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

Monday, March 14, 2011

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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