Monday Missionary Mail -- Dead Fish? 2/27/2012

This week has gone by well. I have my journal with me so I can give you a good amount of detail of everything that has happened. Can you believe how fast the time goes??

The Spanish is coming along pretty well. I've been reading at least 5 verses a day out loud in spanish. It helps me improve a lot. I'm hoping that I can read the whole thing outloud during my mission, but just 5 verses at a time for now. I've memorized the "Missionary Purpose" and the first vision in Spanish. I'm pretty happy with that. I will continue to memorize different passages.

We had the TRC last tuesday. Some volunteers from the area came in and we shared a message with them about Joseph Smith or prayer. It was so nice to see new faces and to be able to speak with them in Spanish. I followed the conversation, pretty well. I still get lost a few times. But I made the decision this week, that I need to be stubborn with myself. There have been a few lessons, where I get so lost and then decide not to try anymore. Hna Rogers is so good, she just has a natural ability to speak Spanish, that I can easily just not speak and the lessons will still go great. But this last week, I decided that I will not let myself give up on this language. The last lesson we taught I got so lost. The investigator was talking about his relationship with his parents, and I thought he asked a question about premortal life.... Yeah... Don't know how that happened. When I asked him about premortal life, he was so confused, as was Hna Rogers, but we got back on track and kept going. I didn't shrink, I didn't stop speaking Spanish, even though I really wanted to. I was stubborn with myself and continued to try and follow the discussion.

We received a new district this week! Two new sisters in our zone. I get to do a little more with my calling, which has been such a wonderful blessing. Sister Franco is going to Las Vegas and Sister Faddis is going to New Mexico. I spent Wednesday and Thursday night with them, helping them adjust and giving them tours and what not. By the time Friday came around, I was pretty behind everyone else in the district. I had missed out on 5 grammar principles while helping the new sisters out. But! I worked hard, and I was able to learn 6 grammar principles in one day! Can I use them? Maybe not, but I know that they exist. That's a start.

We taught one of our investigators last Tuesday. He fell asleep on us during our lesson! It was so funny! I started laughing, because he was trying so hard to stay awake, but he wasn't able to. Hna Rogers was a little frustrated, but we laugh about it now. In a different lesson from the week before I said "Recibimos perdon para nuestos pescados" Which means "We receive forgiveness for our dead fish." I should have used pecados instead of pescados. So funny!!

I've switched from volleyball to four square during gym. It's so much fun! I'm horrible, but it's always a blast. Our zone loves four square. I've also started to play basketball. I'm going to be so good! I just shoot hoops the whole time, because I'm scared to play basketball with elders. But one day, I will be able to shoot hoops like a professional!

I bought a scripture bag on Thursday, and it broke by the end of the day. I was able to take it back to the bookstore. I'm still just holding my scriptures without any protective case, so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know!

Service on Saturday mornings really is fun. We usually vaccum and it is so relaxing. Who knew?? I just love it. It's a great time to think. I'm really good at cleaning water fountains too. If you need a water fountain cleaned, I can help.

Hna Slater knows spanish so well that she is going into the mission field a transfer early! She leaves us on March 6th! We are really excited for her, but we will miss her. We got to hear from her in Sacrament Meeting. She did a wonderful job. We watched "Joseph Smith" on Sunday night. It was wonderful! I love that man!

I am so excited to be here, serving a mission. I can see the blessings happen. The Lord loves me, and He loves all his children. This gospel is here to bless lives. So let's let it bless lives. Our own and those around us. Share its message! And when necessary, use words. Think about it, we have the truth. We live the truth. How much peace has it brought you? Let it bring that peace to others! Share it! Share it whenever possible.

2 Nephi 2:7-8

Love,

Hermana Kindlespire

I really found a deep love for 2 Nephi 2:7-8. The reason that I am serving a mission, is to spread the news about Jesus Christ and how to come unto Him.

MTC - Hermana Kindlespire - 2/20/12

Thanks so much for your letters and your packages. It feels like Christmas when we get packages here. The jackets are nice, and I like them a lot. A long sleeve one would be wonderful, since it has been a little cold. The pathways here are covered, so I haven't had to walk in any snow. I think I will be fine without winterboots, but I will let you know if it gets bad. The febreeze is a nice addition. It's nice to walk into our apartment and have it smell good. Thank you so much! The watch is SO helpful. We are on such a tight schedule, I can't believe I tried to last without one. And I can read it!! A miracle! I haven't really had a hard time reading the clock at all. Weird, right? A backpack would be nice, if you have time. But I would actually prefer a large purse or one of those BYU totes. They have two backpacks at the bookstore here, and they are $18.00. I'm sure you can find something cheaper. The Spanish scriptures they gave us when we entered are great. I can get them embossed for free here. Again, no pictures this week. But I just ordered some so you get a few in the mail soon. Will you put them in a nice photo album for me? That way when I come home they wil be all organized already? Ok, this is what I've been up to this week:

It's been a busy week here at the MTC, but so uplifting. The first four days that I was here where really hard! They dragged on and on, and I was worried about how I would survive. We heard lots of people say, "Just make it to Sunday and you will be fine" We did! And it was true! Once Sunday hit, the rest of the week flew by! I don't even remember half of it. Monday is Pday, so that is nice and relaxing. Tuesdays are great, because we have a devotional at night. This last week it was about losing yourself and relying on God. I really needed that message and took it to heart. I'm trying to be more charitable, and I've noticed that it really helps me to recognize my blessings and stay happy!

I've been playing volleyball a lot during gym time. It's really fun to play, because we aren't allowed to keep score so it's okay that I'm really bad! My district has really gotten into it and we all play at almost every gym time.

We've taught about 5 lessons in Spanish at this point. It's been a challenge for sure! We have to work on increasing our vocabulary a lot. Once we have the vocabulary we can make up grammar rules and what not. We get a new investigator tonight! We are going to teach her about the Book of Mormon and then go through the first lesson. I'm really excited! Spanish is a little frustrating, but considering that I've been speaking it for a total of 12 days, I say that I'm doing pretty good.

The food here is pretty good, especially after adding a little salt. Yet, the desserts are always really good. It's just not fair! I'm actually doing really good with my dessert rule. I don't let myself have it too often. But every Sunday there is a Sundae Bar! I love that ice cream!

Well, I am running out of time. Life is good! My companion is good! I am having a wonderful time on my wonderful adventure as a missionary. I love the Lord and I am so grateful to be here!

Adios!

Hermana Kindlespire

PS. I forgot to include choir. My companion loves to sing too, so we go to choir every Sunday and Tuesday. Actually 5/8 ths of the people in my district love to sing. Our hymns are really good, even if we don't know what we are saying since we sing in Spanish. We actually sang the musical number this Sunday in our sacrament meeting. And guess who showed up? President Brown...the President of the MTC (or CCM in Spanish).

I think I'll try out for a musical number soon. Hopefully this week if we ever find time to practice.

Spanish is messing with my English a little bit, so please don't judge my run-on sentences or misspellings.

I love the missionary wall idea, and I can't wait till Katie is up there.

Amor desde su hija, Hermana Kindlespire

Hermana Kindlespire - 2/13/2012

Hola mi familia y amigos!

The MTC is pretty great! It´s a lot harder than I was expecting it to be, but we are getting used to the change. There are 4 sisters and 4 elders in my district. Elder Barnard, Elder Heywood, Elder Ivey, Hermana Rogers, and I are all headed to the New York New York North Mission - Spanish Speaking. 2 sisters are heading to the Mesa Arizona Visitor Center and 1 elder is headed to the Oklahoma City Mission. Spanish is difficult so far, but I'm so stubborn that I can't stop studying it. :) After a few months, I'll be more confident in the language for sure.

My companion is Sister Rogers. She is from Texas, and she is so sweet and funny! We have a lot of good laughs. It's been fun. I'm rooming with the other two sisters in my district. Sisters Noble and Slater. Sister Noble was in my mission prep class with me in Logan! How crazy is that!!?

So, I'm trying to include lots of details. I'm sorry if it's not up to par. :) Once we got here, they immediately started working us! The most memorable activity was a investigator meeting, where we followed some missionaries around as they visited "investigators", then a group of about 30 missionaries worked together to try and answer their questions. We failed miserably time and again, offending lots of people. But we had some success too! I got to share my mission scripture (1 Nephi 11:17) with an investigator who was losing faith in God. It was a lot of fun!

We received our own personal investigator and taught her a lesson (in spanish) on Friday morning. It was crazy!! I was mad at Spanish for a few hours, because we weren't getting along. Good thing Hermana Rogers knows everything there is to know about Spanish. She definitely saved the day. We taught that investigator again on Saturday and will teach her later today.

I've decided that my mission goals are:

1. To include Christ in my testimony at every lesson that I give. This is His church and we need to testify of Him, even if we are talking about tithing.

2. To be an example of Christ, by giving up the natural man and not thinking of myself. I want to be able to reduce the times that I say "I" throughout my day.

Sundays in the MTC are the best!! We watch music and the spoken word (so good this week - I cried), and have a bunch of meetings, but there is music all day long! I've really missed my music. But when I get to sing a hymn or listen to a musical number, I know that I've made a good decision to be here and to serve the Lord.

I've been called to be the Coordinating Sister in my zone. I just keep an eye on all the sisters and make sure that everything is fine and everyone is happy. I get to speak to the new missionaries coming in too. It's a fun calling and it keeps me pretty busy.

I love this gospel so much! It is simply a joy. There is no way that leaving my family, my friends, and my boyfriend for 18 months would be okay with me if I didn't have the Spirit testifying that I have made a good decision. I am bringing truth to the world, and it starts here at the MTC. This church is true. Jesus Christ is at the head of this church, and that is why we bear His name.

I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. O Soy una misionera de la iglesia de Jesuschristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias.

Love you all,

Hermana Kindlespire.

P.S. Los siento!

I forgot to thank you for your package! Sooooo much chocolate :) We aren't in the rooms for very long, so I think all those goodies will last me a few weeks! This is so much fun! I'm so glad I'm here. I've been a little homesick and Ricksick, but it's easier when I recognize my blessings. I'm writing them down as often as I can.

Um... what other details do you need? Food? Lots.... Weight? none gained yet.... Weather? cold!! P-day? Mondays.... Temple? beautiful.... Companion? funny and awesome. She looks just like Sister Major (weird). Pictures? Can't attach them, can only print them. You'll get some in the mail soon.

I love you,


Hermana Kindlespire