Elder Kingston and Elder Combes

Elder Kingston and Elder Combes
Monterrey, Mexico 8/2010

Please write!

jameskingston@myldsmail.net

Elder James Kingston
Mision Mexico Monterrey Oeste
Calle Chiapas #2202
Col. Roma Sur Monterrey N.L.
C.P. 64700
































































Acuna, Mexico

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

Monterrey Mexico Temple

Friday, May 13, 2011

The Fellowship of the Unashamed



                                                The Fellowship of the Unashamed


I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  The dye has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.


I won't look back, let up, slow down , or be still.  My past is redeemed,  my present makes sense and my future is secure.  I'm finished and done with low living, small planning,
smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.  I don't have to be right first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.  I now live by FAITH, lean on HIS presence, walk with patience,  am uplifted by prayer and labor with power.

My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed.  I will not finch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up and shut up or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ.  I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me.  And when He returns for His own He will have no problem recognizing me.  My banner will be clear.
~President Henry B. Eyring

Monday, May 9, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!


Letter from 5/2/11
Happy Mothers Day Mom....=) i love you...
Well this email is going to be super short because right now we are going to have a barbeque for the zone...=) a little somethin to end the transfer...
by reading your emails i can see that you guys had a great week and jammed packed with things to do.. im glad Leslie and Max Had a good time in their stay... thats CRAZY about Osama Bin Laden... we finally got him...=) after 10 years No? i wish i was there to see the excitement. i was truly happy to hear...
this last week went okay... we found a few really cool people that said they would go to church with us but none of them ended up going. but in church a few Miracles came... thats what we call people who arrive on their own who investigate the church or a part member family where some of the kids aren't baptized...lol a kid named Giovanni came with his family and turns out he hasn't been baptized so we invited him to be baptized this next sunday and he agreed..=) we are pretty excited... also Alondra who was supposed to get baptized yesterday didn't because she and her boyfriend broke up on wed and well he was going to baptize her and she felt a little weird to do it... but we were able to talk to her and she told us that she would like to be baptized this coming sunday... =) its going to be my last Sunday here in the mission... crazy to think about. i am excited though. but as dad said its a bitter sweet experience.. yesterday i got up to bear my testimony and as i was up there i started to cry. i just had so many things running through my head about the mission and what has happened and as i looked at all the faces of the members i just broke down. but it was truly a special experience. i now have about 6 months here in this ward so i have gotten to know all the members and they have truly become part of my extended family. as i looked into the crowd with my teary eyes i could see that everyone else was crying too... i could truly feel the love they had for me and it gave me much comfort...
Next week i am going to be home... CRAZY!!! I CANT BELIEVE IT.....
Also i am way excited to talk to you guys on Mothers day...=) i would like you to call me at 530 my time here in Monterrey... here are the directions to call... sorry i dont have skype..lol
SO IF YOU CAN JUST FOLLOW THOSE STEPS AND CALL ME AT 530... I HOPE THERE ISNT ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT... well i'd better go but im looking forward to talking with you sunday... Love you all,
Elder Kingston

Letter from 5/9/11

Happy Mothers Day mom...
well this is going to very fast...lol!  i checked on the number of the flight and yes its the same flight 1827
and as far as i know we get home at 815....
and mom to answer your question yes i will be willing to watch the kids with dad...=) it will be fun...
well i better get going dont have much time to write but ill see you thursday....
Love,
Elder Kingston

Monday, April 11, 2011

Pictures of Judith's baptism

heres some pics... finally...  me cleaning the baptismal font, the baptism of judiths, picture after her confirmation and a picture of us today in la huasteca...=)


Elder Kingston, Judith and Elder Cruz

Judith's baptism


Hey Family,
Lol mom i know my emails are pretty small huh!? I'm sorry, ill try and do better.
Happy Birthday Malia...=)
well this last week was pretty awesome. we had a baptism... whoo hoo.... its pretty interesting how it happened.  about 2 weeks ago Elder Cruz and I started teaching the wife of a less active member. her name is Judith and the members name is Daniel. we taught Judith the restoration and we left her to pray to know if it was true. she did and told us she felt a sense of peace when she prayed and asked. she then accepted a goal to be baptized on the 10th of April, which we were really excited about.. but we lost contact with her because she started to work and a couple of other things. so a week and a half passed and on Friday i was on divisions with Elder Jenkins a District leader in the Zone and it was about 9 at night and i had the feeling we should go visit Judith and see if she was home... we got there and started talking then she said, this Sunday i cant get baptized because i have to work in the afternoon but how about tomorrow... ha ha Elder Jenkins and I looked at each other saying sure that would be alright.... so she was baptized Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. her husband was able to baptize her. they now have a goal to get sealed in the temple in a year. its just crazy how prepared she was, my companion and I only taught her 2 lessons. i truly know that there are many people just like Judith who are ready to receive this gospel. We as members just have to do our part and find them...
oh also pretty crazy, while walking to the church to fill up the baptismal font Saturday, someone threw a grenade in a parking lot in the marketplace. me and my companion arrived 5 minutes after it happened. it was like a scene out of an action movie. there was a man badly injured and a crater in the ground and broken glass everywhere.  it was truly a sad sight to see, you could sense the fear that everyone had. i wasn't too scared though, i felt a sense of peace. and that's why its so important that we share this gospel, so that everyone else can share this peace and joy that we members have...
on another note i am way excited to see all of you in 4 short weeks.... =) and mom that sounds good about the get together Monday...=) and is the stake still having all the returned missionaries talk in each ward??
well i better go and mom i hope this was a little bit more than last time...haha
Love you all,
Elder Kingston

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Conference was awesome!


Hey Famileeee,
Conference was awesome wasnt it??? the only thing i missed was being with you all and having breakfast and playing those sweet conference games that mom had so we would pay attention.haha i really loved all the talks and left conference spiritually uplifted.  my companion and I,  Elder Cruz, got to go to all 5 sessions of conference. Saturday as a missionary you were able to go if you brought investigators to church.  we were able to bring 3.=) then Sunday everybody was able to go. i got to watch half of it in English. which was good because the spanish translators have such monotone voices.lol
i in particular liked Elder Hollands talk. wow talk about powerful. as i heard him testify that he knew president monson is the prophet seer and revelator of these days, i felt a warmness come over me helping to strengthen and make firm my testimony of the prophet.
this last week went by super fast, i really like my new companion. as i told you his name is Elder Cruz and he is from Puebla, Mexico. he has 17 months in the mission. We get along great. im sure we will have success this change.
im glad to hear you're finally having nice weather. here in Monterrey its still crazy hot. when i get home i will be looking pretty rosy.
5 weeks crazy right??? the mission is going by so fast. oh i was going to ask if you guys already told keva that we get back on the 12th instead of the 11th???
well i better get going i love you all and wish the best for all of you... have a great week...=) Love
Elder Kingston

Monday, March 28, 2011

Visited Elder Smith's former areas today


Hey Family,
its great to hear all is swell..=)
i don't have much time right now because my companion and I went to visit converts in his other areas he has been in and we took a little longer than expected. it was nice to see the faces of his converts and how excited they were to see him.. i cant wait until i get to visit my past areas...
Great news. Victor and Alicia where confirmed members of the church yesterday. they are both very excited and thrilled, i cant believe how much they are progressing.
it is crazy to think that this will be my last transfer in the mission. im definitely going to make time count with these last few weeks. oh and dad no i will not have to do another presentation. we do them  every 3 months, so i lucked out.lol
well i better get going got a lot to do... i love you all so much....
Elder Kingston
Oh and this next week i wanna hear what it is that stood out to you the most in General Conference....=)


 oh and fyi for dad:  for the month of march we had the goal of 300 baptisms but we got 236 baptisms and 210 confirmations.... but you have to remember we are in Mexico...lol



Hey mom love you... thanks for the picture of Christian... i cant wait to meet him...
also dont know if you already know but Keva and I will be arriving in Sacramento the 12 of may which is a thursday and we will be getting there at 8:15 pm...
just thought ill give you a heads up...=)

Monday, March 14, 2011

Open Our Mouths!


Hey Family,
Happy St. Patricks Day.... lol i didnt even know it was St. Patricks Day... i know what a loser.. but nobody here celebrates that...=(
i really haven't heard much of the tsunami that hit japan, but it truly is sad to hear...  im glad to hear that all the Takahashi family is okay...
mom thats exciting that your starting camp kick off...=) just don't get stressed out...lol
well Exciting news, Alicia and Victor were baptized yesterday. i baptized Alicia and elder Smyth baptized Victor. they are so happy and grateful for the gospel and the change it has made in their life.... they were also accompanied with their daughter Ericka, her husband Cesar and their twins , their son Victor went, also their neighbors Monica and Eduardo who we are also teaching went as well. they all really liked it. the ward did a really good job in befriending them. I'm pretty sure we will be seeing all of them in the waters of baptism soon.=)
I was just thinking the other day, that all of this was able to happen just by opening our mouth. about 3 weeks ago we contacted a lady named Mirium while walking, she gave us her direction to be able to teach her another day. we went to her house but she wasn't there so we decided to contact her neighbors and that's when we saw victor cutting the tree... i know it wasn't just for luck we found them.. they were prepared to hear this message, and by opening our mouth we were able to help them come unto Christ and not only them but their family and friends too. what a beautiful work.
the only thing that bugs me is many people think its just the missionaries job to talk to the people about the gospel. and they're absolutely wrong, as members we are all responsible to share the gospel. when we were baptized we took upon ourselves the name of Christ. which means we are disciples of him. in Preach My Gospel it talks about how the members should find, and the missionaries should teach and prepare them for baptism. Members are like undercover missionaries.lol and people aren't going to run from you when they see you on the street. i am really glad to hear mom and dad that you guys are helping out alot in the missionary work... I'm proud of you guys...=)
oh and thanks for sending me money for shoes... i much appreciate it....lol ill have to show you my other ones when i get home....
well i hope you have a great week... love you all...

Baptism Sunday


Hey Family,,=)
Mom Happy Early Birthday....=)
and Keva congratulations on getting into BYU... =) that's awesome....
im happy to know that grandma grandpa and uncle pat all had a good visit and were able to spend time with you guys and grandpas brother...
dad how was west minister woods??? was the weather okay?
well remember Alicia and victor? the people we helped last week cutting branches...
well they went to church yesterday and they really liked it. they accepted to be baptized this Sunday. the 13th of march. I'm so excited for them. they are learning so much, yesterday we were teaching them and their son Victor. their son Victor has some pretty crazy ideas. he doesn't have a religion, but he really likes to meditate and believes in the nature of things... but last night Victor, the one with the crazy ideas,  asked his son what religion he was a part of and his son said "i don't have one".... then victor was all proud saying that's my kid.... lol then Victor senior the one we are teaching, the dad of victor said out loud.... "you guys are living in apostasy" ha ha we just started laughing and i was just surprised at all he is learning.... he takes really good notes and is learning so fast... when we showed them the baptismal font and challenged them to be baptized, they didnt hesitate at all to respond, they just said yes of course...  it truly is a blessing to be here and be able to see the change in people through the gospel..
well id better get going, but just remember how important it is to share this gospel, i challenge each of you to share at least one principal of what we believe in to a non member...=) Love you all,
Elder Kingston

Monday, February 28, 2011

85 degrees


Hi Everyone,
I hope Mariana had a fun birthday! =)
it sounds like you guys really did have a  busy schedule last week...
haha that made me crack up hearing Mariana picked a white dress because it looks like a wedding dress...lol David and Jaycee better watch out..
that's crazy about the coldness you guys are getting over there... over here im getting sun burnt with weather of 85 degrees.... lol i feel far away but not that far...and mom sorry i haven't sent pictures for a while, i just figure you´ll see me in a few months...lol jk
well this last week went great, we found alot of new people to teach, like 14. but the problem is none of them went to church...=( im not sad though i know we tried our best.
2 of them that were pretty committed to go to church, Alicia and victor who are in their 70s, didnt go because Alicia takes pills to go to sleep and she stayed asleep along with her husband... our church services start at 9... but we went back after church and we took them to an activity at night... it was like a fireside... the high councilmen for the mission work gave it, hermano Obregon... he made a list of ?s about the church and people could ask him whatever they wanted and he would answer them... he did a very good job answering and making everyone feel comfortable... they really liked it.. he reminded me of dad because of his calling...
we found Alicia and victor last Friday, their son was outside working and cutting branches and he let us help him... we helped him for about 2 hours and talking to him about the church while working... him and his parents where amazed at our willingness to serve... haha they said you guys don't charge?! and made more comments like the fathers in the catholic church never do things like this.. it made us laugh inside... but truly in my mission i have seen the most success comes by serving others..
they are really excited to go to church this Sunday...=)
well id better get going... i hope you all have a great week... Love you
Elder Kingston

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Studying


hey family....=) and happy birthday Mariana!...
im happy to hear you all had a good valentines day....  and mom and dad I wish I could've heard your talks.
jacosa thanks for writing me.. i really appreciated it, i know im not the best at writing people back but i truly did feel special receiving that letter from you... it brightened my day!! along with the letters from mom and dad also of course...=)
well this last week went swell, we had zone leader council this last wed and thurs, which was super fun and spiritual... i learned alot about how important it is to study, and that when we study we really need to use it as a time to receive personal revelation... i really think one of the biggest traits i have picked up here on the mission is how to really study... i love to read now, and not just read to read but really read for understanding.. throughout my whole life i have been bad at studying, but im excited to put what i learned in practice when i get home.... im sure mom is pretty happy...lol
well the work is going good i haven't been in my area much because me and my companion have been doing many divisions with other missionaries in our zone... but for what i have seen we have a couple people lined up to go to church this Sunday, so I'm pretty excited...

Well id better get going but remember that i love you all and im always praying for you...
Love,
Elder Kingston
p.s i wasnt able to write you on Monday because today we went to the temple... i got to do iniciatorias... it was good to remember all the covenants that i have made with the Lord and all the blessings that come with keeping them...
 
Oh and thanks for all the pictures....=)

Monday, January 3, 2011

Johnny's freezing baptism

Hey Family,
thanks so much for your birthday wishes....=)
it sounds like everyone was busy celebrating new years.. I'm glad you guys had a good time...
mom and dad that's cool you guys got to spend time with grandma... I'm sure she loved the company. that's cool you guys went to dad's house he lived in growing up. I have always wanted to go and see it, after all the stories he told us... haha like when he threw the snake on his sister or ran from a bull....=)

I really have learned alot here in my mission, but one of the biggest things i have learned is to have a relationship with my father in heaven and really putting my trust in him.. and i am so grateful for the relationship i have gained with him...
this last Sunday was real cool, Soledad got confirmed, and she is really happy. we also baptized johnny... his 
story is pretty awesome...
so about 3 weeks ago my companion and I walked (hiked) up to the last street on the side of a mountain called Mitras because a member had given us a reference. the reference wasn't there but about 3 houses down there was a guy, with sunglasses, a cane and just really lookin thugged out..haha we walked past him and just invited him to church to see if he had a desire, and he told us that he would love too. we scheduled another appointment for the next day.The next day we got to know him a little more and he told us he had been in prison for 2 years but he was falsely charged... they charged him with selling drugs... he really has had a rough life, we started talking to him about the hope there is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ... and he accepted to be baptized.. talk about ready...  and yesterday i had the privilege of baptizing him in crazy cold water because we don't have any gas to warm up the water for the baptismal font... haha... but we tried... i spent most of my time in church on Sunday trying to heat the water with irons...lol  i know pretty desperate right!? and yeah it didn't work, but he still got baptized and is so grateful for being cleansed of his sins....
i know that there are many people ready to hear the gospel, its just that we as members need to open our mouths and talk about the truth, so that everyone has the chance to here this message of the truth.... i know that by doing this we will be helping to bring to pass the glory and immortality of men.... i hope that all of us may try our best to be close to the spirit so that we are not scared to spread the truth....
well i gotta go but i hope all of you have a great week and just remember i love you all...=)
Love 
Elder Kingston


These are pictures from last week:



Baptism of Juan



Friday, December 17, 2010

JUAN'S BAPTISM


HEY FAMILY! MISS YOU ALL...=)
CONGRATS JACOSA AND ANGELA ON GETTING YOUR CONDO. YOURE PROBABLY MOVING IN RIGHT NOW HUH!??? THAT'S AWESOME... IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS HAD A SWEET CHRISTMAS FIRESIDE, IM SURE IT WAS AMAZING.
ITS CRAZY THAT CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE, LIKE DAD POINTED OUT IT IS STILL REALLY HOT HERE...LOL ITS REALLY WEIRD, DOESN'T FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS...  BUT THE PEOPLE HERE DO DECORATE THEIR HOUSES AND THEY GET PINOS FOR CHRISTMAS JUST LIKE WE DO... SO I DON'T GET TOO HOMESICK...HAHA
I THINK THE GREATEST GIFT FOR ME THIS CHRISTMAS IS ACTUALLY HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY AND DECLARE TO ALL OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND THAT REALLY HE SUFFERED AND DIED FOR US AND THAT WE CAN SHOW OUR GRATITUDE FOR HIM AND HIS SACRIFICE THROUGH HAVING FAITH IN HIM AND HIS ATONEMENT, REPENTING, BAPTISM, RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST AND ENDURING TO THE END BY KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS... BY LETTING OTHERS KNOW THIS, ITS A GIFT TO THEM AND TO ME...=) AND TO JESUS CHRIST...
ALSO IM REALLY EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ON CHRISTMAS...=) I WILL DEFINITELY GIVE YOU GUYS THE DETAILS NEXT WEEK....
GREAT NEWS..... JUAN WAS BAPTIZED THIS LAST SUNDAY... HE IS REALLY HAPPY ITS WIERD THOUGH CAUSE HE DOESNT REALLY SHOW AN EMOTION.... HES 75 YEARS OLD AND HES A COWBOY.... (VAQUERO) AND HE HAS REALLY BAD HEARING SO WE HAVE TO BASICALLY YELL AT HIM FOR HIM TO UNDERSTAND....LOL YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW OUR LESSONS ARE WITH HIM...
BUT HIS BAPTISM WAS REALLY SPECIAL. HIS GRAND DAUGHTER MADONNA SHARED A GREAT TESTIMONY OF GRATITUDE AND IT WAS VERY MOVING... HE WILL BE CONFIRMED THIS SUNDAY... OH YEAH HIS BAPTISM WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.... HAHA MOM AND DAD IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WASN'T JUST YOUR WATER HEATER THAT HAS PROBLEMS....HAHA WE ALSO FOUND OUT ON SUNDAY WHEN WE WERE FILLING THE BAPTISMAL FONT THAT OUR WATER HEATER DOESN'T WORK.....YIKES... THE WATER WAS FREEZING... ME AND MY COMPANION ELDER KIOA SAID A PRAY BEFORE PRAYING THAT THE COLD WATER WOULDN'T EFFECT US IN THE ORDINANCE.... AND REALLY IT DIDN'T FEEL THAT COLD.... JUAN WAS THE MAN AND DIDN'T COMPLAIN AT ALL..... ALSO WHEN I BAPTIZED HIM HIS FOOT KEPT COMING OUT OF THE WATER SO MY COMP HAD TO GET IN ALSO AND HOLD HIS FEET DOWN....HAHA IT WAS QUITE THE EXPERIENCE...=)
WE ALSO BROUGHT THIS GIRL NAMED IRMA WHO IS 19 AND SHE REALLY SEEMED TO LIKE IT.... SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH HER....
WELL DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME BUT JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT IM ALWAYS THINKING OF YOU AND THAT IM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR ME.... HOPE YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK.... LOVE...
ELDER KINGSTON...=)
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Monday, December 6, 2010

Zone Conference


Hey family,
Happy Birthday Keva...=) i hope you had a wonderful birthday...
Jacosa felicidades on your great production!  I've never been to one but im hoping that in the future i will be able to go...
haha mom i cant believe you still havent decorated the Christmas tree yet...lol you better get on that... i wanna see pictures...
so you guys are getting allot of rain huh??? here it hasn't rained at all... its actually pretty hot still... i don't really like it though, to me Christmas isn't the same if its sunny...lol
even though I'm not with you guys i am really excited for Christmas...=)
this last week went by really fast, my comp and I had a leadership training in the offices which was really fun...  all the zone leaders from the whole mission get together and we have fun... there's about 20 zone leaders... i was so happy because we played flag football..=) i also learned alot too... one thing that stood out to me was that we shouldn't say do as i say... we should say do as i do.... we talked alot about what makes a good leader and being a good example is the first thing we need to do...
we also created a power point presentation for our zone conference which is tomorrow....yikes! im pretty nervous to have to give the presentation but im sure everything will go just fine.
this last week we didn't have much time in our area but we did manage to bring someone to church who accepted to be baptized this coming Sunday.... his name is juan.  hes about 70 years of age... hes really sweet...
well i better get going but just wanna wish you guys happy holidays and that i am so excited to talk to you guys on Christmas...=) i hope you all have a fantastic semana and remember that i love you..... take care...
Elder Kingston
Oh mom and dad if you guys havent sent a package yet i was wondering if you could send those hot chocolate packages from costco... you know the ones that have different flavors like raspberry and vanilla... thanks.... love you...

Sunday, December 5, 2010

La Fama

Hey Family....=)
I hope you all had a great thanksgiving.... aww man all that food is making my mouth water right now... its all good, ill be their next year...=) but to answer your ? mom no we didnt celebrate thanksgiving because its not a tradition here....haha bummer huh!? lol...thats sweet you guys got your Christmas trees already... me and my companion are thinking about buying a Christmas tree here... haha i need something to get me excited for Christmas....lol
so this last week we had changes.... i totally thought my companion Elder Morby was going to leave from solidaridad because he already had 4 changes their (6 months) and me just 1 change (6 weeks) but No...haha they left him their another change which means hes going to have 7 and a half months their.... and as for me i am now in an Area called La Fama in the zone mitras,and they changed me from District leader to a Zone Leader... im now with Elder Kioa who is from Reno, Nevada.... he is really chill hes tongan... haha me and him have always been good friends throughout the mission... its cool that were companions now... he has 21 months in the mission... just a little bit more than me.... this is going to be a great experience being in charge of a whole zone... haha we have the richest parts of Monterrey and all of Mexico in our zone.... its going to be fun....=)
well i gotta go dont have much time... but just want you guys to remember that i love and care for each and everyone of you.... i hope you have a great week...
Love,
Elder Kingston
p.s. mom thanks so much for the pics.... everyone looks great...=)
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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Tortillas de maiz and salsa

hey family,
how are you guys??? its sounds like everything is going super. its crazy to think that thanksgiving is coming... here its not celebrated at all... =( it kinda stinks but i know that i will be grubbin on some food next year...=) and to answer your ? dad yeah i really like the food here... i always have liked Mexican food and here they have the original authentic mexican food... i think its gonna be wierd when i come back and i dont have my tortillas de maiz and salsa with every meal... haha but i am dying to have some home cooked food from you and mom or some In And Out burger...lol haha enough about food... well this last week went well. oscar is doing good he was confirmed this last sunday and he is really happy and content, Rosendo is set to get baptized this sunday... the only thing is his wife (Alma) and his kid (Kenyon) 11 want to wait. they dont feel ready to take this step in their life. we are going to be seeing them tomorrow and we have planned to teach them The Plan Of Salvation... and we are going to focus on what we need to do here on earth in order to go back and live with our Father In Heaven again and our families... i hope that you all can pray for us so that we may have the spirit so that this family will come to the knowledge that these things are true and the importance of acting right now rather than the future...if you guys can do that i would highly appreciate it.
well also this last week we had 2 Baptisms... Mayra and her daughter Yahaira... i don't know if i told you about them.... well if i havent ill fill you in on a little right now...=) well mayra was a investigator from about a month ago... we lost contact of her because she moved... but 2 weeks ago we where in sacrament meeting and she called us... she ended up coming to church and accepted a baptismal date... then this last Sunday she was baptised... it was really a special experience and i wish i had time to tell you guys more but i just dont have enough time. maybe next week. I'm so grateful for this opportunity that i have to be able to see and work through miracles. its definitely building my testimony. i gotta go but just remember i love you all and im praying for you every day... Love you guys....

Elder Kingston...

Ps. dad and mom i was wondering if it would be possible to send me 20 dollars... what happens is as a district leader i have to travel alot to do interviews... its all reimbursable but it takes a while to come.... could you do that for me??? thank you so much for everything...

also this last Saturday we had the opportunity to have a confrence with a 70.... Elder Tenorio.... i really learned alot and maybe next week ill tell you a little more....=)

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Happy Halloween!

hey family,

thanks for the emails....=) i hope you all had a fantastic Halloween.... I'm looking forward for next years Halloween. here in Mexico they do celebrate Halloween its just that they don't really know how to do it as well... haha!!!  all i heard last night in the street was "Noche de brua Halloween" all the kids sing it over and over... it means night of the witch Halloween.... i was just laughing the whole time.

well this week went by super fast.... i wasn't in my area for 2 days, every change there is a leadership training for 2 days. all the leaders from Monterrey were there and we learned some pretty sweet ways to do missionary work and ways to teach to our zones and districts... it really got me pumped up....lol

we did a really cool activity where we were assigned companions and areas to contact for about 2 hours... but it wasn't any area! we were all assigned parts of the richest parts of Monterrey and Mexico.... San Pedro and Sierra Madre... i was put with one of my good buddies Elder Flynn... they made it a game... and points were involved... every 2 contacts was a point, ever lesson was 3 points, if you committed someone to church it was 5 points.... etc...  Elder Flynn  and I ended up winning!!!....haha!  we got some candy and a new tie.... i think that was the highlight of my week!

the lord is truly blessing me and my companion here in soli... this last Friday we went to a reference from an elder who contacted a guy in his area but lived in ours.... we knocked on his door and he opened with a big smile and told us to come on in... his name is Rolando,  he has a wife (Alma) and 2 sons 6 and 8...

 Elder Morby and I started getting to know them and telling them a little about our background when all of a sudden Rosendo, out of nowhere, asked us what are the steps he needs to take in order to get baptized...my companion and I looked at each other with a smile and immediately started teaching him the doctrine of Christ.  he and his wife agreed to be baptized so that they can follow the saviors example.... it was a wonderful spiritual experience... we ended with a prayer and Rosendo offered it while kneeling... it was such a loving and sincere prayer... i know that throughout the world there are people waiting to hear this beautiful restored gospel and it is our job as baptized members to share it with our brothers and sisters around us and share this light of Christ.. i know if we share it and not keep it in we will have great joy in seeing them in the kingdom of god and being able to say to ourselves... we opened our mouths and gave them the choice to accept this marvelous glory....

i hope you all know how much i truly love and miss you.. keep me in your prayers as i do you.... Love you...

Elder Kingston

Monday, October 25, 2010

Nobody is Married!

Hey Family,

Miss you guys. im glad to hear you all had a very good week. thats awesome that you had a chance to hangout with leslie and max, im sure you had a blast, and im loving the pictures. haha dads looking pretty cool with your rastas.

this last week our primary here in soli also did a program. the whole time watching the kids singing i was just thinking about all of my nieces and nephews and how they also were singing and performing the same thing. it definitely brought comfort to me. im sure everyone did great in their parts.

good news about jake and katie getting sealed in the temple. thats way exciting, they are going to have a beautiful family. its crazy though that they have already been married a year. time flys by so fast. aren't matt and ericka married too??? wow thats crazy.

well here in solidaridad everything is going good... yesterday we had a baptism, we baptized a girl of 9 years, Miriam.. she is really sweet. her parents (yuliana and guermo) also want to get baptized but they cant right now because they are living together and arent married.. buts thats not all of the problem.. yuliana was married before and hasnt gotten a divorce. but she also has no clue where her husband is. they have been seperated for 7 years. we are going to see what we can do so they also can be baptized. seems to be alot of cases like that here.... NOBODY IS MARRIED!

I am really liking this new position as a D/L i am getting the chance to use another part of the priesthood and help here in the mission in a differant way. its just really time consuming...lol but thanks so much for all your love and support.. right now i gotta get going we're going to go eat little ceasars pizza...yummm well i will talk to you all later LOVE YOU ALL....

Elder Kingston..

Oh and thanks so much mom for sharing that story about maile... =)

write me.... love you all

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Solidaridad

hey family.... how have you all been??? i hope fantastic.

its good to hear from you...
well to answer your ? dad, yes Liliana was baptized this last Saturday, but i wasn't there... i got changed to a new area... its still in Monterrey, its called Solidaridad. I'm with elder Morby now who is from Ogden, Utah he has been out 8 months on his mission. its a pretty interesting change because this area is super humongous and now I'm on a bike and the other is i am now a district leader.... i have a district of 9... 3 sister missionaries, 2 other companionships of elders and me and my companion.... haha its pretty interesting. instead of just worrying about my area i have to worry about every one else's too! as a district leader i have to teach all my district every week for an hour and a half in a meeting we have every Tue morning... i call and check up on everyone... and i interview the people that are going to be baptized... to be honest i was really shocked and surprised when they told me... and a little nervous about the whole thing.... but i really am liking it... I'm getting to experience so many things on my mission that i never have before. I'm using it as a learning opportunity.... i think my favorite part is interviewing people to be baptized.... the spirit is so strong and it helps me to see how i can improve in my teaching so that when the investigator has their interview they feel comfortable in answering...

i know David was a district leader... i was wanting to ask you for some good ideas or activities i could do in my meetings??? if you have any good tips or ideas hit me with them... Jaycee and Kenji too....=)

well i don't have too much time to write but i just want you all to know i love you and pray for you everyday.... have a beautiful week.... LOVE YOU GUYS....

Elder Kingston

My Testimony of Jesus Christ

Hey Family,
Happy Birthday David and Jaycee!  I hope you guys had a great birthday...=) David your getting old bro....30 whoa
haha well I'm glad to hear you all had a great week.... here in the mission everything is going great... we had the baptism of Priscilla on Saturday it was very special... we also had her and Edna's confirmation on Sunday...=)and this Sunday Lilliana will be getting baptized... I'm pretty excited about that.... she is also really excited for this opportunity to start over brand new and perfect....
tonight we find out if we have changes.... i am kind of stuck in the middle of wanting to go and staying.... i would like to go because i already have more than 4 months here in this area and its really small.... the reason why i would like to stay is for my converts here . . . and my companion... i love each and everyone of my converts.... each of them have their own story of conversion to this beautiful gospel.
haha yeah  president Treadway is right i do have a pretty hard head... everything has been fine with my stitches, i will be having them taken out this wed... so don't worry too much... oh and responding to dads ? about what i would like for Christmas.... haha i know when i was little i always liked making a Christmas list... i think that was one of the things i liked most about Christmas... making a list and waiting ...having patience and hoping that I would get what I asked. for!   till this day i still like making Christmas lists....haha here are some things that i wouldn't mind receiving for Christmas:

Letters from every body.... pictures..... perfect push up :)  i don't know if you guys have ever seen it before but should be easy to find,  i would really love one because i need to get back into shape!  my new balance running shoes.... i don't know where they are but should be around the house.... 212 cologne.... ties.... socks....white shirts... etc.... there's a few things =) your probably saying wow James hasn't changed at all.... hes still greedy... haha I'm sorry.... ill try and work on it!

well i guess i better get going but i just want you all to know that i truly have a strong testimony of this great work that i have a privilege to be in. i know that each and every one of us are a son and daughter of a father who is in heaven. i know that he wants for each and every one of us to return to his presence, and that he sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ here on earth so that we can return and live with him in his heavenly kingdom. and my love for my savior and redeemer Jesus Christ is great, he truly came down from his throne in his kingdom in heaven to take upon him all of our iniquities, trials, sickness and affliction so that we may find peace and love in this life and the next.... that we may have hope in entering the kingdom of God. i truly am grateful for Him because through Him i can go back and live with Him and my Father in Heaven and my beautiful family here on earth. these things am i so grateful for and know to be true and i share it with you in the name of Jesus Christ amen. =)
Elder Kingston

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

7 stitches

Hey family!
How have you all been??? It sounds like you are all doing great. General conference was awesome, huh?! Luckily I got to see all sessions except Saturday afternoon.  It was a wonderful and special experience, especially when you bring investigators and you can watch them and their reactions when they first see the prophet for the first time. We brought Liliana. She is a single mother and is 22.  We brought her to the morning session on Sunday and she had a great experience.  I looked over and she was crying after  President Monson's talk.  I asked her how she felt and she told me," really good" =) Priscilla also went, she liked it alot. She will be getting baptized this Saturday.

So I got my first set of stiches here in Mexico haha! ( I bet mom's mouth just dropped) and I got them today.!  7 of them in my head.  This morning we went to the temple and after a beautiful session we went to play soccer. Everything was going great.  I made 3 goals whoo hoo!  The ball was up in the air and I went to head butt the ball ,as was Elder Choate, and unfortunately we bumped heads! Luckily Elder Choate just got a big bump on his head but I  had to go get stiches, ha ha! What a fun missionary story to tell.  I had my first stiches while on my mission.  This happened about 4 hours ago.
Other than the stiches there isn't a whole lotta news. Elder Lopez and I are working hard and we are definitely seeing blessings from our Father in Heaven.  Thankyou so much for your prayers, they really help alot. Sometimes it gets really hard when I think about you because I really miss all of you. But I know that you are all praying for me and that really gives me comfort.  Thankyou so much for that.
Wel,l I've gotta get going, times running out... just remember that I love each and every one of you and I think about you all the time.
Have a great week...=)
Love,
Elder Kingston