Letter #31 4/29/13 Its A New Day!

Hello Family!!!

Well I'm here in North Carolina. Jacksonville to be specific with my NEW companion. ELDER STAUFFER!!!! Elder Stauffer is from Orem, Utah. He worked at Tucano's Brazillian Grille for a while. He's really sarcastic. (Clearly we get along).  He's number 6 of 8. He and his siblings played a lot of board games (Again, We get along). He really likes movies (Again, We get along). He's really obedient. He's great :) I love him! He's my best friend!!

Ok so for stories this week... Friday we biked 25 miles and talked to like 50 people I swear. But we had like 3 lessons from people just letting us in and talking to us. That was really neat! :)

Wednesday we met with brother C, who I mentioned last week, and set a baptismal date for June 1st!! He is SUPER SOLID!!! He is set! He's been slowly prepared over the past 2 years for this point, and we're really excited for him!! Really :)

Spiritual thought... Everyone is a member missionary!! We had a dinner with a family yesterday, and before we could even bring anything up they were telling us about people they were trying to fellowship and invite to church. How there were people at work that they talked to. It was SO amazing, as missionaries, to hear about this! To know that people were actively working with their friends. We've run into that a lot since I 've been here in Jacksonville, and I think Jacksonville is SO successful because of the emphasis people put on inviting their friends to church here. SO my invitation this week is to evaluate yourself, and see where you can improve your efforts as a member missionary. Every action counts. Promise! And you will feel SOO much happier if you look for opportunities to share the gospel! On top of that, you will be able to see the blessings of the gospel in your life!!

Well I'm clocking out this week!! I love you all!! Do work!! :) BE HAPPY!!! Please. It's the best :D really! And it's a choice!! It really is. So choose to be happy :)

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Love, Elder Kilbourne

Letter #30 4/22/2013 Goodbye Elder Bentley :(

Hey Family!!!

How are ya'll doing this week?? I've had a pretty great one :) But I left out some details and miracles from last week, so I'll try to include those!! Ok so Last Monday (Two weeks ago) We had dinner with the C family. She's an active member, he is not a member. He is SUPER funny. he had a very similar sense of humor to Elder Bentley and me. It was awesome. He builds motorcycles for a living, and as such he has one of those HUGE redneck beards. Haha it is AWESOME!! But we were talking at dinner, and at some point general conference came up and Elder Bentley and I were talking about how fantastic of a talk Elder Holland gave. Then he says back "Psh.. Elder Holland... Everyone knows the best Apostle is Uchtdorf!" Basically, it blew our minds that he actually knew who the apostles were. We kept talking, and he starts bringing up references from talks President Uchtdorf gave like 2 years ago. It was awesome!! So at the end of dinner, we asked him "So, would you be interested in taking the lessons?" To which he responds, "I thought that's why we had you over for dinner!" Basically, super awesome miracle finding a super elect investigator!! We're PUMPED!!! But, he was busy for the next two weeks, so we set up a lesson with him tomorrow, April 23rd. We're very excited :)

Next miracle was last monday. We were finishing up our preparation day  when we get a text around 4:30 from the J family asking if we had dinner that night. I didn't know who the Js were, so we told them we didn't and they told us the would pick us up around 6. So we get over, and have dinner with them, and it's one of those easy dinners where it's really easy to talk and they're funny and we all get along really well!! As the dinner progresses, He brings up that they haven't been to church in a while. He says the they converted in Arizona about 5 years ago and had an awesome experience there. A year or two later they moved to Utah. Which is the mormon capital, so again they had a very good experience with the church. Then, in October of 2011, they moved out here to North Carolina. They were expecting to again have a really good experience with the LDS church. They didn't expect that things would be a little different. They told us they hadn't seen their home teachers since they had lived here, and how different it was. She also had some health problems that came up, that made it a little more difficult to make it. They didn't blame the church. They acknowledged that they knew that they had control over their decisions, but that they didn't expect it to be as difficult as it was. BUT. What they asked us over for dinner for was because they wanted to get active again. When they lived in Arizona and Utah, they were ON FIRE with the gospel. And they knew that they still had a fire burning, even if it wasn't as big. He said they watched a lot of conference, and recommended that they watch Elder Holland's talk. We thought it would fit perfectly with them. In any case, we're really excited for this family :) Then, yesterday, they were at church!! Which is the first time i've seen them there since I've been here in Jacksonville. Basically this whole experience increased my understanding of the importance of Home Teaching. That that one small act shows how interested and loved that family or person is. I know at home I SERIOUSLY failed in my responsibility as a Home Teacher. That mostly happened because I simply didn't understand, but I still should have done it. Home Teaching is SO valuable. The families you teach NEED the monthly message. And it's not even just the message. It's the responsibility of checking on them, and meeting their needs. They need to have someone they can rely on. It is VITAL!! So if you aren't Home Teaching, START!! :)

Ok, so I think everyone knows... But Transfers are tomorrow!! And Elder Bentley is leaving :( So I will be getting a new companion. I will find out who he is tomorrow. Its sad to say goodbye to him though!! I'm seriously going to miss him. We've had a ton of fun together! It's been great!! Elder Bentley knows where he is going though. He is going to be starting new in an area. I think I already explained it, but it's called whitewashing when a companionship is transferred into an area together. So he will be whitewashing an area in Raleigh as senior companion. Good for him!! He's really excited to serve in the city! He's been in country areas his entire mission, so he's excited to see what the city is like!! I wish him the best!! :)

Ok so a report on this week... It's been decent haha It seems like EVERY investigator we have got sick or something else at the EXACT same time haha so we didn't too many lessons this week... But we made a TON of appoitments for next week! My new companion isn't going to know what to do with all the appointments we have! He's going to think Jacksonville is easy!! And it is :) Haha! Or it seems like it at least. In any case, next week will be better for sure :) We're excited!!

One last thing!! Ok so I've talked about it before, but here's an update on Southport!! A's Grandma has moved her baptismal date to May 11th!! And she has asked my Dad to baptize her, and for kaiti to play a special musical number!! That's super exciting!!! What's really funny is that on May 12th I get to call home, and my family will be in Southport! My first area in my mission, and only like 50 miles away from my current location! That is WEIRD!!! But all exciting :) I'm stoked to see where everything ends up!!! I hope it all works out :)

Well I'm running out of time :) I hope you all are doing well!! I hope you're smiling, and having fun, and making the most of your life!! If not, Start!! :) I hope everyone has a wonderful week!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Love, Elder Kilbourne

Letter #29 4/15/13 Hurrah for Israel!!

Hey, Family!!

It's been an awesome week!! Conference was GREAT!!!  People were definitely jealous of our shirts :)  I'll try to send a picture later.

It's been a little wet here, but it really hasn't been bad.  We got poured on last week, but we had a good time about it.  We're good at having good attitudes :)  We figure you can't change it, so enjoy it.  So we biked through all the giant puddles and stuff haha!  It's great.  I'm expecting it to get worse here, though.  It's been warming up... It's been like 70's and I think it hit the 80's this week.  Super hot. No fun haha  I am going to DIE out here!!  Elder Bentley has told me horror stories about having a temperature of 117 and 100% humidity.  The elders actually got quarantined that day :)  But still, that's HOT!!  We'll see how I hold up :)

Ok, so recently we've been teaching this excommunicated member of the church here in Jacksonville. This guy LOVES LOVES LOVES us. Absolutely loves us. He's is the nicest guy, and he really respects the church. But he has TONS of hang ups over the church. So whenever we go over to his house, all three of us go into the discussion knowing that it's basically going to be a sugar coated bashing session.  It's actually really interesting. I feel like I'm debating with my 15 year old self. A lot of what he brings up and points out is something I thought of when I was 15. And this guy is like 50 years old. haha  It kind of shows what a high level of spirituality our youth are being raised in :)  Unfortunately, today will probably be our last visit, unless he is able to move past some of his issues.

That's awesome about Devin Criddle's mission call.  West Virginia!  When does he enter the MTC?  He'll find out, the Lord knows exactly where we need to be.  We don't get to choose where we serve. haha  I wish more people understood that, though.  Since I've been out I've seen how good and bad elders are called to EVERY mission. 

So, to answer Dad's question, what is the source for "Hurrah for Israel"?  I know there's a story about how Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball were like SUPER sick and were called on missions. After a couple months they were strong enough to leave their beds and depart on the mission. They both got into a carriage, and when they were at like the edge of hearing, they stopped the wagon and yelled three times "Hurrah Hurrah Hurrah for Israel!!" I read that story in a talk given by Tad. R. Calliste called "Being a Consecrated Missionary".  This is an excellent talk.  It really sets a standard for missionaries. 

Your scripture this week... Ok.  So I remember a long time ago reading a talk by Elder Holland called "Place No More for the Enemy of my Soul." I remember reading it, and I don't think I got anything out of it. haha. Sorry :) I would probably get more out of it if I read it again now... But, like all of Elder Holland's talks, that is a scripture. So, happy hunting :) I found that scripture like a week or two ago. And I love it. Absolutely love it. That scripture, in combination with a few others that I've found, have really helped me lose my desire to sin. Another one that has helped me is Helaman 7:16? I can't remember the scripture, but I'm pretty sure it's Helaman 7. In any case, the scripture says something like "why should you give way to the enticing of him who desires your destruction?" Again, not exact phrasing. That's a paraphrase. But when I read it, it hit me. Why do I give way to disobedience, or sin, or anything else? It takes me back to something Elder Pieper told us when he came in January-- "What doctrine don't I understand?" I like the difference between what doctrine don't I know, and what I don't understand. I can know that I shouldn't do something, or that I SHOULD do something. But until I actually do it, or my behavior changes, I haven't actually understood :) It's like that quote by Boyd K. Packer, "True doctrine understood changes attitudes and behaviors." I absolutely believe that!! But yeah, happy hunting on the scripture :) 

I love you! I hope you've had a wonderful week!! I hope Dad has found friends to do things with while Mom, Kaiti, and Parker have been out of commission! haha But yeah, Have a great week :) !!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Love, Elder Kameron Kilbourne

Letter #28 4/08/2013 General Conference!!

Hello Family!!

How has everyone's week been? Mine has been pretty fantastic :) Probably one of the best weeks of my LIFE!!! We had V's baptism this week!! It was a really nice service!! Because of conference though she hasn't been confirmed yet. She'll be confirmed this Sunday, so there is like a 12 day period between her baptism and confirmation. Crazy!! But we taught them again this week, and we picked up her step-dad as a new investigator! He is Catholic, and he seems pretty committed to that. But it also sounds like he has very similar beliefs to ours. We're sure he will desire to be baptized :) We're super excited for this family!!!

I would also like to announce that we have NOT had any bike troubles this week!! WOO!!! It sure was nice :) Granted... We also got the car this week... But we still didn't have any issues!! haha 

This Tuesday we have something called Activity Zone Conference. It's where all the missionaries from 3 zones come together and have a 3 hour conference, then go and play like frisbee and other sports for the other 3 hours. To show our district unity all the Elders from our district are all getting matching shirts! I think I sent a picture home of it, but it says "Christ Lives In Me" on it. It's hilarious. But we're putting our last names on the back, and some numbers. So it's almost like a jersey. It's fantastic :D So we've sort of had like a 4 day weekend with Conference weekend, Preparation day today, then activity conference tomorrow!

Something I've realized here in Jacksonville is just how important that unity is. People can sense when companions don't get along. And when they don't get along, it's SO much harder to invite the spirit. No matter how true the words you're teaching are, if you're stressed or angry, you are not in a position or environment to teach effectively.

 

Also, Elder Bentley would like me to reassure you that we are working hard. He worries sometimes that because we have a lot of fun, that people assume we're disobedient. It's interesting how that happens... It seems like people often mistake frowns and depression for reverence. More and more this transfer I've seen how untrue that is. It's important to love the people we teach. It's what internalizes what we teach. It kind of goes back to actions speak louder than words. I think Elder Bentley and I are good at loving the people we teach. I hope I can maintain this love and happiness with my next companion :) My goal is going to be to love him. To make him my best friend, just as Elder Bentley has made me his best friend. It's important!!

 And.... CONFERENCE WEEKEND!!! It has been so wonderful to hear these men speak. I had several questions going into the conference, and like everyone else they were all answered one way or another. Granted, some I had to stretch to answer them, but about half of them were honestly directly answered by a specific talk. It was crazy!!! Elder Holland probably gave my favorite talk. I LOVED how he showed how important believing is. That we are ALL here to walk by faith. It makes me want to re-evaluate my testimony and find where it is weak. Find the doctrines that I only believe, and then find the doctrines that I KNOW. I'll do that for a study this week and let you know how it goes :)

Okay, so for those who don't know, we missionaries are now allowed to email friends. As such, my mom forwards emails from my cousins and close friends, and I've sent out a lot of emails to my high school and college friends :) Each one who has messaged me back has mentioned how their priorities have changed, and how the mission has changed their life. They also mention how happy they are to be servants of the Lord!! It's so wonderful to be a part of this modern day army. To be a soldier in this eternal war of both Good and Evil, and in the modern Information War. Like my friends, I too have seen a change in my life. I have a new found sense of direction and purpose. I know why I am here, and what I want to be. I also take comfort in knowing that I have the tools necessary to get me there :) One of those tools is a modern prophet, who just spoke in conference!! I hope all that read this know how blessed we really are. I'm not just saying that. Can you imagine believing that when we die, that we're just gone? Can you imagine not knowing why bad things happen? Not knowing how to feel happy and fulfilled? Not having a standard by which to make decisions and choices? It's such a blessing!! It really makes life easy. I just thought everyone should know :)

I don't have a scripture for you... Just a note to my Dad: Thank you for being a wonderful Priesthood leader in the home. Thank you for showing me how to raise a family in righteousness. Thank you for putting an emphasis on the gospel, on education, and for allowing me agency to make my own decisions. Thanks Dad :) I love you. I'm proud of you!! I read Elder Bentley your letters and I laugh and tell him all the stories we have together. They're awesome :) I've been really lucky... I've truly been blessed. It's hard to ask for a better life than the one I've had :) And I know that it's almost entirely because of how both you and Mom raised us together as a family. So thank you :)  

Well! Here's to another fantastic week!! Life is what you make it. I truly believe that. I also know that working with a smile changes your perspective on life. Smiling just makes everything better for some reason. So everyone should smile more :) 

I love you all!! I wish you all the best :) have a wonderful week!! 

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Love, Elder Kilbourne

Letter #27 4/01/2013 Baptism!!

Hello Family!!! 

Alright so this week has been FANTASTIC!!! We had 5 people come to sacrament meeting!! It was awesome!!! We were so excited!!! But the highlight of the week was DEFINITELY S's Baptism!! S is a 13 year old boy who was getting taught when I first got here. But he was ready, and he was baptized on Saturday!! Our bishop performed the baptism, I gave a talk on baptism, and Elder Bentley gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. After my talk, a stake councilman came up to me and told me that was the best talk on baptism he's ever heard. One of the counselors in our Bishopric told me the same thing! Then, after the baptismal service was over, the councilman's wife came up to me and told me the same thing!! I'm not being prideful, I don't think I'm better than anyone else. But compliments are nice, and I'm glad I was able to give a good message for the occasion :) 

So that was pretty awesome. Something that's different about teaching younger children compared to older people is that you keep things REALLY simple. And we try to do a LOT more object lessons to help explain and keep them interested. Looking back now though, it would probably be good to use object lessons in ALL our lessons. It keeps people interested!! We would just need to be careful to not be overbearing, or act like their dumb. That's the importance of teaching people not lessons :) 

On a different note... The downer this week has been yet MORE bike troubles. It's actually become really funny. We've had 5 flats this week, and Elder Bentley's bike is basically busted because of his crank arm. When he bikes it's almost like he's galloping like a Horse. It's really funny :) Maybe Rachel would like the bike... ;) hehe But I bought several new tubes this week to fix my tires, and Elder Bentley is ordering the crankarms so we're hoping we're at the end of our trials. 

SO on to more good news, we have a baptism coming up tomorrow!! We're super excited!!! Her name is V. She is also 13. She's SUPER shy, so we've had a small amount of trouble getting to know her, but she's excited for baptism and we're excited for her!! Elder Bentley will be baptizing her, but because of Conference Weekend, she won't be confirmed a member until April 14th. I'll be giving her the Holy GHost :) We're Super Excited!!!!

Ok, so the spiritual thought this week is on patience. Elder Bentley and I have, out of necessity, had a lot of patience this week. Whether it be lessons cancelling, people not fulfilling commitments, or all the bike trouble. We've just had to be patient. And the best example of patience I can think of in the Book of Mormon is Pahoran when he responds to Moroni. This passage is found in Alma 59-61. So if you feel you need patience, read these chapters and see what you can change about your attitude in the face of trials, as well as how you interact with others. We all have room for improvement :)

Well i'm out of time!! I hope everyone is excited for General Conference this weekend!! We sure are!!! I love and miss you all!! Have a wonderful week!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Love, Elder Kameron Kilbourne