I have a story about why I never deserve to be ungrateful again. This week we started to teach an excommunicated family who wants to come back into the church. The family Rehauti. They are great and really have the desire to improve their lives. Well...during the lesson it just so happened that their family next door (everyone here is family in some way or another); came to our lesson because they were curious. They asked a lot of questions and you know how the scriptures talk about the people who are prepared to hear the gospel? Well that was them. Meggy and Marciano. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and they loved it. Their homework was to start to read the book of mormon. Well time passed to the next lesson, and guess what? Meggy already read 7 chapters and she said she knew it was the word of God. It was so crazy and unexpected. It was just so beautiful to see people who really thirst for the gospel in their lives start to find it. True Meggy and Marciano will have to change lots in their lives in order to be baptized one day but that doesn't matter. What matters is that they have the desire to change. We will do everything in our power to help them come unto Christ.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tahiti, Mahina November 18, 2013
Tahiti, Mahina November 11, 2013
Ia orana!
Famille et mes amis. J'esper toute est bien.
And so missionary work continues for me. This week was an all time low in our sector. We only had 4 lessons. I am scared we are going to get in trouble for it. Basically most of our investigators hide from us and don't actually want to learn more, they are either too nice to say no, or they just are never there for the time we scheduled the lesson. Besides that things were good this week. We had a baptism in our ward of Varena Taimana. I never had the chance to teach her but it was still good to see her be baptised. She has really changed her life around to be in accordance with the teachings of the gospel. It is neat to see that. Her goal is to be sealed with her family in the temple. We will continue to visit her and her family for encouragement for that.
We didn't have lessons this week. We went around and visited with a lot of members to get them to do missionary work. Sometimes I feel like the members are really scared of us. They know why we are here and they are scared we are going to ask them to do missionary work. I dont blame them. It is really teriffying to share the gospel with people. However, it really is just the little things that make the big difference. We have really been trying to explain that to the members. The Lord isn't asking them to go and convert all their neighbors, but rather to just talk with them, invite them to activities, and be examples to them. It is by the small and simple things that bring about the salvation of souls. I have noticed that here. Most converts here became interested in the gospel because they felt the spirit at a family home evening of a friend who invited them. We are not asking to go out and force the world to baptize but rather we just asked to invite. I really hope we can show the members here that missionary work is not supposed to be a teriffying experience. If you are doing missionary work out of fear you should stop. Missionary work is meant to be centered rather on love.
Speaking of Funny story that isnt acually funny. Basically, all the time here I dont know whether I should laugh or cry, so I just do both. We were having a lesson with Yoana. Yoana is a girl the same age as me that lives with her boyfriend Jonas. She is really reserved. During the lesson I tryed to ask her and her friend if they felt loved when they prayed. But on accident they thought I asked if they felt dead when they prayed; So that is the story of how my language skills drove away the spirit. And now they tease me all the time for saying it. Like I said, I am not sure if I should laugh or cry...Oh well...things continue nonetheless. I hope Yoana continues to be open to our message.
Well that is all dear family and friends. I love you all to participate in the hastening of the Lords work. Whether that is for the dead or the living. You will be blessed in your efforts.
Love you all
Soeur Kimball
Famille et mes amis. J'esper toute est bien.
And so missionary work continues for me. This week was an all time low in our sector. We only had 4 lessons. I am scared we are going to get in trouble for it. Basically most of our investigators hide from us and don't actually want to learn more, they are either too nice to say no, or they just are never there for the time we scheduled the lesson. Besides that things were good this week. We had a baptism in our ward of Varena Taimana. I never had the chance to teach her but it was still good to see her be baptised. She has really changed her life around to be in accordance with the teachings of the gospel. It is neat to see that. Her goal is to be sealed with her family in the temple. We will continue to visit her and her family for encouragement for that.
We didn't have lessons this week. We went around and visited with a lot of members to get them to do missionary work. Sometimes I feel like the members are really scared of us. They know why we are here and they are scared we are going to ask them to do missionary work. I dont blame them. It is really teriffying to share the gospel with people. However, it really is just the little things that make the big difference. We have really been trying to explain that to the members. The Lord isn't asking them to go and convert all their neighbors, but rather to just talk with them, invite them to activities, and be examples to them. It is by the small and simple things that bring about the salvation of souls. I have noticed that here. Most converts here became interested in the gospel because they felt the spirit at a family home evening of a friend who invited them. We are not asking to go out and force the world to baptize but rather we just asked to invite. I really hope we can show the members here that missionary work is not supposed to be a teriffying experience. If you are doing missionary work out of fear you should stop. Missionary work is meant to be centered rather on love.
Speaking of Funny story that isnt acually funny. Basically, all the time here I dont know whether I should laugh or cry, so I just do both. We were having a lesson with Yoana. Yoana is a girl the same age as me that lives with her boyfriend Jonas. She is really reserved. During the lesson I tryed to ask her and her friend if they felt loved when they prayed. But on accident they thought I asked if they felt dead when they prayed; So that is the story of how my language skills drove away the spirit. And now they tease me all the time for saying it. Like I said, I am not sure if I should laugh or cry...Oh well...things continue nonetheless. I hope Yoana continues to be open to our message.
Well that is all dear family and friends. I love you all to participate in the hastening of the Lords work. Whether that is for the dead or the living. You will be blessed in your efforts.
Love you all
Soeur Kimball
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Mahina, Tahiti November 4, 2013
This letter will be short because I am out of time...Oops...but anyway this week was good. First off three things to understand about Tahiti.
1. The stars here at night are incredible.
2. I dont know how but it is freezing here at night so a cute missionary couple gave me blankets and I was so happy.
3. People here never just drink water. It is a rule you have to drink juice or some sweet drink.
Ok sorry that was random but I just thought you would like to know random facts.
Almost all of our lessons were canceled, and the ones that were not canceled were with children who have a 2 second attention span, but they are adorable so it is fine.
Do you remember Augustine? We started to teach her and then she moved to Moorea with her boyfriend and baby. She is my age and she is one of the sweetest people. She really wanted to be baptized when we asked her but her boyfriend didn't want to change his ways. Well we got a call from Augustine two nights ago that her boyfriend had a change of heart and they will be married December 21, and she will get baptized the same night. I cried I was so happy for her. I guess the Elders over there on Moorea really helped her boyfriend where we couldn't. Unfortunately we can't go to the baptism because it will be on Moorea but I don't even care I am just so happy for her.
Basically all of our investigators are what you call forever investigators. They keep commitments but don't progress. It is super frustrating but we continue to do our best for them. In the end it is them who has to decide to have the faith to take the next step.
Faith is such an interesting concept and I have learned a lot about what it really means to exercise faith here. I have learned that this work is not the work of man. There is no way. There is no way I could do any of this without the Lord, and that takes a lot of faith on my part. I just have to do my best and have the faith that in each situation if I have been obedient and done my part, he will make up for the rest, and He does. I know, even though it is really hard for me to see right now, there are people being prepared for me to teach in Tuauru. Where they are I have absolutely no idea, but they are there. The best I can do is just do my best to be in tune with the spirit and I know miracles will happen. I love you all. Remember the Lord is always there.
Soeur Kimball
1. The stars here at night are incredible.
2. I dont know how but it is freezing here at night so a cute missionary couple gave me blankets and I was so happy.
3. People here never just drink water. It is a rule you have to drink juice or some sweet drink.
Ok sorry that was random but I just thought you would like to know random facts.
Almost all of our lessons were canceled, and the ones that were not canceled were with children who have a 2 second attention span, but they are adorable so it is fine.
Do you remember Augustine? We started to teach her and then she moved to Moorea with her boyfriend and baby. She is my age and she is one of the sweetest people. She really wanted to be baptized when we asked her but her boyfriend didn't want to change his ways. Well we got a call from Augustine two nights ago that her boyfriend had a change of heart and they will be married December 21, and she will get baptized the same night. I cried I was so happy for her. I guess the Elders over there on Moorea really helped her boyfriend where we couldn't. Unfortunately we can't go to the baptism because it will be on Moorea but I don't even care I am just so happy for her.
Basically all of our investigators are what you call forever investigators. They keep commitments but don't progress. It is super frustrating but we continue to do our best for them. In the end it is them who has to decide to have the faith to take the next step.
Faith is such an interesting concept and I have learned a lot about what it really means to exercise faith here. I have learned that this work is not the work of man. There is no way. There is no way I could do any of this without the Lord, and that takes a lot of faith on my part. I just have to do my best and have the faith that in each situation if I have been obedient and done my part, he will make up for the rest, and He does. I know, even though it is really hard for me to see right now, there are people being prepared for me to teach in Tuauru. Where they are I have absolutely no idea, but they are there. The best I can do is just do my best to be in tune with the spirit and I know miracles will happen. I love you all. Remember the Lord is always there.
Soeur Kimball
Mahina, Tahiti October 28, 2013
Bonjour famille et mes amis,
What can I say? Slowly but surely things are getting better here. The transition has been without lies pretty rough but I am starting to settle into things now. I had some pretty amazing experiences this week so lets start with that.
This week I really saw the power of the Preisthood. Last Sunday one of the other sisters I live with got a blessing for spiritual strength from the elders, and my companion asked me if I wanted one too. I did but I said no because I didn't want to bother the elders. Anyway, since then I had the impression over and over that I should get a blessing. I kept putting it off until we had an experience with the Preisthood with one of our Amis yesterday. Klann one of our amis was really sick and he had been sick for a while. Soeur Ferrence and I visited him and his wife and Soeur Ferrence asked if Klann maybe wanted a blessing for healing. He said yes so we had Dan Taumihau who usually is the member who comes with us to the lessons come. We sat down and Dan explained the process of the blessing of healing to Klann clearly and explained that it only worked on faith. After we all knelt and prayed for the spirit to be there. Following Dan gave the blessing to Klann and the spirit was so strong. I could feel the love of God for Klann so strongly. After Dan gave the blessing we just sat. And nobody said anything. One of the things I have learned as a missionary is that silences are good things.
Silence gives time for the spirit to work through reflection and pondering. I really hope Klann and Laurette felt the power of the Priesthood that was there that afternoon. I can't even really explain it but it was just so powerful, and it was an answer to our prayers because the doctine Klann and Laurette struggle with the most is the idea of a modern prophet that holds the power of the Priesthood. We have a lesson with them this week so I hope they really will have open hearts and have the desire to be baptized.
After all that, I had the impression again that I needed a blessing too,we called the Elders and they gave me a blessing (in English thank goodness). I have been having a hard time sleeping in the morning from anxiety for the language and I am just so grateful for the comfort I recieved from the blessing. I know the things that were said were directly from Heavenly Father; That Elder giving me the blessing knew absolutely nothing about me, but the things said were exactly for me. It was so perfect and that is why I am just so grateful for the Priesthood. The head of the church is truly Jesus Christ. This is His work and Thomas S Monson is His prophet.
So I guess Sunday was a good end for the week. I guess what I have to say is there is really no reason to worry about me here. I actually really enjoy all of the food here except the fatty chicken. Actually, raw fish is my favorite thing to eat, and the avocados here are super delicious. Unfortunately we don't eat raw fish often because it is expensive, but when we do, I love it. We are really lucky in our house here and we have a lot of luxuries. I think that we have the nicest missionary housing on the Island, even though there are still a thousand mosquitos and some cochroaches. Life here is good and I get to wear sandals all the time. Me and my companion run to the beach every morning and it is beautiful.
Tahiti is beautiful, but more beautiful are the people here. I am so blessed;
Love
Soeur Kimball
What can I say? Slowly but surely things are getting better here. The transition has been without lies pretty rough but I am starting to settle into things now. I had some pretty amazing experiences this week so lets start with that.
This week I really saw the power of the Preisthood. Last Sunday one of the other sisters I live with got a blessing for spiritual strength from the elders, and my companion asked me if I wanted one too. I did but I said no because I didn't want to bother the elders. Anyway, since then I had the impression over and over that I should get a blessing. I kept putting it off until we had an experience with the Preisthood with one of our Amis yesterday. Klann one of our amis was really sick and he had been sick for a while. Soeur Ferrence and I visited him and his wife and Soeur Ferrence asked if Klann maybe wanted a blessing for healing. He said yes so we had Dan Taumihau who usually is the member who comes with us to the lessons come. We sat down and Dan explained the process of the blessing of healing to Klann clearly and explained that it only worked on faith. After we all knelt and prayed for the spirit to be there. Following Dan gave the blessing to Klann and the spirit was so strong. I could feel the love of God for Klann so strongly. After Dan gave the blessing we just sat. And nobody said anything. One of the things I have learned as a missionary is that silences are good things.
Silence gives time for the spirit to work through reflection and pondering. I really hope Klann and Laurette felt the power of the Priesthood that was there that afternoon. I can't even really explain it but it was just so powerful, and it was an answer to our prayers because the doctine Klann and Laurette struggle with the most is the idea of a modern prophet that holds the power of the Priesthood. We have a lesson with them this week so I hope they really will have open hearts and have the desire to be baptized.
After all that, I had the impression again that I needed a blessing too,we called the Elders and they gave me a blessing (in English thank goodness). I have been having a hard time sleeping in the morning from anxiety for the language and I am just so grateful for the comfort I recieved from the blessing. I know the things that were said were directly from Heavenly Father; That Elder giving me the blessing knew absolutely nothing about me, but the things said were exactly for me. It was so perfect and that is why I am just so grateful for the Priesthood. The head of the church is truly Jesus Christ. This is His work and Thomas S Monson is His prophet.
So I guess Sunday was a good end for the week. I guess what I have to say is there is really no reason to worry about me here. I actually really enjoy all of the food here except the fatty chicken. Actually, raw fish is my favorite thing to eat, and the avocados here are super delicious. Unfortunately we don't eat raw fish often because it is expensive, but when we do, I love it. We are really lucky in our house here and we have a lot of luxuries. I think that we have the nicest missionary housing on the Island, even though there are still a thousand mosquitos and some cochroaches. Life here is good and I get to wear sandals all the time. Me and my companion run to the beach every morning and it is beautiful.
Tahiti is beautiful, but more beautiful are the people here. I am so blessed;
Love
Soeur Kimball
Mahina, Tahiti October 21, 2013
Hey everyone!
I have so much to say and I dont exactly know where to begin.
Lets start with my amis this week. We dont have a ton of investigators but the ones we have are super hesitant about the gospel so we have to take it super slow. The super difficult thing here is that there are a lot of people who have been investigators for years and it just takes them a long time to realize the blessings of the gospel. We have a lot of those.
This week was titled the book of mormon week. We had the opportunity to testify and give a lot of lessons from the book of mormon. And I felt the spirit so many times. I am sitll kind of drowning in the language and such so I dont say a ton but I have a really strong testimony of the book of mormon and I was able to share that this week. We taught a lesson to one of our investigators Poema in Tahitian and it was good but she refused to read the book of mormon. We are going to have another lesson with her today and I hope she can understand the importance and start to read. We also extended 2 baptism commitments this week to a couple Klann and Laurette and also to a sweet girl my age named Augustine. Augustine really wants to be baptized and already has a testimony after 2 lessons. She is great. Unfortunately her boyfriend is not and they are moving to another Island this week and we cant teach her. It was bad news but we are going to make sure that she gets taught by the missionaries over there.
I am not going to lie and say this has actually been the hardest week of my entire life. I have miny anxiety attacks that I am never going to learn the language and basically it is a struggle every day to tell myself what I am doing good because it feels like I am super unuseful right now because of the language. It has been a good opportunity for me to excercise my faith on the Lord. There is no way I could do this without Him. It has been humbling but really good. Trials just mean that the Lord wants to give the opportunity to grow and improve, and I am grateful for that.
Besides that I am still adapting to the environment. We have some really poor people in our are and some pretty wealthy people so it is an interesting mix. All the stories are true and for real they give you so much food here. For just me and my companion one night a family dropped off 2 pizzas 5 sparking sodas and a huge gallon of icecream. I dont really eat a lot of fish here, it is mostly a lot of chicken and who knows what kind of meat because fish is super expensive unless you catch it yourself. I have found a lot of the food bearable and even delicious. Last night we had the best cake made out of breadfruit.
Basically my situation here is super hilarious. Most of the Tahitians just think I am cute, bewildered american who doesn't understand what is going on, Haha, and it is kind of true. Tahitians talk super quiet and super slurred and super fast so I am still struggling to understand what they say. Luckly everyone else tells me they were the exact same way and that one day it just clicked. I really hope that day is soon. It is really beautiful here and the people are so happy with just their shack house things. I dont actually know how to describe the houses. We are just so blessed in America that is for certain.
Well I love all of you and I hope you are happy. This week I am really going to work on my attitude because it hasn't been the best. I am super impatient, but even though the work is hard, and I have 300 mosquito bites, and I look like a sweaty animal, I am so grateful to be here. The gospel can help every single person no matter how their life is. So don't be scared to share it. Faaitoito
Soeur Kimball
I have so much to say and I dont exactly know where to begin.
Lets start with my amis this week. We dont have a ton of investigators but the ones we have are super hesitant about the gospel so we have to take it super slow. The super difficult thing here is that there are a lot of people who have been investigators for years and it just takes them a long time to realize the blessings of the gospel. We have a lot of those.
This week was titled the book of mormon week. We had the opportunity to testify and give a lot of lessons from the book of mormon. And I felt the spirit so many times. I am sitll kind of drowning in the language and such so I dont say a ton but I have a really strong testimony of the book of mormon and I was able to share that this week. We taught a lesson to one of our investigators Poema in Tahitian and it was good but she refused to read the book of mormon. We are going to have another lesson with her today and I hope she can understand the importance and start to read. We also extended 2 baptism commitments this week to a couple Klann and Laurette and also to a sweet girl my age named Augustine. Augustine really wants to be baptized and already has a testimony after 2 lessons. She is great. Unfortunately her boyfriend is not and they are moving to another Island this week and we cant teach her. It was bad news but we are going to make sure that she gets taught by the missionaries over there.
I am not going to lie and say this has actually been the hardest week of my entire life. I have miny anxiety attacks that I am never going to learn the language and basically it is a struggle every day to tell myself what I am doing good because it feels like I am super unuseful right now because of the language. It has been a good opportunity for me to excercise my faith on the Lord. There is no way I could do this without Him. It has been humbling but really good. Trials just mean that the Lord wants to give the opportunity to grow and improve, and I am grateful for that.
Besides that I am still adapting to the environment. We have some really poor people in our are and some pretty wealthy people so it is an interesting mix. All the stories are true and for real they give you so much food here. For just me and my companion one night a family dropped off 2 pizzas 5 sparking sodas and a huge gallon of icecream. I dont really eat a lot of fish here, it is mostly a lot of chicken and who knows what kind of meat because fish is super expensive unless you catch it yourself. I have found a lot of the food bearable and even delicious. Last night we had the best cake made out of breadfruit.
Basically my situation here is super hilarious. Most of the Tahitians just think I am cute, bewildered american who doesn't understand what is going on, Haha, and it is kind of true. Tahitians talk super quiet and super slurred and super fast so I am still struggling to understand what they say. Luckly everyone else tells me they were the exact same way and that one day it just clicked. I really hope that day is soon. It is really beautiful here and the people are so happy with just their shack house things. I dont actually know how to describe the houses. We are just so blessed in America that is for certain.
Well I love all of you and I hope you are happy. This week I am really going to work on my attitude because it hasn't been the best. I am super impatient, but even though the work is hard, and I have 300 mosquito bites, and I look like a sweaty animal, I am so grateful to be here. The gospel can help every single person no matter how their life is. So don't be scared to share it. Faaitoito
Soeur Kimball
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Mahina, Tahiti - October 14, 2013
Hey this is going to be just super fast but I am typing on a french keyboard and the letters are different so sorry. We also have to pay for our internet time which is pas bien...but ok here it goes. Tahiti is super. It is hard and I am super struggling, but it is good. I have an American trainer and her name is Soeur Ferrence and she is just great. We like the same music and we think the same things are funny so it is great. The super hard thing is not speaking any English. I am... you could kind of say.... drowning in French, but it will come. I can't actually understand what anyone is saying, haha, but I am trying very hard. It is just so fast.
I live in Mahina with some other sisters and our sector is close to the mountains: which is pretty: people here are really poor but it is funny how much food they give us. Our sector is tiny because there are so many members so that is hard. We actually have one of the slowest areas for missionary work but Soeur Ferrence and I are trying to change that. Except for now Soeur Ferrence basically does everything because I am still not quite sure what is happening; It has been hard but with the trial I have had to rely on the enabling and strenthening power of the Atonement. The love of our Heavenly Father is always there for us. I know. Ok well I have to go.. It really is so pretty.
I love all of you and thanks for the package! ps the children here are just so beautiful! *
7 facts about Tahiti so far:
1 I have over 40 mosquito bites and counting
2 people here live basically outdoors I dont think I have ever been inside someones house yet
3 there are so many roosters and they wake me up every morning
4 there are cockroaches in our shower
5 So far the food is super interesting. The chicken is pure fat and it is disguisting but the raw fish isn't bad and it is true the people expect you to eat a lot
6 I probably kiss 30 people every day to meet them on the sides of their face
7 I get dirty all the time and was commanded to shower 3 times a day if i can
Lastly everybody here kind of pitys me, haha, because I cant really speak but it is fine. The people here are probably the nicest I have ever seen and I love them
I live in Mahina with some other sisters and our sector is close to the mountains: which is pretty: people here are really poor but it is funny how much food they give us. Our sector is tiny because there are so many members so that is hard. We actually have one of the slowest areas for missionary work but Soeur Ferrence and I are trying to change that. Except for now Soeur Ferrence basically does everything because I am still not quite sure what is happening; It has been hard but with the trial I have had to rely on the enabling and strenthening power of the Atonement. The love of our Heavenly Father is always there for us. I know. Ok well I have to go.. It really is so pretty.
I love all of you and thanks for the package! ps the children here are just so beautiful! *
7 facts about Tahiti so far:
1 I have over 40 mosquito bites and counting
2 people here live basically outdoors I dont think I have ever been inside someones house yet
3 there are so many roosters and they wake me up every morning
4 there are cockroaches in our shower
5 So far the food is super interesting. The chicken is pure fat and it is disguisting but the raw fish isn't bad and it is true the people expect you to eat a lot
6 I probably kiss 30 people every day to meet them on the sides of their face
7 I get dirty all the time and was commanded to shower 3 times a day if i can
Lastly everybody here kind of pitys me, haha, because I cant really speak but it is fine. The people here are probably the nicest I have ever seen and I love them
Sunday, September 29, 2013
MTC 9-23-2013
a ora na.
I couldn't be more excited. These weeks are flying by and I leave in 2 weeks from today! We get our travel plans this Friday, and I am praying that all of our visas came through. It is so hard because Argentina, Australia, and Brazil are almost impossible to get visas for currently so there are so many reassignments. And as good of an experience as that would be...lets be honest...I really just want to go to Tahiti.
We are still learning Tahitian and it is still so fun. I get a little too excited when we have Tahitian grammar lessons. The language is just so simple and so interesting. Except this week those who are singing in the choir have to miss an hour and a half of class each morning, so I feel like I need to catch up on studies. Our district has been trying to be more on time this week to activities, because lately after being here for so long we've become relaxed. I usually go to the exercise classes in the morning where this super pregnant woman teaches us yoga and stuff. It is super fun, but it means I have 15 minutes to get ready, so I want to make sure I start making it on time to class.
This Tuesday Sister Derrick and I were chosen to be interviewed for a video on the Gift of Tongues, so that should be interesting. I am not really sure what to expect, but I know that I have seen the gift of tongues so far, so I have some things to say about it. I guess I am excited, but I don't really like the thought of being on camera. Sister Derrick and I had a great chat this past week too. We both just told each other what we loved about each other and how the other person was an example to us and it was really great. Sister Derrick is really spiritual and a sweet girl. It is fun to be around her.
So I discovered that my French has actually been kind of declining because of my focusing on Tahitian, so I made a new plan for these next two weeks called " learn and memorize everything ever". I am hoping it will be effective. We watched a movie in French last night and I kind of freaked out because I still can't really understand it. When people talk slow, I can basically understand everything, but when they talk fast, my mind just kind of panics. I really need to work on comprehension. To work on this, I have been listening to a lot of talks in French, and I really like that. One of the talks I most recently listened to is from President Monson on seeing people as they really are. I felt like I was meant to listen to it. President Monson talks about the importance of us seeing people as they can become, not their weaknesses or faults or even sin filled life. I think it is just so important for missionary work, because I never want to "skip over" someone I could've talked to because I thought they were too far off the path. Anyone can return to Christ no matter where they are in their life, and I intend to even help the hardest of hearts. The Atonement is so powerful and makes us new people.
Soeur Buswell told us about a convert she had that was like this. She taught this old Papi who lived on the side of a mountain and didn't want anything to do with the missionaries. She said his heart was so far from where it needed to be. He had children from five different moms living in four different countries and didn't see God in his life. Needless to say, through the spirit, Soeur Buswell and her companion were able to say the right things that helped him grow towards Christ, and he was baptized!
So crazy, but such a good lesson for all of us. We should never never give up on anyone.
Well my p-day is waning to a close. But I love you. Thanks for the package mom. Filled with all my favorite foods. You know me too well.
Ua here au ia outou. Ua ite au e, e ekaretia mau e ekaretia o Ietu Metia. Ua ite au e, ua here Te Atua i te au ra ia tatou.
-
Tuahine Kimball
PS, this week we got the Doctrine and Covenants in Tahitian and in it it has the name of Heber C. Kimball which is (Hebera C. Kimibala), So Dad just so you know that is your name in Tahitian. Except Tahitian doesn't have the "k" or "B" sound so it is actually pronounced (Heepera Timipala). I really hope they call me Sister Timipala in Tahiti! Well Nana!
I couldn't be more excited. These weeks are flying by and I leave in 2 weeks from today! We get our travel plans this Friday, and I am praying that all of our visas came through. It is so hard because Argentina, Australia, and Brazil are almost impossible to get visas for currently so there are so many reassignments. And as good of an experience as that would be...lets be honest...I really just want to go to Tahiti.
We are still learning Tahitian and it is still so fun. I get a little too excited when we have Tahitian grammar lessons. The language is just so simple and so interesting. Except this week those who are singing in the choir have to miss an hour and a half of class each morning, so I feel like I need to catch up on studies. Our district has been trying to be more on time this week to activities, because lately after being here for so long we've become relaxed. I usually go to the exercise classes in the morning where this super pregnant woman teaches us yoga and stuff. It is super fun, but it means I have 15 minutes to get ready, so I want to make sure I start making it on time to class.
This Tuesday Sister Derrick and I were chosen to be interviewed for a video on the Gift of Tongues, so that should be interesting. I am not really sure what to expect, but I know that I have seen the gift of tongues so far, so I have some things to say about it. I guess I am excited, but I don't really like the thought of being on camera. Sister Derrick and I had a great chat this past week too. We both just told each other what we loved about each other and how the other person was an example to us and it was really great. Sister Derrick is really spiritual and a sweet girl. It is fun to be around her.
So I discovered that my French has actually been kind of declining because of my focusing on Tahitian, so I made a new plan for these next two weeks called " learn and memorize everything ever". I am hoping it will be effective. We watched a movie in French last night and I kind of freaked out because I still can't really understand it. When people talk slow, I can basically understand everything, but when they talk fast, my mind just kind of panics. I really need to work on comprehension. To work on this, I have been listening to a lot of talks in French, and I really like that. One of the talks I most recently listened to is from President Monson on seeing people as they really are. I felt like I was meant to listen to it. President Monson talks about the importance of us seeing people as they can become, not their weaknesses or faults or even sin filled life. I think it is just so important for missionary work, because I never want to "skip over" someone I could've talked to because I thought they were too far off the path. Anyone can return to Christ no matter where they are in their life, and I intend to even help the hardest of hearts. The Atonement is so powerful and makes us new people.
Soeur Buswell told us about a convert she had that was like this. She taught this old Papi who lived on the side of a mountain and didn't want anything to do with the missionaries. She said his heart was so far from where it needed to be. He had children from five different moms living in four different countries and didn't see God in his life. Needless to say, through the spirit, Soeur Buswell and her companion were able to say the right things that helped him grow towards Christ, and he was baptized!
So crazy, but such a good lesson for all of us. We should never never give up on anyone.
Well my p-day is waning to a close. But I love you. Thanks for the package mom. Filled with all my favorite foods. You know me too well.
Ua here au ia outou. Ua ite au e, e ekaretia mau e ekaretia o Ietu Metia. Ua ite au e, ua here Te Atua i te au ra ia tatou.
-
Tuahine Kimball
PS, this week we got the Doctrine and Covenants in Tahitian and in it it has the name of Heber C. Kimball which is (Hebera C. Kimibala), So Dad just so you know that is your name in Tahitian. Except Tahitian doesn't have the "k" or "B" sound so it is actually pronounced (Heepera Timipala). I really hope they call me Sister Timipala in Tahiti! Well Nana!
MTC 9-16-2013
Hey this week went great, and there are so many things to say!
First off, basically all of our zone left to their missions this morning. They are all going to either Paris or Leon France, and we are so excited for them. We were here when they came him, and still here when they are now leaving. But really, being in the MTC for so long is actually a blessing. We get so many good devotionals. Speaking of devotionals, I have a story for everyone about last night's devotional. So every Sunday night devotional, there is an opening musical number, and last night some girl sang an intense solo. It was really good, except I ruined it...kind of. Everything makes me laugh here. I can't really explain it, but where the camera angle was on the soloist, I could see myself on the camera because I was sitting behind her, and it was just so funny. So I was laughing the whole time and everyone could see on the TV which made me laugh more. Then I did this awkward thing...I apparently looked straight into the camera. After wards our Elders wouldn't stop laughing at me. They kept saying they almost felt the spirit from the song, but then they would look at me and just bust up laughing.
This week we also changed classrooms, which has been hard. We each have approximately 30 books that we use every single day, and there is no storage space in our new classrooms. We don't even really have desks, just rolly chairs. so everyone's stuff is EVERYWHERE. It is a nightmare to do any studying in there because there are people's things everywhere. I go crazy looking at it sometimes, but class time is still great. It is all because of our teachers. They are seriously so good, and they know exactly what we need to hear.
Just so everyone knows, the gift of tongues is a real thing. This week I totally understood Tahitian for an instant while we were teaching a lesson to a return missionary from Tahiti. He shared an experience of when he prayed to know the church was true, and I understood him. He bore his testimony of the feelings of peace he received as an answer, and the spirit was so strong. It was so weird, because it is not like I knew every word that he was saying, but I could still understand him. Tahitian is so hard to understand and usually I can only pick up 1 or 2 words, but this experience gave me hope.
We found out that maybe in Tahiti sometimes I won't get the opportunity to email home on P-day. One teacher said that he didn't email home for 4 months. So just be warned.
Well, I am running out of time, so I will say good bye! I still love you all. Continue to obey and do the good things!
NANA
-Tuahine Kimball
First off, basically all of our zone left to their missions this morning. They are all going to either Paris or Leon France, and we are so excited for them. We were here when they came him, and still here when they are now leaving. But really, being in the MTC for so long is actually a blessing. We get so many good devotionals. Speaking of devotionals, I have a story for everyone about last night's devotional. So every Sunday night devotional, there is an opening musical number, and last night some girl sang an intense solo. It was really good, except I ruined it...kind of. Everything makes me laugh here. I can't really explain it, but where the camera angle was on the soloist, I could see myself on the camera because I was sitting behind her, and it was just so funny. So I was laughing the whole time and everyone could see on the TV which made me laugh more. Then I did this awkward thing...I apparently looked straight into the camera. After wards our Elders wouldn't stop laughing at me. They kept saying they almost felt the spirit from the song, but then they would look at me and just bust up laughing.
This week we also changed classrooms, which has been hard. We each have approximately 30 books that we use every single day, and there is no storage space in our new classrooms. We don't even really have desks, just rolly chairs. so everyone's stuff is EVERYWHERE. It is a nightmare to do any studying in there because there are people's things everywhere. I go crazy looking at it sometimes, but class time is still great. It is all because of our teachers. They are seriously so good, and they know exactly what we need to hear.
Just so everyone knows, the gift of tongues is a real thing. This week I totally understood Tahitian for an instant while we were teaching a lesson to a return missionary from Tahiti. He shared an experience of when he prayed to know the church was true, and I understood him. He bore his testimony of the feelings of peace he received as an answer, and the spirit was so strong. It was so weird, because it is not like I knew every word that he was saying, but I could still understand him. Tahitian is so hard to understand and usually I can only pick up 1 or 2 words, but this experience gave me hope.
We found out that maybe in Tahiti sometimes I won't get the opportunity to email home on P-day. One teacher said that he didn't email home for 4 months. So just be warned.
Well, I am running out of time, so I will say good bye! I still love you all. Continue to obey and do the good things!
NANA
-Tuahine Kimball
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
MTC #2 09-09-2013
Hey, tell mom I love the package she sent me and I am so happy you found popcorn flavored rice cakes because they are my favorite, and the peaches were so good, and technically I am not allowed to recieve any fruit, so they threw away my raspberries : (, but I still got everything else. I loved her letter and I am glad you liked your Big Hunk. Those brownies are my favorite so thanks. Mom wrote me a letter where she told me about that cool new missionary app. That sounds so cool! Except she said you weren't going to keep up my blog because of that. If it is at all possible could you still post all my big family friend emails I send every week on my blog, because that is connected to my facebook and I told lots of people I would have that. Pretty please? Thanks
There is a tongan girl going to Tahiti with me and she says that Tongan is really similar to Tahitian, so yes. Also I am going to be at conference, not sure which session yet, but look for me on the TV. And I leave in less than a month now.
Well, I don't have much time, but I am jealous you are hiking Timp. I love the mountains, and I really want to hike sometime. Also I am jealous that you had such a good time with Marisa. It sounds totally fun.
Yes, Tahitian is very difficult, but it is so fun. It sounds like I am trying to be a caveman. Also, you should read Jacob 5 again because a general authority told us that the last part about the last gathering is talking specifically about the missionary age change. So cool huh? I am so grateful to be apart of this day to gather Israel. It is so exciting!
Well, I g2g, but
ua here au ia tatou!
There is a tongan girl going to Tahiti with me and she says that Tongan is really similar to Tahitian, so yes. Also I am going to be at conference, not sure which session yet, but look for me on the TV. And I leave in less than a month now.
Well, I don't have much time, but I am jealous you are hiking Timp. I love the mountains, and I really want to hike sometime. Also I am jealous that you had such a good time with Marisa. It sounds totally fun.
Yes, Tahitian is very difficult, but it is so fun. It sounds like I am trying to be a caveman. Also, you should read Jacob 5 again because a general authority told us that the last part about the last gathering is talking specifically about the missionary age change. So cool huh? I am so grateful to be apart of this day to gather Israel. It is so exciting!
Well, I g2g, but
ua here au ia tatou!
MTC 9-9-2013
Ia or ana!
Hey family! Hey friends! Thanks for the love and the packages mom. Haha, except I kind of got in trouble for you sending me berries because apparently they leaked and you are not allowed to send fruit to me, but they let the other fruit slip by. I ate the peaches within like 2 hours and I was so happy to get normal apples because apples here are scary. Really, I bit into one last week and it had an alien inside of it. I almost died. It has happened to another girl here too, so real fruit makes me so happy. I basically ate the whole bag of grapes as well. Oh yum.
So, I have lots to say, and so short time. Truly this week was awesome. We had the coolest devotional with someone from the seventy. I forgot his name already, but it was awesome. I guess that is a perk for being here for 12 weeks, we get so many devotionals. Two apostles already have visited us, and we are just always being spiritually fed. Anyway, this speaker was telling us how in Jacob chapter 5 (you know the olive tree allegory)?, it talks about missionaries now. If you notice the last servant of the Master of the vineyard (President Monson), for the last dispensation goes to call more servants to gather the house of Israel in the last dispensation. Apparently the missionary age change was that prophecy being fulfilled, of asking for more servants. I just thought that was so cool. So you should totally read over Jacob 5 sometime and pay attention to our dispensation in the last part of the chapter. It is really neat to see that prophecies are starting to be fulfilled.
This week was also great because guess what...? I am totally probably going to sing in general conference. We leave the day after general conference, and the girls MTC choir got invited to sing, and I am in the choir. I don't know what session it is yet, it might even be the relief society session, but look for me on TV!! We have to "try out" for it, with telling how much choir experience we have taken, but I took like 4 years, so it should be good.
So language wise, this week was a little difficult. We totally switched to Tahitian, so my French has been suffering, and Tahitian is so hard. I absolutely love it, but it is so confusing, and we are not allowed to say "um..." when we are thinking of what to say, because in Tahitian if you say filler noises like " um.. or aaaa", you are saying words in Tahitian and changing the meaning of your sentences. Also Tahitians say yes by grunting and moving their eyebrows. Yes! my kind of people. I seriously sound like a man when I speak Tahitian. It is quite entertaining. I can't actually say much yet though.
Sentence structure is totally flipped around. And yes, dad, it is just like Tongan where there are actually only a few letters they use in the alphabet, so you just add "faa, or haa" at the beginning or ending of words to make them different words. It is crazy. We also taught our first Tahitian lesson in the TRC on Thursday. Basically all I know how to say was the phrases I copied out of preach my gospel and other supplements to read off of, and so I had no idea what was happening. We taught a return missionary that had served in Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahaa, and I think somewhere else, so his Tahitian was so good, and I had no idea what he was saying. He basically just corrected our grammar. It was bad because he was pretending to be an investigator so when we tried to commit him to pray and use the Atonement to repent, he asked us " Well how do I repent" in Tahitian. Using the 5 words I knew in Tahitian, I tried to explain you pray for forgiveness of your sins and God will forgive you through Christ's Atonement. Except I accidentally told him " God will forgive all of Jesus's sins". His face was shocked, and then I realized what I had accidentally told him and I was so embarassed, but it was so funny so it didn't even matter.
We have less than a month now, and I am counting down the days. I cannot wait to actually leave. Thanks again utuafare (family) for the packages. They were magnificent and I loved them dearly. I love you guys!
-Nana,
Tuahine Kimball
Hey family! Hey friends! Thanks for the love and the packages mom. Haha, except I kind of got in trouble for you sending me berries because apparently they leaked and you are not allowed to send fruit to me, but they let the other fruit slip by. I ate the peaches within like 2 hours and I was so happy to get normal apples because apples here are scary. Really, I bit into one last week and it had an alien inside of it. I almost died. It has happened to another girl here too, so real fruit makes me so happy. I basically ate the whole bag of grapes as well. Oh yum.
So, I have lots to say, and so short time. Truly this week was awesome. We had the coolest devotional with someone from the seventy. I forgot his name already, but it was awesome. I guess that is a perk for being here for 12 weeks, we get so many devotionals. Two apostles already have visited us, and we are just always being spiritually fed. Anyway, this speaker was telling us how in Jacob chapter 5 (you know the olive tree allegory)?, it talks about missionaries now. If you notice the last servant of the Master of the vineyard (President Monson), for the last dispensation goes to call more servants to gather the house of Israel in the last dispensation. Apparently the missionary age change was that prophecy being fulfilled, of asking for more servants. I just thought that was so cool. So you should totally read over Jacob 5 sometime and pay attention to our dispensation in the last part of the chapter. It is really neat to see that prophecies are starting to be fulfilled.
This week was also great because guess what...? I am totally probably going to sing in general conference. We leave the day after general conference, and the girls MTC choir got invited to sing, and I am in the choir. I don't know what session it is yet, it might even be the relief society session, but look for me on TV!! We have to "try out" for it, with telling how much choir experience we have taken, but I took like 4 years, so it should be good.
So language wise, this week was a little difficult. We totally switched to Tahitian, so my French has been suffering, and Tahitian is so hard. I absolutely love it, but it is so confusing, and we are not allowed to say "um..." when we are thinking of what to say, because in Tahitian if you say filler noises like " um.. or aaaa", you are saying words in Tahitian and changing the meaning of your sentences. Also Tahitians say yes by grunting and moving their eyebrows. Yes! my kind of people. I seriously sound like a man when I speak Tahitian. It is quite entertaining. I can't actually say much yet though.
Sentence structure is totally flipped around. And yes, dad, it is just like Tongan where there are actually only a few letters they use in the alphabet, so you just add "faa, or haa" at the beginning or ending of words to make them different words. It is crazy. We also taught our first Tahitian lesson in the TRC on Thursday. Basically all I know how to say was the phrases I copied out of preach my gospel and other supplements to read off of, and so I had no idea what was happening. We taught a return missionary that had served in Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahaa, and I think somewhere else, so his Tahitian was so good, and I had no idea what he was saying. He basically just corrected our grammar. It was bad because he was pretending to be an investigator so when we tried to commit him to pray and use the Atonement to repent, he asked us " Well how do I repent" in Tahitian. Using the 5 words I knew in Tahitian, I tried to explain you pray for forgiveness of your sins and God will forgive you through Christ's Atonement. Except I accidentally told him " God will forgive all of Jesus's sins". His face was shocked, and then I realized what I had accidentally told him and I was so embarassed, but it was so funny so it didn't even matter.
We have less than a month now, and I am counting down the days. I cannot wait to actually leave. Thanks again utuafare (family) for the packages. They were magnificent and I loved them dearly. I love you guys!
-Nana,
Tuahine Kimball
MTC 8-26-2013
Ia ora na.
This week was great. Also family back home are you even actually reading these emails? I have no idea, but it sounds like you had a lot of fun in Idaho. I had no idea school even started. If the world became at war and there were terrorist attacks I would probably still have no idea what was happening. I tell you it is another world here in the MTC, but it is a pretty great world, full of blessings and the love of God.
We were informed this week that we are actually moving to Wyview (make up your mind), so I was kind of sad, but its all good because we start Tahitian this week! Also, I bought some air freshener for my closet because my shoes smell so bad. Seriously, my feet already smell bad, but in Tahiti, it will be disguisting. Also everyone in my District keeps getting sick with a cold and cough and I don't want to be sick so today I bought some vitamin C. But please mom, if you love me, send me some chewable airborne. Today I also took a nap because I did my laundry at 5 am so I could get it over with.
This last week 2 of our lessons got canceled with our progressing investigators, but we still had to teach in the TRC. In the TRC, you basically go into a random room with your companion and teach a real French person ( or just someone who speaks French), a 20 minute lesson. Our lessons are pretty good, except that they are so awkward, because I don't know how to small talk in French. Whenever somebody says something ( and my French comprehension is like 20%), I just say "bien", and keep talking and nodding my head. So this week, I am really working on actually conversing in French.
Sometimes our teachers (Frere Roney and Soeur Buswell), eat with us during lunch or dinner, and we just ask them questions about Tahiti for a straight 45 minutes. We found out that 95% of our investigators and people we will teach will be between the ages of 14-20. The old Tahitians are too stubborn and set in their ways to listen to our message. Also we found out that 90% of the people we will teach will need to be married before they can get baptized. Basically how they explained it was that Tahitians pair off at 14-16, and by the time they are 18/19 they already have two kids with someone they are not married to. It is actually really sad, because the French government gives them incentives to not get married. Their taxes actually increase if they do get married, so no one gets married. I'm going to have to give the chastity lesson all of the time. What fun.
Frere Roney told us stories this week about dog attacks and bike crashes. He said one time on Bora Bora he had to cut through a jungle for P day (I don't know why), and he accidentally cut his leg and infected it with a machete ( i don't know how to spell that). But don't worry, I won't ever be using a machete. He also got bit by a diseased dog.
There are actually lots of Tahitian elders and sisters here (from Tahiti) as I have already told you, and they come to talk to our class and our teachers all of the time. They are quite funny, and they are super friendly. But sometimes, they like to scare our class. Last night they told us all of the Tahitian elders serving in Tahiti are looking through the pictures of the list of girls going to serve in Tahiti from America. Super creepy. Our teacher wasn't very happy to hear that one. Also they told us there are a lot of transgenders in Tahiti? um what? I hope they were joking but I am not really sure.
As to spiritual things, I still have a testimony and I still love the scriptures. Our district made a goal to get through the Book of Mormon once before we go to Tahiti, so I am reading about 15 pages each day. As I read each day, I learn so many new insights I never noticed before. The Book of Mormon is seriously stuffed full with the Doctrine of Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost), and I cry almost every day I read it because it is just so good. We learned this week that the Book of Mormon is they key to the conversion of our investigators because of its power. If the Book of Mormon is true, then the church is true, and Joseph Smith did see God and did restore the true church of Christ. And anybody can gain a knowledge of its truth if they just ask God. It is so simple, and that is why I love the church. The way is so simple.
Anyway, I hope school is going well for everyone, and I hope you check the mail. I hope mom had a good birthday and I wrote her a card. I love you all, and thank you thank you Karey and family for the Rice krispie treats. Oh yum. I almost forgot what real desserts tasted like. I basically cried eating them because they tasted so good. And thanks Marisa for the Dear Elder!
I guess that is all. I have to go but I love you as always.
-Soeur Kimball
This week was great. Also family back home are you even actually reading these emails? I have no idea, but it sounds like you had a lot of fun in Idaho. I had no idea school even started. If the world became at war and there were terrorist attacks I would probably still have no idea what was happening. I tell you it is another world here in the MTC, but it is a pretty great world, full of blessings and the love of God.
We were informed this week that we are actually moving to Wyview (make up your mind), so I was kind of sad, but its all good because we start Tahitian this week! Also, I bought some air freshener for my closet because my shoes smell so bad. Seriously, my feet already smell bad, but in Tahiti, it will be disguisting. Also everyone in my District keeps getting sick with a cold and cough and I don't want to be sick so today I bought some vitamin C. But please mom, if you love me, send me some chewable airborne. Today I also took a nap because I did my laundry at 5 am so I could get it over with.
This last week 2 of our lessons got canceled with our progressing investigators, but we still had to teach in the TRC. In the TRC, you basically go into a random room with your companion and teach a real French person ( or just someone who speaks French), a 20 minute lesson. Our lessons are pretty good, except that they are so awkward, because I don't know how to small talk in French. Whenever somebody says something ( and my French comprehension is like 20%), I just say "bien", and keep talking and nodding my head. So this week, I am really working on actually conversing in French.
Sometimes our teachers (Frere Roney and Soeur Buswell), eat with us during lunch or dinner, and we just ask them questions about Tahiti for a straight 45 minutes. We found out that 95% of our investigators and people we will teach will be between the ages of 14-20. The old Tahitians are too stubborn and set in their ways to listen to our message. Also we found out that 90% of the people we will teach will need to be married before they can get baptized. Basically how they explained it was that Tahitians pair off at 14-16, and by the time they are 18/19 they already have two kids with someone they are not married to. It is actually really sad, because the French government gives them incentives to not get married. Their taxes actually increase if they do get married, so no one gets married. I'm going to have to give the chastity lesson all of the time. What fun.
Frere Roney told us stories this week about dog attacks and bike crashes. He said one time on Bora Bora he had to cut through a jungle for P day (I don't know why), and he accidentally cut his leg and infected it with a machete ( i don't know how to spell that). But don't worry, I won't ever be using a machete. He also got bit by a diseased dog.
There are actually lots of Tahitian elders and sisters here (from Tahiti) as I have already told you, and they come to talk to our class and our teachers all of the time. They are quite funny, and they are super friendly. But sometimes, they like to scare our class. Last night they told us all of the Tahitian elders serving in Tahiti are looking through the pictures of the list of girls going to serve in Tahiti from America. Super creepy. Our teacher wasn't very happy to hear that one. Also they told us there are a lot of transgenders in Tahiti? um what? I hope they were joking but I am not really sure.
As to spiritual things, I still have a testimony and I still love the scriptures. Our district made a goal to get through the Book of Mormon once before we go to Tahiti, so I am reading about 15 pages each day. As I read each day, I learn so many new insights I never noticed before. The Book of Mormon is seriously stuffed full with the Doctrine of Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost), and I cry almost every day I read it because it is just so good. We learned this week that the Book of Mormon is they key to the conversion of our investigators because of its power. If the Book of Mormon is true, then the church is true, and Joseph Smith did see God and did restore the true church of Christ. And anybody can gain a knowledge of its truth if they just ask God. It is so simple, and that is why I love the church. The way is so simple.
Anyway, I hope school is going well for everyone, and I hope you check the mail. I hope mom had a good birthday and I wrote her a card. I love you all, and thank you thank you Karey and family for the Rice krispie treats. Oh yum. I almost forgot what real desserts tasted like. I basically cried eating them because they tasted so good. And thanks Marisa for the Dear Elder!
I guess that is all. I have to go but I love you as always.
-Soeur Kimball
Friday, August 23, 2013
MTC 8-19-13
Hey family and friends,
This week has been great. Except that I say that every single week. It is just because how can my week not be great when it is so chalked full of spiritual things and testimony growing. It is hard, yes very hard, but very fun.
This week Elder Scott came and talked to us about prayer. It was amazing. I never felt so strongly that I had taken advantage of the gift of prayer my whole life. Heavenly Father is just waiting for us to share our thoughts and problems and questions with Him so he can help us. One really important thing I learned is that God is just waiting to bless us, we only have to ask. I have been praying a lot more lately ( like 20 times a day), and it really helps. My prayers are answered all of the time and I am constantly receiving guidance through the scriptures. It is so awesome.
Also this week was amazing because I had the opportunity to watch a devotional given by Elder Holland last Thanksgiving at the MTC, and it was incredible. You know those times when you are listening to a true message and your mind just becomes enlightened and you just absorb every bit a speaker is saying? Well that is how it felt with Elder Holland's talk. So every Sunday we can watch a "movie" of a conference talk, or a devotional, or something starting at 8:00 pm, and there was really no room in the "theater" to watch this specific talk, but I was so set on watching it that I basically forced some chairs in there for me and my companion and refused to leave. My companion was stressing out that we were blocking the door but I didn't even care because I wanted to hear that talk, and I am so glad I did. Basically it was about how we are so blessed and chosen to be members of the church in the latter days. Throughout the history of the world, very very few people have ever enjoyed the blessings of having the fulness of the gospel. Even when Christ was on the earth, it only lasted for a few more years until the apostles were killed. Compared to the history of tragedy and darkness and war lived by so many humans, we are so lucky to live in this last dispensation and finally see the prophecies and the gathering of Israel start to come forth. It just made me realize how much I had taken for granted throughout my life, and I know I will become even more humbled and grateful when I go to Tahiti. There are actually a lot of Tahitians here at the MTC that are going to serve missions, and they are all so humble. It is so cute how much they love America. It is like heaven to them. One sister told me the only thing she missed from Tahiti was fish. She said she missed fish more than her family. Oh boy, I was laughing. I really cannot wait to go there.
Anyway, our lessons this week went pretty well. My French is really slow, but it is getting better. There are just a lot of mistakes I make. My grammar is horrible, and sometimes the "investigators" (who are actually my teachers), break character and start laughing because I say something funny. Here is a mistake I made all the time. In French the word for body is "corps" pronounced "core", and the word for heart is "coeur", pronounced " cur", so sometimes we accidentally say we love the gospel with all of our body if we pronounce the word for heart wrong. I was pronouncing it wrong a lot, so that is truly awkward.
Also this week, my district took advantage of my ability to sing really low. They think it is really funny so they make me sing like a man all of the time. I was in the middle of singing some lion king song and my teacher came in (soeur buswell), and she was so confused. I think she realizes more and more how strange I am. It is funny.
So this week I am going to try to send more pictures. I really love all of the girls in my district and I get along really well with everyone. I still love the gospel and I still miss all of you. I start learning Tahitian in 2 weeks so pray for me. When we switch over I will have to be the "senior companion", so I will be expected to lead out lessons. Make sure you pray and read your scriptures and stuff. Its good for you.
-Soeur/Tuahine Kimball
This week has been great. Except that I say that every single week. It is just because how can my week not be great when it is so chalked full of spiritual things and testimony growing. It is hard, yes very hard, but very fun.
This week Elder Scott came and talked to us about prayer. It was amazing. I never felt so strongly that I had taken advantage of the gift of prayer my whole life. Heavenly Father is just waiting for us to share our thoughts and problems and questions with Him so he can help us. One really important thing I learned is that God is just waiting to bless us, we only have to ask. I have been praying a lot more lately ( like 20 times a day), and it really helps. My prayers are answered all of the time and I am constantly receiving guidance through the scriptures. It is so awesome.
Also this week was amazing because I had the opportunity to watch a devotional given by Elder Holland last Thanksgiving at the MTC, and it was incredible. You know those times when you are listening to a true message and your mind just becomes enlightened and you just absorb every bit a speaker is saying? Well that is how it felt with Elder Holland's talk. So every Sunday we can watch a "movie" of a conference talk, or a devotional, or something starting at 8:00 pm, and there was really no room in the "theater" to watch this specific talk, but I was so set on watching it that I basically forced some chairs in there for me and my companion and refused to leave. My companion was stressing out that we were blocking the door but I didn't even care because I wanted to hear that talk, and I am so glad I did. Basically it was about how we are so blessed and chosen to be members of the church in the latter days. Throughout the history of the world, very very few people have ever enjoyed the blessings of having the fulness of the gospel. Even when Christ was on the earth, it only lasted for a few more years until the apostles were killed. Compared to the history of tragedy and darkness and war lived by so many humans, we are so lucky to live in this last dispensation and finally see the prophecies and the gathering of Israel start to come forth. It just made me realize how much I had taken for granted throughout my life, and I know I will become even more humbled and grateful when I go to Tahiti. There are actually a lot of Tahitians here at the MTC that are going to serve missions, and they are all so humble. It is so cute how much they love America. It is like heaven to them. One sister told me the only thing she missed from Tahiti was fish. She said she missed fish more than her family. Oh boy, I was laughing. I really cannot wait to go there.
Anyway, our lessons this week went pretty well. My French is really slow, but it is getting better. There are just a lot of mistakes I make. My grammar is horrible, and sometimes the "investigators" (who are actually my teachers), break character and start laughing because I say something funny. Here is a mistake I made all the time. In French the word for body is "corps" pronounced "core", and the word for heart is "coeur", pronounced " cur", so sometimes we accidentally say we love the gospel with all of our body if we pronounce the word for heart wrong. I was pronouncing it wrong a lot, so that is truly awkward.
Also this week, my district took advantage of my ability to sing really low. They think it is really funny so they make me sing like a man all of the time. I was in the middle of singing some lion king song and my teacher came in (soeur buswell), and she was so confused. I think she realizes more and more how strange I am. It is funny.
So this week I am going to try to send more pictures. I really love all of the girls in my district and I get along really well with everyone. I still love the gospel and I still miss all of you. I start learning Tahitian in 2 weeks so pray for me. When we switch over I will have to be the "senior companion", so I will be expected to lead out lessons. Make sure you pray and read your scriptures and stuff. Its good for you.
-Soeur/Tuahine Kimball
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
MTC 8-13-13
Dear Family,
First of all thanks for the letters everyone. I will be handwriting your letters later to reply to Matthew and Troy and Brandon and Mom and Dad. Also Marisa if you are reading this then check your mailbox, and yes I received all of your Dear Elders and they were great! Also I got a letter from the Lemmons with money from our ward so tell them thank you so much, and thanks so much Karey and the white family for always Dear eldering me and writing me. It is great.
So, this week has gone by faster. I just got back from going to the temple this morning, and if you haven't gone recently, you should do an endowment session. I felt the spirit and it was so fun to be in the Celestial room with all of the sisters I am going to Tahiti with. I am truly so blessed to go to Tahiti because it is so rare. The mission president's wife Sis. Sinjoux is a politician and rumor is that she pulled a few strings to get more sisters to come to Tahiti. Before the church was only allowed to send a total of 25 missionaries from America to Tahiti, and now they can send as many as they want. Islands are opening up that haven't been open in years, and it is crazy. I am so excited, but I don't care where I go. Even if I stayed on the main island the whole time, I would be thoroughly happy.
I would like to say sorry that the hamster died. I guess it is sad. I didn't really have a personal relationship with Chubs, but I am sure Troy and Matthew miss him. R.I.P. Also, it sounds like everyone had a really fun time dirt biking and stuff. And I am jealous Matthew and dad went to sliding rock. That sounds really fun. Again, thanks for the Madeline pictures mom. They make me happy, and I miss watching that show. I really love you guys, and I miss your sense of humor all of the time.
Anyway, this week has been good. My French is getting better and my teacher made me cry because she said she was so impressed and she knew the Lord was helping me. Poor Sis. Buswell ( my teacher) said when she was at the MTC, her teacher was a joke and she learned absolutely nothing. She learned almost all of her French in the field. I know I will inevitably learn a lot in the field, because truly you learn a language by speaking it, but it is just nice to have a good foundation of helpful teachers. This week we got 34 new Elders in our zone all going to France. I know one of them from Lone Peak, but the rest of them are just from around the world. We got 2 boys from England and they are so funny. I made them talk in an "American accent" and they thought I was weird when I laughed They say funny words like " trousers, corridor, and such", and I am sure dad would understand their English words ha. Our lessons are getting better and I don't have to read things directly off a page. I am getting better at translating and that is nice. Sis. Judas, a return missionary from France had me read to her in French and she corrected my pronunciation which was good. Tahitian French is different than "pure French" because in Tahiti, they roll their "r's", like Spanish, instead of doing the guttural French "r". That is hard for some people in my district, because they learned French in a French accent, not a Tahitian one, but luckily I don't have to unlearn that habit. I just am learning French "the dirty Tahitian way". It is so pretty though.
So here is the funny story of the week. Sis. Buswell was telling a story about missionaries that landed in the Austral Islands (French Polynesian Islands of the south), and were given the gift of tongues and immediately converted many Tahitian people in the 1840s. After telling us about this special missionary and I just blurted out " Is he still alive? " , and everyone laughed because clearly he was dead because he was from the 1800s. Basically I just have a lot of dumb blond moments all of the time, and everyone doesn't know what to think of me. They classify me as a "hipster" which is annoying, and they also call me the "workout guru". For some reason everyone in my district has this false notion that I am athletic just because I know how to do Pilates I teach girls Pilates every week and it is fun, but I am not what they think I am. So, yah also everyone thinks I am some crazy runner girl, which is wrong, but whatever.
One of my favorite days this week was Friday because we got our teacher Sis. Buswell to spend 3 hours talking culture with us. It makes me so excited to go to Tahiti. Basically I have learned that there has never been a missionary that went there and didn't gain weight. It just happens, and sisters gain about 35 pounds. Sis. Judas gained 20 pounds on her mission in temple square and she said when she would Skype home, she would wear a coat so her family couldn't see what she looked like. I find that so funny. But seriously all of the return missionaries from Tahiti just say when you get home, you lose the weight super fast and it doesn't even matter. I am just excited to serve, because I know there are people out there I am supposed to teach. I have felt that so much lately, that Heavenly Father is sending me out to find people prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel and the joy it brings. Even though being a missionary is really hard, it is so nice to have such a good and righteous purpose to bring others to Christ. Sis. Buswell told us all about the people she taught and how she became part of their family. She said we are going to have many adopted "mamis and papis" in Tahiti, because a lot of your investigators get really attached to you. She also told us about how if there is ever a nice toilet anywhere to just use it, because you won't get the opportunity later. Sis Buswell got to do so many cool things in Tahiti, it is crazy. Tahitian missionaries have such crazy stories.
I am really sorry, because I feel like this letter is really random, but just know that I have a testimony of the restored gospel. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the only way we can return to live with God is through us using the Atonement daily in our lives. I have used the Atonement many many times to help me recently and it works it works it works! The Lord's tender mercies are so great.
Anyway, I have got to go because I am almost out of time, but I will try to send some pictures. Thanks so much for the letters and check the mail for more written letters from me. I was so happy to receive some food from home. And I was so happy to eat a Mazurka mom! Thanks thanks thanks. I am going to go to my room and eat some Biscoff cookies later and I am so excited!
Well, make sure you read your scriptures, because they are good.
Love you,
Soeur Kimball.
First of all thanks for the letters everyone. I will be handwriting your letters later to reply to Matthew and Troy and Brandon and Mom and Dad. Also Marisa if you are reading this then check your mailbox, and yes I received all of your Dear Elders and they were great! Also I got a letter from the Lemmons with money from our ward so tell them thank you so much, and thanks so much Karey and the white family for always Dear eldering me and writing me. It is great.
So, this week has gone by faster. I just got back from going to the temple this morning, and if you haven't gone recently, you should do an endowment session. I felt the spirit and it was so fun to be in the Celestial room with all of the sisters I am going to Tahiti with. I am truly so blessed to go to Tahiti because it is so rare. The mission president's wife Sis. Sinjoux is a politician and rumor is that she pulled a few strings to get more sisters to come to Tahiti. Before the church was only allowed to send a total of 25 missionaries from America to Tahiti, and now they can send as many as they want. Islands are opening up that haven't been open in years, and it is crazy. I am so excited, but I don't care where I go. Even if I stayed on the main island the whole time, I would be thoroughly happy.
I would like to say sorry that the hamster died. I guess it is sad. I didn't really have a personal relationship with Chubs, but I am sure Troy and Matthew miss him. R.I.P. Also, it sounds like everyone had a really fun time dirt biking and stuff. And I am jealous Matthew and dad went to sliding rock. That sounds really fun. Again, thanks for the Madeline pictures mom. They make me happy, and I miss watching that show. I really love you guys, and I miss your sense of humor all of the time.
Anyway, this week has been good. My French is getting better and my teacher made me cry because she said she was so impressed and she knew the Lord was helping me. Poor Sis. Buswell ( my teacher) said when she was at the MTC, her teacher was a joke and she learned absolutely nothing. She learned almost all of her French in the field. I know I will inevitably learn a lot in the field, because truly you learn a language by speaking it, but it is just nice to have a good foundation of helpful teachers. This week we got 34 new Elders in our zone all going to France. I know one of them from Lone Peak, but the rest of them are just from around the world. We got 2 boys from England and they are so funny. I made them talk in an "American accent" and they thought I was weird when I laughed They say funny words like " trousers, corridor, and such", and I am sure dad would understand their English words ha. Our lessons are getting better and I don't have to read things directly off a page. I am getting better at translating and that is nice. Sis. Judas, a return missionary from France had me read to her in French and she corrected my pronunciation which was good. Tahitian French is different than "pure French" because in Tahiti, they roll their "r's", like Spanish, instead of doing the guttural French "r". That is hard for some people in my district, because they learned French in a French accent, not a Tahitian one, but luckily I don't have to unlearn that habit. I just am learning French "the dirty Tahitian way". It is so pretty though.
So here is the funny story of the week. Sis. Buswell was telling a story about missionaries that landed in the Austral Islands (French Polynesian Islands of the south), and were given the gift of tongues and immediately converted many Tahitian people in the 1840s. After telling us about this special missionary and I just blurted out " Is he still alive? " , and everyone laughed because clearly he was dead because he was from the 1800s. Basically I just have a lot of dumb blond moments all of the time, and everyone doesn't know what to think of me. They classify me as a "hipster" which is annoying, and they also call me the "workout guru". For some reason everyone in my district has this false notion that I am athletic just because I know how to do Pilates I teach girls Pilates every week and it is fun, but I am not what they think I am. So, yah also everyone thinks I am some crazy runner girl, which is wrong, but whatever.
One of my favorite days this week was Friday because we got our teacher Sis. Buswell to spend 3 hours talking culture with us. It makes me so excited to go to Tahiti. Basically I have learned that there has never been a missionary that went there and didn't gain weight. It just happens, and sisters gain about 35 pounds. Sis. Judas gained 20 pounds on her mission in temple square and she said when she would Skype home, she would wear a coat so her family couldn't see what she looked like. I find that so funny. But seriously all of the return missionaries from Tahiti just say when you get home, you lose the weight super fast and it doesn't even matter. I am just excited to serve, because I know there are people out there I am supposed to teach. I have felt that so much lately, that Heavenly Father is sending me out to find people prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel and the joy it brings. Even though being a missionary is really hard, it is so nice to have such a good and righteous purpose to bring others to Christ. Sis. Buswell told us all about the people she taught and how she became part of their family. She said we are going to have many adopted "mamis and papis" in Tahiti, because a lot of your investigators get really attached to you. She also told us about how if there is ever a nice toilet anywhere to just use it, because you won't get the opportunity later. Sis Buswell got to do so many cool things in Tahiti, it is crazy. Tahitian missionaries have such crazy stories.
I am really sorry, because I feel like this letter is really random, but just know that I have a testimony of the restored gospel. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the only way we can return to live with God is through us using the Atonement daily in our lives. I have used the Atonement many many times to help me recently and it works it works it works! The Lord's tender mercies are so great.
Anyway, I have got to go because I am almost out of time, but I will try to send some pictures. Thanks so much for the letters and check the mail for more written letters from me. I was so happy to receive some food from home. And I was so happy to eat a Mazurka mom! Thanks thanks thanks. I am going to go to my room and eat some Biscoff cookies later and I am so excited!
Well, make sure you read your scriptures, because they are good.
Love you,
Soeur Kimball.
MTC 7-30-13
FAMILY! Ia or ana
So I have so much to say. I don't even know where to start. I don't even know what is happening anymore. It is like the MTC is a giant time warp or long and hard and spiritual days. But it is great. I don't know what is wrong with me but I all of a sudden became an emotional person here. The spirit here is so strong, I can't even believe it. We joke around that you could read the phone book in the MTC and still feel the spirit. So, thanks for the letter mom, and I love the picture of Madeline you sent.
When I return home I am going to watch all of the Madeline episodes in french, just because I can.
So, the first day I walked into class and the teacher Soeur Buswell started talking to me in French and I was like, um... what? There are 12 people in my district going to Tahiti, and 2 zones for a total of 21 people going to Tahiti. It is still so funny when we tell people in the MTC where we are going.
Tahitians are legends here because we stay at the MTC the longest. 11 weeks is soooo long, but I am going to need all of that preparation for Tahiti. I am the only one in my district that doesn't speak French or didn't learn French in high school or college or something, so that is fun. Sometimes I want to cry, but I just have to tell myself the gift of tongues is real and that if I try my hardest the Lord will bless. Right now we are teaching an "investigator" (he is acting) from Tahiti, and giving him the lessons IN FRENCH. I usually just sit there and try to read a scripture or quote from Preach my gospel because I don't really know how to form my own sentences yet, except that reading scriptures is even nearly impossible because I have no idea how to pronounce everything. Our investigator Vetea Teochoari just laughs at me when I speak. I think I am probably saying something insulting. For example, the difference between saying la foi and le foi, only a slight sound change is either "the faith" or "the liver", so I may have told Vetea to have liver in Jesus Christ. I am not sure, but I do have faith.
On a positive note, I can say prayers in French and I can share my testimony. Those are pretty essential right?
Tell Marisa thank you for the doughnuts. They were delicious and my district was very happy to have some Krispy Kreme. Food here is allright. Mostly I eat oatmeal, pineapple, cantaloupe, yogurt, salads, and chicken. It is a little strange, but I don't even have time to think about what I am eating. All of us sisters in our zone going to Tahiti are scared of getting fat and there are no scales here, so we made a promise to each other to say something if it looked like we were growing. We have exercise every day and I am usually the Pilates woman, because I know a lot of weird and painful workouts. It is really fun, and we are going to have a goal to run a 5k by the 6 week period.
On Sunday, our sacrament meeting is in French, and each week the Branch President Mangum randomly selects 2 people to give a talk at the beginning of the meeting, so we all have to prepare a talk the week before. I was like, um... I don't even know how to pronounce anything in French let along give a talk, but luckily I didn't get called. Sundays are really the greatest, and I listened to the most incredible talk. Elder Bednar gave a talk a while ago on the character of Christ, and it was one of the most life changing talks I have every heard. Basically Elder Bednar noted how Christ always turns out in love and charity towards others at times where the natural man would turn in and feel selfishness and pity. Think of how much better we would be as people if we reached out to serve whenever we had trials in our lives. I am working on that. Sometimes I get frustrated (all of the time) or sad, where I just want to be all grumpy and distant, but instead I try to be optimistic and look for the needs of others. It is really helpful and I encourage you to do so as well.
More news is that we went to San Francisco on Monday! I don't think dad was working but I was in delta airport. We got called by the French embassy to get our visas in California, so we woke up at 1: 45 am, and left to get a flight there at 5: 30 am, then returned the same day at like 7 pm. It was rough and there is no time to nap here, so we are all just really tired. There is no time to make up sleep. It is kind of dumb because our eating schedule is breakfast at 6: 30 ( when normal missionaries wake up), so we always wake up at 5: 50 or so. But San Fran was great. On the airplane I talked with the Elders and I ate airplane snacks. I was sad they didn't have Biscoff cookies on Delta that day, but I got pretzels instead. In San Fran we went and ate breakfast at Boudin, a bakery thing, and it was delicious. I had a fruit and yogurt parfait and everyone else had croissants We gave a lot of pass along cards away, and I invited our bus driver guy to read the Book of Mormon. One sister even got the number and name of a security guard to give to the missionaries serving in that area. It was a great and tiring day. Well, I miss home a lot, but I see people here I know all of the time so that helps. I have probably hugged Katie Wiser a hundred times.
So basically you don't have to send me anymore clothes, I already have more than everyone else. Marisa if you are reading this than thank you so much for all of the sewing you did. I love my skirts and thank you thank you I love you. Also I would appreciate it if you would give me Marisa's address so I can write letters to Ashley or Marisa or whomever. I hope everyone is doing well! Tell brandon and Matthew and Troy to dear elder me, then I get the letter that day. Well I am loving the gospel and I still love Tahiti. I pray for you guys. Also thank you Karey for dear eldering me, and thank you for your letters! I love you all!
Nana,
Soeur Kimball
So I have so much to say. I don't even know where to start. I don't even know what is happening anymore. It is like the MTC is a giant time warp or long and hard and spiritual days. But it is great. I don't know what is wrong with me but I all of a sudden became an emotional person here. The spirit here is so strong, I can't even believe it. We joke around that you could read the phone book in the MTC and still feel the spirit. So, thanks for the letter mom, and I love the picture of Madeline you sent.
When I return home I am going to watch all of the Madeline episodes in french, just because I can.
So, the first day I walked into class and the teacher Soeur Buswell started talking to me in French and I was like, um... what? There are 12 people in my district going to Tahiti, and 2 zones for a total of 21 people going to Tahiti. It is still so funny when we tell people in the MTC where we are going.
Tahitians are legends here because we stay at the MTC the longest. 11 weeks is soooo long, but I am going to need all of that preparation for Tahiti. I am the only one in my district that doesn't speak French or didn't learn French in high school or college or something, so that is fun. Sometimes I want to cry, but I just have to tell myself the gift of tongues is real and that if I try my hardest the Lord will bless. Right now we are teaching an "investigator" (he is acting) from Tahiti, and giving him the lessons IN FRENCH. I usually just sit there and try to read a scripture or quote from Preach my gospel because I don't really know how to form my own sentences yet, except that reading scriptures is even nearly impossible because I have no idea how to pronounce everything. Our investigator Vetea Teochoari just laughs at me when I speak. I think I am probably saying something insulting. For example, the difference between saying la foi and le foi, only a slight sound change is either "the faith" or "the liver", so I may have told Vetea to have liver in Jesus Christ. I am not sure, but I do have faith.
On a positive note, I can say prayers in French and I can share my testimony. Those are pretty essential right?
Tell Marisa thank you for the doughnuts. They were delicious and my district was very happy to have some Krispy Kreme. Food here is allright. Mostly I eat oatmeal, pineapple, cantaloupe, yogurt, salads, and chicken. It is a little strange, but I don't even have time to think about what I am eating. All of us sisters in our zone going to Tahiti are scared of getting fat and there are no scales here, so we made a promise to each other to say something if it looked like we were growing. We have exercise every day and I am usually the Pilates woman, because I know a lot of weird and painful workouts. It is really fun, and we are going to have a goal to run a 5k by the 6 week period.
On Sunday, our sacrament meeting is in French, and each week the Branch President Mangum randomly selects 2 people to give a talk at the beginning of the meeting, so we all have to prepare a talk the week before. I was like, um... I don't even know how to pronounce anything in French let along give a talk, but luckily I didn't get called. Sundays are really the greatest, and I listened to the most incredible talk. Elder Bednar gave a talk a while ago on the character of Christ, and it was one of the most life changing talks I have every heard. Basically Elder Bednar noted how Christ always turns out in love and charity towards others at times where the natural man would turn in and feel selfishness and pity. Think of how much better we would be as people if we reached out to serve whenever we had trials in our lives. I am working on that. Sometimes I get frustrated (all of the time) or sad, where I just want to be all grumpy and distant, but instead I try to be optimistic and look for the needs of others. It is really helpful and I encourage you to do so as well.
More news is that we went to San Francisco on Monday! I don't think dad was working but I was in delta airport. We got called by the French embassy to get our visas in California, so we woke up at 1: 45 am, and left to get a flight there at 5: 30 am, then returned the same day at like 7 pm. It was rough and there is no time to nap here, so we are all just really tired. There is no time to make up sleep. It is kind of dumb because our eating schedule is breakfast at 6: 30 ( when normal missionaries wake up), so we always wake up at 5: 50 or so. But San Fran was great. On the airplane I talked with the Elders and I ate airplane snacks. I was sad they didn't have Biscoff cookies on Delta that day, but I got pretzels instead. In San Fran we went and ate breakfast at Boudin, a bakery thing, and it was delicious. I had a fruit and yogurt parfait and everyone else had croissants We gave a lot of pass along cards away, and I invited our bus driver guy to read the Book of Mormon. One sister even got the number and name of a security guard to give to the missionaries serving in that area. It was a great and tiring day. Well, I miss home a lot, but I see people here I know all of the time so that helps. I have probably hugged Katie Wiser a hundred times.
So basically you don't have to send me anymore clothes, I already have more than everyone else. Marisa if you are reading this than thank you so much for all of the sewing you did. I love my skirts and thank you thank you I love you. Also I would appreciate it if you would give me Marisa's address so I can write letters to Ashley or Marisa or whomever. I hope everyone is doing well! Tell brandon and Matthew and Troy to dear elder me, then I get the letter that day. Well I am loving the gospel and I still love Tahiti. I pray for you guys. Also thank you Karey for dear eldering me, and thank you for your letters! I love you all!
Nana,
Soeur Kimball
Monday, July 15, 2013
The Call
Dear Sister Kimball,
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Tahiti Papeete Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Tahitian language.
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Tahiti Papeete Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Tahitian language.
Woohoo! I am so thrilled and couldn't have picked a better mission. I prayed that I would get the opportunity to live in a hut, and maybe I will. Also, the perks of being in a Polynesian Dance class is that I know Tahitian dance! It is all in the hips. I love Tahiti already.
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