Otra semana en el CCM

Querida Familia y Amigos,

Through the things I've struggled with this week, I have learned
to rely on Christ. One thing that has been hard about serving a
mission is not having my family or any of my close friends who
love me to turn to when I am struggling. But this has taught me
to rely on the Lord and he has comforted me in ways I had never
previously experienced. I can honestly say that as I worked with
the Lord to maintain the Spirit this week, I have never been
happier and more focused as a missionary. For some reason, in
my time of greatest pain, my call as a missionary has become so
clear to me.

I have had a lot of opportunities to provide service here in my
Branch that I am really grateful for. Two Sundays ago I sang
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in Sacrament Meeting with
an elder in my district playing the piano. This last Sunday I
played the piano AND I had to give the talk. I was totally
shocked when they asked me to give the talk because I guess I
thought that because I was playing the piano I was safe...
wrong! My talk was on the Holy Ghost and I used Mom's conversion
story to show the differences in the Light of Christ, the Power
of the Holy Ghost, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Also, Sister Vicki F. Matsumori came and spoke in Relief Society
on Sunday. She is the 2nd Counselor in the General Primary
Presidency. She talked with us about how sister missionaries can
help the primary children. We were able to learn a new primary
song together.

On the way home from the temple today, one sister in our group
felt like we should stop some other women who were leaving the
temple. She felt like we should all share our testimonies with
them and we did. One of the women started crying and said that
what we shared with her is exactly what she needed to hear. I
know that if we will listen the Spirit, the Lord will guide and
direct us in our everyday interactions. Being prompted by the
Spirit to serve others is not just for missionaries; it is for
everyone! I know that this is true!

Con muchisimo amor,

Hermana Kinghorn

Hermana Kinghorn and the MTC District

Standing in front of the map pointing to my mission.

















The whole district pointing to our missions. We're going all over the world!










Me, Hermana Mendez and Hermana Tetelpa in front of the
Provo Temple.

Hermana Howze and me in our room on Christmas Day.























My Friend Sister Natania Diriam who will be serving in the Phillipines








With Hermana Howze in front of the Provo Temple.















The most complete picture of my district. It was our teacher, Hermano Cowles, last day with us.















Hermana Howze and me on our first day (that is what the orange stickers are for)

Por fin!

Querida familia y amigos,

Pictures are on the way! I printed some pictures and put them in the mail today so you should be receiving them soon. Yay!
This morning my companions and I went to the temple and attended a sealing session. This was our first sealing session and we loved it. Anyway, it made me think that I cannot wait to see our whole family together in the temple. That will be a wonderful day. I love the temple.
My companions are great. They are both so funny and we are always laughing. The three of us have very different personalities, but somehow it just works out well for us. Hermana Tetelpa is leaving tomorrow for the field and three new sisters will arrive in our zone. They will be living with Hermana Mendez and me. There is always a little anxiety when new sisters arrive, but I am sure they will be great roommates and fellow missionaries. We are really going to miss Hermana Tetelpa though.
Every morning for the past week I have been waking up early so I can read El Libro De Mormon (The Book of Mormon) in Spanish for 30 minutes before I get ready in the morning. When I do this I feel like the whole day just goes better for me and I am able to focus more in class and in my personal study. I also feel myself learning Spanish more rapidly. It's great! If I can understand all of the obscure words in the scriptures, speaking and listening will be a breeze. I know Heavenly Father will bless me for my efforts to preach the gospel in Spanish.
This week we began complete Spanish immersion in class. From now on we will be teaching in Spanish. Last night I had a chance to teach in Spanish. It is hard because there are so many things I want to say but I am limited in my vocabulary and ability to conjugate. At the same time, it makes me focus on the basics and on being sincere so the spirit will be invited to the lesson. Please forgive me if my English becomes hard to understand. I am already forgetting how to spell.
This week I have listened to many of Elder Scott's talks in Spanish. One of the talks was from April 2007 on the Supernal Gift of Prayer. It has made me think a lot about my prayers and how well I am doing with actually communicating with Heavenly Father. I am working to have the faith to be more specific in my prayers to Him. What an incredible blessing that God, the All-Powerful, All-Knowing Creator of the universe, loves us and desires to communicate with us. I know that He hears and answers our prayers.

Les amo (I love you all),

Hermana Kinghorn

P.S. And one more story I forgot to tell you last time. I was making calls in Spanish in the Referral Center this week. I made a few successful calls in Spanish and was able to send the missionaries to one family and the Finding Faith in Christ DVD to another person. They actually understood me and were very patient with me. Success!

Espero que tengan un prospero ano! (there is a squiggly line over the n)!

Querida Familia,

Hermana Tetelpa from Salt Lake City, a native Spanish speaker, moved into our room last week. Hermana Howze and I agree that she is the best thing that ever happened to our Spanish. Tomorrow two other native speakers move into our room and on Thursday Hermana Howze leaves for the Dominican Republic MTC. This means I will be in a room of all native Spanish speakers. It will be good for my Spanish, but I'm not sure what it will do for my sanity!

Coincidentally I met a sister, her name is Hermana Galarza from California (originally from Ecuador)and she is going to serve in Seattle. She is a native speaker so she leaves soon for Seattle. We are hoping to be companions. She asked if I would help her with her English while she helps me with my Spanish.

One thing being a missionary is teaching me is that I can do hard things. The other day my district had a shift in the referral center (RC) where people can call in to have free DVDs or books (Bibles or copies of the Book of Mormon) mailed to them. There were no English calls so my teacher encouraged me to do Spanish calls. I did not want to and I was so afraid, but then I remembered that I came on a mission to do hard things. It turned out that most people weren't home when I called to confirm that they had received the items they asked for. One man hung up on me when I started talking about the church, and one woman patiently listened to me testify of Jesus Christ and told me I could call back. Yay!

Another thing I like about being a missionary is that the message sells itself. What I mean by this is that we as missionaries have an amazing message: the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I love preparing with my companion to invite the Spirit and then being able to testify of the message with complete certainty that if those we teach will read the Book of Mormon with an open heart and pray to their Heavenly Father to see if it is true with intent to act on their answer, they will know that it is the word of God, that Jesus is the Christ, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. With such a powerful message, I can feel confidence that as I do all I can to serve the Lord, great things will happen in the lives of those I contact.

Hermana. Howze and I have had many opportunities to teach in the last few weeks. Twice we even taught part of the first lesson in Spanish. It was nerve-wracking. We love teaching and we have started to feel very comfortable transitioning back and forth, teaching with the spirit, teaching to needs, and teaching varying lengths of lessons with little preparation. It motivates me to learn Spanish so we can feel this same comfort and power when we teach in Spanish.

We are learning about Lesson 2 this week. I love the doctrine of the Plan of Salvation, especially how it is centered on the Savior and His Atonement. Today we were able to attend the temple, the perfect place to learn more about the plan. I love the temple and can't wait to go back next week. I can't say it enough, but serving a mission is hard work. I see how I have a death-grip on weaknesses, bad habits, and pride that I am working every day to loosen. I want to be "more fit for the kingdom." But this isn't something only for missionaries and the new year is a perfect time to look at our lives and see what we can change to become more like our Savior and be more fit to serve Him. I love you all. Thank your for your support. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Con amor,

Hermana Kinghorn