5/24/10 Email Message
Family,
I just want to start with a note to Kendall. I feel your pain! Stick shift is not fun. When I started learning, I spent the first few weeks avoiding hills at all costs. I would leave seminary early and take the long way to school all the way through heavy traffic down madison pike because the hill on eastview just about gave me nightmares. I swear I could just hear everyone behind me in traffic laughing at me as I grinded gears, stalled out, and rolled backward 10 feet every time I tried to start. I came to loathe stop signs and red lights because that meant I had to go back to the dreaded 1st gear. Why wouldnt dad just let me drive an automatic?! I hated the stupid stick shift. And then something amazing happened. Mom finally deemed it safe enough to take me out and show me how to use it. And then it clicked. And now I am so glad I know how to drive a manual because I have been in tons of situations where it was the only option I had. It has made life easier. And plus its cool. So just keep practicing and try to convince mom its safe enough for her to take you out ;-) (and whatever you do, avoid eastview at all costs!)
Life is going pretty good over here. Today is May 24 which means exactly one month until the last day in the field. Im not really sure what to think of that so I am really just trying not to think of it. However, I do have to send home some stuff soon. (I dont know how much its going to cost. How does 200 dollars sound for shipping and a new suitcase?)
But other than that its life as usual for us here in Hachinohe. I had a really cool experience on the street last night. It was late at night and we were about to go home when I stopped a man and we started to talk. He seemed pretty interested and as we were talking he asked me a question. He said "What do you think mans greatest desire is?" Ive actually never heard a Japanese person ask me a question like that before so I was pretty impressed. And as I thought about it the Spirit gave me an answer that impressed me even more. I felt inspired to say "What man most desires is a relationship with God. He may not even recognize it himself, but every person is looking for God. And we can show you how to find Him" And then Hiro san and I just stood there for a few moments and felt the spirit speak to our hearts. He said motioned to his heart and said "I think you are right. I feel it right here. How can I find Him?" Hes coming to our Book of Mormon class tonight and our Bible class on Wednesday.
I think thats what I will miss the most. The opportunity to bear my testimony every day in spontaneous moments like that. When will i get another chance to walk up to strangers and bear my testimony of the gospel? It sounds a little weird i know, but i love talking to strangers about religion and about my faith. They need Jesus as much as I do. And I love when we feel the spirit together like I did with Hiro san last night. I hope to have many experiences like that over this last month.
I love you! Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. Dad dont get in anymore wrecks!
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
395
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
5/22/10 Email Message from Todd Ogaard
Dear Parents of Elder Kingsford:
I had the privilege of taking your son and his companion, Elder
Kawahara, to lunch today in Hachinohe. I served in the Sendai Mission
35 years ago, including in Hachinohe, and was in the area visiting
some old friends. You must be very proud of your son - he impressed me
in a profound way and I am also proud, as a Sendai RM, to have him
serving here, if only for 5 or 6 more weeks. I thought you might
enjoy seeing the attached pictures.
Kindest regards,
--
Todd Ogaard
Dear Parents of Elder Kingsford:
I had the privilege of taking your son and his companion, Elder
Kawahara, to lunch today in Hachinohe. I served in the Sendai Mission
35 years ago, including in Hachinohe, and was in the area visiting
some old friends. You must be very proud of your son - he impressed me
in a profound way and I am also proud, as a Sendai RM, to have him
serving here, if only for 5 or 6 more weeks. I thought you might
enjoy seeing the attached pictures.
Kindest regards,
--
Todd Ogaard
Monday, April 26, 2010
Who knew flowers could be so exciting?!
4/26/10 Email Message
Family,
Hey! First of all - Dad great joke. Thats one of the better ones Ive heard in a while. Its nice to actually be able to laugh at a joke for real. I dont know how it was for you but Japanese humor just doesnt do it for me. Half of the time I dont understand what they are saying and the other half I just dont think its funny. So its nice to hear a good joke every once in a while ;-)
Things are going great here. We had two baptisms last week. The branch is overjoyed. Everyone says they havent seen this much success in years. The Lord is pouring out His blessings on Hachinohe. Im so glad to be here for the end of my mission. I cant imagine a better place.
The cherry blossoms should be in bloom right now, but they refuse to come out until it warms up. The problem is winter just doesnt seem to want to go away. Last Friday it was raining and so cold that I was dendoing in full winter gear - wool socks, thermals, sweater, and ski jacket. So needless to say the cherry blossoms are still biding their time. Right now that seems to be the biggest news in Japan. Everyone is excitedly waiting for the first blooms to show. Anjiki kyoudai gets up early every morning, walks to the park, checks the trees, and calls us to give us an update. Who knew flowers could be so exciting?!
But hey Mothers day is in a couple weeks so you know what that means - one more call home. But when do you want to do it? Let me know so we can plan around it.
I love you! I hope everyone has a great week. Talk to you soon!
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
247
Family,
Hey! First of all - Dad great joke. Thats one of the better ones Ive heard in a while. Its nice to actually be able to laugh at a joke for real. I dont know how it was for you but Japanese humor just doesnt do it for me. Half of the time I dont understand what they are saying and the other half I just dont think its funny. So its nice to hear a good joke every once in a while ;-)
Things are going great here. We had two baptisms last week. The branch is overjoyed. Everyone says they havent seen this much success in years. The Lord is pouring out His blessings on Hachinohe. Im so glad to be here for the end of my mission. I cant imagine a better place.
The cherry blossoms should be in bloom right now, but they refuse to come out until it warms up. The problem is winter just doesnt seem to want to go away. Last Friday it was raining and so cold that I was dendoing in full winter gear - wool socks, thermals, sweater, and ski jacket. So needless to say the cherry blossoms are still biding their time. Right now that seems to be the biggest news in Japan. Everyone is excitedly waiting for the first blooms to show. Anjiki kyoudai gets up early every morning, walks to the park, checks the trees, and calls us to give us an update. Who knew flowers could be so exciting?!
But hey Mothers day is in a couple weeks so you know what that means - one more call home. But when do you want to do it? Let me know so we can plan around it.
I love you! I hope everyone has a great week. Talk to you soon!
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
247
Monday, April 19, 2010
We need to baptize EVERYONE
4/19/10 Email Message
Family,
Hows it going? Are you still sore dad? 10 hours of ditch digging and pipe laying all by yourself?! おつかれさまです！Just make sure you leave me something to do this summer! But it sounds like those will be some major improvements for the yard.
Im glad the yard is looking good - but Im almost positive that grass is cursed. We have hand weeded, fertilized, watered, and babied that lawn for years...and nothing to show for it. I dont think even a lawn service can save it. We should just rip it all out and start over...or just put in a really big pool.
And thanks for the pictures Mom! Asher got an entire cake to himself?! Wow times have changed...
Although I dont have any cake to smash all over myself (nice one Asher!) life over here in the islands of the sea is going great. Wang shimai got baptized on Saturday and she asked me to baptize her. It was a fantastic service. She is so amazing and so unbelievably faithful. After she got baptized she bore her testimony about how this just feels right. She said she could really feel that her life has changed and that she has been reborn through the power of the gospel.
It has been such a treat to teach her about Christ and teach her of the love that her Heavenly Father has for her. Because she is Chinese, she is so different from all the Japanese people I have taught. She is much more upfront and outspoken. And her sense of humor and personality is so funny because it is soooo different from everyone else around us. Sometimes she says things that make me burst out laughing simply because it is so taboo in Japanese culture. And the members love her because she has a gift for making everyone around her loosen up and be more genki. She beams with the light of Christ.
We also have another baptism this Thursday for Imoto san (the guy that came to our window and told us he wanted to "do our religion"). He has asked Anjiki kyoudai to baptize him.
(Quick not on Anjiki kyoudai. He is the most amazing recent convert most likely in the entire world. He is the kind of person missionaries dream of meeting and the very person I have spent hours over the course of my mission praying to find. I cant even describe how incredible he is. He is the kind of person that will change the history of the church here in Tohoku. He will be a force that blesses peoples lives and will strengthen the church in ways that we as missionaries could never do. He can and does do literally anything to serve the Lord. He is the kind of person that General Authorities tell stories about in general conference or that they write articles about in the Ensign. I cannot express my gratitude for the oppurtunity to find, teach, and baptize Anjiki kyoudai)
Anyways Anjiki kyoudai went and bought white pants instead of just borrowing some from us because in his words "I dont intend for this to be a one time experience. We need to baptize EVERYONE."
So life is going pretty good right now. Oh and my companion and I found something we have in common. We both like to run. We found a good route and we have gotten up early the past few mornings to put in some miles with the old running shoes. Apparently he used to run long distance track in high school. So thats been pretty fun to do. I felt pretty good about myself too because Ive actually been able to keep up with him the whole time.
I love you! Thanks for writing me so much and sending me such good pictures. It helps a lot. Talk to you soon!
Much love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Family,
Hows it going? Are you still sore dad? 10 hours of ditch digging and pipe laying all by yourself?! おつかれさまです！Just make sure you leave me something to do this summer! But it sounds like those will be some major improvements for the yard.
Im glad the yard is looking good - but Im almost positive that grass is cursed. We have hand weeded, fertilized, watered, and babied that lawn for years...and nothing to show for it. I dont think even a lawn service can save it. We should just rip it all out and start over...or just put in a really big pool.
And thanks for the pictures Mom! Asher got an entire cake to himself?! Wow times have changed...
Although I dont have any cake to smash all over myself (nice one Asher!) life over here in the islands of the sea is going great. Wang shimai got baptized on Saturday and she asked me to baptize her. It was a fantastic service. She is so amazing and so unbelievably faithful. After she got baptized she bore her testimony about how this just feels right. She said she could really feel that her life has changed and that she has been reborn through the power of the gospel.
It has been such a treat to teach her about Christ and teach her of the love that her Heavenly Father has for her. Because she is Chinese, she is so different from all the Japanese people I have taught. She is much more upfront and outspoken. And her sense of humor and personality is so funny because it is soooo different from everyone else around us. Sometimes she says things that make me burst out laughing simply because it is so taboo in Japanese culture. And the members love her because she has a gift for making everyone around her loosen up and be more genki. She beams with the light of Christ.
We also have another baptism this Thursday for Imoto san (the guy that came to our window and told us he wanted to "do our religion"). He has asked Anjiki kyoudai to baptize him.
(Quick not on Anjiki kyoudai. He is the most amazing recent convert most likely in the entire world. He is the kind of person missionaries dream of meeting and the very person I have spent hours over the course of my mission praying to find. I cant even describe how incredible he is. He is the kind of person that will change the history of the church here in Tohoku. He will be a force that blesses peoples lives and will strengthen the church in ways that we as missionaries could never do. He can and does do literally anything to serve the Lord. He is the kind of person that General Authorities tell stories about in general conference or that they write articles about in the Ensign. I cannot express my gratitude for the oppurtunity to find, teach, and baptize Anjiki kyoudai)
Anyways Anjiki kyoudai went and bought white pants instead of just borrowing some from us because in his words "I dont intend for this to be a one time experience. We need to baptize EVERYONE."
So life is going pretty good right now. Oh and my companion and I found something we have in common. We both like to run. We found a good route and we have gotten up early the past few mornings to put in some miles with the old running shoes. Apparently he used to run long distance track in high school. So thats been pretty fun to do. I felt pretty good about myself too because Ive actually been able to keep up with him the whole time.
I love you! Thanks for writing me so much and sending me such good pictures. It helps a lot. Talk to you soon!
Much love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The special aura that they had
4/11/10 Email Message
Family,
こんにちは！How is everybody? How was ashers b-day party? Did you save me some cake?
Things are going great here. We have two baptisms coming up in the next two weeks and the branch is so excited. I am too!
Also Sandra loved the gift you sent her. She told me to pass along her thanks. We had a lesson with her last week and it was so great. She told us how the book of mormon has changed her life, and how happy and content her life is now that she has the gospel. She no longer has any reason to worry about life because she knows God has a plan for her. Also she has been sharing the gospel with her friend and plans on asking her to meet with us in her home. Its funny because when we first met her she told us about all the mormons she had known and the special aura that they had. And now she herself is glowing with that same special glow. And those around her are noticing it and being blessed by her example. Its such a neat thing to witness. One big cycle of love, faith, and the light of Christ. I love this gospel!
Im still working on getting my companion to talk. Most of the day is taken up by long stretches of silence and conversations with myself in my head (and sometimes out loud). Ive never had an experience like this so its kind of weird. But we will keep working on it.
I love you all so much. Talk to you soon.
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
173
Family,
こんにちは！How is everybody? How was ashers b-day party? Did you save me some cake?
Things are going great here. We have two baptisms coming up in the next two weeks and the branch is so excited. I am too!
Also Sandra loved the gift you sent her. She told me to pass along her thanks. We had a lesson with her last week and it was so great. She told us how the book of mormon has changed her life, and how happy and content her life is now that she has the gospel. She no longer has any reason to worry about life because she knows God has a plan for her. Also she has been sharing the gospel with her friend and plans on asking her to meet with us in her home. Its funny because when we first met her she told us about all the mormons she had known and the special aura that they had. And now she herself is glowing with that same special glow. And those around her are noticing it and being blessed by her example. Its such a neat thing to witness. One big cycle of love, faith, and the light of Christ. I love this gospel!
Im still working on getting my companion to talk. Most of the day is taken up by long stretches of silence and conversations with myself in my head (and sometimes out loud). Ive never had an experience like this so its kind of weird. But we will keep working on it.
I love you all so much. Talk to you soon.
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
173
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
It's actually warming up around here
4/5/10 Email Message
Hello!
Thanks once again for the awesome pics mom. You have gotten so good with the camera. They are amazing.
I got a new companion - his name is Elder Kawahara and he is straight out of the MTC. He is also the most quiet, timid person i have ever met in my life - but Ill fix that.
Im excited for general conference this weekend (delayed broadcast). We have baptism interviews for two of our investigators on Saturday. So exciting!
Its actually warming up around here - pretty soon Ill be packing this old beat up winter coat away for good.
Life is good. Im really tired though, so I dont have a lot to say. Madison looks beautiful right now. When I look at pictures from home I feel like Im looking at old memories. Its weird.
I love you! Talk to you next week.
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Hello!
Thanks once again for the awesome pics mom. You have gotten so good with the camera. They are amazing.
I got a new companion - his name is Elder Kawahara and he is straight out of the MTC. He is also the most quiet, timid person i have ever met in my life - but Ill fix that.
Im excited for general conference this weekend (delayed broadcast). We have baptism interviews for two of our investigators on Saturday. So exciting!
Its actually warming up around here - pretty soon Ill be packing this old beat up winter coat away for good.
Life is good. Im really tired though, so I dont have a lot to say. Madison looks beautiful right now. When I look at pictures from home I feel like Im looking at old memories. Its weird.
I love you! Talk to you next week.
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
I'm pretty sure it will never warm up
3/29/10 Email Message
Dear Family,
I dont have a lot of time, but I just wanted to say I love you. Things are going great here. This is definitely the best time of my mission. Im really glad I chose to extend to the end of June. Im so happy to be here and to be a missionary. I wouldnt chose to be anywhere else than right here in Hachinohe Japan.
Its snowing right now. Im pretty sure it will never warm up.
I love you! I hope Kendall has a great time with the musical. Break a leg ;-)
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
Dear Family,
I dont have a lot of time, but I just wanted to say I love you. Things are going great here. This is definitely the best time of my mission. Im really glad I chose to extend to the end of June. Im so happy to be here and to be a missionary. I wouldnt chose to be anywhere else than right here in Hachinohe Japan.
Its snowing right now. Im pretty sure it will never warm up.
I love you! I hope Kendall has a great time with the musical. Break a leg ;-)
Much Love,
Elder Brendan Kingsford
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