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!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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...
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