Email Letter - December 17, 2014

Hey everyone sorry it’s been so long, but I want you all to know that I am still alive and that I am doing great out here in the DR.

I am still in Santiago and things are going really good. I am training a kid from Idaho and he is a really good kid and we are doing a lot of really good work together. We’ve got this family that is amazing that we have been teaching and they are amazing. Andres, the husband, was raised in Miami and is super cool, he has had a lot of hard times in life and decided to come to the DR to get away from everything and then met Bielka, his wife, and now they have 2 kids and are really happy together. But we found him one super rainy day huddled under a little tin roof on the side of the road ha-ha. God truly knows how to help the rain become a blessing here, ha-ha. But they really are an amazing family and the other day Andres’s parents were in town and they are totally against us and I got to see the two of them defend their beliefs, and now his parents are participating in our lessons and we were able to answer their questions and explain about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, I know that the Spirit was able to testify to them and that their hearts are slowly being opened to the restored gospel.

I am so happy for the opportunity I have to be here changing the lives of other people. But I love you all and I will write you again soon and I mean it this time ha-ha.

- Elder King

Email Letter & Pics - October 8, 2014

(Dad's note: Quin flew to the DR one year ago today!)

Hey everyone so this week was awesome. And very crazy. So really the craziest thing was conference, and this is why. So Saturday morning we had to go fill up the baptismal font because we had a baptism in between the afternoon and priesthood sessions. So we did that and then we got everything ready so that we could watch everything in English but once its time to start it doesn’t work... so we go running out and take a taxi to a members house so we can watch it there and that was all good for the first 2 sessions on Saturday. We went back and had the best baptism ever and the boy, Jordi, bears his testimony afterwards and everyone is just crying because he talked about how is mom was killed and then he was able to find the church because of that and how he knows he’ll see her again someday. Just amazing. Then we go back to the member’s house to watch the priesthood session and it went well until the first presidency is about to talk and the Wi-Fi cuts out. And then the same thing happens for the Sunday morning session. But whatever, cause we got permission to watch it in the mission office on Monday but it was really frustrating at the moment. But it was so great being able to hear the prophet speak at last on Monday. My favorite talks were Sister Esplin and Elder Callister, and then President Eyring from the priesthood session. 

But I love you all and hope your week is a great one.

- Elder King

Email Letter - October 1, 2014

Hey everyone,

So this week has been really good. Elder Rodriguez and I have been working hard to find new people and hadn’t been having much success, but last week the church offices in Salt Lake sent us a list of references. Now this is not weird but usually missionaries, in the DR at least, just ignore them and keep doing their own thing, but this time I was looking at the list and felt a really strong impression that at least one of these people needed me, so almost immediately I began calling the numbers listed and this one guy named Roldof answered and told us to come over the next day. Well it took us almost an hour to find his house but we eventually found it. And oh boy is he awesome and he also has a girlfriend that is super cool too. It just seemed like they both have been pretty prepared. I’m really excited to see how things go with them. We´re still trying to get a hold of the other people on the list but a lot of them have moved and we just haven’t gotten ahold of the others, but I’m not giving up yet ha-ha.

Another really cool thing that happened was that last Saturday I was able to go back and visit Navarrete, because 3 girls that I had taught were baptized and one of them wanted me to baptize her. So that was great getting to go back for a day and visit people and participate in such a special baptismal program.

But that’s it for this week and I just want you all to know that I love you and you’re all in my prayers.

-Elder King

Email Letter - September 24, 2014

Hey ya´ll

So things are going really good, my comp Elder Rodriguez has been pretty sick recently but now he’s starting to get better. We started leaving in the nights last Saturday and tomorrow we are going to start leaving full days again tomorrow. So the work is staring to progress again, a lot of the people we were teaching we haven’t been able to find, but that’s what happens when you spend a week not working. So a lot of what we´ve been doing is trying to find people. I’m really trying to focus on this thing the mission is starting to do called mini contacting. Basically you just walk up to someone testify of Christ and invite them to church. And of course when they say no you walk away ha-ha, but its all about showing the Lord that you’re willing to do anything to help his kids and we were given the promise of Elder Cornish of the seventy last week that if we do it the people that are ready for us will come out of the woodworks. So of course now that means, in my head, if we don’t do it we aren’t going to find any new people, so I'm going to be mini contacting the world from now on ha-ha.

But really I’m just happy and content to be able to be here helping in the work of the lord. I know he is getting people ready to hear what I have to say everyday, so I’m gladly going to open my mouth ha-ha.

Ha-ha love you all. Have a great week.

-Elder King

Pics - September 17, 2014

Email Letter - September 10, 2014

Hey everyone,

So I left Navarrete today and now I’m in the heart of Santiago in a place called Cristo Rey. The mission office is in my area so I guess that’s pretty cool. My new comp is named Elder Rodriguez and he is from Puerto Rico. But my last week in Navarrete went really well. We had the baptism of Yadira on Saturday and that was great, Elder Mercedez was the one to baptize her, he is the Elder who did her interview, I don’t know why she picked him but it went really well and it was probably the most spiritual service I’ve ever had here. Then on Sunday Yadira asked me to do her confirmation, so that was pretty nerve wracking ha-ha. I’m glad I was holding onto the bishop’s shoulder or I probably would’ve fallen over ha-ha. But it was very special and I’m glad I was able to do that for her.

Saying goodbye to everyone there was really sad especially to Elder Neeley, we really became the best of friends over the last 2 transfers, but a few members said that they were going to start a welga (strike or riot) if I left ha-ha. Navarrete really was like home for me and I’m sad to leave but I’m excited for the opportunity I have to make Cristo Rey my new home. I'll probably be here for a long time so ill need to ha-ha.

But that’s it for this week everyone. Love you all, have a great week.

-Elder King

Email and Pics - September 3, 2014

Hey everyone so I’m going great and I still love the mission. So I don’t know if I’ve told you guys but its been raining a lot recently and really all that means for us is muddy pants and shoes and awesome pics of the sunset ha-ha. The DR wins for its sunsets. But Elder Neeley and I are working really hard and having a lot of success.

We are going to be having a baptism this weekend of this girl that was just golden. She has been going to church even since she was little but was never baptized cause her parents never went but she came to us and asked us to teach her cause she wanted to be baptized. She is now living with her Aunt and Uncle who are super strong members. It was just a really good situation, it was really just a matter of her getting all of the lessons to be baptized so its been a great blessing for us to help her. But we're helping and teaching a lot of other people and it is just so great to be apart of the Lord’s work.

So we also had this awesome service project this week that was soooo gross, like the nastiest thing I have ever done in my entire life, but it was also one of the funnest. We went to a water canal type thing that had a tone of trash in it and weeds and other plant and animal life and we cleaned it out. The water in some parts was black and I’m pretty sure that people had been dumping oil in there or something. But the best part was getting into to water and cutting things out with a machete, lots of fun ha-ha.

But that’s it everyone, I’ll write you next week.

-Elder King

Email Letter & Pics - August 27, 2014

Hey everyone,

So I’m doing great here and I loving the work. We have had a couple of set backs but we're still working really hard and having fun as we do it. The couple I talked about a little while ago, Joselo and Altagracia, weren’t able to be baptized this last weekend because of money problems for their marriage but we're still working really hard to help them. We’ve been having a lot of trouble finding Joselo at home and because of that he’s kind of been starting to lose interest, but this last week was stake conference here in Navarrete and he was able to attend the Sunday session. Elder Dominguez of the Seventy was there and he said some things that really helped Joselo and a few other of our investigators that were there. He talked a lot about families and I guess he just said things that they needed to hear cause now we're having a lot more success in our work. Funny how the Lord talks to people sometimes. 

Really life is just good right now, I hope you’re all having as good a time as I am. Oh and I wanted to thank you all for the birthday wishes, I had a great day. 

-Elder King

Email Letter - August 6, 2014

Hey everyone,

I’m doing super great here and having the time of my life. Elder Neeley and I are doing super well together and getting a ton done, we have a lot of investigators and a lot of them are getting close to baptism and its so special to see them making the necessary changes.

We’re also working with a few less active families and one of them, Jonny and Liset, are getting super excited. Missionaries have worked with them for a long time and they just have never wanted to come back. But elder Neeley and I tried something different with them. We introduced then to family history work and boy do they love it. Jonny has actually always kept records of his dead family members and now they love when we come over, now we're able to work on their worthiness so we came get them to the temple and get all this work done. Sometimes that amazing spirit of Elijah is just what people need to accept the restored gospel. Its the one way the lord was able to touch that family.

Please remember that the lord has given us the amazing blessings of temples, take advantage and do the work for your family.

Love you all and I’ll write you again soon, have a great week.

-Elder King

Email Letter & Pics - July 16, 2014

So it was a pretty busy week and I loved every second of it.

A couple of girls that we've been teaching here in Navarrete got baptized this last Saturday and it was really special. Helen and Idavelca, the girls, wanted the elders that first started teaching them to come and do the baptisms so we had quite a few missionaries there and it was great fun. But really my favorite thing that happened this week was when I was teaching a couple named Joselo and Altagracia, if you all remember they're the ones that are planning to be baptized on my birthday. We were teaching their family about the atonement and we knew that the dad really had some things so work on so we were really focusing on the changing power of the atonement. A few days before this lesson we told them that in order to get baptized they would have to get married and I really saw the disappointment in this guys face and he told us that by the date we had put for his baptism he wouldn’t be ready to get married cause he needed more time to change. But in this lesson, when we were talking about the savior I could see his face lift with hope. It changed the way he thought things would have to be. At the end of the lesson he looked at us and just so simply asked us "what do we need to do to married?" If you could’ve seem this guy 2 months ago you wouldn’t even think it was the same guy. I know the savior is working with him, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. But it was a very cool way to see the power of the atonement working literally right in front of my eyes. If I hadn’t felt that same power in my own life I’m not sure I would believe some of the things I’ve seen here in the mission.
 
What a great blessing it is on our lives to have the ability to change and become someone new. The knowledge that we don’t have time to mess around with the little things in life. We need to make the most of our time and do everything we can to change and to help others change.

But I want you all to know that I love you dearly and I hope you’re all doing great.

-Elder King

Email Letter & Pics - July 2, 2014

Hey everyone,

Hey so I’m doing great here in Navarrete and Elder Neeley and I are killing the game. This last week we went and started working in a part of our area we had never been to, and I swear the people there were just waiting for us. Also we asked the members for help and references in that area as well. And boy did we get some. We had 7 references and almost 10 new investigators this last week so we're pretty happy ha-ha. We really are seeing miracles in our area.

This last week in out district meeting I had the amazing opportunity to give a training on how the atonement applies to missionary work and I had prepared something that I thought would just be amazing and really help my district, and then as my comp was giving his training on humility the entire training changed. I really don’t remember what I said but I just remember that the spirit was so strong in that room, (and yes I did cry, my last name is King after all), but I learned so much and I really think that the spirit touched everyone in that meeting. I was able to bear my testimony of the living Savior and let others know of the love I have for him. It really is a great experience when you’re able to share feelings that powerful. I hope that all of you can find the chance to bear your testimony of our Lord this next week, and let me know how it goes.

I love you all and I hope you all have a great week.

Love Elder King

Pics from a trip to the lake:

Email Letter & Pics - June 18, 2014

Hey everyone,

Sorry it’s been so long but I’m still alive doesn’t worry. Ha-ha. I’m still in Navarrete and having just a blast here I absolutely love these people. I do have a new companion though, his name is Elder Neeley and he seems like a pretty great guy. I can’t wait to get working with him, I’ll try to send a picture in a little bit. But I think we'll have a lot of success together.

We have quite a few people with dates for baptism but they're all for July and August. One family that is really special is Joselo and Altagracia, they have a date for the 23rd of August, that date might have been a little selfish on my part but who could ask for a better present. But this family is just the best ever, Joselo is always asking us to come over more often so that he can be baptized faster ha-ha. He’s not a very smart guy but he has a really strong desire, which is what most people don’t have. So I know that they'll get baptized, I just hope I’m still in Navarrete for my birthday. Keeping my fingers crossed. But I really am having just a blast here in the DR and I really wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love this work.

-Elder King

Zone at the beach

All the way to China? Oh Elder Smith...

New comp - Elder Neeley

Elder Smith

Email Letter - May 21, 2014

Hey everyone,

So this last week a lot has happened, but at the same time nothing has happened. Just wait, let me explain, remember last week how I said that the word here is about to explode? Well Satan found a way so hold us back for a little bit, ha-ha. So 4 out of the last 7 days we've been locked up in our house cause there have been a ton of protests and the city is going a little crazy, and I’m pretty sure there is going to be another one tomorrow. So that’s kinda put a halt to our progress for a little bit. But don’t worry cause as soon as we can we are going to get back to work harder then ever.

The really crappy part is we haven’t been in contact with any of our investigators, so hopefully they’re all ok and still interested when we can go see them. The devil is pretty clever sometimes when he’s trying to put a stop the work of the lord, but he should know by now that is only a temporary thing. Once I’m let loose I’m going to start killing the game. Ha-ha

But anyways I love you all and I’ll write you again next week and let you know how things are going here I’m Navarrete. 

- Elder King

Email Letter - May 14, 2014

Hey everyone, 

So this last week really was a lot of change for me but it was all for the good, ha-ha. The biggest change was the church, the ward I’m in is so strong and it’s going to make a ton of progress in the next few month, the spirit of the lord has touched the people of Navarrete and they are doing work. This last Sunday we had youth, elders, high priest, everyone was coming up to us and asking when they could go out and teach with us, it was really a big change from San Fran. The down side to that is that Satan is, of course, here as well and he is working very hard to stop our progress. But I have a great hope for the work here and the progress that can be made.

Also I’m now the district leader, something I forgot to mention last week, but that has been a very cool experience and also very humbling. Elder Smith and I are still trying to get used to each other, but it’s been really fun getting to know him a little better and serve with him. We've got a few really good investigators that have the potential to progress really quickly, especially with the help we´re getting from the ward. I can tell I’m going to have a lot of fun here in Navarrete, in this transfer and the transfers to come. I’m very excited.

- Elder King

Email Letter - May 7, 2014

Transfers.

So I finally got transferred, ha-ha. I had 6 months in San Francisco and I’m going to miss the people there a lot but it feels good to move on to a new area. I am now in a city called Navarrete, that’s about 20 minutes northwest of Santiago. My new comp is Elder Smith, he is from South Jordan Utah and he seems pretty cool so far. I’m his stepfather, meaning I am his second comp, so I’m really excited about that.

I’ve heard that the people in Navarrete are super nice and humble and I’m already seeing it, so I really just can’t wait to get to work. Also the ward I’m in is the best one in the mission, as far as recent converts go, so I’m really, really happy to come here and help them continue growing, I can feel like its going to be a lot of fun.

But that’s it for this week, ill talk to you all next week. Love you.

- Elder King

Email Letter - April 23, 2014

Hey everyone.

So this last week was really good. We are just getting a ton of work done and making a lot of progress. We now have baptismal dates with 3 single mothers and their, between the 3 of them, 5 kids so thing are going really well, the sad thing is I wont be here for any of them. A family we were teaching that I thought for sure would progress were convinced by some friends that we worship Joseph Smith and asked us not to come by anymore. That was kinda disappointing cause they didn’t even give us the chance to explain, but whatever I’m sure they’ll figure it all out in a few years and then some lucky missionary will find them and they’ll be happier than ever. 

This last Sunday I gave a talk in church and it might have been considered a little mean but I would really call it a friendly reminder or being bluntly honest. It went really well. We talked about the Savior and the example he was for us and then I talked about how when we don’t follow the example he gave for us its an equivalent of denying Jesus. It really got some people thinking and I feel like it really helped the ward. 

Those and the highlights for this week, I love you all and I hope you all had an amazing Easter. I'll write you again next week.

-Elder king

Email Letter and Pics - April 16, 2014

Hey everyone! I’m doing awesome here in San Fran. Elder Mendez and I had a baptism last week. It was the other son of Jimmy and Sonia, the family we got married and baptized back in January. The other kid was finally ready to be dunked so that was great. But the area I’m in right now is exploding, this last week we invited about 10 people to be baptized and all of them accepted so things are looking really great for the future of San Fran.

The other really fun thing we did this last week was all the missionaries in my zone went and played baseball against a team of teenagers and is was awesome the downside was that I got super sunburnt, but it was so worth it. The DR is the best ever, ha-ha.

-Elder King

Email Letter - April 9, 2014

Hey everyone.

So this last week was awesome and me and Elder Mendez are just killing it here in San Fran. I’m actually really jealous of him cause I’m pretty sure that I’m leaving after this transfer and that he is just going to have so many baptisms. Ha-ha. This last week we started teaching 2 families and they are going to progress super fast. They’re the golden families that every missionary wants. Also 2 single mothers that I’ve been teaching for a few weeks have now started to progress and we´re going to put baptismal dates with them pretty soon. This area is about to explode and I’m loving it. The down side is that I probably won’t be here for any of it. But at least I’ll leave behind a progressing area.

Also general conference was amazing, as usual, but the talks that I really loved were the one President Eyring gave in the priesthood session and President Packer when he was just barking at the world like always ha-ha, though it was very sad to see how much pain he is in. But that’s it for this week everyone. I love you all and I’ll write you again next week.

-Elder King

Email Letter and Pictures - March 27, 2014

Hey everyone,

I’m doing really well. So this last week was a little crazy and a lot happened but I’m going to make a long story short and say that I spent the last four days with Elder Drury cause Elder Agramonte and I could no longer be together. Good thing yesterday was transfers and I got my real new companion, his name is Elder Mendez, he is also Dominican and I’m kind of his mission dad, well I guess I’m technically his step father but I will be finishing his training cause the elder he was with was un able to do so. But he is full of energy and ready to work which makes me really happy. Right now he hasn’t really had a good mission experience so I’m hoping to fix that.

I’m not really sure I’m ready to train but I guess president sees something that I don't. I sure hope he´s right about this ha-ha. Either way I’m going to be doing my best ha-ha. Hope everything works out.

That’s it for this week everyone. I'll write you again next week, love you all.

- Elder King

Email Letter and Pictures - March 19, 2014

Hey everyone,

So this last week was really special. My companion, Elder Agramonte, is now working really hard, which he hasn’t been until this week. It was really nice to have the spirit in our lessons again, and what a difference it makes! Now we´re having people in church and the branch is back to where it was about a month ago.

But the coolest thing that happened this last week was that it was the tour of the mission by Elder Claudio Zivic. So President Douglas chose about 6 missionaries that would be able to have interviews with him, and I was one of the lucky few. It was a very great and spiritual experience. He is very inspired and really helped me figure out a couple things. I’m not really sure how often that happens in life so I had to make the most of it. Ha-ha but yeah he is a really cool and special guy.

So transfers are this next week and I have a promise from President that I will be staying here in San Fran, and that I will also be getting a new companion. I am happy about both of these things. And I really hope I’ll be able to find whoever is still waiting for me here.

Well that’s it for this week I love you all and I’ll write again next week.

- Elder King

With Elder Claudio Zivic of the Seventy

Email Letter and Pics - March 5th, 2014

Hey!!

So not a lot happened this week but the things that did happen were significant. I had the great opportunity to baptize a lady named Veronica this week and her 2 sons. This was huge for me cause she was my first lesson ever in the mission, I cant even explain how happy I was ha-ha. I really wish you guys could see her when we first started teaching her, cause she doesn’t even look like the same person. She really is just the best ever and her kids are super funny and athletic so we just have a blast with them.

Other than that nothing has really happened, we’re just trying to get people to teach right now cause all of our investigators that were progressing are baptized now ha-ha. The hard life of a missionary... anyways that’s it for this week I love you all.

- Elder King

Three boys in one of the member families - they wrestle all the time, and remind me of Me and my brothers Sean and Carter when we were their age. They are so much fun!

Veronica and her two sons at the baptism

Me and Veronica

Me and Veronica's sons

Veronica and her sons

Email Letter - February 26, 2014

Hey everyone,

I’m doing great here and having a lot of fun, I’m probably in the best shape of my life walking up and down hill 10 to 15 times a day, if not more. I’ve never actually counted ha-ha. But things are going great in the work. My comp and I are having a lot of success and also a lot of fun ha-ha. He is one of the funniest people I know which is saying something cause I know some pretty funny people, (myself being number one of course).

But this weekend we are going to have a 2 day intercambio cause my comp will be going to the temple with a family that he baptized last year, and I will be baptizing Veronica and her two sons. It’s going to be a big weekend for the both of us. And we´re both very excited.

That’s really it for this week everyone, hope you all have a great week.

- Elder King

Email Letter - February 19, 2014

Hey everyone.

Not a lot big has happened this last week. You know just the spirit of the lord touching the hearts of men. ;) Ha-ha. No but seriously this week has been really good. My new comp is named Elder Agramonte. Getting a new comp has been a really good experience for me, and I’ve grown a lot in this last week.

Our investigators are doing really well and we have a lady that we´re going to baptize not this Saturday but the next. She and her kids are really excited and can’t wait. I honesty wish I had a picture of this lady from when we first started teaching her to compare to how she looks right now. Cause seriously she doesn’t even look like the same person. It’s a truly amazing experience to how the blessing of the gospel truly changes lives.

Well that’s it for this week everyone. I love and miss you all.

-Elder King

Email Letter and Pictures - Febuary 12, 2014

Hey everyone! Sorry it’s been awhile since my last group email, I’ve just been really busy and not had a lot of time to write. But I’m doing great, I’m still in San Fran. And I had my first baptism this last weekend.

We had been teaching this part member family, where the husband was a less active and the wife and kids were non members, but we got them married legally this last Friday, and on Saturday the wife and oldest son were baptized, and they both asked me to perform the ordinance, I was really nervous but everything went smoothly.

Other really big news is that the branch that I am serving in that in November only had 20 people coming to church every Sunday is now big enough to become a ward. This will officially happen sometime in the next two months or so. This is really big for the branch as you can imagine. Needless to say the members are ecstatic and the missionaries are able now to work harder than ever with the now significant help of the members.

Today I got my new comp. He is a native Dominican that is a little shorter then my shoulder and is rather round. Ha-ha. But I am very excited to get to know him and work with him. There is a pretty good chance that I will kill him as well, but we´ll see.

Well that’s it for this week, I love you all and you’re always in my prayers.

- Elder King