Arizona Mesa Mission Address



Monday, April 30, 2012

April 30, 2012

Dear Family,

Things are going pretty well in my new area in Mesa.  The members are pretty awesome and have a bit more experience than the ones in Phoenix.  We have four baptismal dates which are looking pretty good -- all for the month of May.  One thing that's a pretty big bummer is the lack of Hispanic people we see while out biking and proselyting.  I think it's been a week since we contacted any Spanish-speaking people on the street.  I see them driving around in their cars so I know they're out there somewhere!!!  We are doing what Sister Ellsworth mentioned and came up with seven different things we can do this week to find new investigators.  We really need to find them through the members, however, because we don't get many potentials to sift through that we meet on the street.

Elder Eskeets and I are doing really well and have achieved a pretty comfortable teaching style.  One thing I really like about Elder Eskeets is that he has the desire to teach and is anxious to share the thoughts that come to him during a lesson.  That's something I really haven't had in a companion since I was with Elder Hernandez like eight months ago.  That kind of attitude is really great coming from someone who has only been out for two transfers (or 12 weeks) and who's still trying to get a good grasp of the language.  Our District did really well this week in terms of finding new investigators and getting people to Sacrament Meeting.  I asked one companionship, Elders Johnson and Clark, who are teaching a ton of people and they told me they don't have one investigator who isn't a referral or someone they found through the members.  I am going to invite them to share a little bit in District meeting this week about what they do or what their members do to find new investigators.

This past week I went to Leadership Training Meetings again which I believe are once every two transfers.  Basically what we do is go to the church next to the Mission Office from 8am to 4pm for 2-4 days and receive training and instruction from our leaders, mainly the Mission President and sometimes the Assistants to the President. By the way, Elder Ralphs, my old companion, is one of the current AP's.  They are usually really good meetings that teach me a lot but sometimes its really easy to get distracted.  One of the things that President has recently implemented in mission meetings (District Meetings, Zone Conferences, etc.) is that the person conducting the meeting selects someone randomly to teach one of the three main lessons in five minutes in front of everyone.  So out of the 50 or 60 District Leaders, Trainers and Zone Leaders present I was chosen to teach Lesson Two.  It was pretty cool because I felt like I did a good job.  It's really easy to go off on stuff that is really not that relevant when teaching Lesson Two, especially the Doctrine of the Fall.  The main purpose of the activity is to assess the knowledge that the missionaries have of the doctrine contained in the missionary lessons. I don't think I have or ever will teach every principle of Lesson Two in five minutes with an investigator, but if it were ever required of me, I'll know the doctrine well enough to teach it in 15 or 30 minutes.

I hope everything is well in New Canaan.  I heard that President Checkett's team, the St. Louis Blues are doing pretty well this year and are set to play the Kings tonight in the NHL playoffs.  I also heard Metta World Peace is suspended for elbowing James Harden on the Thunder.  I am so happy I'll be back for football season this year.  As much as I loved football before my mission, I think not being able to watch sports at all has made me love all sports way more than I did before the mission.  I even found myself doing something I  never could have imagined -- two days ago while talking to someone at their doorstep, I had to resist the urge to watch NASCAR, yes, NASCAR of all sports (if it can even be considered that) which was playing in the background on their massive HD TV.  Anyway, I hope the Blues win the Stanley  Cup.

Love,

Elder Kinney

Monday, April 23, 2012

April 23, 2012

Dear Family,

Glad to hear Matt is getting his Eagle and that there's at least a remnant left or the bird houses from my Eagle Scout project 7 years ago.  That's cool dad give all of his talks to the Spanish units in Spanish, because I have yet to see a High Councilman do that on my mission.  They either already know Spanish from their mission or they have a translator for the congregation.  

My new companion's name is Elder Eskeets who is 100% Navajo Indian (sad to say the first sober one I have seen in my mission) and he is really awesome.  He loves to sing, is a really good teacher, works hard, and is really outgoing.  We are going to get a long great.  He was Elder Neilson's companion in the MTC so it's kind of cool I get to be companions with them both.  I was actually with Elder Eskeets on his first night in the mission field when he went on his overnight exchange with the Zone Leaders in Phoenix.  I was feeling pretty sick coming into this transfer but it looks like I am better now after I rested for two days and took some antibiotics.

I was kind of sad to leave Phoenix and the Monterey Branch but I think the reason Sal said I looked blue was due to me being sick.  Since I got here Elder Eskeets and I set two baptismal dates for the month of May, one of them was a fairly new investigator.  The Lord definitely blessed us even though we weren't able to proselyte all of the hours being sick and resting.

I had a really cool experience while sharing Joseph Smith's First Vision to Brian, one of the investigators that we set a baptismal date with. He is about 15 years old and lives right across the street from the Bishop so we had the lesson in the Bishop's house.  He also happens to have some kids Brian's age so it worked out pretty well.  I just really felt the Spirit strongly confirming my testimony of restoration as I shared Joseph Smith's experience in the Sacred Grove.  I think part of that experience can be attributed to me not reciting the First Vision by memory like I have a billion times in an attempt to help Brian understand it more.  It kind of made me ponder about it more while I shared it, but all in all it was a very spiritual lesson even though it was very simple.

Am I in a car yet??  Of course not ... still on a bike and probably will be for the rest of my mission.  Another summer on bike.  Its already like 95-100 degrees so you can forget about spring in Arizona this year.  Anyway I am about out of time so I got to get going.  It was great to hear from you.  I hope you're enjoying the coveted spring time in Connecticut!!  Ooh and yes, I would like some jerky.  Don't know my address right now but I'll send it next week.

Love,

Elder Kinney 

Monday, April 16, 2012

April 16, 2012

Hey guys,

Thanks a ton for the letters you sent.  I am glad to hear Jeremy did a good job on his homecoming talk. We received transfer news last night, and I will be transferred to Mesa:( and be companions with Elder Nielson's MTC companion.  I will continue to be District Leader though.

I just  got a soar throat two days ago but the Branch members are really taking good care of me -- they love to help me out with medicine and herbal teas, etc., so I'll get better.  Actually, Sal and Emma Garcia (the "river" baptism family) have this kind of side job as salesmen for this essential oils company called dōTERRA, based out of Utah.  They were very kind to give me some of their oils at no charge so I could get some relief at night and sleep better.  They are doing really well by the way.  Sal actually taught the class in Elders Quorum yesterday, which is so awesome.  I don't know if I already told you, but about two weeks ago he asked us why the President hadn't given him a calling or responsibility yet!!!  We contacted the President as soon as we could and told him he needs to consider giving them callings now.

This past week we had some goods and some bads.  We found three new investigators who actually live across the street from Sal and Emma so we are going to start getting them involved as fellowshippers shortly.  I'm kind of sad to be leaving Phoenix and Elder Nielson.  The two transfers we had together were really fun.  He learned everything really fast and is a great missionary with a lot of potential. It has also been great to recognize the support the Lord gives me as a District Leader so I am better able to lift those up I've been called to serve within my District.  I have a strong testimony that the Lord qualifies those whom he calls.  I've received revelation in terms of what needs to be discussed in District meeting so we can better fulfill our purpose as missionaries and apply principles taught in the scriptures as well as Preach My Gospel.  The District and Zone as a whole have grown a lot compared to a year ago when I first got here, so it will be sad to leave.

The recorder is working great, and so far I've recorded things ranging from talks to jokes.  Once again, thanks for that.  I did get the Easter package you sent, and it's really helping me to lose weight and consume more protein hahahah!  Instead of sending me candy next time, maybe you could send me some protein bars from "Dymatize" instead (http://www.dymatize.com/products/protein-bars/).  I've already tried the Cookies 'n Cream flavor so you can pick some other flavors to try. 

As far as I know, July 30th is still my scheduled departure date.  I've talked with President and one of the Senior Couples at the office who are in charge of that, and since I haven't heard anything suggesting otherwise, I'm pretty sure it's the 30th.  I really liked the picture of Jeremy and Eric in our kitchen that you sent . . . even though it made me a little "trunky" hahaha (trunky is a missionary term for homesick). I like how Jbray is letting his scruff grow out, though I'm sure he shaved it off before his homecoming talk hahaah. Thanks for everything!!
 
Love,
 
Elder Kinney

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

April 9, 2012

Dear Family,

Thanks for the Happy Easter wishes.  It was a pretty good Easter, except I broke a girl's skateboard "ollying" over a bucket so I have to buy her a new one.  And since I've been trying to eat really healthy recently I have no money because healthy food is so expensive.  I currently weigh 184 pounds and I am supposed to eat 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight a day, so that's a lot of protein.  I've been trying to get my protein from shakes and canned fish so I'm not packing on extra fat and carbs.  I've gained a lot of muscle recently but I need to tighten everything up, so that's what I'm working on now.

This past week was pretty awesome because we found 8 new investigators, and of course had 3 baptisms.  I am so glad the Cervantes family came back stronger than ever and decided to get baptized.  It was amazing to see their change of heart and the way they relied on the Lord during the trial they are going through with Gabriel.  He calls me often but I have the feeling that he isn't very sincere -- maybe because the last experience I had with him in person influenced my perception.  Either way, he lives outside of the mission now and is supposedly going to the ward there.

We found a family of 7 that's going to be great (the Beltran family).  It's a rare situation with a man and his 6 children -- it's usually a mother with children, like the Cervantes family.  He has relatives who are members of the church and admires their way of life, plus he wants his children to be raised in a gospel environment.  I am excited to see what's going to happen with them.
 
It sounds like you guys had an awesome Easter.  After speaking with President and someone from the Mission office, my return-date plan at this point is the 30th of July.  Thanks for everything.  Have a great week.
 
Love,
 
Elder Kinney