A week being sick!

We heard from Kyle today.  He is doing much better but last week was not the best week he has had.  He said he got a "Dear John" on Monday.  He was sick on Tuesday and Wednesday.  He had a Christmas party on Thursday.  He dropped his new electric razor on Friday and it broke into a million pieces.  On Saturday he walked everywhere but wasn't very productive....no lessons.  Sunday he attended a fireside that he said was really good.  He was excited to tell us that he will Skype with us at 1:00 on Christmas Day!  We are both anxious to talk to each other but we are also both a little worried about being a tad bit homesick for each other.

A text from Mission Viejo

Mrs. Hess...here is a picture of the guys and I for my birthday on December 13.  It was Elder Bufton's 21st birthday also so I told Aaron and Kyle to come by and bring some munchies and we can have a party.  So they did and we had enchiladas etc.  Kyle is very nice.  He is assigned to my ward.  My girls and I are just visitors.  We thought you would like this picture.  Sincerely,  Catherine Brophy

Week 23

Hey!! It sounds like you had a rough week.   I can kinda say the same.  We had to stay in for two days cause Elder Bufton got sick.  But… it’s all good! Watch "my burdens made light" it’s a Mormon message.  It talks about trials and forgiveness might help ya out a little bit.  On another note… going to the temple on Saturday was the most spiritual one I have been to on my mission.  There was just a different spirit in the room with Michael.  It was just awesome!! Even better news…I’m going again on the 2nd of January.  Even best news MY BIRTHDAY IS GONNA BE THE BEST ONE YET!!!!  We have two baptism on the 4^th of January…Diane and Vanessa and they are both being confirmed on the 5^th.  Happy Birthday to me! Finally….one more bit of news.   I need to know my card balance I have to tailor my brown suit its way too short its like wearing floods haha.  I usually try to stay positive but right now I am struggling a bit.  Elke sent me an email and told me that she is engaged.  I could use some faith, knowledge, and confidence.  I’m trying hard to pick my head up and stay positive but it’s not that easy. Elder Ballard of the 12 told President Orgill that this was the hardest mission in the world. He wasn't kidding just the challenges I’m facing are over whelming at times.  Sometimes I just don't know what to do.  I know that I need to exercise my faith but it’s a lot different than it seems.  Every day I’m still figuring out why I’m here and my purpose of being here.  Everyone has a different purpose being on a mission.  Everyone’s goal as missionaries is to bring others to Christ but each missionary has their own purpose and it’s up to them to figure out what their purpose really is.  I am trying hard to find mine!  I know that I have to have patience….everything will work out!  I received a letter from Grandma and a card from Uncle Jay…loved them!  I also got your Christmas package and a package from the Madson’s.  Sorry Mom….I couldn’t help but open them.  I needed the razor and I absolutely love the calendar.  It was the best Christmas gifts ever!  Well….I got to go.  I will talk to you again next Monday.  Don’t worry about me….I will be fine.  I love you all!

Mormon.org Profile

As a Christmas present to their mission president, the missionaries in the California Irvine Mission all updated their Mormon.org profiles.  Kyle shared his profile with us.

Hi...I'm Kyle

I play Baseball.  I Go Hard.  I'm Serving a Mission for the ONLY True Church.  And I'm a Mormon.

About Me:
I love to play sports especially baseball.  I enjoy being outdoors and doing anything active.  I love being around friends and family.  I am currently serving a 2 year mission in the California Irvine Mission, in the Mission Viejo area and it brings me joy watching people progress and come unto Christ by way of Baptism.

Why I am a Mormon:
From the time I was very little, the gospel has been instilled in my life by my parents and friends.  I have a testimony of the gospel and I am thankful everyday for the happiness that it brings into my life.  The gospel gives me direction in my life and without it I would be lost.  I know that families are forever, and I love knowing that I can be with my family throughout eternity if I live as I should and I choose the right.  I know that Heavenly Father knows me personally...he knows my name and he knows the desires of my heart.  I am thankful for the power of prayer and for the assurance I have of knowing that I am never alone and that I always have someone I can turn to for help.  My prayers may not always be answered how I would like them to be, but I do know that Heavenly Fathers always knows what is best for me.

How I live my faith:
I try to live my faith the best I can by following the example Christ has set for us by living by his teachings and commandments.  I am serving a 2 year mission in the California Irvine Mission.  It is the best decision I have ever made.  I enjoy serving the Lord cause it's the least I can do for all the things he has done for me.  I enjoy helping and serving those around me and helping them change their lives by coming unto Christ and receiving the blessings and joy the gospel has to offer.

5 Months

"I got the package you sent.  I don’t get a whole lot of letters, but when I do they are the best things ever.  In my opinion….they are even better than packages.  Thanks for the Christmas tree….I appreciate it!  I went to our ward Christmas party.  It was fun and I sang a solo.  It was just a line from the “chestnuts roasting” Christmas carol.  Our investigators are all doing good.  It looks like January is gonna be the baptism month for us instead of December.  They have all committed so that is good.  Diane announced her baptism.  She asked if she could bring non-members to our activities ha ha…she is a non-member herself.  It’s great!  Diane is awesome….I sure think the world of her!   We have no new investigators.  We helped a ward member move.  Oh…we have some Zundel’s in our ward.  They are from the Brigham City/Willard area.  Maybe I have found some of Jay’s long lost familia?  Tony made me a really cool Christmas sock.  The picture Tony posted on my facebook wall was of Elder McGary (he was one of my missionary buds at the MTC) and of Elder Burnham.  Today we are going shopping.  I need a jacket…it has gotten cold here.  It’s about 60-70 degrees during the day but at nights and in the morning it’s like 40-50 degrees.  I’m reading the Book of Mormon.  I wanted to be finished by the end of the year, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.  At first I went on a tare but I kind of slowed down cuz I need to study for lessons as well and that takes time so I read a couple of chapters a day.  I’m in Jarom now so ya it’s good…I’m enjoying it!  I watched the Christmas devotional at our WML (Ward Mission Leader) house.  I’m going to the Newport Beach Temple on Saturday with Michael.  Michael is the brother who almost died and his sister is now getting baptized.  Anyway….he is going through the temple for the first time and I get to go with him.  I’m so excited!" 

Singing at Ward Christmas Party

We received a text message today.  It said, "This is a pic of my missionary Elder Hess singing at the ward Chrisitmas program.  Merry Christmas from Mission Viego!  Text was sent by Diane Norton.

Christmas Sock



Tony posted this picture on Kyle's facebook wall.  This is quite the Christmas sock and a treasure to boot!  My only hope is that the Christmas sock we send him will be as well received.  Elder McGary (one of Kyle's missionary MTC buds), Elder Hess, and Elder Burnham.



Thanksgiving

"Hey, this last week went by so slow!! It was awful slow because everyone was gone for the Thanksgiving holiday. We only taught like 13 lessons total.  It’s all good though, this week should be much better and a whole lot busier.  We went to our investigators for Thanksgiving and then went to a ward member’s after that for another Thanksgiving.  I basically ate a plate of dinner at each home.  I was so full!!  After eating dinner at both places we went to a big zone activity and we watched the best two years again.  Earlier in the day I played in our ward turkey bowl for about two hours…that was fun and I even scored one of the touchdowns.  Yesterday when we were at Brother Patch’s house having dinner, I got called Elder Eccles in the prayer.  Brother Patch was praying for me and Elder Bufton but he had forgotten my name so he called me Elder Eccles…that was a bit awkward. We got moved into a member’s home and we share a little bedroom probably the size of Kellen’s.  It is crazy small but the exciting news is .... WE GOT A DOG!!!  It’s an Austrailian Shepherd and she is soooo cute.  Her name is Charlotte.  It’s the missionaries dog for as long as they live in the house.  So once we leave the next set of missionaries will be the new owner of the dog.  This dog is so obedient and fun to be around….I absolutely love it!  It’s December and the weather here is in the 80’s.  I love the weather but kind of miss the snow for the holidays.  We have a mission conference and dinner on the 19^th which will be fun cause we will be getting a Christmas present….IPADS!!  We are going over to our ward mission leader’s home on Christmas day to Skype on his computer.  I don’t know what time that will be but hopefully it will be in the AM.  Tell everyone I am doing good and that I love them."

Charlotte

Charlotte & Elder Hess

Chillin in the car with Elder Bufton

Name Tag hitting the rain = Hot Wife

4th Transfer

"We have some baptisms happening this next month around Christmas… that's for sure!   I’m going into my 4th transfer and staying with Elder Bufton.  We are moving into another apartment.  It is the smallest in the mission so that's a joke.  We went to the Methodist church yesterday because our mission choir sang “Come Thou Fount”  and everyone loved it so we are hoping converts will come from that.  No… I  don't sing in the choir…Elder Bufton does!  I sat with the Methodist and talked to them.  It was actually an interfaith thing so there were 9 religions there.  We met with the Mom and her cheerleader daughter (there Dad is the preacher).  It went pretty good.  The mom is solid and the daughter is my age and actually has been going to church for over a year with her boyfriend.  Her boyfriend is now in Tyler Rassmussen’s mission…small world, huh?  So one thing I have learned on my mission….buy pants that are a little too long because you grow and then you have to go through the pain of having them fixed.  This transfer ends on the 7^th of January.  I am so thankful that I get to serve a little longer with Elder Bufton.  I am glad that Mishae has finally told everyone she is planning to serve a mission.  I have known about Mishae leaving for a while now and it has been tough keeping it a secret.  I more or less encouraged her to go and I am so excited that she decided to go.  I’m going to an investigators for Thanksgiving and probably to a few other houses as well.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  I love you and will talk to you again next week."

It rained all last week!

Selfie...when you're bored at 7:00 in the morning.

Back of my planner.

Week 18

"We have been invited to like 5 Thanksgiving dinners…I shouldn’t starve.  The rest of today’s P-day will consist of me going to the dry cleaners and getting my pants fixed and tailored.  California is a lot harder mission than what I had expected.  The mission is hard just for the simple fact it’s one of the richest places to live.  We currently have about 11 investigators.  Dianne (one of our investigators) wants her son to dunk her or be there.  He lives in Texas so the only time he can come out is by Christmas so that’s when she will get in the water.  Remember the miracle I told you about?  The one where the Lady’s brother was dying?  Well…she is saying she will be baptized in January.  She wants to wait for Michael to fully recover and she also wants an Elder to baptize her who has already gone home.  We got a sick referral the other day.  We will be teaching a Mom and her Daughter.  The catch is the Father is a Preacher for his church so that’s gonna be eventful.  There is a Mormon message called “we are one”.  We have been sharing this message a lot to our ward and we are trying to get them to realize that we have 11 investigators but we as a companionship know we can’t get them ourselves but that the Lord wants us and also the member to help bring them to the fold.  As mean as it may sound, we threw down on the ward yesterday.   We have a discussion sign-up sheet and not a whole lot signed up so we told them that we have been instructed by the general authorities to teach 21 lessons a week so we have to be obedient to that in order to see the miracles happen and you are keeping us from being obedient cause you won’t let us teach you.  We told them that we have a ton of gators that are so close we all just need to go one step further and reach all of our potential that the Lord knows we have!  I’m doing good and things are going by quickly.  I can’t believe I’m already going on my 4^th transfer next week.  There is a talk called “Safety for the Soul”.  You should listen to it…it’s really good.  I really haven’t changed much, but believe it or not I really like to study the Book of Mormon.  I am gaining knowledge and truly seeing all that the book has to offer.  I have started marking my new scriptures up like crazy.  I read 10 chapters a day and I am already to 2^nd Nephi Chapter 3 and I only started fully reading it a few days ago.  Read 2^nd Nephi Chapters 31 & 32…they are super good!  Tony and his girls came to the Mission Viejo Stake Center so I got to see them again.  They brought me some new socks.  I got pretty sick last week but I powered through it.  The weather here is hot in the day and cold at night.  Sorry I have no pictures to send you.  My camera has totally died.  I will talk to you again next Monday….I love you all!"

Week 17




Road Trip to San Clemente to attend a Fireside

 


Ocean View....picture taken in the church parking lot in San Clemente



Modeling our Wide Ties....Elder Bufton & Elder Hess

"No baptisms yet.  We promised the ward council 6 by the end of the year.  We are at 1 but we are working hard and miracles are going to happen.  Me and Elder Bufton are good buds.  We get along well - super united.  I gave my first district training this week on unity.  It went pretty well.  I really like Alma 31.  I like how Alma works hard in the scriptures - great example!  I got a new set of scriptures and I'm starting to mark them - so excited!  I bought crayola colored pencils - they work best.  I am going to do Red for the Godhead, Christ, Holy Ghost...Brown for Commandments...Blue for Baptism...Purple for Atonement and Repentence...Green for the Plan of Salvation...Peach for Prayer.  The weather here for the last couple of days has been hot - 90 degrees.  I went to San Clemente on Sunday.  That was alot of fun.  The church had a sick ocean view.  My mission is going super fast - sometimes too fast.  I love it here."

Week 16

I have been worried all week about Kyle’s frame of mind. Kyle had made some discoverings from home and as his Mom I couldn't help but worry how he was going to react.  I was very pleased to hear from him today…there was no need to worry. He is working hard and doing exactly as he should. I should have never doubted!

“MOM it’s all good I’m leading the mission in numbers!!! I’m over it... god has a plan for me. Honestly I’m going so hard out here that it just weighs me down so it’s a relief to have this worry off of my shoulders. I can’t just stop having the highest numbers in the whole mission. I gotta keep going!!! Oh I got a full time car now!!! I’m going to buy a sweater today at H&M. The hems on my pants are coming un-hemmed…..so annoying! I’m glad everyone got my letters. Next time they will probably get one through a video chat on Christmas. I’m a little hesitant on video chatting home. I’m afraid I might get homesick but we’re gonna do it. It’s all good, I’ll be in the mission prime….no worries! On Halloween we had to be in the apartment early so my companion and I watched the Best Two Years! It is pretty exciting to think Caden is now in the mission field. I got an email from him and he sounds like he is doing really good. We have two investigators that we are hopefully setting dates with this week! And….we are teaching 5 lessons today! My area is pretty nice and I love it. I will probably be here for a while. San Clemente is on the coast so today I got a San Clemente comb-over. Guess what I found….a Café Rio! I have a nose for locating them. It was so good! Just a warning… when I serve in Rancho Santa Margarita the Oakley factory is there and owned by a member so I’m gonna get some prescription glasses ha just saying. It’s amazing how kind everyone is here. I get 70% off everything so like cheap status haha. Mom we get food at restaurants for free here haha members and non-members love the missionaries!”

Week 15

"This week was a good week!  We set a whole new area record for contacts in a week....130!  We should get a couple of baptisms really soon so that's awesome.  I will be writing tons of letters today.  Today for P-day we are just going to chill at the apartment.  I'm almost 4 months out that's crazy!  I ate ghost chilli!!! HOTTEST PEPPER IN THE WORLD and I have a video of it.  Tell Kellen and Karlee to watch the mail, I promise to send them a letter in the next day or so.  I forgot my camera again.  I will probably fill up my SD card and then send it to you...more suspenseful that way.  We have a few promising investigators.  We are going to set a date with Diane Norton.  She has been investigating the church for 6 years and she's about to get dunked.  We witnessed a miracle the other day.  There is a lady named Vanessa and her brother is a member.  He has health problems and he went into dialysis last week.  He wound up on life support and was basically a goner for sure...he really was on his death bed.  Vanessa prayed and told the Lord that she would get baptized if he lives.  Shortly after her prayer, her brother snapped out of it and was just fine like nothing had happened!!  I got the Halloween package that Jayden and Karlee sent to me.  I basically had it eaten within 5 minutes.  If you would like to send me some more treats, I would love some goldfish pretzels, oreos, etc.  You know what I like and I would love you forever.  The ward members are so good to us.  They feed us so good it is ridiculous.  Who is playing in the World Series?  Ha ha ha....It's weird but I don't really care, I'm just curious.  I get to go golfing next Monday! Missionary work is not hard!  Living without the gospel is hard!  Love you all!  Till next week."  

A missionary bike????



A new missionary bike? Elder Hess seeing what it might be like to ride a bike.  Looks like he might be trying Pee Wee Herman's bike out.  Kyle had mentioned in an email that Anthony is really good friends with Pee Wee Herman.



Love that smile!

See you in Two!

Kyle and Caden are not only cousins they are best friends!  They are two peas in a pod and sometimes it is even scary!  This picture was taken at Kyle's farewell.  It was the last time these two would see each other for 2 years.  Today...Caden left to join Kyle in the mission field.  Kyle writes, "It's time to do the Lord's work and get it done.  The field is white and ready to harvest!  I am proud to be a missionary with my best friend.  Let's go build God's kingdom."  We are so proud of these boys.  I came across this quote, and I loved it.  "You had eternity to prepare for your mission and you'll have eternity to reflect on it.  But you'll only have two years to live it."  There is no doubt they will both be amazing!  We love you!

Mission Viejo

Heard from Kyle today and I am happy to report that he is doing well and that he is HAPPY!  "I'm in Mission Viejo now and I love it.  My companion, Elder Bufton, is great.  I love him and we get along so well it's like another Kaden Francis.  He is way easy going, played football in High School, rides dirtbikes, goes hunting and fishing.  This kid is a stud.  He lives in Payson, Utah.  I don't need a bike, we just walk and have a van on the weekends so I'm good.  I would love some food!  My comp is a man child.  He is 20 years old, 6'5" and 300+ pounds.  He is a big boy for sure but he is a stud!  Mrs. Cramner's (my Jr. High cooking teacher) family is in my ward now.  I saw Mrs. Cramner this weekend and that was really weird. We should have 5 baptisms by the end of the year.  One is setting a date and another one had a weird miracle happen to where she said she was setting a date also.  I really like my new area, it is a pretty wealthy area but the people are very humble with their money.  I will send you some pictures next week....I left my camera at my apartment".  Nothing makes me happier than when I hear good things and I know that my son is happily doing the Lord's work.

Trick or Treat




Karlee and Jayden put together a fun Halloween Package for Elder Hess this weekend.

 

Saying goodbye to Laguna Hills

Anthony - A very special ward member from Laguna Hills 2nd Ward.  "It has been a blessing to serve with Tony!  He has helped me through the last two transfers!  I am really going to miss Tony and his two girls.  They are my home away from home!"

 

Dinner at Tony's the night before transferring to 2nd area.  Elder Hess & Tony's Daughter, Lola.

The night before transferring to his 2nd area, Elder Hess went to a Harvest Fair with Anthony and his Girls.  This is Anthony's other daughter.

Saying Goodbye to friends from the Laguna Hills 2nd Ward

I enjoyed some nice email exchanges today.  For one....I got emails from Kyle in such a timely fashion it was definately a breath of fresh air.  He is being transferred to his 2nd area today.  He is overly excited yet very nervous and also very sad.  He made friends with a member in the Laguna Hills 2nd ward named Anthony.  He states that Anthony and his girls have been his home away from home and they have really helped him get through some difficult times during the last 3 months.  Kyle doesn't know where he was being transferred to, he will know around 4:00 today so I guess we wait until next week when we hear from him again.  He had a baptism scheduled for October 26.  I asked him if he would still be able to attend.  He said that he does get to still attend the baptism but only if the guy stays clean.  He also mentioned that he has been teaching Lola (Anthony's daughter) and that she asked him to baptize her but Kyle says she isn't quite ready yet.  Kyle said that he received an email from Caden today.  He was so excited to hear from him.  He was also very excited that Caden would soon be joining him in the mission field.  I asked Kyle today how he was starting to feel?  Was he getting used to things a little better?  Was he happy?  He replied, "I'm ok...I still struggle with the worldly stuff.  I have not yet witnessed a spiritual conversion in myself so I'm going to fully read the Book of Mormon by Christmas.  I'm still working on obtaining a couple of Christlike attributes such as loving and patience to be specific.  I also am striving to be 100% obedient to everything and I still struggle with that.  Now that I am leaving my first area, I am kind of feeling stressed.  It's like starting all over!  I often find myself counting the days until I come home cause I am excited for that and that's when I work ten times harder cause I don't want to go home.  I'm pretty good...just trying to gain more knowledge and opening my mouth to talk to people...  D&C 33.  Ya Mom, I'm good!".

Transfer

Yesterday afternoon we were all taking a Sunday nap when I received a text message.  The message was from a number that none of us recognized.  We opened the text to read that it was from Tony (A member of the Laguna Hills 2nd Ward).  The text said that Kyle was being transferred on Tuesday and so we wouldn't hear from him today, but would likely hear from him on Tuesday around 10:00 a.m.  It also said that he would most likely need a bicycle in the new area that he was being transferred to and he would need some funds for the bike.  It also said  tell my Mom that I love her!".  Upon hearing that he needed a bike, lots of thoughts came rushing into my head.  My first thought was on the Missionary who was just recently killed riding his bicycle in Southern California.  My second thought turned to the movie Rich and I just watched on Friday called The Saratov Approach.  This movie was about two missionaries who were kidnapped for ransom money while serving in Russia in 1998.  Although this movie was very difficult to watch as a missionary mom, it was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.  There were so many examples and lessons that could be learned from the story.  So when I received this text yesterday, my thoughts turned to the movie and I immediately knew and understood that this was God's plan.  My final thought was funds....where and how were we going to come up with money for a bike?  When there is a will there is a way, and I know that all will work out.  A little later in the evening, we received yet another text from Tony.  This time it was a picture of Kyle and his companion.  I love receiving random pictures of Kyle while he is serving.  Kyle's smile is what sees me through.  Knowing that he is happy and that he is doing our Heavenly Father's work is exactly what this Mom always needs. 

Elder Fetterman & Elder Hess

3 Months

Tomorrow marks 3 months that Kyle has been out serving.  Seems crazy...some days it seems like he has been gone forever and other days it seems to have whisped right by.  With the holidays approaching, this Mom is trying hard to keep everything in perspective but I am human and I do find myself missing Kyle alot.  On Monday I was worried and sad that we didn't hear from Kyle.  I kept telling myself no news is good news but in reality I just wanted to know how he was and so it was hard not to stress and worry. To my surprise....I received an email from Kyle last night at 4:00.  I didn't get the email until this morning though because he sent it to my work so I didn't get to talk back and forth with him but I am thankful to just hear from him.  He sounds so much better than what he has sounded for the past couple of weeks.  He still doesn't say much, but I got enough to know that he is happy and that put a smile on Mom's face.  He said that his P-day was moved to Tuesday for this week only because they got to go to the Newport Beach temple and do a session.  He says that the new Temple movie is awesome and that he loved it.  He said that he watched conference at the stake center and that it was great.  His favorite speaker was Brother Bednar.  He says that he has a new favorite scripture it is 2 Nephi 26:12 and that it corralates with his other favorite scripture.  "And I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;". He says that he will have his first baptism on the 26th of October if the guy he is baptising stays clean.  It will also depend on if he doesn't get transferred next week.  He will know on Saturday if he is getting transferred.  Kyle says to tell everyone that he loves them and that he loves the letters, emails, and packages.

Nothing to report!

The last few Mondays have been really frustrating...for me not Kyle!  I think with all of the many missionaries that there are out there, the missionary mail site is on overload and I generally don't get Kyle's emails in a very quick fashion.  Not to mention that when he emails me he generally tells me NOTHING!!!  Today my email consisted of "Mom...I need some garments, I received a package from Madson's and Aunt Jenni and Uncle Dennis and their packages were cool and they made my day.  My companion bugs me and I lost it with him this last week.  I have a new favorite scripture and I wish it was on my missionary plaque."  So...you can see that I am left with many wandering questions.  How did he lose it last week and why?  Did he yell and scream?  Did he remember who he is and what he stands for? Are things better now? What is your new favorite scripture? etc. etc. etc.  I have to just assume that Rich and I have done our very best to teach him and that he actually learned something.  I know that everyday he is going to continue to learn and grow.  There is no doubt that he will be a different kid when he returns. What a journey....enjoying every minute!

Favorite Scripture

Another Tender Mercy

I am thankful everyday for little tender mercies that happen to fall into my path.  As I reported a couple of weeks ago, Kyle was really struggling.  I was left a couple of Mondays ago wondering if he would stay or throw in the towel and come home.  Kyle was so discouraged and as his Mom I was worried sick and there was nothing I could do but pray for him.  A few days after talking with him, a friend that Kyle has made on his mission posted this picture to Kyle's wall.  This was all I needed.  Seeing Kyle's smile, I knew that everything was going to be okay.  Kyle is going to have his ups and downs, but in the long run...I know that Kyle will be okay.  He has always been a good kid.  He sometimes pushes things right to their very limit, but ultimately he always finds himself on the right path.  I love Kyle for the choices that he makes and there is no doubt that he will do great things.

Week 12

I am so happy to report that things are going alot better for Kyle this week.  He was excited to finally get a package and letter from Rich and I.  The package was nothing to brag about....some gold fish, Cinnamon Life cereal, and a letter...but Kyle said it put a smile on his face and hearing that put a smile on his Mom's face.  He sent this picture to us today.  It is a picture of his Zone Leader...Elder Hegland.  Kyle says that he loves this kid and that he looks up to him alot.  It's good to hear that there is someone Kyle looks up to as he has struggled with his first two companions.  I keep reminding Kyle that there is something to learn from everyone we cross paths with.  I had to chuckle...Kyle also said that he would like us to send him a blanket as the one he took with him has gotten too small.  He says that he is playing lots of ball and that he is "stacked".  It was truly good to hear from Kyle today, and especially to hear that life is good.  He expressed to me the saying, "When life gets too hard to stand...kneel".  He says this is what he lives by. 

Week 11

The past couple of weeks have been challenging for Kyle as he has been extremely homesick and even questioning why he chose to serve a mission.  Kyle is a strong kid and I know that he will get past this but as his Mom, I can't help but worry about him.  My grandma passed away on the 5th and my sisters and Rich and I all travelled to California to go to her funeral.  Believe me....it was so hard not to just pass through Irvine and see if we couldn't hook up with Elder Hess.  As tempting as it was....we didn't.  We did however put together a fabulous package that we knew Kyle would love.  I have an aunt and uncle who were willing to drive the California freeway to deliver the package.  We stuffed the package full with 5 boxes of Cinnamon Life, a big bag of peanut M&M, a big box of goldfish crackers, and $25.00.  My aunt and uncle delivered the package to the mission home and we heard from Kyle today that he didn't receive the package.  He said that the zone leaders picked the package up, placed it on top of the car, and then forgot to put it into the car and drove away.  Once the zone leaders realized what they had done and they went back to retrieve the package....someone had stole everything in the package and left them with an empty box.  Kyle said, "the zone leaders said they feel really bad and want to buy all the stuff I didnt get but I told them no.. its a good lesson for me to be more humble and gratefull for the stuff that I do get and I hope wherever the food did go the person really needed it so im not down about it at all."  Kyle also reported that this last week they lost another propsective investigator.  Kyle expressed this week that going on a mission has been the hardest thing he has ever did.  He isn't telling me anything that I didn't try to tell him, but he is now learning and experiencing the hard things I knew would come.  Nothing is harder for me as his mom to not be able to take all the frustration away...to make everything better...and to protect him from the disappointments.  I yearn to be able to give him a hug and help him see that this too shall pass and everything will be okay. Kyle knows the gospel, he knows the principles, and he knows what he needs to do.  Sometimes he just doesn't always like it.  Always.....Kyle is in my thoughts and prayers.  I miss him deeply but I too know that he is where he needs to be.  President Hinkley's father expressed to him while he was on his mission that he needed to forget himself and get to work.  I reminded Kyle of this today in our emails to which I am sure he was not very impressed, but he knows I am right. 

Week 8

We waited all day yesterday to receive no email from Kyle.  If we would have been thinking we would have realized that it was Labor Day and that the libraries were all closed.  I was excited however to get an email from him today...it actually brightened my day leaps and bounds.  He really didn't have much to say but he did express that his week was going alot better than last week.  He said that it was transfers today.  He said that he wasn't being transferred but that he would be getting a new companion.  He is nervous for what lies ahead.  Although he struggled a bit with his last companion, you just never know what the next one will be like.  I told him just to remember to be nice, understanding, and patient.  He says that the area he is in is very slow.  This past week he was able to teach the lessons to several inactive ward members.  He shared an experience he had this past week with a homeless/drug addict man that he was teaching how to pray.  He said that once the man said "Heavenly Father", you could feel the spirit in the room.  He said that the spirit was so strong that it gave him chills and that he couldn't help himself from crying.  He goes on to testify that the power of prayer is real..."it's amazing Mom".  I asked if he had taken any pictures.  He told me yes but that he had left the camera in the car so I would have to wait until next Monday before I saw them.  I miss this kid of mine terribly, but everyday I am thankful for road he has taken.  I am thankful that he is choosing the right and that he is sharing his testimony and the gospel with others. 

Week 7

Received an email from Kyle today.  He has had a tough week and is feeling a bit discouraged.  He said that he has struggled with his companion and that one of his investigators that he thought for sure would committ to baptism cancelled on them.  He also expressed that he was feeling like he had been forgotten.  He said that for the first time ever he dropped to his knees and cried.  He said that after finishing his prayer he literally felt chills and he felt like he was being hugged.  He said that this experience has really changed his outlook on his mission and that it was a real faith builder.  He said that he has a few more investigators lined up for this week and a couple of them are Jehovah Witnesses so they are going to be especially tough.  He said that he went and got his first haircut since leaving home and he totally misses Peggy.  The barber cut it with a #4 and it is way short....he feels bald.  So...he said that he had to go and buy an Angel's hat.  I figure he would find any excuse he can to purchase a hat.  He has recently met a man named Tony who converted to the church 4 years ago.  Kyle and his companion are currently teaching Tony's 2 daughters....one who is 9 and one who is 10.  He says that their attention spans are worse than Kellen's so they are struggling with teaching them the lessons.  He says that Tony is very kind to them. Kyle says that he is currently serving in a fairly wealthy area.  He says that his Bishop (Bishop Braithwaite) is the owner of two major hospitals in California.  He also said that a week or so ago he was able to do exchanges in Laguna Niguel which is one of the richest areas of his mission.  He says that transfers are tomorrow and that he excited for what lies ahead. 

1 month down!

It is honestly hard to believe that 1 month has already passed since Kyle has left.  We miss him terribly but it is so exciting to hear of his experiences and all that he is accomplishing and learning.  We look forward to each Monday when it is his P-Day and we can email for a little while with him.  He reports that he is doing well.  He says that he too enjoys Monday so that he can talk with us a bit.  He gets a little homesick but his Mondays get him through the rest of week.  He says that the rest of the week he stays crazy busy.  He is currently serving in Laguna Niguel.  He reports that him and his companion are white-washing the area.  The other day, Kyle spent 24 hours with his zone leader.  While with his zone leader, they caught a mischevious racoon in their back yard.  He said that was pretty cool.  He has told his Dad and I that they have dinner appointments every night and that he is actually eating things that he probably never would have tried at home.  In fact the other day he said he ate squid and actually liked it.  Kyle is the designated driver and from the looks of the picture above, it looks like he is still sporting his swag!  He was excited to report yesterday that they would be meeting with an investigator on Tuesday and he was thinking that there is a really good possiblity that he may get his first baptism committment.  He also mentioned to his Dad that Danny Ainge showed up at his ward and that his zone leader has had 2 BBQ's with Eric Weddle.  Kyle seems to be making the most of things.  We are proud of him and for his desire to serve.

Small Tender Moments

Kyle has now been out for a little over 3 weeks.  For the most part it hasn't been too bad, but I wouldn't be a mom if I didn't have my days where I miss him terribly.  What has amazed me is when I am having one of those days, I find myself experiencing a small tender moment that puts a smile on my face and helps me see the big picture.  Kyle left the MTC on the 23rd of July.  Someone had told us that we should have sent him a calling card because they usually get to call home when they get to the airport.  Unfortunately, I wasn't  told about this until Sunday and Kyle was leaving on Tuesday so sending one in the mail was not going to happen.  I thought to myself...no big deal he will call collect.  Ya right...he probably doesn't even know what a collect call is.  Anyway...I didn't get a call.  So Thursday, I was feeling a little down.  I wanted to know how he was, if he had made it to California, was he happy.  Basically I wanted to know as a Mom was he ok.  I was playing around in Facebook and something told me that I needed to update and look at Kyle's facebook account.  So I did.  There were a few friend requests that I accepted and there was also a message that Von Orgil (Kyle's Mission President) had accepted him as a friend.  I thought to myself...great I'm going to go check out his page.  So I did and in doing so, I came across a post with a picture.  The post said, "First set of 30 missionaries arriving in Irvine, California".  I clicked on the picture.  It was a picture of missionaries coming down the escalator at the airport and President Orgil and his wife were at the bottom of the escalator ready to greet them.  There in the middle of the escalator was my son with a huge smile on his face.  That was all I needed that day.  I knew my son had arrived in California safely and that he was happy.  Another week went by and again I was having one of those days.  This time was a little better.  I was just sitting on the couch wondering how he was doing...just thinking about him.  My telephone rang and it was Jay Zundel.  Jay called just to tell me an interesting story.  Earlier he had received a telephone call from a grade school friend that he hasn't spoken to in years.  His friend called because he had noticed that Jay had put a comment on a facebook picture that I had posted of Kyle, his mission president, and his wife.  Anyway...the friend asked Jay how he knew Elder Hess.  Jay told him that his son Kyle and Elder Hess were really good friends, that he had been Elder Hess' bishop for the last 5 years, and that he was also Elder Hess' baseball coach since he was 10 years old.  Jay then asked his friend how he knew Elder Hess.  His friend replied, "I don't know Elder Hess but I know his trainer/companion. His trainer/companion is my son".  What a small world!  Life is good and I love these little moments that put a smile on my face.

Presiden Orgil, his wife, and Elder Hess

First set of mission pictures

I could really use a wrist watch Mom!  I really like this one...hint hint!

Kyle and his 1st companion at the MTC.  Elder Tanefski from Boulder City Nevada

MTC Buds!

MTC Teacher

Kyle and his MTC Branch President...President Peterson

Not sure what this pictures is all about...comb over...just having fun!

Elder Hess and Elder Hemsley (Kyle's Trainer)

1st Apartment in Laguna Niguel.  When Kyle first arrived in California, his apartment was flooded so him and his companion stayed with some members for a few days.

Kyle was made the designated driver...does this car look familiar Mom?

MTC Pictures