Not much to say!

Another week that Kyle really didn’t have much to say.  Someone got a hold of his bank card.  They made a couple of purchases on it but the funds on the card was insufficient to the point that they weren’t able to spend too much.  We called the bank and got a new card issued.  Other than that, he said that Venisa finally got confirmed on Sunday and he was able to be a part of that.  Diane’s baptism was post-poned until the 8^th of February because she was unable to make it home from Texas in time.  He also mentioned that he was going to play soccer later this evening. 



Elder Hess and Elder Buhler showing off the birthday cake they made for Elder Hess.



Happy "19th" Birthday!

Kyle really didn't have much to say today.  He sent me these two pictures of his birthday cake that him and his companion baked.  He said that Venisa still hasn't gotten confirmed.  She isn't sick but this past Sunday was their stake conference so it will probably happen next week.  He is looking forward to Dianne's baptism on the 25th of January and he said that Patrick Brennen is getting baptized on February 8.  He asked me if I remember the show "I Carly".  I told him yes and he informed me that Gibby (I Carly's friend on the show) is in his ward in Mission Viejo but that he is not a member.  I told him he has some work to do!  Kyle also shared a personal story with me today....it made me cry and it also confirmed something I knew in my heart but needed to hear.

New Companion in Mission Viejo

My new companion is Elder Buhler.  He is from Spanish Fork.  I was with him in the MTC.   He is cool and we get along well but we have some work to do.  He just came from serving in Newport and his trainer was a pile so he is a little more relaxed than what I care for.  This last week seemed really long.  Probably because my companion is new and so I was kind of running the area.  Venisa still didn’t get confirmed on Sunday.  She is still really sick. So this kind of creeped me out today.  There is a guy in this mission Elder Choco (a senior companion) who was companions with President Hinkley in Japan.  He was asked to be in the First Quorum of the Seventy but he told President Monson No because he didn’t feel worthy of it and he needed to attend to family stuff.  Anyway…that isn’t what was creepy.  So this guy came and talked to Elder Buhler and me today.  He looked me in the eye and said I suffer from bad knees.  He said he knows that because he has the Spirit of Decernment.  He also told me stuff that he said I would find in my patriarchal blessing and he was right…it was there.  So bad knees?  Should I be worried?  We got Diane’s baptism planned for the 25^th.  Oh…I bought three penguin ties for 19 bucks at Burlington Coat Factory.  That is such a great deal…you will be proud of me.  Elder Hegland leaves in 11 weeks.  I email him every week.  He has sure been a life saver for me.  After his mission, he plans to return and we are going to go to lunch.  Who knows….maybe I will get lucky and we will be companions before he leaves.  Three more transfers and I have hit the 1 year mark….absolutely crazy!!!  I seriously love it here and it’s going way too fast!  We got to watch football last night.  A potential investigator invited us to watch it.  I actually thought the game was pretty lame and I really didn’t watch it.  Well…I’ve got to do some research.  One of our investigators is asking some pretty deep questions and I’ve got to find some answers to help him out.  Talk to you again next Monday….love you!

1st Baptism

Last week was long but awesome.  We went to the Newport Beach temple on Thursday, I had my first baptism on Saturday, and I am now officially 19 years old.  The baptism was pretty bad but worked and Venisa didn’t get confirmed yesterday because she got super sick with the flu.  Michael (Venisa’s brother) baptized her.  He doesn’t have any legs so he stood on a chair in the font.  When he went to baptize her he fell off of the chair.  He had to baptize her twice but he was finally successful.  Diane’s baptism has changed from the 18^th to the 25^th.  Our district will have three baptisms on the 25^th…pretty cool, huh?   We are still working on the Preacher’s wife and his daughter.  They still seem to be interested so that is good. Tomorrow is transfer day.  I am staying in Mission Viejo but Elder Bufton is moving.  Bufton has been here for 8 months so I guess it’s time for a change.  I’m kinda nervous about getting a new companion, but I’m gonna take him differently this time.  I’m gonna try to love the kid…might not be the easiest for me but the only way we are gonna have success is to be unified.  I wasn’t unified with my first two companions, I didn’t love em.  I came with Bufton, we unified, and we got a baptism so I guess we will just see how it goes….wish me luck!  Oh guess what?  I learned how to play my first hymn on the piano.  “If you could Hie to Kolob”.  I’m not very good but I’m getting there.  Pretty cool Mush is going to serve in London, England.  Sister Dunyon (my ward mission leader’s wife) is from there and Brother Dunyon (my ward mission leader) went to England on his mission at 17 years old for three years…his dad was the mission president.  But….I don’t think it was to London, not sure what part of England it was.  Hey….did you know that Andy Reid is a Mormon and has a house in San Clemente?  Pretty cool…huh?  Dad…I’m sure your Gospel Principle’s lesson went well.  Just remember the Spirit only testifies of truth so no matter what you said the Spirit testified of it…you’re not the one doing the teaching your just doing the talking.  I had a good birthday but really they are just another day out here….nothing too spectacular.  I got a new tie from a ward member, some members gave me some money, and another ward member had us over for dinner and they had made me a birthday cake.  Today we are going to California Pizza Kitchen for some lunch and then to Burlington Coat Factory to get penguin ties.  After that we plan to go and say good-byes to ward members….Elder Bufton is saying goodbye, I’m just tagging along.  Finally….I sent you some pictures.  Here is proof that I AM NOT FAT!!!!  Talk to you again next week.  Love you!

Newport Beach Temple

Elder Bufton & Elder Hess

Elder Bufton, Elder Hess, & Elder Hall (Zone Leader)

6 Months

On Monday....we sent this picture to Kyle.  It shows that he has now been serving on his mission for 6 months.  We look forward to the next 18 months going just as quickly as the last 6.  We love and miss him lots but we are so proud of him for choosing to serve!  We know that he is where he is supposed to be!

Best Christmas Present Ever!

Talking to Elder Hess today was truely the best Christmas present ever!  We talked for a couple of hours.  He is doing really good and he appears to be very happy!  He is excited that his first baptism will be on the 4th of January and the confirmation will be on his birthday.  He has a second baptism scheduled on the 18th of January.  The next transfers will be on the 7th of January but Kyle seems to think that he will not be moved but that his companion will be.  Kyle has enjoyed serving with Elder Bufton and he is always a little nervous when it's time to get a new companion.  Kyle shared his testimony with us, we recorded it and sent it to the Stake.  The Stake was requesting we do this for their missionary prep classes.  We teased Kyle quite a bit during our Skype conversation about him looking like he has gained a few pounds.  He assures us that he is not fat but that he didn't want us to send him anymore treats.  For Christmas we sent Kyle an electric shaver which he was very disappointed and informed us that it had fallen out of his backpack and broke.  Needless to say...we sent him another one for his birthday.  We sent his birthday package on Monday hoping that he will get it by his birthday on Sunday.  19 years old....holy cow...where has the time gone?  After talking with Kyle for a couple of hours on Christmas day, there wasn't much to email back and forth on Monday.  He reported on Monday that the week was pretty slow because everyone was still celebrating Christmas.  He has high hopes that this next week is going to be more productive and more people will Come unto Christ.

Christmas Eve in Mission Viejo

Received a couple of text messages on Christmas Eve from a family in Mission Viejo that Elder Hess was celebrating Christmas Eve with. I have to say...receiving these pictures made the start of our Christmas a whole lot better.  Can't wait to talk to him tomorrow!