White Christmas! --- 12/19/12

There is so much to report on this week. You will be really surprised. :)

Mom, we met a couple last week that has recently reactivated and has been faithfully attending church meetings and everything. They have four children, and three of them are getting baptized on Sunday!

We are so excited. I can hardly believe the miracle that has unfolded. Soon, we will have an entire family that will be together forever.

We are still working with R***, but he hasn't come to church yet. He has a baptismal date for January, but we will have to change it again.

We are working with L*****. She is less active and really wants to come to church again. She's going to be there this Sunday. It was a goal we set weeks ago. She's a new mom and realizes the blessings that the church will bring to her baby. It's great to see her making all the changes that are necessary.

So, we had transfers today. And I was called to be a trainer! Sister Valdez, from Arizona, arrived fresh from the MTC yesterday and I'm so lucky to have her as my companion. It's a bit scary. We're both nervous, but we know we are where we should be.

Sister Portugal is serving with Sister Peterson in a different part of Olmstead. But she is still very close. :)

I'm looking forward to Christmas and I hope that you have a great holiday!

 

Bringing it...in the Bronx, 12/5/2012

Wow! Life is going great! Thanks for your package... It's going to be a long time till Christmas. :) The ipod is great! Thank you so much!

We don't have much time (again) so I got to go fast... And have got to email you first in the weeks that come. I usually save your email for last, but not anymore. I'll do better.

We moved into our new apartment on Monday. It was in much better shape than the last one. It's huge!! We live on the sixth floor and we can see Manhattan from our window. It's awesome.

We had a zone conference on Monday too. It was a really busy day. I was asked to speak on "Courage", which is one of the subjects for our Mission Theme. Isn't that funny? Courage is something I've struggled with a lot during my life and during my mission especially. I've studied it a lot. I want to share my talk with you.

Joseph Smith was an incredibly courageous man, but that courage came with time and testing and experience. Just like it does for us. If you recall the experience of the 116 lost pages, it was a time that Joseph learned the importance of courage (if you could tell more about that story for those who don't know it before emailing it out, that would be awesome... I don't have time to right all about it) In D&C 3, The Lord is talking to Joseph Smith afterwards. Read verse 7-8 first.

We learn that knowing God's character, knowing that He will support us is incredibly important in "not fearing men". God will support us in all that we go through.

Read verse 9-10

We learn that it is important to know that we are chosen. Joseph was chosen to be a prophet. Katie and I have been chosen to be full-time missionaries. You have been chosen to be a mom, a dad, a visiting or home teacher. We have all been chosen, and it's really important to know that.

And another thing that is important to know is found in Moroni 8. "Perfect love casteth out fear" That perfect love is charity. If we develop charity, we will not fear. They can't exist together. Pray for charity, seek it, and fear will leave. Beautiful, right?

That was my talk. I know that it's true. Courage is something that we can all develop.

 

We went to South Manhattan last week and saw the decorations at Rockefeller. So cool! We are hoping to go next week to see the actual tree. Haha.

 

We love serving here. It's an amazing opportunity.

I love you all!

Hermana Kindlespire

 

P.S. Pictures from the last few weeks. I told you about the Talent Show, right? Hopefully, otherwise that moustache picture won't make any sense.

Love you!

Mormon Helping Hands

http://vimeo.com/joshuabrown/hurricanesandy

In the Middle..The Bronx with Portugal...11/7/2012

We haven't been able to help out with any service opportunities yet. But it's predicted that this weekend we should be able to help. Although... that's just for city missionaries.
The mission home is still out of power and isn't expected to have it for another week or so. Crazy, right?

We turned the radio on way late last night to find out the result of the elections. We are a little sad about it, but hopefully it will do good. God is taking care of us.

OK... now the news I know you have been waiting for. Transfers.

My time in Inwood was great, but it has come to an end. I packed all my things and was sent somewhere else. But not too far....

I am now serving in The Bronx, the Olmstead ward. It's Upper Bronx. I am serving with Sister Portugal. She is from Peru, but moved to Virginia when she was 13 and met the missionaries there. Also with us is Sister Ritchie and Sister Peterson. We are white-washing the area. It's going to be an adventure! And we have already seen so many miracles!

I'm very grateful for my mission and the experiences I've had so far. Yes, I'm in the middle of my mission. But like President Uchtdorf said, "We are always in the middle."

Much love. Stay safe. I will too!


Pictures next week... left my camera at home again.

Love,

La Hermana Lindsay Kindlespire

Hurricane Sandy....and Halloween 10/31/2012

Happy Halloween! 

Look at my Halloween costume for this year. 

A Pass-along Card!

We are heading down to Harlem soon to have a Halloween party. It's been fun :)

My cough is still here, but it's not as bad as it was last week. It's improving, bit by bit. Transfers are still on. Changes coming up in one week. I've been super lucky to be in Inwood for so long, but a change has to be coming. We will find out next Monday. 

Waiting for the Hurricane to come was really interesting. We heard about it on Thursday and it quickly became the subject of conversation. We kept encouraging everyone to get prepared and prepared ourselves. We had candles and flashlights on hand. Water and food too. We originally heard the storm was going to hit Sunday. Monday morning. Monday at 4pm. Monday at 6pm. Monday at 7pm. Monday at 8pm. And that it was going to be bad on Tuesday morning too. We were playing the waiting game most of the day. But when it hit, it was pretty intense. Lots of wind, lots of rain. Lots of loud noises and sirens. But we were completely safe. No flooding from what we have seen. The subways are still down, but the buses are working again. Slowly, but surely we are recovering. 

We've spent the last two days sleeping and writing and studying. It's been nice, but we are so ready to get back out and start teaching again... After Halloween. :)

I love you! We are completely safe. I hope you enjoy the pictures from this week (And from the baptism). 

Until next week, take care!

Love, Hermana Kindlespire

Pictures: 
Elder Irizarry prepping us for the Hurricane
Halloween Costume 

Baptism

"Picking-up, Cleaning-up and Building-up" 10/30/2012

Dear Parents and Loved Ones,

Today has been a day of studying, journal writing, game playing and apartment cleaning. Many streets and county roads have been off limits to pedestrians while heavy equipment crews have cleared large trees, fallen rocks and debris and huge piles of leaves, limbs and branches. While all are "safely gathered in" they're also bored and restless.

This afternoon, those missionaries who were evacuated from low lying areas in Connecticut have been allowed to return to their apartments. Elders and Sisters have been given the "all clear" to reach out to branch and ward leaders to inquire as to member homes and clean-up opportunities. We've asked that they be back to their apartments as it gets dark. The fresh air and a little physical labor will feel good.

Tomorrow is P-Day for our mission. You should be hearing from your missionary about their experience over the past few days. As you write them back, you should know that I feel the Lord has greatly blessed our mission with safety and protection in large measure due to the obedience and faith of our missionaries. Every missionary has contributed to our coming through the hurricane without harm or incident by their focused obedience, faith and prayers. Please tell your daughters and sons that their personal worthiness has been the key factor in our mission's blessings. 

We hardly have the words to describe how much we love our missionaries. They lift us and strengthen us and empower us with their work ethic and love for the Lord. They obey with exactness, (which some of you will find hard to believe, but they do!), and they teach with the spirit and they serve with priesthood power and unwavering faith. It's no wonder to us why the the Lord protects them and prospers their work!

We'll move now into a phase of clean-up where we'll have the opportunity to stand side-by-side with neighbors and friends picking-up, cleaning-up and building-up. Our example of hard work and community service will be our Christian message. 

Thank you for sending us such wonderful men and women. They are really amazing! We are still without power or cell service at the mission home but I will continue to access information and communication from the office.

Thank you for your prayers and encouraging thoughts.

All the best,

Tom Morgan

Thomas B. Morgan

President
New York New York North Mission

"All Missionaries are accounted for and safe." 10/30/2012

Dear Parents and Loved Ones,

After a long stormy night we are in one piece. Every missionary has reported in. Some have been without power during the early morning hours  - all are warm and dry. We will ask the missionaries to again stay in their apartments today while major clean up work is performed by cities and counties. As work groups are formed in communities we will join in the secondary clean up work.

I apologize for not communicating earlier. The mission home has been without power since 8:30 last night with two large trees down on power lines blocking our ability to leave. As soon as one of the trees was cut in half and moved, I was able to get out and find a place with power. 

At this time the sun is showing through the clouds and the winds and rain have calmed. There is a lot of debris on the roads and in yards .

Again - All the missionaries are accounted for and safe. They have sufficient food and water and will be able to resume activities by tomorrow which will include assisting in many clean up projects. If you have any questions, please call us or send emails. I will respond based on our power availability.

Tom Morgan

Thomas B. Morgan
President
New York New York North Mission