WEEK #34

Hello everyone!

Man this week has been crazy. It has probably been the busiest week on my mission so far! As Zone leaders we have had so much going on and I'm super tired. It kinda stinks though because since we have so much to do for the zone we don't get to work in our own area as much. But there are still some great things going on and we're excited. We have 2 investigators on date and I can't wait for them! It will be awesome. But in the past two weeks as a zone, we have gone from 5 investigators on date to 22!!! It's amazing!!! We have really worked with the elders and sisters here to commit their investigators to baptism and things are going great. The Stake and wards are helping so much too. But 22 investigators on date is a record high for the Helena Stake! I am totally bragging about it haha but I don't care I'm just so excited for the missionary work here!!!!

Me and Elder Payne had to speak at Stake Conference this weekend. That went really well! We talked about missionary work of course ;) and at the Adult Session we did a training model to demonstrate how we teach and how the members can be more effective and open to their friends about the gospel. It was awesome.

But we spent a lot of time preparing for that, as well as for the other things we had to do this week. Today we had to give discussions at both of the district meetings, tomorrow we have a New Missionary Training Conference, and next week me and Elder Payne are training the zone at Zone Training and then we have Leadership Council, so we are really busy preparing for all of that plus we are working with all of our investigators here so between everything we've been pretty busy. I'm sleeping really well at night though haha ;)

Me and Elder Payne get a lot of crap for our last names though! Everybody thinks they're suuuuper clever for coming up with nicknames haha. Like whenever we walk in somewhere people are like oh watch out here comes the Payne, or double the Payne, Payne squared, Paynes in the butt, it never ends. But it's all good. But the Temple President calls us Elder Payne the Great and Elder Payne the Wonderful. I guess that's better than being big and little payne.

Anyways, we're really working with our investigators read the book of Mormon and gain their own testimony. It's very important that they do it for themselves and not for us or for another person. We're also helping one of our investigators stop smoking and chewing tobacco! Man it's super hard for them to give it up but the Lord really is providing a way for them! We've seen many miracles so far.

Well, now I have actually heard something about my Visa! At this point we are just waiting for it to be mailed to the Mission Home, then at the next Brazilian transfer I will leave (if everything goes according to plan). I am going to have a hard time leaving Montana though. I love it here so much.

Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful week! I love you all so much.

Love,

Elder Payne

WEEK #30

Whats up everyone?! :)

I hope you all had a wonderful week. Things in Whitehall are going really well right now, we are trying to stay busy as it is a small town. But the members and people here are so awesome. I love them. It is so hard leaving an area after you fall in love with the people there! I can tell it is going to be tough leaving Whitehall. It is a ranching community, so everyone has ranches and horses and stuff. We also cover a few small towns outside of Whitehall, so we have people we go see out there, too.

We had stake conference on Sunday in Butte, so it was good to see all the other missionaries there. Every speaker at stake conference spoke on missionary work and the importance of members to help hasten the work. It was great :)

No word on my Visa, and it's driving me nuts haha. I know I'm here in Montana for a reason though, and the Lord needs me, Elder Jackson, and Elder Rasmussen here as well. We're the remaining missionaries in Montana from the MTC district. One day we'll get there! Sometimes I wonder if I am actually going to Brazil or not! I've thought about it so much, it just seems like a dream haha.

Anyways, things have been going good as a district as well. Our Districts numbers have improved each week, and they are finding and teaching more people. I had the district set goals at District Meeting last week, and we are totally kicking butt. Our goals were to 1) Wake up on time every morning, 2) Not gossip or talk bad about previous companions, and 3) Have quality planning time each night. So far, everyone is doing awesome. I have each companionship call me when they wake up at 6:30 each morning, so we are all accountable to ourselves and each other to wake up on time. So far so good.

I have had a lot of time this week to study and ponder the scriptures. they are such a huge blessing in our lives! I wish I would have woken up and realized this when I was younger! Oh well, I have realized now :) I've really started to learn that there are many many things that I can't control, such as my Visa, investigators' decisions or keeping commitments, and other missionaries. So I shouldn't dwell on or worry about what others do. I should just focus on what I can do. I often try to manipulate situations and try to get things to go my way, and in doing so I try to force other people to think like I do or see things like I do. But instead I need to focus in internal things and what I can control and not worry about external things like other people or situations. 

Well, I hope you all have a great week! Pray super hard for my Visa to come ;) haha love you guys! 

Alma 36:3

Com amor,

Elder Kyle Payne