8/3/09 Email Message to Kendall
hello kendall!
school already huh? crazy. what grade are you in again...6th? 7th? no wait 10?!!! huh? how did that happen!&%! i remember when you were getting ready for your first day of kindergarten. we went to elementary school together. can you believe that! and every time i'd walk past the kindergarten section i'd stop and take a peek to see if i could see my little sister. how did you make it to high school so quickly?
your schedule looks so fun. who are your teachers? i'm glad you are taking a lot of honors classes. you will be happier there. and next year take as many APs as you can. you will enjoy yourself most there. also this year do all you can to make all A's. people may tell you its ok to make B's but they are wrong. dont sell yourself short. also make sure you find some cool clubs to join and don't be afraid to take leadership positions. that's where all the fun is anyway. don't be afraid of doing too much - do as much as you can. do it all. work hard and have fun. and remember you have to prepare to be a hinckley scholar. that's all i ask ;-)
you got to see Tyler [cousin] play baseball? no fair. i wanna see him too. did he play? what position? and kimberly's apartment sounds fun. i'm glad they live so close so that you can see them a lot. isn't family fun? and that is so cool that stephanie came to girls camp and was able to strengthen her testimony. i love that she has learned to recognize the spirit. does she still come to other church activities? tell her i said hey! also tell her i said she needs to get baptized...oops thats the missionary coming out ;-)
so since i came to the honbu [mission home], i've been listening to a lot of music. we have soooo many church cds. but i think i've found a favorite. its an efy cd. the theme is Stand in the Light. I'm not sure what year its from but it may be 2008 or 2007...pretty recent i'm sure. anyway, i think you would love it. it would be a great sunday cd. i like track 1, 4 and 5 especially. 4 reminds me of you. i recomend it.
i love you! you are the best little sister i could ask for. thanks for being so cool. keep makin' me proud!
Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Now the mission is on fire
7/27/09 Email Message
Dad,
I can't believe I'm here either. When Kaicho [my mission president] called me last week I was shocked. When he told me I was going to be AP, I didn't say anything for a few moments and he laughed and asked if I was alright. Well I don't know if I can answer that question even now. I guess we will see how it goes over the next few months here. And to answer your question, it's been about half and half since I've been here. Half of the APs have died [finished their missions]as APs and the other half have either gone trainer or ZL for their last 1 or 2 transfers. I don't know what will happen with me though. The youngest AP before me was on his 11th transfer. I'm only on my 9th. At this point I'm not really sure what Kaicho wants me to do in the future. We'll see...
I'm glad you got the package I sent you. It was way over due, so I'm sorry about that. But I'm glad you enjoyed it. Isn't that flag awesome? And you want to know something cool? One of our Eikaiwa [english class] students went to Osaka to visit her daughter and before she left I asked her to bring something back for my dad. So she brought that flag back for me. So that flag is actually from your mission. Cool huh? I thought it was beautiful. I'm glad you liked it.
So this last week was a very new experience. Apart from transferring to the honbu [mission home], I also got my first Nihonjin [japanese] companion. His name is Takami choro and he is from Gifu ken in the Nagoya mission. He's way cool and so hilarious. He makes the funiest sounds all the time and he's a great cook. He pretty much cooks every meal for all of us four in the honbu. And thats another weird thing. I now live with three other Elders instead of just one. The other two are my former Zone Leaders - Oswald choro (from Idaho) and Kawabata choro (from Fukuoka). We speak so much Japanese all the time. Which is awesome because that means I've learned soo much in just a few days. In that regard I'm way excited for this opportunity to work closely with two Nihonjins. I'm expected to be an interpreter for the honbu so I'm going to need all the help I can get. My new ward is awesome too. It's called Nagamachi and it is the biggest ward in the mission. About 120 people come every week. I was pretty much shocked when I walked into church on Sunday. I'm excited to work with the members here.
There are so many good things going on around the mission right now. Recently Tateoka Kaicho challenged us to start committing our investigators to baptism on the first or second lesson. Since that time our baptisms have gone from the lowest in Japan to the highest. In a little over a month we have seen our baptisms and baptism dates triple. And they arent slowing down. When I first came to the mission missionaries saw baptism as some rare miracle that only happened every once in a while. But now we are seeing miracles happen left and right. Tateoka Kaicho has really shaken things up. Before he came the mission was really kind of stale and sloppy. He's brought a lot of changes and really energized everyone. He has really inspired us to be bold and energetic. Now the mission is on fire. Members are excited, missionaries are filled with entusiasm, and best of all those we are teaching are feeling the power of the Spirit like never before. Each and everyday we are going out with power from the Lord and inviting people to come unto Christ. Its really something incredible to be a part of. Its awesome! I am so happy to be here right now. Im really happy for this chance to work so closely with Kaicho and learn as much as I can from him and the other missionaries. I think these next few months will be soo much fun. I cant wait!
I miss you and i love you. Hope to hear from you soon!
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Dad,
I can't believe I'm here either. When Kaicho [my mission president] called me last week I was shocked. When he told me I was going to be AP, I didn't say anything for a few moments and he laughed and asked if I was alright. Well I don't know if I can answer that question even now. I guess we will see how it goes over the next few months here. And to answer your question, it's been about half and half since I've been here. Half of the APs have died [finished their missions]as APs and the other half have either gone trainer or ZL for their last 1 or 2 transfers. I don't know what will happen with me though. The youngest AP before me was on his 11th transfer. I'm only on my 9th. At this point I'm not really sure what Kaicho wants me to do in the future. We'll see...
I'm glad you got the package I sent you. It was way over due, so I'm sorry about that. But I'm glad you enjoyed it. Isn't that flag awesome? And you want to know something cool? One of our Eikaiwa [english class] students went to Osaka to visit her daughter and before she left I asked her to bring something back for my dad. So she brought that flag back for me. So that flag is actually from your mission. Cool huh? I thought it was beautiful. I'm glad you liked it.
So this last week was a very new experience. Apart from transferring to the honbu [mission home], I also got my first Nihonjin [japanese] companion. His name is Takami choro and he is from Gifu ken in the Nagoya mission. He's way cool and so hilarious. He makes the funiest sounds all the time and he's a great cook. He pretty much cooks every meal for all of us four in the honbu. And thats another weird thing. I now live with three other Elders instead of just one. The other two are my former Zone Leaders - Oswald choro (from Idaho) and Kawabata choro (from Fukuoka). We speak so much Japanese all the time. Which is awesome because that means I've learned soo much in just a few days. In that regard I'm way excited for this opportunity to work closely with two Nihonjins. I'm expected to be an interpreter for the honbu so I'm going to need all the help I can get. My new ward is awesome too. It's called Nagamachi and it is the biggest ward in the mission. About 120 people come every week. I was pretty much shocked when I walked into church on Sunday. I'm excited to work with the members here.
There are so many good things going on around the mission right now. Recently Tateoka Kaicho challenged us to start committing our investigators to baptism on the first or second lesson. Since that time our baptisms have gone from the lowest in Japan to the highest. In a little over a month we have seen our baptisms and baptism dates triple. And they arent slowing down. When I first came to the mission missionaries saw baptism as some rare miracle that only happened every once in a while. But now we are seeing miracles happen left and right. Tateoka Kaicho has really shaken things up. Before he came the mission was really kind of stale and sloppy. He's brought a lot of changes and really energized everyone. He has really inspired us to be bold and energetic. Now the mission is on fire. Members are excited, missionaries are filled with entusiasm, and best of all those we are teaching are feeling the power of the Spirit like never before. Each and everyday we are going out with power from the Lord and inviting people to come unto Christ. Its really something incredible to be a part of. Its awesome! I am so happy to be here right now. Im really happy for this chance to work so closely with Kaicho and learn as much as I can from him and the other missionaries. I think these next few months will be soo much fun. I cant wait!
I miss you and i love you. Hope to hear from you soon!
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
I'm doing good (besides being sick to my stomach)
7/21/09 Email Message
Mom -
Im sorry i dont have much time. but the good news is i will have email next week. President called me today and told me I am transfering into the mission home. Hes asked me to be the new assistant. I feel sick. I dont know if Im ready for this so soon. Please pray for me. I wish I could write more and talk to you face to face to get some help, but this is all I have time for. I love you! Im doing good (besides being sick to my stomach) Tell everyone I said hi! From now on youll be hearing more from me, because I will have more time to email. I love you lots!
Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Mom -
Im sorry i dont have much time. but the good news is i will have email next week. President called me today and told me I am transfering into the mission home. Hes asked me to be the new assistant. I feel sick. I dont know if Im ready for this so soon. Please pray for me. I wish I could write more and talk to you face to face to get some help, but this is all I have time for. I love you! Im doing good (besides being sick to my stomach) Tell everyone I said hi! From now on youll be hearing more from me, because I will have more time to email. I love you lots!
Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The senior who goes senior, district leader, trainer all in the same transfer blessing
5/4/09 Email Message
Things are going good here. i wrote a letter last week, but things got crazy and i wasnt able to send it. and now its a holiday and i cant use the post office until thursday. but ill send it as soon as i can! but as of last week's transfer calls life has become insane. kaicho called me last week and told me i was going to go senior...and district leader at the same time...and trainer too! what!? i thought it was a joke.
im only 7th transfer, ive never heard of anyone going trainer this young in this mission. i still feel like i need my own trainer. but its ok. my new bean (new missionary) is cool. Hes from New Zealand and hes scared to death. but he will be alright. its so weird to be trainer. all of a sudden im supposed to know everything and do it all and at the same time teach someone how to do it too. but its okay - as long as I pray alot, try my best, and act like i know what im doing the lord provides the rest.
ever since i was a bean ive heard talk of the "the senior blessing" that you get when you go senior. the theory is that the Lord gives you everything you need to fulfill your calling. therefore, when you go senior the Lord increases your ability to speak, understand, work, and receive revelation. ive been waiting for that blessing for what feels like my entire life. but in this last week, ive needed something even greater. I needed "the senior who goes senior, district leader, trainer all in the same transfer while also only being a 7th transfer missionary in Japan blessing". and the funny thing is on the first full day with my new responsibilities, I got it. I took my bean dendoing [proselyting] for the first time in his life (he was scared stiff). We housed for 4 hours and it was probably the most effective 4 hours of my mission. We found 3 new investigators, 4 potential investigators, taught tons of lessons, and met some incredible people. And the most amazing thing about the whole experience was it was the first time on my mission that ive understood everything everyone said. I was never at a loss for words and i just seemed to know exactly what to say to everyone. it was an incredible feeling. i almost couldnt believe it was true.
Isnt God amazing?!
I gotta run now. ill talk to you on Sunday! I love you all soo much. talk to you soon!
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Things are going good here. i wrote a letter last week, but things got crazy and i wasnt able to send it. and now its a holiday and i cant use the post office until thursday. but ill send it as soon as i can! but as of last week's transfer calls life has become insane. kaicho called me last week and told me i was going to go senior...and district leader at the same time...and trainer too! what!? i thought it was a joke.
im only 7th transfer, ive never heard of anyone going trainer this young in this mission. i still feel like i need my own trainer. but its ok. my new bean (new missionary) is cool. Hes from New Zealand and hes scared to death. but he will be alright. its so weird to be trainer. all of a sudden im supposed to know everything and do it all and at the same time teach someone how to do it too. but its okay - as long as I pray alot, try my best, and act like i know what im doing the lord provides the rest.
ever since i was a bean ive heard talk of the "the senior blessing" that you get when you go senior. the theory is that the Lord gives you everything you need to fulfill your calling. therefore, when you go senior the Lord increases your ability to speak, understand, work, and receive revelation. ive been waiting for that blessing for what feels like my entire life. but in this last week, ive needed something even greater. I needed "the senior who goes senior, district leader, trainer all in the same transfer while also only being a 7th transfer missionary in Japan blessing". and the funny thing is on the first full day with my new responsibilities, I got it. I took my bean dendoing [proselyting] for the first time in his life (he was scared stiff). We housed for 4 hours and it was probably the most effective 4 hours of my mission. We found 3 new investigators, 4 potential investigators, taught tons of lessons, and met some incredible people. And the most amazing thing about the whole experience was it was the first time on my mission that ive understood everything everyone said. I was never at a loss for words and i just seemed to know exactly what to say to everyone. it was an incredible feeling. i almost couldnt believe it was true.
Isnt God amazing?!
I gotta run now. ill talk to you on Sunday! I love you all soo much. talk to you soon!
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
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