockin a bit of a panza (belly in Spanish) but I'm working on that. Actually about 2 weeks ago I was 190 and then I was like, wow, I really need to get rid of this so Elder Pierson and I hit the bikes during some of our proselyting time and started running 2 miles for exercise in the morning. So I am back to 178 and going to try to have a six-pack by the time I come home. It is awesome that Dad and Matt are going to do the 100-mile Century ride in NV.
This past week has been pretty awesome with conference and everything. As I was watching the afternoon sessions I kept imagining Dad and Chris sitting in the conference center. I offered a prayer to the Lord that he would bless Chris to feel the Spirit and know the speakers are truly God's chosen servants. My favorite talks were Boyd K. Packer's on Saturday, the Prophet's during priesthood, and Christofferson's as well. Elder Christofferson is quickly becoming one of my favorite Apostles. His talks are so awesome. I so wish that I was able to go and meet him with Dad and Chris. It must've been so sweet. It is cool to think that they literally have the same calling as the Apostles in the Bible. I'm sure that Chris will never forget that experience. He said he would write me on the plane.
Some other exciting things that happened this week are some baptismal dates we set. We taught this sweet family that the English Elders were attempting to teach and set baptismal dates with the two that we taught, Mayte and Matthew. Unfortunately, they couldn't come to conference because they had friends here from Ecuador (thier native country). Also we got a sweet referral sent to us from on line which said, "Necesito que mi hijo se convierta a mormon. necesito que me llamen por favor." Its always pretty sweet when that happens. We ended up teaching her son, who is 13 and really smart. We set a baptismal date with him too. I wish I could tell you more but I need to go. Hopefully, I will have some cool stories to tell next week. Oh yea, transfer news came last night and our companionship is going to stay the same.
Love you all,
Elder Kinney
PS - We started playing soccor on a regular basis with our investigators on Wednesday nights so if you could get your hands on some soccer cleats that would be sweet.
It was really great to read the letters that you sent me this week. It took awhile for me to read them including the ones that some other peeps sent me so I don't really have a ton of time to expound.
To answer the questions I remember you asking me in the letters: No, I definitely don't need to hesitate when deciding to root for Arizona or UCONN. Arizona is nice but it doesn't come close beating the location, tranquility, diversity of seasons and abundance of vegetation in New Canaan, CT. I didn't know Sister Allred's daughter was in our ward and that she is Matt's Spanish tutor. That is pretty cool. I could tell she translated her own talk into Spanish for conference. Speaking of which, I listened to the Saturday sessions of Conference in English and the Sunday sessions in Spanish. I could understand about 95% of the talks in Spanish, but what I realized afterwards is that it is still hard to recall specifics later on. This isn't super surprising becasue I have realized when someone tells me a telephone number in Spanish it is harder to remember than if they were to tell me in English. Also with the Spanish talks, I need to pay almost 90% of my attention to the words and not my notes if I want to get the most out of it. I have literally learned so much Spanish, memorized 10 scripture mastery's in Spanish, memorized all of the US state and Canada providence/territory capitols (probably should've started with Mexico, but that's next). I am getting to the point where I don't even really need to think to speak Spanish and it feels awesome.
Sorry about the picture with the birthday shirt. It was the only one on my camera when I saw you wanted me to send a picture and I was barely paying attention when Elder Pierson took it. I actually sent President a different letter than this one. I always click spell check and then send it to you guys. I'm usually in too much of a hurry to proofread the whole thing.
As far as my weight right now, I am 178. I'm still rockin a bit of a panza (belly in Spanish) but I'm working on that. Actually about 2 weeks ago I was 190 and then I was like, wow, I really need to get rid of this so Elder Pierson and I hit the bikes during some of our proselyting time and started running 2 miles for exercise in the morning. So I am back to 178 and going to try to have a six-pack by the time I come home. It is awesome that Dad and Matt are going to do the 100-mile Century ride in NV.
This past week has been pretty awesome with conference and everything. As I was watching the afternoon sessions I kept imagining Dad and Chris sitting in the conference center. I offered a prayer to the Lord that he would bless Chris to feel the Spirit and know the speakers are truly God's chosen servants. My favorite talks were Boyd K. Packer's on Saturday, the Prophet's during priesthood, and Christofferson's as well. Elder Christofferson is quickly becoming one of my favorite Apostles. His talks are so awesome. I so wish that I was able to go and meet him with Dad and Chris. It must've been so sweet. It is cool to think that they literally have the same calling as the Apostles in the Bible. I'm sure that Chris will never forget that experience. He said he would write me on the plane.
Some other exciting things that happened this week are some baptismal dates we set. We taught this sweet family that the English Elders were attempting to teach and set baptismal dates with the two that we taught, Mayte and Matthew. Unfortunately, they couldn't come to conference because they had friends here from Ecuador (thier native country). Also we got a sweet referral sent to us from on line which said, "Necesito que mi hijo se convierta a mormon. necesito que me llamen por favor." Its always pretty sweet when that happens. We ended up teaching her son, who is 13 and really smart. We set a baptismal date with him too. I wish I could tell you more but I need to go. Hopefully, I will have some cool stories to tell next week. Oh yea, transfer news came last night and our companionship is going to stay the same.
Love you all,
Elder Kinney
PS - We started playing soccor on a regular basis with our investigators on Wednesday nights so if you could get your hands on some soccer cleats that would be sweet.
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