Aloha
It seems strange to be writing when I just got to call home last Thursday, but it is great as always to be able to communicate with everyone, and I know not everyone was able to be present when I called home.
Life in Kauai continues on. The work right around Christmas was a little slower with so many people having families come, finishing up Christmas stuff, etc. We continue to work with our investigators and try to do anything we can to help them.
Jack is still progressing along, but is taking things at his own pace. Last week we started to bring up some points about the Plan of Salvation that he is having troubles with. He has asked us to work with him at his own pace with things, which we are happy to do. The greatest part is that most of the time he finds answers to his questions on his own. Right now I am just hoping we can
encourage him to read the Book of Mormon as much as he reads the bible. He is having a hard time fully accepting it, and doesn't seem to realize that reading it will allow him to gain a testimony in it, but we are working with him. He did make one big leap yesterday though. He has been reading a more modern translation of the bible (meaning it uses the more common words of today) but realized last night that some things have been changed or altered (such as
"bodies Celestial" says "heavenly bodies") and has decided to read the King James version now. Hurray!!
We also spent a lot of time with Jack on Christmas Eve. We went over in the morning, and then went back for a get-together they were having in honor of Sandy's daughter (the one who commited suicide). We sang a song (where can I turn for peace) while we were there, and everyone was touched by it. I don't think all the other people there will run to join the church, but I think they understand more that we are human, and that we are doing this because we love people.
Christmas day was wonderful. We spent almost the entire day with a cool member family in our ward, the Allens. They have a beautiful riverside lot that their house is on, so I was able to make my call home from their balcony while staring out at the river and the palm trees swaying in the breeze with the sun shinning on them. It has been weird not having a change in seasons, but I must admit I was not missing the blizzard I heard about back home. It was really nice to be
able to talk to those that were there (sorry for those that weren't able to make it). I am thinking that for mother's day, I want to spend more time with personal conversations, and less speaker phone. It just seemed a little sporatic at times, but it really was wonderful to talk to and hear everyone's voices. Apparently I sound a lot like Tyler now, but also talk a lot like the people out here.
On Christmas we also went for a really nice bike ride down a nice path by the beach. We rode this path on Thanksgiving as well, but this time we went a bit further than we did the last time. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful bike ride. I was able to talk to brother allen for a bit of the ride as well, which was nice. He gave me some advice for how to work better with Elder Higley, and I'm trying to impliment it.
The rest of the week continued on, and we continued to work. We had a lesson with Ty on Saturday and reschedualed her baptism for January 23. She knows what she needs to do, so we just need to encourage her to do it. She is still having a bit of a hard time, but she still likes the lessons and she knows it is true.
With church starting at 1 next year, she should be able to come and continue to progress towards the 23rd. Church on Sunday was packed. We figure it was just because of all of the visitors for Christmas, but whatever the reason, there were more people in the chapel than I would have ever imagined. Three people we were really excited about were Jack, Sandy, and a lady named Brenda. Brenda is dating a member of our ward who divorced his wife a couple of years ago. He divorced her because she is completely loony. He actually tried to stay with her for 4 years of her being crazy before he couldn't take it anymore. Well, Aunty Milie (the crazy one) doesn't like Brenda and makes her life.... interesting. Brenda is good friends with a lady in our ward (Sis Walker) who invited her to come last week.
Well, Sis Walker was in Honolulu yesterday, and Brenda was still at church. I was so surprised and happy. She is very interested in the gospel, likes everything she has heard so far, and really wants to take the discussions. Golden!
So, things continue to go well in Kauai. Elder Higley and I are having a few issues, but we will work them out. I guess I am a little to much like my father in a "rebellious to get things done" sense. I want to be obedient, but if I feel doing something out of the ordinary, or even slightly against the rules is going to be benefitial, I do it. Hopefully that won't drive my mission president completely crazy. I'll admit I don't feel quite qualified to be training, but there must be a reason that I am.
I also want to tell Aunt Carol that I am really sorry that I forgot to call you and tell you when I got my call. I'm afraid I thought you got an email from my parents and I didn't think about it. I'm so sorry.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support (especially Grandma Wickham). I am doing the best I can to be the best missionary I can be. The church is true, and the spirit guides and directs us. The Lord loves us, and helps us through whatever trials we have in our life. I love you all.
Elder Kidd
Thursday, May 28, 2009
12/23/2008
Aloha from Lihue
Well, today I am actually down in the biggest town on the island, and their library is much nicer. It has about twice as many computers, and they are a lot faster. I realized I will never be able to use anything less than broadband again because I am too impatient. Oh well...
My new companion's name is Elder Higley. He is from Preston, Idaho, and is very eager to work. In fact, almost a little too much. He did a lot of work with the missionaries from home, and seems to feel extremely qualified. He does good work, but it has been an interesting couple of days trying to get him better acquainted with Hawaii. We are working hard, and staying busy, but he feels like we are just shooting the breeze with the members and they will hate it. Well,
at least on Kauai, members like you to come by, talk story, and show your love for them. Then they feel comfortable telling you who their friends are. Gotta love the Aloha spirit.
But things really are starting to come along. The first day was rocky, but it has settled out quite a bit since then, and we don't seem to be having too many problems right now. I have realized that he fits in with the general sterotype for greenies. I love him, and don't want to crush his spirit though, so I have been doing things as gently and lovingly as I possibly can.
I must admit, I have been really stressed the last couple of days, and I know the Lord has been giving me strength. The baptism went well on Friday for the most part. The spirit was definately present (though I had to take time and relax to feel it). Jack was able to come, and he definatley felt the spirit. The problems came from the fact that our ward mission leader didn't do anything except show up and conduct, which left me to find speakers, type up a program,
clean and fill up the font, etc. I'm afraid I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and the font didn't get started soon enough, so we stalled for a while. Francis had knee replacement surgery recently, which made the actual baptising lots of fun. Lets just say I was joking with him afterwards that he waited so long we had to do it four times to make sure he was
good.... Or rather four because his feet kept coming up and the font was still a little low...
But, it went well, and we are so happy for Francis. Saturday night was the ward Christmas party, which was a blast. We had prime rib, and it was amazing. Then came my solo at the end. I felt it could have been better, but I usually do. It did go very well, and I brought tears to the activities chairwoman who arranged everything. She actually called me shortly before I started this email to thank me again. Overall, it was a good night.
It is weird to think of Christmas already. While listening to the Christmas CDs my mom sent me, the song, "It's beginning to Look a lot like Christmas" came on, and I could only shake my head and say that it isn't at all. It is still in the 70's outside... like it has been forever. I am definatley looking forward to Christmas though, and calling home. I should be calling home shortly after 10
A.M. utah time (as we are going to our members house around 7 here) but we may talk to them for a bit before we call home.
So, life continues on Hawaii. I promise I am not getting a big-head training. One of the Elders I came out with is training his second greenie this transfer, and another from our district is training as well. We have a really young mission right now, but I am sure the Lord has prepared us. I pray every day for guidance, especially with this new responsibility. The gospel is true, and I know the Lord is helping me. Elder Higley is going to be a fantastic missionary. I just hope that he learns to "takit eazy, bra" soon. I love you all. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Elder Kidd
Well, today I am actually down in the biggest town on the island, and their library is much nicer. It has about twice as many computers, and they are a lot faster. I realized I will never be able to use anything less than broadband again because I am too impatient. Oh well...
My new companion's name is Elder Higley. He is from Preston, Idaho, and is very eager to work. In fact, almost a little too much. He did a lot of work with the missionaries from home, and seems to feel extremely qualified. He does good work, but it has been an interesting couple of days trying to get him better acquainted with Hawaii. We are working hard, and staying busy, but he feels like we are just shooting the breeze with the members and they will hate it. Well,
at least on Kauai, members like you to come by, talk story, and show your love for them. Then they feel comfortable telling you who their friends are. Gotta love the Aloha spirit.
But things really are starting to come along. The first day was rocky, but it has settled out quite a bit since then, and we don't seem to be having too many problems right now. I have realized that he fits in with the general sterotype for greenies. I love him, and don't want to crush his spirit though, so I have been doing things as gently and lovingly as I possibly can.
I must admit, I have been really stressed the last couple of days, and I know the Lord has been giving me strength. The baptism went well on Friday for the most part. The spirit was definately present (though I had to take time and relax to feel it). Jack was able to come, and he definatley felt the spirit. The problems came from the fact that our ward mission leader didn't do anything except show up and conduct, which left me to find speakers, type up a program,
clean and fill up the font, etc. I'm afraid I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and the font didn't get started soon enough, so we stalled for a while. Francis had knee replacement surgery recently, which made the actual baptising lots of fun. Lets just say I was joking with him afterwards that he waited so long we had to do it four times to make sure he was
good.... Or rather four because his feet kept coming up and the font was still a little low...
But, it went well, and we are so happy for Francis. Saturday night was the ward Christmas party, which was a blast. We had prime rib, and it was amazing. Then came my solo at the end. I felt it could have been better, but I usually do. It did go very well, and I brought tears to the activities chairwoman who arranged everything. She actually called me shortly before I started this email to thank me again. Overall, it was a good night.
It is weird to think of Christmas already. While listening to the Christmas CDs my mom sent me, the song, "It's beginning to Look a lot like Christmas" came on, and I could only shake my head and say that it isn't at all. It is still in the 70's outside... like it has been forever. I am definatley looking forward to Christmas though, and calling home. I should be calling home shortly after 10
A.M. utah time (as we are going to our members house around 7 here) but we may talk to them for a bit before we call home.
So, life continues on Hawaii. I promise I am not getting a big-head training. One of the Elders I came out with is training his second greenie this transfer, and another from our district is training as well. We have a really young mission right now, but I am sure the Lord has prepared us. I pray every day for guidance, especially with this new responsibility. The gospel is true, and I know the Lord is helping me. Elder Higley is going to be a fantastic missionary. I just hope that he learns to "takit eazy, bra" soon. I love you all. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Elder Kidd
12/15/2008
I'm a father!
Well, at least in missionary terms. I don't know how it was for others that have served, but out in Hawaii we call our missionaries we train our boys, and then we become fathers... So, I will be a father on Wednesday as I am training next transfer. Unfortunately Elder York is leaving though. I have really gotten along with him. Hopefully I will get a good trainie though. I seem to go through a lot of companions....
Life in Hawaii is really rainy right now. I don't know if it made it to the news at all on the mainland, but there was a lot of flooding in Honolulu, and a lot of rain out here on Kauai as well. And it is raining again right now. Fortunately we got a little bit of a break yesterday so that we could see sunlight and blue sky. That was a nice break. Now we get back to the wet season in Hawaii (otherwise known as winter). You get snow, I get rain. The thing I find hillarious is that Winter is the rainy season, and summer is the monsoon season. Not a whole lot of a break. Through that in with earthquakes, Tsunami's, and the very rare Tornadoes (water spouts really), and part of me wonders how Hawaii still exists. Seems to have gotten the wrong end of the stick when it comes to natural disasters. Guess paradise has to have its downfalls though.
Aside from the rain, things are going really well out here. Francis' baptism is this Friday night, and he is super excited. I am going to baptise him, but he recently had knee replacement surgery, so my companion will probably join me in the font so that we can make it very easy on his knees. It was funny yesterday after his interview, he started yelling "I passed the test!" Francis is so cool.
We weren't able to visit with Micah this last week, but we did have dinner at Jack's. His girlfriend, Sandy, wasn't there though. He told us that she was acting like she didn't like us, and didn't want to be around us. Imagine our surprise then yesterday as we glanced around the chapel and saw them both. The talks were on charity and the relief society, and they both really seemed to like them. Jack was touched, and Sandy looked very happy by the end (something
I haven't seen a whole lot of from her). Maybe this will open up some more opportunities to share with them.
This Saturday we have our ward Christmas party as well. One of our members ratted me out to our activities chair, and now I am singing "O, Holy NIght" for the finale. I will let you know how that goes.
Time keeps going by very quickly out here, and I seem to forget a lot from week to week about what has happened. There was a lot of rain this last week, and that seems to be the most. We have a couple of referals we are trying to meet with, so there is definately a lot of potential right now. Lets hope my new companion comes with an eager attitude so that we may work hard, be obedient, and be guided by the Lord.
The second coming is close. The signs are starting to appear, and if it was at the doorstep during the pioneer times, I think the door is about to be knocked on right now. Keep strong. An analogy I thought of during the rain: Without rain, there is no water, and without water there is no life. We need that water to grow, and we are able to gain the experience we need to grow during those times of rain. Yet, the Lord will never flood us out. He lets the sun come out
so that we may shoot upward, growing more and more. But it must rain again. It is the cycle that seems so hard at times, but really is divinely designed for our benefit and growth. The Lord loves us all, and He is always there. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and love. I love you all.
Aloha,
Elder Kidd
Well, at least in missionary terms. I don't know how it was for others that have served, but out in Hawaii we call our missionaries we train our boys, and then we become fathers... So, I will be a father on Wednesday as I am training next transfer. Unfortunately Elder York is leaving though. I have really gotten along with him. Hopefully I will get a good trainie though. I seem to go through a lot of companions....
Life in Hawaii is really rainy right now. I don't know if it made it to the news at all on the mainland, but there was a lot of flooding in Honolulu, and a lot of rain out here on Kauai as well. And it is raining again right now. Fortunately we got a little bit of a break yesterday so that we could see sunlight and blue sky. That was a nice break. Now we get back to the wet season in Hawaii (otherwise known as winter). You get snow, I get rain. The thing I find hillarious is that Winter is the rainy season, and summer is the monsoon season. Not a whole lot of a break. Through that in with earthquakes, Tsunami's, and the very rare Tornadoes (water spouts really), and part of me wonders how Hawaii still exists. Seems to have gotten the wrong end of the stick when it comes to natural disasters. Guess paradise has to have its downfalls though.
Aside from the rain, things are going really well out here. Francis' baptism is this Friday night, and he is super excited. I am going to baptise him, but he recently had knee replacement surgery, so my companion will probably join me in the font so that we can make it very easy on his knees. It was funny yesterday after his interview, he started yelling "I passed the test!" Francis is so cool.
We weren't able to visit with Micah this last week, but we did have dinner at Jack's. His girlfriend, Sandy, wasn't there though. He told us that she was acting like she didn't like us, and didn't want to be around us. Imagine our surprise then yesterday as we glanced around the chapel and saw them both. The talks were on charity and the relief society, and they both really seemed to like them. Jack was touched, and Sandy looked very happy by the end (something
I haven't seen a whole lot of from her). Maybe this will open up some more opportunities to share with them.
This Saturday we have our ward Christmas party as well. One of our members ratted me out to our activities chair, and now I am singing "O, Holy NIght" for the finale. I will let you know how that goes.
Time keeps going by very quickly out here, and I seem to forget a lot from week to week about what has happened. There was a lot of rain this last week, and that seems to be the most. We have a couple of referals we are trying to meet with, so there is definately a lot of potential right now. Lets hope my new companion comes with an eager attitude so that we may work hard, be obedient, and be guided by the Lord.
The second coming is close. The signs are starting to appear, and if it was at the doorstep during the pioneer times, I think the door is about to be knocked on right now. Keep strong. An analogy I thought of during the rain: Without rain, there is no water, and without water there is no life. We need that water to grow, and we are able to gain the experience we need to grow during those times of rain. Yet, the Lord will never flood us out. He lets the sun come out
so that we may shoot upward, growing more and more. But it must rain again. It is the cycle that seems so hard at times, but really is divinely designed for our benefit and growth. The Lord loves us all, and He is always there. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and love. I love you all.
Aloha,
Elder Kidd
12/09/2008
Aloha all
Sorry my email is a day late. We had so many changes in schedule yesterday that all of our time to email got taken up, or covered up, so we are hear doing it on Tuesday during our lunch hour. You do what you have to though.
We actually spent a good deal of time yesterday with one of our investigators (Jack) who we are mostly trying to fellowship, and his good friend Micah, who is a Jehova's Witness. They went spear fishing, and we stayed on the rocks by the beach with a couple big poles. We had one fish on, but he broke the line, so we lost him.
We had a really cool evening with Micah and Jack last week. We went to Micah's house and had a good discussion with Jack, trying to help him through a hard time in his life. Micah is a really good guy, and really knows his bible. I'm hoping that some time we could teach him as well. He likes us, had some interesting ideas about the word of wisdom (he thought we couldn't have
chocolate), but I think that if we could teach him, and he really listened, that he could feel the spirit and become a member.
This last week had a few interesting experiences. Ty got back from Honolulu with her mother, and her mother is doing better now. She isn't perfect, but doing better. We have another lesson with Ty tomorrow, and hopefully we will be able to reschedual her baptisimal date.
Francis continues to grow at an amazing rate. He got up and bore his testimony on Sunday, and inspired a lot of people in the congregation.
We had a really cool District meeting last Wednesday. We went and climbed up a mountain that looks over Elder York and my area. It is beautiful. I'm sure dad wouldn't like it, but we all enjoyed it.
It is interesting to see how much this last conference seemed to be focused on endurance, and how we can receive help from the other side of the veil. I am sure the general authorities knew hard times were coming, from Prop. 8 and everything else in the world. We recently got our copy, and I have been reading it. I can't see how anyone could hear or read those and not know that these are inspired men of God.
Oh, just for clarification, an Emu turkey is the polynesian way of cooking when you did a big hole, burn a lot of wood to heat up rocks, throw in your meat (or whatever you are cooking), and put some vegitation on top for flavor, and cover it up.
I love you all. Thank you for your support and love. Remember that all true knowledge comes from the Lord. I love you all.
Elder Kidd
Sorry my email is a day late. We had so many changes in schedule yesterday that all of our time to email got taken up, or covered up, so we are hear doing it on Tuesday during our lunch hour. You do what you have to though.
We actually spent a good deal of time yesterday with one of our investigators (Jack) who we are mostly trying to fellowship, and his good friend Micah, who is a Jehova's Witness. They went spear fishing, and we stayed on the rocks by the beach with a couple big poles. We had one fish on, but he broke the line, so we lost him.
We had a really cool evening with Micah and Jack last week. We went to Micah's house and had a good discussion with Jack, trying to help him through a hard time in his life. Micah is a really good guy, and really knows his bible. I'm hoping that some time we could teach him as well. He likes us, had some interesting ideas about the word of wisdom (he thought we couldn't have
chocolate), but I think that if we could teach him, and he really listened, that he could feel the spirit and become a member.
This last week had a few interesting experiences. Ty got back from Honolulu with her mother, and her mother is doing better now. She isn't perfect, but doing better. We have another lesson with Ty tomorrow, and hopefully we will be able to reschedual her baptisimal date.
Francis continues to grow at an amazing rate. He got up and bore his testimony on Sunday, and inspired a lot of people in the congregation.
We had a really cool District meeting last Wednesday. We went and climbed up a mountain that looks over Elder York and my area. It is beautiful. I'm sure dad wouldn't like it, but we all enjoyed it.
It is interesting to see how much this last conference seemed to be focused on endurance, and how we can receive help from the other side of the veil. I am sure the general authorities knew hard times were coming, from Prop. 8 and everything else in the world. We recently got our copy, and I have been reading it. I can't see how anyone could hear or read those and not know that these are inspired men of God.
Oh, just for clarification, an Emu turkey is the polynesian way of cooking when you did a big hole, burn a lot of wood to heat up rocks, throw in your meat (or whatever you are cooking), and put some vegitation on top for flavor, and cover it up.
I love you all. Thank you for your support and love. Remember that all true knowledge comes from the Lord. I love you all.
Elder Kidd
12/01/2008
Aloha in December
So, how many people were involved in the Black Friday madness that causes so much grief each year? I heard a Wal-Mart employee in New York got killed... but I think everyone already knows my take on that day.
This last week was a really fun week. Tuesday we had a lesson with Francis, and we gave him some dates to choose from for his baptism. He called us the next morning and said that he wants to be baptised on the 20th of December. What a cool Christmas present for his sister. This is going to be an interesting Holiday season for him because he used to be budist. He is really coming along, and loves everything about the church.
Wednesday was our Zone conference, which was centered around Christmas. There weren't very many trainings or talks, but a lot about Christmas. We had a bit called "Music, and the Spoken Word" where a few of us performed some musical numbers, and some shared some experiences from home. Then we got to watch "A Christmas Carol" (not a muppet Christmas carol though) and talk about some of the deeper meanings. It was a lot of fun.
Thanksgiving this year was crazy. We started out by helping at an "Interfaith community Thanksgiving dinner" which was held at an episcipal church down the road. There was a service before hand, which was really interesting. Then we went and ate a small thanksgiving meal, and headed to the kitchen to wash dishes. When we got there, there were two volunteers already washing dishes, so my companion and I got the drying job... That went on for a little until we
realized how ineffecient they were being, and as Elder York and myself both have resturant/dishwashing experience, we took over and things started going a lot faster. I think I hurt my shoulder scrubbing some of the pans, but it got better. We impressed a few people there from other religions, but no one seemed interested. We left simply thinking that it was a good service opportunity, and maybe someone will remember us if we knock on their door.
After that we went to the Allen's house. They had an emu turkey (I don't know if I spelled that right, but this is when they cook it in the ground), so I guess my thanksgiving dinner was traditional with an island twist. It was really good, but slightly dry. Guess you can't have everything. Since we weren't supposed to prosolyte(sp?), we spent the rest of the day with the
Allens, talking story and the like. Brother Allen has an interesting idea. He thinks that when we get to heaven, the white stone talked about in the scriptures is going to be something like a PDA or cell phone. He is a really deep thinker, and has some good arguments for that idea.
Anyway, just a little before sunset, we went on a bike ride with Brother Allen, and his father down the cement path along the beach. It was beautiful, and it was nice to ride a bike again. We got back to the house, talked for a bit more until bro Allen fell asleep on the couch. When he woke up, he kicked us out (nicely) and sent his entire family to bed (or so we assume, we had left by then).
Friday night we went to Auntie Bev's house. Auntie Bev is a really cool lady in our ward. She teaches hula and ukelele, and used to perform at Cocao Palms. Apparently she knew Elvis as well. Well, we went to the house she grew up in because she had just renovated it and was going to rent it out. She had a High Priest from Lihue come and give a blessing on the house, and then we ate and had a bit of a music concert. It was a lot of fun, though slightly awkward when
everyone else there was married but the missionaries. They would slip on comments every once-in-a-while. But they are all sweet people.
Last night we had a cool experience. We had just finished dinner, and were trying to think of who we could go see. We have one lady in our ward who is a little less active, but she lives on a farm, takes care of a bed-riden man, and has a lot of other things going on as well. She loves the missionaries, and would do just about anything for us. I thought we should go by, but my
companion was a little nervous because it was getting late. We eventually did go, and it was good we did. Sister Nishek had been going through some hard times (her life is an emotional roller coaster) and had been missing us. She was so happy when we came by. The man she takes care of is not doing well, and she is pretty sure he isn't going to make it much longer. That and a couple other things, and she was nearly distraught. She was grateful we came by, and I think was doing a lot better when we left.
Kauai is beautiful. It is weird to be seeing Christmas lights with it still being this warm and green though. Guess thats what I get for being in the tropics. If what President Petersen said at my interview with him after Zone conference holds true, I will be out here for a little while, which I would love. There is a lot of work to be done, but I am happy that I can do it. The Lord is helping my companion and me along in our work. Without Him, nothing would happen. I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you for your support, love, and prayers. I love you all.
Aloha
Elder Kidd
So, how many people were involved in the Black Friday madness that causes so much grief each year? I heard a Wal-Mart employee in New York got killed... but I think everyone already knows my take on that day.
This last week was a really fun week. Tuesday we had a lesson with Francis, and we gave him some dates to choose from for his baptism. He called us the next morning and said that he wants to be baptised on the 20th of December. What a cool Christmas present for his sister. This is going to be an interesting Holiday season for him because he used to be budist. He is really coming along, and loves everything about the church.
Wednesday was our Zone conference, which was centered around Christmas. There weren't very many trainings or talks, but a lot about Christmas. We had a bit called "Music, and the Spoken Word" where a few of us performed some musical numbers, and some shared some experiences from home. Then we got to watch "A Christmas Carol" (not a muppet Christmas carol though) and talk about some of the deeper meanings. It was a lot of fun.
Thanksgiving this year was crazy. We started out by helping at an "Interfaith community Thanksgiving dinner" which was held at an episcipal church down the road. There was a service before hand, which was really interesting. Then we went and ate a small thanksgiving meal, and headed to the kitchen to wash dishes. When we got there, there were two volunteers already washing dishes, so my companion and I got the drying job... That went on for a little until we
realized how ineffecient they were being, and as Elder York and myself both have resturant/dishwashing experience, we took over and things started going a lot faster. I think I hurt my shoulder scrubbing some of the pans, but it got better. We impressed a few people there from other religions, but no one seemed interested. We left simply thinking that it was a good service opportunity, and maybe someone will remember us if we knock on their door.
After that we went to the Allen's house. They had an emu turkey (I don't know if I spelled that right, but this is when they cook it in the ground), so I guess my thanksgiving dinner was traditional with an island twist. It was really good, but slightly dry. Guess you can't have everything. Since we weren't supposed to prosolyte(sp?), we spent the rest of the day with the
Allens, talking story and the like. Brother Allen has an interesting idea. He thinks that when we get to heaven, the white stone talked about in the scriptures is going to be something like a PDA or cell phone. He is a really deep thinker, and has some good arguments for that idea.
Anyway, just a little before sunset, we went on a bike ride with Brother Allen, and his father down the cement path along the beach. It was beautiful, and it was nice to ride a bike again. We got back to the house, talked for a bit more until bro Allen fell asleep on the couch. When he woke up, he kicked us out (nicely) and sent his entire family to bed (or so we assume, we had left by then).
Friday night we went to Auntie Bev's house. Auntie Bev is a really cool lady in our ward. She teaches hula and ukelele, and used to perform at Cocao Palms. Apparently she knew Elvis as well. Well, we went to the house she grew up in because she had just renovated it and was going to rent it out. She had a High Priest from Lihue come and give a blessing on the house, and then we ate and had a bit of a music concert. It was a lot of fun, though slightly awkward when
everyone else there was married but the missionaries. They would slip on comments every once-in-a-while. But they are all sweet people.
Last night we had a cool experience. We had just finished dinner, and were trying to think of who we could go see. We have one lady in our ward who is a little less active, but she lives on a farm, takes care of a bed-riden man, and has a lot of other things going on as well. She loves the missionaries, and would do just about anything for us. I thought we should go by, but my
companion was a little nervous because it was getting late. We eventually did go, and it was good we did. Sister Nishek had been going through some hard times (her life is an emotional roller coaster) and had been missing us. She was so happy when we came by. The man she takes care of is not doing well, and she is pretty sure he isn't going to make it much longer. That and a couple other things, and she was nearly distraught. She was grateful we came by, and I think was doing a lot better when we left.
Kauai is beautiful. It is weird to be seeing Christmas lights with it still being this warm and green though. Guess thats what I get for being in the tropics. If what President Petersen said at my interview with him after Zone conference holds true, I will be out here for a little while, which I would love. There is a lot of work to be done, but I am happy that I can do it. The Lord is helping my companion and me along in our work. Without Him, nothing would happen. I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you for your support, love, and prayers. I love you all.
Aloha
Elder Kidd
11/24/2008
Aloha with Thanksgiving...
I'm running out of clever subject lines... if any of them ever were clever to begin with.
Life in Hawaii, or more specifically on Kaua'i continues. We just went through a tropical storm this last weekend, which brought a lot of rain, and little bit of a damper to spirits. Hard to do work when you can't see the road, or the roads are flooded, but we do our best! It seems to have cleared up a little, but I was told to get used to rain during the winters.
This last week has brought a few updates to our missionary work. We didn't find any new investigators last week, but we may have potential with one of the referals one of our families gave us. The exciting news comes from another of our investigators, whose name is Francis. He is the brother of a member in our ward. She converted about five years ago, and is very active. He started coming to the Family Home Evening one family holds in our ward, and became
interested. We were able to teach him the restoration last on Friday, and he told us on Sunday he wants to be baptised. Since he has come to church twice, we could baptise him as soon as next week. How exciting is that?
We have also spent a bit of time with Jack and his son Tyler. Jack has definately felt the spirit, and is drawing nearer to the Lord. Right now we are just trying to help him with his relationship with the Lord, and throw in a few important gospel principals at the same time. He is a really cool guy, but we don't want to force him into anything. He has amazing stories though, and is
making great progress.
Today has been an interesting day so far. We woke up planning on having only a short P-day because of thanksgiving. We were also going to try to go fishing with Jack during that time as well. Well, Jack canceled, and we had to go into town (Lihue) to get new tires for our car. While we were getting the tires our Zone Leaders called and told us because the zone did so well teaching last week, we were being rewarded with a full p-day. I don't know how to respond to the idea of being rewarded for what we are supposed to do, but we will enjoy our day
regardless, especially since we lost a lot of time this morning with the tires.
On the way back we stopped by Wailua falls, a cool waterfall more inland. With the recent storm, there was a lot of water, and it was really beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving to all later this week. We have actually been told not to prosolyte (sp?) on Thanksgiving at all, but to spend the day with members that have invited us over. Well, Elder York and I are actually going to volunteer at an (throat clearning noise) "Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner" Basically we
figure we are going out to do service to be seen of men, but our bishop thought it was a good idea. I do too as I like service, but it seems slightly strange. After that we are going to the Allen's, a really cool and missionary minded family in our ward. Brother Allen owns a mall, and is very wealthy, and loves to have the missionaries over. They have four boys (two are twins) who are
crazy. One plays the trumpet though, so I have played a little for him. I was really rusty. Anyway, we will be over there for a bit, and they have also invited us for Christmas, so I will probably make my call home from there.
All in all, life in Kaua'i is good. We are working hard, but having fun. I like my companion (which is a first in my mission so far), and we get along well. I think we are both a little too sarcastic not too. I hope everyone is doing well. It's great to hear that Ben may be getting a job in Salt Lake, and that you are feeling better mom and dad. I hope the cleansing/renewing process goes well. I also hope the book club continues going well. Bonds that set us free is a great book. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
I'm running out of clever subject lines... if any of them ever were clever to begin with.
Life in Hawaii, or more specifically on Kaua'i continues. We just went through a tropical storm this last weekend, which brought a lot of rain, and little bit of a damper to spirits. Hard to do work when you can't see the road, or the roads are flooded, but we do our best! It seems to have cleared up a little, but I was told to get used to rain during the winters.
This last week has brought a few updates to our missionary work. We didn't find any new investigators last week, but we may have potential with one of the referals one of our families gave us. The exciting news comes from another of our investigators, whose name is Francis. He is the brother of a member in our ward. She converted about five years ago, and is very active. He started coming to the Family Home Evening one family holds in our ward, and became
interested. We were able to teach him the restoration last on Friday, and he told us on Sunday he wants to be baptised. Since he has come to church twice, we could baptise him as soon as next week. How exciting is that?
We have also spent a bit of time with Jack and his son Tyler. Jack has definately felt the spirit, and is drawing nearer to the Lord. Right now we are just trying to help him with his relationship with the Lord, and throw in a few important gospel principals at the same time. He is a really cool guy, but we don't want to force him into anything. He has amazing stories though, and is
making great progress.
Today has been an interesting day so far. We woke up planning on having only a short P-day because of thanksgiving. We were also going to try to go fishing with Jack during that time as well. Well, Jack canceled, and we had to go into town (Lihue) to get new tires for our car. While we were getting the tires our Zone Leaders called and told us because the zone did so well teaching last week, we were being rewarded with a full p-day. I don't know how to respond to the idea of being rewarded for what we are supposed to do, but we will enjoy our day
regardless, especially since we lost a lot of time this morning with the tires.
On the way back we stopped by Wailua falls, a cool waterfall more inland. With the recent storm, there was a lot of water, and it was really beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving to all later this week. We have actually been told not to prosolyte (sp?) on Thanksgiving at all, but to spend the day with members that have invited us over. Well, Elder York and I are actually going to volunteer at an (throat clearning noise) "Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner" Basically we
figure we are going out to do service to be seen of men, but our bishop thought it was a good idea. I do too as I like service, but it seems slightly strange. After that we are going to the Allen's, a really cool and missionary minded family in our ward. Brother Allen owns a mall, and is very wealthy, and loves to have the missionaries over. They have four boys (two are twins) who are
crazy. One plays the trumpet though, so I have played a little for him. I was really rusty. Anyway, we will be over there for a bit, and they have also invited us for Christmas, so I will probably make my call home from there.
All in all, life in Kaua'i is good. We are working hard, but having fun. I like my companion (which is a first in my mission so far), and we get along well. I think we are both a little too sarcastic not too. I hope everyone is doing well. It's great to hear that Ben may be getting a job in Salt Lake, and that you are feeling better mom and dad. I hope the cleansing/renewing process goes well. I also hope the book club continues going well. Bonds that set us free is a great book. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
11/17/2008
Aloha from rainy Kaua'i
I had to open my big mouth to one of my zone leaders last friday and say that it hadn't rained much since I had gotten to Kaua'i.... and now it has been raining for three days straight. Oh well, I guess it is winter, and Kaua'i needs the rain...
Anyway, last Monday was a lot of fun. We went fishing, and I managed to catch a fish (it almost looked like a really small baracudda(sp?)), and then I was also able to see a sea turtle as it popped above the water for a quick breath. Apparently two others had appeared before that, but I missed them both. Anyway, fishing wasn't very productive, so we are thinking of trying again today.
That night we went to a FHE held at a ward member's house (who is also on the high council) and had a couple of investigators there as well. One was Ty, the cousin of our very effeminent ward missionary. The lesson was all about enduring to the end, and she bore a cool testimony about how her sister was giving her grief over investigating the church, but her mother had told her she was proud of her for doing something she wanted to do. Her mother is a less-active member, and had never before told her that she was proud of her, so Ty was feeling pretty good about the church.
Tuesday was veterans day, which seemed to throw a lot of things off. Ever possible vacation in Hawaii gets taken, so a lot was closed on Tuesday, meaning mail came late, people weren't home, etc. In most missions days without school are good for catching families home... on Kaua'i, days off are good for not catching families home because they are all at the beach. So we went and did
service for a lady in our ward. We cleaned up her yard. When I say yard some might think something small... No, this lady owns more land than either my companion or I know, so we cleaned up her front yard area, cleaned out her gutters, etc. It looked really nice when we left. We were able to have a lesson with Ty, and commited her for baptism and asked her to pray about a date.
Wednesday was another interesting day. Or rather the night was interesting. We had set up another lesson with Sandy (the lady whose daughter committed suicide). When we got there, Sandy's boyfriend Jack (whose house it is) and his son were there. We were going to teach the plan of salvation, but ended up teaching a really long restoration lesson because they had A LOT of questions. We answered them all, and he said it felt right and good. He is going through
some hard times right now, so we are trying to simply fellowship him and help him all we can in hopes of helping him come to church and all those other good mormony things.
Then after that (at about 9:20) the first councilor in the bishoprich (who was with us at the lesson) asked us to go give a blessing with him to his new grandchild. Well, we got permission, drove down to another town about 15 minutes away, gave the blessing, drove home, and got home at about 10:20. Yet we were being completely obedient the entire time.
Thursday was really slow. No one was home, no one wanted to talk to us, etc., so we spent a bit of time trying to organize our area book and write out our ward members by street so they would be easier to find and visit. We are still working on that project, but we were able to do that for a while. Then I left to go on exchanges with one of the Zone leaders the next day.
So Friday I spent the day in Lihue (lee-who-e) with one of the Zone leaders. Our zone is so small that we don't have district leaders. We had a good day, and I got to see quite a bit more of the island because he had to do a baptisimal interview. We taught a cool lesson, visited some ward members, had some delicious salmon for dinner, and then I went back home, where I found out
that Ty had chosen a date for her baptism! Hurray!
Saturday is once again a very bad day to find people in Kaua'i as everyone goes out. We had designed a cool finding activity for out on a path by the beach, but that is when it started raining, so that fell through. We spent most of the day visiting members and teaching them, while it rained, and rained, and rained....
Yesterday it rained even more. We live off of the church, and there are three buildings to the church. There is the chapel, the gym, and then all the classrooms and other rooms. The middle of the last building is an open courtyard. For me it was a little strange to be rained on while I was technically inside the building, but what are you going to do?
Always remember our Lord loves us and does everything he can for us. He strengthens us in our times of need, and even our times of strenght if we are willing to look and learn. We do have troubles and hardships, but as Ty experienced, the Lord is always watching, ready to give us a little boost when we need it. I love you all. Have a good week!
Elder Kidd
I had to open my big mouth to one of my zone leaders last friday and say that it hadn't rained much since I had gotten to Kaua'i.... and now it has been raining for three days straight. Oh well, I guess it is winter, and Kaua'i needs the rain...
Anyway, last Monday was a lot of fun. We went fishing, and I managed to catch a fish (it almost looked like a really small baracudda(sp?)), and then I was also able to see a sea turtle as it popped above the water for a quick breath. Apparently two others had appeared before that, but I missed them both. Anyway, fishing wasn't very productive, so we are thinking of trying again today.
That night we went to a FHE held at a ward member's house (who is also on the high council) and had a couple of investigators there as well. One was Ty, the cousin of our very effeminent ward missionary. The lesson was all about enduring to the end, and she bore a cool testimony about how her sister was giving her grief over investigating the church, but her mother had told her she was proud of her for doing something she wanted to do. Her mother is a less-active member, and had never before told her that she was proud of her, so Ty was feeling pretty good about the church.
Tuesday was veterans day, which seemed to throw a lot of things off. Ever possible vacation in Hawaii gets taken, so a lot was closed on Tuesday, meaning mail came late, people weren't home, etc. In most missions days without school are good for catching families home... on Kaua'i, days off are good for not catching families home because they are all at the beach. So we went and did
service for a lady in our ward. We cleaned up her yard. When I say yard some might think something small... No, this lady owns more land than either my companion or I know, so we cleaned up her front yard area, cleaned out her gutters, etc. It looked really nice when we left. We were able to have a lesson with Ty, and commited her for baptism and asked her to pray about a date.
Wednesday was another interesting day. Or rather the night was interesting. We had set up another lesson with Sandy (the lady whose daughter committed suicide). When we got there, Sandy's boyfriend Jack (whose house it is) and his son were there. We were going to teach the plan of salvation, but ended up teaching a really long restoration lesson because they had A LOT of questions. We answered them all, and he said it felt right and good. He is going through
some hard times right now, so we are trying to simply fellowship him and help him all we can in hopes of helping him come to church and all those other good mormony things.
Then after that (at about 9:20) the first councilor in the bishoprich (who was with us at the lesson) asked us to go give a blessing with him to his new grandchild. Well, we got permission, drove down to another town about 15 minutes away, gave the blessing, drove home, and got home at about 10:20. Yet we were being completely obedient the entire time.
Thursday was really slow. No one was home, no one wanted to talk to us, etc., so we spent a bit of time trying to organize our area book and write out our ward members by street so they would be easier to find and visit. We are still working on that project, but we were able to do that for a while. Then I left to go on exchanges with one of the Zone leaders the next day.
So Friday I spent the day in Lihue (lee-who-e) with one of the Zone leaders. Our zone is so small that we don't have district leaders. We had a good day, and I got to see quite a bit more of the island because he had to do a baptisimal interview. We taught a cool lesson, visited some ward members, had some delicious salmon for dinner, and then I went back home, where I found out
that Ty had chosen a date for her baptism! Hurray!
Saturday is once again a very bad day to find people in Kaua'i as everyone goes out. We had designed a cool finding activity for out on a path by the beach, but that is when it started raining, so that fell through. We spent most of the day visiting members and teaching them, while it rained, and rained, and rained....
Yesterday it rained even more. We live off of the church, and there are three buildings to the church. There is the chapel, the gym, and then all the classrooms and other rooms. The middle of the last building is an open courtyard. For me it was a little strange to be rained on while I was technically inside the building, but what are you going to do?
Always remember our Lord loves us and does everything he can for us. He strengthens us in our times of need, and even our times of strenght if we are willing to look and learn. We do have troubles and hardships, but as Ty experienced, the Lord is always watching, ready to give us a little boost when we need it. I love you all. Have a good week!
Elder Kidd
11/10/2008
Aloha from Kauai
Yes, I am now on the Western-Most Island. And it is absolutely beautiful. I am checking my email at a library that is about 100 feet from the ocean. If I wasn't on a mission I would probably get a book and go read on the beach. Well, I'll just have to do that on vacation sometime.
Just for clarification, the term "Off island" means off Oahu as Oahu has the most people on it, thus also having the most missionaries, being very rushed, and very city like. Yes they are all island, but apparently Oahu is "the island" maybe because that is where most everything is.
I am in a little town called Kapaa. The island is pronounced ka-why-ie. There are only ten elders on the entire island. It covers a fair amount of area, but everything is more spread out. There is a lot of country, and almost no city at all. There is a costco down the road in another town, along with a wal-mart. Oh, I love it. Finally I am out of the rush of the city. The only problem is that
everyone goes to the beach regularily.... and we can't go : ( But it is pretty to look at : ).
My companion is Elder York. He is from Alpine, so we have two Utah boys again. Some of the first words out of his mouth were that we were going to work hard and have fun. He is obedient but not overly strict. You really can't be too hard-core on this island and get any success. If you are willing to just sit back, relax, and talk to people, they are willing to listen.
The work here is going fairly well. Elder York just got out of a three-some when I got here because his last companion had to go home for back surgery. Thus, there were three elders covering three wards, and this ward got a little neglected. Thus, we have spent a bit of time introducing me to the ward and letting them know that they have two elders devoted to their ward alone. We have also been making a lot of effort to visit the less-active members in our ward as well.
We live in a little apartment connected to our church. It is very nice, and they just bought all new furniture for us. We have either full or queen sized beds, a new dresser, and new desks. I feel very spoiled. We also have a washer and dryer inside of the apartment for our use. It is just the two of us that live there. We also have a car.
One very interesting thing in our ward is the ward missionary. He is a reformed gay, and is still very effeminant (sp?). He is very outgoing and outspoken though, so he gets a lot of people for us to teach. We hadn't been at our pad long before he showed up in his truck to take the old furniture away, so we went with him to drop it off at the dump. On the way back we stopped and got one of his relatives, and had a lesson with her right by the beach. We had a lesson with her the next day at the church, and Keola (the ward missionary) says she is getting baptised next month. Our only concern is if he is forcing her to or not. We want her to want to, so we are just trying to help her know the truth.
The next night we also had a interesting experience with the first councilor in the bishoprich. He said he wanted to go out with us, so we went to his house, and he drove us to a lady's house whose daughter commited suicide not too long ago. She has turned to the Lord at this hard time, and she knows some other people whose kids have committed suicide recently as well (it has been a big problem recently here apparently). We just need to let the spirit teach her that not all religions are the same. We have another lesson with her on wednesday. So, things are great on Kauai. I am hoping to spend a bit of time here. I don't want to pack again. I hope everyone is doing well. I am going shore fishing today at about 12:30 with a recent convert and his non-member brother. It should be a lot of fun. Good luck with the snow, I am thinking of you all with the palm trees, beaches, and seventy degree weather. I love you all, and am so grateful
for your support.
Elder Kidd
Yes, I am now on the Western-Most Island. And it is absolutely beautiful. I am checking my email at a library that is about 100 feet from the ocean. If I wasn't on a mission I would probably get a book and go read on the beach. Well, I'll just have to do that on vacation sometime.
Just for clarification, the term "Off island" means off Oahu as Oahu has the most people on it, thus also having the most missionaries, being very rushed, and very city like. Yes they are all island, but apparently Oahu is "the island" maybe because that is where most everything is.
I am in a little town called Kapaa. The island is pronounced ka-why-ie. There are only ten elders on the entire island. It covers a fair amount of area, but everything is more spread out. There is a lot of country, and almost no city at all. There is a costco down the road in another town, along with a wal-mart. Oh, I love it. Finally I am out of the rush of the city. The only problem is that
everyone goes to the beach regularily.... and we can't go : ( But it is pretty to look at : ).
My companion is Elder York. He is from Alpine, so we have two Utah boys again. Some of the first words out of his mouth were that we were going to work hard and have fun. He is obedient but not overly strict. You really can't be too hard-core on this island and get any success. If you are willing to just sit back, relax, and talk to people, they are willing to listen.
The work here is going fairly well. Elder York just got out of a three-some when I got here because his last companion had to go home for back surgery. Thus, there were three elders covering three wards, and this ward got a little neglected. Thus, we have spent a bit of time introducing me to the ward and letting them know that they have two elders devoted to their ward alone. We have also been making a lot of effort to visit the less-active members in our ward as well.
We live in a little apartment connected to our church. It is very nice, and they just bought all new furniture for us. We have either full or queen sized beds, a new dresser, and new desks. I feel very spoiled. We also have a washer and dryer inside of the apartment for our use. It is just the two of us that live there. We also have a car.
One very interesting thing in our ward is the ward missionary. He is a reformed gay, and is still very effeminant (sp?). He is very outgoing and outspoken though, so he gets a lot of people for us to teach. We hadn't been at our pad long before he showed up in his truck to take the old furniture away, so we went with him to drop it off at the dump. On the way back we stopped and got one of his relatives, and had a lesson with her right by the beach. We had a lesson with her the next day at the church, and Keola (the ward missionary) says she is getting baptised next month. Our only concern is if he is forcing her to or not. We want her to want to, so we are just trying to help her know the truth.
The next night we also had a interesting experience with the first councilor in the bishoprich. He said he wanted to go out with us, so we went to his house, and he drove us to a lady's house whose daughter commited suicide not too long ago. She has turned to the Lord at this hard time, and she knows some other people whose kids have committed suicide recently as well (it has been a big problem recently here apparently). We just need to let the spirit teach her that not all religions are the same. We have another lesson with her on wednesday. So, things are great on Kauai. I am hoping to spend a bit of time here. I don't want to pack again. I hope everyone is doing well. I am going shore fishing today at about 12:30 with a recent convert and his non-member brother. It should be a lot of fun. Good luck with the snow, I am thinking of you all with the palm trees, beaches, and seventy degree weather. I love you all, and am so grateful
for your support.
Elder Kidd
11/04/2008
Hot in Hawaii
Yes, I actually wish that I had snow and cold because it is still STINKING warm here. I went and got a haircut this morning, so my head is feeling much lighter and breezier... You get the idea.
Well, tomorrow (Wednesday) is transfer day, and I am getting transferred. I don't know where to yet. Except that it is off Oahu!! Hurray! I am excited. Most missionaries want to get off island, and I am going to be able to. The other island are supposed to be very beautiful and extremely laid back. Even more, missionaries there are more obedient. Elder Trujillo thinks that missionaries that have trouble being obedient usually are on Oahu so that there
are more people to keep an eye on them. I don't know.
I am actually slightly disappointed. Things are really starting to get going in our ward. We have three investigators with a couple more that seem really interested. We actually had one investigator (the mother of the lady that only speaks spanish) who bore her testimony on Sunday and said that she had asked a former member of this ward who moved to baptise her. She isn't sure when, but she wants to be baptised... So I get transfered. Danget! But I get to go off island!
This last week was a little bit of a let down. We did some good work, but with Halloween, my companion's birthday, and it being so close to the end of transfers, a lot of elders become very lazy. I was able to keep things going for a little bit, but eventually Elder Odulio succumed. I tried to help him, but he said he wasn't feeling very well. Maybe he wasn't. But I tried as hard
as I could.
This transfer is going to be very interesting. Our zone has needed some work with unity and working hard, and thus almost half of our zone is getting transfered. I am the only one going off island though. I will let you know next week where I end up.
Halloween was interesting. At 5 we had to stop procelyting so that trick-or-treating could keep going forward. We went to Wal-Mart first so that Elder Trujillo could buy some stuff he needed, and we actually had three girls invite us to a party. It was kinda disturbing. We politely declined, and then two of us shuddered, while the other two kinda wished that they could go...
Those two go home fairly soon. After that we went to my former pad and hung out with the members that live there for the rest of the night. We played a lot of pool and fooseball. It was really fun.
Well, tomorrow begins a new transfer with a new companion. I am excited and ready to work. I love you all, and know that we are all missionaries our entire lives.
Elder Kidd
P.S. On the pictures, the one of the posters is Elder Mann, who goes home in January. He is a very talented artist, does a poster for each transfer, and spends way too long drawing.
Yes, I actually wish that I had snow and cold because it is still STINKING warm here. I went and got a haircut this morning, so my head is feeling much lighter and breezier... You get the idea.
Well, tomorrow (Wednesday) is transfer day, and I am getting transferred. I don't know where to yet. Except that it is off Oahu!! Hurray! I am excited. Most missionaries want to get off island, and I am going to be able to. The other island are supposed to be very beautiful and extremely laid back. Even more, missionaries there are more obedient. Elder Trujillo thinks that missionaries that have trouble being obedient usually are on Oahu so that there
are more people to keep an eye on them. I don't know.
I am actually slightly disappointed. Things are really starting to get going in our ward. We have three investigators with a couple more that seem really interested. We actually had one investigator (the mother of the lady that only speaks spanish) who bore her testimony on Sunday and said that she had asked a former member of this ward who moved to baptise her. She isn't sure when, but she wants to be baptised... So I get transfered. Danget! But I get to go off island!
This last week was a little bit of a let down. We did some good work, but with Halloween, my companion's birthday, and it being so close to the end of transfers, a lot of elders become very lazy. I was able to keep things going for a little bit, but eventually Elder Odulio succumed. I tried to help him, but he said he wasn't feeling very well. Maybe he wasn't. But I tried as hard
as I could.
This transfer is going to be very interesting. Our zone has needed some work with unity and working hard, and thus almost half of our zone is getting transfered. I am the only one going off island though. I will let you know next week where I end up.
Halloween was interesting. At 5 we had to stop procelyting so that trick-or-treating could keep going forward. We went to Wal-Mart first so that Elder Trujillo could buy some stuff he needed, and we actually had three girls invite us to a party. It was kinda disturbing. We politely declined, and then two of us shuddered, while the other two kinda wished that they could go...
Those two go home fairly soon. After that we went to my former pad and hung out with the members that live there for the rest of the night. We played a lot of pool and fooseball. It was really fun.
Well, tomorrow begins a new transfer with a new companion. I am excited and ready to work. I love you all, and know that we are all missionaries our entire lives.
Elder Kidd
P.S. On the pictures, the one of the posters is Elder Mann, who goes home in January. He is a very talented artist, does a poster for each transfer, and spends way too long drawing.
10/28/2008
Aloha from the alamo?
No idea, don't ask where it came from, I don't know... Anyway...
Apparently my frustration seeped into my email last week a lot more than I intended for it to. Things are actually looking up in the Waipahu 2nd ward right now. I'm afraid most of our members still need work, but we have a few that are starting to get involved, and Elder Odulio and I have had a bit of success on our own. Our ward mission leader is as excited as ever, but is doing even more now by helping us get fellowshippers to our lessons. Things are definately looking up.
We also had zone conference this last week which really got my companion and I working harder, and allowed for some good conversation where we both revealed that we want to work hard. So, the last couple days have been much better. We are going out, walking a lot, talking to a lot of people, having interesting experiences, and returning home really tired. At ZC, Sister Petersen (Presidents wife) talked about not hitting a spiritual platue (I've never known how to spell that right unless I was coping it out of a book) on our missions. I resolved that I would never do that myself, but am sorry to say I was hoping that quite a few missionaries in our zone were listening... Judging by there efforts the last couple of days , I would guess not... I guess one thing that really irritated me was that my trainer dropped Elder Odulio and I off at our pad, and then he and his companion took about a two hour nap while my companion and I did our week plan. Not a very effective use of time, but I can't control those two.
So, things are looking up, and today was very nice as we were able to go to the temple. Waking up at 4:30 wasn't a lot of fun, but I was able to sleep most of the way there since it was dark and we couldn't see anything. I realized that the temple really does need the renovations they are
planning for it. There is a lot that could and probably should be done to improve things. One thing I did like was the $80,000 table in the celestial room. It may have been a little extravagant, but it was pretty, and the rest of the room was simple. The grounds were amazing though, and I think I took over 100 pictures today of the grounds and the ocean on the way back. I spent a lot of time using my macro setting on my camera and trying to get good pictures focused on flowers with the temple in the background. I also was able to get a picture of the temple and along the bottom of the picture I was able to capture the words "Laie, Hawaii Temple" from the plaque on the ground. Maybe it isn't a plaque, but that was the best representation I can think of it. They are really cool pictures and I cannot wait until everyone gets a chance to see them.
It is a good reminder to be able to go and remember that our goal as missionaries is not to get people to the waters of baptism, but to get them to the temple to be sealed for time and eternity as familes. Familes and the life after death are very important in Hawaii. Most of the polynesians are converted simply off of the social aspect, and then they become more converted as time goes on. They love everyone, and I am trying to learn from their example.
I asked my mission president if I should try to learn spanish or any other language, and he told me to focus on english right now, and simply learn everything I need to in english. So, it looks like I will be coming home speaking only english, but maybe a little pigeon. You know dakine bra.
We haven't been able to set up appointments for Maria Bird's mother to be read the Book of Mormon in Spanish yet, but hopefully soon. We were able to find a cool former yesterday that just recently moved back, and we taught Sherrie's mother and father, and they seem open. Or at least the father says it is ok to teach the family, so hopefully if we can get the family to listen and find the truth he will see the change and want it for himself. They have a lot of potential.
Well, there is work to do for us all to do. Missionary work is a lifelong calling for us all. Let us all stay strong in the work of the Lord, that when life is o're, we may gain our reward, in.... oh wait. Thank you all for your prayers and support, I know they are helping me through. I love you all.
Elder Kidd
P.S. Thanks for the info on the election dad, and I hope sicknesses pass so=
on!
No idea, don't ask where it came from, I don't know... Anyway...
Apparently my frustration seeped into my email last week a lot more than I intended for it to. Things are actually looking up in the Waipahu 2nd ward right now. I'm afraid most of our members still need work, but we have a few that are starting to get involved, and Elder Odulio and I have had a bit of success on our own. Our ward mission leader is as excited as ever, but is doing even more now by helping us get fellowshippers to our lessons. Things are definately looking up.
We also had zone conference this last week which really got my companion and I working harder, and allowed for some good conversation where we both revealed that we want to work hard. So, the last couple days have been much better. We are going out, walking a lot, talking to a lot of people, having interesting experiences, and returning home really tired. At ZC, Sister Petersen (Presidents wife) talked about not hitting a spiritual platue (I've never known how to spell that right unless I was coping it out of a book) on our missions. I resolved that I would never do that myself, but am sorry to say I was hoping that quite a few missionaries in our zone were listening... Judging by there efforts the last couple of days , I would guess not... I guess one thing that really irritated me was that my trainer dropped Elder Odulio and I off at our pad, and then he and his companion took about a two hour nap while my companion and I did our week plan. Not a very effective use of time, but I can't control those two.
So, things are looking up, and today was very nice as we were able to go to the temple. Waking up at 4:30 wasn't a lot of fun, but I was able to sleep most of the way there since it was dark and we couldn't see anything. I realized that the temple really does need the renovations they are
planning for it. There is a lot that could and probably should be done to improve things. One thing I did like was the $80,000 table in the celestial room. It may have been a little extravagant, but it was pretty, and the rest of the room was simple. The grounds were amazing though, and I think I took over 100 pictures today of the grounds and the ocean on the way back. I spent a lot of time using my macro setting on my camera and trying to get good pictures focused on flowers with the temple in the background. I also was able to get a picture of the temple and along the bottom of the picture I was able to capture the words "Laie, Hawaii Temple" from the plaque on the ground. Maybe it isn't a plaque, but that was the best representation I can think of it. They are really cool pictures and I cannot wait until everyone gets a chance to see them.
It is a good reminder to be able to go and remember that our goal as missionaries is not to get people to the waters of baptism, but to get them to the temple to be sealed for time and eternity as familes. Familes and the life after death are very important in Hawaii. Most of the polynesians are converted simply off of the social aspect, and then they become more converted as time goes on. They love everyone, and I am trying to learn from their example.
I asked my mission president if I should try to learn spanish or any other language, and he told me to focus on english right now, and simply learn everything I need to in english. So, it looks like I will be coming home speaking only english, but maybe a little pigeon. You know dakine bra.
We haven't been able to set up appointments for Maria Bird's mother to be read the Book of Mormon in Spanish yet, but hopefully soon. We were able to find a cool former yesterday that just recently moved back, and we taught Sherrie's mother and father, and they seem open. Or at least the father says it is ok to teach the family, so hopefully if we can get the family to listen and find the truth he will see the change and want it for himself. They have a lot of potential.
Well, there is work to do for us all to do. Missionary work is a lifelong calling for us all. Let us all stay strong in the work of the Lord, that when life is o're, we may gain our reward, in.... oh wait. Thank you all for your prayers and support, I know they are helping me through. I love you all.
Elder Kidd
P.S. Thanks for the info on the election dad, and I hope sicknesses pass so=
on!
10/20/2008
No extremely big events for this past week, so I couldn't think of any really clever subject lines. Sorry, you're just going to have to deal with boring old aloha.
The work continues in our ward. We have a really energetic Ward Mission leader who is extremely excited. We are having a missionary fireside tomorrow night to try and get the ward involved. I am starting to think more and more that it is meant a lot to remind the members of our ward that, yes, there are missionaries and, yes, those talks in sacrament were meant for them and yes, they need to do something. But maybe that is just me being lazy? Doubtful though.
We do have a couple really good families in the ward that try to help us whenever they can, and then have some other interesting characters that seem to be a little too busy to talk to their neighbors. It is definitely a different world out here in Hawaii, and some people really have different views about what they should be doing, not only for non-members but members as well.
Still, Elder Odulio and I continue our work. Sometimes it seems a little hard to get him going, but usually we work really hard. We are doing a lot of walking, and I think I am almost back to the weight I was when I left home. I think I may need to invest in a new backpack that is a designed for air circulation around the back. I never knew your back could sweat so much. Lovely, isn't it?
But the work continues. We have one girl named Sherrie who seems to be interested as things are a little tough for her right now. She pays attention to what we say, and seems to be touched. Also, she wants us to teach her family, and her mother is very interested. The problem is that her mother doesn't speak English very well, so I may not be able to contribute that much to lessons. We really need our ward involved.
I sent out a memory card with pictures today, and a quite a few videos. Hopefully you will all get to see those soon. We get to go to the temple next week since it is closing in December for 18 months, and apparently that is the prettiest part of the island, so I will take a lot of pictures. They are renovating the temple (don't know if I said this before) but it is going to reopen just before I come home, so hopefully I will be able to go to the rededication! Wouldn't that be cool?!
Finally, I may be learning Spanish while I am out here. I have realized that the languages I try to pick up while I am out here don't seem to be sticking, but so much recently keeps making me think I should try to pick up Spanish again. I asked my mission president what he thought, so we will see.
As always, thank you all for your support. I hope these new things work for you dad, and good luck with everything at school mom. I hope you are doing well, and I love you all.
Elder Kidd
10/13/2008
No longer homeless
Yes, we have a place!! We are out of the extremely messy and crowded pad. The sad thing is that only one of the elder's living there is within six months of going home, and he wasn't my trainer. I hope for the one elder that tries that they can pull themselves together sometime. But anyway...
So, moving seemed to be the biggest part of our week. We had interviews with the mission president on Tuesday, and he simply told me to do the best I could in any situation, and work hard. It was a short interview as we were over an hour behind schedule. It was nice to be able to talk to him for a little though, and to realize that I am not expected to be super-missionary and straighten everything out. It was very reassuring (sp?).
The work right now in our ward is a bit slow since this ward really has been neglected by missionaries since my companion left the first time. We are really trying to get members involved, teach them lessons, and have them invite people for us to teach. Problem is that our ward only has about 30-40 active members, and most work during the day. Our ward probably has the same amount of area as West Valley (well, maybe not completely), and then we have some members that live all over the stake (bigger than west valley). We don't have a car either,
so I am getting a lot of walking in, and begging for rides as well.
We are having a couple interesting stories developing though. Two part member/less active families in our ward seem to be interested in learning. One especially we saw last night as we were walking home. We were thinking of stopping by the house, but it looked dark and we didn't want to disturb them if the kids were going to bed or they were all watching a movie together, so we decided to keep walking. About 30 feet down the sidewalk, we hear someone yelling "Hey missionaries!". We turned around to see the wife (non-member) standing on her balcony waving to us. She told us to come back, so we went and talked to her for a couple of minutes. She had a few requests for us, one being when she could feed us and another if we could find someone to read the book of mormon in spanish to her mother. She told us she had decided she wouldn't get
baptised until after her mother died because her mother was a devout Catholic, but the night before they had had a long conversation, and suddenly her mother was open to learning. So yeah, it was super cool. Especially when she said she had been thinking about us when she saw us walking down the sidewalk... It was definately a moment when the spirit was involved.
Well, I have two elders behind me wanting to use the computer that our complex has for its residents (there are two, but one is currently broken), so I had better let them get on. I love you all. As always, thank you for the support!
Elder Kidd
>
Yes, we have a place!! We are out of the extremely messy and crowded pad. The sad thing is that only one of the elder's living there is within six months of going home, and he wasn't my trainer. I hope for the one elder that tries that they can pull themselves together sometime. But anyway...
So, moving seemed to be the biggest part of our week. We had interviews with the mission president on Tuesday, and he simply told me to do the best I could in any situation, and work hard. It was a short interview as we were over an hour behind schedule. It was nice to be able to talk to him for a little though, and to realize that I am not expected to be super-missionary and straighten everything out. It was very reassuring (sp?).
The work right now in our ward is a bit slow since this ward really has been neglected by missionaries since my companion left the first time. We are really trying to get members involved, teach them lessons, and have them invite people for us to teach. Problem is that our ward only has about 30-40 active members, and most work during the day. Our ward probably has the same amount of area as West Valley (well, maybe not completely), and then we have some members that live all over the stake (bigger than west valley). We don't have a car either,
so I am getting a lot of walking in, and begging for rides as well.
We are having a couple interesting stories developing though. Two part member/less active families in our ward seem to be interested in learning. One especially we saw last night as we were walking home. We were thinking of stopping by the house, but it looked dark and we didn't want to disturb them if the kids were going to bed or they were all watching a movie together, so we decided to keep walking. About 30 feet down the sidewalk, we hear someone yelling "Hey missionaries!". We turned around to see the wife (non-member) standing on her balcony waving to us. She told us to come back, so we went and talked to her for a couple of minutes. She had a few requests for us, one being when she could feed us and another if we could find someone to read the book of mormon in spanish to her mother. She told us she had decided she wouldn't get
baptised until after her mother died because her mother was a devout Catholic, but the night before they had had a long conversation, and suddenly her mother was open to learning. So yeah, it was super cool. Especially when she said she had been thinking about us when she saw us walking down the sidewalk... It was definately a moment when the spirit was involved.
Well, I have two elders behind me wanting to use the computer that our complex has for its residents (there are two, but one is currently broken), so I had better let them get on. I love you all. As always, thank you for the support!
Elder Kidd
>
Sunday, May 24, 2009
10/7/2008
Still Homeless, but Happy
Quickly while I am thinking about it: Heather, did you try a Thai restaurant down on redwood, near the furniture warehouse outlet store and the DI? I went there the Saturday before I left and it is really good... anyway.
Conference was amazing. I was able to watch all of it (well, almost all of it, we were late to morning session both days, but at 6 AM I think most would forgive us). I think my favorite was about angels ministering. I've also realized that ever since Elder Worthlin's talk that he stood through and started shaking, that he is my favorite apostle. Just the amazing strength that he has, that he never gives up. Did anyone else notice that two of the apostles were not present for Saturday afternoon? I don't remember who they were, but I did notice they weren't there to be sustained, and they still weren't there at the end.
I realized quite a few things during conference. Mostly just that I feel a need to go out with the approach of "Our Heavenly Father loves you, and has a plan for you. There are prophets on the earth to help you," etc. When I was set apart I was given the gift of love. I really need to start sharing that with people.
It was almost a little unnerving how many talks also talked about how life is hard, but we have to push through. I had been starting to get really discouraged at times, and perhaps a bit impatient, but that is always a nice reminder to calm down and do my best. We are still living in the other pad, and my former companion is not being a very good influence on the rest of the pad, and the pad gets a bit dirty. I never considered myself a clean freak, but compared to four missionaries in my pad, I am. It is a good learning experience (don't you hate those?) that I know I need right now.
So, the work is starting to go forward a little in this ward. We haven't been able to get members really involved, but we are getting to know them more. We have one part-member/less active family who was taught before and is interested again. She was taught last by my current companion, and right when things were getting tough the missionaries started coming again. She is sure it is a sign. We agree, and are going to once again try to teach her and make her realize she wants to be baptised. There is a long story behind them though, and her husband
may be going to prison soon.... It's going to be interesting.
We also have a possible investigator (we haven't taught him yet) that my companion met on a team-up with another elder. His name is Elvis, he loves music, he wants to do bible study with us, and he is really ticked at his current church. I think he is in his sixties (just barely found out... i was thinking thirties) and his church is telling him that because he isn't married that God doesn't care for him. We are going try to teach him that Heavenly Father does love him. Apparently he has a friend going through the same thing.
I hope everyone is doing well still. Congrats on the marathon Chelsi! I will never be able to do that. Remember that the Lord loves you, no matter what is going on in your life. He cares, and knows what is going on. I love you all.
Thank you for your support!
Elder Kidd
Quickly while I am thinking about it: Heather, did you try a Thai restaurant down on redwood, near the furniture warehouse outlet store and the DI? I went there the Saturday before I left and it is really good... anyway.
Conference was amazing. I was able to watch all of it (well, almost all of it, we were late to morning session both days, but at 6 AM I think most would forgive us). I think my favorite was about angels ministering. I've also realized that ever since Elder Worthlin's talk that he stood through and started shaking, that he is my favorite apostle. Just the amazing strength that he has, that he never gives up. Did anyone else notice that two of the apostles were not present for Saturday afternoon? I don't remember who they were, but I did notice they weren't there to be sustained, and they still weren't there at the end.
I realized quite a few things during conference. Mostly just that I feel a need to go out with the approach of "Our Heavenly Father loves you, and has a plan for you. There are prophets on the earth to help you," etc. When I was set apart I was given the gift of love. I really need to start sharing that with people.
It was almost a little unnerving how many talks also talked about how life is hard, but we have to push through. I had been starting to get really discouraged at times, and perhaps a bit impatient, but that is always a nice reminder to calm down and do my best. We are still living in the other pad, and my former companion is not being a very good influence on the rest of the pad, and the pad gets a bit dirty. I never considered myself a clean freak, but compared to four missionaries in my pad, I am. It is a good learning experience (don't you hate those?) that I know I need right now.
So, the work is starting to go forward a little in this ward. We haven't been able to get members really involved, but we are getting to know them more. We have one part-member/less active family who was taught before and is interested again. She was taught last by my current companion, and right when things were getting tough the missionaries started coming again. She is sure it is a sign. We agree, and are going to once again try to teach her and make her realize she wants to be baptised. There is a long story behind them though, and her husband
may be going to prison soon.... It's going to be interesting.
We also have a possible investigator (we haven't taught him yet) that my companion met on a team-up with another elder. His name is Elvis, he loves music, he wants to do bible study with us, and he is really ticked at his current church. I think he is in his sixties (just barely found out... i was thinking thirties) and his church is telling him that because he isn't married that God doesn't care for him. We are going try to teach him that Heavenly Father does love him. Apparently he has a friend going through the same thing.
I hope everyone is doing well still. Congrats on the marathon Chelsi! I will never be able to do that. Remember that the Lord loves you, no matter what is going on in your life. He cares, and knows what is going on. I love you all.
Thank you for your support!
Elder Kidd
09/30/2008
Homeless in Hawai
Yeah... well kind of. My companion and I are currently without a house specifically for us. We are currently living in the place I lived for my first transfer.... So there are six missionaries there, and we are outside of our main area (we cover an entire stake truthfully, so well in our area). It is crowded, and making it very difficult to organize things, so it is very interesting. I am really looking forward to getting our own place because once we get away from the not-so-hot influence from the other elders I think we will be able to get more done. Also, we won't be counting on them for rides to our area (instead of walking about three-six miles to get there). It looks like I may just walk this transfer because as my companion pointed out, there are a lot of hills here, so a bike doesn't help a whole lot, so we will just walk.
My companion is Elder Odulio, who was born in the Philippeans(sp?), but came out from Virginia, and his parents have since moved to Maine. He is a cool kid. He is considered a second-trainer, but we haven't had much chance to do anything that might be considered 'training' in our current situation. At least we finally got a phone so we could call anyone....
No, but truthfully it is funny. We are having way too much fun making homeless jokes, and we use that as an excuse for things (not to get out of anything too bad, just more to play and be a pain at times). He seems like a really good kid, he is just a bit like me in that he will act more like those he is around to get along with them. When it is just us, we work hard, etc. When we get
around other missionaries (as today on P-day) he acts a little more immature and lazy. I want our own pad, and a car would be nice too ; )
Yeah, so that is my current situation. Our ward hasn't seen a whole lot of missionary activity recently (actually for almost ten months, when Elder Odulio was here before) since it has been split with other wards. I think now that we have two of us just for this ward, and extremely energetic ward mission leader it should start becoming very active. It is a small and older ward, but I feel that given a few weeks, we can have a lot of activity here. Heres for the long run!
So, remember your poor homeless Elder when you go home at night ; ). Good luck on Saturday Chelsi! I hope you do well. I hope everyone is able to watch conference and learn all they can. We will probably be at the church, but then try to go by investigators to watch other sessions. Hawaii is off of Utah time by four hours (it was so confusing until I realized that Hawaii doesn't have Daylight Savings time). Six in the morning for the first session. What fun.
Anyway, know I am alive, and I love you all. Keep the faith, and thank you all for your support! Tell the grandkid(d)s I say hi!
Elder Kidd
Yeah... well kind of. My companion and I are currently without a house specifically for us. We are currently living in the place I lived for my first transfer.... So there are six missionaries there, and we are outside of our main area (we cover an entire stake truthfully, so well in our area). It is crowded, and making it very difficult to organize things, so it is very interesting. I am really looking forward to getting our own place because once we get away from the not-so-hot influence from the other elders I think we will be able to get more done. Also, we won't be counting on them for rides to our area (instead of walking about three-six miles to get there). It looks like I may just walk this transfer because as my companion pointed out, there are a lot of hills here, so a bike doesn't help a whole lot, so we will just walk.
My companion is Elder Odulio, who was born in the Philippeans(sp?), but came out from Virginia, and his parents have since moved to Maine. He is a cool kid. He is considered a second-trainer, but we haven't had much chance to do anything that might be considered 'training' in our current situation. At least we finally got a phone so we could call anyone....
No, but truthfully it is funny. We are having way too much fun making homeless jokes, and we use that as an excuse for things (not to get out of anything too bad, just more to play and be a pain at times). He seems like a really good kid, he is just a bit like me in that he will act more like those he is around to get along with them. When it is just us, we work hard, etc. When we get
around other missionaries (as today on P-day) he acts a little more immature and lazy. I want our own pad, and a car would be nice too ; )
Yeah, so that is my current situation. Our ward hasn't seen a whole lot of missionary activity recently (actually for almost ten months, when Elder Odulio was here before) since it has been split with other wards. I think now that we have two of us just for this ward, and extremely energetic ward mission leader it should start becoming very active. It is a small and older ward, but I feel that given a few weeks, we can have a lot of activity here. Heres for the long run!
So, remember your poor homeless Elder when you go home at night ; ). Good luck on Saturday Chelsi! I hope you do well. I hope everyone is able to watch conference and learn all they can. We will probably be at the church, but then try to go by investigators to watch other sessions. Hawaii is off of Utah time by four hours (it was so confusing until I realized that Hawaii doesn't have Daylight Savings time). Six in the morning for the first session. What fun.
Anyway, know I am alive, and I love you all. Keep the faith, and thank you all for your support! Tell the grandkid(d)s I say hi!
Elder Kidd
09/23/2008
Aloha a day late
Yes, I am afraid I am a day late as P-day got moved back because....IT'S TRANSFER WEEK!!! I have survived my first transfer and got four baptisms in the process, but anyway...
Yes, transfer week, and I am getting transfered.... kind of... My companion and I covered two wards, the Tongan ward and a Filipeno (sp?) ward. I wasn't actually called to learn Tongan (which is why I didn't learn any in the MTC) I just thought it would be cool. I am still going to work on it a little, but I am now in the Filipeno ward. My trainer is staying in the Tongan ward. I will be getting a new companion, and we will be moving into a new place. The problem: they haven't found that new place yet. We will see what happens tomorrow.
So, I apologize for this being a day late, but it is here now : ) So I am packing at the pad along with other things today, and while thinking of the best way to work with this ward. I have been wondering things for a little bit, but now I can focus all of my time on this ward. I no longer have a car, and won't be eating a lot of Tongan food, so I may lose some weight as well.
This last week has been a little interesting. My companion continued getting IV's for a couple of days, and then was told by an ENT(ear, nose, throught(sp?) guy) that they weren't helping, so he gave him more drugs. Those don't seem to be helping so far either, so he and the companion he gets tomorrow will have to figure that out. I in the mean time will be working with my companion to see if some of my ideas seem good. They ward has a lot of potential, but it also seems that it will need to be the members that begin the fellowshipping. Most people
don't like missionaries at the first, but our new ward mission leader is super energetic and enthusiastic, so it should all work well.
So, the work progresses forward. I am really excited, but kinda nervous. It will be a change, and my trainer was a good guy, just not super missionary-oriented. Hopefully he will get a companion that holds a little more respect and command so that he can get him to do a little more. Here's hoping.
I hope everyone is doing well as always. Thank you all for your continued support. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
Yes, I am afraid I am a day late as P-day got moved back because....IT'S TRANSFER WEEK!!! I have survived my first transfer and got four baptisms in the process, but anyway...
Yes, transfer week, and I am getting transfered.... kind of... My companion and I covered two wards, the Tongan ward and a Filipeno (sp?) ward. I wasn't actually called to learn Tongan (which is why I didn't learn any in the MTC) I just thought it would be cool. I am still going to work on it a little, but I am now in the Filipeno ward. My trainer is staying in the Tongan ward. I will be getting a new companion, and we will be moving into a new place. The problem: they haven't found that new place yet. We will see what happens tomorrow.
So, I apologize for this being a day late, but it is here now : ) So I am packing at the pad along with other things today, and while thinking of the best way to work with this ward. I have been wondering things for a little bit, but now I can focus all of my time on this ward. I no longer have a car, and won't be eating a lot of Tongan food, so I may lose some weight as well.
This last week has been a little interesting. My companion continued getting IV's for a couple of days, and then was told by an ENT(ear, nose, throught(sp?) guy) that they weren't helping, so he gave him more drugs. Those don't seem to be helping so far either, so he and the companion he gets tomorrow will have to figure that out. I in the mean time will be working with my companion to see if some of my ideas seem good. They ward has a lot of potential, but it also seems that it will need to be the members that begin the fellowshipping. Most people
don't like missionaries at the first, but our new ward mission leader is super energetic and enthusiastic, so it should all work well.
So, the work progresses forward. I am really excited, but kinda nervous. It will be a change, and my trainer was a good guy, just not super missionary-oriented. Hopefully he will get a companion that holds a little more respect and command so that he can get him to do a little more. Here's hoping.
I hope everyone is doing well as always. Thank you all for your continued support. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
09/15/2008
Aloha from K-mart
Yeah, I email at a K-mart where they have free high speed internet access. It makes things nice. Then we go shopping, so they do get business. Good idea on their part.
So, this last week was a good study week for me. My companion had to go into the doctor Tuesday thru Saturday (I didn't go on Saturday) to get IV's. Then most of those days he would come home and sleep because he was so tired. I was feeling a bit more compasionate and just studied and cleaned during that time. He doesn't want to get IV's anymore, but he is still sick. Makes things interesting.
It's nice to hear that Tyler and Jermey had not so hot trainers as well. Gives me a little bit of hope. I will just take from this all that I can. Saturday I did a teamup with the other elder in the pad so i wouldn't have to go into town. We did some productive stuff, and then went back and met up with our regular companions. That night Elder Stewart and I were able to go out with some our ward mission leader and visit two families. One family of completely
non-members that do seem interested, and a part member couple. The wife wants to get baptised, but the entire lesson (except for me bearing my testimony) was in Tongan, so I don't know exactly what is holding her back....
We did have another baptism this last week. Asali, who is from Tonga, and is going back soon. We didn't do a lot of teaching since his entire family belongs to the church, and he speaks almost entirely tongan, but he did come unto Christ, so that was good.
Yesterday our Ward Mission leader left for Samoa. Apparently to keep his and his wife's visa's, he has to go back every so often. They don't want to be here to stay until all of their children move here. we aren't sure how long he will be gone for, but hopefully not too long. His wife is still here, and she usually did as much if not more than he did, so that will be ok. We just hope
he comes back soon.
So, the washing machine at our pad broke this morning (or whenever the family used it last) so I and Elder Trujillo (true-he-yo) are finding a laundromat to do laundry at. We have some things to buy as well, so I may not go bowling today, which isn't too bad except that I got a 177 last week and wanted to improve it.... Anyway...
My companion has been involved in a little bit of drama the last little while over an event that happened before I got here. He wrote to President and told him everything (or so he told me) and last night he was saying (hopefully joking) that he was going to get sent home, and also said yesterday that I may be the senior companion for the area next transfer, meaning he would get
transferred out and I would still be here... Kinda scary, but maybe I could get a lot done. We will most certainly see.
Well, I need to get going on things. Chelsi, good luck on the marathon. I do get to exercise every morning, and I run about 1/2 a mile every other morning. I'm out of shape, but working on it. A good part of that is up a really steep hill though ; ). Keep moving forward, get better dad, good luck with work mom, and I hope everyone is doing well. I love you all.
Elder Kidd
Yeah, I email at a K-mart where they have free high speed internet access. It makes things nice. Then we go shopping, so they do get business. Good idea on their part.
So, this last week was a good study week for me. My companion had to go into the doctor Tuesday thru Saturday (I didn't go on Saturday) to get IV's. Then most of those days he would come home and sleep because he was so tired. I was feeling a bit more compasionate and just studied and cleaned during that time. He doesn't want to get IV's anymore, but he is still sick. Makes things interesting.
It's nice to hear that Tyler and Jermey had not so hot trainers as well. Gives me a little bit of hope. I will just take from this all that I can. Saturday I did a teamup with the other elder in the pad so i wouldn't have to go into town. We did some productive stuff, and then went back and met up with our regular companions. That night Elder Stewart and I were able to go out with some our ward mission leader and visit two families. One family of completely
non-members that do seem interested, and a part member couple. The wife wants to get baptised, but the entire lesson (except for me bearing my testimony) was in Tongan, so I don't know exactly what is holding her back....
We did have another baptism this last week. Asali, who is from Tonga, and is going back soon. We didn't do a lot of teaching since his entire family belongs to the church, and he speaks almost entirely tongan, but he did come unto Christ, so that was good.
Yesterday our Ward Mission leader left for Samoa. Apparently to keep his and his wife's visa's, he has to go back every so often. They don't want to be here to stay until all of their children move here. we aren't sure how long he will be gone for, but hopefully not too long. His wife is still here, and she usually did as much if not more than he did, so that will be ok. We just hope
he comes back soon.
So, the washing machine at our pad broke this morning (or whenever the family used it last) so I and Elder Trujillo (true-he-yo) are finding a laundromat to do laundry at. We have some things to buy as well, so I may not go bowling today, which isn't too bad except that I got a 177 last week and wanted to improve it.... Anyway...
My companion has been involved in a little bit of drama the last little while over an event that happened before I got here. He wrote to President and told him everything (or so he told me) and last night he was saying (hopefully joking) that he was going to get sent home, and also said yesterday that I may be the senior companion for the area next transfer, meaning he would get
transferred out and I would still be here... Kinda scary, but maybe I could get a lot done. We will most certainly see.
Well, I need to get going on things. Chelsi, good luck on the marathon. I do get to exercise every morning, and I run about 1/2 a mile every other morning. I'm out of shape, but working on it. A good part of that is up a really steep hill though ; ). Keep moving forward, get better dad, good luck with work mom, and I hope everyone is doing well. I love you all.
Elder Kidd
09/8/2008
I realize I haven't really said much about my current situation in Hawaii as everyone keeps asking about my location, companion, etc...
I am in Waipahu (why-pa-who) on the island of Oahu (O-a-who), which is the island with Honolulu on it. We live in a small little house thing behind the bishop of the Somonan ward's house. (Wow, confusing... He is bishop of another ward, we live behind his house.) It isn't fantastic, but there is running water, showers, a fridge, etc.
My companion is Elder Stewart. He is from Bountiful, but has a very different background. His family is very wealthy. They have a home in St. George, a cabin at Brian Head, and the home in Bountiful. They just bought a couple of new cars (a Escalade, and a really high end Benz). He wants to buy a Benz C230 when he gets home, and is very into guns. He actually worked for Salt Lake SWAT on a volunteer basis for a bit. He also worked at the Granger Medical Clinic
doing pediatric dentistry for a bit. He also likes aviation. So teeth, guns, and cars seem to be his favorites.
I'm afraid I am still having a little bit of a hard time, and told the President about some of them. He told me he is really concerned, and is sorry that I am in the situation. I don't think we have had a single morning where we did a full hour of beneficial companion study. But I am going to see if I can encourage him before President steps in. At least that is my hope.
We are going to have one more baptisms this Thursday. The one that postponed is on, and seems solid. The girl who backed out apparently got into a bit of a fight with the members she was staying with and ran away. We were teaching her boyfriend though (atleast trying to, hard to get a hold of him) and we might be able to find her again that way.
Oh, I really am gaining a reputation for being able to eat a lot. We had to go to the doctor in town (honolulu) last Tuesday, and on our way back home, we stopped at a place called Bob's Big Boy. They have a burger they call the Sumo burger, and I had to try it. It contains a pound patty, bun, tomatoe, cheese, lettuce. It was really good, and I finished it. So, they took my picture and
will be putting it up on a bulletin board soon. The companionship that went with us is still amazed.
The work is going well, I just wish I could do more, but I will do my best to encourage my companion, and listen to the advice (or rather order) from my Mission President to not get contentious. I need to find a gentle line between laid back and not doing work. I figure if I can learn to be laid back with the people, but working hard studying and between people, then I should be good. That is my goal.
I hope everyone is still doing well. It is so beautiful out here. I will make sure to send lots of green pictures with palm trees in them home in December. Thank you for your support and love. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
I am in Waipahu (why-pa-who) on the island of Oahu (O-a-who), which is the island with Honolulu on it. We live in a small little house thing behind the bishop of the Somonan ward's house. (Wow, confusing... He is bishop of another ward, we live behind his house.) It isn't fantastic, but there is running water, showers, a fridge, etc.
My companion is Elder Stewart. He is from Bountiful, but has a very different background. His family is very wealthy. They have a home in St. George, a cabin at Brian Head, and the home in Bountiful. They just bought a couple of new cars (a Escalade, and a really high end Benz). He wants to buy a Benz C230 when he gets home, and is very into guns. He actually worked for Salt Lake SWAT on a volunteer basis for a bit. He also worked at the Granger Medical Clinic
doing pediatric dentistry for a bit. He also likes aviation. So teeth, guns, and cars seem to be his favorites.
I'm afraid I am still having a little bit of a hard time, and told the President about some of them. He told me he is really concerned, and is sorry that I am in the situation. I don't think we have had a single morning where we did a full hour of beneficial companion study. But I am going to see if I can encourage him before President steps in. At least that is my hope.
We are going to have one more baptisms this Thursday. The one that postponed is on, and seems solid. The girl who backed out apparently got into a bit of a fight with the members she was staying with and ran away. We were teaching her boyfriend though (atleast trying to, hard to get a hold of him) and we might be able to find her again that way.
Oh, I really am gaining a reputation for being able to eat a lot. We had to go to the doctor in town (honolulu) last Tuesday, and on our way back home, we stopped at a place called Bob's Big Boy. They have a burger they call the Sumo burger, and I had to try it. It contains a pound patty, bun, tomatoe, cheese, lettuce. It was really good, and I finished it. So, they took my picture and
will be putting it up on a bulletin board soon. The companionship that went with us is still amazed.
The work is going well, I just wish I could do more, but I will do my best to encourage my companion, and listen to the advice (or rather order) from my Mission President to not get contentious. I need to find a gentle line between laid back and not doing work. I figure if I can learn to be laid back with the people, but working hard studying and between people, then I should be good. That is my goal.
I hope everyone is still doing well. It is so beautiful out here. I will make sure to send lots of green pictures with palm trees in them home in December. Thank you for your support and love. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
09/1/2008
So, we only had three baptisms this last week. Of the five we believed were ready, one postponed (he will be baptized on the 11th), and one decided last minute not to show up. We are still waiting for the members she lives with to let us know if we can come by without being shot at....
Other than that, things seem to be going well. I'm afraid my companion got into a little bit of a relaxed mood of accomplishment after the baptisms, and it has been difficult to get him to do anything recently. He had a meeting Saturday morning, and while he was in the meeting, I took the other non-District Leader from our pad, and we went and saw a potential investiagtor, and turned her into an investigator. Hopefully on Wednesday we can make her a progressing
investigator and eventually get her to baptism.
Everyone seems to keep telling me how lucky I am to have three (soon to be four) baptisms in my first area, and I keep telling them that I am doing everything I can to get it higher than that. I just wish my companion would get the same idea. My Mission President simply gave me the advice of try to say something in the morning, but after that it is his choice, so simply do the best I can. He has his agency.
So, it is looking like I am bound for leadership. Durning a District Leader Training Meeting, the Zone Leaders told my companion that I need to prepare to be a leader, and then my mission President told me in my interview that I am destined for leadership, and probably fairly soon. It seems like I need to get ready.
Thank you everyone for your advice. Our ward is really a lot of getting the trust of the members, which we seem to have a lot of right now. The Kings (the family we watched the closing cermonies with) considers us adopted children pretty much. I am just trying to get my companion to not spend too much time there.
Well, I hope everyone gets feeling better who is hurt, that Jeremy finally is finished, and that everyone is happy!! Time to get to work. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
Other than that, things seem to be going well. I'm afraid my companion got into a little bit of a relaxed mood of accomplishment after the baptisms, and it has been difficult to get him to do anything recently. He had a meeting Saturday morning, and while he was in the meeting, I took the other non-District Leader from our pad, and we went and saw a potential investiagtor, and turned her into an investigator. Hopefully on Wednesday we can make her a progressing
investigator and eventually get her to baptism.
Everyone seems to keep telling me how lucky I am to have three (soon to be four) baptisms in my first area, and I keep telling them that I am doing everything I can to get it higher than that. I just wish my companion would get the same idea. My Mission President simply gave me the advice of try to say something in the morning, but after that it is his choice, so simply do the best I can. He has his agency.
So, it is looking like I am bound for leadership. Durning a District Leader Training Meeting, the Zone Leaders told my companion that I need to prepare to be a leader, and then my mission President told me in my interview that I am destined for leadership, and probably fairly soon. It seems like I need to get ready.
Thank you everyone for your advice. Our ward is really a lot of getting the trust of the members, which we seem to have a lot of right now. The Kings (the family we watched the closing cermonies with) considers us adopted children pretty much. I am just trying to get my companion to not spend too much time there.
Well, I hope everyone gets feeling better who is hurt, that Jeremy finally is finished, and that everyone is happy!! Time to get to work. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
Monday, May 18, 2009
08/25/2008
Aloha from the home of the Little League World Champions!
Yes, yes, the little league world champions are from Hawaii, and more specifically from the area right around where we live. And no, I am not in Honolulu, but rather about 16 miles from Honolulu. Most of the towns kinda blend with each other though. I am actually about 3 miles north of one part of Pearl Harbor (the part where they hold the old ships they don't use anymore, but it is still cool to see).
This last week has been a lot of getting ahold of referals while checking up on our investigators (while I still try to get settled). We have one wards baptism night this Thursday, and we should have 4 converts being baptised, perhaps five. Then we have a couple more we need to get to church, and a few more new investigators that seem very intersted and genuine. So, the work is going great.
I guess my only concern right now is that I feel I could do more. My companion has been sick, and I am afraid he might be using that as an excuse to sleep late, stop by the pad for a rest in the middle of the day, and sometimes come home early. I guess what really worries me is that the other district leader living in the same pad (house) as us sleeps late as well, so I am afraid this
might not stop when he gets feeling better. I am trying to encourage him without being an ignorant and pushy greenie. I have an interview with the Mission President on Wednesday, so I am going to ask his advice as well.
I am glad to hear that the wall paper is down in the bathroom (sorry, I am not too disappointed that I am not there to help), and its great to hear that the rooms downstairs are coming along as well. Jeremy just needs to buy a wireless router so he can get on the internet from anywhere in the house (and I can too when I get home and buy my new MacBookPro). I hope school is going well for everyone, and I am thankful for all of the support I am getting from home.
I am glad that you are enjoying your classes Dad, but I hope your shoulder gets feeling better. Just remember that Christ suffered all things, so He knows what you are going through.
So everyone knows, I don't know if I will be able to look at attachments. I am going to try when I finish this email, but I am afraid it might freeze the computer I am on, or it won't have software so that I can look/read any attatchments. Also, it seems to take around 4 days for anything to get to Hawaii from Utah. I don't know what the time is from here to there though.
So the olympics are over. My companion and I were visiting a members house last night (really cool family. the wife is tongan, the father is a statewide manager of all the Jack-in-the-Box resturants), so we talked about the olympics, watched a little of the closing cerimonies, etc. China did well, but we won basketball and have the best single athlete in history, so I am happy.
Things in Hawaii are extremely chill and laid back. It is very interesting at times. I'm having to really focus on being relaxed or members and investigators don't like you as much. it is definately a learning experience.
Well, hope everyone keeps doing well. Keep smiling and looking for more ways to serve the Lord and He will bless your lives. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
>
Yes, yes, the little league world champions are from Hawaii, and more specifically from the area right around where we live. And no, I am not in Honolulu, but rather about 16 miles from Honolulu. Most of the towns kinda blend with each other though. I am actually about 3 miles north of one part of Pearl Harbor (the part where they hold the old ships they don't use anymore, but it is still cool to see).
This last week has been a lot of getting ahold of referals while checking up on our investigators (while I still try to get settled). We have one wards baptism night this Thursday, and we should have 4 converts being baptised, perhaps five. Then we have a couple more we need to get to church, and a few more new investigators that seem very intersted and genuine. So, the work is going great.
I guess my only concern right now is that I feel I could do more. My companion has been sick, and I am afraid he might be using that as an excuse to sleep late, stop by the pad for a rest in the middle of the day, and sometimes come home early. I guess what really worries me is that the other district leader living in the same pad (house) as us sleeps late as well, so I am afraid this
might not stop when he gets feeling better. I am trying to encourage him without being an ignorant and pushy greenie. I have an interview with the Mission President on Wednesday, so I am going to ask his advice as well.
I am glad to hear that the wall paper is down in the bathroom (sorry, I am not too disappointed that I am not there to help), and its great to hear that the rooms downstairs are coming along as well. Jeremy just needs to buy a wireless router so he can get on the internet from anywhere in the house (and I can too when I get home and buy my new MacBookPro). I hope school is going well for everyone, and I am thankful for all of the support I am getting from home.
I am glad that you are enjoying your classes Dad, but I hope your shoulder gets feeling better. Just remember that Christ suffered all things, so He knows what you are going through.
So everyone knows, I don't know if I will be able to look at attachments. I am going to try when I finish this email, but I am afraid it might freeze the computer I am on, or it won't have software so that I can look/read any attatchments. Also, it seems to take around 4 days for anything to get to Hawaii from Utah. I don't know what the time is from here to there though.
So the olympics are over. My companion and I were visiting a members house last night (really cool family. the wife is tongan, the father is a statewide manager of all the Jack-in-the-Box resturants), so we talked about the olympics, watched a little of the closing cerimonies, etc. China did well, but we won basketball and have the best single athlete in history, so I am happy.
Things in Hawaii are extremely chill and laid back. It is very interesting at times. I'm having to really focus on being relaxed or members and investigators don't like you as much. it is definately a learning experience.
Well, hope everyone keeps doing well. Keep smiling and looking for more ways to serve the Lord and He will bless your lives. I love you all!
Elder Kidd
>
08/18/2008
Aloha one and all. I am now in Hawaii!!!
First of all, the preconceived notions of Hawaii (rich, tropical, lush, perfect) are far from true. Actually, there is quite a bit of poverty, or atleast the housing seems that way. But the people are great. They have what they need, are extremely comfortable, and just love life.
So, I am with Elder Stewart, who is from Bountiful. We are serving in two wards. A phillipenoe(sp?) ward, and a Tongan ward. The philli ward isn't so hot at the moment, but we have three people with baptisimal dates in the Tongan ward, and quite a few others we are working with. And I am learning Tongan! Right now it isn't much fun because my companion is fluent, so the people all speak tongan to him, and I have no idea what is being said. It is a little
discouraging, but it also gives me more of a desire to learn so that I can communicate myself as well.
So, like I said, the people are amazing. Just very laid back, and they simply love life. Eating a lot of food isn't a big thing though. Eat a good amount, yes, but always try the food. But apparently not over eating is not too bad. I have made good friends with the ward mission leader and his wife because I always eat everything, but now they joke with me to eat ABSOLUTELY everything. I ate watermelon seeds last night because they told me to.
Actually, they told me (or rather said in tongan and my companion interpretted) that I needed to "eat the bones" meaning the chicken bones from the three drumsticks I had just eaten. We both laughed, but then noticed that none of them had any bones on their plates. It freaked my companion out, and he thought for a moment they were serious. I remembered that no one but us had grabbed chicken, so I laughed.
This has been a really long week. In fact, I have kinda forgotten what happened the last little bit at the MTC. I do remember that I got one call in the Referal Center (call center) that lasted for almost 40 minutes as I bore my testimony over and over to this lady who admitted that she had had a drug problem, thought the Heavenly Father spoke to her directly as I would speak to
someone right next to me, and that for her to believe the Book of Mormon that she wanted her skin turned white since she was a Native American (that was a long sentance). It was interesting.
My companion and I also taught a lesson to a teacher who went to Hawaii on his mission, and commited him to do something nice for his wife that night. So we asked her (she is also a teacher at the MTC) if he did, and she kinda stopped for a second, said "Yeah... He did... Was that..... Thanks Elders!" It was hilarious, but cool at the same time.
So the work is progressing here. I had the opportunity this morning to not feel so useless as a guy came up and talked to me and the Elder I was with in a Wal-Mart parking lot. He started asking about the church, and I gave him a card, a pamphlet, and he said he was going to call so that the missionaries in his area could go talk to him. It was so cool!!
Well, we are headed bowling this afternoon. Apparently it is a big thing with my companion and our pad (housing). We also need to do some cleaning. So I am going to close. Thank you everyone for your support. Remember to stay strong and know that I appriciate your prayers. Thanks for all of your emails. I love you all!!
Elder Kidd
First of all, the preconceived notions of Hawaii (rich, tropical, lush, perfect) are far from true. Actually, there is quite a bit of poverty, or atleast the housing seems that way. But the people are great. They have what they need, are extremely comfortable, and just love life.
So, I am with Elder Stewart, who is from Bountiful. We are serving in two wards. A phillipenoe(sp?) ward, and a Tongan ward. The philli ward isn't so hot at the moment, but we have three people with baptisimal dates in the Tongan ward, and quite a few others we are working with. And I am learning Tongan! Right now it isn't much fun because my companion is fluent, so the people all speak tongan to him, and I have no idea what is being said. It is a little
discouraging, but it also gives me more of a desire to learn so that I can communicate myself as well.
So, like I said, the people are amazing. Just very laid back, and they simply love life. Eating a lot of food isn't a big thing though. Eat a good amount, yes, but always try the food. But apparently not over eating is not too bad. I have made good friends with the ward mission leader and his wife because I always eat everything, but now they joke with me to eat ABSOLUTELY everything. I ate watermelon seeds last night because they told me to.
Actually, they told me (or rather said in tongan and my companion interpretted) that I needed to "eat the bones" meaning the chicken bones from the three drumsticks I had just eaten. We both laughed, but then noticed that none of them had any bones on their plates. It freaked my companion out, and he thought for a moment they were serious. I remembered that no one but us had grabbed chicken, so I laughed.
This has been a really long week. In fact, I have kinda forgotten what happened the last little bit at the MTC. I do remember that I got one call in the Referal Center (call center) that lasted for almost 40 minutes as I bore my testimony over and over to this lady who admitted that she had had a drug problem, thought the Heavenly Father spoke to her directly as I would speak to
someone right next to me, and that for her to believe the Book of Mormon that she wanted her skin turned white since she was a Native American (that was a long sentance). It was interesting.
My companion and I also taught a lesson to a teacher who went to Hawaii on his mission, and commited him to do something nice for his wife that night. So we asked her (she is also a teacher at the MTC) if he did, and she kinda stopped for a second, said "Yeah... He did... Was that..... Thanks Elders!" It was hilarious, but cool at the same time.
So the work is progressing here. I had the opportunity this morning to not feel so useless as a guy came up and talked to me and the Elder I was with in a Wal-Mart parking lot. He started asking about the church, and I gave him a card, a pamphlet, and he said he was going to call so that the missionaries in his area could go talk to him. It was so cool!!
Well, we are headed bowling this afternoon. Apparently it is a big thing with my companion and our pad (housing). We also need to do some cleaning. So I am going to close. Thank you everyone for your support. Remember to stay strong and know that I appriciate your prayers. Thanks for all of your emails. I love you all!!
Elder Kidd
08/14/2008
Aloha Kidd Family,
Elder Kidd has arrived safely in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, has done some street contacting in Honolulu, been assigned to his first area and companion and is off and running. He looks fabulous and we are excited to have him in our mission. We will take good care of him over the next 2 years--he will truly become one of our sons.
Mahalo nui loa and much aloha,
President & Sister Peterson
Elder Kidd has arrived safely in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, has done some street contacting in Honolulu, been assigned to his first area and companion and is off and running. He looks fabulous and we are excited to have him in our mission. We will take good care of him over the next 2 years--he will truly become one of our sons.
Mahalo nui loa and much aloha,
President & Sister Peterson
08/08/2008
So, I fly out to Hawaii next Tuesday (August 12th). I am so excited. We should get to Hawaii in time to go out that day and start teaching. Also, most of my classes are devoted to learning the lessons and how to teach, but my companion and I have found a couple of RM's who went to Hawaii, so we try to get a lot of time with them so that we can get to know some of the culture and mannerisms... to which we have learned that there are so many different cultures there that we will simply have to try to learn from our trainers. In short, we have learned to eat the food (even if you throw up because you have eaten so much), be friendly, and watch out for bugs (mostly cenntipeeds(sp?)).
We were told if we wake up with a fast heart rate and a fever, to run to the hospital. Not quite as bad as some things in Brazil I am sure, but still not fantastic.
So, now that you have had an opportunity to check, was anyone able to watch the devotional or fireside on Sunday or Tuesday? I really enjoy them, especially being able to sings hymns before. It has been a fantastic experience.
For Tiffany, thank you for all of the letters. Let the girls know that I will be sending a letter for you all today. It seems to take two days for anything to get to me, so I am going to guess that it will take two days to get there as well. Also (for everyone) I can only check email and write letters once a week. So, if it takes a little while, that is why.
Life at the MTC is great. I love being able to learn, and my companion is fantastic. One thing that has really hit me recently is the importance of not getting discouraged. I first came with the idea that I would get discouraged, but I would be ok. The last couple of days (mostly yesterday) I have realized that I can't afford to get discouraged. When I get discouraged, I give Satan
power, and my effectiveness will go down. No matter what my circumstances, I will strive to always remain happy. When things don't go so well, I know the Lord will help me the next week. I am His servant, and all I can do is serve Him humbly and faithfully. If I work as hard as I can, the Lord will bless me (and everyone at home ;-) ) and will provide what I need. He may give me trials and test my faith at times, but I know in the end if I live worthy of His blessings, He will provide.
It is hard at the moment to try to remember individual days. Once again I forgot my journal, and all of the days seem to run into one. Just know I am working hard, doing my best, feeling the spirit, and growing more than I ever thought before.
Oh, other little thoughts. The food for the most part isn't bad. I can't eat the hamburgers (they make me sick), but most everything else seems ok. I sleep well. I love my companions. I love hearing from home (hint, hint ;-) ) and love to teach. I've decided that my companion will either be a philisophical (sp?) genious, or a general authority. I don't know. Oh, and I'm really sorry for making people sick. I also got my companion here sick as well, but he recovered over night.
Mom, could you possibly print off all of the letters I send home so that I have them, and maybe a copy of all that you send to me? Thank you. I will be sending my memory card home next Monday. There are also some videos on the card, so please make sure you get them as well. You may need to go to Tiff's and download it onto her computer and then email it. It has the names of all of my companions so that you can know them all. Life is great!
I love you all so much, and I know I am doing the best thing I possibly could with my life at this time. I am growing so much, and I know it will help me in my life so much. Yet, I am not going out for me. I love the Lord, and I want to be able to share this great message with all of those that haven't been able to hear it. I want them to feel the love and happiness that comes from the gospel. A marvelous work is coming forth amongst the children of men. Everyone
remember the Lord loves you, and knows you all individually. And I love you as well.
Elder Kidd
We were told if we wake up with a fast heart rate and a fever, to run to the hospital. Not quite as bad as some things in Brazil I am sure, but still not fantastic.
So, now that you have had an opportunity to check, was anyone able to watch the devotional or fireside on Sunday or Tuesday? I really enjoy them, especially being able to sings hymns before. It has been a fantastic experience.
For Tiffany, thank you for all of the letters. Let the girls know that I will be sending a letter for you all today. It seems to take two days for anything to get to me, so I am going to guess that it will take two days to get there as well. Also (for everyone) I can only check email and write letters once a week. So, if it takes a little while, that is why.
Life at the MTC is great. I love being able to learn, and my companion is fantastic. One thing that has really hit me recently is the importance of not getting discouraged. I first came with the idea that I would get discouraged, but I would be ok. The last couple of days (mostly yesterday) I have realized that I can't afford to get discouraged. When I get discouraged, I give Satan
power, and my effectiveness will go down. No matter what my circumstances, I will strive to always remain happy. When things don't go so well, I know the Lord will help me the next week. I am His servant, and all I can do is serve Him humbly and faithfully. If I work as hard as I can, the Lord will bless me (and everyone at home ;-) ) and will provide what I need. He may give me trials and test my faith at times, but I know in the end if I live worthy of His blessings, He will provide.
It is hard at the moment to try to remember individual days. Once again I forgot my journal, and all of the days seem to run into one. Just know I am working hard, doing my best, feeling the spirit, and growing more than I ever thought before.
Oh, other little thoughts. The food for the most part isn't bad. I can't eat the hamburgers (they make me sick), but most everything else seems ok. I sleep well. I love my companions. I love hearing from home (hint, hint ;-) ) and love to teach. I've decided that my companion will either be a philisophical (sp?) genious, or a general authority. I don't know. Oh, and I'm really sorry for making people sick. I also got my companion here sick as well, but he recovered over night.
Mom, could you possibly print off all of the letters I send home so that I have them, and maybe a copy of all that you send to me? Thank you. I will be sending my memory card home next Monday. There are also some videos on the card, so please make sure you get them as well. You may need to go to Tiff's and download it onto her computer and then email it. It has the names of all of my companions so that you can know them all. Life is great!
I love you all so much, and I know I am doing the best thing I possibly could with my life at this time. I am growing so much, and I know it will help me in my life so much. Yet, I am not going out for me. I love the Lord, and I want to be able to share this great message with all of those that haven't been able to hear it. I want them to feel the love and happiness that comes from the gospel. A marvelous work is coming forth amongst the children of men. Everyone
remember the Lord loves you, and knows you all individually. And I love you as well.
Elder Kidd
07/30/2008
Aloha everyone! Since I don't have everyone's email yet, I am going to have to have mom and dad forward this to everyone. (Please?) I hope to read all of your weekly emails next Wednesday, and I believe everyone can expect to receive and email from me each Wednesday. I only have thirty minutes (less today because I had to register) so here we go:
First of all, the MTC is amazing. I love the spirit here. It is almost overwhelming. Also, the love that everyone has is remarkable. It is so cool to know that we are all here for a single purpose: to learn the gospel so that we can share it with Heavenly Father's children.
So, last Wednesday. We woke up early as I am sure mom shared with everyone, got ready, drove down to Provo after a last minute round of hand and foot, and life at the MTC began for me. Mom cried, I cried, Dad didn't (not too surprising), we sang Called to Serve first (so mom was simply doomed to be teary eyed the entire time), had a brief message or two, and then we separated.
I continued through everything on the other side, made sure I had my shots, got everything I needed, and proceeded to my room. I met my companion (Elder Adams, who is absolutely amazing) got my luggage, relaxed a little, and got ready for the night. Two more elders arrived (Elder Eteaki, and Elder Shindler, who are also amazing), and we went to our afternoon meetings. It is cool to be able to mingle with all these wonderful Elders (we all are headed to Hawaii, and two Elders in our district right next door.) We all have an incredible love for
each other.
I'm afraid that my pictures will be coming in large chuncks, mostly due to the fact that I will simply be sending my memory card in my camera back home and letting mom send out pictures. I'm afraid you mght have to send several emails mom because there will be quite a few pictures.
It is really difficult to remember everything that has happened this last week. It seems to blend together. I will make sure to have my journal with me next wednesday when I write so I can remember events exactly. It is just amazing to think that I have the prayers of millions helping me in this work. I know I need it, and I know I have felt the blessings of that. Thank you all for
your support.
Most of what I remember is a lot of class time, fairly good food (I learned yesterday to not eat any hamburgers), and wake up early to get into the shower. We prepare, go to class, study, go to class, eat, study, and all the time we try to be completely full of the spirit. I love my district. We have such strong missionaries, and my companion amazes me every single day. He has so many great thoughts. He is from Alaska, so it is a bit of culture shock for him coming here. He says his call to Hawaii proves that God has a sense of humor. I just think that He loves me from my call.
We continue this week to work on the first lesson, but also a lot of realizing when the spirit is directing us, either away from the lesson, or to a different part of it. It is amazing to be teaching and have a thought come to your head that you didn't think of at all before. The Lord really does help missionaries to meet the needs of those they are teaching.
We also do get the chance to go to the referal center (the call center). We went yesterday for the first time, and called people back to make sure they got the items they ordered from the church, and tried to help them feel the spirit so that the missionaries could come by with another item (either a movie, book of mormon, pass along card, or bible). Most of the time we get answering
machines, but I was able to bear my testimony to one lady who was already receiving the missionaries that the Church would greatly bless her life, and encouraged her to continue reading the Book of Mormon, and to pray and listen to the Elders. It was so cool.
One other huge thing, that I am loving so much are the devotionals that we have. Every Sunday at seven we have a fireside, and every tuesday at seven as well we have a devotional. I believe they are all recorded and broadcast, so I would encourage everyone to watch them if they can. I would try the BYU channel, which is 21 for all those with comcast. We have had some amazing
speakers, with amazing messages. We also, last night were able to hear a clip from a message from Elder Holland, who gave an amazing talk. Part of it was that any missionary who asks, isn't there an easier way needs to remember they are not the first to ask that. Christ himself asked that, but he still did the will of the Father. Also, when we are spit upon, scorned, ridiculed, attacked, or anything, we join the ranks of Christ, and we should honor that situation.
I love this gospel so much and am so glad for the opportunity I have to spread the gospel, to help others feel the spirit. I may not be able to spell, but I feel the spirit, and I know that it is true. I love you all so much, and I am so thankful for your support. I hope you all are blessed, and can feel the spirit daily.
Love Elder John Cameron Kidd
p.s. If you can't see my email address, it is john.c.kidd.hhm@myldsmail.net
First of all, the MTC is amazing. I love the spirit here. It is almost overwhelming. Also, the love that everyone has is remarkable. It is so cool to know that we are all here for a single purpose: to learn the gospel so that we can share it with Heavenly Father's children.
So, last Wednesday. We woke up early as I am sure mom shared with everyone, got ready, drove down to Provo after a last minute round of hand and foot, and life at the MTC began for me. Mom cried, I cried, Dad didn't (not too surprising), we sang Called to Serve first (so mom was simply doomed to be teary eyed the entire time), had a brief message or two, and then we separated.
I continued through everything on the other side, made sure I had my shots, got everything I needed, and proceeded to my room. I met my companion (Elder Adams, who is absolutely amazing) got my luggage, relaxed a little, and got ready for the night. Two more elders arrived (Elder Eteaki, and Elder Shindler, who are also amazing), and we went to our afternoon meetings. It is cool to be able to mingle with all these wonderful Elders (we all are headed to Hawaii, and two Elders in our district right next door.) We all have an incredible love for
each other.
I'm afraid that my pictures will be coming in large chuncks, mostly due to the fact that I will simply be sending my memory card in my camera back home and letting mom send out pictures. I'm afraid you mght have to send several emails mom because there will be quite a few pictures.
It is really difficult to remember everything that has happened this last week. It seems to blend together. I will make sure to have my journal with me next wednesday when I write so I can remember events exactly. It is just amazing to think that I have the prayers of millions helping me in this work. I know I need it, and I know I have felt the blessings of that. Thank you all for
your support.
Most of what I remember is a lot of class time, fairly good food (I learned yesterday to not eat any hamburgers), and wake up early to get into the shower. We prepare, go to class, study, go to class, eat, study, and all the time we try to be completely full of the spirit. I love my district. We have such strong missionaries, and my companion amazes me every single day. He has so many great thoughts. He is from Alaska, so it is a bit of culture shock for him coming here. He says his call to Hawaii proves that God has a sense of humor. I just think that He loves me from my call.
We continue this week to work on the first lesson, but also a lot of realizing when the spirit is directing us, either away from the lesson, or to a different part of it. It is amazing to be teaching and have a thought come to your head that you didn't think of at all before. The Lord really does help missionaries to meet the needs of those they are teaching.
We also do get the chance to go to the referal center (the call center). We went yesterday for the first time, and called people back to make sure they got the items they ordered from the church, and tried to help them feel the spirit so that the missionaries could come by with another item (either a movie, book of mormon, pass along card, or bible). Most of the time we get answering
machines, but I was able to bear my testimony to one lady who was already receiving the missionaries that the Church would greatly bless her life, and encouraged her to continue reading the Book of Mormon, and to pray and listen to the Elders. It was so cool.
One other huge thing, that I am loving so much are the devotionals that we have. Every Sunday at seven we have a fireside, and every tuesday at seven as well we have a devotional. I believe they are all recorded and broadcast, so I would encourage everyone to watch them if they can. I would try the BYU channel, which is 21 for all those with comcast. We have had some amazing
speakers, with amazing messages. We also, last night were able to hear a clip from a message from Elder Holland, who gave an amazing talk. Part of it was that any missionary who asks, isn't there an easier way needs to remember they are not the first to ask that. Christ himself asked that, but he still did the will of the Father. Also, when we are spit upon, scorned, ridiculed, attacked, or anything, we join the ranks of Christ, and we should honor that situation.
I love this gospel so much and am so glad for the opportunity I have to spread the gospel, to help others feel the spirit. I may not be able to spell, but I feel the spirit, and I know that it is true. I love you all so much, and I am so thankful for your support. I hope you all are blessed, and can feel the spirit daily.
Love Elder John Cameron Kidd
p.s. If you can't see my email address, it is john.c.kidd.hhm@myldsmail.net
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