A Bunch of New Investigators!

Hi Mom!

 

We found a bunch of new investigators this week. They were all pretty solid investigators, and we are looking forward to helping them progress. First we found the Macias family. This was a family that Elder Wells had been teaching while he was here. Before he left he suggested that we go visit them. After a long time of trying to schedule appointments, we were finally able to get in with them to teach a lesson. They are a great family! The obstacle that we have seen with them is getting them to church, but that is the problem with everyone. They are very interested in learning more!

 

We also found Andrew and Elizabeth. They have both recently been trying to change their lives around, and I know that the gospel can do it for them. It seems to me that the timing is perfect for them, they just need to act and commit themselves. I am very excited for this family as well.

 

Our biggest goal for this week is that we want to get as many of our investigators to church as we can. Hopefully the Lord will provide. I know he will.

 

In this area we are serving at another food charity. We do a lot of cleaning containers, organizing, and moving materials around. Also, this week has been the hottest week yet. We hit the 100s I think once, maybe more, and it wasn't too fun. I don't like the bike as much when I have to ride it in the hot sun. That is ok though, the mission is still great.

 

I'm glad that everything is going well with y'all. I am glad that I have such a great family who loves and supports me. Thanks for your example of how to be diligent in the things you do. I hope that I can be as diligent as you are. I love you! I hope y'all have a great week.

 

Love, Kyle

 

 just about melted here. To tell you the truth though, we have only hit the 100s one time so far. I thought it was going to be a lot worse, but it really isn't that bad. The humidity was hard when I first got here a year ago, but I have adjusted to that. I am really starting to like the city of Dallas. I haven't been able to go to the actual downtown area, but I will before I go home.

 

Questions of the week:

1. Are you happy?

I am happy. I love serving the Lord! I have even come to really enjoy knocking doors if that is even possible.

 

2. Do you feel like you are succeeding in your mission? 

Yes! The way that I measure success in the mission is how converted I am when I go home. I feel as though my mission has changed me, and is continuing to change me.

 

3. How was the confirmation Sunday?  ( I have no doubt that it was great)

It went really well. It was my first one ever, and it was in Spanish, so I was nervous, but I didn't mess up. Sara was so happy to receive that gift.

 

4. How is the work going?

We have no problem finding new investigators and teaching them. We are focusing now on getting as many investigators as we can at church. It is going well.

 

6. What are your P-days like?

We play basketball or volleyball early in the morning, then we come back study and do laundry. Afterwards we go eat somewhere with the other Elders here in Grand Prairie. Then we email, and what ever time we have left we relax.

 

7. Do you get along with your district and zone?

I get along with the District great! And the zone is good too, we just are never really around them much.

 

8. What is your biggest challenge?

Satan

 

9. What stories do you have for us?

The story or miracle that we have seen recently taught me how I really have no idea who is going to accept the message or not. We were knocking a street and we knocked on a door where a man came out who was holding a beer in his hand. Usually when someone like that comes out, I am not really sure if they are all there or not, but I know I need to contact everyone, so I contacted him anyways. He didn't actually live at the house where we contacted him, but he wanted us to come by his house on the other side of our area. I was very skeptical, and when the appointment came, I wondered if we should really bike all the way across our area. We decided to go anyway, and the lesson went great. Him and his girlfriend were looking to turn their lives around, and I believe that we are going to be able to help them do it. I am excited for them! Heavenly Father really is preparing people to hear his message!

 

10. Have you converted your downstairs neighbor yet?  ( the cop caller)

No. We tried to apologize to him, but he wouldn't even let us tell him everything we wanted to say before shutting the door.

 

11. What have you learned most on your mission?

That is a tough one. I have learned so much on my mission. For example I learned to roll my Rs, I learned how to whistle, and I learned how to juggle. I have come to love my Savior so much. Really what I have learned on my mission is how important it is to serve him at all time. That is how we get happiness. When we follow Christ we are happy. It doesn't matter if we have what we want or if we are happy in life, we have to serve Him. He never gave up when he was on the earth and he gave us everything, so why can't we give him something in return? I know he lives, and that we will be happy as we serve Him.

 

We are working very hard! I don't know if I like the bike as much in the 100 degree weather. It isn't as fun as when I first started. That doesn't matter though. I just love serving the Lord and working hard. The mission is not what I expected it to be, but I am growing so much, and looking back on this experience will be such a blessing.

 

I love you Dad! Thank you for your great example. I hope you are able to accomplish everything you have to do. Thank you for your love and support! Only one month to BYU football. I am getting a little excited too, and I am not going to watch any of it. BYU vs. Texas should be a fun one though since I am here in Texas. Keep me updated.

 

Con mucho amor, Kyle

Pictures from the Baptism!

Hello Mom!

We had a very normal week again here. Not very much happened. We had a nice little break from the heat for a couple of days, with cloudy weather, but the heat is back. Yesterday, Sara asked me to do the confirmation as well, so I performed my first confirmation. And it was in Spanish. Sara was very excited to be able to receive the Holy Ghost. She really has been such a great example to me in how I need to live. She has such great faith in God, and she knows that anything is possible with his help. She is going to be a great member. She continues to tell us how she knows that this church is the true church on the earth. That is such a testimony builder for me to hear the testimony of my recent convert. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth today, and I know that he leads and guides us in all that we do. He has restored his Priesthood to the earth today so that we can perform these ordinances. I love Him so much!

There really haven't been any big changes with President Taylor here. He has really been pushing unity as a mission, and as a ward. Hopefully we will be able to start seeing the results of that soon.

I don't have much more to report about this week. The mission is really starting to pick up. The weeks are going by faster and faster. I am happy for this opportunity that I have to serve the Lord, and I am so grateful for all the lessons I have learned the easy way, and the hard way. The mission is hard, but it is so worth it. I really hope I can continue to learn, progress, and enjoy myself for the rest of my mission.

Thank you for all your love and support. I hope y'all are doing well back home. I will send a letter this week to Brooklynn for her birthday, so be on the look out for that. I hope y'all have a great week!

Love, Elder Stewart

 

Baptism!

Hi Mom,

The baptism yesterday was great! I honestly understood again the scripture in D&C 18 that says our joy will be great. The worth of souls is great in the sight of the Lord, and I was able to help one of them come unto to Christ through baptism. I was so happy yesterday as I was changing out of my baptism clothes right after the baptism. It is the moments like those that make all the hard times worth it. I love being a missionary, and a representative of Jesus Christ!

Sara has changed her life so much to allow herself to come unto Christ.

I was still so amazed the day we went over to her house to help her stop smoking, and she told us that she had already decided to stop. I definitely feel as if I was an instrument in the hands of the Lord, because I don't feel like I did much. All we had to do is follow the spirit, and teach with the spirit. Sara did the rest with the help of Jesus Christ. I have learned so much from her example of faith and love for God. She really wants to serve God, and do all that he has asked us to do.

I also found out that Sara was first taught by Hermana Spencer who is from Pleasant Grove. That is the girl that Haley has worked with at Taco Amigo. I thought that was interesting.

The rest of this week was fairly normal. We are really trying to work hard with the members in finding people to teach. The members do a great job in helping us teach and in friending our investigators, now we want them to try and do the work themselves. This is the first time that I have really reached out to the members in this way, but I think it will go well. The theme that our mission president has given us is We are as one. We are one as a mission, with the members, and as the Church. I am excited to see what will come of this.

I am excited for another transfer with Elder McBride. It will give me more time to work on being patient. I am really doing better though. Hopefully we will be really good friends by the end of the transfer! That is my goal. As well as we need to work hard at improving his Spanish. He has gotten to the point where he can understand the topic of what is being said, and a few sentences here and there. We are going to keep working hard to help him get to where he needs to be.

Texas is so hot! It is like being steam cooked, especially when it is cloudy. We get a break from the heat this week though, because of a storm that is coming in.

I don't really have much else to say. With the baptism of Sara, we are going to have to start all over in finding people that are ready for the gospel in their lives. We really found the prepared in Sara.

Why did Daniel come home? Did he break something? Let him know that I love him! I am praying for Emily as well, so I hope that she will be doing well soon. I love you so much, and I am grateful for your support. I am doing great, and you definitely don't have to worry about me. Except for the fact that I might get sun burned really badly. I love you!

Love Kyle

I forgot the pictures, so I will send them next week.

 

Hi Dad,

 

The baptism yesterday was great. She asked me to baptize her, so I was able to participate in my first baptismal ordinance, and it was all in Spanish. I didn't mess up, so I was excited about that. Sara was so happy before, and even happier after the baptism, so it was a success! I am grateful that I had the opportunity to help her. She will be confirmed a member next Sunday, and she asked me to do that as well. I hope to have the gift of tongues for that.

 

That is exciting that Lynn got back. That must take the stress off of your shoulders a little now that he can take some of your work.

 

I love you! Thank you for your example to me!

 

Kyle

 

Staying in Grand Prairie!

Hi Mom,

We had an Ok week this week as far as the work goes, but it was a lot of fun! First of all, I am staying here in Grand Prairie, with my companion Elder McBride. This was great news, because the baptism that we have planned for Sara is next Sunday. She has been battling really well. Sara is living with her daughter and son-in-law, and they will both be out of town this upcoming week leaving Sara alone. So, we are going to try to make as much contact as possible with her before her baptism on Sunday. Lucky for her, she doesn't work, so she doesn't really have any money to be spending, as well as she can't drive, so the temptation for her to smoke, isn't as big as it would be for other people. She is doing really well!

For the Fourth of July we didn't really do anything special. We had a zone conference that morning so that we could meet the new Mission President. He is going to be a great mission president! I love him already. He is a very nice man, and he has such a strong spirit. The rest of the day, we knocked doors, and taught a lesson. Not really anything different.

The next day was a great day! I had the opportunity to go back to Waxahachie my first area to see the baptism of Angelica. She was the grand daughter of the less-active that we were working with, Mary. It was a great service, and I was able to talk to all the members that I hadn't seen in almost a year. The best part of that was I could actually speak in Spanish to the members. After the baptism we had a ward party at a park, which was also so much fun! We were able to talk to some non-members, and we had a great turn out. It was a lot of fun!

Yesterday was one of the best Sundays of my mission. We had some great lessons in church, and I was able to feel the spirit so strongly. All the missionaries here in Grand Prairie sang a musical number as well. It went really well, and I even had a solo. I was very nervous, especially since it was fast Sunday, and we had biked to church. I thought that I was going to pass out, but it went well. After the church services, we had another baptism, and a farewell party for one of the sister missionaries here who is going to leave. The spirit was so strong today. I know that I am a part of the only true church on the earth, and I am so grateful that I am able to represent Jesus Christ in the work of salvation.

I am doing great! My wrist is still a little sore, I must have tweaked it pretty good. It really isn't that bad though. I am happy to hear that the family is doing so well. I am really excited for Nate! He should have a great mission! I am glad that he decided to serve!

All the weight that I gained on my mission is now gone. I believe that I am back to where I was when I started the mission, or I may have lost weight by now. All of this Texas heat is keeping me skinny. I really don't have anything to complain about though. It is really hot, and it takes some getting used too, but I feel as if I have adjusted to it. We have only hit the 100s one time.

I love you so much! Thank you for all your love and support. I know this church is true!

Love, Elder Kyle Stewart

Hi Dad,

 

Questions of the week:
1.  How is your new mission president - Do you think that he will be a good one.\

He is great! I am going to love him! President Durrant was a great example and leader as well, but I have a feeling that I am going to love President Taylor a little more.

2.  How is your companion doing?  are you working him hard?

Of course I am! We are working very hard, but we need to work a little harder I think.

 3.  Are you teaching him the things that you wished your trainer had taught you?

Yes, I am trying. I have been pretty bad the past couple of weeks on being patient with him, so that is my main focus for this week.

 4.  Are you still getting along ok?

We are. I really want for us to get along better this transfer though. I will be more patient with him, and hopefully we can improve his Spanish.

 5.  Do you feel like you have had a good mission so far?

I do. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done, and I feel as though I have had more trials over the year that I have been a missionary than I have in my whole life, but because of all those trials, I have become the disciple of Christ that I am today. There have also been some great experiences though. I love being a missionary!

 6.  How is the work going?

It slowed down a little recently. There is always plenty of people to talk to, now we just need to find a way for them to actually be at their house when our appointments are set.

 7.  Are you able to keep Sara progressing.

Yes! Sara has been so strong, and fighting so hard. She hasn't smoked since she said she was going to stop, so now we just have to make sure that she keeps on going, and endures to the end. We are going to have the baptism this Sunday!

 8.  How are the members of the ward you are serving in.  are they helping?

They are doing OK. We can always get them out to the lessons we are teaching, but what we really need, is for them to invite. We talked a lot about that at our training with the new mission president. President Durrant liked to do missionary work the old school way, I think. I feel that President Taylor is going to go away from that a little bit.

 9.  How do you spend your days? Do you do a lot of knocking on doors?

We do knock a lot of doors. We spend an hour to four hours everyday knocking. We are trying to go and visit the members now, but the only problem is that we have three sets of missionaries all in the same ward, so there aren't a lot of members to go and see.

 10.  What experiences have you had this week that have brought you closer to the savior?

I had one of the best Sundays of my mission yesterday. To start off, I saw how much the Lord can help us physically. It was fast Sunday, and I woke up feeling light headed, and very hungry. We were going to sing in church yesterday, and I had a solo, so I prayed that I would be able to go throughout the day with out having to break my fast, and still be able to sing. We went to the church early on our bikes to practice, and by the time we got to the church, I was already out of breath and light headed again. We practiced for awhile, and I kept praying for help. My biggest fear was that I was going to pass out during my solo, but I was mostly just joking. When we went up to sing, I felt great, and our song went really well. Then on top of all that, I felt the spirit so strong during church. It is always nice to have those three hours a week to refresh my testimony that the gospel is true.

Thank you for all the BYU updates! Even though I am not going to be able to watch any of the games, I still get excited. I really hope they beat Texas while I am here. Does Texas play in Arlington? I can't remember. I love you Dad so much! Thank you for always teaching me what is right, and helping me know that this is the true church, and the key to happiness. I am praying for you!

Love, Kyle