Third week in Texas!

Hi Mom,

The work in this area, is getting better. We have found six new investigators this week who were very receptive to our first lesson. We have return appointments with all of them this week. We also received a media referral who wants to take missionary lessons. These are usually the people who get baptized, because they actually tried to find us. It is the first media referral my companion has received since he has been here, and he has been here for 5 months.

The language is improving quickly. Sometimes, I can understand everything the people say, and at other times I can only catch a few words here or there. I can say pretty much everything I want to when teaching, because I have what is called a gospel vocabulary. I now just need to expand that vocabulary. For preparation days, we usually just hang around the apartment, doing all the stuff you normally do on this day. Last week though, we started a kick boxing class with a member from the English ward. It is a crazy class, but I love it! I was sore for days afterwards though. The next day, we then had the Texas Dallas Olympics for our zone conference. We had to do as many pushups as possible in 10 min. So the soreness continued until Thursday for me.

For meals, we eat with members almost ever day for dinner. And our branch president makes us breakfast on Thursdays. So we are well taken care of each week.

I completely forgot about the Baptism talk I was going to write, so I will do that as soon as I can, and send it to you in the mail. Tell her that I am very excited for her, and I can't wait to see pictures next monday. I hope everyone enjoys school, and good luck with college. I have been thinking and praying about Ashley, and I will probably fast for her this Sunday. I hope she is ok, and I would love her address if she decides to stay.

I love you so much, and miss you a lot!

Kyle

 

Hey Dad,

This week was much better than the last couple of weeks. My companion and I are doing ok. His B-day was good. I have never eaten so much food in my life I think. We ate at a buffet, and then Mary our investigator cooked food for us immediately after. It was all really good, but I was so full after words.

 

I have pretty much met with every member of the branch, since it is so small. We have eaten dinner at almost every member's house since I got here. We eat at a member's house every week, which is great.

 

I am definitely a lot happier. I am really starting to love missionary work. The work and the spanish is getting a lot better, but more importantly, I think I am just becoming more patient with myself and the language. My spanish really isn't bad. I can say pretty much anything I want to when I am teaching investigators, because I have a gospel vocabulary. I now need to learn how to say more normal everyday conversation stuff.

 

The work in this area is also getting much better. We found 6 new investigators that were all really receptive to our first lesson, and we have return appointments with them this week. Also the investigator I told you about, Mary, came to church yesterday! And some less active members too! I was so excited, and couldn't stop smiling.

 

So the amazing experience for this week has to do with the less active members, the Vargas family. The mom died awhile ago, and the dad had a stroke. This made the dad a little mentally ill. He became super protective of his two sons who are both in their 20s I think. Pretty much, no women can come in the house, and the boys can't go out without him with them. They come to church every once and a while, but recently their dad had two more seizures. So we decided to go try them and see if they would let us in. My companion has been here for five months now, and has never once been inside their house. He has tried almost weekly, and no one ever answered the door. So when we got there, one of the sons, who wasn't with his dad for some reason, was coming back from school he just started. It was perfect timing, because he allowed us to go into the house. We went in the house, and listened to the Dad talk about how the ward wasn't helping him out. We found out that the air conditioner was broken, and their was a hole in the floor of one of the bedrooms. No one in the ward knew about it, but the dad continued to tell us how the branch president wasn't being Christ like. I was able to say some things that I thought would help. We again invited them to come back to church. We left the house, went and bought a fan for the family and came back. When we knocked on the door again, they answered again. Twice in one day! Then to make it even better, they came to church! It was a great miracle that I was able to see.

 

When I was saying that we can't get second visits with people, it is because either no one is there when we go back, or the people make excuses as to why we can't go in. It is frustrating, but we keep trying. And we have some investigators, that I don't think will do this, so that will be good.

 

I am still getting really excited for BYU football as well, even though I can't watch any of it. I hope they do well this season. It also sounds like things are getting really crazy at home. That is what we are used to though, right? I am still excited to see and hear about Brooklynn's baptism!

 

Keep me updated, and enjoy this fall!

Kyle

 

Here are a few pictures Kyle sent, but they are from the MTC not Texas.

 

 

Second week in Texas!

Mom and Family,

Wow! Sounds like a lot is happening at home. I was so excited when I read that Nate moved back in with his Mom. That will be great for him. I can't wait to write to him now. And snowbird sounds like it was a lot of fun.

I would love to send a short talk for Brooklynn's baptism. I am guessing it should be around 3-4 min. That sounds like a fantastic idea. I guess that will make up a little bit for me not being able to baptize Brooklynn, but I am so excited to see pictures. I can't wait!

I didn't do a session in the temple. I get to go four times over the course of my mission, counting the one time I went in the MTC. So only three more times. I probably won't go until about december or so.

Thank you very much for the pictures. I loved them. It helps me get over the homesickness, when I am able to look at pictures of my family. And the letters you sent were so great. Cheered me up a lot.

I wouldn't say that my trials have gone away, but right now I am just trying to get along with my companion.  The other part of the problem, is that so far over my two weeks here, we haven't found a single investigator that we have taught more than once. It is hard to go out and tract all day. We find people to teach every once and awhile, but it is very difficult to find another time to teach them. We have had so many people cancel on us, or more often not be home.

 I have seen some great things here. Here is one story:

We were out proselyting at a trailer park, and all of our lessons for that night had fell through. We decided to start tracting, and we started walking down the street. I saw a man cleaning his truck, and I asked if we could help. He said that we could, but never actually told us to do anything. Eventually we went in the house and were able to teach him part of the first lesson. The lesson was going good, mostly because this man was christian and believed everything we were teaching up to the first vision. When my companion shared the account of Joseph Smith, the man laughed at us. Right in our faces and boldly said, "No man has ever seen God. Ever." There could have been scriptures we shared, but instead we just bore testimony. We bore very powerful testimony of how we came to know that this happened. The man went from laughing to us, to actually believing that it was possible. The spirit was very strong, even if I couldn't understand some of it.

This was great experience, but again we are having a hard time scheduling another lesson with him. I hope we can find time for another visit!

Again I would like to thank you for your love and support. It has made my mission a little easier. Tell the kids good luck for me in school this year. I am excited to see how everyone does.

Hey Dad!

 

First of all I must say that your letter that you sent me was so comforting. I have already read it everyday since I got it on friday. It has helped so much.

 

I didn't know that Elder Cook was the one that came to your mission. That is amazing! I loved his talk on faith, and I plan to use it a lot on my mission.

 

So to answer your questions,  My district is us and two english elders for the same area. They are great Elders. I love being around them, and have already been on exchanges with both of them. I would have to say that these two days were probably my favorite two days so far. In our mission there are about 130 spanish missionaries, so almost half. We have investigators, but none of them are progressing. Except for Mary, who we just can't get to church. We have a cell phone, but no I-pads yet. My companion loves the people a lot. He is into extreme sports and loves music. We are in a spanish branch, which is actually to small to even be a branch. This is why we go out tracting all day, because we don't get a lot of help from the members, and there is one less active family. My bike is nice, but I have only rode it once. We are actually in one of the biggest areas in the mission, so we have a car. And right now, I am doing good. I have a hard time actually going out and working sometimes, but I love study time. My favorite part of the day, besides going to bed of course, is personal study in the morning. I feel so happy and peaceful during that time. I love it.

 

Thank you again for the spiritual thoughts each week, and for the poem that you sent me. It has brought me so much comfort, and always motivates me to do more. And thanks for keeping me updated on BYU. I didn't think I would get so excited for football even though I can't watch it. More importantly, thank you for the love and support that you have given me throughout my life. I wouldn't be out here without it. Good luck with work, and stuff. I love you, and am so thankful for an Amazing Dad like you!

 

Love

Kyle

Pictures from Kyle's Mission President

 

Kyle with his Mission President, Devin G. Durrant and his wife

 

 

 

Kyle arrived with 20 new missionaries to the Texas Dallas Mission

First week in Texas!

Hi Mom and Family,

I had my first two baptisms on Saturday!... Ok, so maybe I had never met them before. And maybe I had never taught them. And I guess I was on exchanges anyways, so it probably doesn't count. My first week has been crazy. I got here monday at 12:00 where we went from the airport to the temple then to a church close by. My mission President is incredible. He is very tall, and a very nice kind loving man. I enjoyed my short time with him. The first day, we had orientation and stuff the whole day. It was so long, because we were all running on 3 hours of sleep, but I made it through. The next day, we then met our companions and left to our areas. My companion's name is Elder Pearson, and he is actually from Cedar Hills Utah.  He has helped me a lot.

My first night in the field, my companion, and the English Elders in the area decided to make a fake investigator for me to teach. One of the English elders wore casual clothes with and earing, sunglasses, and a hat. He didn't look anything like a missionary at all. My companion set it up where we were going to teach him and even changed the contact in the phone. So we got to the park where we were going to teach him, and we taught an incredible lesson. The spirit was so strong. Afterwards the elders shook my hand and had his name tag in his hand. They fooled me. I had no idea. Afterwards, one of the elders said, "we gave you a lot of the hard questions that other people would give us, and you nailed them. We thought we could explain the answers to you, but you don't need that." It was a great role play, that I though was real.

This week, has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. I can't understand what other people are saying, and can't say what I want. It is so hard, and I have been getting a little homesick. I thought that I was going to have a great time right when I got here, but I am struggling a bit. I have prayed harder, and more often this week, than I have ever prayed before. So, it can only get better from here. I just need to speak more, even if I don't know how to say what I want to. Only after this will I begin to learn spanish. I know how ever that God gives us weaknesses so that we may be humble. But if we have faith in the Lord, which I do, then we will make our weak things strong. So I will be ok. I just have to push through it, and focus on the people.

I hope everyone is ready for school. Chase, you are going to love Junior High. And like I said before, the key for having fun for Haley Chase and Brooklynn, is making lots of good friends.

Thank you for your love and support, and all of your prayers. I loved the Trek pictures. They were great. I was also wondering if you could send me a picture of our family. I will send pictures next week also by the way.

Love you and miss you a lot.

Elder Stewart

First Area

I am here in Dallas Texas!

My first area is in Waxahachi Texas south of Dallas. My address is 2200 s. Brown 1511 Waxahachie, TX 75165. I am excited to be here and can't wait to go to work. Thanks and I will send you an email on my first week on monday.

Elder Stewart

Kyle is now in Texas!!

Kyle flew to Texas this morning and was able to call us from the airport. Here are a few highlights from the call.

-He flew out with 20 other missionaries heading to Dallas, Texas. He said that they were some of the last Spanish speaking missionaries in the MTC.

-He told us his favorite part of the MTC was the Tuesday night devotionals.

-He was able to tell us the first vision in Spanish, but said he was still struggling with having conversations with people.

-He said the food was okay, he said it was better then school lunch.

-He said he was excited and a little nervous.

-He told us that he was able to go to the temple once before it closed and was very excited to see the new temple movie in Dallas.

-He said the MTC felt a little like a prison. Very disconnected to the outside world.

-He told us they played basketball everyday except one day a week they would do personal exercise-running, pull-ups, etc.

It was so nice to hear his voice and to hear how confident and happy he seemed. He would love to hear from anyone who would like to write him. Thanks for all the prayers!

Week 6

This was a great week to end on. I have definitely loved the MTC, and I have learned so much. Now it is time to put all that learning and practice to work. I can't wait to see the miracles that can happen in other people's lives. This week I have learned so much about faith. We read a talk which I would highly recommend to anyone about how to use your faith to create miracles. It is called "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" by Gene R. Cook. This talk has really changed my view on faith. I know that I can create miracles through my faith if I work hard as well. Yesterday we also had our in field orientation. It was another great experience that got me so excited to go out and get to work. I can't wait!

On Wednesday this week I was able to Host Kaden Day. He was happy to be here, and I was very happy to see him. I have been so blessed to come to the MTC at a time like this, because I am able to see my friends all the time. I see Todd every day, because we both have the same eating schedule. This has made starting my mission a lot easier for me. It is a great time to be a missionary and I can't wait.

I really have loved the MTC so much, and I will probably miss it when I get to the field. I have grown so much spiritually and emotionally over the past 6 weeks. I have loved the devotionals and the amazing spirit that I have felt here. I love all the study time that I have had and the spirit that has come from it. So after all time here at the MTC, it is time to go to work. It is time to make things happen. It is time for me to change people's lives by bringing them the light of christ. I know that this is the only true church on the earth. I know God is our loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers. I know that Christ has suffered and atoned for us, in order to get to know each of us personally. He knows us and can help us in every trial that we may have in life. I love him and his sacrifice. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. Through him the gospel was restored and the Book of Mormon was translated. I know the Book of Mormon is the true word of God, and by reading it we can grow closer to Christ. I know that we have a prophet on the earth today President Thomas S. Monson, who receives revelation for the whole church. I know that missionary work is very important today, and that this is where I am supposed to be. I love this gospel and want very badly to share it with the people of Dallas.

Thank you for your love and support Mom and family, and I hope that you enjoyed Trek this week. Thank you for sharing the stories of my friends. I love you and I can't wait to talk to you on monday.

Love,

Elder Kyle Stewart