Oh man is there snow, actually its been a very very calm winter season, we've really only had 2 storms that brought in snow, the third is going on right now, and I'm in Huron, SD for District Meeting, so I'll have to drive home in all this snow... yeah... Actually I very well could live somewhere where there is snow, I honestly have no problem with it, however, I really don't think I had that much of a problem with the heat either, I'd probably get sick of the snow if I lived here longer, eh we'll see what happens haha.
My new area is alright, it's just a little bit smaller then Gillette (the city) but the boundaries that I cover are much too large to be able to cover it all (I cover about 4 branchs, and the branch I'm in spans about 100 miles in width from Salem, to Chamberlain) So we really only go to the one branch here in Mitchell, We don't really have a chapel either, it's more like a refurbished house, but it serves the purposes for the little branch we have.
Well... We've been invited over for Christmas Eve to a few places, but Christmas day is going to just be a long day, we'll probably just stay at home all day... The zone leaders here have asked us not to proselyte on Christmas, so I'll have all day.
Oh hey, that reminds me, you can tell the kids that this year their christmas presents depend on how much they wrote me letters, and that there is still one more week before Christmas, I can definitly send a late christmas present haha!
Keep the smile on your face, if anyone knows, it's absolutely miserable to spend a day without being happy, stay happy.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
How is your new area?
Mitchell is alright, it's small and it'll take a lot of work being a new area, where I don't know anyone really yet. Last sunday was interresting, and an investigator we met Tuesday showed up and bore her testimony about how 'God puts in our paths those who were meant to help us and teach us, and how she was excited to learn about the book of mormon' I'd give a fuller version, but my companions been done e-mailing so It's a little rushed today. Elder Brower is an alright companion, he's a little head strong and thinks that he's always right, but a good missionary, and will do a lot of good work
My new address:
1110 W. Norway Ave. #106
Mitchell, SD 57301
My new address:
1110 W. Norway Ave. #106
Mitchell, SD 57301
Monday, November 22, 2010
Transfer?
Mom: So I've been waiting all week to hear if you got transferred. So, did you?
Brady:
Yes, mam I did, I'm gonna be sending off a letter later today or tommorrow hopefully that has more information on the transfer that I just am in the process of going through, I'm going up to Mitchell South Dakota, an area that hasn't seen missionaries in about a year, And, I'm training another greenie, so I"ll be really busy taking a somewhat new area with a totally new missionary and trying to turn it around... it's kinda funny I sorta regret, almost, turning around Gillette from what it used to be because president is now probably only going to call me to struggling areas..... I really hope I can do it this time... I have noticed that the work is very different the further east you go on the mission, so I hope that I can deal things out right all the way over here on the east side. The good thing is that being in the Sioux Falls zone means that in December I get to go to the temple in Bismarck, and if I can find the time I can go and visit some of the people that I taught when there, like Curtis and the Eagles. We'll have to see!
Yeah, we got the Heavy snow last night and this morning, which is really strange and fortunate, because that means the snow waited until I was out of a biking area to fall making it almost impossible to bike. So I really hope that Elder Schneider and Elder Davis my replacement (again... it's the same missionary who replaced me in Bismarck) can get around all right and still do all the good work that that area needs. I got confidence that If they keep working things will be alright, so what I told Schneider before I left was just keep him working and you'll do good in the area... There was a lot of good things going on in Gillette, and the next few weeks/ months should be really exciting over there.
Yeah I wrote down the addresses of a lot of the people that I taught while I was there so I can write them letters, keep in touch, and eventually go back and visit hopefully. I really want to go back through my mission after I'm all said and done.
Brady:
Yes, mam I did, I'm gonna be sending off a letter later today or tommorrow hopefully that has more information on the transfer that I just am in the process of going through, I'm going up to Mitchell South Dakota, an area that hasn't seen missionaries in about a year, And, I'm training another greenie, so I"ll be really busy taking a somewhat new area with a totally new missionary and trying to turn it around... it's kinda funny I sorta regret, almost, turning around Gillette from what it used to be because president is now probably only going to call me to struggling areas..... I really hope I can do it this time... I have noticed that the work is very different the further east you go on the mission, so I hope that I can deal things out right all the way over here on the east side. The good thing is that being in the Sioux Falls zone means that in December I get to go to the temple in Bismarck, and if I can find the time I can go and visit some of the people that I taught when there, like Curtis and the Eagles. We'll have to see!
Yeah, we got the Heavy snow last night and this morning, which is really strange and fortunate, because that means the snow waited until I was out of a biking area to fall making it almost impossible to bike. So I really hope that Elder Schneider and Elder Davis my replacement (again... it's the same missionary who replaced me in Bismarck) can get around all right and still do all the good work that that area needs. I got confidence that If they keep working things will be alright, so what I told Schneider before I left was just keep him working and you'll do good in the area... There was a lot of good things going on in Gillette, and the next few weeks/ months should be really exciting over there.
Yeah I wrote down the addresses of a lot of the people that I taught while I was there so I can write them letters, keep in touch, and eventually go back and visit hopefully. I really want to go back through my mission after I'm all said and done.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
October 25, 2010
Haha thats funny about the kids praying for me, tell them they did their job right, haha this saturday an entire family is being baptized the Douglas family, their being baptised by their dad (probably, we're gonna invite him on wednesday) who I just ordained to be a priest this sunday, it's funny we found them and started talking to them, and at about the third lesson we had with them, the dad finally said, I was baptized when I was 10 years old... W-What?! I know right haha so he just hasn't gone to church his whole life, since he moved away from his uncle who he went to church with but they are completely active now and totally gung-ho about reading and being part of the church, did I tell you that in just a month and a half, or so, of us teaching them, they read all the way up to Alma 6 as a family? That's way impressive, wish my other investigators were that dedicated. Well, I'm excited for their baptism and so is the ward. We have others that are close, but none others on date yet, keep praying please
Well the cold weather has been starting, but only today was the first snow, so we got a average blizzard going on outside (which is why I thought it prudent to e-mail tonight instead of tomorrow morning, it's alot warmer haha) it's not so bad, but it's got a seriously biting wind, snow shards on a bike hurt like nothing else lemme tell you. But yeah, we are going to have to continue riding a bike... or walking... Bikes are faster, and if we don't want it to take 2 hours+ to get to some of our investigators we're going to have to bike to some of them, we'll just have to be careful about going downhill. It snows a decent amount in gillette, I dunno if I can say an actual number for you since it varies kinda wildly from year to year, but I should have almost a foot or so before I get transfered, so sleet will definitly be fun! haha........
I definitly could probably use more clothes, lots of my socks have holes in them, but I still have lots of pairs, I definitly need to find some kind of winter gear that works well on bikes... the mission rule is if were cold we need to put on suit coats, so my suit coat will probably be very covered in snow, the suit coat rule isn't so bad in car areas, in fact it's a good rule, but on bikes..... it's not gonna be so much fun haha, we'll figure it out. You sent me size 33 pants I believe. I really don't know what I want for Christmas, not really a lot of things that you need while your on a mission, I just gotta think of things to get to everyone else on Christmas which is the hard part.
Acutally for my year mark, I was going to burn an entire shirt and send it to you, but I got lazy and decided to do missionary work all day instead. I may eventually do it and just do it late, but I probably won't do the shirt burn haha. No I really didn't do anything special, just went about my day like normal, me and Elder Schneider just do the work, and thats our motivation, to just do the work every chance we get. I probably get on his nerves a lot, but I just want to get the work done and happening, I really don't want this area to fall stagnant again, and I hope that I can get a lot of work going on here for them to continue with after I leave...
Well the cold weather has been starting, but only today was the first snow, so we got a average blizzard going on outside (which is why I thought it prudent to e-mail tonight instead of tomorrow morning, it's alot warmer haha) it's not so bad, but it's got a seriously biting wind, snow shards on a bike hurt like nothing else lemme tell you. But yeah, we are going to have to continue riding a bike... or walking... Bikes are faster, and if we don't want it to take 2 hours+ to get to some of our investigators we're going to have to bike to some of them, we'll just have to be careful about going downhill. It snows a decent amount in gillette, I dunno if I can say an actual number for you since it varies kinda wildly from year to year, but I should have almost a foot or so before I get transfered, so sleet will definitly be fun! haha........
I definitly could probably use more clothes, lots of my socks have holes in them, but I still have lots of pairs, I definitly need to find some kind of winter gear that works well on bikes... the mission rule is if were cold we need to put on suit coats, so my suit coat will probably be very covered in snow, the suit coat rule isn't so bad in car areas, in fact it's a good rule, but on bikes..... it's not gonna be so much fun haha, we'll figure it out. You sent me size 33 pants I believe. I really don't know what I want for Christmas, not really a lot of things that you need while your on a mission, I just gotta think of things to get to everyone else on Christmas which is the hard part.
Acutally for my year mark, I was going to burn an entire shirt and send it to you, but I got lazy and decided to do missionary work all day instead. I may eventually do it and just do it late, but I probably won't do the shirt burn haha. No I really didn't do anything special, just went about my day like normal, me and Elder Schneider just do the work, and thats our motivation, to just do the work every chance we get. I probably get on his nerves a lot, but I just want to get the work done and happening, I really don't want this area to fall stagnant again, and I hope that I can get a lot of work going on here for them to continue with after I leave...
Monday, August 30, 2010
Training a Greenie
The work is going all right, the kid I gave the shoes to came to church that week, but he hasn't been back since, his mom wants to be active again, they haven't been active for a long time since they have lived so far away from church. His step dad isn't so eager, but he just needs the motivation to make it happen. It's kind of upsetting that he hasn't come in a while, but honestly Satan knows how much we can help and is managed many different times to distract him in every way he can think of to keep him from progressing... Surprise!
We're teaching quite a few people, well at least much more then we used to, and hoping for the number to grow. The most interresting thing about this new upcoming transfer is Elder Flannery is gone, he's going to Sioux Falls to be with an Elder Ezelle, I've met him once and he had a motorcycle injury a few years ago and has suffered brain damage since, he's just a little slower and has short term memory loss so he'll forget if he told you something already, he's also way blunt and will say exactly whats on his mind, but he's such a funny elder.
Myself however, I am getting a greenie. So I Know Nothing. President hasn't even met him yet, thought I assume he will in about 4-5 hours or so. Tonight I should find out who my new missionary is that I'll be training. It'll be interresting, but with the way this area has turned around, i don't think it'll be a bad thing. As long as he's willing to work it'll be sweet.
There are 5 Sets of missionaries here in Gillette, 2 sisters 8 elders, with this new transfer we're gonna have 3 greenies, and one tripanionship with the Zone Leaders again, so we'll be up to 11 missionaries in Gillette, which is cool, I really don't see myself using up that entire resturant coupon on just me and my companion so we'll probably go out with another pair at some point when we both don't have a dinner. Actually... I bike always haha, I don't have a car in Gillette, it's not super bad, we never have to bike more then 40 minutes to get from one end of our area to the other. So no real complaints, our area stretches about 10 miles or so, East to west. Actually i was enjoying the summer here. I really didn't think it was all that hot here. It only got past 100 one time, and that was short lived. I enjoyed this summer and I'm not looking forward to Fall, because that means biking in the snow. Snow starts as early as October here. And I wont be leaving till probably November, So i'll get to bike in the snow for a while...
I'll be sure not to scare the greenie too much... But I will be sure to work him to death!
I'll be fun
We're teaching quite a few people, well at least much more then we used to, and hoping for the number to grow. The most interresting thing about this new upcoming transfer is Elder Flannery is gone, he's going to Sioux Falls to be with an Elder Ezelle, I've met him once and he had a motorcycle injury a few years ago and has suffered brain damage since, he's just a little slower and has short term memory loss so he'll forget if he told you something already, he's also way blunt and will say exactly whats on his mind, but he's such a funny elder.
Myself however, I am getting a greenie. So I Know Nothing. President hasn't even met him yet, thought I assume he will in about 4-5 hours or so. Tonight I should find out who my new missionary is that I'll be training. It'll be interresting, but with the way this area has turned around, i don't think it'll be a bad thing. As long as he's willing to work it'll be sweet.
There are 5 Sets of missionaries here in Gillette, 2 sisters 8 elders, with this new transfer we're gonna have 3 greenies, and one tripanionship with the Zone Leaders again, so we'll be up to 11 missionaries in Gillette, which is cool, I really don't see myself using up that entire resturant coupon on just me and my companion so we'll probably go out with another pair at some point when we both don't have a dinner. Actually... I bike always haha, I don't have a car in Gillette, it's not super bad, we never have to bike more then 40 minutes to get from one end of our area to the other. So no real complaints, our area stretches about 10 miles or so, East to west. Actually i was enjoying the summer here. I really didn't think it was all that hot here. It only got past 100 one time, and that was short lived. I enjoyed this summer and I'm not looking forward to Fall, because that means biking in the snow. Snow starts as early as October here. And I wont be leaving till probably November, So i'll get to bike in the snow for a while...
I'll be sure not to scare the greenie too much... But I will be sure to work him to death!
I'll be fun
Monday, July 19, 2010
New companion in Gillette
Elder Flannery is a cool kid, I get along with him fairly well personality wise, missionary wise, there's a little left to desire, it seems that most of the time I have to give him that little push that he needs to want to go out and try to see people. But oh well, we get along and have alot of the same interests. So it all works out in the end. We have 10 missionaries in Gillette, and I wish I could say a lot was going on... 2nd ward before I got here was teaching the least amount of lessons per week, not we're teaching the most, and it still seems like no real progress is happening... All of our legitimate investigators, are eternal investigators who have been taught for upwards of 2 years+ each... We REALLY need to get new investigators, and we have been trying, but truth be told, tracting does not work very well at all, we still go out and tract every chance we get, but have managed to find nothing but bashers. There is actually an interesting statistic attached to it, 1/ 1000 people that investigate from tracting are baptized. 187/ 1000 that investigate from referrals are baptized, and 864/1000 that are given to us from members that investigate are baptized. Tracting really doesn't work very well, we still do it because we have to, but the more the members get involved in missionary work and teach the people they meet, and invite the missionaries over, the better the work goes.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Ready for Summer?
Who wouldn't look forward to summer? haha It's lots of fun, we are too, up here, because hopefully that will mean we can get ahold of some of the kids we teach a lot easier instead of fussing and fighting around schedules.
We've been having some strange weather, Tuesday was a tornado, wednesday was a sunny day, thursday was super gloom, heavy rain, 50's, Friday was oversun, with most of the day being in the 90s+ (We walked for 3 hours that day and I am red) and saturday was a normal partly cloudy day... This place is so weird haha.
Speaking of pools, for P-day yesterday we went fishing with a member to this man-made lake off of a dam that they only built like 2-3 years ago, and were catching northerns, but man! do these fish bite, in 2 hours or so, I caught 4, elder Richardson caught 3 and Bro. Blackwood caught like 5-6, his daughter hooked one and was about to bring it in when at the last second almost on shore it broke off and swam away. I felt so bad for her.
We've been having some strange weather, Tuesday was a tornado, wednesday was a sunny day, thursday was super gloom, heavy rain, 50's, Friday was oversun, with most of the day being in the 90s+ (We walked for 3 hours that day and I am red) and saturday was a normal partly cloudy day... This place is so weird haha.
Speaking of pools, for P-day yesterday we went fishing with a member to this man-made lake off of a dam that they only built like 2-3 years ago, and were catching northerns, but man! do these fish bite, in 2 hours or so, I caught 4, elder Richardson caught 3 and Bro. Blackwood caught like 5-6, his daughter hooked one and was about to bring it in when at the last second almost on shore it broke off and swam away. I felt so bad for her.
Friday, May 21, 2010
conversations with the president.
On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 10:18 AM, Brady Kissner wrote:
How are you doing President?
I haven't heard from you in a while, I hope you're having lots of fun with your call as Mission President. I've always loved the quote from President Hinkley that says
"In all life have much joy, life is to be enjoyed, not just endured"
I have been trying to make that a bit of a motto in my life, I'm out here and there are plenty of good times and plenty of hardships with trying to teach people the gospel, but I have to step back and have fun while teaching, I have to be happy and enjoy the time that I get to spend out here in the Lord Vineyard, and if there are struggles, I have to rise above them and see the good in every circumstance!
Both Elder Foulger and myself are having a good time in Bismarck and are really excited for some of our investigators and less active families, and for some of the good choices they have been making. We're both a little anxious about upcoming transfer calls, but we know that if either of us get transfered it will be to somewhere we need to be! And that's good enough (wow I'm in a good mood today) Anyway! Hope you are enjoying your time here and having lots of fun!
Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; with the change in my email account some of my old emails were not being forwarded, so i apologise for the past weeks and your not receiveing my letters. i want you to know that i was writing, they just werent being sent. i am grateful that you are busily engaged and enjoying the labors. the work is great and the labors are few but if were united we all things can do. the Lord will continue to bless you as you seek to do His will. love pres layton
On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 11:52 AM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
Ah, yeah this new myldsmail has caused a bit of confusion with some, I suppose it did probably eat up my e-mails, no problem. I'm looking forward to a new transfer with a new companion, we have a lot of new stuff going on with the work too, so it may be good with all this new activity over here. I'm excited and nervous at the same time, and can't wait to meet Elder Richardson.
Like the fish on the wall says "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Love Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; i have always enjoyed the dont worry be happy fish. i think the Lord said have faith and i will give you joy. i know that you and elder richardson will do many great things in bismark while you are serving together. thank you for all that you are striving to do to build the kingdom. love pres layton
On Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 11:02 AM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
Well, things are definitely different up here in Bismarck, but like I said before different may very well, be a good thing up here, we were looking at a whole new teaching pool, and have since begun to act on that new pool, some of them are wonderful and some are struggling to accept our message. We however keep trying day by day, and won't let the downs keep us from doing this marvelous work. I hope you are enjoying this little heat wave we have been getting. Hope you have lots of fun!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; thank you for checking on the storage unit, it helps me to know how we can proceed with our needs in that part of the mission. i promise you that as you seed guidance and work hard that your pool will not only grow but that those you teach will progress towards the truth. thank you for all you are doing and for your desires to fulfill your calling. love pres layton
On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 2:01 PM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
Oh yeah, no problem with the storage unit, it was good to know that we have enough 'stuff' to help out where it may be necessary. Good things are happening, out teaching pool is beginning to grow as we weed out those who were less interested, we tend to find more that are, and can thus teach more effectively. I regret to say though that our miles on our car are a little on the high side, so Elder Richardson and myself have been doing quite a lot of walking lately, but it's good for us, and we've ran into many different individuals just on the streets. Which reminds me, we were walking just yesterday and ran into someone who was very genuinely interested in the church, however he lives in Grafton, North Dakota, we would like to know if there are missionaries in that area, or that cover that area that may be willing to teach him. His name is Tim and his phone number is 1-816-914-3331, we weren't able to get a home address or last name in the course of the conversation, but he has talked to many LDS individuals before, and was excited when we told him about the temple here in town! If there is any missionaries that are in that area we would love to pass the information on. If not that's alright too, we can try to contact him, and teach him when he's in town!
Thanks for all your support and sorry for the brick of a message!
Love,
Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; you can send me a brick of a message anytime, i enjoy them. i am glad that the weather is turning warmer and it makes walking and biking easier. grafton, nd is 40 miles north of grand forks and it would be in their area. give elder grant and elder woodall a call. walking does have its advantages, keep on doing the great job you are. love pres layton
On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 8:45 AM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
We've still be walking all over, and were planning on having a good month for miles to make up for the atrocity last month, Thank you for the information on Grafton, as soon as I am done here in the library I plan on calling them and giving them his information. Hopefully things will go well and they will find the time (and means) to make it up to teach him. Things have been going alright down here, with conference behind us and zone meeting coming up tomorrow we're all sorts of pumped up. I hope you're having a great spring, and I'll see you tomorrow!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; it was good to be with you at zone conference and to have the chance to visit with you. you are a wonderful missionary and you have my trust and confindence in your abilities to be an effective instrument in the Lords hands. i know that as you devote yourself to the work that many tender mercies will come to you and your family. love pres layton
On Mon, Apr 19, 2010 at 9:51 AM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
Hey President,
Sorry this week has been such a bad week for us, I've been fighting a flu/cold for the past week, ending each day with a "I'll be better in the morning" so the first few days in the week we stayed in for non-appointments, but as the week went on I couldn't stand it anymore so we still went out and tried people. However, it didn't make up for the unaffective week we had at teaching. However, we did still have some wonderful lessons, and were hoping for a much better week this week. And don't worry about me, I'll be better in the morning!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; you might not have been feeling well this past week but at least you did not lose your sense of humor. i hope that by now you are feeling better and back to 100%, i guess it is all of the hot weather that you are having to adjust to. thank you for all you are doing and dont forget to take two asprin and call me in the morning. love pres layton
On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 9:30 AM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
All's up and up this week, it's been a fairly good week for us, no more flu, and thats good enough for me! we've had quite a few good lessons this past week, and have been making headway into some potentials and older investigators getting them ready for baptism. It's funny, I've noticed it before, but have had it reaffirmed this week, whenever we end the day thinking, wow, today was a great day, I tend to look down at my planner and realize that we did almost nothing that we planned, but one thing led to another and we managed to have a full and productive day none-the-less. Anyway, alls good up here in Bismarck, just looking forward, to housing a gaggle of missionaries and having zone conference next thursday. Hope all's well and stress hasn't held you down!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; thank you for your letter, i always enjoy reading them. i hope by the time that you read this response that you have survived the gaggle of missionaries and are settleing in on your new call. thank you for accepting and i know that you will do your best. you have all of my confindence and no one expects you to do more than your best and it will be sufficient. you certainly have a little more area to cover and i hope that we can follow up with potentials in the mandan area book. thank you for doing all that you do, love pres layton
On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:31 AM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
It has definitely been an interesting week over here in Bismarck, I've been trying to go around and meet the Mandan Investigators and Potentials, with only a small amount of luck, we've only really gotten in to see some of the less active members, but still we'll keep trying. Were trying to see if we can set up Mandan appointments all on the same days, so that we will be able to just have what were calling 'Mandan days' where we go and try to visit everyone in Mandan, hopefully everything will work out. I have to admit, I'm still a little taken aback with my new calling and not sure if I can measure up all the way, but I promise that I will at least try to do what is necessary. Thanks for all the support president, I hope and pray that this work can continue with ease
dear elder kissner; thank you for your email and for your efforts to bring yourself up to speed in mandan. you most certainly will not lack for things to do to keep busy. i cant promise you that the work will continue with ease, but i will promise you that aa you do your best you will be sustained and make equal to the task at hand. we grow when we stretch. thank you, love pres layton
On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 9:38 AM, Brady Kissnerwrote:
Dear President Layton,
This week was a fairly good week for us, we managed to see lots of different people and get to meet some of the investigators in Mandan, they are starting to warm up to us already and while it sometimes gets confusing and we may reteach certain principles, we still keep trying and teaching. Honestly, I prefer being busy to bored, (not that I was bored before, but now I'll be busy!) so I'm glad that I have to chance to be in Mandan and working with the people there. I wish you the best of luck as you strive to fulfill your calling, I can imagine it a slight bit busier and more stressful then my own. Lots of Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; the old saying is: busy is as busy does. i know that you are working hard and being blessed for your efforts to teach and to find. i hope that this week went well and was productive. i pray that you and elder richardson are continuing to progress in working in harmony and trust. you both have so much to lend to the Lords work. thank you for being the missionary that your mother thinks you are. love pres layton
How are you doing President?
I haven't heard from you in a while, I hope you're having lots of fun with your call as Mission President. I've always loved the quote from President Hinkley that says
"In all life have much joy, life is to be enjoyed, not just endured"
I have been trying to make that a bit of a motto in my life, I'm out here and there are plenty of good times and plenty of hardships with trying to teach people the gospel, but I have to step back and have fun while teaching, I have to be happy and enjoy the time that I get to spend out here in the Lord Vineyard, and if there are struggles, I have to rise above them and see the good in every circumstance!
Both Elder Foulger and myself are having a good time in Bismarck and are really excited for some of our investigators and less active families, and for some of the good choices they have been making. We're both a little anxious about upcoming transfer calls, but we know that if either of us get transfered it will be to somewhere we need to be! And that's good enough (wow I'm in a good mood today) Anyway! Hope you are enjoying your time here and having lots of fun!
Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; with the change in my email account some of my old emails were not being forwarded, so i apologise for the past weeks and your not receiveing my letters. i want you to know that i was writing, they just werent being sent. i am grateful that you are busily engaged and enjoying the labors. the work is great and the labors are few but if were united we all things can do. the Lord will continue to bless you as you seek to do His will. love pres layton
On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 11:52 AM, Brady Kissner
Ah, yeah this new myldsmail has caused a bit of confusion with some, I suppose it did probably eat up my e-mails, no problem. I'm looking forward to a new transfer with a new companion, we have a lot of new stuff going on with the work too, so it may be good with all this new activity over here. I'm excited and nervous at the same time, and can't wait to meet Elder Richardson.
Like the fish on the wall says "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Love Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; i have always enjoyed the dont worry be happy fish. i think the Lord said have faith and i will give you joy. i know that you and elder richardson will do many great things in bismark while you are serving together. thank you for all that you are striving to do to build the kingdom. love pres layton
On Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 11:02 AM, Brady Kissner
Well, things are definitely different up here in Bismarck, but like I said before different may very well, be a good thing up here, we were looking at a whole new teaching pool, and have since begun to act on that new pool, some of them are wonderful and some are struggling to accept our message. We however keep trying day by day, and won't let the downs keep us from doing this marvelous work. I hope you are enjoying this little heat wave we have been getting. Hope you have lots of fun!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; thank you for checking on the storage unit, it helps me to know how we can proceed with our needs in that part of the mission. i promise you that as you seed guidance and work hard that your pool will not only grow but that those you teach will progress towards the truth. thank you for all you are doing and for your desires to fulfill your calling. love pres layton
On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 2:01 PM, Brady Kissner
Oh yeah, no problem with the storage unit, it was good to know that we have enough 'stuff' to help out where it may be necessary. Good things are happening, out teaching pool is beginning to grow as we weed out those who were less interested, we tend to find more that are, and can thus teach more effectively. I regret to say though that our miles on our car are a little on the high side, so Elder Richardson and myself have been doing quite a lot of walking lately, but it's good for us, and we've ran into many different individuals just on the streets. Which reminds me, we were walking just yesterday and ran into someone who was very genuinely interested in the church, however he lives in Grafton, North Dakota, we would like to know if there are missionaries in that area, or that cover that area that may be willing to teach him. His name is Tim and his phone number is 1-816-914-3331, we weren't able to get a home address or last name in the course of the conversation, but he has talked to many LDS individuals before, and was excited when we told him about the temple here in town! If there is any missionaries that are in that area we would love to pass the information on. If not that's alright too, we can try to contact him, and teach him when he's in town!
Thanks for all your support and sorry for the brick of a message!
Love,
Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; you can send me a brick of a message anytime, i enjoy them. i am glad that the weather is turning warmer and it makes walking and biking easier. grafton, nd is 40 miles north of grand forks and it would be in their area. give elder grant and elder woodall a call. walking does have its advantages, keep on doing the great job you are. love pres layton
On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 8:45 AM, Brady Kissner
We've still be walking all over, and were planning on having a good month for miles to make up for the atrocity last month, Thank you for the information on Grafton, as soon as I am done here in the library I plan on calling them and giving them his information. Hopefully things will go well and they will find the time (and means) to make it up to teach him. Things have been going alright down here, with conference behind us and zone meeting coming up tomorrow we're all sorts of pumped up. I hope you're having a great spring, and I'll see you tomorrow!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; it was good to be with you at zone conference and to have the chance to visit with you. you are a wonderful missionary and you have my trust and confindence in your abilities to be an effective instrument in the Lords hands. i know that as you devote yourself to the work that many tender mercies will come to you and your family. love pres layton
On Mon, Apr 19, 2010 at 9:51 AM, Brady Kissner
Hey President,
Sorry this week has been such a bad week for us, I've been fighting a flu/cold for the past week, ending each day with a "I'll be better in the morning" so the first few days in the week we stayed in for non-appointments, but as the week went on I couldn't stand it anymore so we still went out and tried people. However, it didn't make up for the unaffective week we had at teaching. However, we did still have some wonderful lessons, and were hoping for a much better week this week. And don't worry about me, I'll be better in the morning!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; you might not have been feeling well this past week but at least you did not lose your sense of humor. i hope that by now you are feeling better and back to 100%, i guess it is all of the hot weather that you are having to adjust to. thank you for all you are doing and dont forget to take two asprin and call me in the morning. love pres layton
On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 9:30 AM, Brady Kissner
All's up and up this week, it's been a fairly good week for us, no more flu, and thats good enough for me! we've had quite a few good lessons this past week, and have been making headway into some potentials and older investigators getting them ready for baptism. It's funny, I've noticed it before, but have had it reaffirmed this week, whenever we end the day thinking, wow, today was a great day, I tend to look down at my planner and realize that we did almost nothing that we planned, but one thing led to another and we managed to have a full and productive day none-the-less. Anyway, alls good up here in Bismarck, just looking forward, to housing a gaggle of missionaries and having zone conference next thursday. Hope all's well and stress hasn't held you down!
Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; thank you for your letter, i always enjoy reading them. i hope by the time that you read this response that you have survived the gaggle of missionaries and are settleing in on your new call. thank you for accepting and i know that you will do your best. you have all of my confindence and no one expects you to do more than your best and it will be sufficient. you certainly have a little more area to cover and i hope that we can follow up with potentials in the mandan area book. thank you for doing all that you do, love pres layton
On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:31 AM, Brady Kissner
It has definitely been an interesting week over here in Bismarck, I've been trying to go around and meet the Mandan Investigators and Potentials, with only a small amount of luck, we've only really gotten in to see some of the less active members, but still we'll keep trying. Were trying to see if we can set up Mandan appointments all on the same days, so that we will be able to just have what were calling 'Mandan days' where we go and try to visit everyone in Mandan, hopefully everything will work out. I have to admit, I'm still a little taken aback with my new calling and not sure if I can measure up all the way, but I promise that I will at least try to do what is necessary. Thanks for all the support president, I hope and pray that this work can continue with ease
dear elder kissner; thank you for your email and for your efforts to bring yourself up to speed in mandan. you most certainly will not lack for things to do to keep busy. i cant promise you that the work will continue with ease, but i will promise you that aa you do your best you will be sustained and make equal to the task at hand. we grow when we stretch. thank you, love pres layton
On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 9:38 AM, Brady Kissner
Dear President Layton,
This week was a fairly good week for us, we managed to see lots of different people and get to meet some of the investigators in Mandan, they are starting to warm up to us already and while it sometimes gets confusing and we may reteach certain principles, we still keep trying and teaching. Honestly, I prefer being busy to bored, (not that I was bored before, but now I'll be busy!) so I'm glad that I have to chance to be in Mandan and working with the people there. I wish you the best of luck as you strive to fulfill your calling, I can imagine it a slight bit busier and more stressful then my own. Lots of Love, Elder Kissner
dear elder kissner; the old saying is: busy is as busy does. i know that you are working hard and being blessed for your efforts to teach and to find. i hope that this week went well and was productive. i pray that you and elder richardson are continuing to progress in working in harmony and trust. you both have so much to lend to the Lords work. thank you for being the missionary that your mother thinks you are. love pres layton
Grandpa's first Mission
Lessons sometime come in ways we seldom expect. When I served my mission in Geneva Switzerland back in the 1960s the Church decided to authorize the missionaries to purchase motor bikes. Every missionary that I knew had one and my companion was no exception. As a new missionary, I wrote home and told my folks about it and they sent me the money to buy a new bike. So my companion took me over the border into France, which was part of our mission, to buy a French made Mobilette.
Licenses were not required to operate one of these low powered motorbikes. As Americans we were not familiar with European driving rules and regulations anyway, so that didn’t seem to matter much.
On one particular day my companion and I had an appointment on the other side of town. As was our practice, I followed my companion a few yards behind because he knew his way around and I was still getting my bearings. The cardinal rule of driving in France and Switzerland in those days was essentially a defensive one. Simple and easy to remember: “Priorité á droit!” or the person on the right has the right-of-way. I knew this rule as my companion hammered it into me quite thoroughly. What I didn’t realize was that this rule always applies, no matter what, even for a small truck exiting an alley.
So here I am tooling along behind my companion who had managed to get about 30 yards ahead of me. And this guy pulls out of an alley in his small delivery truck a deux cheveaux (like the one driven by Inspector Clouseau of the Pink Panther movies). He didn’t look to his left… after all why should he look, he had the right of way… right?
It all happened so fast I had no time to react. My right knee hit the front of his fender which catapulted me over his hood leaving my bike to take the full brunt of the impact with the front of his mini truck. Whether it was my tumbling experience from my High School days, or the manner in which the collision took place, or the Lord watching over me, I cannot say… probably all of the above. But I just landed in such a way that I rolled on my shoulders and came to my feet. Turning about I began to walk back to the truck driver’s window. To discuss with him what had happened. By the time I reached his window, the pain in my knee hit me and I crumpled passed out to the pavement.
I next awoke finding myself in an ambulance sort of floating along. At the hospital they X-rayed my knee and determined that it was only bruised. When my companion finally showed up, I realized that he hadn’t heard any noise behind him so he continued on without looking back. He recounted his version of what had happened.
He had arrived at our appointment and turned to wait for me to show up After what seemed like an eternity, he decided he had better back track and see what had become of me. When he saw the police car and the crowd, he made his way through the throng. When he saw my mangled crumpled bike in front of the deux cheveaux still sitting where it all had occurred, I can only imagine the panic that came over him when he began to inquire as to the condition of the rider of the bike. A woman standing near didn’t help his matters when she asked, oozing pity, “C’était ton ami?” – “It was your friend?”
The police informed him as to what hospital they had transported me giving no information as to my condition. He then beat a path there only to find me sitting on an examination table laughing and OK.
What did we learn that day?
1. To obey all traffic laws even though you may not believe that they apply in all circumstances.
2. Always keep your companion in sight.
3. That the French language has another use of the second person singular form tu-toi-ton. Normally it is reserved for close family and friends and as a form of reverence as in addressing our Heavenly Father. But thee, thou, thy are also used to denote pity or deep caring for the person being addressed. Hence she said “C’était ton ami?” rather than “C’était votre ami?”
Elder Arnold A. Miller
Licenses were not required to operate one of these low powered motorbikes. As Americans we were not familiar with European driving rules and regulations anyway, so that didn’t seem to matter much.
On one particular day my companion and I had an appointment on the other side of town. As was our practice, I followed my companion a few yards behind because he knew his way around and I was still getting my bearings. The cardinal rule of driving in France and Switzerland in those days was essentially a defensive one. Simple and easy to remember: “Priorité á droit!” or the person on the right has the right-of-way. I knew this rule as my companion hammered it into me quite thoroughly. What I didn’t realize was that this rule always applies, no matter what, even for a small truck exiting an alley.
So here I am tooling along behind my companion who had managed to get about 30 yards ahead of me. And this guy pulls out of an alley in his small delivery truck a deux cheveaux (like the one driven by Inspector Clouseau of the Pink Panther movies). He didn’t look to his left… after all why should he look, he had the right of way… right?
It all happened so fast I had no time to react. My right knee hit the front of his fender which catapulted me over his hood leaving my bike to take the full brunt of the impact with the front of his mini truck. Whether it was my tumbling experience from my High School days, or the manner in which the collision took place, or the Lord watching over me, I cannot say… probably all of the above. But I just landed in such a way that I rolled on my shoulders and came to my feet. Turning about I began to walk back to the truck driver’s window. To discuss with him what had happened. By the time I reached his window, the pain in my knee hit me and I crumpled passed out to the pavement.
I next awoke finding myself in an ambulance sort of floating along. At the hospital they X-rayed my knee and determined that it was only bruised. When my companion finally showed up, I realized that he hadn’t heard any noise behind him so he continued on without looking back. He recounted his version of what had happened.
He had arrived at our appointment and turned to wait for me to show up After what seemed like an eternity, he decided he had better back track and see what had become of me. When he saw the police car and the crowd, he made his way through the throng. When he saw my mangled crumpled bike in front of the deux cheveaux still sitting where it all had occurred, I can only imagine the panic that came over him when he began to inquire as to the condition of the rider of the bike. A woman standing near didn’t help his matters when she asked, oozing pity, “C’était ton ami?” – “It was your friend?”
The police informed him as to what hospital they had transported me giving no information as to my condition. He then beat a path there only to find me sitting on an examination table laughing and OK.
What did we learn that day?
1. To obey all traffic laws even though you may not believe that they apply in all circumstances.
2. Always keep your companion in sight.
3. That the French language has another use of the second person singular form tu-toi-ton. Normally it is reserved for close family and friends and as a form of reverence as in addressing our Heavenly Father. But thee, thou, thy are also used to denote pity or deep caring for the person being addressed. Hence she said “C’était ton ami?” rather than “C’était votre ami?”
Elder Arnold A. Miller
Monday, May 3, 2010
Working hard
So anyway, weather update, I'm pretty sure that I've already told you that North Dakota has the fastest changing weather in the world. Well get this, with us having to go to Mandan now, we made a trip over there earlier this week, the sky was bright and blue, hardly a cloud in the sky, the momment we hit the Mandan border, I had to turn on my windshield wipers to full to be able to see anything it was so bad. Then just 3 minutes later, blue skys again! I love North Dakota... haha
But yeah, eventful week, we got 2 new people on date this week, bringing us to a total of 5, Dion ------, was put on date earlier this week by Elder Callor on his last day in town (he did that on purpose btw, so he could say he put Dion on date) Dion is Curtis's foster child, I've told you about Curtis (BTW, he asked for our phone number so watch out he might call you someday haha) anyway, so Elder Callor, convinced Dion to taking the missionary lessons and then getting baptized... I'm not quite so sure on how we're going to teach him since we know him too well, and he has ADHD. It's like trying to talk to your best friend about the gospel, it just doesn't really work too well, but we'll figure it out and hopefully he'll go through with it.
Also, we got a lady named Denise _________ on date today, she's a native who has next to no religious background. She loves the lessons and especially about prayer and faith as she has seen a marked increase in her life since she has begun praying and having faith that things will turn out all right. She may be on Parol, but we're going to have a 'law of the land' lesson with her to find out where she stands, honestly it's just getting out the big lessons now, we've taught the doctrine lessons, now we just got to teach her the, WOW, chastity, tithing, fasting, LotL, so we better get to work, I really hope that she is willing to change.
You may be thinking huh, why is it that you are putting people on date to be baptized before they know too much, many times when they learn that they can be baptized they start working harder to meet that goal, other times, it becomes harder for them to make any progress at all, but I have faith that as we keep teaching them they will continue to want to go further in the gospel.
But yeah, eventful week, we got 2 new people on date this week, bringing us to a total of 5, Dion ------, was put on date earlier this week by Elder Callor on his last day in town (he did that on purpose btw, so he could say he put Dion on date) Dion is Curtis's foster child, I've told you about Curtis (BTW, he asked for our phone number so watch out he might call you someday haha) anyway, so Elder Callor, convinced Dion to taking the missionary lessons and then getting baptized... I'm not quite so sure on how we're going to teach him since we know him too well, and he has ADHD. It's like trying to talk to your best friend about the gospel, it just doesn't really work too well, but we'll figure it out and hopefully he'll go through with it.
Also, we got a lady named Denise _________ on date today, she's a native who has next to no religious background. She loves the lessons and especially about prayer and faith as she has seen a marked increase in her life since she has begun praying and having faith that things will turn out all right. She may be on Parol, but we're going to have a 'law of the land' lesson with her to find out where she stands, honestly it's just getting out the big lessons now, we've taught the doctrine lessons, now we just got to teach her the, WOW, chastity, tithing, fasting, LotL, so we better get to work, I really hope that she is willing to change.
You may be thinking huh, why is it that you are putting people on date to be baptized before they know too much, many times when they learn that they can be baptized they start working harder to meet that goal, other times, it becomes harder for them to make any progress at all, but I have faith that as we keep teaching them they will continue to want to go further in the gospel.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
New Responsibilities
Yesterday about 1 o'clock after I had e-mailed, I got a phone call from President Layton. I answered the call and during the call (Mandan was over for P-day too) President said
"Elder Kissner, well you know that Elder Callor is getting transfered to Alliance, Nebraska, and Elder Holmes is going to New Town..." At this point I kind of cut him off, because Elder Holmes was told he was staying in Mandan and getting a new companion, so I asked him, escuse me president? I thought that Elder Holmes was staying in Mandan? He's right here and telling me that he thought he was going to stay too. So president proceeded to tell me that last night he recieved revelation that he should move Elder Holmes out of Mandan and open up a new area, New Town, which means since both Mandan missionaries are being moved out, that I would be taking over both areas, so now I've got Bismarck and Mandan and all the investigators to work with instead of just the Bismarck area. And on top of all this at the tail end of our conversation, President threw another Curveball at me and asked me to be the District Leader. Honestly I didn't know how to really respond, I was caught off guard for the second time in less then a few minutes. I really didn't know what to think. Of course I accepted and thought through my head... wow why am I a District leader this early in my mission... I don't even know really what I'm doing yet all the time... But I suppose president trusts me.... So, with the removal of Mandan, I'm now District Leader over the smallest district in our mission. Our district simply consists of Bismarck, Dickenson, and the CES missionaries that travel over the entire stake. So really I'm just over 2 other missionaries... I suppose that makes it easy, but at the same time, Dickenson is still in another time zone meaning that I'm probably going to have to stay up each night as I wait for them to get in... which will be lots of fun.... But anyway... Besides the fact that I'm floored atm, I have to finish up this e-mail so that Mandan can tour me of all their investigators in the next 5 hours...
"Elder Kissner, well you know that Elder Callor is getting transfered to Alliance, Nebraska, and Elder Holmes is going to New Town..." At this point I kind of cut him off, because Elder Holmes was told he was staying in Mandan and getting a new companion, so I asked him, escuse me president? I thought that Elder Holmes was staying in Mandan? He's right here and telling me that he thought he was going to stay too. So president proceeded to tell me that last night he recieved revelation that he should move Elder Holmes out of Mandan and open up a new area, New Town, which means since both Mandan missionaries are being moved out, that I would be taking over both areas, so now I've got Bismarck and Mandan and all the investigators to work with instead of just the Bismarck area. And on top of all this at the tail end of our conversation, President threw another Curveball at me and asked me to be the District Leader. Honestly I didn't know how to really respond, I was caught off guard for the second time in less then a few minutes. I really didn't know what to think. Of course I accepted and thought through my head... wow why am I a District leader this early in my mission... I don't even know really what I'm doing yet all the time... But I suppose president trusts me.... So, with the removal of Mandan, I'm now District Leader over the smallest district in our mission. Our district simply consists of Bismarck, Dickenson, and the CES missionaries that travel over the entire stake. So really I'm just over 2 other missionaries... I suppose that makes it easy, but at the same time, Dickenson is still in another time zone meaning that I'm probably going to have to stay up each night as I wait for them to get in... which will be lots of fun.... But anyway... Besides the fact that I'm floored atm, I have to finish up this e-mail so that Mandan can tour me of all their investigators in the next 5 hours...
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Being a missionary
most people who convert take a long time going through different missionaries. It's really exciting seeing that 5 of the people I was teaching back in Gillette are now on date to be baptized, and they've gone through at least 4 missionaries to finally get to that point. Most people want to make sure their making the right decision, and most don't realize that you're not always going to be there, so out of the blue... missionary leaves new one comes in. Still we see stuff like that all the time. Almost everyone up here has a conversion story, or a my parents were converted. It seems like this entire ward is made up of first generation converts. So it's very interresting some of the stories you hear. But you win some you lose some...
Our mission is not neccessary to convert. It is simply to proclaim the gospel, and invite people to partake in the saving priciples and ordinances of the gospel. Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them recieve the restored Gospel, through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, reciving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. We invite people and take them through step by step the fourth article of faith~
Our mission is not neccessary to convert. It is simply to proclaim the gospel, and invite people to partake in the saving priciples and ordinances of the gospel. Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them recieve the restored Gospel, through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, reciving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. We invite people and take them through step by step the fourth article of faith~
Thursday, March 4, 2010
lots of cold, lots of snow, lots of ice, lots of where is spring?
Things are going fine over here, we recently got a new person on date to be baptized, his name is Bryan, we've been teaching him for a little while now, we really haven't taught him a whole lot, but his kids love going to church and he kind of goes for the sake of them, but he enjoys learning about native american history, so he sort of enjoys it too. Anyway, we asked him if he wanted to be baptized after reading Mosiah 18 with him, about baptism, and he gave a real quick, yeah, to our question if he wanted to be, but then, afterward he went into the deepest thought I've ever seen him go into. He was thinking long and hard about what he had just said, I hope we don't scare him off with moving too fast, but he voiced that he's a little nervous, he's "never been baptized in another church before" he was baptized catholic as a baby, and that was it. Never went to church, it's funny how many people you find up here with that exact same story. Virtually everyone up here has been "baptized" but not a whole lot are active in their church. But on the flipside, North Dakota, has the highest percentage of people that attend church in the entire United States, granted, there isn't a lot else to do, but it's still impressive, I think it hinders missionary work a little bit, only because people get in the "I already have a church" notion. In fact, by us showing up at certain investigators houses after a few visits, we learn that they have gone re-active in their own church, Doh! but oh well, as long as they're still getting a spiritual fix, it will make them better and give them a better chance of accepting the message later, if not in this life, in the life to come.
Other then that we are also teaching a different family, Chris and Jessica ****, who are way awesome. They love having us over and just asking little questions here and there about the church, One day I answered their question about abortion, with a 'we really don't condone abortion, we believe that the rights that God gave us to create life are sacred and shouldn't be misused in that way' and then the next time when we came over he was looking at LDS.org and said "Oh! so you DO allow abortion" I was like... oh no, what did he read wrong... but then come to find out that he was like "oh wait, just in instances of rape, incest, danger to mother, blah blah" but it was still funny. Chris said a prayer at the end of that meeting and said in the prayer "please help us as we make this decision to go to another church" I was like um... excuse me? as you make the decision? he didn't say help us make the decision, they said help us as we make this decision. So I had high hopes that they would be at church yesterday, but no such luck, oh well.
Anyway, things are normal up here, lots of cold, lots of snow, lots of ice, lots of where is spring?
Other then that we are also teaching a different family, Chris and Jessica ****, who are way awesome. They love having us over and just asking little questions here and there about the church, One day I answered their question about abortion, with a 'we really don't condone abortion, we believe that the rights that God gave us to create life are sacred and shouldn't be misused in that way' and then the next time when we came over he was looking at LDS.org and said "Oh! so you DO allow abortion" I was like... oh no, what did he read wrong... but then come to find out that he was like "oh wait, just in instances of rape, incest, danger to mother, blah blah" but it was still funny. Chris said a prayer at the end of that meeting and said in the prayer "please help us as we make this decision to go to another church" I was like um... excuse me? as you make the decision? he didn't say help us make the decision, they said help us as we make this decision. So I had high hopes that they would be at church yesterday, but no such luck, oh well.
Anyway, things are normal up here, lots of cold, lots of snow, lots of ice, lots of where is spring?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Cold Cold Cold! fun times in the cold!
Yeah for the most part the coldest part of winter is over, but we won't really have a melt down for another month or so, it's still below freezing, but it doesn't feel cold at all, we've had a mini snow storm all weekend, so were just dealing with frosts all over... It got to be -5 last night while 2 hours earlier it was 25, the weather changes so quickly up here. Actually, from what I hear the seasons aren't much longer up here then in Vegas, we just get a longer winter coupled up into summer where it gets up to the upper 90s. So it will still be the extremes, just more cold then hot.
Well... You can move away from trouble... but you might not like where you have to move... Funny thing is, the colder a place that you move to the less gangs their are, because no one wants to be out in the cold... My entire mission I think I've only seen one instance of graffiti, and it was on a trans-continental train, so who knows when it got put there. Not trying to suggest moving up north, but just pointing out that there is a very significantly lower crime rate in cold places, I kind of think it's funny. On the flip side, there is also a significantly higher percentage of drunks. Yay beer!
Cold Cold Cold! fun times in the cold!
Oh! and ldsmail.net is having a revamp, their setting up a new system and changing my e-mail address, tell everyone that my e-mail address is changed to brady.kissner@myldsmail.net instead of brady.j.kissner@myldsmail.net, I'm pretty sure that for a while their going to forward all of our e-mails to this account, but I don't know how long their going to do that and if they are planning on shutting down the old myldsmail.net system so.... yeah!
Anyway, have fun in the rain!
Well... You can move away from trouble... but you might not like where you have to move... Funny thing is, the colder a place that you move to the less gangs their are, because no one wants to be out in the cold... My entire mission I think I've only seen one instance of graffiti, and it was on a trans-continental train, so who knows when it got put there. Not trying to suggest moving up north, but just pointing out that there is a very significantly lower crime rate in cold places, I kind of think it's funny. On the flip side, there is also a significantly higher percentage of drunks. Yay beer!
Cold Cold Cold! fun times in the cold!
Oh! and ldsmail.net is having a revamp, their setting up a new system and changing my e-mail address, tell everyone that my e-mail address is changed to brady.kissner@myldsmail.net instead of brady.j.kissner@myldsmail.net, I'm pretty sure that for a while their going to forward all of our e-mails to this account, but I don't know how long their going to do that and if they are planning on shutting down the old myldsmail.net system so.... yeah!
Anyway, have fun in the rain!
Brady, Chapter 1
1. Lo, I do write at this day in lament of the dirge that faces me like an icy lake to which none throweth me a paddle, or warmeth my face.
2. For unto me this day cometh no letters of comfort or news, no e-mails or stories thus past.
3. Thus I have been forgotten these twenty and one days by all that I held to be my friends and companions, and have not received pen, nor script by their hand.
4. Verily, I have gone these seven days without e-mail or typed word from those I held to be my family and supporters, and it doth greave my soul exceedingly.
5. But verily, I doth not surrender the hope that hath been given me in times past, for I know my friends and companions will take up the script, and my family and supporters will take up the bored, and they shall communicate with me.
6. And such at that time will my joy be full, and my happiness sufficient to go through another week in the service of my lord, knowing that those who I have left are of good health and have much rejoicing in my Lord.
7. For lo, my heart rejoices knowing that with time those who once had forsaken my e-mails will write an hasty e-mail in the morn, yea, the final moment before I depart, and will send it to me in an attempt to bring forth contact.
8. And how great shall be my joy when the e-mail comes forth from the icy dirge of the computer screen, and the inbox thereon will read, but one message that is anew!
9. I would that I should continue to write this e-mail towards you who hath forsaken my e-mails past, but I knowest that it must be sent in haste, for verily only then can thou seest it and sendest thine reply to me, the servant of the Lord.
10. And I closest mine epistle in the name of boredom, Amen.
2. For unto me this day cometh no letters of comfort or news, no e-mails or stories thus past.
3. Thus I have been forgotten these twenty and one days by all that I held to be my friends and companions, and have not received pen, nor script by their hand.
4. Verily, I have gone these seven days without e-mail or typed word from those I held to be my family and supporters, and it doth greave my soul exceedingly.
5. But verily, I doth not surrender the hope that hath been given me in times past, for I know my friends and companions will take up the script, and my family and supporters will take up the bored, and they shall communicate with me.
6. And such at that time will my joy be full, and my happiness sufficient to go through another week in the service of my lord, knowing that those who I have left are of good health and have much rejoicing in my Lord.
7. For lo, my heart rejoices knowing that with time those who once had forsaken my e-mails will write an hasty e-mail in the morn, yea, the final moment before I depart, and will send it to me in an attempt to bring forth contact.
8. And how great shall be my joy when the e-mail comes forth from the icy dirge of the computer screen, and the inbox thereon will read, but one message that is anew!
9. I would that I should continue to write this e-mail towards you who hath forsaken my e-mails past, but I knowest that it must be sent in haste, for verily only then can thou seest it and sendest thine reply to me, the servant of the Lord.
10. And I closest mine epistle in the name of boredom, Amen.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Bismarck Ward
Life in this area is preaty laid back, people complain all the time that during the winter months from January to about April theirs absolutely nothing to do, and their probably right, no fishing, no hunting, no virtually anything, it's just too cold. So a lot of people just end up hanging out in the nice warm bars (and we all know what happens then) a lot of people just go to work then stay home with their families and their precious TV's that manage to stay on pretty much at all times (most people, even some members, don't turn the TV off when we come over, and only some turn the volume down)
There's really only one ward in Bismarck and it covers Bismarck, Mandan, Lindon, New Salem, and a few other small towns in the area. The ward is big enough to split, we just don't have enough active members, there is constant talk of splitting so it may someday soon have a second ward. But because the area for this ward is so big we actually have two sets of missionaries in our ward affectiontly known as the Bismarck and Mandan missionaries, even the dinner calender is split into two so you don't have to have four missionaries destroying your house all at once! (haha) the people that are active, are way active and nice people, but there still could be a lot more improvement. The work is a little upsetting, we see the same couple of people much more often then we probably would, because we need to be something of a constant support to help people get out of their addictions, as they can't be baptized if their addicted to ciggerettes or alchohol, most people don't have so much a struggle with the alchohol as they do with the ciggerettes though for some reason, but I have no complaints there.
In Bismarck we just have the 2 missionaries, but in our ward 4, the next closest missionaries are a set in Minot, about 2 hours north, and another set in Dickenson, about 100 miles west. So the church is much more spread out with less people per square mile.
We normally have transfers every 7 weeks, the last transfer was only 5 weeks long which was a little annoying, but yeah the transfers this time around are happening on the 31st, I doubt I'll get transfered but there is a chance, I think Foulger might get transfered or else he will stay for one more transfer but I don't think it will be much longer then that.
Yeah actually I did get transfered right before Christmas, It made the bishop in Gillette upset, because he has planned a whole Christmas thing with the missionaries and I up and said "bye" bassically right before it.
Curiousity may have killed the cat, but it got the missionary a new investigator!
There's really only one ward in Bismarck and it covers Bismarck, Mandan, Lindon, New Salem, and a few other small towns in the area. The ward is big enough to split, we just don't have enough active members, there is constant talk of splitting so it may someday soon have a second ward. But because the area for this ward is so big we actually have two sets of missionaries in our ward affectiontly known as the Bismarck and Mandan missionaries, even the dinner calender is split into two so you don't have to have four missionaries destroying your house all at once! (haha) the people that are active, are way active and nice people, but there still could be a lot more improvement. The work is a little upsetting, we see the same couple of people much more often then we probably would, because we need to be something of a constant support to help people get out of their addictions, as they can't be baptized if their addicted to ciggerettes or alchohol, most people don't have so much a struggle with the alchohol as they do with the ciggerettes though for some reason, but I have no complaints there.
In Bismarck we just have the 2 missionaries, but in our ward 4, the next closest missionaries are a set in Minot, about 2 hours north, and another set in Dickenson, about 100 miles west. So the church is much more spread out with less people per square mile.
We normally have transfers every 7 weeks, the last transfer was only 5 weeks long which was a little annoying, but yeah the transfers this time around are happening on the 31st, I doubt I'll get transfered but there is a chance, I think Foulger might get transfered or else he will stay for one more transfer but I don't think it will be much longer then that.
Yeah actually I did get transfered right before Christmas, It made the bishop in Gillette upset, because he has planned a whole Christmas thing with the missionaries and I up and said "bye" bassically right before it.
Curiousity may have killed the cat, but it got the missionary a new investigator!
Monday, January 11, 2010
weather and car keys
Haha, Don't worry too much about the temperature up here, the worst should be done with, we had -55 degrees with windchill and the next day we weren't allowed to go out unless we had an appointment. At first I really started to hate all the cold and snow, but I'm totally used to it and even enjoy it sometimes. It really isn't the cold that bothers you so much out here, its the wind on top of the cold that makes you go HOLY COW PLEASE LET US IN THIS DOOR. Its funny that we had that -55 with wind chill (-33 without, but trust me you feel the -55 ) just a few days ago, and yesterday it managed to get above freezing for a few minutes by some random miracle. This whole week is supposed to be in the 20's-30's so its one big heat wave.
No, we never managed to find the keys to our car, we had to bring all our information out to the car dealer, using the Mandan missionaries car and had to buy a new key for $50 it was not a pretty buy... but at least we have a car now, so no more bumming around with the Mandan missionaries, getting almost nothing done.
You know the interesting thing about being in my mission. I still haven't seen Graffiti, I mean there are lots of trains and walls that Gangs might see as perfect for spraying their messages, but there is no Graffiti anywhere, and then it dawned on me, It's way to cold for that! Who would want to hang around outside and paint a wall in -30 degrees? I thought that was pretty funny, the reason they don't have too many gangs in North Dakota is because it's too cold.
No, we never managed to find the keys to our car, we had to bring all our information out to the car dealer, using the Mandan missionaries car and had to buy a new key for $50 it was not a pretty buy... but at least we have a car now, so no more bumming around with the Mandan missionaries, getting almost nothing done.
You know the interesting thing about being in my mission. I still haven't seen Graffiti, I mean there are lots of trains and walls that Gangs might see as perfect for spraying their messages, but there is no Graffiti anywhere, and then it dawned on me, It's way to cold for that! Who would want to hang around outside and paint a wall in -30 degrees? I thought that was pretty funny, the reason they don't have too many gangs in North Dakota is because it's too cold.
Monday, January 4, 2010
WEEKLY NEWS
But anyway today was a decent week, we had a lot of good lessons with different people and a few new people that I had yet to meet until now, so I feel like this week was a good week for missionary work. We have a recent convert named Curtis (actually he's the foster parent of Mohamed) and he is really cool, it's
funny every time we go over to his house he always asks me "So! Elder Kissner, Ask me any question" because I suppose I just don't know him as well as Elder Foulger who did all the work with him basically, So I told him I was going to fill a few pages in my notebook with random questions that I should ask him.. So
I thought I would pose that question to you all... Come up with any question, ANY question in the world that you would possibly ask someone, and if I like it I will put it in my book of questions to ask Curtis. He will get a kick out of it. Also, interesting thing, he wants to call Elder Foulger's mom and talk to her, which is kind of weird if you ask me, however if we do end up having a slightly better relationship over time, he may ask to talk to you guys... which in fact... may also be weird. But I don't know, I doubt it, but if you guys get a call from a guy named Curtis Mertz, or Bro. Mertz, or something like that (maybe even Mohamed) you now know who he is! But anyway things have been going alright, we have been teaching Mohamed a lot, we've been trying to read the book of mormon stories out of the children's book of mormon with him and he seems to be enjoying it. We also taught him a really interesting little finger game to remember the 10 Commandments;
1: point 1 finger up to God, there is only one God
2: pointer finger and pinky extended, thumb over two middle fingers to make bull skull, no worshiping things that aren't God
3: put three fingers over your mouth, no speaking bad things
4: touch your pinky's and your pointer fingers to the opposing pinky and pointer to make a steeple, Remember the sabbath
5: three fingers up on one hand, two on the other, three fingers bow to two, Honor thy father and mother
6: make two guns with your hands 3 fingers used on each hand, don't kill anyone
7: one hand has 5 fingers up, the other has 2 and the 2 fingers go in between the other 5 like breaking up a family, don't commit adultery
8: one hand has 5 fingers up, other has two and the thumb, thumb hand steals the thumb off the other hand and now they both have 4, Don't steal
9: 4 fingered hand goes into the shape of a bear claw and you say we don't bear false witness, and you have the other hand act like a mouth and talk behind the bear claw, like going behind someones back, don't lie
10: both hands reach everyone and grab at the air all over like they want everything, don't covet
So yeah... it's a little weird, but it works for a family home evening lesson! and this time I planned it and organized it (kinda) from really far away! I just need a proxy to go and do the work for me (kinda like missionary work and Christ hmm... not that I'm trying to compare myself to Christ, that might just be a
little bit blasphemous) anyway... this letter is long enough, time to go see what books I can find.. kthxbai!
funny every time we go over to his house he always asks me "So! Elder Kissner, Ask me any question" because I suppose I just don't know him as well as Elder Foulger who did all the work with him basically, So I told him I was going to fill a few pages in my notebook with random questions that I should ask him.. So
I thought I would pose that question to you all... Come up with any question, ANY question in the world that you would possibly ask someone, and if I like it I will put it in my book of questions to ask Curtis. He will get a kick out of it. Also, interesting thing, he wants to call Elder Foulger's mom and talk to her, which is kind of weird if you ask me, however if we do end up having a slightly better relationship over time, he may ask to talk to you guys... which in fact... may also be weird. But I don't know, I doubt it, but if you guys get a call from a guy named Curtis Mertz, or Bro. Mertz, or something like that (maybe even Mohamed) you now know who he is! But anyway things have been going alright, we have been teaching Mohamed a lot, we've been trying to read the book of mormon stories out of the children's book of mormon with him and he seems to be enjoying it. We also taught him a really interesting little finger game to remember the 10 Commandments;
1: point 1 finger up to God, there is only one God
2: pointer finger and pinky extended, thumb over two middle fingers to make bull skull, no worshiping things that aren't God
3: put three fingers over your mouth, no speaking bad things
4: touch your pinky's and your pointer fingers to the opposing pinky and pointer to make a steeple, Remember the sabbath
5: three fingers up on one hand, two on the other, three fingers bow to two, Honor thy father and mother
6: make two guns with your hands 3 fingers used on each hand, don't kill anyone
7: one hand has 5 fingers up, the other has 2 and the 2 fingers go in between the other 5 like breaking up a family, don't commit adultery
8: one hand has 5 fingers up, other has two and the thumb, thumb hand steals the thumb off the other hand and now they both have 4, Don't steal
9: 4 fingered hand goes into the shape of a bear claw and you say we don't bear false witness, and you have the other hand act like a mouth and talk behind the bear claw, like going behind someones back, don't lie
10: both hands reach everyone and grab at the air all over like they want everything, don't covet
So yeah... it's a little weird, but it works for a family home evening lesson! and this time I planned it and organized it (kinda) from really far away! I just need a proxy to go and do the work for me (kinda like missionary work and Christ hmm... not that I'm trying to compare myself to Christ, that might just be a
little bit blasphemous) anyway... this letter is long enough, time to go see what books I can find.. kthxbai!
Bismarck Temple
The Bismarck temple is cool, but it's really small, it doesn't really have any temple grounds and is staffed by 3 families. It's only open like 3 days a week and only has 3 sessions on those days, so not a lot of people get the opportunity like we do to just go whenever they want. Our District Leader Elder Callor, wants to visit the temple often which is good, he is trying to get approval for us to hold District meeting there each week or every other week or something to that affect. There are a lot of cool pictures of the temple, in fact (I dont know if you can look it up but...) in the Bismarck Tribune, on I think New Years day or Eve, there was a story about how we had a Blue Moon up here (a second full moon in the same month) on New Years, and the picture they used for the front of the newspaper was the angel Moroni with the moon in the background, I don't think the photographer really knew too much about the Mormons or anything, and there was absolutely no reference to the temple, but the picture was a pretty good one, especially to make it on the front page. fun.
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