Hey mommy
First to answer you questions...
Florida is nice, a lot better than pascagoula! WE have probably the biggest apartment in the mission, two floors, and two HUGE bedrooms. Elder Anderson is awesome, he is very different than edler lauritzen, but it will be great here. I really feel like we are going to have success. The transfer process was realitivly smooth. WHat happens is we have certain areas in certain cities where everyone meets. Members or other missionaries usually brings them to these spots. And then we have a huge van (like the merrills) that takes us to where we are going. And we have a trailer in back with all our bikes and luggage.
Well this was a crazy week though. My last few moments in Pascagoula were very sweet moments. The only people i really felt obligated to say goodbye to were simplicio and silvia. It was hard, but i had the wonderful opportunity of sharing my last testimony (for now) with them and telling them that i have no doubt we will meet again. I didnt really start crying until we got in the car. On the way back Elder Lauritzen and I talked of our first experiences in the temple, of going in the celestial room and being greeted by family. WHen that day comes, Elder Lauritzen mentioned that he wouldnt be surprised to get there and have simplicio and silvia there as well.
My first few days in Ft. Walton Beach were spent meeting members and spent inside due to a nasty storm. THe members are awesome! The hispanics here for the most part are honduranians, and they are much easier to understand than puerta ricans. IN the few days i have been here, i have learned so much spanish, last night we taught a lesson to one guy, and i did a huge amount of talking!
Church in all spanish was crazy! I got to bless the sarcament, and it looks like the missionaries are a major part of the ward! I loved it though.
OH elder anderson and i found some people from brazil, and we are now teaching them! WE can kind of comminicate! lol its awesome though.
i am still compliling my list of things to do for 2008. I dont want to many goals, and i want them to be measurable and doable. They will involve increasing in love, and increasing christlike attributes. I think i might set up my study schedule for the year as well. I want to be happier and i know the only way to do that is fall more in love with what i am doing.
But please dont get me wrong, i am happy. I am the happiest i have ever been. life is good. lol i think though that working on what we talked about on the phone will help me a lot.
OH and i played my first game of soccer with hispanics, and got my butt kicked. It was fun though. I will consider myself fluient when i can understand them during a soccer game! lol
Hey mommy i love you, thanks for everything! i love you goals, work hard to reach them, and please help everyone else set good goals!
I love you, have a wonderful week!
Love, your favorite child
Elder Kenck
Monday, December 31, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Transfered!!!
Hey everyone
Well i am sure by now you are almost sick of hearing from me! But i thought i would write yall a really quick email!
This week went well. The last two weeks have been tough because we have either been stuck with pest control guys all day (they had bad case of bed bugs!!-- as Taylor told us last night-- never pick up a bed stead on the side of the road!!), or we have had tons of holiday commitments. I guess that is a good thing to have so many dinner appointments, but it makes it really hard to teach.
I loved our conversation last night! It was perfect, exactly what i needed, and i really want to thank you all for everything you said. In your own ways you answered one of my prayers. I was a little nervous to call home because i didnt want to get homesick or distracted. But last night, everything yall said was exactly what i needed to hear... and right now i am ready to baptize the whole south.
So i am being transfered to Ft. Walton beach. It should be good. Elder Anderson is a good guy, he is very obediant, and i very hard worker... and i am looking forward to getting a ton of work done in florida. I also am looking forward to taking full advantage of the spanish branch there, my goal is that by our next conversation in may, i will be confident in my spanish and be able to completely comminicate with the people. I am thinking really hard about the new years resolutions i am going to set. This year will be very different, this may be the only full year of my life that i spend 24/7 in the service of my God, so i really want to set the right goals. And i dont want to set too many, i just want the perfect amount. I want to set them with the full idea and capability of completely them all.
I love you guys so much! Thanks for everything you do for me, thank you so much for the sacrafices you are making for me. It will be worth it. I love yall
Elder Kenck
Well i am sure by now you are almost sick of hearing from me! But i thought i would write yall a really quick email!
This week went well. The last two weeks have been tough because we have either been stuck with pest control guys all day (they had bad case of bed bugs!!-- as Taylor told us last night-- never pick up a bed stead on the side of the road!!), or we have had tons of holiday commitments. I guess that is a good thing to have so many dinner appointments, but it makes it really hard to teach.
I loved our conversation last night! It was perfect, exactly what i needed, and i really want to thank you all for everything you said. In your own ways you answered one of my prayers. I was a little nervous to call home because i didnt want to get homesick or distracted. But last night, everything yall said was exactly what i needed to hear... and right now i am ready to baptize the whole south.
So i am being transfered to Ft. Walton beach. It should be good. Elder Anderson is a good guy, he is very obediant, and i very hard worker... and i am looking forward to getting a ton of work done in florida. I also am looking forward to taking full advantage of the spanish branch there, my goal is that by our next conversation in may, i will be confident in my spanish and be able to completely comminicate with the people. I am thinking really hard about the new years resolutions i am going to set. This year will be very different, this may be the only full year of my life that i spend 24/7 in the service of my God, so i really want to set the right goals. And i dont want to set too many, i just want the perfect amount. I want to set them with the full idea and capability of completely them all.
I love you guys so much! Thanks for everything you do for me, thank you so much for the sacrafices you are making for me. It will be worth it. I love yall
Elder Kenck
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
December 17, 2007
Phew! Time is flying so fast, and honestly the only way i can measure it is by the P-days that come. It seriously feels like i was on the computer yesterday!
This week was pretty good. We have found some more investigators to teach, and we are getting some more teaching opportunities. In fact, yesterday we had a lesson with two hondurans that live near us, and when we got there, 10 people were there and a majority of them listened to the 1st lesson. Hopefully some of them felt the spirit, and i feel that we might get a really solid investigator out of them. I love hondurans too, because i can actually understand them. This past week, on tuesday and wednesday, Elder Lauritzen (because he is the district leader) went on a tradeoff to Folley, and one of the folley elders, elder Wilson, went to Pascagoula with me. Elder Wilson is also still in the learning process, and to be honest, i was a tad nervous. So monday night, i did some extreme praying, i prayed for the gift of tongues like no other. The next day, we had a couple of lessons and when i had to know what they were saying, i knew it. It was incredable. That night, we went with simplicio and silvia's new home teacher, Brother Thomas, to translate. It was incredible because i understood what they were saying, and i was a major part of the discussion. Both of them noticed too, and they both mentioned how much i have learned.
So the gift of tongues is real, and God provides when we need Him. Unfortunately, i still am going to have to work to learn, but im ok with that. I need to get good at this whole "study" thing anyways.
I am looking really forward to Christmas. Please also dont expect a huge amount of gifts from me. I will definately send some stuff home, but it probably wont be too much or that expensive. I feel bad about that, because you guys are sacraficing so much for me.
Mommy i love you. Please know that. Thank you for all you do for me and for the chance you have given me to serve this mission. It is so hard, but it is so worth it. (read the email i am going to send to Livi)
love you mommy
Elder Kenc
This week was pretty good. We have found some more investigators to teach, and we are getting some more teaching opportunities. In fact, yesterday we had a lesson with two hondurans that live near us, and when we got there, 10 people were there and a majority of them listened to the 1st lesson. Hopefully some of them felt the spirit, and i feel that we might get a really solid investigator out of them. I love hondurans too, because i can actually understand them. This past week, on tuesday and wednesday, Elder Lauritzen (because he is the district leader) went on a tradeoff to Folley, and one of the folley elders, elder Wilson, went to Pascagoula with me. Elder Wilson is also still in the learning process, and to be honest, i was a tad nervous. So monday night, i did some extreme praying, i prayed for the gift of tongues like no other. The next day, we had a couple of lessons and when i had to know what they were saying, i knew it. It was incredable. That night, we went with simplicio and silvia's new home teacher, Brother Thomas, to translate. It was incredible because i understood what they were saying, and i was a major part of the discussion. Both of them noticed too, and they both mentioned how much i have learned.
So the gift of tongues is real, and God provides when we need Him. Unfortunately, i still am going to have to work to learn, but im ok with that. I need to get good at this whole "study" thing anyways.
I am looking really forward to Christmas. Please also dont expect a huge amount of gifts from me. I will definately send some stuff home, but it probably wont be too much or that expensive. I feel bad about that, because you guys are sacraficing so much for me.
Mommy i love you. Please know that. Thank you for all you do for me and for the chance you have given me to serve this mission. It is so hard, but it is so worth it. (read the email i am going to send to Livi)
love you mommy
Elder Kenc
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
December 10
Hey mom
HOws life? HOws school? Etc?
Thanks for your email, i really appreciate it! I am trying really hard to be absolutely positive and not to be hard on myself. I am doing good! Please dont worry about me! I understand what you are saying about reading the B of M, just keep with it. Nephi is definatly one of my favorite prophets. I love the last chapter he writes, especially the 1st verse (perfect missionary scripture) and the very last sentence (about obediance).
This week was a wonderful learning opportunity. Everyday i learned something specific that i know i needed to learn. First off, i learned that life isnt easy. But, every challenge we have is specifically meant for us to help us learn and grow. Also, this last thursday we went to pensacola florida and had our spanish zone conference. It was really really good, and i learned some other things that were amazing!! I will tell you about that in my letter though!
Spanish, well its coming. I now can understand most people (except puerta ricans) and last night i was actually part of a discussion with two dominicans. This is something (spanish) that i know i will be able to use for the rest of my life. Maybe i am supposed to become fluent on my mission for another different reason in the future, who knows, but i know that God does have a plan for me.
Mom thanks for everything. Thanks for the chance to be out here. IT is the hardest thing i have ever done, but i love it. I know that it is where i am suposed to be, and i am so grateful for the 20 more months of work i have ahead of me.
Have a wonderful week, know that i love you!
Elder Kenck
HOws life? HOws school? Etc?
Thanks for your email, i really appreciate it! I am trying really hard to be absolutely positive and not to be hard on myself. I am doing good! Please dont worry about me! I understand what you are saying about reading the B of M, just keep with it. Nephi is definatly one of my favorite prophets. I love the last chapter he writes, especially the 1st verse (perfect missionary scripture) and the very last sentence (about obediance).
This week was a wonderful learning opportunity. Everyday i learned something specific that i know i needed to learn. First off, i learned that life isnt easy. But, every challenge we have is specifically meant for us to help us learn and grow. Also, this last thursday we went to pensacola florida and had our spanish zone conference. It was really really good, and i learned some other things that were amazing!! I will tell you about that in my letter though!
Spanish, well its coming. I now can understand most people (except puerta ricans) and last night i was actually part of a discussion with two dominicans. This is something (spanish) that i know i will be able to use for the rest of my life. Maybe i am supposed to become fluent on my mission for another different reason in the future, who knows, but i know that God does have a plan for me.
Mom thanks for everything. Thanks for the chance to be out here. IT is the hardest thing i have ever done, but i love it. I know that it is where i am suposed to be, and i am so grateful for the 20 more months of work i have ahead of me.
Have a wonderful week, know that i love you!
Elder Kenck
Monday, December 3, 2007
Yeah-- I posted fast!!
Wow what a week!!!
Im a little jealous at the snow there. Here in Pgoula... it is just cold. Maybe not cold for normal standards, but because of the humity it feels wa cooler.
I am sending Livi B-day package tomorrow as well. Hope she enjoys it. Also i have letters and other stuff in the package.
OK my week...
was tough. Ha. It was really tough. My companion and I worked hard, but our progress right at the moment is very limited. We had some great lessons with Justina (a older dominican lady) and she will be baptized someday, she wants to so bad, but right now she cannot get off work on sundays. Besides that, literally everything else fell through, investigators didnt show, or otherwise.
Also saturday night, the stake put on a Luau. There are two polynesian missionaries in mobile, actaully they are the ZLs, and they did an awesome job. Seriously, with about 5 polynesians they put on a show almost at level with the cultural center. IT was a great missionary opportunity.
Last friday, we had zone conference in mobile. And once again, i felt like everything that was said was directly for me. I realized a lot of things that i need to do and i got a lot of ideas on how to do it. It was so incredable, president is amazing, and so are the missionaries here. Oh to answer your question, i am almost 6 hours away from the mission home! lol.
I have been feeling some change coming though. I have made a lot of goals right now, first and foremost to let go of myself and get to work. God has very much been humbling me the last few weeks. And being humbled is painful, but it is a good pain, because i can see God's hand so much easier in my life right now. So yes, it is tough, but i love it. I will make the mos growth right now, in the midst of all these challenges. And i will make the most growth when i let go of myself and focus on others... i have struggled with that. i naturally am someone who sits on the sidelines and watches life unfold in front of me. Now i want to through myself out into life and change the world... little by little.
My companion was basically put in charge of spanish transfers. There is a very good chance that i will be transfered... i can feel some sort of change coming, that could be it.
Well this email is huge, i will email a little more later! I got to answer some other emails.
Love you mommy!
Elder Kenck
Im a little jealous at the snow there. Here in Pgoula... it is just cold. Maybe not cold for normal standards, but because of the humity it feels wa cooler.
I am sending Livi B-day package tomorrow as well. Hope she enjoys it. Also i have letters and other stuff in the package.
OK my week...
was tough. Ha. It was really tough. My companion and I worked hard, but our progress right at the moment is very limited. We had some great lessons with Justina (a older dominican lady) and she will be baptized someday, she wants to so bad, but right now she cannot get off work on sundays. Besides that, literally everything else fell through, investigators didnt show, or otherwise.
Also saturday night, the stake put on a Luau. There are two polynesian missionaries in mobile, actaully they are the ZLs, and they did an awesome job. Seriously, with about 5 polynesians they put on a show almost at level with the cultural center. IT was a great missionary opportunity.
Last friday, we had zone conference in mobile. And once again, i felt like everything that was said was directly for me. I realized a lot of things that i need to do and i got a lot of ideas on how to do it. It was so incredable, president is amazing, and so are the missionaries here. Oh to answer your question, i am almost 6 hours away from the mission home! lol.
I have been feeling some change coming though. I have made a lot of goals right now, first and foremost to let go of myself and get to work. God has very much been humbling me the last few weeks. And being humbled is painful, but it is a good pain, because i can see God's hand so much easier in my life right now. So yes, it is tough, but i love it. I will make the mos growth right now, in the midst of all these challenges. And i will make the most growth when i let go of myself and focus on others... i have struggled with that. i naturally am someone who sits on the sidelines and watches life unfold in front of me. Now i want to through myself out into life and change the world... little by little.
My companion was basically put in charge of spanish transfers. There is a very good chance that i will be transfered... i can feel some sort of change coming, that could be it.
Well this email is huge, i will email a little more later! I got to answer some other emails.
Love you mommy!
Elder Kenck
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Turkey Bowl- Nov 26
Hey mommy
How are you doing? I hope you are doing well and that you arent havign more dreams of me sneaking home in a nascar trailer. lol only in the south. I find myself saying that phrase all the time! I should probably keep track of them so i have a future record of all the crazy stuff that happens in the south.
Glad to hear you make it through turkey day with few tears. I was fine, the turkey bowl was fun, a lot of people were there and no one got hurt. Thanksgiving day we had two dinner appointments, one with the Boyd family, which makes up a big part of our ward, and another with the Schloemmer family, in theodore and i had my first deep fried turkey there. Basically at the end of the night i thought i was dying for an overdose of food. lol
This week had its ups and downs. There were a lot of interuptions to the work... for instance on Wednesday Jorge Cruz went to the hospital... basically he is refusing to eat (or do anything for that matter) because his dad is finding work in Tampa Bay. It was frustrating to me beacause we were there ALL day translating, and he wasnt even really sick. Also, we found out that are main investigator moved to Biloxi this week... which is probably 30 minnutes out of the mission. lol He is a good guy though (Jorge) and i have no doubt he will someday be baptized... the question is just when.
Besides that, now all of our efforts are spent trying to find new investigators. We have found a few, but to be honest i cant wait to find some that were as prepared as simplicio and silvia. Oh, speaking of them, yesterday in church, during sunday school we were having a lesson about prayer. Silvia was reading a section in the lesson about how others sometimes are answers to our prayers... she read down the list of people, family, neighbors, friends... and then she got to "missionaries" and she started crying! I cant even begin to describe the happiness i felt in that moment. OH and yes i did give a talk, it was on the spirit. I did the best that i could, i think it went well. I have learned the most about the spirit since i have been out, and i know that it is something very real. Also, the 6 missionaries sang "how great thou art" with one verse in spanish... i video taped it and i will send it home. It was really funny though... lets just say that the english missionaries have some interesting investigators! One investigator, named John Green, (a slightly crazy black man) is pretty interuptive during sacrament meeting. lol During Elder Lauritzen's talk, (about the atonement) he kept saying "Amen" and "hallelujah" really loud, and afterwards he started clapping. lol and another investigator, is isnt jewish, he is actually very christian, but he studied in a jewish school for 7 years and he wears a yamika to every meeting. He is weird, but a nice guy.
I am learning so much. I have come so far in the 4 months i have been out. My spanish has come way far, i can understand most hispanic people (unless they are puerta rican or dominican) and i can read confidently now. but i still have so far to go. I am so thankful for this calling though, this is where i am supposed to be. I am learning so much here that i wouldnt be able to learn anywhere else.
Although this week was a tough week, i still love being a missionary. I wouldnt trade it for the world, weeks like this make the good weeks that much better, and i think this week will be a good one. Thanks for making the sacrafices you do so that i could be out here.
I love this gospel. I know it is true and i love sharing it with others. Please stay strong, be happy, and count your blessings. Love everyone a little extra for me and have a wonderful week!
I love you mommy
Elder Kenck
How are you doing? I hope you are doing well and that you arent havign more dreams of me sneaking home in a nascar trailer. lol only in the south. I find myself saying that phrase all the time! I should probably keep track of them so i have a future record of all the crazy stuff that happens in the south.
Glad to hear you make it through turkey day with few tears. I was fine, the turkey bowl was fun, a lot of people were there and no one got hurt. Thanksgiving day we had two dinner appointments, one with the Boyd family, which makes up a big part of our ward, and another with the Schloemmer family, in theodore and i had my first deep fried turkey there. Basically at the end of the night i thought i was dying for an overdose of food. lol
This week had its ups and downs. There were a lot of interuptions to the work... for instance on Wednesday Jorge Cruz went to the hospital... basically he is refusing to eat (or do anything for that matter) because his dad is finding work in Tampa Bay. It was frustrating to me beacause we were there ALL day translating, and he wasnt even really sick. Also, we found out that are main investigator moved to Biloxi this week... which is probably 30 minnutes out of the mission. lol He is a good guy though (Jorge) and i have no doubt he will someday be baptized... the question is just when.
Besides that, now all of our efforts are spent trying to find new investigators. We have found a few, but to be honest i cant wait to find some that were as prepared as simplicio and silvia. Oh, speaking of them, yesterday in church, during sunday school we were having a lesson about prayer. Silvia was reading a section in the lesson about how others sometimes are answers to our prayers... she read down the list of people, family, neighbors, friends... and then she got to "missionaries" and she started crying! I cant even begin to describe the happiness i felt in that moment. OH and yes i did give a talk, it was on the spirit. I did the best that i could, i think it went well. I have learned the most about the spirit since i have been out, and i know that it is something very real. Also, the 6 missionaries sang "how great thou art" with one verse in spanish... i video taped it and i will send it home. It was really funny though... lets just say that the english missionaries have some interesting investigators! One investigator, named John Green, (a slightly crazy black man) is pretty interuptive during sacrament meeting. lol During Elder Lauritzen's talk, (about the atonement) he kept saying "Amen" and "hallelujah" really loud, and afterwards he started clapping. lol and another investigator, is isnt jewish, he is actually very christian, but he studied in a jewish school for 7 years and he wears a yamika to every meeting. He is weird, but a nice guy.
I am learning so much. I have come so far in the 4 months i have been out. My spanish has come way far, i can understand most hispanic people (unless they are puerta rican or dominican) and i can read confidently now. but i still have so far to go. I am so thankful for this calling though, this is where i am supposed to be. I am learning so much here that i wouldnt be able to learn anywhere else.
Although this week was a tough week, i still love being a missionary. I wouldnt trade it for the world, weeks like this make the good weeks that much better, and i think this week will be a good one. Thanks for making the sacrafices you do so that i could be out here.
I love this gospel. I know it is true and i love sharing it with others. Please stay strong, be happy, and count your blessings. Love everyone a little extra for me and have a wonderful week!
I love you mommy
Elder Kenck
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
