E-mail received 6/14/2010

Yeah we decided to change it up. We didn't go last thursday, we're going this wednesday and instead of taking a P-day off, we're taking two half P-days so that we can get the essentials done. Yeah I actually remembered your birthday this year. It's funny because guess who's birthday is the same as yours. Sister Black! Weird huh? But anyway sounds like you guys have an exciting couple weeks. That is very weird that the twins and Cameron and Kim and everybody's going to be graduating in a few days. Time goes by so fast! I got a letter from Miranda on Tuesday. I was super pumped when I got it and it was funny because the assistant to the president was there when I received it and he chastised me a little for being so excited about a letter from a girl. Did you know that Brother Clarke and Sister King are getting married?! CRAZY! That was pretty big news to hear. Although I feel like you might have told me before and I just forgot.

 

We had a pretty boring week this week actually. Everything seemed to cancel. All our appointments with investigators cancelled and we pretty much only had appointments with members. We did a lot of teaching though. I got to see this great video that was made by the San Jose Mission all about how by small and simple things great things come to pass. It goes through the conversion of one of the bishops in San Jose. He was just a regular guy and the girl who sat by him in school was a member and she accidentally left her copy of the Book of Mormon on the desk. He ran to return it to her and when he did she felt prompted to give it to him. So she quickly wrote her testimony in it and then gave it to him. He accepted it and when he got home he tossed it into a corner of his room and forgot about it! About four months later he was lying on his bed when all of a sudden he remembered the book that the girl had given him. He dug around and found it and when he opened it up he saw that she had written a message to him in it. Her testimony and the fact that she'd written it just for him touched him so much that he decided to read the book. He read into the night and by the following day had finished the book! He knelt to pray, following the promise given to all men from Moroni, and received an answer right there of the divinity of that book. He got in contact with her and the missionaries and him and his whole family was baptized! Incredible! It really helped me see one thing. We may not always see the fruits of our labors immediately. In many cases, especially in missionary work, we may not see the fruits of our labors at all!

 

I did a really in depth study about the importance of accepting the Lord's time this week and was inspired to write down this analogy. I considered the growth of  a peach tree. I asked myself what does it take to grow a peach tree? Many people will say that it takes a peach seed, good soil, water, good clean air, and sunlight among other things. Too often people take for granted what are some of the most important elements required for proper growth and nourishment, which is diligence and time. A peach tree will never blossom nor bear fruit before it's season and even if by chance it were to do so the fruit there of would be weak and bitter having not received the necessary nutrients which brings forth sweetness. Without diligence that plant would die and wither away and profit the caretaker nothing. I then thought of a rain drop, who's sojourn from the heavens has taken it far from it's celestial nativity, across vast spaces of the unknown, to the growing peach tree and when falls upon it, does it feel discouraged or disheartened when it quite obviously sees minimal and seemingly insignificant progress in the blossoming of that plant. No. Rather that drop is given purpose. It becomes absorbed in a work and glory greater than itself and is now given purpose in the magical growth of that plant. Both have now grown to more than they ever could have been without the other.

 

We must consider our part in the great plan of redemption laid by our Father from the beginning and understand that what we do in that is of magnificent importance. Whether we are the first drop or the final drop of the season, we can be sure we are part of the laying of the foundation of a great and glorious work. Therefore be not weary in well doing for out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

 

I really am excited to go to the temple and to be able to partake in the Spirit there. I feel like I should always go to the temple with questions because we definitely can receive answers there. I definitely have a lot that I would like to have answered but ultimately I really feel like I don't need any of them answered. The Gospel is the answer to all of my questions or concerns and in it and in Christ I find peace.

 

Transfers are a week away now and we're pretty sure there are going to be a lot of changes. Next transfer is going to be really different because halfway through the transfer are mid transfers when we absorb over 40 of the Cherryhill missionaries. It's both an excited and a nerve wracking time but it will all be fine.

 

I hope Brother Falter heals back alright. It is pretty crazy that so much has happened in so little time. I don't sing as much as I used to. I actually play the piano a lot more. I've played in Sacrament meeting and in a lot of other meetings too. You'd be proud Mom. I'm actually getting pretty good at sightreading hymns now. It's amazing how the Lord develops our talents to touch his children in many ways.

 

Wish everybody luck with all the things that are going on this week and I hope you all have a blessed day!

 

-Elder Guinto

 

P.S. Happy Birthday Mom & Dad! And I'll send you a Father's day card with more pictures.

E-mail received 6/7/2010

Alrighty, so we'll get through the administrative stuff first. I got the camera. It takes beautiful pictures. I've been taking more too so that'll make you happy. All those charges are legitimate. I've bought a couple things lately. The big 50$ one was when I bought a clock for my desk and a watch for a member in my district because they were being late to everything and it was starting to tick me off so I got it for him so he wouldn't have any excuse. Thanks a ton for putting the money in my account for the garments. I didn't realize it was getting that low. Why so much, and so specific? Thanks a ton, I'm just curious. I really couldn't do this without your guys continued and faithful support. I'll be more concious in the future. I don't anticipate me spending any more for a while. Other than the garments. I'll keep the ones I have as a back up, always pays to be prepared. I hadn't thought about trying to order it through the mission (a conference copy of the Ensign). I don't know if we can but it would make sense that we could. You shouldn't send me any other ensigns because we get those through the mission. I would just like a general conference issue that I can mark up for myself and that kind of stuff. A quick heads up. We're not having our preparation day next monday. We're having it this thursday because Elder Calderoni, Crawford, De La Cruz and I are going to New York this thursday for a temple trip and we trade that for a P-day. So if you want to get an e-mail off to me before then I would suggest doing it before then.

 

Wow sounds like Kelson's doing better than I thought. I apologize for snapping. I hope he does go through with actually getting a career. Hopefully it'll start helping him associate with more respectable company and keep him out of trouble.

 

That's awesome that Katelyn got into SOAR! It's the best! It'll give her a good experience of living away from home for a little while. It's kind of funny looking back on it now but the schedule that I followed there is actually much like the schedule that I follow here. I learned a lot there and really got ideas and a view of what I actually wanted to do with my life and what effect planning it out would have. Make sure she takes advantage of it! A note to Katelyn, don't get lazy towards the end of the year! Finish strong. The moment you give a little you open the floodgates to the tempest of idleness and you'll end up losing control. There isn't a lazy person in this world who didn't start on the road to where they are by first letting themselves slip just a little bit. Once you slip just a little it just encourages you to slip more and more. The devil is sly and cunning and gets us by subtle means. Keep it up! Also, if you're not planning to go to another school, and this is just my opinion(once again, mom is smarter than me), don't take the SAT. It's a waste of money if it's not something that's included in your academic goals. If there are scholarships that you're shooting for that require it go for it but otherwise don't waste money and time on it. Once again that's just my opinion. I got halfway through the test and realized that. Also on your question, there is a simple answer. The only person you should trust is God. If God trusts them so can you. That being said you should always give people a chance to change. When we don't give people room to improve, by definition, we are condemning them which is something the Savior told us never to do. That's His job.

 

Tell Maleah to smile! I've actually been pretty grumpy this week as well. I've decided I need to lighten up, believe it or not. I've gotten very serious about our work this week, which is good to a certain extent but it made me get frustrated much easier. There is a delicate balance between too much work and too much fun but the balance must be there. The Lord himself said that He who is compelled in all things and puts too much into the work is not a profitable servant. So I've given myself notes that I'll see throughout the week with little quirky animations I drew so that I could cheer myself and tell myself to let go. Like this morning for instance, our zone leaders forgot to set their alarms and so they didn't make it to sports where they had to pick up some baptismal records from me. I was infuriated! I hunted them down and got the records to them and man was I in a bad mood. But I saw one of my notes and it helped me to let go. We have to remember to forgive everyone, no matter the case. Forgiveness may seem so one sided but it truly helps us in our own endeavors as well. When we hold baggage it slows us down and limits severely what we are capable of. So lighten up! It really makes it easier and much more enjoyable and successful.

 

That's pretty scary about Bro. Falter! I hope he's alright. Yeah, once again. I feel like I've become a little wiser out here on my mission and while some missionaries engage in "unnecessary hazardous recreation" it just looks pretty stupid to me now. While previous to being here I probably would've jumped in head first at that chance. But we all learn our own lessons I guess.

 

Really funny experience I must share. We had an amazing fast and testimony meeting yesterday. One of the previous branch presidents had just gotten back to the branch from the hospital from being gone for almost three months! There were so many beautiful testimonies born. It was already over time and one of the members who always bears an "interesting" testimony gets up and we all ready ourselves for the usual odd, none spirit centered commentary. He starts out by talking about the branch president, I thought wow he's actually going to say something spiritual and uplifting, because he was following a great testimony by the branch president's daughter. Then he says that he's going to sing his grandmother a song. He invited his grandmother, the branch chorister, to join him at the pulpit. In my mind I was like don't you dare! He announced that he was going to sing her favorite song. Again in my mind I said a silent prayer, please let her favorite song be a hymn! He then commenced to sing, in his woefully awful voice, "the Climb" by Hannah Montana. All of the members mouths dropped to the floor. It was probably the most interesting experience I've had on my mission so far. My mouth was wide open, totally dumbstruck that this was actually happening over the pulpit on Sunday. It was crazy. But yeah.

 

We've had a really good week this week. We taught more than we ever have here and we had a lot of good opportunities to learn on companion enxchanges. I hope you guys have a great week. and know that I love you!

 

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 6/1/2010

I got the package and thank you so much! I actually found that just wearing the shirts takes the smell out of them right away. Thanks for the shirts and the ties and especially the pictures. I was really happy to see all the pictures of the family but very sad of course that Kelly's no longer here with us.

That's funny that you saw Vicki. I was pretty taken aback when we knocked on a door and the person answers with "Hi, you're a Vella!" It was pretty crazy. I'm kinda disappointed that nothing was able to happen with her but I have a feeling I'll be there again.

Just a couple quick requests and suggestions. I was wondering if you could send me a copy of the General Conference Issue of the Ensign so that I can have one I can take notes in. Elder Calderoni and I share the one we got from the mission and he's letting me use the one in Portuguese but I'm still working on reading and writing in Portuguese. That would be awesome. Also I noticed that on my Patriarchal Blessing my birthdate is wrong. I don't know if you can go get that changed or something but that would be cool as well. Also, I got this idea from a missionary, I would really enjoy new garments. Mine are getting kinda "used" and they're way too big as well. We're going to the temple this month so I would have the opportunity to go and buy them here which would probably be easier. So you were up to it if you could put like the same amount that it cost the last time that we bought garments in my account that would be awesome. If you want to wait and do it later that's fine too. Whatever works.

I'm sure all this drama has taken it's toll on Maleah. She's very tender and sensitive to things going on around her. She thinks a lot. But if her mind is centered on Christ she will be able to fill her mind with the comfort and peace of the Gospel. I'm glad that everyone seems to be reading their scriptures! Great job! I'm on my fourth read through it since I came out on my mission. Which makes like seven or so. I'm in Helamen. Let's see if you guys can catch up before I start again. I like going through each time with a fresh copy. I'll finish one, give it away, and then order a new one. It's really great to see how you get new insights and revelation every time that you read it.

This week was pretty different. Elder Calderoni hurt his back and was out for two days. The first day we stayed at the apartment and he rested and I had a real in depth personal evaluation. I took the Attributes of Christ Test in a really deep, personal way and I got a lot out of it. There's still a lot of things that I need to improve on and I was able to set some real great goals to take action and become a better missionary.

The second day I went on an exchange into the Paterson East- Spanish Speaking area because Elder De La Cruz became sick as well. I went with Elder Crawford. Man that was an awesome exchange! I love the Spanish program! Thankfully I didn't have to eat at any members houses though because I probably would've died. I'm communicating alright now. I understand Spanish pretty darn tootin but speaking it I'm still a little shaky. We taught a lot though that day and it was really cool. We tracted into this young lady who really needed the Gospel in her life and while she was sweeping her front porch she was really praying for God to do something to help her get out of this rut she'd dug herself into. She looked up from her prayer and up we walked. She was awesome but she doesn't live in my area. I hope she is able to learn about the Gospel and be baptized.

It's been a crazy week but this week will be great. We have a lot of new and exciting goals for the zone and we'll see great miracles as we make them happen and put our trust in the Lord. Our missions are about to explode! I hope you guys have a great week and make sure you keep reading your scriptures!

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 5/24/2010

Yeah it was really hard the first couple days because I guess this is the first person who I was really close to since Grandpa who died and it was so unexpected. I'm really worried about Shon and Brady too. I was thinking about that after I left the library last week. Kelly was really the life of that family. Especially Brady. She really pushed him where he needed it most. DON'T LET SHON THROW AWAY KELLY'S COOKBOOKS! If he doesn't want them I will gladly take them! She had a lot of gems and whenever I was over there with them she always brought them out and shared recipes with me! I always learned a lot of things about cooking whenever we stayed with Kelly. Tell Maleah I don't blame her. I don't know if I would've faired any better at her viewing. I definitely want to go put flowers on her grave when I get home. Tell Grandma thanks (for sending him some shirts). We actually have this one investigator who is old and has SO much stuff lying around her house. She gave me like 20 shirts! They smelled awful though. I haven't tried them on yet but I washed them today (they still smell like their house, I think it'll take a couple washes and some heavily scented detergent to smell normal) and hopefully they'll work. The big issue is pants. I have two 34" waist pants, which are a little roomy, and then all my other pants which are about 10" too big. They work for now though so I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'll hopefully come into some more later though. I need to start sending some of it back to you though. I have WAY to much clothes in our closet and more than half of it I don't wear. Something you might, just as a standing request, put in the box is just dried mangoes. They remind me of home and they're a hit with Elder Calderoni. He says he's "converted to Filipino." This week has been a crazy busy week! My Portuguese is improving bit by bit and I can understand Spanish really well now. It's a little bit tougher speaking it though because in my head I translate it straight to English as I hear it but I don't translate it back very well. Still working on it. We worked like animals this week. We picked up 15 new investigators! Which is more than I've gotten in any two weeks combined! We found two amazing families! One is from the Philippines and one's from Costa Rica. The dad of the Filipino family is JUST LIKE DAD! It's pretty funny. He has the same accent and he just thinks the same too. It's funny. They're both really excited to learn though. We really saw the miracles as we worked hard and showed faith. One thing that really changed the success that we saw was our prayers. We decided to devote the last fifteen minutes of the night to singing a hymn, sharing scriptures about prayer, and then having a really great personal prayer. The day after we did that for the first time and then every time after that we saw huge success in everything that we did. Prayer really has actual, literal, and colossal power. We almost set one of our new investigators with a baptismal date but she said she has to pray about it first. We're planning on a lot of the people that we're really working closely with to start progressing really fast and getting baptized. I have a feeling that we're going to see this area explode in the next couple weeks. Faith is as big a part of what we do as hard work is. But when both are adequately combined and properly applied it is incredible the miracles that you will see. The Costa Rican family contacted us! We were just walking on the street and their son ran up to us and stopped us. Apparently they had seen us earlier that day and then seen another set of missionaries in Paterson earlier that day. When they saw us at that time they thought "now we just have to see what they're all about!" We can't wait to see the wondrous miracles that we're about to behold here. Please give everyone my love, especially Shon and Brady, and tell the girls to read their scriptures.

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 5/17/2010

Sorry it has taken me so long to update Kyle's blog but we had some rather tragic news which led to a whirlwind trip to Utah.  My sister-in-law, Cheryl Kellene Vella, passed away on May 15, 2010.  "Aunt Kelly" was one of Kyle's favorite people and his e-mail this week was in response to the bad news that she was no longer with us.  It touched me so much I wanted to share it with everyone.

Wow. That's really not the news that I was hoping for. It is truly with a solemn and a heavy heart with which I now write. While our belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ may give us cause to rejoice in the sure knowledge that Kelly, being true and faithful, will go home to that God who gave her life in an everlasting state of peace and joy, free of care sorrow and the pain she experienced here, it still can but dullen the sting of loss and the humbling thought of not being able to see her again. Kelly truly brought vibrance and excitement into every facet of life to those who knew her. I will ever guard the memory of her kind, loving, and generous care which she so eagerly administered to those she loved. She ever stood as a beacon and pillar of strength to her family and a golden chord which brought friends and loved ones together in felicity and jovial activity. Always busy about some project to increasingly beautify everything around her. I will miss her very deeply. The ache of her passing will forever bruise my sorrowing heart and also be a testament of strength to uplift and inspire others as she did. As others pass it is common to feel remorse, to grieve, to doubt the seeming uncertainty of the future which inevitably awaits us all, but as the Savior tells us to overcome the world, it is less common but ever more precious to preserve, for as long as it is ours to preserve, the memory of our lost loved ones through the lives we choose to live, emulating the valiant, courageous, and dignified qualities of faith that our forebearers possessed, keeping their resolve, testimony, and countenance ever reflected in ours. Then we know she has certain immortality in us and eternal life in the saving power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and now eagerly awaits the day of the first resurrection when she can be raised triumphantly to her place in the mansions of our Father. It seems that much tragedy has befallen our family these past few years but in reflecting I truly believe it is all for a righteous and a wise purpose. While these saddening occasions must accompany the departing of a dearly loved one, it brings our family together. We've all felt the distance between us growing and the Lord has a way of reminding us of each other. May we all support and approach each other in love in this trying time. Thank you for informing me. I'm very thankful for all that you guys do for me. It's been a trying week but the Lord definitely gives us everything that we need. I've learned that faith and trust bring forth the greatest blessings. It's hard to write much right now for obvious reasons but I hope this finds you well and give my deepest condolences to the Shon, Tyrie, Brady, Kelson, and Grandma Pam Pam. This is hard for everyone. Make sure we're a family, especially now, and stronger now.

-Elder Guinto

New Pictures

Kyle sent us some new pictures.  Check them out at MissionPicsMay2010

E-mail received 5/3/2010

Yeah, it actually became a problem a little bit this week(speaking of losing so much weight). I work out like crazy and I eat basically nothing. I probably only consume about 1200-1500 calories a day. (Which is not healthy.) My stomach has shrunk too much and if I try and eat any more I get sick from eating too much. I can barely get down half a bowl of rice and eggs. I'm working this week on eating more because this last week it got really hot and I was completely exhausted from not eating enough. Plus, fasting used to be a piece of cake for me but now it's like death to not eat for twenty four hours. I bought a new suit this week. Don't worry we found it at a garage sale and it only cost $15! It's a really nice suit though. It's different though because it's double breasted and I've never worn a suit like that. But it fits great and looks great. I took a picture of it so that you can see. I was going through my pictures and it looks like I haven't sent you guys pictures in a while. You can see just through the pictures my losing more and more weight. I'm actually working now on getting more toned than just losing weight. Especially because I think if I lose much more it'll make complications. You'll probably see one extra charge on my debit card today from GNC. I'm out of creatine and protein (basically all I've been "eating") so I'm getting some more today. For recipes I would really like the recipe for meatloaf, including the sauce, and the asian chicken salad. I think the asian chicken salad would actually be pretty cheap to make so that would be really cool because my roommates are from mexico and brazil, where they eat practically ONLY meat, and I'm the only vegetarian so that would be great. Also, if you ever feel the urge to send more mangoes that would be great. I think everyone in my district is hooked on them. A member told us where a filipino store is so we're probably going to check it out today. I'm excited to buy the rice cooker today!  I'm making the coconut soup. I have all the ingredients. Except the shrimp because apparently it's cheaper at walmart. I think the rice cooker will help me get back to a healthier eating style because for a while now I've just been drinking protein mix and creatine mix with water and an apple or banana, if I felt like going crazy. This week's been great though. Our investigator with a baptismal date fell through though. He got called into work last minute and had to go. He's moving to India though so we're going to make sure that he gets in contact with the missionaries there and he'll be able to really understand everything. We saw a lot of miracles this week. Elder Calderoni and I were finding in this really rich part of our area, where we really don't expect any success. This lady answers her door and apparently she'd been knocked by Sister Black and Sister Picard in December and they had had some really good Gospel conversation. She was very open and excited to learn. We must have talked with her for about an hour and a half before we had to go. We're seeing her again on saturday to give her a Book of Mormon so that she can learn about it but she also said that the rest of her family was really interested in learning more because they all liked listening to the sisters. Another really cool experience, we were visiting and taking the Sacrament to some people in the Hospital and as we were leaving, a man who we saw in the elevator stopped us and wanted to know what we believed. Apparently he was a missionary of another faith and he really knew his scriptures. He was really blown away though because the more that we taught him the more he agreed with what we were saying. He said several times that what we were saying was spot on to what he had thought independently from his studies of the scriptures and not stuff that his church really agreed with. We actually got into some pretty deep doctrines but he said all of it just made sense. He was amazed at how much we knew for being so young and even more impressed he said because of our "passion" about what we believed in. Unfortunately, he's not in our area but he was definitely seeing the truths and they were definitely touching his heart. It amazes me how the Lord opens the doors for people and only as we are obedient in doing His work. That's awesome that Tyrie and Paige are doing well. I know I heard that Paige wasn't feeling good for a while or something was going on.  It's crazy to think that someone I went to school with is already married and having children (speaking of his cousin who is married and whose baby is due in August). That is nuts! I could be married and having kids! But I know that I'm here for a purpose. One thing that the man in the hospital kept telling us is that we're going to make incredible husbands and Fathers because of what we believe and that we actually practice what we believe everyday. He told us not to waste ourselves on someone who wants us to be who they want because God's already making us into the men we need to be. I think even more, what I see in a future wife is changing rapidly. Something Elder Pearson also said was that we should marry someone who is totally, completely, and unshakably committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they love it even more than they love you. Because a love for the Gospel will enrich and perfect a love for any and all other things. Crazy stuff. I really do love being out here on a mission. No other place can you see miracles every single day and study the scriptures like we do. It's interesting how sacred we missionaries hold our scripture study time in the morning. We were all talking last night and this morning about really the stuff contained in the scriptures and how much more we have yet to get out of them! The dutiful study of the words from the mouths of the Lord's annointed will yield more applicable, useful, and practical knowledge than the study of all the histories, sciences, and theories of man. It truly is a blessing. I encourage you all to study your scriptures and realize what a treasure they are to hold them in your hands and to be able to study them freely. I'm so excited to talk to everyone on Sunday and yes I'll be calling at that same time. I can't wait!

-Elder Guinto