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