These members are amazing

11/3/09 Email Message

Family!,

Wow an email from the new computer - how exciting! Did you lose anything when the old one crashed? I hope not - it had so many pictures and songs it would be sad if we lost all of those. But I hope you have fun with this new one. By the way Dad said something about Windows 7 coming with it - is that the new operating system? Ive never heard of that. Whats it like?

Halloween looks like it was a blast! The pictures were great - everyone looks like they had soo much fun! Where did all the kids come from? I think thats so cool that Kendall had a bunch of school friends come and have a clean fun time. By the way Kendall I got your letters! thanks so much. And I have a question - does that girl you wrote about come to church with you? Do you invite your other friends? Since Ive been on my mission Ive realized how easy it would have been to just invite my friends to church stuff - I never really took advantage of that and I regret it a lot. I think thats so cool that Aly invited her friend and helped her all the way through her conversion - that would be such a great experience for you and your friends to have. Have any of your friends ever met with the missionaries or have you ever talked to the missionaries about your friends? If not you should pull them aside this week at church and tell them you want help with your friends. They can help :-)

But anyways the party looks like it was amazing. I hope you all had fun! Im glad even merritt and rocky got in on the action.

So sad news - our party got cancelled. It was planned for the 29th but thats when Sister allred and Sister Dibb came in and had their big conference so it was a no go for the halloween. But i still got to pass out the candy to all the kids so that was fun at least. But we did have a big ward activity a couple days ago. Its called an imonikai - basically a big potato soup festival. We played softball in the morning (our team squeaked by 19 - 18 in extra innings) then we all walked over to the ward garden and picked cabbage, daikon (japanese radish) potatoes and peppers, then we all sat down and ate an awesome lunch of soup, homemade bread, and smoked meat and cheese prepared by the relief society. It was so fun and so Japanese.

These members are amazing. It was so fun to play with them but also to work next to them in the field and see how hard working and down to earth all of them are. It was a great experience. Ive attached some pictures from the day - notice no matter how Japanese I may feel Im still representin my true colors ;-)

Life is good - although it has gotten cold. It snowed a couple days ago for the first time and Im now back to sleeping with three blankets at night. It will be a happy day when Japan discovers double paned windows and insulation - but until then my big three blankets will have to do. Ill be fine until I have to add the fourth layer - then we are in trouble ;-)

I love you! Im glad you are all having so much fun together. Thanks for sending me all those pictures - and dont be afraid to send more! Talk to you soon!

Much Love,

Elder Brendan Kingsford

Garden Photos

10/28/09 Email Message

Dad,

Happy Early Birthday Dad! I wrote you a letter and packed you a package but I have not had the time to run to the post office and send it off yet. But just know its on its way. Also know that I love you!

The other day I was thinking about all the times you took us trick or treating on your birthday. Im sure there were probably other things you would prefer to do on your birthday than walk around the neighborhood and watch us knock on doors all night. But you still went. I remember once when I was really little you had some kind of meeting to go to (work?) so you couldnt take us out late, but you came home from work and took us out for an hour or so just so we could still go trick or treating. You probably could have just told us you were too busy and we just wouldnt have gone that year. But of course you didnt. Even though you only had a little time that day to yourself you spent it on us so that we could have fun and be happy. And that may seem like something just really small but it meant a lot to my little 7 year old self. And it just represents the kind of Dad I have. You always put our dreams and wishes before your own. And you are always there when we need you. Thanks so much for being a great Dad.

I hope you have a Happy Birthday. I hear Kendall is having a big party this year - and Im guessing you are clean up crew. Well I guess some things never change. Haha just dont let them eat ALL the trash dip. I love you!

Elder Brendan Kingsford

"I know - Jesus makes me happy"

10/27/09 Email Message

Hello!

Wow those pictures are so cute! Asher is one good looking kid. I cant wait to meet him. Is he going to Kendalls party too? Hes sure got a great costume! I hope Kendalls party is as fun as it was last year. Let me know how it goes. Send pictures!

Things are going great here. We are in the middle of Zone Taikai [Conference] week but weve got a day off today because Sister Dibb, Sister Allred, and the area President Elder Stevenson are in town for a fireside and we are shuttling them around all day. But tonight we are back on the road to our last two Zones. Should be fun!

Another fun thing we are doing right now is apartment hunting. I never thought Id be doing business in Japanese but weve been dealing and bargaining with Real Estate agents and apartment owners for the past couple of weeks. Weve got a new senior couple coming to run a special YSA program called Outreach and they arrrive in about two weeks. Weve gotta find the apartment, sign the contract, and set up the furnishings all before they get here. Everything we are doing is brand new to both of us so its pretty exciting.

Also we had a lesson with Someya san today that was awesome. You can just see the change that has come over him. He used to just look a little dark and depressed - his hair was long and greasy, his clothes were grungy, and he didnt really smile much. But since gaining a testimony of Jesus Christ and feeling the power of the words of the scriptures - especially the Book of Mormon - he has just changed so much. Hes happy and smiling, hes got a little bounce in his step, and hes just so happy. It really is amazing to see. We pointed it out to him today and he said "I know - Jesus makes me happy" It was so cool. Im so excited for his baptism in a couple of weeks. Its been such a blessing to meet and teach him. We are so lucky.

So as you can see things are going great. Thanks so much for sending me those pictures - they really brightened my day. Mom you have really gotten good at editing your pictures. I hope you enjoy your new computer and I hope you get time to play around on it. That is such a good gift to have. I hope everyone has a happy halloween! Dont have too much fun ;-) Hope to hear from you soon!

Much Love,

Elder Brendan Kingsford

Life is good!

10/21/09 Email Message

Family,

Sorry I havent written in a while...sometimes we just dont take p-day here because we feel like we just have too much to do. But Dads last email made me realize that Im not prioritizing my time as wisely as I should. Im sorry if Ive made any one feel like I dont care about you because I dont write every week. Ive just been trying to concentrate my efforts on fulfilling my calling as a missionary and helping my investigators and the mission progress. But I realize I still need to keep my family in the loop, so I will make try to write weekly from here to the end of my mission.

So guess what? This week I realized that it is indeed a small world after all. Dad, Im not sure but I seem to remember you telling me a few times when I was little that your mission presidents name meant "cow tail" And if thats true his name was Ushio desho [right]? President Ushio of the Osaka Mission is President Tateokas uncle. Ushio kaichos [president] wifes maiden name is Tateoka - she is Tateoka kaichos aunt. So if I am right your mission President is my mission Presidents uncle. Cool huh?

Also, yesterday I found an email from Bishop Carlson in the mission email inbox yesterday. I didnt know this before, but I found out he actually served in the Sendai Mission. One time when Dad and I went to his house to home teach, he and Dad joked about the kekko [decline] box he had on his front porch. I didnt know what that meant but they seemed to think it was pretty funny and I figured he had also served in Japan but I didnt know where. Apparently he attended church in one of our branches here last week. I thought that was cool. Also he and his family live in Friendswood Texas now - did you know that? Im writing him a letter this week.

Its really cooling off around here now. We are starting to bundle up and preparing for winter dendo once more. Im going to the store today to buy gloves and ear muffs and after that we are going to pick up the first tank of toyu [kerosine] for our heater. Whooh! Fun stuff. Pretty soon Ill be breaking out the winter coat and snow boots and trekking through the snow. Cant wait!

Life is good! One of our investigators is getting baptized on Kimberly's birthday. His name is Someya and he is so cool. The first time we met him we only talked to him for 20 seconds on the street because he was in a hurry but he gave us his number. We called him back, set up an appointment, and on his first lesson he asked us if he could be baptized. He is currently a recovering alcoholic but he says Jesus gives him strength to beat it. Also he has gone from smoking a pack a day to completely quitting in just under a month. He loves the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible - especially when Jesus speaks. I love teaching him because he just feels the spirit so much when we meet. I feel blessed to have been able to find and teach him even with all the other responsibilities I have taking my time away from dendo [proselyting]. We are so blessed!

I love you. I hope everyone has a great week - tell MErritt I said hi! I was sad to hear she is having a hard time with old age - but im glad shes doing better now. Talk to you soon!

Much Love,

Elder Brendan Kingsford

And now I understand

9/29/08 Email Message

Family,

Things are going great here. I am so excited for General Conference. Even though it actually happens this weekend, we wont see it until next weekend because of the crazy time differences. But I am very excited. We are so blessed to be able to devote an entire weekend twice a year to just listening to the voice of prophets and apostles of God. I never really appreciated the importance of general conference before my mission. But now that Ive been a missionary, I see just how amazing this church is and how incredible it is to be led by a living prophet of Heavenly Father. So to say the least Im excited for next weekend.

Lately Elder Kawabata and I have been very blessed. Even though we have less time to dendo [proselyte] than we used to, we are blessed to have many people to teach and share the gospel with. And recently it seems like all of our lessons are about the Spirit and the blessings that come from the gospel. And as Ive taught others about these amazing gifts Ive started to better recognize their importance in my life. I have come to realize that the Holy Ghost is something that I have always taken for granted. But as my understanding has grown, my gratefulness has deepened. I have a new favorite scripture - its 3 Nephi 19:9-15. Its kind of long but I want to share it here because I love it so much:

9 And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.
10 And when they had thus prayed they went down unto the water’s edge, and the multitude followed them.
11 And it came to pass that Nephi went down into the water and was baptized.
12 And he came up out of the water and began to baptize. And he baptized all those whom Jesus had chosen.
13 And it came to pass when they were all baptized and had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon them, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
14 And behold, they were encircled about as if it were by fire; and it came down from heaven, and the multitude did witness it, and did bear record; and angels did come down out of heaven and did minister unto them.
15 And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples, behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.

I have read and shared these verses many times over the past few weeks. Why was the Holy Ghost the disciples' greatest desire? I never really understood what the disciples felt until I became a missionary. But the experiences Ive had over the last year and a little have helped me understand - I have seen that all that is good comes through the Holy Ghost. Every thing that is good in our lives is enhanced by the Spirit. I have been so happy recently because I have been blessed with wonderful spiritual experiences. At times I feel like I am "filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire". And in the midst of that fire I have felt Jesus minister unto me and my investigators. And now I understand.

I love you! Thanks for always being there for me. You are the best!

Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford

With all of that proof how could she doubt?

9/10/09 Email Message

Family,

Hows it going?! Sorry last weeks email was so lame. We were just sooo busy last week. With new missionaries coming in, old missionaries going out, and missionaries transferring around, it was a miracle we even found time to sleep. It was hectic, but I guess thats what makes life fun. But for now Im glad Ive got time to sit down and write - then its back to running around ;-)

Its great to hear all the news about the cousins. Thats so cool that Bobby got sealed in the temple! Im happy for him and his wife. And Jack, Norman, and David are all living in Utah now? That is so cool. Im excited to to hang out with them when I get back. Hopefully they will all still be there. You know we never really got much of a chance to hang out when we were young, but I think it would be a great blessing to be friends now that we are older.

Sounds like the musical will be fun this year! Im glad the kids in our ward let at least a few of their school friends in on the fun - sounds like it will be a great dendo [missionary] activity ;-) Is mom planning on helping out? Should I even ask? Its too bad Kendall didnt get the part she wanted, but Im sure she will have a blast as choreographer. Good luck!

Things are going good here. Like I said, we are super busy right now but having a blast. The Nagamachi ward is incredible. Good things are happening all around us - I am so blessed to be here right now. Lately Ive had some special experiences that have really given me a better understanding of how much God loves His children. Last week was really special. Ayumi chan, a 16 year old girl that we have all been working with got baptized. And her baptism was the most spiritual baptism Ive been to on my mission. Her mom and sister who are both recent converts themselves were there too. After she was baptized she stood at the pulpit and bore her little sweet testimony about Jesus Christ. She said she loves Jesus because He loves her. She said she knows the gospel is true because it makes her happy. When she prays good things happen. When she obeys the word of wisdom she feels good. When she reads her scriptures she feels comforted. When she comes to church she feels love. With all of that proof how could she doubt? Then she said amen and sat down.

Her testimony really made me think. It was so simple but also so powerful. There is no need to argue, or debate, or worry, or reason your way into a testimony. This gospel is true because it is. And anyone can experience it for themselves. You can know it just by living it. Ayumi chan helped me really understand how I know for myself. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior because Ive felt His love. I know the commandments are from God because they keep me safe. I know the Bible and the Book of Mormon are Gods word because Ive read them. I know the Church has been restored today and that it is lead by a prophet of God because Ive heard him speak. And I know God answers my prayers because Ive prayed and He has answered them. It really is just that simple. I am so grateful for this chance to be here and learn so much. I am so grateful for the people that have touched my life here in Japan. I am especially grateful for Ayumi chan for teaching me about my testimony. I just feel so loved by the Lord. I love you! I hope you are all happy! Talk to you soon.

Much Love,

Elder Brendan Kingsford