Well.. In less than one week I will be out of the MTC, on my way halfway around the world to Russia, to speak a new language, and preach the Gospel! Wow! Things have flown by and changed so fast! I can't even believe how fast time and life moves out here! I swear just last week I was sitting in Ms. Brown's math class figuring out how solve a ruby aka Rubiks Cube.
Speaking of.. thank you for the package fam! You know I love my Cheez its and my Rubiks Cubes! Elder Brown and I are having fun with the Santa hats and all the stuff that you sent us! (All the stuff that you gave me more than one of I gave to him) Sorry but we are not aloud the wear bracelets so I can't wear the Livestrong one. But I will keep it and give it to someone in Russia :) oh and I keep forgetting to tell you that we are also not aloud to chew gum... haha so sorry! I will probably chew it when I get to Russia tho...
Well I got my flight plan finally and I sent a copy of it to you did you get it yet? I also left a not on the copy about money and contact solution... I leave Monday. I think I get to call you sometime that morning pretty early.. I am guessing around 7? I don't know when tho.. then I fly to New York and then to Moscow! I think that I get to call you in every airport that I land in so I will get to call you a few times. And then I will get to call you a few days later on Christmas! So you will be hearing a lot from me very soon.. I can't wait to talk to you all!!
Have grandma and grandpa been getting my letters that I am sending to the house?
Well Elder Brown and I were finally released as Zone Leaders :) so now we have less responsibility and only have to worry about packing and and getting ready! It's been great here :) this last week is going to fly by. Well I used the tape recorder you sent me today.. They tape did not last very long but I used it and am going to send it sometime this week when I get time.
My Russian speaking abilities are starting to plateau so it is good that I am leaving soon so that it can just rocket back up! Things are going to be great in Russia.. I just can't wait to get to work out there and be able to talk to the people!
Oh ya.. another thing.. I found a better way to send packages so that it is cheap.. at least for me to send packages out of the MTC. So, I am going to be getting a big package ready for you of all the stuff that I have and wont need to take to Russia or wont have room for to take to Russia. The MTC takes the package and sends it to POST MART. the address is 2250 N University Pkwy #48 Provo, UT. The phone number is (801) 373-5900. I am going to be sending the package out on Friday so I assume it should be there by Monday. If you drop by this place to pick it up within a few days of them recieving it then it is free. So I figured since Dad is always driving places he could pick it up and stuff. That will just make it cheaper. So.. I send the package to that place, and you come pick it up.. easy eh!
Well how is the Christmas Holiday coming? JJ how is Silver Rush going? How is everything?! How is our family doing, what is the latest and greatest news? Is anyone pregnant yet?!?!
Well there really is not much to talk about :) I am just stretching out to finish up here and get out to the field! If anyone wants anything from Russia just let me know :)
Oh PS if anyone was wondering I haven't lost or gained weight. Some people have been asking about the food and stuff. The food is alright, but I think the MTC is on a two week rotation or something because I have had a lot of the same things.. that's boring. So ya.. I am excited to get to Russia and cook my own food and learn how to cook Russian food! I am basically planning on becoming Russian.. so don't be surprised when I get back!
We had our last temple session today maybe for two years.. that is sad. I really love the temple and have grown to appreciate it so much! It brings so much peace to me after such a busy week, I don't know what I'm going to do in russia! It will be rough!
Well I love you all so much! I am so very gratefull for your love and support and prayers! I feel so lucky to have such an amazing group of family and friends.. you have made me who I am today and have been the best help and examples in my life. I love you so much and could never thank you enough for what you have helped me to overcome...
Have a Merry Christmas! :) It's a great time to read about Jesus Christ and his amazing life and sacrifice! I know that's what I'm doing...
Love,
Elder Weihing
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Well first off I need to tell everyone thank you for the letters, packages, and prayers (especially to learn the language). They have really helped more than you know!KJ, I literally just read the experience that you wrote to me on Dear Elder.. I will write you a letter about it next week but I just wanted to say thank you beause it has really changed the perspective of how even the smallest details matter so much.
It's been an interesting week. Earlier this week we were planning on leaving for Russia on December the 14th because our mission President wanted us to be there early. But, we went through a whole long process and found out that missionaries going to Russia cannot be sent early because of the Visa issue.. so now we are leaving on December 21st. Which isn't too bad, but I was planning on leaving in a few days so I got all pumped up and now I have 13 days instead of six... eh it is alright. I know that everything happens for a reason and the Lord has a plan for everything, even things that we believe to minor details.
But the Branch Presidency is happy that we are not leaving because they want to keep us in this position as long as they can. They have not figured out who they want to relieve us yet. So, maybe that is the cause :) who knows..
Well I am sorry that my memory card got stolen. lol, that was a my bad! I knew we were supposed to send memory cards in envolopes but I figured it worked once so why not twice.. but oh well :) I will just take a ton of pictures this next week and then send it to you next Tuesday that way you will have some pictures.
The MTC is still great, I am definitely ready to be in the field. Russian is hard and I feel like I haven't really learned anything new this past week so I want to be in Russia because I know I will learn fast there! At least faster than I learn here! But, the Spirit is still amazing! I feel Heavenly Father answer my prayers everyday and helping me push myself in my studies. This is just an amazing opportunity that I have to put my life on pause, put everything I have into serving the Lord, and help bring people to know the happiness that I feel because of this true Gospel. It is a once in a lifetime experience that I know I will never get to repeat.. I plan on having zero regrets and taking advantage of every opportunity that I have! This is just such an amazing work that is growing every single day!
So, just as a side note, interestingly enough my hair was long here on my mission. Longer then it ever has been since when I had really long hair. I didn't think that would happen out here, but today I got a haircut and no one even recognizes me! Just a fun filled fact...
We are still speaking 100% Russian all the time, or at least trying to. We slack off a little bit too much in that area... It is so hard!
So... swine flu is kicking our butt in here... I don't want to get it right before I leave for Russia! We all had to have vaccinations which is good, but some are still getting it and they have to be taken to a special building away from everyone so that no one else catches it. A few in my Branch have already gotten it! NOT GOOD!
Anyways thanks for the love and support! I love you all so much!
Love,
Elder Weihing
It's been an interesting week. Earlier this week we were planning on leaving for Russia on December the 14th because our mission President wanted us to be there early. But, we went through a whole long process and found out that missionaries going to Russia cannot be sent early because of the Visa issue.. so now we are leaving on December 21st. Which isn't too bad, but I was planning on leaving in a few days so I got all pumped up and now I have 13 days instead of six... eh it is alright. I know that everything happens for a reason and the Lord has a plan for everything, even things that we believe to minor details.
But the Branch Presidency is happy that we are not leaving because they want to keep us in this position as long as they can. They have not figured out who they want to relieve us yet. So, maybe that is the cause :) who knows..
Well I am sorry that my memory card got stolen. lol, that was a my bad! I knew we were supposed to send memory cards in envolopes but I figured it worked once so why not twice.. but oh well :) I will just take a ton of pictures this next week and then send it to you next Tuesday that way you will have some pictures.
The MTC is still great, I am definitely ready to be in the field. Russian is hard and I feel like I haven't really learned anything new this past week so I want to be in Russia because I know I will learn fast there! At least faster than I learn here! But, the Spirit is still amazing! I feel Heavenly Father answer my prayers everyday and helping me push myself in my studies. This is just an amazing opportunity that I have to put my life on pause, put everything I have into serving the Lord, and help bring people to know the happiness that I feel because of this true Gospel. It is a once in a lifetime experience that I know I will never get to repeat.. I plan on having zero regrets and taking advantage of every opportunity that I have! This is just such an amazing work that is growing every single day!
So, just as a side note, interestingly enough my hair was long here on my mission. Longer then it ever has been since when I had really long hair. I didn't think that would happen out here, but today I got a haircut and no one even recognizes me! Just a fun filled fact...
We are still speaking 100% Russian all the time, or at least trying to. We slack off a little bit too much in that area... It is so hard!
So... swine flu is kicking our butt in here... I don't want to get it right before I leave for Russia! We all had to have vaccinations which is good, but some are still getting it and they have to be taken to a special building away from everyone so that no one else catches it. A few in my Branch have already gotten it! NOT GOOD!
Anyways thanks for the love and support! I love you all so much!
Love,
Elder Weihing
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Well less than two weeks left in the MTC and then off to Russia! I can't wait! I love the MTC, but it is definitely time to get into the field and get to work! And I get to call home when I leave on the 14th and I can't wait for that! Thank you for all of your support and especially your letters! They are great and really bring me a lot of joy when I get them! You are all so amazing and I feel so blessed to know you all and be a part of your lives!
First comes first.. Thanksgiving was great! We had the privilege of hearing from one of the Twelve Apostles-Jeffrey R. Holland. He is a great speaker! He really inspires and speaks with such passion! After that we ate a some what Thanksgiving meal that was alright and then did an hour of service. After that we got to just hang out and study and then later that night we had another speaker. It was overall a good day. I missed my family a lot because I am only an hour away but I figure when I get to Russia that will all be gone for the most part during Holidays.
Well I can't wait to get my flight plan for Russia. I hope I get to stop in some cool places on the way! We recieved our Russian nametags that say our names in Russia. I sent pics to the fam in my letter this week so you will definitely see all of this.
Hmmm... let's see what else is new... oh ya, now we are speaking one hundred percent Russian all the time! It is tough especially on P Day because to say the least, we only know gospel words. So, unless we want to teach the first two lessons to people all day we are at a loss for words usually... Russian is so difficult! but, it is so bomb! I love it! It sounds so cool I can't wait until I can fluently speak it!
Well I really don't know what to tell you, it is the 8th week and things are pretty repetitive. :) we pretty much did the same thing we did last week and the week before that and so on.
But I guess every week does bring new spiritual experiences.. this week was cool because in the RC I have two people that I have started talking to through e mail about the gospel. It is kind of like a progressing investigator through e mail. Both of these investigators are really interested in Christ and why what we believe is different compared to other churches. It is a truly interesting experience. I also found out in the RC that people have heard the craziest rumors about Mormons.. Such as us turning into lizards or that we cast spells on our children everynight. At first I thought these people were joking when they said this, but they were not joking at all they really believed this. It's just wierd... But it gave me a good opportunity to testify and tell about Christ so I liked it a lot.
Well keep in touch! I love you all so much! I miss you all a lot but I know that what I am doing is the right thing, and because of that the Lord is helping me deal with all of my feelings of missing home! I love it so much here! Mostly I feel bad for all of you because you have to deal with the real world and all the temptations that come along with that.. sorry! Pretty soon I will be writing from Russia and I know I will have some cool experiences to tell from there!
Thanks so much for the love and support and keep writing me please!!
Love,
Elder Weihing
First comes first.. Thanksgiving was great! We had the privilege of hearing from one of the Twelve Apostles-Jeffrey R. Holland. He is a great speaker! He really inspires and speaks with such passion! After that we ate a some what Thanksgiving meal that was alright and then did an hour of service. After that we got to just hang out and study and then later that night we had another speaker. It was overall a good day. I missed my family a lot because I am only an hour away but I figure when I get to Russia that will all be gone for the most part during Holidays.
Well I can't wait to get my flight plan for Russia. I hope I get to stop in some cool places on the way! We recieved our Russian nametags that say our names in Russia. I sent pics to the fam in my letter this week so you will definitely see all of this.
Hmmm... let's see what else is new... oh ya, now we are speaking one hundred percent Russian all the time! It is tough especially on P Day because to say the least, we only know gospel words. So, unless we want to teach the first two lessons to people all day we are at a loss for words usually... Russian is so difficult! but, it is so bomb! I love it! It sounds so cool I can't wait until I can fluently speak it!
Well I really don't know what to tell you, it is the 8th week and things are pretty repetitive. :) we pretty much did the same thing we did last week and the week before that and so on.
But I guess every week does bring new spiritual experiences.. this week was cool because in the RC I have two people that I have started talking to through e mail about the gospel. It is kind of like a progressing investigator through e mail. Both of these investigators are really interested in Christ and why what we believe is different compared to other churches. It is a truly interesting experience. I also found out in the RC that people have heard the craziest rumors about Mormons.. Such as us turning into lizards or that we cast spells on our children everynight. At first I thought these people were joking when they said this, but they were not joking at all they really believed this. It's just wierd... But it gave me a good opportunity to testify and tell about Christ so I liked it a lot.
Well keep in touch! I love you all so much! I miss you all a lot but I know that what I am doing is the right thing, and because of that the Lord is helping me deal with all of my feelings of missing home! I love it so much here! Mostly I feel bad for all of you because you have to deal with the real world and all the temptations that come along with that.. sorry! Pretty soon I will be writing from Russia and I know I will have some cool experiences to tell from there!
Thanks so much for the love and support and keep writing me please!!
Love,
Elder Weihing
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Hey! All I can really say is another great week in the MTC and only three more to go! I will be in Russia converting the nation before I know it! Anyways, thank you all so much for all of your letters and e mails of support and love! I really enjoy hearing from everyone it really makes my day that much better hearing from you all! I am so thankful to have such and amazaing group of family and friends who never cease to amaze and teach me! Thank you for your amazing examples and advice!
Well let's see what happened this week... We had a group of new Elder's and Sister's come in this week. It was a crazy week because Elder Brown and I were so busy getting all of them organized and on the right track we never had to time study! Aka I am counting on the Lord's help on still being where I am supposed to be in the language and everything else! I am not too worried about that tho...
Of the Elder's one of them that came was one of my friends so that was cool. We had 11 Elders arrive, 1 English Sister, and 2 Native Russian Sisters. I feel so bad for the only English Sister! she will learn so much from the russian Sister's but I bet she feels so intimidated! They are all doing great though. The Russian Native Sister's went through and revieved their endowments today... these experiences that I have had in the temple with the Russian's are irreplaceable! I love them so much more after because they bring such and amazaing appreciation for the temple to every person there! I love the Temple so much!
I found out some pretty tizight stuff about Russian missions this week. One member of our Branch Presidency used to be a Russian Mission President and he told us that it costs the Church $2000 a month per missionary in Russia! Wow! That totals to around $50,000 in the two years I am there! Jeez that makes me so much more grateful for this opportunity I have to serve and for this once in a lifetime experience that I am going to have. It makes me want to work just that much harder to meet my full potential that the Lord knows that I am capable of! I also found out that there are a total of 40 missionaries in the Moscow West Mission, 10 are Elder's from America and 30 are Elders from Russia... I am going to have a lot Native compaions who don't speak much English so... we will see how that goes! Hopefully I can communicate with him! I can't wait to leave for Russia on December 14th!
So Thanksgiving is coming up in two days! Wow! What happened?! I swear it was just Halloween? Mission time is so wierd.. it goes by almost too fast! Well for Thanksgiving I know that we are having some kind of Thanksgiving meal and then the rest of the day we are doing a huge service project! I honestly can't wait! It is going to be such a blast! And then to make things even better, Thanksgiving night we are going to be having a "special speaker" aka I am guessing an Apostle! That is very exciting! I heard a rumor, I wont tell you where, that it is going to be Elder Holland aka greatest speaker of all time!
Well I heard that Brother Wilkey called and talked to you for a bit eh dad? How was it? How was talking to my mission President? Let's hear what happened? Get som good details about the mish for me? PS if kerry and shantel are reading this I am a bit disappointed in you two and you both know why and I am disappointed in justin too... I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU IN AWHILE! STEP IT UP! JK I know life is busy and I love you all :)
Anyways I am having a great time here and cannot wait to get to Russia to serve the lord!I can't wait to get to work! I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and know that I love you so much.. you have helped me out more than I ever deserved! I can't wait to hear back from you! Remever who you are!
Well let's see what happened this week... We had a group of new Elder's and Sister's come in this week. It was a crazy week because Elder Brown and I were so busy getting all of them organized and on the right track we never had to time study! Aka I am counting on the Lord's help on still being where I am supposed to be in the language and everything else! I am not too worried about that tho...
Of the Elder's one of them that came was one of my friends so that was cool. We had 11 Elders arrive, 1 English Sister, and 2 Native Russian Sisters. I feel so bad for the only English Sister! she will learn so much from the russian Sister's but I bet she feels so intimidated! They are all doing great though. The Russian Native Sister's went through and revieved their endowments today... these experiences that I have had in the temple with the Russian's are irreplaceable! I love them so much more after because they bring such and amazaing appreciation for the temple to every person there! I love the Temple so much!
I found out some pretty tizight stuff about Russian missions this week. One member of our Branch Presidency used to be a Russian Mission President and he told us that it costs the Church $2000 a month per missionary in Russia! Wow! That totals to around $50,000 in the two years I am there! Jeez that makes me so much more grateful for this opportunity I have to serve and for this once in a lifetime experience that I am going to have. It makes me want to work just that much harder to meet my full potential that the Lord knows that I am capable of! I also found out that there are a total of 40 missionaries in the Moscow West Mission, 10 are Elder's from America and 30 are Elders from Russia... I am going to have a lot Native compaions who don't speak much English so... we will see how that goes! Hopefully I can communicate with him! I can't wait to leave for Russia on December 14th!
So Thanksgiving is coming up in two days! Wow! What happened?! I swear it was just Halloween? Mission time is so wierd.. it goes by almost too fast! Well for Thanksgiving I know that we are having some kind of Thanksgiving meal and then the rest of the day we are doing a huge service project! I honestly can't wait! It is going to be such a blast! And then to make things even better, Thanksgiving night we are going to be having a "special speaker" aka I am guessing an Apostle! That is very exciting! I heard a rumor, I wont tell you where, that it is going to be Elder Holland aka greatest speaker of all time!
Well I heard that Brother Wilkey called and talked to you for a bit eh dad? How was it? How was talking to my mission President? Let's hear what happened? Get som good details about the mish for me? PS if kerry and shantel are reading this I am a bit disappointed in you two and you both know why and I am disappointed in justin too... I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU IN AWHILE! STEP IT UP! JK I know life is busy and I love you all :)
Anyways I am having a great time here and cannot wait to get to Russia to serve the lord!I can't wait to get to work! I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and know that I love you so much.. you have helped me out more than I ever deserved! I can't wait to hear back from you! Remever who you are!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hey everyone! I have lost track of exactly where I am at in my time at the MTC so who knows... time moves way to fast on a mission I feel like I have only been here a week still.. All I know is that I leave on December 14th for Russia and Ican't wait.
Everything is pretty much the same this week :) things are still great and the Spirit is still really strong. I love it in the MTC but I also just want to be in Russia to get to work!!
Hmm... well in the Zone there have been a few issues that Elder Brown and I have had to take care of but things are great other than that. I love serving the Lord.
Well the language is still coming along pretty slow. We have fun and work really hard at it. Sometimes things can get almost too serious for my taste so we make sure and add some fun every once and awhile. We start speaking 100 % Russian in about two weeks I think and I have no idea how me and Elder Brown are even going to communicate at this point.. Haha but I guess two weeks is a lot of learning time! I love the language and feel like I get better at it everyday. I have been blessed to understand what is being said now I just need to get my mind thinking in Russian so that I can respond to what is being said!
This week all the newbies arrive, which is 11 Elders and 1 Sister for our Branch, and the new native Russians arrive, which is only three sisters for our Branch. It is going to be so awesome! I just hope we can all be good examples to them. I know that we will though because our Zone is amazing!
Well things are pretty much the same as last week.. not much has changed. Oh except we taught for our first time in all of Russian.. haha we did alright.. not amazing tho.. but that's ok we will get going pretty fast.
Well I appreciate all the letters of supporst and encouragement that I have recieved. You are all so amazing and I miss you and think about you more than you know! I love hearing from you and seeing how you are doing! I will write Russian in my letters back :) good deal right there! haha love you bye!
Love,
Kenneth
Everything is pretty much the same this week :) things are still great and the Spirit is still really strong. I love it in the MTC but I also just want to be in Russia to get to work!!
Hmm... well in the Zone there have been a few issues that Elder Brown and I have had to take care of but things are great other than that. I love serving the Lord.
Well the language is still coming along pretty slow. We have fun and work really hard at it. Sometimes things can get almost too serious for my taste so we make sure and add some fun every once and awhile. We start speaking 100 % Russian in about two weeks I think and I have no idea how me and Elder Brown are even going to communicate at this point.. Haha but I guess two weeks is a lot of learning time! I love the language and feel like I get better at it everyday. I have been blessed to understand what is being said now I just need to get my mind thinking in Russian so that I can respond to what is being said!
This week all the newbies arrive, which is 11 Elders and 1 Sister for our Branch, and the new native Russians arrive, which is only three sisters for our Branch. It is going to be so awesome! I just hope we can all be good examples to them. I know that we will though because our Zone is amazing!
Well things are pretty much the same as last week.. not much has changed. Oh except we taught for our first time in all of Russian.. haha we did alright.. not amazing tho.. but that's ok we will get going pretty fast.
Well I appreciate all the letters of supporst and encouragement that I have recieved. You are all so amazing and I miss you and think about you more than you know! I love hearing from you and seeing how you are doing! I will write Russian in my letters back :) good deal right there! haha love you bye!
Love,
Kenneth
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
What up Fam! How is everyone doing on this fine day? Great day to be a missionary! Anyways, Vince is the man! I am so happy that you guys are forwarding me his e mails.. I always knew he would be an amazing missionary! He sounds like he is truly changing peoples lives and inviting them to come unto Christ.. :)
Anyways what's first on this weeks news... ok here is a good little story. So.. Earlier this week (MTC weeks start on Wednesdays) the three missionaries in the MTC who are going to Moscow West got called down to the Head Haunchos office.. needless to say we were a bit worried like maybe our misson didn't exist. Ya well after thinking that worst, actually the exact oppositte happened! We are being sent out two weeks early! So instead of leaving the 28th of December we are now leaving the 14th of December! I am so pumped! I guess my mission Pres called the MTC and said that he wants us over there early.. Missions in Russia are just starting to get back to normal after the whole not sending missionaries there. So I assume that is why he wants us there early.. so I am now more than halfway throught my MTC experience and it has felt like I have been here one week!I am kinda bummed about not being here for Christmas but at the same time a Christmas in Russia should be bomb! And that means that I will be able to call home on the 14th as well as on Christmas.. I am pumped!
So Elder Brown and I are loving our responsibilities most days with our new calling. It adds a lot more stress to our already stressed out and busy lives. But, oh well :) I really feel the Lord making up for our lost time! This week all of the "older" elders going to Russia left and we had to get up three days in a row at 3:30 Am to get them out of the rooms and make sure everything is ok.. aka I might be a bit tired! But, haha fortunately the Lord works in mysterious ways because last night Elder Browns alarm clock got messed up and the alarm didn't go off :) so today on our PDay we accidently slep in an extra hour haha I feel pretty bad but at the same time I really needed the rest!!
I think that tonight we might be having another Aposotle talking to us at the Devotional because we were supposed to come up with a question we would ask an Aposotle if we met him face to face.. but who knows I guess you'll find out next week. But, on Sunday nights we get to watch a movie and this last Sunday Elder Brown and I went to a movie talk thing by Elder Holland... GREASTEST SPEAKER EVER CREATED! He has such passion.. it was called Missions are Forever.. I wanted to get a copy of it for KJ and JJ but I haven't found any time to look for it.
The MTC is great :) I love every second of every day. Each week brings new adventures and new struggles but I wouldn't be on a mission if I wasn't going to struggle... HE had struggles and tough times so why shouldn't I?! Russian is a bit tough and at times I feel like I am so busy doing other things that I don't have as much time to study the language as other people in our distric so.. if anyone has any advice on how to best study or practice a language it would be much appreciated! Elder Brown and I have our very first lesson with a pretend "investigator" in Russian tomorrow night.. it should be very interesting! So pray for us because we really need it!! I love you all so much and will never be able to explain in words what you mean and have ment to me aka I'll just say that I love you all!! Jesus loves you! Remember who you are!
Love,
Kenneth
PS-I am the only one in the whole branch who can remotely play the piano so.. I might have to test out my skills haha not too excited about that one! Pray for me there too!! Anyways I love you all and can't wait to hear back from you! You're letters and words of advice mean so much to me I keep all of the letters! And I pin up all the quotes the Grandma sends me! Have a great week!! :)
Anyways what's first on this weeks news... ok here is a good little story. So.. Earlier this week (MTC weeks start on Wednesdays) the three missionaries in the MTC who are going to Moscow West got called down to the Head Haunchos office.. needless to say we were a bit worried like maybe our misson didn't exist. Ya well after thinking that worst, actually the exact oppositte happened! We are being sent out two weeks early! So instead of leaving the 28th of December we are now leaving the 14th of December! I am so pumped! I guess my mission Pres called the MTC and said that he wants us over there early.. Missions in Russia are just starting to get back to normal after the whole not sending missionaries there. So I assume that is why he wants us there early.. so I am now more than halfway throught my MTC experience and it has felt like I have been here one week!I am kinda bummed about not being here for Christmas but at the same time a Christmas in Russia should be bomb! And that means that I will be able to call home on the 14th as well as on Christmas.. I am pumped!
So Elder Brown and I are loving our responsibilities most days with our new calling. It adds a lot more stress to our already stressed out and busy lives. But, oh well :) I really feel the Lord making up for our lost time! This week all of the "older" elders going to Russia left and we had to get up three days in a row at 3:30 Am to get them out of the rooms and make sure everything is ok.. aka I might be a bit tired! But, haha fortunately the Lord works in mysterious ways because last night Elder Browns alarm clock got messed up and the alarm didn't go off :) so today on our PDay we accidently slep in an extra hour haha I feel pretty bad but at the same time I really needed the rest!!
I think that tonight we might be having another Aposotle talking to us at the Devotional because we were supposed to come up with a question we would ask an Aposotle if we met him face to face.. but who knows I guess you'll find out next week. But, on Sunday nights we get to watch a movie and this last Sunday Elder Brown and I went to a movie talk thing by Elder Holland... GREASTEST SPEAKER EVER CREATED! He has such passion.. it was called Missions are Forever.. I wanted to get a copy of it for KJ and JJ but I haven't found any time to look for it.
The MTC is great :) I love every second of every day. Each week brings new adventures and new struggles but I wouldn't be on a mission if I wasn't going to struggle... HE had struggles and tough times so why shouldn't I?! Russian is a bit tough and at times I feel like I am so busy doing other things that I don't have as much time to study the language as other people in our distric so.. if anyone has any advice on how to best study or practice a language it would be much appreciated! Elder Brown and I have our very first lesson with a pretend "investigator" in Russian tomorrow night.. it should be very interesting! So pray for us because we really need it!! I love you all so much and will never be able to explain in words what you mean and have ment to me aka I'll just say that I love you all!! Jesus loves you! Remember who you are!
Love,
Kenneth
PS-I am the only one in the whole branch who can remotely play the piano so.. I might have to test out my skills haha not too excited about that one! Pray for me there too!! Anyways I love you all and can't wait to hear back from you! You're letters and words of advice mean so much to me I keep all of the letters! And I pin up all the quotes the Grandma sends me! Have a great week!! :)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
MTC CURBSIDE DROP OFF
(sorry a little late..)
October 7, 209
The day finally arrived. As we woke up early and loaded all 7(ken, jord, mom, dad, cassie, richelle & nathanial) of us in the Acura, it was time to say good bye. We stopped in Provo and had breakfast at IHOP. We noticed other missionaries doing the same thing. Kenneth's breakfast was free for being a new missionary. We drove to the MTC and parked across the street and took some pictures. We had a family hug (already looking forward to our next family hug in 2 years) We took a few more pictures and Kenneth said "Lets go". We drove to our curbside #6. The elders were there to pick up and carry Kenneth's luggage. We had one last hug and off he went. We know Kenneth will be a great missionary!!!
October 7, 209
The day finally arrived. As we woke up early and loaded all 7(ken, jord, mom, dad, cassie, richelle & nathanial) of us in the Acura, it was time to say good bye. We stopped in Provo and had breakfast at IHOP. We noticed other missionaries doing the same thing. Kenneth's breakfast was free for being a new missionary. We drove to the MTC and parked across the street and took some pictures. We had a family hug (already looking forward to our next family hug in 2 years) We took a few more pictures and Kenneth said "Lets go". We drove to our curbside #6. The elders were there to pick up and carry Kenneth's luggage. We had one last hug and off he went. We know Kenneth will be a great missionary!!!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Subject: Almost one Month in!
Hey all you wonderful people!! So yes mom the whole 1228 thing is the right one. It doesn't really matter. that number is just my departure date from the MTC like I said before. 1228 is fine. So now.. tell me.. are you forwarding my e mails or not???? PS tell Jordan to write me back and stop slacking off!!!
Well let's see.. this week has been great as always! I'll just tell you three things that happened this week that were fantastically amazing :) definitely some top Spiritual moments so far!
To start out this past week we had an amazing Devotional by Elder L. Tom Perry of the Twelve. Never a bad way to start of the week! It was amazing! The Spirit that an Apostle of the Lord brings into the room is uncomparable! You could just feel in every word that he spoke how much he cared for every single one of us and wanted us to succeed... so that's the first thing!
The Next most wonderful thing that happened had to do with my prayers being answered. So I talked to you about how Brother Wilkey took Elder Brown and me aside and told us that we were doing a great job but that we needed to do just a little bit more.. well this week we found out not only what he told us that but also how we could do a little bit more. Well it's getting time for the older Russian Elders who are here to ship off to the field.. so on Sunday Brother Wilkey interviewed Elder Brown and me and told us that the Lord has chosen us as the new Zone Leaders. Haha couldn't say I wasn't expecting it with the amazing companion that I was blessed with.. So now we have a whole branch of missionaries to look after, we have a lot of new responsibilities! It's pretty interesting!Brother Wilkey told us that the old Zone Leaders recommended us very first and that's exactly who the Branch Presidency wanted to pick as well... so that was a boost of confidence but I can't say I feel like I deserve this because I have no idea what I am doing and 50 missionaries are looking to us on what to do! AHH!! Oh well the Lord will make up our weaknesses and we will figure it out with his help :)
Last thing that happpened this week happened earlier today.. We went to the temple again, like on every P Day, but today we got to watch the native Russians as they performed sealings for the very first time. Ordinarily Missionaries are not aloud to do this but because it was for family it was aloud.. wow! It was just one of those experiences again where you just can't help but feel blessed and spoiled because of where you live and the family you came from. They were so happy and excited to have to opportunity to preform this sacred ordinance for deceased family members. I don't think we ever really grasp how lucky we are...
Well every week brings new adventures. I have new spiritual happenings every hour of everyday :) sometimes days are hard but it was never ment to be easy. And that's ok because I think it will just make it mean that much more when I get things right eventually! You all should be jealous that I get to take a break from the world for the next two years cause I know that I feel bad for you!I am the lucky one!
Well I guess I have a little more time than I thought to type so I will just tell you one more quick story. So every since my experience at the RC talking to that man and getting missionaries to his house I think that elder Brown has felt a little jealous.. for an obvious reason becuase I am just that amazing jk... but today I think he got an answer to his prayers. today as we were leaving the temple we were walking and then he just stopped and said that we had to go back and talk to a lady that we had just passed. First of all, in the MTC you don't really talk to the outside world much so this was wierd, but he felt inclined so we decided to go. As we were talking back the woman yelled to us to ask if we would help her. so we went over and I guess she has some disease that makes it really painful to carry anthing at all so we grabbed her stuff and started walking with her. Then she told us she was catching the bus.. as she said that the bus went by and stopped at the stop so we ran ahead to hold the bus for her. It wasn't an absolutely breath taking experience but... I believe it was just one of those tests to make sure that we were listening aka Elder Brown was listening because I obiously wan't. Pretty cool tho eh :)
:) not a day goes by that I don't pray for my family and friends. I love you all so much! You have ment so much to me and been great examples. I feel so spoiled to have so many people love and care for me... That's why I am out here :) to spread that love around that all of you have taught me to use!
Oh and PS Russian is hard but I am getting it down good enough with a lot of help from the man upstairs :) Maybe I'll write you some russian stuff if you ask me too.. who knows...
Hey all you wonderful people!! So yes mom the whole 1228 thing is the right one. It doesn't really matter. that number is just my departure date from the MTC like I said before. 1228 is fine. So now.. tell me.. are you forwarding my e mails or not???? PS tell Jordan to write me back and stop slacking off!!!
Well let's see.. this week has been great as always! I'll just tell you three things that happened this week that were fantastically amazing :) definitely some top Spiritual moments so far!
To start out this past week we had an amazing Devotional by Elder L. Tom Perry of the Twelve. Never a bad way to start of the week! It was amazing! The Spirit that an Apostle of the Lord brings into the room is uncomparable! You could just feel in every word that he spoke how much he cared for every single one of us and wanted us to succeed... so that's the first thing!
The Next most wonderful thing that happened had to do with my prayers being answered. So I talked to you about how Brother Wilkey took Elder Brown and me aside and told us that we were doing a great job but that we needed to do just a little bit more.. well this week we found out not only what he told us that but also how we could do a little bit more. Well it's getting time for the older Russian Elders who are here to ship off to the field.. so on Sunday Brother Wilkey interviewed Elder Brown and me and told us that the Lord has chosen us as the new Zone Leaders. Haha couldn't say I wasn't expecting it with the amazing companion that I was blessed with.. So now we have a whole branch of missionaries to look after, we have a lot of new responsibilities! It's pretty interesting!Brother Wilkey told us that the old Zone Leaders recommended us very first and that's exactly who the Branch Presidency wanted to pick as well... so that was a boost of confidence but I can't say I feel like I deserve this because I have no idea what I am doing and 50 missionaries are looking to us on what to do! AHH!! Oh well the Lord will make up our weaknesses and we will figure it out with his help :)
Last thing that happpened this week happened earlier today.. We went to the temple again, like on every P Day, but today we got to watch the native Russians as they performed sealings for the very first time. Ordinarily Missionaries are not aloud to do this but because it was for family it was aloud.. wow! It was just one of those experiences again where you just can't help but feel blessed and spoiled because of where you live and the family you came from. They were so happy and excited to have to opportunity to preform this sacred ordinance for deceased family members. I don't think we ever really grasp how lucky we are...
Well every week brings new adventures. I have new spiritual happenings every hour of everyday :) sometimes days are hard but it was never ment to be easy. And that's ok because I think it will just make it mean that much more when I get things right eventually! You all should be jealous that I get to take a break from the world for the next two years cause I know that I feel bad for you!I am the lucky one!
Well I guess I have a little more time than I thought to type so I will just tell you one more quick story. So every since my experience at the RC talking to that man and getting missionaries to his house I think that elder Brown has felt a little jealous.. for an obvious reason becuase I am just that amazing jk... but today I think he got an answer to his prayers. today as we were leaving the temple we were walking and then he just stopped and said that we had to go back and talk to a lady that we had just passed. First of all, in the MTC you don't really talk to the outside world much so this was wierd, but he felt inclined so we decided to go. As we were talking back the woman yelled to us to ask if we would help her. so we went over and I guess she has some disease that makes it really painful to carry anthing at all so we grabbed her stuff and started walking with her. Then she told us she was catching the bus.. as she said that the bus went by and stopped at the stop so we ran ahead to hold the bus for her. It wasn't an absolutely breath taking experience but... I believe it was just one of those tests to make sure that we were listening aka Elder Brown was listening because I obiously wan't. Pretty cool tho eh :)
:) not a day goes by that I don't pray for my family and friends. I love you all so much! You have ment so much to me and been great examples. I feel so spoiled to have so many people love and care for me... That's why I am out here :) to spread that love around that all of you have taught me to use!
Oh and PS Russian is hard but I am getting it down good enough with a lot of help from the man upstairs :) Maybe I'll write you some russian stuff if you ask me too.. who knows...
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Well a lot of really cool things happened to me this week at the MTC. I guess i'll just start from the beginning :)
In the MTC there is this place called the RC. This is short for Referral Center. This is where people call in to get free Bibles, BOM, and Church Videos. When they call in you also try and get a convo started about other things of course like the Church and all that jazz... Then a little while later you call them back to follow up and see if they revieced these free item. When you do this you also try and get a convo started.
Well I have been to the RC twice and have never even had anyone pick up the phone when I call them, because I am always a feedback guy. So.. not success.
Well this last week I had someone finally pick up the phone for the first time. I talked to a guy name Henry Potts who lives in Michigan. His son had ordered a free Bible. so after I got talking to him for awhile I found out a lot about him. His son never got the free Bible, so I fixed his info which was wrong so that they could get another one sent out. Also, he told me a brief story about his life and how he had been in jail, but when he got out of jail he took a step back and looked at his life. He has read the Bible and loves it and truly beleives in the Lord. Now he just goes and talks to preachers about twice a week for advice. So of course, me being one with such skill ;) , I told him about the book of mormon and I also asked him about whether he would like to hear a message about Jesus Christ from two Representatives of our church. :) He accepted! It was fantastic! Great experience! I talked to him for a bit more just to get a feel of things but I just felt really cool that I got to have that experience and commit someone to the Book of Mormon and Missionaries. PS I also noticed that Henry Potts lives in Michigan so I thought that was cool cause Vince is there :) so you never know... But yep that was my first real missionary experience..
Another crazy experience was this past Sunday... Brother Wilkey, a member of our Branch Presidency, and Sister Wilkey are two amazing people. Every Sunday we have a district meeting for about a meeting which is like our Sunday School. One of the Companionships teaches and sometimes someone will sit in and listen to our lessons. Well for the past two weeks sister wilkey has sat in on our lessons. This week after the lesson she was asked to give the prayer. when she started praying she started crying... it brought an amazing spirit in the room! Then after the prayer Brother Wilkey walked in to get his wife and could tell that the Spirit was really thick in the room. He loved the feeling! He walked in and asked if he could talk to me and Elder Brown alone so he brought us out of the room... Brother Wilkey has always come out of his way to come accross and talk to me and Elder Brown and tell us how we glow or something cool like that. Well this time he took us aside and told us that he didn't know what it was but he felt like he needed to tell us that we were ment to do something great and that we were working really hard in everything we did. He said that we were there for something big but he didn't know what. It was crazy! But, then after he said all that he said that he could tell that we were working hard but that we needed to put forth the extra effort to do more... this came as a shock because in all complete honestly I have felt like I have been giving my all to my studies and working hard! but, I guess it is not enought and I just need to push myself a little bit more.... It's going to be hard but I know that the Lord will help Elder brown and me figure out a way to push ourself just a little bit farther! TIPS WOULD BE HELPFUL!
Well I have had a lot more really cool experiences but I really don't have time to tell you all of them sorry :) If you want to know more of them then write me and ask me :) I will be glad to tell you a few more cool things.. But those two were the coolest!!
Russian is very hard haha but that's ok I don't really care.. I know if I work my tale off then it will come in the end.. everything that I lack in will be made up by the Lord! I have complete confidence and faith in his power or else why would I be out here! But I still can't wait to get to Russia :) the MTC is fun and all but.. Russia will be better!!
Well I really hope that you are forwarding these e mails out to my friends... you still haven't confirmed that one with me?? :) But I love you all :) I pray for you all :) Keep writing me please! I love hearing from you it makes my day!! I love you all!!
In the MTC there is this place called the RC. This is short for Referral Center. This is where people call in to get free Bibles, BOM, and Church Videos. When they call in you also try and get a convo started about other things of course like the Church and all that jazz... Then a little while later you call them back to follow up and see if they revieced these free item. When you do this you also try and get a convo started.
Well I have been to the RC twice and have never even had anyone pick up the phone when I call them, because I am always a feedback guy. So.. not success.
Well this last week I had someone finally pick up the phone for the first time. I talked to a guy name Henry Potts who lives in Michigan. His son had ordered a free Bible. so after I got talking to him for awhile I found out a lot about him. His son never got the free Bible, so I fixed his info which was wrong so that they could get another one sent out. Also, he told me a brief story about his life and how he had been in jail, but when he got out of jail he took a step back and looked at his life. He has read the Bible and loves it and truly beleives in the Lord. Now he just goes and talks to preachers about twice a week for advice. So of course, me being one with such skill ;) , I told him about the book of mormon and I also asked him about whether he would like to hear a message about Jesus Christ from two Representatives of our church. :) He accepted! It was fantastic! Great experience! I talked to him for a bit more just to get a feel of things but I just felt really cool that I got to have that experience and commit someone to the Book of Mormon and Missionaries. PS I also noticed that Henry Potts lives in Michigan so I thought that was cool cause Vince is there :) so you never know... But yep that was my first real missionary experience..
Another crazy experience was this past Sunday... Brother Wilkey, a member of our Branch Presidency, and Sister Wilkey are two amazing people. Every Sunday we have a district meeting for about a meeting which is like our Sunday School. One of the Companionships teaches and sometimes someone will sit in and listen to our lessons. Well for the past two weeks sister wilkey has sat in on our lessons. This week after the lesson she was asked to give the prayer. when she started praying she started crying... it brought an amazing spirit in the room! Then after the prayer Brother Wilkey walked in to get his wife and could tell that the Spirit was really thick in the room. He loved the feeling! He walked in and asked if he could talk to me and Elder Brown alone so he brought us out of the room... Brother Wilkey has always come out of his way to come accross and talk to me and Elder Brown and tell us how we glow or something cool like that. Well this time he took us aside and told us that he didn't know what it was but he felt like he needed to tell us that we were ment to do something great and that we were working really hard in everything we did. He said that we were there for something big but he didn't know what. It was crazy! But, then after he said all that he said that he could tell that we were working hard but that we needed to put forth the extra effort to do more... this came as a shock because in all complete honestly I have felt like I have been giving my all to my studies and working hard! but, I guess it is not enought and I just need to push myself a little bit more.... It's going to be hard but I know that the Lord will help Elder brown and me figure out a way to push ourself just a little bit farther! TIPS WOULD BE HELPFUL!
Well I have had a lot more really cool experiences but I really don't have time to tell you all of them sorry :) If you want to know more of them then write me and ask me :) I will be glad to tell you a few more cool things.. But those two were the coolest!!
Russian is very hard haha but that's ok I don't really care.. I know if I work my tale off then it will come in the end.. everything that I lack in will be made up by the Lord! I have complete confidence and faith in his power or else why would I be out here! But I still can't wait to get to Russia :) the MTC is fun and all but.. Russia will be better!!
Well I really hope that you are forwarding these e mails out to my friends... you still haven't confirmed that one with me?? :) But I love you all :) I pray for you all :) Keep writing me please! I love hearing from you it makes my day!! I love you all!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, October 20,2009
Dad was pacing the floor because it was 5:30 and we hadn't received an email from Kenneth. This thankfully came at about 5:45, or I don't know what dad would have done....
Hey Fam! I love you all! This past week has been another great week! I will try to explain as much as I can about what happened in this e mail but I don't think I'll have enough time so I will be writing you all letters! Have you been forwarding my emails to my friends??
So this past week was amazing yet again. Elder Brown and I taught our first lesson which wasn't amazing but wasn't bad. At the start of each lesson we have to do certain things in Russian with our "investigators". We did alright. This week we will be amazing though because we have improved in Russian so much and also are teaching abilities, esecially with the first lesson because that's all we've taught so far, is getting fantastic. So pray for us cause wednesday night is the lesson again.
We also went to a thing called the RC which is where we talk to investigators on the phone. That is about as real life and legit as it gets in the MTC. We call people who have ordered a Book of Mormon or Church movies and just talk to them about the church. Haha I didn't have anyone answere the phone so no real experiences there.. yet!! I am going to go there a lot more becuase I figure I need to get as much practice as I can!
I am going to try to answer as many questions as I can tell of some other really amazing experiences that I had but if I don't get to the questions just keep asking me and I will get around the them sooner or later. First off I better tell you that they best way to talk to me is through letters or Dear Elder because I can only check my e mail once a week and I don't have time in the thirty minute slot that they give us to really read and answer your letters...
A day in the life of Elder Kenneth Rone Weihing... This is an average day at the MTC.. You wake up at six thirty. You get showered and all dressed up and go to breakfast. No matter where you go in the MTC you are always in a full suit outside of your housing. After breakfast you go to class till eleven thirty where you learn Russian and how to teach from Preach My gospel. My class is made up of my district of 8 people and then one teacher. It is small. then at eleven thirty you eat lunch till twelve. At Twelve you have class until four thirty. in class you do the same thing.. Study Russian and learn how to teach from preach my gospel. At four thirty you eat dinner. At five you come back to class and this is when you usually have personal study, companion study, language study, and then a district study all without a teacher until nine. Then at nine you plan for the next day and set goals. how well you start out in the field depends a lot on how you used the last four hours of study without a teacher. You can go get help from a tutor or teach lessons for teachers to ask for advice. Oh an sometime in the day you have gym for thirty minutes. It is a very packed day and they fly by!! I have to be in my bed at ten thirty everynight. This schedule varies when we have devotionals or service projects.
what happened after we dropped off Elder Weihing... I took my suit cases to my room. I gave the front desk all my info and everything they needed. they gave me my two badges and other things I needed to survive in the MTC. After this we met our district, had orientation with all the new elders, and then went throught teaching excercises. We didn't waste anytime at all!
Now here as a really cool experience that I wanted to tell everyone about. Just recently they have started sending native Russian missionaries here to be taught for a few weeks and then are flown back. These such Russians just barely came last week. They are all new converts and do not speak any English. You can not understand them at all but you can feel how gratelful they are to be here and they just glow!! There is no Temple in Russia so none of them have recieved their endowments.. Well today was the day that they got to go to the temple and recieve their endowments. WOW! what an amazaing experiences. Our whole lives we are told how lucky we are to have temples so close.. I got to see in action how people react to temples who have never seen one let alone been inside one in their lives! Amazing. Most of them just started bawling because they felt so grateful for the experience to get to go in and do work for their own family members. It was a very humbling experience and probably my favorite so far being here. The Spirit present was so thick!
Things are sill amazing, Russian is simple ;) not really but it is coming along. The Lord has invested his time in me to learn it so I know I am having help! I feel so lucky to be away from the world! You are all the ones that I feel bad for :) Iget to have amazing experiences like this every single day while you have to drag on! Haha but I do miss you all and I pray for you everyday! I hope you know how much you mean to me and that everytime I get a letter I get so excited to read what you have to say! Keep my updated and keep asking me questions! I will answer as many as I can.. I only have one day to write back so I'm sorry if I can't! Remember who you are and Jesus loves you and so do I!!! :) :)
Hey Fam! I love you all! This past week has been another great week! I will try to explain as much as I can about what happened in this e mail but I don't think I'll have enough time so I will be writing you all letters! Have you been forwarding my emails to my friends??
So this past week was amazing yet again. Elder Brown and I taught our first lesson which wasn't amazing but wasn't bad. At the start of each lesson we have to do certain things in Russian with our "investigators". We did alright. This week we will be amazing though because we have improved in Russian so much and also are teaching abilities, esecially with the first lesson because that's all we've taught so far, is getting fantastic. So pray for us cause wednesday night is the lesson again.
We also went to a thing called the RC which is where we talk to investigators on the phone. That is about as real life and legit as it gets in the MTC. We call people who have ordered a Book of Mormon or Church movies and just talk to them about the church. Haha I didn't have anyone answere the phone so no real experiences there.. yet!! I am going to go there a lot more becuase I figure I need to get as much practice as I can!
I am going to try to answer as many questions as I can tell of some other really amazing experiences that I had but if I don't get to the questions just keep asking me and I will get around the them sooner or later. First off I better tell you that they best way to talk to me is through letters or Dear Elder because I can only check my e mail once a week and I don't have time in the thirty minute slot that they give us to really read and answer your letters...
A day in the life of Elder Kenneth Rone Weihing... This is an average day at the MTC.. You wake up at six thirty. You get showered and all dressed up and go to breakfast. No matter where you go in the MTC you are always in a full suit outside of your housing. After breakfast you go to class till eleven thirty where you learn Russian and how to teach from Preach My gospel. My class is made up of my district of 8 people and then one teacher. It is small. then at eleven thirty you eat lunch till twelve. At Twelve you have class until four thirty. in class you do the same thing.. Study Russian and learn how to teach from preach my gospel. At four thirty you eat dinner. At five you come back to class and this is when you usually have personal study, companion study, language study, and then a district study all without a teacher until nine. Then at nine you plan for the next day and set goals. how well you start out in the field depends a lot on how you used the last four hours of study without a teacher. You can go get help from a tutor or teach lessons for teachers to ask for advice. Oh an sometime in the day you have gym for thirty minutes. It is a very packed day and they fly by!! I have to be in my bed at ten thirty everynight. This schedule varies when we have devotionals or service projects.
what happened after we dropped off Elder Weihing... I took my suit cases to my room. I gave the front desk all my info and everything they needed. they gave me my two badges and other things I needed to survive in the MTC. After this we met our district, had orientation with all the new elders, and then went throught teaching excercises. We didn't waste anytime at all!
Now here as a really cool experience that I wanted to tell everyone about. Just recently they have started sending native Russian missionaries here to be taught for a few weeks and then are flown back. These such Russians just barely came last week. They are all new converts and do not speak any English. You can not understand them at all but you can feel how gratelful they are to be here and they just glow!! There is no Temple in Russia so none of them have recieved their endowments.. Well today was the day that they got to go to the temple and recieve their endowments. WOW! what an amazaing experiences. Our whole lives we are told how lucky we are to have temples so close.. I got to see in action how people react to temples who have never seen one let alone been inside one in their lives! Amazing. Most of them just started bawling because they felt so grateful for the experience to get to go in and do work for their own family members. It was a very humbling experience and probably my favorite so far being here. The Spirit present was so thick!
Things are sill amazing, Russian is simple ;) not really but it is coming along. The Lord has invested his time in me to learn it so I know I am having help! I feel so lucky to be away from the world! You are all the ones that I feel bad for :) Iget to have amazing experiences like this every single day while you have to drag on! Haha but I do miss you all and I pray for you everyday! I hope you know how much you mean to me and that everytime I get a letter I get so excited to read what you have to say! Keep my updated and keep asking me questions! I will answer as many as I can.. I only have one day to write back so I'm sorry if I can't! Remember who you are and Jesus loves you and so do I!!! :) :)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Dear Family,
First off, here is a list of things I would be very grateful for if you would send them to me:
-Hangers (I forgot about these)
-My Russia Missionary Tales Book (I can read this)
-More regular T-Shirts I can wear at night, to gym or on P-Days
-Addresses: Bishop, Pres. Roth, KJ, anyone else who you would think I want to write
--I need Jordan to get Brother Lotuleile's address for me. My seminary teacher from last year.
Well, I am having a great time here which is surprising to me. The people here are amazing!
I have a gym period everyday, so I get to ball it up and work out, I get to sit around and discuss the gospel with teachers(that is what class is)and I get to eat pretty dang good food!
I love my companion Elder Brown and he is teaching me a lot about the scriptures. Sometimes it is difficult though because we can NEVER leave each others side.
I went to the temple today and as always it is an amazing experience. I love the Spirit that continually resides in the house of the Lord.
How are things? How is Nathanial? How does Jordan like Calculus? How many girlfriends does he have? Are any of my siblings pregnant yet? Get on that!! I need more nieces and nephews when I get back!!
My all time favorite thing here is firesides, at least so far. All of the missionaries are together and when we all sing there is an amazing Spirit present. The last speaker we had truly said words that were close to my heart.
Surprisingly the only day I have felt homesick was today. This is mostly because I am too busy to think about how much I miss real life. I was a lot more worried and scared before I left than I am now
Does anyone know what happened to my letters that I sent to my fiends? I don't know if they received them because as of yesterday Scott wrote and told me he hasn't gotten his.
Set up a DEAR ELDER account. It is much easier for me because I can read letters any day of the week, but not e-mails. (Only Tuesdays)
I hope life is amazing at home! I know it is at the MTC. The kids can be weird, but most are very helpful. Elder Brown and I are the only partnership who has roommates who are experienced and have been here for six weeks. They are alot of help.
I have run into a few friends from Riverton. So that is pretty cool. WRITE ME BACK SOON PLEASE! Elder Brown and I are the only ones who never get letters. I love you all!
-Elder Kenneth R. Weihing
PS- something funny is that all the Russian Elders at the MTC sit in one specific area of the lunch room. And everyone calls it the IRON CURTAIN
First off, here is a list of things I would be very grateful for if you would send them to me:
-Hangers (I forgot about these)
-My Russia Missionary Tales Book (I can read this)
-More regular T-Shirts I can wear at night, to gym or on P-Days
-Addresses: Bishop, Pres. Roth, KJ, anyone else who you would think I want to write
--I need Jordan to get Brother Lotuleile's address for me. My seminary teacher from last year.
Well, I am having a great time here which is surprising to me. The people here are amazing!
I have a gym period everyday, so I get to ball it up and work out, I get to sit around and discuss the gospel with teachers(that is what class is)and I get to eat pretty dang good food!
I love my companion Elder Brown and he is teaching me a lot about the scriptures. Sometimes it is difficult though because we can NEVER leave each others side.
I went to the temple today and as always it is an amazing experience. I love the Spirit that continually resides in the house of the Lord.
How are things? How is Nathanial? How does Jordan like Calculus? How many girlfriends does he have? Are any of my siblings pregnant yet? Get on that!! I need more nieces and nephews when I get back!!
My all time favorite thing here is firesides, at least so far. All of the missionaries are together and when we all sing there is an amazing Spirit present. The last speaker we had truly said words that were close to my heart.
Surprisingly the only day I have felt homesick was today. This is mostly because I am too busy to think about how much I miss real life. I was a lot more worried and scared before I left than I am now
Does anyone know what happened to my letters that I sent to my fiends? I don't know if they received them because as of yesterday Scott wrote and told me he hasn't gotten his.
Set up a DEAR ELDER account. It is much easier for me because I can read letters any day of the week, but not e-mails. (Only Tuesdays)
I hope life is amazing at home! I know it is at the MTC. The kids can be weird, but most are very helpful. Elder Brown and I are the only partnership who has roommates who are experienced and have been here for six weeks. They are alot of help.
I have run into a few friends from Riverton. So that is pretty cool. WRITE ME BACK SOON PLEASE! Elder Brown and I are the only ones who never get letters. I love you all!
-Elder Kenneth R. Weihing
PS- something funny is that all the Russian Elders at the MTC sit in one specific area of the lunch room. And everyone calls it the IRON CURTAIN
Word for Word...
Cassie was asking me if I leave some things out in Kenneth's letters, or plan to. Answer: NO! Any letter he writes to the family will be posted in its entirety. (Grammer and spelling errors included!!) Ü
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday, October 13th
Hey Fam! Well my first week is pretty much over and it has flown by! I don't know why people complained about it here, other than I can tell it gets very repetitve, but I love it! My companion, Elder Brown, is amazing! We are getting along great and pushing each other to do better in every aspect aka he is pushing me...
Well, I guess I need to tell Dad that two of the leaders in my Branch Presidency know him... surprise surprise... so now I know i have a close eye kept on my at all times! One of them is Brother Wilkey and the other is Brother Harrison, he said he was in your elders quorum when we lived in price. They say hi.
But anyways, now I guess I need to tell you about a few things before my short time expires... I can only check my e mail once a week so it would be better to either write me at the address I gave you or the best thing to do would be to set up a Dear Elder account to write me at. I can get these letters anyday and not just on P Day. I got a letter from Scott from Dear Elder and he told me that he has not gotten the letter I sent him before I left.. do you guys have any idea what is going on with those??
Well sorry Mom I know you want me to tell you crazy in depth details about every single thing but now that I am here and in the groove of things I don't know what you want me to tell you.. so ask me questions and I will answer! I will tell you that i am up at six thirty everyday, we go to breakfast which is way too early to eat.. then we have class learning about preach my gospel and Russian until eleven thirty, Then we go to lunch.. which ps the food here is quite good and I eat a ton because it's buffet all you can eat :) but after lunch we go back to class and do the same thing until four thirty which is when we have dinner.. WAY TO EARLY FOR DINNER! Then after that we go back to class until nine thirty where we do companion study, personal study, and language study. Then we go back to the room, we pray and go to bed. That is just a basic day. There is some variety in that sometime we have fake "progressing investigators" where we go teach to practice our skizills.. which is rap for skills!
There are two words we are not aloud to use here.. Guys and Awesome.. We have to say elders and something else in place of awesome like delightful or something cooler than that.
Sundays are the best days ever! We go to priesthood and sacrament and sunday school and you eat and study whatever you want and then you have a fireside by some amazing speaker and then you get to watch a church movie, we watched the testaments last sunday. :) I love Sundays!
My district is amazing. There are only eight of us, two siters and six elders. They all seem like really awesome kids. We have the best district by far!!
Well Russian is coming along very slowly!! We have learned to pray, bear testimony, meet and ask questions to people, and I know how to read Russian now! Compared to other elders and sisters in my district I am not bad at all.. some are better at specific things while others are better at other things. It really seems like whatever I lack my companion or someone else in my district is good at so it really helps to push everyone along! I really love it here actually! Days are so busy that time flies! But... I will admit that I miss going to the movies.. Just thinking about it kills me!!!
Pray for me and Elder Brown as we strive to learn Russian and teach our first lesson this week. The Spirit is so strong here I can't even explain it.. I got to go the the Provo Temple today and I just love comparing the MTC to the temple. The spirit is not quite as strong as in the temple but.. it is close enough. I love my teachers, they are helping me recognize how the Spirit works with me. I have felt God's love for me daily as he answers my prayers and pours positive and peaceful feelings in my head and soul.
I love all of you so much! I can't wait to hear back from you! Send me letters and send things through Dear Elder! You all are such amazing examples to me and I pray for you always in my heart! My friends and family have always been there for me.. I was blessed with many friends who have loved me and I feel like I need to be the best example for them out here! I love you all! I will never stop praying for you just know that!!! :)
-Elder Kenneth Rone Weihing
PS I am going to write the family a letter as well because my time is almost up and I want to ask you to send me a few things :) but please write me I want to hear about outside life and what is going on and I want to hear about how big Nathaniel is getting :) I love you!!
Well, I guess I need to tell Dad that two of the leaders in my Branch Presidency know him... surprise surprise... so now I know i have a close eye kept on my at all times! One of them is Brother Wilkey and the other is Brother Harrison, he said he was in your elders quorum when we lived in price. They say hi.
But anyways, now I guess I need to tell you about a few things before my short time expires... I can only check my e mail once a week so it would be better to either write me at the address I gave you or the best thing to do would be to set up a Dear Elder account to write me at. I can get these letters anyday and not just on P Day. I got a letter from Scott from Dear Elder and he told me that he has not gotten the letter I sent him before I left.. do you guys have any idea what is going on with those??
Well sorry Mom I know you want me to tell you crazy in depth details about every single thing but now that I am here and in the groove of things I don't know what you want me to tell you.. so ask me questions and I will answer! I will tell you that i am up at six thirty everyday, we go to breakfast which is way too early to eat.. then we have class learning about preach my gospel and Russian until eleven thirty, Then we go to lunch.. which ps the food here is quite good and I eat a ton because it's buffet all you can eat :) but after lunch we go back to class and do the same thing until four thirty which is when we have dinner.. WAY TO EARLY FOR DINNER! Then after that we go back to class until nine thirty where we do companion study, personal study, and language study. Then we go back to the room, we pray and go to bed. That is just a basic day. There is some variety in that sometime we have fake "progressing investigators" where we go teach to practice our skizills.. which is rap for skills!
There are two words we are not aloud to use here.. Guys and Awesome.. We have to say elders and something else in place of awesome like delightful or something cooler than that.
Sundays are the best days ever! We go to priesthood and sacrament and sunday school and you eat and study whatever you want and then you have a fireside by some amazing speaker and then you get to watch a church movie, we watched the testaments last sunday. :) I love Sundays!
My district is amazing. There are only eight of us, two siters and six elders. They all seem like really awesome kids. We have the best district by far!!
Well Russian is coming along very slowly!! We have learned to pray, bear testimony, meet and ask questions to people, and I know how to read Russian now! Compared to other elders and sisters in my district I am not bad at all.. some are better at specific things while others are better at other things. It really seems like whatever I lack my companion or someone else in my district is good at so it really helps to push everyone along! I really love it here actually! Days are so busy that time flies! But... I will admit that I miss going to the movies.. Just thinking about it kills me!!!
Pray for me and Elder Brown as we strive to learn Russian and teach our first lesson this week. The Spirit is so strong here I can't even explain it.. I got to go the the Provo Temple today and I just love comparing the MTC to the temple. The spirit is not quite as strong as in the temple but.. it is close enough. I love my teachers, they are helping me recognize how the Spirit works with me. I have felt God's love for me daily as he answers my prayers and pours positive and peaceful feelings in my head and soul.
I love all of you so much! I can't wait to hear back from you! Send me letters and send things through Dear Elder! You all are such amazing examples to me and I pray for you always in my heart! My friends and family have always been there for me.. I was blessed with many friends who have loved me and I feel like I need to be the best example for them out here! I love you all! I will never stop praying for you just know that!!! :)
-Elder Kenneth Rone Weihing
PS I am going to write the family a letter as well because my time is almost up and I want to ask you to send me a few things :) but please write me I want to hear about outside life and what is going on and I want to hear about how big Nathaniel is getting :) I love you!!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Elder Weihing's Address
Elder Kenneth Rone Weihing
MTC Mailbox #289
RUS-MOSW 1221
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793
Elder Weihing will be at the MTC until December 28th. Please write him!
MTC Mailbox #289
RUS-MOSW 1221
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793
Elder Weihing will be at the MTC until December 28th. Please write him!
First Letter
Yesterday, we received Kenneth's first letter:
Dear Family,
I usually am not aloud to write until Tuesdays, but because it's my first day they let us. Well... in complete honesty the only things that have not been completely great so far are that I lost my name tag and my orientation card. AKA FOOD CARD. Other than that the first day has been awesome!
Dad would love to know that my MTC companion is Elder Brown...the one kid that dad somehow knows. He seems like an awesome kid! He has a strong testimony and I can feel his spirit when he talks about his reasons for being on a mission. He loves sports and is very normal so I think we will get along great!
The first day here is all about getting used to MTC life. We have not learned any Russian, but tomorrow we start right up with that.
I had to pause in the middle of this letter because it was lights out, so it is now Thursday.
Things were a bit more rough today. We started with Russian and got all the way to baring our testimonies. I can already read Russian, but it is very difficult.
Today I was made Senior Companion over my companionship with Elder Brown.
Life is moving so fast I can barely keep up.
Today I received my very first blessing and answer to my prayers. It was really rough in class and I felt like everyone in my district was ahead of me. I felt overwhelmed.
I met with someone in my Branch President, and surprise surprise he know Dad and Tab... Dave Wilkey says Hi to both of you. When I found out he knew my dad I felt so calm and peaceful. My headache slowly disappeared. When I told him of my overwhelmed feelings he left me with a blessing and promise that my feelings would leave with my promise to 100% commitment.
I am nervous of course, but I am doing better. Pray for me and Elder Brown!
I can't write for long. Sorry, I don't have time. I have a strict schedule. But ask questions and my first e-mail will come Tuesday. Send me letters!! I love you all! You mean the world to me! I can't wait to hear from you!
Love,
Elder Kenneth Rone Weihing
PS-Sorry mom, I told you I would explain details. But just ask me when you write
PPS-My estimate departure from the MTC is December 28th
Dear Family,
I usually am not aloud to write until Tuesdays, but because it's my first day they let us. Well... in complete honesty the only things that have not been completely great so far are that I lost my name tag and my orientation card. AKA FOOD CARD. Other than that the first day has been awesome!
Dad would love to know that my MTC companion is Elder Brown...the one kid that dad somehow knows. He seems like an awesome kid! He has a strong testimony and I can feel his spirit when he talks about his reasons for being on a mission. He loves sports and is very normal so I think we will get along great!
The first day here is all about getting used to MTC life. We have not learned any Russian, but tomorrow we start right up with that.
I had to pause in the middle of this letter because it was lights out, so it is now Thursday.
Things were a bit more rough today. We started with Russian and got all the way to baring our testimonies. I can already read Russian, but it is very difficult.
Today I was made Senior Companion over my companionship with Elder Brown.
Life is moving so fast I can barely keep up.
Today I received my very first blessing and answer to my prayers. It was really rough in class and I felt like everyone in my district was ahead of me. I felt overwhelmed.
I met with someone in my Branch President, and surprise surprise he know Dad and Tab... Dave Wilkey says Hi to both of you. When I found out he knew my dad I felt so calm and peaceful. My headache slowly disappeared. When I told him of my overwhelmed feelings he left me with a blessing and promise that my feelings would leave with my promise to 100% commitment.
I am nervous of course, but I am doing better. Pray for me and Elder Brown!
I can't write for long. Sorry, I don't have time. I have a strict schedule. But ask questions and my first e-mail will come Tuesday. Send me letters!! I love you all! You mean the world to me! I can't wait to hear from you!
Love,
Elder Kenneth Rone Weihing
PS-Sorry mom, I told you I would explain details. But just ask me when you write
PPS-My estimate departure from the MTC is December 28th
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The time has come...
Tomorrow at 1:30 he will enter the
We are so proud of his decision to serve the Lord. He will be a wonderful missionary.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Farewell
Kenneth's farewell went great! There was standing room only. Who knew Kenneth had so many friends? :) j/k He was able to plan sacrament, which is rare these days! Jordan gave the opening prayer. My dad spoke about service in your callings. Sam sang a beautiful song(I will not be still) and Kenneth accompanied him on the piano. Kenneth then spoke about missionary work. It ended with my mom saying the closing prayer. It all was so nice. Thank you everyone for coming!!
Luncheon
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