Layman's terms

Hellllloooooooo!

Wow, you did have a busy week! THANK YOU sooooooooo much for getting my transcripts sent! That was the last part of the application process that I needed to complete. Now we'll have to wait and see what happens. It's so weird to think about "real life" and going back to school. It's becoming reality that I'm coming home soon.Maile's birthday looked like a lot of fun! Katrina's brave! haha Give Maile a big hug for me!

Mom, I am so excited that you go out with the missionaries! That's the thing Im most excited about doing when I get home, member missionary work. Your new calling is exciting too! Although, Im not quite sure what the third new member lesson is that you mentioned? Im guessing you mean the third lesson (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) re-taught to the new members? Well, I know you two will do great. Study chapter three and chapter ten in Preach My Gospel. It will help you teach. Also, every day my comp and I role play with each other. You feel silly sometimes, but it really helps! So Mom and Dad, one of you pretend to be the investigator and the other practice teaching... then switch. Try it! I promise you'll learn a ton! Have the missionaries talk to you more about role playing and the how to begin teaching points and practice with them too!

 

Yesterday I spoke in Church. I spoke on Preach My Gospel from my perspective as a missionary on how it can best be utilized by members. I think it went well. I talked about how PMG teaches the "what" and "how" of missionary work. The what= the doctrine. All that we teach investigators and members comes from Ch. 3. (five lessons) The Restoration, the Plan of Salvation, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Commandments, and Laws and Ordinances. My mission President always says, "True doctrine understood changes behavior faster than the study of behavior changes behavior." So the doctine (combined with the Spirit) is what changes lives. The "how" of missionary work come from the other chapters. When members study Preach, they are better able not only to become better missionaries but they're also better able to teach the gospel to their families. The most important missionary work is that which we do within the walls of our own home.  

Here's a funny story from this week. We had dinner at a members' home, Brother and Sister Rabe. We were talking, over dinner, about a recent convert in the ward (Ted) who wrote down every verse in the Book of Mormon in his notebook. He wrote it in his own words so he could "understand" it better. Yeah he's a little out there. Anyways, I knew Ted from when I was in the Kirtland ward at the beginning of my mission. Sister Stewart, however, was hearing this story for the first time. As I was explaining Ted's translation, I said, "He basically wrote the Book of Mormon in layman's terms." To which she relpied (with a puzzled look on her face), " Oh, from Laman's point of view?" The Rabes and I laughed so hard! I guess it's not that funny without being there, but we were crying because we were laughing so hard!

 

In sadder news, we have just one investigator. The rest have dropped us. Skip is our one investigator who's been taught for years. He's 84 years old. He says things like this, "I pray to God if there is one, to save my soul if I have one." So, he probably wont be getting baptized any time soon. Not having anyone to teach is super hard. Especially when I feel that all eyes are on us. But all we can do is our best, people have agency. This week we'll be hitting the pavement hard to find some new people.

 

In better news, I love the Edmans! I was so afraid when the Butterfields left, but Elder and Sister Edman are great! They're differrent from the Butterfields in little ways, but they also bring a special spirit to Kirtland. Sister Stewart and I have been trying to help them get the hang of things. They're awesome and I know only good things are to come from their service here.

 

Well, I better get going. We have a zone p-day today. We're having a costume/cooking competition. Guess who's idea that was....the Elders. haha. We tried to talk them out of the costume idea, but they had their little hearts set on it. I'll take pictures...this should be interesting. All the Sisters in my house are going as pass along cards haha!

I love you all and Im so grateful for all your support! Have a fantastic week!

 

Love

Sister Kingston

- Show quoted text -

The Butterfields left!

Hello Everyone!

 

Thanks Mom for getting back to me about the reunion! I will for sure make it! I'm still trying to figure out how Im going to afford Hawaii? Could you have Cosa or Katrina look up flights for me? If you know of anyone who can help a poor sister missionary let me know! haha

Mom, I'm so happy to hear that youre helping the missionaries! You dont know how hard it is (at least out here) to find willing members to help teach and give rides to investigators. Im proud of you :) Dad sounds like you have your hands full. Good luck! Im glad the farewell was a good experience!

 

This week was another slow one. Sister Stewart was sick, so we had to stay in a couple days. Here's some exciting news...our area is on fire! LITERALLY! We got a call from our ward mission leader this morning telling us that Fairport Harbor is being evacuated. I guess there was a gas leak and some of the houses caught on fire. The fire fighters still havent located the leak, so theyre evacuating the city. Sister Stewart and I are hoping that we'll have opportunities to provide service there a little later this week. Disasters are opportunities to find because people are humble. So sad yet so true.

 

Speaking of sad, the Butterfields have officially left :(  My heart broke a little when I had to say goodbye. Saturday morning Elder Butterfield had to finish some paper work before hitting the road. He told Sister Stewart and me to come into his office, close the doors, and take a seat. He then talked about the Edmans and how they would be great and how it was their time to leave. Sister Stewart and I, and Sister Butterfield, all started to cry at that point. Sister Butterfield told us how much she loves us and appreciates all we do. We talked for about 20 minutes and then it was time for the real thing. We had a tour to get to and they had to hit the road. Elder Butterfield stands up and tells Sister Butterfield to give us our hugs. Man, I'm almost tearing up now just thinking about it. I hate goodbyes! I sobbed as she gave me a hug and told me she loved me. I then turned to Elder B and extended my hand. He shook my hand (at this point I couldnt say anything because I was crying so hard) and then said, "Next time I see ya, Im gonna give ya a hug." That made me feel a little better. After saying goodbye, we went down to take our tour. I had two minutes to get it together. You know me, once I start it's hard to stop. The Lord blessed me though I was able to stop crying just before going on tour. My eyes were still blood shot and Im sure they were wondering what was wrong with me haha. The tour was half of the BYU gymnastics team...they were here for a competition. It was a good tour.

Anyways, the Edmans will be great. We took them on tour with the Butterfields the day they arrived. They are sweet. We have our first official meeting with them today. I miss the Butterfields, but change is good. The Butterfields are amazing, and words cant even describe the impact they've had on my life. They called us yesterday! They had only been traveling for a day and they already got 3 referrals! They're taking the back roads so they can meet as many people as possible! They truely are amazing!

 

Well, I have to get going. I love you all! Here's your assignment for the week...go to mormon.org and make a profile! The brethren have advised us missionaries to use mormon.orgmore. Theyre encouraging us and members every

where to make profiles. There's an article about it in this months Ensign!

This gospel is true!!!!

 

Love,

Sister Kingston

Another Kirtland Christmas

Hi Family!

 So I know we just talked the other day, but for some reason I was still expecting an e-mail :(

It was fun to see all of you! It felt like I was really there sitting and talking face to face.

Thanks again for all of the Christmas gifts!! Christmas in Kirtland is the BEST! Im so blessed

to be able to have two of them!

Christmas Eve was pretty fun. We had a dinner with all of the Sisters and senior couples at sites.

Then we went Christmas caroling. The Sisters split into 2 groups to go caroling. We had about

12 missionaries in our group.We caroled to less active members and investigators in the area.

One woman inparticular was really touched. Her husband died a year ago (christmas eve) and she's

not very old (she still has kids at home). She started to cry as we sang to her, and we all felt the Spirit

so strong! Our Zone Leaders caroled in their area with the other group of Sisters and they did something pretty cool. All the missionaries in that group split up and knocked on doors in Shaker Heights (near Cleveland). They told those who

opened the door to come out and join them. So here were all these people in the street singing Christmas

hymns together! The Elders went around and introduced themselves to the people and now they have some

potential investigators. Cool huh?! They come up with ideas like that all the time! After caroling we went back to our house and opened the presents we got from the senior couples. They put a gift bag together for us and every senior couple puts something

in the bag. We are spoiled! My favorites came from the Daltons. Sister Dalton made all of us headbands, and Elder Dalton wrote us a poem. I'll have to send it next week...it made us all cry. After we opened our gift bags, we said a prayer as a house. There were about ten of us. As head of the household (since Im the oldest haha) I asked Sister Wattles to give the prayer. She always says such heart felt prayers. As we knelt there together I couldnt help but feel of the love that our Savior has for all of us. Once again we all had tears in our eyes as we felt deep gratitude for this sacred opportunity to serve here in this place at this time. Im truly blessed!

 

Christmas morning was fun! We woke up at 6:30 am and opened all of our presents. Then we took turns calling our parents, waking them up, and everyone yelling Merry Christmas over the phone! Brunch was awesome, except that I gained five pounds in one sitting haha. The pj's were a hit Mom! After I talked to all of you we went to the church and played volley ball and some other games with

our zone. After that we went to our member dinner at the Packers, which was kind of strange because I was there last year

for Christmas dinner too! I have come full circle! We had fun at there house! There daughter Trisha got home from her

mission in the summer (Temple Square) and she's so funny! She makes us feel like normal people because she knows

what it's like to be us! After dinner Sister Stewart got to skype her family. While she was doing that James called me!

We only got to talk for a little bit though :( We got disconnected or something? I told him about us flying home together though

and he's super excited!

Well, that's about it. How was the rest of your Christmas? I hope you all had a great time! I love you all so very much!

Have a great week and HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! The gospel is true!

 

Love Sister Kingston

 

p.s. Mom, Im making "Happy Winter" cards since Im a little late to send out Christmas cards haha.

I was wondering if you could snail mail me addresses for your brothers and sisters and dad's as well? Oh

and Cosas new address too! Thanks!

 

p.p.s If you havent already, you NEED to look up that video on youtube!

Search for "the Storey of Jonah" and it should come up ;)