December 26, 2011

Dear Family,

I got the photos you sent, and I like where you put the Christmas tree this year.  (We put it in the second-story entry way so people could see it from the street.)  I'm glad you enjoyed Christmas.

It was really awesome to be able to talk to you guys yesterday. All of the other missionaries said that it was awkward to talk to their parents -- there were moments where no one knew what to say, so I am really glad it isn't like that at all when we talk -- so thank you.  I seriously feel that I receive blessings a lot of times because of you guys so thank you for that as well.  Have a happy new year!!  I hope it snows in CT!!
 
Love,
 
Elder Kinney

December 19, 2011

Hey Family,
 
I don't know exactly what time I will be calling on Sunday, but it will be after 1pm Eastern time.  We will only be able to talk for 40 minutes since that's what the white handbook says.  To tell you the truth, I love talking to you guys but for some reason it is always a nerve-racking experience for me!!!  I think it might be the fact that we can only talk twice a year, I don't know.  Are Chala and Stuart going to do their first Christmas alone this year or what??  I miss the snow so much, it doesn't feel like Christmas time at all.  :(   

Dad, can you send me the recipe for caramelized onion pizza again because I lost it and really want to make it.  I did get the Christmas package with the all of the candy.  I have already eaten everything except for the Toblerone bars and some Hi-Chews, which I am trying to save.

For the past two or three transfers I have really focused on scrutinizing the bible.  More specifically, the New Testament which I am really enjoying.  It is so amazing how many hidden treasures are found in the Bible that coincide perfectly with the Church's doctrine.  It is very interesting to study all of the writings of Paul and the many paradoxes which appear to be found in his various epistles.  One of the greatest is the importance of grace and works in the gospel of Christ.  One of the reasons I believe Paul focused a lot on being justified (or righteous) through faith and not works is due to his history as a Pharisee (Phil. 3:5-9*, Acts 23:6**) who followed the law meticulously but at the same time, overlooked completely the spirit of the law and thus nullifying any reward he would have received for being obedient.  How worthless and in vain is our faith if it be not manifest in our works!?!  Christ said, right after talking about the importance of producing good "fruit" or works said that only those who DO the will of the Father will enter into his Kingdom (Matt 7:21***).  And the "mansion" they will receive (because we know they are many) will be rewarded to them according their works. Peter understood perfectly the writings of Paul and concludes his 2nd Epistle by warning others not to twist or "wrest" the doctrine found therein and that those who do, do it unto their own destruction.  

The Book of Mormon is so awesome because it helps us understand these simple gospel truths.  It is by grace that we are saved after we have reconciled with God; reconciliation that can only be made by one who has a true and living faith (2 Nephi 10:24****).  If it weren't for the grace and incomprehensible mercy of Christ, not even our faith would save us because we all fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23*****).  Paul understood this and warned the Galations in chapter 6 verse 7:

 7 - Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Anyway, that is just something I never understood very well but have been able to grasp after extensive study.

I hope you guys have a merry Christmas with lots of snow.  I miss you guys a lot and can't wait to talk to you!!!!

Love,

Elder Kinney



*Phil. 3:5-9

 5 - Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

 6 - Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 7 - But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

 8 - Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

**Acts 23:6

 6 - But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

***Matt 7:21

21 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

****2 Nephi 10:24

24 - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.

*****Romans 3:23

 23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

December 12, 2011

Dear Mom and Family,
 
I am definitely staying warm but I really haven't needed to use my Mr. Mac coat.  One of my Zone Leaders, Elder Landsaw, gave me an extra pair of leather gloves he had, which have been good enough for the cold weather (which really isn't that cold).

We got transfer news this Saturday, and I will be staying with my companion, Elder Camarillo, for at least another one.  As we were biking through downtown Phoenix on our way back to the apartment, President Ellsworth called me to tell me he and the Lord have called me to be the District Leader of my current District.  I was kind of surprised to recieve the calling and I hope I will be able to do a good job and inspire my District.  It is kind of awkward because my old District Leader is still in my District with his same companion so now I have to do all of the things that he would do to me as one of the members in his District.  He has also been my Zone Leader before when I was in North Phoenix with Elders Ralphs and Pierson (who is my new Zone Leader).  I really hope the Lord will inspire me as to the things I need to do to help the members of the District be succesful.  There is already one Elder I know I will need to work closely with who kind of struggles socially.  I am glad I am around the Zone Leaders a lot and that I have a good relationship with them because their examples help me know what kind of leader I need to be.

This week has been pretty good other than that.  We are moving forward with the Cervantes family and have set up an interview with Gabriel and the Branch President to prepare to recieve the Aaronic Priesthood so he can baptize his wife and daughters the first week of January.

Also we have had a lot of success with another middle-aged couple, Sal and Ema Garcia.  We invited the Elders Quorum President and his wife to take them some treats to kind of incite fellowship and it worked way better than we thought.  They stayed and talked about the gospel for 2-1/2 hours and they invited them to family home evening the next week.  Sal and Ema came to church yesterday and canceled a prior comitment to be there!!!  Members involved in missionary work are awesome!!  Sal and Ema are also very good investigators who actually are "investigating" and have been searching for the truth.

How is it having a General Authority staying at the house*?  I have seen many on my mission and you can just feel something different when you are in their presence.  I just looked up a picture of him and I do recognize him.  I hope all is well at home and that Dad has fun planning the Klondike Derby for this year.  I forgot to take a picture of the Zone t-shirt design but will attach a photo with all of us wearing them -- the coolest part is on the back**.  Thanks for everything and for your prayers!!!!
 
Love,
 
Elder Kinney

*President Don Clarke and his wife Maryanne came back to New Canaan for a visit and stayed with us for several days.

**When we asked Elder Kinney what he needed for Christmas, he asked us to help pay for t-shirts he wanted to design for his Zone.  As you see in the photo, the front of the t-shirt has all the Elders last names listed in the shape of a tie, and the back of the t-shirt has the words "Phoenix Zone" spelled out using ties for the shapes of the letters.


 

December 5, 2011

Dear Family,

Thanks a ton for the Christmas money to buy t-shirts for the Zone.  The shirts should be done by this Friday.  I'll send you a picture of me in the shirt next p-day hopefully (maybe even the whole Zone).  Everyone in the Zone is really appreciative of your generosity in buying us t-shirts, and they all say thank you.

This week was pretty good.  The only downside is that Evangelina, the wife of Gabriel (the man we baptized like 2 weeks ago) and her daughters want to get baptized on the first of January to start off the new year because of the hecticness of the holiday season and they had plans on the original date we had set with them.  However, she is just as determined, if not more so, than she was before to get baptized -- you can just see it in her face.  She is so much happier than when we first met her.

Last night we had the opportunity to work Christmas Lights on the Mesa Temple grounds as a District, it was pretty cold but I really enjoyed talking to a lot of people.  I liked it a lot.  There were a lot of extremely attractive girls as usual, and I, of course, tried to talk to as many of them as I could.  I also talked to an accountant who lives in Fountain Hills.  I told him my dad is an investment banker and he started to tell me about the protests that are going on against Wall Street in that park in downtown Manhattan . . . and all over the country.  One of my investigators is protesting outside of the Wells Fargo building in Phoenix every Sunday (hahaha).  He said unions are paying a ton of people to protest, and the majority of them don't even know why they're doing it.  I'm sure dad knows a lot more on the subject.

Hope everything is well in snowy NC!!
 
Love,
 
Elder Kinney