July 8, 2013

Dear Family

Well we have some cool stories from this past week. Well the broadcast about missionary work really hit Germany. Well especially Ulm. Our branch president said it was revolutionary how members are supposed to do finding. That means I need to be a better neighbor. Then in church the person who gave the priesthood lesson said ok so this Saturday we have a ward party. Who has invited anyone to that? And no one did. Then he said I haven't either and that needs to change. Everyone needs to invite someone. I think we will see a lot of people at this ward party. Germans just needed a very direct statement from the first presidency. The rest of the world can take beat around the bush statements. But germans will take anything to heart when it's direct from someone with authority. 

Also yesterday R.G. came to church. We picked him up in Ehingen and he didn't cancel. He was super excited to come to church. So as we were walking to the train to go to Ulm he was talking about how he has vacation from work in a couple weeks. He said he could do lots of stuff with all of his free time. I said you could get baptized then and he said ya I think I could/ I am almost ready for it I think. He is so cool. So in August he could be baptized. It's not for sure but it could easily happen. 

Also another funny story from this week. So we were going to meet with a less active member. F.G. And we invited the sisters from Göppingen to come because we couldn't find another man to come at 2 in the afternoon and having sisters counts as a man. But she had to cancel because work called her in. I knew that she loved the sisters, so I said oh then I'll have to tell the sisters to go back to Göppingen and she said oh sisters are coming?  Well I can move work back an hour so they can come. So the sisters saved the day. 

Oh today we are doing something really cool. So the Americans in Stuttgart wanted all of the missionaries to have a 4th of july. So all of the missionaries are going to Stuttgart and having a bbq. Doesn't get cooler than that. Ok ya it is the 8th, but close enough. It's still a real American bbq with american meat and sauce and everything. They get that on base.

This Saturday I finished reading the book of mormon again. I want to let everyone know that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of god and it will help anyone with any problem that they have. There is no question too big that God can not answer through the Book of Mormon. This is a truth I have seen over and over again throughout my mission. 

So president miles and I we basically just talked for a while. Nothing that exciting. And we go to Stuttgart once a month usually. We are here today actually but I haven't seen Stuttgart. Just the churches and missionary apartments. Not too much. I see Ulm a lot. It is just as cool as Stuttgart I think. It is really an awesome city. And D. she has been a member since the 80's I think. Quite a while. She is just having a hard time coming to church because the church is different in Germany than Portugal. And yes. the kebabs are amazing in Berlin. That's what everyone tells us. They are super good here in southern Germany, but they still don't compare. Jason said he went to one in his email. And they suck in Spain. Really, they are bad. They were invented in Berlin even though it's Turkish.

Ok, advice for Blake on what to bring. One pair of jeans. He should just buy 1 suit in America. Buy the next in Germany. He should get skinny shirts with small collars. And skinny ties. Ecco's are perfect and lots of garments. Since it’s summer here, don't bring a winter coat. Buy one in Germany they are like 60 euro and way warm. Bring lots of socks. Some warm for winter and some cool for summer. And what else? Bring a couple watches. They are good to have. And it's nice to switch it up. I only brought 2 and wish I brought more. Even just cheap ones from Wallmart. And bring scarfs maybe 2 and ya that's it I think for odd things to bring. 

ya I hope you are having a great day. I love you

Elder Devon Kinghorn

July 1, 2013

Stuttgart Interviews/District meetings- Goppingen District- Holman,Holmstead, Fletcher, Kinghorn, Garrett, Peterson, Motto, Clark 

Dear Family

Well this week was.... Awesome. Everything went right that could have. Well except for a couple late trains. But besides that it was great. First of all after p day we called up R. and asked if he wanted to meet. And he did so we went down to Ehingen. Then Tuesday we had interviews with President Miles, which was cool. Than we had an exchange with the other elders in the district. I was with Elder Garrett (no relation) and we had a good long talk with some old ladies on the train coming back from Stuttgart. Then the next morning we went out preaching the gospel to the world. Contacting was pretty good, but then we had lunch. And instead of lunch elder garrett wanted to look at watches. So we looked in the window and he said I'm buying it. And then he convinced me to buy one. So I did. Then we had a lesson with F.O. He is sadly going to the hospital for a couple of weeks. So we can't meet anymore. And we gave him a triple combination. He gave us this weird book called. ur-ewigkeit in raum und zeit. Really weird you can look it up or a translation in english and ya it's funky. We read some of it and were like...... what is this???? but oh well. Then we went contacting and ran into a castle. That was cool and then he went back to Ellwangen and Fletcher came back to Ulm. Thursday was good. We met with L.S. She is the 16 year old. Then after that we met with RG. Then ya, and Griday was our super super busy day. First of all we went to Lone see for a lesson with a member and our train left at 9:30. J from china. And she lives an hour walk away. Ok actually 45 minute from the Lone see train station. Then we went back to Ulm to get on another train to Heidenheim. So we had another eternally long train ride. And we had an appointment with the B. family. They had a friend there. Her name was B. (however it's spelled) Then after that we took a train back to Ulm and took another train to Illertissen. Where we met with the S. family. They are a part member family. And now it's 7 at night so we could have taken a train back to Ulm and then had dinner but I thought we can meet with Sister K. So we called her up and she said we could come by. So we walked the 15 minutes to her apartment and met with her.  Her husband didn't want to, so he just watched tv. but finally we got in at 9 at night starving for dinner. We were gone forever. But it was a sweet day. And busy the whole time. But then Saturday was also pretty good. We took an hour bus down to Weißenhorn and met with J.B. He was a bishop in Augsburg back in the day. But he hasn't been to church in years. They ended up giving us lunch which was nice. And then we went back to Ulm on the really long bus and then took a long train over to Ehingen where we met with R. again. He is way cool. But then we needed to go up to Ellwangen. So what happened is our ward watched the broadcast in Ellwangen (our branch hasn’t set it up) but we didn't want to take a train at 6:30 in the morning to get there. So that's why we went up that night, to overnight with the elders there Garrett and Peterson. So at church it was awesome. L.S's foreign exchange family was in Germany and drove them all the way up to Ellwangen. So we were able to get a ride back, which was nice. And the broadcast was way cool. We learned a lot. But we had to leave early because the family was leaving soon. But it was so bold how everyone needs to be doing missionary work. Missionaries are not there to make the wards grow. Members do that and missionaries are the ward’s tools. And it's true. The wards with the most converts, the wards actually try to do missionary work. 

Well yes our mission is growing a ton. We are up to 300 missionaries. And about 40 of them are senior couples, but still it's huge. Our mission is just enormous now. One of the biggest in the world now. I have no clue how President is going to handle all of them, but it's big.

And short sleeves are here. I don't know what the guy at Mr mac was saying. I got 2 of them a couple of weeks ago and got Elder Fletcher one. They are slim with a tiny little collar, way hipster but work well here. I'll come home and you'll think what the heck?

And I have no clue when all of the Facebook stuff is going to come out. Hopefully soon. But no clue. But President found out I am good with computers and tablets. So I could end up in the office to hook up all of the mission. So we'll see.

I love you
Elder Kinghorn

June 24, 2013

This past week was good. Kind of hard to meet with people but that's ok. We had an austausche (exchange) with the zone leaders. We had an awesome stretch of street. In 20 minutes we found 3 different people and set up 3 lessons with them. But that was in Stuttgart. So I didn't get to see them again. It was really awesome though. Talking with 3 different people and they all wanted to meet with us. And all in a row. No rejections between. That doesn't happen too often. It was awesome. Maybe it was the heat. It was 41 degrees celcius in Frankfurt. That's well over 100. And also it's humid. German weather is crazy. 

But also we met with R. last week. He is doing as awesome as ever. We talked about the temple. He thought it was way cool that it's the exact same as Jewish temples. (he has studied Jewish religion a ton) so he knew everything that went on in the temple already. It was just making connections in his head. We also met with The really old guy F.O. He said he is about 90% sure the Book of Mormon is true scripture. His big problem is that he can't come to church. He really can't. He is too old and fragile to make the journey. So we are going to have to see what we should do about that one. He wants a copy of the Doctrine and Covenants so we have one.  We’ll go give him next time we meet. But this week he said he doesn't have time. He has visitors and doctors and all sorts of stuff. We also met with Lena. She is really cool. Kind of shy, but she was warming up to us. We met in a park and some drunk guy came up to us and said there is no God. I can't see him it means he doesn't exist. And lena said it's like the wind. You can't see the wind but you can see the effects of it. Not to the drunk guy but to us afterwards. She said if she gets baptized it would be after she moved out from home. So in a couple years. But we think she could be baptized in the next couple months. When we talked with her dad a couple weeks ago he sounded like he didn't care about religion. It wasn't important to him. And wouldn't care what his daughter did with religion. So we'll see. 

Well I am sorry. I just found out it was Fathers Day last week today. In Germany it's in May so I was thinking when is it? Mothers Day is simple, for a month we get all sorts of calls saying get your Skype set up. So Happy belated Fathers Day. I'm just not in the loop.

That's pretty intense about the Ragnar. Ya you could be one of only a few people who have ever ran the whole race. I would say I'll volunteer for next year, but with absolutely no time to train that's not going to happen. I'll volunteer as a support. Bandage up all the wounded solders.

So for your mission prep class I would suggest getting the missionary prep manual. There are tons of great stuff in there to run a class. And also going through Preach My Gospel chapter 10. Those really are golden. I would send you some of my missionary stuff.... But I kind of enjoy having them. President Nally could hook you up. The MTC guide or the 12 week program would also be good.

Ya I heard about JJ He sent me an email for the first time in forever. Maybe ever...

Ya this mission is growing a ton. Right now we are getting about 30 missionaries every transfer and 6 go home. So it's growing quite a bit. Well I know what it's like hearing the in one hour you can find 5 names. We have heard tons of stuff for missionary work that just doesn't work in Germany. Like in one day you can find 30 potential investigators Every single day. The most I have ever heard of is 12 and that was all day finding. And only once. Looking for people in the past is the exact same thing.

Ok and something cool from what happened last week. I was reading in the Bible. When Joseph gets sold to Egypt. And after he reveals himself to his brothers that he is Joseph, the governor of Egypt. He said you didn't sell me into bondage. God sent me there so I could help our family survive this plague. So if we go through trials faithfully and try to do what's right god will bless us. There is always a happy ending. I know that.

I Love you and hope you all have a great week

Elder Devon Kinghorn

I Love you

Elder Devon Kinghorn

June 17, 2013

Dear Family

So this week was quite nice. Tuesday we went to Munich and heard Elder Nelson. That was so cool to hear. Actually we were late to the meeting. So what happened is German trains are awful. We were supposed to take a high speed train that left at 8:12. But it broke so it never came to Ulm. So with half of the zone in Ulm, and the other half on the broken train we decided to leave the other missionaries and took the slowest train. It left at 8:30 and took two hours instead of one. So we walked into the meeting 10 minutes late and the other missionaries were an hour and a half late. Ya bummer I know. So the first bit there were 3 elders from the Quorum of the Seventy. They all spoke to us. And I took tons of notes so they'll be there when we get home. And then Elder Nelson talked for the last hour. Well actually the last half hour he opened it up for questions. And I wish I would have thought of one earlier to ask. But some of the questions I learned a ton from. One of them blew all of our minds. When Jesus tells Peter, ‘Thou shalt deny me three times’ it wasn't a prophecy. It was a commandment. That's why Peter wept. I have heard so many other things about it. 

Well then Wednesday came around and we had nothing, so we just went by on tons of people. Then we met with the D. (no idea how it's spelled) and they were very impressed by us. She said how she doesn't like how the church works here and thought there were no more good missionaries. But with us she feels different. It was a very cool experience. But also very sad that she hasn't felt loved by the church since they moved here from Portugal. She also loves how mom can speak Portuguese and said it would be cool if she sent something to her. Maybe you could send your testimony in Portuguese or something. We also went by on L. She is the 16 year old who lived with a Mormon family in the states for a foreign exchange program. We are meeting with her on Wednesday. She is pretty shy, but we think she wants to join the church. She told us she really liked it but wanted to make sure it was true. 

So Thursday we planned forever doing paperwork, weekly planning all that jazz. And then we met with some 20 year olds. It was kind of a half Bible bash. half lesson. It wasn't contentious it was good nature. And the one from Florida has a lot of interest. I think he actually wants to find out what the Book of Mormon says. Then Friday was an exciting day. We chopped wood for hours but then Elder F. died afterwards. He gets this strange type of migraine where he goes half paralyzed and he got that Friday night. So he was out for the count. 

We had a lesson with a Chinese member named J.  The branch president went with me.  As we left Elder F. with A. (another member). And we were debating if we should sleep there or go back home. The zone leaders had no clue and the AP's said stay put till we say anything. And then finally at 9:40 we were able to talk to Sister Miles and she talked to President and we needed to go home. So we got driven home. Then Saturday we had two lessons. One with R. and one with a less active sister, K. And we had to change both of them to this coming week. That was super sad. But Elder F. doesn't even remember Saturday, but he is 100% now. No problems. Church was good, we had two eating appointments and calls from the zone leaders and all sorts of stuff.


Yup, Switzerland is expensive and money grows on trees there. But the missionary work in Switzerland is really going right now. The Swiss people are much more open to the gospel. That may sound weird because they are so rich. But I was talking to elder E. about it (the Swiss missionary) and he said people there are much more open to religion. And that's why there are so many more members in Switzerland. They also have the most baptisms of the mission. 

You could have seen missionaries coming here in the airport. They take the same flight as the missionaries going to Berlin. They had probably split paths just a few minutes before. 

Oh, I'm not one to get discouraged. Honestly it's not that bad here. I hear of all these missionaries who say it's rough and everything. The truth is get to work and who cares. Do your best and it will all be okay. I've never felt depressed because nothings happening. Oh. and this mission is the most coveted mission. More couple missionaries request to come to this mission than any other mission by quite a large margin.

Love

Elder Kinghorn

June 3, 2013

Dear Family,

Well first of all let me say it's been quite fun here in Ulm. We have been getting really wet recently. It has rained and rained and rained. And well rivers are flooding. Luckily people here have been planning for flooding since the beginning of time, so there isn't much damage. All I've seen is some destroyed parks. But the donau is super high right now. 

We have lots of good news. Today there is no rain. Well just a bit of sprinkling. Not little streams in the road like last week. And we found some really cool people. So Jason last week said he got into a discussion with some Jehovah's Witnesses. Well on Saturday, after a lesson with R, we were walking to our train and someone stopped us. He asked where we were from which church. So we said von der Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage. And he said, “Oh well I'm a Jehovah’s Witness.”  He asks us a pretty typical question, “What is Gods name.” So we tell him the answer, “Elohim.” And he was expecting.. I don't know. So he was pretty shocked. So he said, “What?” So we told him again. Then he was super confused so we told him, “That's God’s name.” Then he asked, “Who is Jehovah?”  “That is Elohim's son. Jehovah created the world and makes it possible for us to be saved from our sins.” So by now he is really confused. And then by now this drunk Russian comes up to us swearing saying we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and how stupid we are for being one. Then the j dub left because he didn't like this drunk Russian. So we start talking to the russian and give him a Book of Mormon saying this is about God and how much he loves you and he found out we were from another church and was super happy with us. He told us about a ton of stuff he lived through in russia and that's why he gets drunk all the time. So we are going to try to help him out. With the gospel everything is possible. There isn't a scar that can't be healed. No trial too hard to overcome. We just need to get him to read the Book of Mormon and come to church. 

Also Frau W. is doing great. She is so funny. Last week we met with a member from China, H.   We talked about genealogy. She has a lot of interest for it. So not this week but next week she wants to come to the family history lab to do some to find out her family history. She knows her ancestors moved from Germany to Russia a hundred years ago. But before that she has no idea. 

And M. is a cool guy. We have been meeting twice a week. And he really loves to talk with us. He thought we were crazy for meeting with him on Friday because it was pouring. He said we should have stayed inside so we didn't get sick. It was a really cold day. He was wearing two sweaters and a beanie. Sadly he didn't come to church yesterday. We still don't know why. Hopefully he comes again next week. 

Then R. is going great. He is still having trouble giving up coffee. He said he will try to do just one every morning and no more during the day. If he can do that it will help him get completely rid of it. 

Well I love you

This work is true. We see miracles every single day

Love Elder Kinghorn

Dear Family,

Well first of all let me say it's been quite fun here in Ulm. We have been getting really wet recently. It has rained and rained and rained. And well rivers are flooding. Luckily people here have been planning for flooding since the beginning of time, so there isn't much damage. All I've seen is some destroyed parks. But the donau is super high right now. 

We have lots of good news. Today there is no rain. Well just a bit of sprinkling. Not little streams in the road like last week. And we found some really cool people. So Jason last week said he got into a discussion with some Jehovah's Witnesses. Well on Saturday, after a lesson with R, we were walking to our train and someone stopped us. He asked where we were from which church. So we said von der Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage. And he said, “Oh well I'm a Jehovah’s Witness.”  He asks us a pretty typical question, “What is Gods name.” So we tell him the answer, “Elohim.” And he was expecting.. I don't know. So he was pretty shocked. So he said, “What?” So we told him again. Then he was super confused so we told him, “That's God’s name.” Then he asked, “Who is Jehovah?”  “That is Elohim's son. Jehovah created the world and makes it possible for us to be saved from our sins.” So by now he is really confused. And then by now this drunk Russian comes up to us swearing saying we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and how stupid we are for being one. Then the j dub left because he didn't like this drunk Russian. So we start talking to the russian and give him a Book of Mormon saying this is about God and how much he loves you and he found out we were from another church and was super happy with us. He told us about a ton of stuff he lived through in russia and that's why he gets drunk all the time. So we are going to try to help him out. With the gospel everything is possible. There isn't a scar that can't be healed. No trial too hard to overcome. We just need to get him to read the Book of Mormon and come to church. 

Also Frau W. is doing great. She is so funny. Last week we met with a member from China, H.   We talked about genealogy. She has a lot of interest for it. So not this week but next week she wants to come to the family history lab to do some to find out her family history. She knows her ancestors moved from Germany to Russia a hundred years ago. But before that she has no idea. 

And M. is a cool guy. We have been meeting twice a week. And he really loves to talk with us. He thought we were crazy for meeting with him on Friday because it was pouring. He said we should have stayed inside so we didn't get sick. It was a really cold day. He was wearing two sweaters and a beanie. Sadly he didn't come to church yesterday. We still don't know why. Hopefully he comes again next week. 

Then R. is going great. He is still having trouble giving up coffee. He said he will try to do just one every morning and no more during the day. If he can do that it will help him get completely rid of it. 

Well I love you

This work is true. We see miracles every single day

Love Elder Kinghorn

May 27, 2013

Elder Devon Kinghorn

May 27, 2013

Dear Family

Well awesome news- C. from Wiener Neustadt just got baptized Saturday! Sadly I wasn't able to make it because we had too many people here we had to be with. We can't really afford leaving because of our ward’s relationship with us. We are really trying to strengthen it. In the past I don't think this ward has had the best relationships with missionaries. Definitely as friends, but not as missionaries. So we are really trying. 

Well this week has been nice. Despite the freezing weather. They don't expect warm weather for two more weeks. The work is going well here. Elder F. and I are doing really good work together.

Elder Nelson is coming and I get to actually see him talk, the first time on my mission. There is one advantage of living in Germany instead of Austria.

Yesterday we almost had 2 people at church. Only one came. but here is the story. So R. and M. both had promised that they would come to church. So we told R. tha we would meet him at his home train station at 8 in the morning. The last train that would get us there before 8 actually left Ulm at 6:05, so we had to wake up way early to get the train. Then we took it down to Ehingen and got there at 6:30 and it was freezing cold. Rain and freezing. Then at 7:40ish after sitting there for a while kind of miserable we decided to call him and he was sick. So we were quite... devastated and took a slightly earlier train back to Ulm at 7:45 after freezing for a while. So we got back to Ulm and we met M. on the way to church. He was way happy to come. He is such a cool guy from Nigeria. He has gone through so much in his life. I feel really bad for him. Then he ended up here in Ulm and he is way happy for that. He is praying to see if he should get baptized (hopefully) and I think he could be baptized by the end of the summer.

Hmm what happened so far. Um on Sunday morning there were so many drunk people in lederhosen because of the big champions league game. It was classic Germany. Drunk people in lederhosen. Way funny though. 

I love you 

Elder Kinghorn

May 20, 2013

Dear Family

Well this week started out on a blah, but ended up great. So Elder F. last Monday started feeling really, really sick after emails. Then we cancelled an appointment for that night. Then on Tuesday he was feeling super sick and almost died. So we stayed home the whole day. So. the first two days were gone. But then Elder F. started feeling better. And so we helped a family do some furniture rearranging (the Russian investigator Frau W.) And she was super funny. But then that ended when the day was almost over. So then I forgot what we did. Thursday we had a lesson with R. and he is doing great. He had to cancel on church again. It's really frustrating sometimes. But that's how it goes. So we cancelled his baptismal date. But hopefully we can set a new one sometime soon. 

But then Friday came around, and in the morning we had nothing set. So we went to a city about 20 minutes away by train. And we had lessons with 2 less actives. It was awesome. We just showed up and they were super excited. Then we found out that neither of them have had any home teachers or visiting teachers come to them in a long long time. And all of the other less actives had the same thing. So, that night was gemeinderat uhh ward council. So we asked for a home teaching and visiting teaching assignment list so we could get people to come with us for their home teaching. All of a sudden it made sense that 80% of the ward is less active. Wiener Neustadt was about 65% active, which is astonishing for Europe. But their home teaching was incredible. Every quarter they would adjust their plans to make it better. 

Then on Saturday we had a street display right in front of the Münster (the giant church) so the whole rule about don't proselyte in front of a church. Ya, oh well. We had to apply to get a spot and that is the spot that the city gave us. But we had 2 members there (an American and a Chinese guy. They are a cool couple), and also the missionaries; so Sisters S. and C. then Elders P and G.,  We had a good time, even though it was super hot.  We found a member who lives in Munich but had lost contact with the church when he moved here from Africa. He was excited to get another Book of Mormon and the missionary’s information. That was way cool. Then we also found a cool guy named M. He is from Nigeria. He actually met the missionaries in Switzerland about a year ago. and now we found him here in Ulm. Yesterday he came to church and we are meeting with him tomorrow. It's way nice because he just lives 5 minutes from the church using his bike. So it's awesome. And hopefully he has some friends. 

That was the exciting things from this past week. The work is really going well. We had 8 lessons last week. Much better than the 0 that were happening not too long ago when I first got here.

I Love you

Elder Kinghorn