November 26, 2012

Greetings from Österreich,

(About his brother Jason getting called to the Madrid Spain Mission)  Of course and my eyes just were like 'where is it, where is it?' And then I saw Alpine Germany. Then I started reading it out loud. It was pretty exciting. Now we can be european buddies together.  But you'll love the people. I know quite a few people from Spain and I love all of them. We won't be that far apart, just 1 or 2 time zones, and really 2 countries away. Just france is between our missions. Whoa, we just have one mission between us. Haha, how many brothers can say that? Good luck in Spain you'll love it. The field is the coolest thing in the world. And good luck sitting down for 4 hours straight studying.

Wow...crazy... two mission calls within the one year!

Hmm so now everyone in the family can speak Spanish except me, and Tanya and Kevin. Oh well, I can speak German.

I know what it's like for Jason to be in a Spanish lesson. Last night we met with the family from Spain. Of course they speak Spanish, so our ward mission leader translated for us. They are all from Spain. Except one he is from Colombia. But then he served in the Canary Islands too. They are all super excited for Jason going there. They love it. They are so cool. They love how Jason got his mission call there. They are an awesome family.

Haha so I have a question. Does that mean you won't come pick me up and just wait for Jason to finish his mission? Then pick up jason and go to both? I really don't know. But that would be cool. That way we could see each others missions and meet all of the people we have gotten to know over the past two years. But I have no clue. The people here are just so cool and I love it here. The ward members are just awesome. And yes that is Elder G.’s dad. It's a small world after all. 

So this last week was super busy. We had 12 lessons in really 4 proselytizing days.  Monday was Pday (so we had 3 hours that day) Tuesday was a full day. Wednesday was district meeting and then it was "finding day" until 5, so only half day. Then Thursday was "transfer day" so we were in Wien and no work got done in Wiener Neustadt. So then we had Friday and Saturday as whole days. It was a super busy week. So that was goodbye to Elder B. and hello to Elder G. He is a great elder from St. George. We are going to get a lot done by the end of the year. 

Then we met with B. twice also. She is also amazing. The Book of Mormon has really changed her life. She will get baptized sometime after Christmas she said. It's awesome.   Oh, so Saturday when we met with B. we had a member from Wien come with us. His name is D. He was actually baptized by Elder H. He is a super cool guy. I love him. So that's really cool I was on a mitbelehrung (member lesson thing) with someone he baptized. And we have quite a few potentials with a lot of potential. Haha that sounds funny. 

Well of course you missed my smoking powers. Who else can make a wonderfully delicious turkey? And yes, we did have one here. Well, it was chicken. But still we had Thanksgiving with a flare of Austrian. We had rot kohl. So that was a little bit odd for Thanksgiving, but it was pretty cool.  

Gaa that's not good (shooting 71 in golf). So what you are saying is I need to become pro level in golf within one year of me coming home. Ok I can do it. Just 4 rounds a day and I'll be good. Well except for Sunday. That is completely possible with everything that I'll have to be doing-school, work, winter. 

And ya that's Elder G.’s dad. He is a pretty cool elder. I still don't know him that well so I'll send you more information about him next week when I find some more stuff out. Right now it feels like we are on a long exchange. Oh well. 

Right now I am quite low on missionary money and but that's ok because I just have to make it until friday. And I also need to do reimbursements for all of the train tickets we have to buy. So, by next month I probably won't have to worry about running low. I'll have a nice buffer. Right now I have 25 euros but next month probably like 50 or 60 euros left over by the end of the month. Why am I talking about how many euros are in my missionary account? That's kind of odd. Well that's what kind of missionary I am I guess. Just an ADD boy who loves the work. Oh, one of the bikes is about ready to die. Haha luckily we have a mechanical engineer in the ward who has already saved it once. He really pulled off a miracle. I heard how bad the bike was before. 

Ya um you have never seen Christmas like Christmas here in Wien. It really is something different. Carlsplatz is going crazy with decorations. We were there last week contacting and they have enormous light displays and huge christmas villages. Not displays,

 but actual villages!

I don't have tons of pictures, but I have a lot. Maybe 300. So I guess that is a lot. They aren't backed up yet. Sorry, I probably should. I was going to do it last week but I only brought one cord. not two. So it didn't work. Oh well, next week I'll do it. It really isn't cold anymore. Today I am going to buy a Pea coat, but that's it. Then I’ll look for stuff to send home. And probably my package will get ther late so I'm sorry. But you can enjoy it anyway.

I love everyone. Thank you for all of your prayers. I'll miss you during Christmas. 

Love, Elder Kinghorn

Thank you for all of your support.

November 19, 2012

Dear Family.

So just recently we have had quite the time. We set a baptismal date with this guy from Egypt. He really has interest in the church but we will have to take it slow with him. We’ll probably push his date back a couple of times before he gets baptized. But that's ok, because he will in the future get baptized. And then last week in the “finding day” we really turned up the heat and prayed and set a goal that we would get 4 potentials and give out 5 Book of Mormons in 4 hours. That's a lot in this mission. So we saw a miracle and reached our goal in one hour!!!!  It may seem like a lot but there are so many people here that need the gospel. You should strive for higher goals. This Thursday (Thanksgiving) is transfer day. I am going to stay here. Elder B. is going up to Wien (Vienna) to be a zone leader. My new companion is Elder G. and is from St. George.  I don't know how to spell it.  I have heard he is a great guy and super funny. So I'm excited. Elder B. was great, but companionships don't last forever here in the mission field. Just a couple of months and then it's over. 

That's awesome that Jason will be getting his call soon. Call up the mission office to tell them so they can call me. Then I'll know where Jason is going before next Monday.. 

Hmm I think jason is going to go to Romania... well I have no clue. That's not really a guess. But our mission is expecting an increase of 90 missionaries by April. Not new missionaries, an increase of 90. Every zone will have 6 or 7 new companionships. That's a lot! Jason is going to be a part of the massive increase of missionaries in the next year. But. Jason would get here in the spring when it's not cold. Right now it's hovering around 0°, 1°, or 2° when we get out in the morning. It's also foggy or misty. So ,it's like going through a mister when it's freezing cold. But then later in the day it's not so bad. The fog goes away and it's warmer. Then night hits and it's cold again. It gets dark at like 5 here. We still have hours of Hmm I think jason is going to go to romania... well I have no clue. that's not really a guess. But our mission is expecting an increase of 90 missionaries by april. Not new missionaries an increase of 90. Every zone will have 6 or 7 new companionships. That's a lot. Jason is going to be a part of the massive increase of missionaries in the next year. But jason would get here in the spring. WHen it's not cold. Right now it's hovering around 0 1 or 2 when we get out in the morning. But it's also foggy or misty. So it's like going through a mister when it's freezing cold. But then later in the day it's not so bad. The fog goes away and it's warmer. Then night hits and it's cold again. It gets dark at like 5 here. We still have hours of proselytizing after it gets dark. It's so annoying. We need more light to work with. But oh well, in the summer it's light until 10:30. That makes it easier to work with.

Oh, we do get a Thanksgiving dinner. We have a senior companion who feeds the district every week. And Wednesday will be our Thanksgiving dinner-well lunch. But still, we get a real life Thanksgiving dinner in Austria. We are all Americans, except one elder. He is Swiss. So he will have his first Thanksgiving dinner here in Austria. How ironic. How in the world did you not die with 4 eating appointments in one day? Then again they might not be so heavy as eating appointments here. They say eat, eat, eat!!!! You are a missionary and a young man you need food. Well it's not quite like that. But they still give you enormous helpings. Just one of the strange things missionaries do. Suffer and stuff in as much food as possible. 

This area is really great we all love it here.

So, I remembered one more thing. A cheesecake pan (doesn't need to be springform). Elder B. has one and everyone loves it when we make a cheesecake. And now he is leaving. Going to Wien to be a zone leader. 

Today for Pday we are going up to Wien.  It will be a lot of fun. Oh, I also forgot I don't really have any recipes, just a little book like the ward or family one. Those would be perfect. But if you don't have time to get one no problem. 

And no, I do not have a Christmas tree. Maybe Elder G. (my new companion) and I will buy one at the Christmas village in Wien. Yes, they set up villages for christmas. You would like it here Christmas time.  Everyone is in super-Christmas mode.

Anyways, I got to go.

I Love you

Elder Devon Kinghorn

November 12, 2012

I hope everybody has had a good week

So last week was hard to get as much done as normal in Wiener Neustadt. Elder B. was in Munich for two days on a District Leader Counsel.. So I worked in Wien (Vienna) for two days. 

We were doorbelling this apartment building. Someone answered and she had no interest. So, we klingle the next person. It was the same person and she was really upset. So then we go way down the list and klingle someone else. She’s here again and she said she was going to call the cops on us. We were wondering how in the world it kept ringing her. But even if the cops came they couldn't have done anything because we are legal. But we left anyways. Just one of those odd days that just happens. 

In wien we had a lesson with someone. He was wondering why we wouldn't take any wine from him.  We shortly explained the Word of Wisdom to him. He said, “Oh good, I hate alcohol.  Whenever I get drunk I start spitting, so I stopped”. He just got wine to give to us because it's polite to do in Iran(where he is from). You have to give someone a drink or something else. 

What else is new...Yesterday church was amazing. Elder B. spoke and B. was there. She was saying how amazing church was. Ya, she is awesome. Sadly she is super-busy, so it's really really hard to meet with her. We were able to have one lesson this week. She loves the church and the Book of Mormon. 

I don't remember if I said this earlier but the A’s have a marriage date. It’s for early January. That means G. will get baptized in January. He is such an awesome guy and really funny. This is when I wish I could speak Spanish, but sadly I can't. Oh well. Well, I also wish I could speak German. Even though here it isn't German it's Neuderösterreichisch. Ya there are something like 30 dialects in this mission, all of which are way different. Well it's still awesome.

Mother-First I have to ask did the package full of chocolate get to you? If not, it should be another week. I went for the cheap shipping. And secondly, I think we found a better hot chocolate thing than you. We didn't buy it but it was Lindt. And it's not a mix it's chocolate and you put it into hot milk and it smooths together into a magical froth of chocolately heaven.

Transfer calls are this friday. I think I'll stay for one more transfer and Elder B. will leave next week. But it's all up in the air. 

The camera is great. I got lazy with my journal so I started to just do video entries every other day or so. I'll send some other pictures. It takes forever to send, sadly, but oh well. So if my next area is in the Alps (which I think it will be) I'll send you some pictures. All we have is Schnee Berg 30 km away. So, too far for pictures.

I'll send more in the family letter. I Love you elder devon kinghorn

Love Elder Devon Kinghorn

November 5, 2012

Hallo Familie!!!

Here is a funny story. Well it's also kind of a disaster story. So, last week we were thinking “Hmm, we haven't had mexican food in forever so let's make some fajitas this week.” While we were contacting, this guy gave us some mysterious orange peppers that looked like habanero peppers. So we took them. Friday night as we were making fajitas we started to cut up our meat. Well it was 5 euro for one kilo; Equivalent to 2 dollars a pound about. It was pretty cheap beef. And well, with our crappy knives we made the first incision. Blood came gushing out. Kind of gross huh? Then an hour later we were finally done cutting up this chunk of gulosh fleisch and made fajitas with these mysterious peppers. Haha--we made volcano rubber with it! It was super spicy and the toughest meat we have ever eaten in our lives. But it's ok, because we needed something spicy. Ya that's our cooking story for this week. 

Ok, anyways this week it has been super-super foggy. Every morning we wake up, look outside and yup more fog. But today we woke up and there was no fog! Instead we had rain. Oh well, that's life. But then Wednesday we are meeting with someone for the first time. She is from Hungary and one of our members speaks perfect Hungarian. At first she thought we were some weird religion. But then she read a little bit of the Book of Mormon and decided we aren't that weird after all. Which is true, we aren't weird despite what people say. 

Have fun in 70 degree utah while it's brutally cold here.

Love

Elder Devon Kinghorn

November 5, 2012

Hallo Familie!!!

Here is a funny story. Well it's also kind of a disaster story. So, last week we were thinking “Hmm, we haven't had mexican food in forever so let's make some fajitas this week.” While we were contacting, this guy gave us some mysterious orange peppers that looked like habanero peppers. So we took them. Friday night as we were making fajitas we started to cut up our meat. Well it was 5 euro for one kilo; Equivalent to 2 dollars a pound about. It was pretty cheap beef. And well, with our crappy knives we made the first incision. Blood came gushing out. Kind of gross huh? Then an hour later we were finally done cutting up this chunk of gulosh fleisch and made fajitas with these mysterious peppers. Haha--we made volcano rubber with it! It was super spicy and the toughest meat we have ever eaten in our lives. But it's ok, because we needed something spicy. Ya that's our cooking story for this week. 

Ok, anyways this week it has been super-super foggy. Every morning we wake up, look outside and yup more fog. But today we woke up and there was no fog! Instead we had rain. Oh well, that's life. But then Wednesday we are meeting with someone for the first time. She is from Hungary and one of our members speaks perfect Hungarian. At first she thought we were some weird religion. But then she read a little bit of the Book of Mormon and decided we aren't that weird after all. Which is true, we aren't weird despite what people say. 

Have fun in 70 degree utah while it's brutally cold here.

Love

Elder Devon Kinghorn

November 5, 2012

Hallo Familie!!!

Here is a funny story. Well it's also kind of a disaster story. So, last week we were thinking “Hmm, we haven't had mexican food in forever so let's make some fajitas this week.” While we were contacting, this guy gave us some mysterious orange peppers that looked like habanero peppers. So we took them. Friday night as we were making fajitas we started to cut up our meat. Well it was 5 euro for one kilo; Equivalent to 2 dollars a pound about. It was pretty cheap beef. And well, with our crappy knives we made the first incision. Blood came gushing out. Kind of gross huh? Then an hour later we were finally done cutting up this chunk of gulosh fleisch and made fajitas with these mysterious peppers. Haha--we made volcano rubber with it! It was super spicy and the toughest meat we have ever eaten in our lives. But it's ok, because we needed something spicy. Ya that's our cooking story for this week. 

Ok, anyways this week it has been super-super foggy. Every morning we wake up, look outside and yup more fog. But today we woke up and there was no fog! Instead we had rain. Oh well, that's life. But then Wednesday we are meeting with someone for the first time. She is from Hungary and one of our members speaks perfect Hungarian. At first she thought we were some weird religion. But then she read a little bit of the Book of Mormon and decided we aren't that weird after all. Which is true, we aren't weird despite what people say. 

Have fun in 70 degree utah while it's brutally cold here.

Love

Elder Devon Kinghorn