Wk 77 April 25, 2011

Semana Santos     ‏    

     Ah man, I am dying from heat right now. My hands have never been sweatier... But Hey family!! The work moves on in Leganes.

         We are super excited for Zharra's baptism on the 14th of May, and Larry's on the 28th.  His birthday is on Tuesday and that is when he said it is going to done with.  I just texted him and he replied “@K thanx 4 spiritual encouragement. God Bless !@”.  I am way excited for him. He has such an awesome family.

             I will send you pictures of them someday. Speaking of which, I think I am just going to send the memory card when it gets full. Coolio? That way it won't get viruses when I plug it in and everything.

          Zharra is doing awesome she came with the ward to a huge service project and activity, and she is getting along great with the ward. She is all smiles.  She is just really happy. The ward is a good help, she will do awesome.

       Holy Week...this last week was the Catholic holy week. I think it is celebrated a little bit different here than other places. Some of the traditions they have is a parade of saints. Didn't get to see it but it’s a big thing. I guess they have people wear thorn crowns and whip themselves with bladed whips on their back while they walk. Then on the Island of Guimaras they have people that actually get crucified. The city is pretty much empty because everyone camps out on Guimaras to watch the people that crucify themselves. They don't die because they take them down but they nail them to a cross. Yeah pretty...hurty.

         The call is coming up really soon. Mothers day!

Answers to mom’s questions:

I will try to get a suit not sure though.  Elder Hadry is from Rexburg.

         Tell grandma that I love her :). Haven't talked to her much. Tell her to read my emails too if she wants.

   Well Love you all so much. Talk to you soon

-Elder Kirschbaum

Wk 76 April 18, 2011

HEY!!!                

     How is the awesomest family ever doing? I taught a family home evening tonight on the importance of families and made sure to show everyone the picture of our family. It’s the one from at your old house Heidi. I always keep it in my missionary hand book so I can whip it out in time of need. Whenever I show it, they always say that we are all so guapa and guapo. Then they point to Kyle and say is that you Elder Kirschbaum. I say yes. Then they ask who that chubby guy is in the middle and I say that is my brother Kyle. bahaha.

     So it is actually 9:16 pm right now. We didn't have a chance to email earlier because we had an early family home evening, we had to race out to this barungay(town) called Calaboa. It is way far away out in the middle of nowhere, so we paid some guy 100pesos ($2.30) so we could get to the FHE on time. It ended up working really well, but I was sssssssooooooo exhausted.

     Earlier today we had our zone meeting, which was the BOMB. Me and elder Hadry taught, and it went really well. It was focused on working with members. We did an activity where one elder was blind folded and led around by everyone as two “devils” tried to deceive him. The blind folded elder had to make a peanut butter sandwich, go thru a maze, and a bunch of stuff. At the end was a picture of a temple and pictures of families. We tied it into how the ward is sooo important in leading the investigator every step of the way so what matters most...the temple.

      We then did practice with our ward missionaries which was way good.

      I have been reading “Our Heritage” this last week and I think that just got me way pumped to work. It gave me a more real look on how awesome this work is, and how lucky I am to be a missionary in the Philippines. Man, I love Joseph Smith and the truth of the restoration.

      We have been trying to spread the excitement of the work to our ward, and it worked when this last Sunday me and Elder Hadry went out with like half the ward proselyting and teaching investigators. You are super right Kyle of how much more fun it is with the members. It makes a huge difference when they are involved. Haha but it does take some work, and EXCITEMENT to get them pumped. So now pretty much our ward here in Leganez is the best, and no unhallowed hand will stop the work here from progressing.

     I want to tell you so much more in more detail but we have to get back to our house and prepare for the morrow. Sorry I couldn't respond more thoughtfully or something, I just kind of raced this message cause it is so late. But I love you and Will soon see you all again.

Love

-Elder Kirschbaum

Wk 75 April 11, 2011

Dear Family,               

     Everything is going by too fast. I think I don’t want to come home anymore. Speaking of which did I tell you if I was extending or not? Not sure But if I didn't, the answer is Yes I will be extending. I will miss Halloween and Thanksgiving, but all is well.  

     So dad bent over to tie his shoe and hurt his back? I don't know whether to make fun of him or be worried. Is this a sign of old age? I hope he feels better. Dad you will have to have mom tie your shoes from now on to limit any other injuries.

     So this week a few memorable things happened. One Tuesday we got together with all the zone leaders and had a conference that was really good and motivating. We talked a lot about working with members. The best part of those meetings is that we get to eat at the president’s house after. Sister Pagaduan cooks some really good food. Some times the closest thing to American food we get for a long time.

     We have been trying to involve the members as much as possible to work with us and it has been working really well. We pretty much just ask anyone to come with us and work.  We had one of the former bishops come with us to Larry’s last week, which was really good. I think it helped him to become more motivated to stop smoking. He is supposed to be down to 5 sticks now. He has such an awesome family. They all want him to "be baptized so he can come to the celestial kingdom with them". He has two cute little girls and boys. It was neat to see them also at general conference. I think once as he realizes how important his family is and how essential the gospel is for his family it will be easy for him to stop and his heart will have a mighty change. 

     We had three investigators come to general conference this week which we were excited for. Angela our most recent investigator is doing great. She reads really well, and has lots of good questions. She said she enjoyed the talk Elder Utchdorf made about “Turn on a light switch vs the rising sun”. She has been trying to get an answer if the church is true and I think that will help her alot. 

     My letter is not too long this week but I am just going to keep it at that. I am doing good and learning so much every single day. Thanks for all your love and support. Love you all, and talk to you again next week.

Love -Elder Kirschbaum

Wk 74 April 4, 2011

Tired but still smiling. 

HEY!

     So this week has been exhausting. We have been super busy lots of disappointments and some good too. We have still been working with Larry Uy. He is doing okay. I think the biggest thing now is that he needs a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I have learned a lot about the Book of Mormon this week.

     We have spoken a lot this week with strong members of other faiths. It has been...intense. We met with an older man on Friday. His name is Victor and he is really good at English so we just speak with him in English. He is a big studier of the Bible.  We talked with him for awhile. Then we have had the chance to learn about the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are really big also on the Bible. But the thing is that each of them has their own interpretations of the Bible, and they are very far off from each. The thing is they can't accept that Heavenly Father could have any other scripture, such as the Book of Mormon.  It just was a big eye opener to me of how super important the Book of Mormon really is. It’s either true of not, and if it isn't we have nothing, and if it is, we have everything. It’s kind of a big deal huh? It is kind of fun when people try to throw Bible versus at us saying that Joseph Smith couldn't have seen God, and then being able to say well.....have you read the Book of Mormon? They have no contest. The Book of Mormon really is the BOM (BOMB). Sometimes Elder Hadry and I will rap about how awesome the BOM is. 

     We have been able to have the privilege to be teaching a really awesome young woman.  She is 19 and very intelligent, and has a huge desire to know if this is the true church. She reads everything that we give to her and teaches us about Joseph Smith and authority. She even came to church yesterday which was a huge highlight. We just gave her the Book of Mormon and challenged her to pray to her Heavenly Father to know if it is true. TOMORROW we will meet with her again.

     Well, I have to get going fast. Didn't have too much time today to write sorry.  But I love you all so much and I want you all to read the Book of Mormon. This Saturday and Sunday is our viewing of the General Conference. I’m excited. Next week talk to you again.

-Elder Kirschbaum