Dear Family,
Thanks for all of the pictures you sent me Mom!! This past week was pretty awesome. We had the baptismal service for Marcos Piedra, the first man I have baptized on the mission!!!! (The photos are of Marcos, his wife, Maria, and her family.) He was a real miracle and made a lot of progress in a short amount of time. The service was really awesome and we had a ton of people show up. We didn't even have enough seats for everyone. Our Zone leaders were able to bring a family as well, which was awesome. (If you remember, my old companion, Elder Ralphs, is one of my current Zone Leaders.) Marcos is a humble and kind of timid guy, but he will be a good addition to the branch. We are going to try hard to get others from the Elders' Quorum to stay involved with him so he can get the Priesthood and get really comfortable with the branch.
This past week we continued to be bombarded by a slew of problems and difficulties that the members are having. Some of them are because of Arizona State Senator, Russel Pearce, and his membership in the church. It is really frustrating to try and help people overcome doubt. I think it is best to bring a member who is Hispanic because they can relate better, plus we aren't supposed to be involving ourselves in politics.
We found a sweet investigator through a recent convert that we taught in a member home last night. She is going to have a lot of support because she lives in a complex with a ton of members, and she's been friends with some of them for a long time. We do need to pick up our "finding" efforts a bit this week. We are going to clean out the Area Book, go by and visit all the "formers" and go from there.
I also sent a picture of me in a little dust storm which is kind of cool. I don't know if it is me or the camera but it is so hard to take a picture that is not blurry without taking a bunch. Also I am running low on silly bands again because there are a lot of ninos in this area!!!! Love you all and hope you are well.
Love,
Elder Kinney
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
July 18, 2011
Dear Family,
This past week was a pretty slow one in terms of numbers. We had a lot of lessons fall through, a lot of wrong addresses, and we spent a lot of time working with the members and less actives. As I've probably told you before, our branch is really struggling members-wise. There are a lot of people who have a really tough lives and are going through tough trials.
A lot of the members feel more comfortable telling us their problems, be it personal or branch related, and we don't have the authority or responsibility to deal with them. So whenever that happens (about 5 or 6 times this past week) we assure the members that the Branch President and his counselors love them and care about their issues (they should talk to them and not us). Then we call President or his counselor and tell them to subtly fix the problem without letting the members know they were informed by us. I have never felt like such an essential part of a functioning branch. So many people have shared such personal information with us and it's such an intense situation that it's impossible to interrupt them and tell them they need to stop talking because we can't hear about their problems!!! They have gained a lot of trust in us but need to strengthen the trust that they have with the branch leaders and other members. President has definitely started to understand.
We are going to have a baptism this Saturday of Marcos Piedra. I will be sure to send you pictures!!!
Love,
Elder Kinney
This past week was a pretty slow one in terms of numbers. We had a lot of lessons fall through, a lot of wrong addresses, and we spent a lot of time working with the members and less actives. As I've probably told you before, our branch is really struggling members-wise. There are a lot of people who have a really tough lives and are going through tough trials.
A lot of the members feel more comfortable telling us their problems, be it personal or branch related, and we don't have the authority or responsibility to deal with them. So whenever that happens (about 5 or 6 times this past week) we assure the members that the Branch President and his counselors love them and care about their issues (they should talk to them and not us). Then we call President or his counselor and tell them to subtly fix the problem without letting the members know they were informed by us. I have never felt like such an essential part of a functioning branch. So many people have shared such personal information with us and it's such an intense situation that it's impossible to interrupt them and tell them they need to stop talking because we can't hear about their problems!!! They have gained a lot of trust in us but need to strengthen the trust that they have with the branch leaders and other members. President has definitely started to understand.
We are going to have a baptism this Saturday of Marcos Piedra. I will be sure to send you pictures!!!
Love,
Elder Kinney
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
July 11, 2011
Dear Family,
First of all, thanks a ton for all of the pictures you sent. I just want to say that Mom, you are looking great, even younger than when I left on my mission!! I'm guessing it's all of the stress that was taken off of your back (hahahah). Dad... you need to run a couple more marathons (haha). I'm just kidding -- you both look like you are doing really well, but Frankie looks older. I sure miss him a ton!!! The sunsets are really beautiful this time of year with all of the clouds in the sky. I'll try and get a good picture with me in it and send it.
The dust storm was pretty cool looking but unfortunately/fortunately we were in a lesson the entire time it was going on. I say unfortunately, because I wanted to be out there riding my bike in it. And I say fortunately, at the same time, because we set a solid baptismal date with Marcos for the 23rd of this month, which is really solid since his wife is a member and he comes to church almost every Sunday. He was kind of one of those perpetual investigators that had been coming for three years. When I brought up his name in Ward Council everyone didn't think that he would accept a baptismal date. Brother Santiago (a Counselor in the Branch Presidency) drove us over the night of the dust storm and helped us set a date with him for the 23rd. Brother Santiago was pretty surprised he accepted but he bore a good testimony about enduring to the end which really helped. When we went outside our bikes were covered in dust. I didn't even think that it was that big of a deal but it was all over national news.
We found this sweet guy who was actually a media referral named, Martin. When we went over to his house we saw he had at least 20 Christ pass-along cards so I guess they were bound to call that number eventually (hahaha). He told us how he is sincerely searching for a change in his life and promised he would come to church last Sunday. When Sunday came he didn't show up at first, so we called him and he told us his car broke down. I blew it off as another excuse which we get all of the time but was surprised when President Lopez (Branch President) brought him into Gospel Principles as Elder Faldmo and I were teaching the class!!! He participated in the lesson (which was on charity) and afterwards when we went and talked with him he told us how it was like Satan was trying to prevent him from coming to church that day. He is an awesome investigator and we are expecting to see a lot of progress with him this week.
To address what Dad talked about in his letter, we are definitely trained as missionaries to promise direct and specific blessings because we have the authority to do that as ordained messengers from God. When we promise them with faith, our investigators keep their commitments, exercise faith, and finally experience the blessing that was promised to them, and they can recognize that the restored gospel is true!!! They will also have a stronger testimony and a greater desire to make covenants with God. A lot of the Hispanic people do consider themselves very blessed and there are even some (like Martin) that LOVE the United States and the opportunities they have here. I have definitely taught many people who feel they are struggling, especially in this area. It is very hard to find work in Phoenix, especially as an illegal immigrant. I think I am going to think about what you said Dad and try and focus on that the next time that I am teaching. Maybe it will help! Thanks!!
Some of the pics that I sent are of Elder Faldmo and me burning a shirt in celebration of his one-year anniversary in the mission field. It was great to hear from you guys. I did get the package with the Asian food and the Italian ice pops, as well as the package with the silly bands. I picked up an electric typewriter for 6 bucks the other day at Goodwill so I am able to write letters faster!! haha
Love,
Elder Kinney
First of all, thanks a ton for all of the pictures you sent. I just want to say that Mom, you are looking great, even younger than when I left on my mission!! I'm guessing it's all of the stress that was taken off of your back (hahahah). Dad... you need to run a couple more marathons (haha). I'm just kidding -- you both look like you are doing really well, but Frankie looks older. I sure miss him a ton!!! The sunsets are really beautiful this time of year with all of the clouds in the sky. I'll try and get a good picture with me in it and send it.
The dust storm was pretty cool looking but unfortunately/fortunately we were in a lesson the entire time it was going on. I say unfortunately, because I wanted to be out there riding my bike in it. And I say fortunately, at the same time, because we set a solid baptismal date with Marcos for the 23rd of this month, which is really solid since his wife is a member and he comes to church almost every Sunday. He was kind of one of those perpetual investigators that had been coming for three years. When I brought up his name in Ward Council everyone didn't think that he would accept a baptismal date. Brother Santiago (a Counselor in the Branch Presidency) drove us over the night of the dust storm and helped us set a date with him for the 23rd. Brother Santiago was pretty surprised he accepted but he bore a good testimony about enduring to the end which really helped. When we went outside our bikes were covered in dust. I didn't even think that it was that big of a deal but it was all over national news.
We found this sweet guy who was actually a media referral named, Martin. When we went over to his house we saw he had at least 20 Christ pass-along cards so I guess they were bound to call that number eventually (hahaha). He told us how he is sincerely searching for a change in his life and promised he would come to church last Sunday. When Sunday came he didn't show up at first, so we called him and he told us his car broke down. I blew it off as another excuse which we get all of the time but was surprised when President Lopez (Branch President) brought him into Gospel Principles as Elder Faldmo and I were teaching the class!!! He participated in the lesson (which was on charity) and afterwards when we went and talked with him he told us how it was like Satan was trying to prevent him from coming to church that day. He is an awesome investigator and we are expecting to see a lot of progress with him this week.
To address what Dad talked about in his letter, we are definitely trained as missionaries to promise direct and specific blessings because we have the authority to do that as ordained messengers from God. When we promise them with faith, our investigators keep their commitments, exercise faith, and finally experience the blessing that was promised to them, and they can recognize that the restored gospel is true!!! They will also have a stronger testimony and a greater desire to make covenants with God. A lot of the Hispanic people do consider themselves very blessed and there are even some (like Martin) that LOVE the United States and the opportunities they have here. I have definitely taught many people who feel they are struggling, especially in this area. It is very hard to find work in Phoenix, especially as an illegal immigrant. I think I am going to think about what you said Dad and try and focus on that the next time that I am teaching. Maybe it will help! Thanks!!
Some of the pics that I sent are of Elder Faldmo and me burning a shirt in celebration of his one-year anniversary in the mission field. It was great to hear from you guys. I did get the package with the Asian food and the Italian ice pops, as well as the package with the silly bands. I picked up an electric typewriter for 6 bucks the other day at Goodwill so I am able to write letters faster!! haha
Love,
Elder Kinney
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 4, 2011
Dear Family,
This past week was sure exhausting. On Saturday the temperature actually hit 118 degrees. When we were doing some visits with my Branch President, he was telling me people make t-shirts that say "I Survived!!" with the tempurature on it when it hits 120 or 121. He also said people will start frying eggs on the sidewalk. I am so going to eat an egg that is cooked on a sidewalk this summer.
This past week we were able to find this sweet woman with two daughters that lives in the same apartment complex as some of our members. Her name is Maria and she is a single mother. We are really trying to find families but obviously we are going to take what we can get. She seems to have been humbled a lot in her life. She just had a baby about a month ago. When she was pregnant, she walked to work every single day up until she gave birth. We were able to set a baptismal date with her and it was all because of the members that were with us. It was a huge testimony strengthener and confirmation to me on the importance of members in missionary work especially with the different backgrounds me and my investigators have. She is well fellowshipped by them and will hopefully get baptized on the 30th of this month.
We have a goal to baptize 2 people this month and we are going to set another date this Tuesday with a man named Marcos who is married to one of the members. He will be the first man I baptize while being on my mission. We have already talked to him and he told us he wants to get baptized this month so we are just going to bring the ex-Branch President with us and set a date with him.
I wish I could talk more but I need go. Will send pics and a longer letter next week. Thanks for the package you sent. Tell me what you did for the 4th of July and send me some pics of the fam.
Love Elder Kinney
This past week was sure exhausting. On Saturday the temperature actually hit 118 degrees. When we were doing some visits with my Branch President, he was telling me people make t-shirts that say "I Survived!!" with the tempurature on it when it hits 120 or 121. He also said people will start frying eggs on the sidewalk. I am so going to eat an egg that is cooked on a sidewalk this summer.
This past week we were able to find this sweet woman with two daughters that lives in the same apartment complex as some of our members. Her name is Maria and she is a single mother. We are really trying to find families but obviously we are going to take what we can get. She seems to have been humbled a lot in her life. She just had a baby about a month ago. When she was pregnant, she walked to work every single day up until she gave birth. We were able to set a baptismal date with her and it was all because of the members that were with us. It was a huge testimony strengthener and confirmation to me on the importance of members in missionary work especially with the different backgrounds me and my investigators have. She is well fellowshipped by them and will hopefully get baptized on the 30th of this month.
We have a goal to baptize 2 people this month and we are going to set another date this Tuesday with a man named Marcos who is married to one of the members. He will be the first man I baptize while being on my mission. We have already talked to him and he told us he wants to get baptized this month so we are just going to bring the ex-Branch President with us and set a date with him.
I wish I could talk more but I need go. Will send pics and a longer letter next week. Thanks for the package you sent. Tell me what you did for the 4th of July and send me some pics of the fam.
Love Elder Kinney
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