WEEK #15

Dear Family and Friends,

Another great week here in Montana! Things are going really well. We have been teaching Logan and the Jones, as well as Roxy and Doc. We have fellowshipped an awesome kid named Ryan, he is the same age as me and he works in town at the gas station. We play basketball and work out throughout the week with him and he really likes us! He says he's pretty comfortable where he's at religiously, but he said he wouldn't mind learning a little more about what we believe because he has a friend on a mission in Arizona.

 

Anyways, I have suuuuuper good news, I'm going golfing today!!!!! :) I'm so excited! Haha I've been dying to play the weather has been so nice. A family is taking us. It's pretty crazy how we met this family! So there is this Lodge really close to where we live. It's like a vacation lodge thing and people come from everywhere during the summer and rent it out for family reunions and stuff. But Judy (our neighbor) runs the lodge, and she told us that there was a family reunion going on there, so on Saturday we thought we would go and introduce ourselves and meet the family (and hopefully get some food) haha. Turns out, the family is Mormon! haha. They are awesome. Some of them are from St George and Kanab area. The parents are awesome, there is a senior couple, and all their kids and grand kids staying there. They remind me a lot of my family! We really enjoy spending time and playing games with them at the lodge. Anyways, we met them on Saturday and invited them to church on Sunday, and they gave us a ride on Sunday to church. There were tons of them! The branch president, instead of giving talks and stuff, just made it a fast and testimony meeting and all the adults that came went up and bore there testimonies. It was so cool to have them all there, it was the most people I've ever seen at the Lincoln Branch. The spirit was so strong they are such a great family. Also it's pretty cool, Bro. and Sis. France (the senior couple) just returned home from a mission in Finland, and we started talking about their mission and I told them that I had a good friend named Greg Waite serving there and they actually knew him! They worked in the office in Helsinki and they said they knew Elder Waite. Small world huh?

 

Still no word on the Visa, but I just made up my mind I'm not even going to worry about it anymore haha. The worst thing I can do is worry about things and worry how things will turn out. But over time I have realized that there is no point in worrying. As long as we are doing what we should, the Lord will take care of us in his own time.

 

Anyways, Elder Manufekai and I are working super hard and things are going good. There is no AC in our cottage so it gets really hot in the day but it's all good! I like the heat :) My challenge for you all this week is to serve one another. Service is such a huge blessing. When we serve others, we are blessed just as much as the people we are serving. I noticed something in the Book of Mormon a little bit ago. When Ammon and his brethren go and start preaching to the Lamanites, Aaron first goes and preaches but he is thrown into Jail for a long time. However, Ammon tells the king that he just wants to be his servant and help him. Well, after Ammon defends the king's sheep, he immediately goes back to working and doing his duties as a servant. The king is astonished by Ammon's loyalty, and trust him a lot. Then Ammon had the opportunity to preach to the King and teach him the Gospel. The key thing is that he served the king first and was his friend. Only after he served and was loyal, the opportunity came to share the gospel. We can learn a lot from this story. It is so important to serve people. We can't just go and make people change, or do what we want right away, but we CAN serve them and be their friend. It is so important to befriend people as missionaries and serve them and love them. I know as you all serve one another the Lord will bless you and you will also feel the satisfaction and happiness that comes from lending a helping hand.

 

Well, I love you all so very much and I can't wait to hear from you. I hope you all have a wonderful week!!!!

 

Com muito amor,

Elder Kyle Payne

WEEK #14

Oi minha familia e amigos!

I hope you all had a wonderful week! This week has been crazy awesome. I'll get right to it! :)

Well Transfers are this Wednesday, but my companion and I are both staying in Lincoln. I was hoping I would stay, I love the people there and we are doing good work. I'll tell you all about it.

So, a lot has happened with the Jones and with Roxy. I'll start with the Jones. So for the past couple of weeks they weren't really progressing anymore, they weren't reading the book of Mormon and they weren't keeping other commitments. But we just kept working with them and were patient. During one of our visits, we felt inspired to read the first chapter if 1 Nephi with them and help them understand and get their thoughts. They loved it, and Bro. Jones related the story to him a lot, because he moved his family from their home Texas to Montana. So he made that connection right off the bat, so he's like "hey I like this guy Lehi, he trusts the lord." haha pretty cool. Anyways, they committed to keep reading as a family and they did, they read all of chapter 1 and 2. When we showed up the next night and asked how their reading went, brother jones said "oh we read alright, and it's getting interesting! But man those older brothers of Nephi are stupid!" haha we laughed so hard! It was great. Then the next night they read all the way to chapter 4 and then came to a halt. They hit a roadblock! We went to go follow up with them and brother Jones said he couldn't read our book anymore, because he read the part in chapter 4 where Nephi slays Laban. He said he didn't believe that God would tell somebody to kill another person like that. We understood where he was coming from, and we explained why Nephi did it and everything. It was better for one wicked man to perish than a whole nation. But he just kept saying that god wouldn't do that, and he said well what if I stole something, does that mean you Mormons would come kill me? haha He wasn't being reasonable or mature about it at all, and we were both getting a little mad, but we kept our cool and followed the spirit. I told him that we could try to convince you all day, but the only way you can truly know for yourself is to pray about it and ask Heavenly Father. He said he wouldn't read anymore but he'll pray and ask. Oh man it was intense. Sister Jones, his wife, is such a saint. She believes everything we're saying and she said she will try to get her family to pray and see our point of view. She is pretty much ready for baptism, except for her word of wisdom issues. But I'm so grateful for her and the influence she has on her family!

Anyways, as for Roxy and her family, they have been coming to church for a solid month now, and we committed her son Logan to be baptized!!! He is such an awesome kid. He's 12 years old and he loves the missionaries. He has been taught everything, but we are going to teach him all the lessons again in preparation for his baptism on the 13th of July. He said he wants me to baptize him! I'm so excited. It will be my first baptism! He is really excited about receiving the priesthood and everything. His mom, Roxy, isn't quite as ready for baptism as we thought, she has word of wisdom issues and law of chastity issues. She isn't married but she's living with her boyfriend Frank, they've been together for a long time but just haven't gotten married. Logan's biological dad is supportive of his baptism as well, so we should be good to go! We're praying that everything runs smoothly and goes to plan so that he can be baptized on the 13th.

Well, the Lord truly has blessed Elder Manufekai and I this week. Last week was a rough one, we worked hard but didn't see the fruits of our labors, but it definitely paid off for us this week. We've been talking to a ton of people and have been super busy. I'm so grateful for all that has happened.

There is still no word on my visa, and I'm about to go crazy haha. I just want to get to Brazil so bad! It will come eventually. It's just hard because we have no idea when it will come. Oh well.

My challenge for you all this week is to just read the book of Mormon! It doesn't matter how long or how much you read. Before my mission, I didn't really like to read that much, and the book of Mormon seemed hard to understand and boring. But since I've gotten into the habit of reading every day, I realize how powerful and true it really is. I have learned so much from it and I'm so grateful for it. And it isn't boring at all! haha. The stories are so interesting and there is a lot to learn.

Anyways, I hope you all have a wonderful week. The Lord truly loves each and every one of you and is always there for you. Until next week, I love you much! :)

Ate mais,

Elder Kyle Payne

Pictures!

Kyle's Smile :D  "CHEESE"

 Elder Manufekai (Companion)

 Kyle's New Bike!

Pretty Montana!

 Elders with the Christiansen's

Pounding in fence posts

 Curling Milk Jugs

 Getting creative in working out!

THIS IS HOW YOU WORK OUT MISSIONARY STYLE!

WEEK #13

Hello everyone! 

Well, I don't have much time today to write, we have so much to do. But this past week has been really tough. We have worked super hard but didn't see much success. Our investigators haven't been keeping commitments and it's been discouraging, but we've had good things happen as well. We have both learned a lot and our testimonies have grown.

 

We had mission tour yesterday, and Elder Arnold of the Seventy came and spoke. It was really long but really good. We were in meetings from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Crazy.

 

I love missionary work and I'm so glad to be a part of it. We truly are blessed to have the Gospel in our lives.

 

Still no word on my Visa, but we are praying for it to come. We have been praying and fasting for our investigators a lot, they are at a crucial point in their lives and they need to make decisions. It is just hard for them to commit. It seems scary to join this church but they are slowly realizing that they are being strengthened by the Lord and that it is possible.

 

I just wanted to wish all the father's a Happy Father's day, I didn't get to on Sunday. My dad, Grandpa Don, Grandpa Ken, Uncle Ken, Uncle McKay, Uncle Derek, Uncle Jared, Great Grandpa Tommy, Great Grandpa Fry, and so many more. Thank you for all you do. I'm so grateful for father's and the influence they have on their families. I love my dad and grand-dads, I'm so grateful for their example to me. I hope I can be like them one day.

 

Well I'm sorry I'm out of time but I love you all. This gospel is still true :) I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for families and friends, and for the love and support they've all shown me.

 

I hope to hear from you soon, have a great week everyone!

 

Com muito amor,

Elder Kyle Payne

WEEK #12

Hello friends and family!

Wow this week has been crazy busy! We have been teaching a lot and doing lots of service. One of families in the branch are moving on Wednesday to Layton, UT. I will miss them! It's crazy how missionaries get so close to members and investigators. I don't want to say goodbye to the Christiansens haha.

My comp and I have been tracting a lot, we walk everywhere! We went over our allotted miles last month on our truck, so we are trying to make up for it by walking everywhere. It's tiring! It's getting me prepared for Brazil though.

Well, we haven't made a ton of progress with the Jones' family this week, they haven't kept their commitments and didn't come to church. It's so frustrating! One day things are going great and the next day things go all wrong! Haha. Such is life. But Doc came to church so that's good. We have taught Roxy more and we are teaching her son about the priesthood, he's 13 and is really interested in becoming a deacon and everything. I know that it will help him a lot.

I have been reading the Book of Mormon a lot during personal study, and I am learning so many things! I love how you can read the same stories over and over, but still get something new from them each time. But I seriously think that somewhere down the line, somebody must have dropped the Plates and gotten them all out of order! Haha because it doesn't go completely chronologically. I have to really focus and pay attention to the details, like who is who's son, which king was righteous during what time, who came out of this land at what time, etc etc. It is so interesting and exciting to read. But I can't believe how stupid people are haha. Time and time again, people are righteous for a while, but then they become prideful and wicked, and fall into sin and temptation. Then they're either rebuked or wiped out. You'd think they would learn from the past? haha.

This has been a great and tiring week, sorry this letter is so short. I know that this gospel is true and I've seen the difference it can make in someones life. This gospel isn't just for "goody goodys" or for people in Utah haha. This gospel is for EVERYBODY. I'm so grateful that we all have the ability to partake of the Atonement and become better. No matter who you are or what you're going through, the Gospel of Jesus Christ IS the answer. This week, with the loss of a loved one, I am especially grateful for Eternal Families. I know that as long as we are faithful and endure to the end, we can have everlasting happiness with our family. What a great promise from our Heavenly Father.

Well everyone, my challenge for you this week is sort of random, but I challenge you all to just go outside and soak up some sun!  God has given us such a beautiful Earth to live on, and so many times we take it for granted. There is so much to be grateful for and so much to do. So get out and enjoy this earth we've been given :)

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and I can't wait to hear from you.

Much love,

Elder Kyle Payne

Pictures!

 Kyle sitting by river

 

Elder Manufekai (Companion)

 FOR YOU ANDY!! :)

WEEK #11

Oi!

I hope you all had a great week! My week was really eventful and busy. We are working hard and Heavenly Father is blessing us for it! I'll start off with the Jones family. We have been teaching them a lot and helping them with lots of things around their house. They told us that they love us and we are like their sons now! It's cool. They got my email and they want to keep in contact with me when I go to Brazil. I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to everyone here! Haha. Anyways, we committed them to baptism but they haven't picked a date yet, because school is getting out and they have lots of things going on. But all the kids are ready. Bro. Jones said he and his wife want to be baptized, they just want to quit smoking first (which is a good thing, because they have to be trying to quit and living the word of wisdom before baptism anyways.) I love this family and I'm so excited for them. I know the gospel will bless their lives so much.

Doc is still progressing but just very slowly. We are trying to be patient and just help and love him. Our other investigators are doing good too and progressing. The coolest thing that happened all week was with one of our investigators named Roxy:

Roxy is a single mother of 2, and has been going through a lot in her life lately. We haven't been able to get ahold of her for the past two weeks, and we didn't know what to do. We were at dinner with our branch president, and he felt impressed to pray for her right after dinner, and that we should go see if she was at her house before we went and taught another family. We prayed for her and then headed over to Roxy's, not knowing what to expect. Right when we got there, we could tell that something wasn't right, she was going in and out of her house and her car, she seemed really mad. We were a little nervous to go talk to her, but we did anyways and found out what was going on. When she saw us, she ran up to us and hugged us and invited us into her house. She had just barely received a letter that she has to go to court for her kids, because some of her friends have betrayed her and falsely accused her of things, and because of her past she might get her kids taken away. She said that right after the letter she prayed and asked for help, and just then we showed up at her door. We gave her a priesthood blessing and she said that she felt a lot better. I don't know the whole story of what's going on, but God does. He put us right where we needed to be at exactly the right time. It truly was the work of the Lord. And even more amazingly, she came to church and bore her testimony to the whole branch on Sunday. This was a huge step for her, because she's only been to church one other time. It is so great to be a part of this work! I'm glad I was able to have that experience.

We taught gospel principles class on Sunday to Roxy and her boyfriend, and a few other investigators and less actives. We taught about the priesthood and priesthood keys, it went really well. I remember when I got set apart to be the Deacons Quorum President when I was 12, the bishop told me that I was going to hold the priesthood keys for our quorum and I had that responsibility. I was really excited because I thought I was actually going to get the "priesthood" keys to the church so I could go play basketball whenever I wanted! But then a while later I realized they weren't talking about an actual set of keys haha.

It's hard to write about everything that has happend this week, as it is every week. There are so many things that go on but I'm trying to remember all the highlights. This truly is the Lord's work and I feel so blessed to be a part of it. Heavenly Father ALWAYS knows best, and he will never lead us astray. Things will always work out how they're supposed to. I have seen many small miracles and some big ones on my mission so far, and I know that they happen when we are obedient and do our best. The Lord always blesses us when we are doing that which we know is right.

My visa still hasn't come, but I'm not worried about it anymore. It will happen when it happens. Oh also, Elder Mayolo, from my MTC district, just got transferred into my district here in MT! I'm so excited! He's one of my best friends now. Hopefully we will get to be companions in Brazil! We are so alike and we get along great, I know that we could be awesome companions. I'm gonna talk to the mission president in Brazil to see if we can make that happen ;) jk. My challenge for you this week is to read Alma 32 from the Book of Mormon. Faith is likened unto a seed, and it explains what we can do to strengthen our faith and testimonies. As we nourish that seed and desire with the word of God, it will blossom into a testimony of the truth. I struggled for a long time to gain a testimony and to know that Heavenly Father truly loved me, but after reading this along with other scriptures and taking it to heart, I have been able to develop a testimony and have true faith. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying to be better every day and become the best that I can. I promise as you read this chapter, ponder it, and pray about it, you will receive revelation on how you can increase your faith and gain a stronger testimony. I know I'm just a young kid and I don't know everything, but I KNOW that Heavenly Father blesses us when we do our best. I know this because I've literally seen miracles and the blessings that come from giving it everything we've got.

Well everyone, I love and miss you all! I hope you have a great week! Ate mais. Tchau!

Elder Kyle Payne

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