"I'm not religious, I'm Catholic!", August 22, 2012

Inwood is still going good. Sister Taylor loves it here. I think I might not realize what a blessing this area, since it's my first one. Spanish is the first language, and it's not like that in other areas. Even in Manhattan. We are getting along really well. She reminds me a lot of Jenessa every once and

awhile.

She contacts everyone. It's great. I have never talked to so many people and never used my spanish so much. I still feel like I'm very inadequate in speech, but I try not to think about it too much. It'll come.

Last Wednesday night, we met M**** and M***** and J**** too. All three are new investigators now and we are excited to teach them more about the gospel. M*** is still progressing. She loves Joseph Smith and finds his story to be fascinating. N*** (A***'s mom) loves talking about our church. She likes what she's heard so far. I pray for her so much. I know that someday she will be baptized, and I hope that I will get to see it. 

Sister Sanders and I finished our food tally. This is how many times we were given a certain item of food when we went to a members house. The end result for the months of July and half of August.... 8 beans, 10 platano, 15 chicken, 22 rice, and 28 jugo. "La bandera" I explain what that is in the letter I just sent home. 

We've been very busy this last week. Introducing Sister Taylor to members and investigators and finding new friends and what not. It's been great, but there isn't really much to report on.

Alex received the gift of the Holy Ghost this Sunday. It was great. He is a good kid... He's a teenager, but nonetheless. He is a good kid. 

Today for Pday, we just went shopping and wrote letters. I'm planning on taking a nap once I'm done emailing. Just the norm...

Ok... One funny quote. We knocked on someone's door, and as soon as we introduced ourselves as missionaries, he said "Oh, I'm not religious.... I'm Catholic." 

And with that... I'm out. 

Les amo.

La Hermana Kindlespire

Big Changes in Inwood, August 15, 2012

We had a ward picnic on Saturday. And what did we eat? That's right! Rice and Chicken. And I had a little bit of a Dominican Avocado. See the picture... The Avocado is huge! It was really good too, not as flavorful as usual, but still delicious. That's the Dominican Way... Bigger. Dominican's celebrate more, cry more, love more, eat more. Everything is more. It's so great.
It sounds like Lake Powell was a lot of fun this year. It's hard to miss Lake Powell. But we had so much to keep us busy, I barely had time to think about all of you out there. :) But next year, please make Lake Powell as late as possible. I hope I can join you.

That is so cool that Zach got to baptize someone! Already a missionary! I'm really proud of him. It's hard to stand up for your beliefs, and I can only imagine that it's harder at basic training. I look up to
him. That's really cool!

The baptism went great. Alex was on time, there were lots of people there to support him. The missionaries sang, "Oracion de un nino" AKA: A Child's Prayer, and it went really well. He hasn't received the Holy Ghost yet, but he will receive it on Sunday.

We played our musical number on Sunday in Sacrament Meeting, I was extremely nervous, but it went wonderfully! My nerves were really bad... I was shaking so much, but the only way for me to overcome those nerves is to perform. Maybe by the end of my mission, I will be able to play without any shaking. That would be wonderful. :)

I agree that time has just been flying by. It doesn't feel like it's been 6 months to me. I mean, it feels like I haven't seen you for a long time, but I wouldn't guess that it's been 6 months.

So... Monday was shot calls. We found out all the changes that happen on the Monday before transfers. Elder Hill and Elder Dilliing are out of Inwood. Elder Hill was replaced by Elder Scaife. And Elder Dilling was replaced by...... Elder Bartlett! He was here when I first came to Inwood! And as we all know, Sister Sanders is out. Heading back to the Grand AZ. My new companion is.... Well, should I tell? No.... I shouldn't. I should keep it a secret.

No, I'll tell you.

But maybe I'll tell you next week.

Or the week after.

Or I could just tell you now...

OK. I'll tell you. :)

Sister Taylor is my new companion. She's from Georgia. She was just serving in Harlem with Sister Rogers. I think we will have a great time together. She seems like a hard worker and go-getter, and all that stuff. 

Well, I love you so much. I'm so grateful for this gospel, and I know that when we put God first, everything falls into place. I'm just starting to realize that. I never realized that putitng God first is really a process. It takes time to make Him your priority. 

Love you with all my heart, 

La Hermana Kindlespire 

6 Month Mark! August 8, 2012

Hola!

Sister Sanders birthday was a lot of fun. We made french toast in the morning, which is her favorite. The Yankees won 12-3. It rained during the game, but we lucked out with covered seats. It was really awesome. And some ward members threw a surprise party for her that night. It was a lot of fun. The APS came by our building at 10:00pm and dropped off her birthday package. She was so surprised. She loved the water guns. She thinks all four of them are for her. Haha! Thanks for making her birthday special!

There was a baptism on August 4th for Elsa. She is amazing! She is 22 and from the Dominican Republic. Sister Sanders and a member, Oscar, sang "Nearer my God to Thee", and I accompanied them. It was fun. And it went really well. I just followed the hymn book and added extra notes. I never would have been able to do that before.I've really had the opportunity to strengthen my piano skills. (Wow... it took me a long time to form that sentence in English. That's so cool!)

We've had a lot of activities and lessons the last week, and most of them have been talking about Sister Sanders leaving. It's been rough for both of us. It's hard to keep focused when home is so close, and often the topic of conversation. But we keep going! We are looking forward to our baptism this weekend. It's going to be wonderful! 

Our musical number for the baptism is "A Child's Prayer" sung by all the missionaries. It will be really cool! And then on Sunday, Sister Sanders and I are doing a final flute/piano number. We combined Love at Home and Love One Another. It's a Sanders/Kin original. :) We love it! 

Today, Sister Sanders and I are going on a split. She is heading to the temple to do a session with all the departing missionaries and the mission president. And I'm going to be with Sister Lavaki and Maldarizzi. I'm not sure what we will do. Maybe Natural History Museum? Sister Maldarizzi hasn't been there yet. 

Today... is my 6 month mark. Crazy, right? I celebrated by getting a new toothbrush. New toothbrush every six months... Just like the dentist says. I'll probably by something sugary throughout the day to celebrate some more. 

Well, I love you! Thanks for your support and love. You are the greatest mommy in the world. 

Love, 

La Hermana Kindlespire

August 1, 2012

 Last week for Pday, the museum we wanted to go to was closed, so we just played games in the church and played the piano and what not. It was a lot of fun. Sister Sanders went and saw the Phantom of the Opera, which she was singing for a few days after. She really loved it. 

We haven't gotten any mail from the office yet, so we are still waiting for her birthday package. Hopefully we will get it today. So, I've been hinting that she is going to be getting a package, but she's not expecting one from anybody. It's been really fun. She's going to be thrilled. Since she is going home so soon, she's hardly received any mail at all. Two of her family members told her that they sent her gifts to her home in Arizona. She always says, "I'm still here!!!" So, I know that your package is really going to make a difference for her. 

We are going to a Yankees game again today for Pday. This is a really important game for the season. The two top teams. It'll be really good. I'm sneaking in a peanut butter and honey sandwich, because I'm not going to buy nachos again. Too expensive!

Our baptism is for Alex. Did I tell you how we found him? Really, he found us and he is a miracle investigator. It's wonderful to me, because of my fast for July. I sincerely fasted that Sister Sanders and I could bring one more person into the waters of baptism before she left. And I knew that it would happen. I'm learning so much that the Lord gives us all of our righteous desires. So when we found him, I knew that we would have another baptism before too long. 

My Spanish is improving. I understand a lot, to the point where I'm usually just missing words here and there. Speaking is still very difficult, but it'll come. I'm confident in that. I'm learning a lot about following God's will, and about how much power one person has. And how often, the only thing that is limiting us, is us. I'm learning to step out of the way and align my will with God's. It's hard, but those are the days that I am the happiest. 

Some other fun things that happened this week: 

Sister Sanders reached her 18 month mark on July 26th. We had a mini dance party in our apartment, and I gave her some purple earrings. 

Our ward had a fiesta on Saturday... Wow. It was legit. Dominicans know how to throw a party. 

We had a great Sunday...Alex came to church and so did Martha! Who I've never talked about because, she never seemed really interested in the church. It was great to see her there. We are going to try to start teaching her again. OH, and for dinner we had bacon wrapped chicken ( a long with lots of vegetables) !!

Sister Sanders and I are going to do one more musical number together, her last Sunday. We are doing Love at home and Love one another. Still working on the transitions, but I think it will work nicely. 

I found out that I'm playing a musical number for a baptism this weekend. Surprise! Oscar is going to be singing Divina Luz AKA: Lead Kindly Light, and I'm accompanying him. It'll be interesting. 

OK... Well, I've got to go. It's time to head to the game. I love you so much. Thanks for you support and I hope to hear from you soon! 

Con Amor, 

La Hermana Kindlespire

Answers to Prayer-- July 25, 2012

It's good to hear from you, as always. I got your letter. Thanks so much! You should be getting a postcard from me soon. I'm glad that Dad's trip went well. I hope he will send some pictures! I'd love to see those beautiful mountains. I hope Nikki comes back sun burnt, exhausted, and happy. 

Sister Sanders love peanut butter and chocolate. She likes pineapple and coconut too. Although she is trying to lose weight right now. Maybe some water guns? One for me and one for her... so I can protect myself. :) She'll be thrilled to get anything. It's been great to work with her. I'm going to miss her a lot. She's taught me a lot. I'm going to ask each companion for a scripture of advice/encouragement throughout my mission. Sister Sanders chose 2 Nephi 33: 3-4. 

 3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great ^aworth, and especially unto my people. For I ^bpraycontinually for them by day, and mine ^ceyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

 4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it ^apersuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life ^beternal.

She's really lived that scripture too. I've seen how much she loves the people we teach and work with. She truly is amazing!

Today for P-day, I'm on a split with Sister Pipes. Sister Ortega and Sanders are going to try and see a Broadway play. We are just hanging out in the Bronx. We played board games with the elders from the Kingsbridge Zone, we're going to go to a museum later on, and maybe do a little bit of shopping or something.

What a cool story about Zach! What a good kid! I'm excited to hear all his stories. Basic sounds rough! But I know he can do it... He's a tough kid. 

We had a good week over here! We had a service project on Saturday. Mormon Helping Hands (Is that what it's called in English?). We went to a park and painted and weeded. We aren't just talking little weeding... Trees. We took out a bunch of trees. Well, we didn't. Sister Sanders and I ended up with the best job of all. We were in charge of check in and food. Some elders got poison ivy and almost all had blisters and scratches... I sat in the shade. Although I did get my hands dirty for a little bit. 

We had three investigators at church! It was a memorable Sunday. Sister Sanders spoke about remembering covenants. Beautiful, beautiful talk that she gave in a different language. Her Spanish skills never cease to amaze me. Elder Dilling and Elder Irizarry spoke as well. The pianist didn't show up. So my first time playing the piano for sacrament meeting was done in Spanish and with 3 minutes warning. Needless to say, it wasn't my best. I messed up like crazy! We changed the hymns on the spot, but we made it work. 

A*** and his mom, N****, were some of our investigators at church on Sunday. A*** has been having a hard time making friends. He's only been in this country for one month. But on Sunday, a miracle happened. R***** is a friend of his from the ward in the Dominican Republic. R***** just moved here too, and he is in our ward! Not only that... But N**** knows R*****'s mom, Ru**. Ru**was in the DR with N**** when her daughter passed away. They have been friends for years. They both cried as they were reunited. N**** knows that this was no coincidence. What's amazing to me, is that God knew when he first brought N**** and Ru** together, that years later they would have this encounter. And that it would be an answer to prayers for several people. Amazing, right?

I taught district meeting on Monday. It was about the Atonement. Preach My Gospel says:

As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share

the gospel will increase. (2)

I decided to take this as a challenge. I've been studying the Atonement for the last few days and really applying what I've learned. There has been a huge change! I definitely have felt the Spirit more. My desire has increased, and I have felt happier. I'm finally understanding how God's will is the best option. He knows what I don't. It's hard to submit to His will, but as I have made more of an effort to do so, I have felt myself becoming that missionary that I want to be. 

Above all of this... We have another baptismal date for August 11. I know that our investigator is ready for this step. They have been ready for years. Now they are finally going to do it! August 11th is Sister Sanders last Saturday in the mission. We are excited!

I love you. I'm glad you are doing well. Thanks for your support and your prayers. They've been making a difference here. You're wonderful!

Love, 

La Hermana Kindlespire

Hermana Tranquila - July 18, 2012

We have had a lot of success this last week. We have never worked so hard...We were teaching lessons on the streets all week long, and everyone we would share the gospel with would be from the Bronx or New Jersey or simply out of our area. But we kept going. I know that we reap what we sow... We didn't have to wait too long to see that that is true. We received four referrals last week... That is unheard of! Four referrals?? And from those referrals and our efforts, we now have three new investigators. A*** is 15, and he met with the missionaries in the Dominican Republic. His mom, N****, is really open to our message and is looking for the true church. And M***** is great as well. We still need to meet with her and get to know her more, but I was really impressed with her from the beginning. 

Other than missionary work, I don't have too much to report. I ate chicharron. I think it's pork, but it has layers of fried bread, meat, and fat. It was disgusting. Don't make it, Daddy. I gagged... I had to eat six of them. I had to say a desperate prayer to swallow them. 

English class is going well, we have students every class and they are hard workers. I am really impressed. English is a very hard language to learn. 

Sister Sanders got her haircut by a Domincian, which is a scary thing to do, but Angela Familia did a wonderful job. Her hair looks beautiful!

Sister Sanders birthday is August 1st if you want to send her anything. :) She is an amazing companion. I  rely on her so much, and she is always there to help me. I make mistakes like crazy. I'm really really good at making mistakes. :) But she is super patient and very loving. She's always hilarious and crazy. 

Zeny Familia calls her Hermana Loca or La Loca. I'm Hermana Tranquila or "Mi Amiga Tranquila." 

OK. Well, that's all for now. I love you very much.  Love you oodles and oodles. 

Con Amor, 

La Hermana Tranquila. 

Oh Say Can You See the Statue Of Liberty? July 11, 2012

Let me tell you about my week:
For the fourth of July we had Pday until 6, and then we had to be in at 8. On our way home, we decided that it was time to run through the fire hydrants.  We made a fort too. We moved our mattresses out into the living room and made a sweet fort. We took down the fort the next day, but we've slept in the living room for almost a week now. There isn't any air-conditioning in the bedroom, and it's far too hot at night to not have air-conditioning.
On Thursday, we had a dinner appointment with a member of the ward, M****. But when we went over to her house at six, she had forgotten about us. (Sad!) She is an event planner, and she had an event that weekend. She asked us to help her. She needed us to eat half a watermelon so that she could use the green part as decoration. Well, Sister Sanders is not a picky eater. There is one thing that she just cannot eat. And that's watermelon. So I ate half a watermelon by myself. I love watermelon, but that is a lot!
I went on a split with Sister Lee this weekend. She is from Taiwan and she is learning English. We had a good time. I taught her words like "Sassy" and "Vamanos". Poor girl, sat through 3 Spanish appointments. It was good language practice for me though.
That night we had a Honduran meal, bean and egg tacos. I'm not a picky person, but there is one thing that I struggle with... Eggs. It was rough, but I did it!

On Monday, we went to the church to take a break from the sun. We saw M**** and R**** in the kitchen. We went in and found a trash can full of moldy plates! There was a quincenera in the middle of June, and they had put the plates in the custodial closet. They had been there for almost a month, unwashed! So, we washed dishes on Monday. Lots and lots of moldy dishes. It was nasty, but R**** went an bought ice cream for us afterwards.
Today.... what a day! Since Hermana Sanders is leaving at the end of this cycle, she can pretty much go anywhere she wants on the Island. And since she is the only sister leaving, I get to go with her! It's really rare for a missionary to get to do the things that I have got to do. Today, was one of those days.

We went to Battery Park, saw the Statue of Liberty, ate gyros, saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. It was really quite a treat! I loved today. It was an amazing, relaxing day. :)

Well, I love you. It's been a really fun week. Sister Sanders and I only have a few more together. We are really working hard. We've had a hard time finding investigators. The last few days we met five or six potential investigators who all live outside of our area. But I know that we reap what we sow. We are sowing, so it's just a matter of time until we are reaping. I love this gospel. It is true. Jesus Christ lives and He is leading our prophet Thomas S. Monson. Love you,


Hermana Kindlespire

PICTURES!
kin004 - the dishes
kin001- the statue of liberty
kin002- me pinching the statue of liberty
kin003- me being a tourist