Six months and still alive!

BARELY ALIVE! Just kidding, i am doing great. I eat apple jacks and a nutella sandwich for every meal and I feel like I am in the CCM! 

I was trying to tell my companion a story of something that happened before my mission and it was the weirdest thing, I like couldn't remember ANYTHING! And then I was trying to remember what i did for my birthday and I couldn't remember that either! AH! The mission fog is setting in! :(

There is a guy sitting next to me at the ENMU library wearing a ton of cologne. 

This week has been so nuts. We have just been doing so much service for members, less actives, and recent converts. it is a great way to get to know them and establish a relationship with them. Everyone has been so worried about Sister Bushnell and me. they just see these two small girlies who live in Taco Town and don't know how to cook. So everyone tells us to come over and eat with them ANY DAY and we had a member drop off this HUGE bag of toilet paper, tape, granola bars, flash lights, stamps, paper towels, and a bag of frozen shrimp. We get calls from people checking up on us all the time, ahaha. It is so weird. I am stronger than I look! (not really though, I am fatter than I look) 

As the senior companion, I tried to get Hna Bushnell to unclog the drain in our shower, but she refused and I refused too so now our drain is disgusting. That's what we really need someone to help with..

Kathy and Lane came to church! YAY PROGRESSION!

So my 6 month anniversary was on Friday and I spent it at the Pedroza's house. We had a mini fiesta. She bought me this cute tres leches cake and all of the sudden the whole family is chanting "mordida mordida mordida!" (bite it bite it bite it!) And I am like, what bite it? Where? What? and Hermana Pedroza is like it's a tradition! Bite the edge of the cake! (Mom I think you and Grammy are secretly Mexican) Because I leaned in and was going to bite a tiny part of the edge and BAM! My whole face got shoved into the cake. I didn't even see it coming.

I also learned the Spanish version of John Jacob Jingle hieheihjigh schmit song. 

I have really been learning so much these passed few weeks. I have been feeling so down on myself and so critical and depressed. I felt like I was never doing enough. Never rising to the Lord's expectations. Not being a good example to Hermana Bushnell., etc.. But recently we went to this little baptism for a cutie 8 year old named Reagyn and they had a music number from this little 6 or 7 year old named Rachel and she played a TINY cute violin. Everyone was on the edge of their seats just smiling so BIG and everyone was so proud of her for playing this cute little tune. The spirit hit me so hard and I suddenly realized, we didn't care that she squeaked a few times, it didn't matter that she wasn't Lindsey Sterling, it didn't matter that she forgot to play the 2 verse. Everyone was just so PROUD of her for getting up there, holding that little violin, and trying. I KNEW that that was how my Heavenly Father saw me. While I was tearing myself apart and being so critical, He was watching me try and was so proud of me. We all need to be so patient with ourselves. We need to extend to ourselves the same kind of mercy that we extend to others. We are doing so well! We are enough! I don't mean that we don't need to stop trying or anything. We need to take responsibility for where we are in our lives, but allow ourselves some satisfaction for who we are and what we have worked to become. We are NOT going to be perfect in this life. But if we are a little better today than we were yesterday, we are doing enough. 

I love each of you so so so much. you mean everything to me and I am so proud to have you as my family and closest friends. Keep moving forward. 

Love, 

Sister Kynaston

leggings are not pants Savannah

Exerpt from her paper letter today

Dear Fat family:
I don't want to come home looking perfectly well rested, a size 2, clear glowing skin, perfectly up kept hair...  
I want to come home with tired watery eyes from waking up at 6:30 every day.  I want to come home with scarred, beat up feet from walking miles and biking.  I want to come home a little chubby from wonderfully spent evening in members' homes lovingly being fed.  I want to come home with dry, tired hair from showering every day and never having time to do anything with it.  When I come home, I want people to know I worked my bum off and that I truly truly loved the people of West Texas and east New Mexico.  That  is what's important.  The mission flies by.  I blinked and now I've been out 6 months.  

TACO TOWN

Hola familia! The learning continues.. We are starting week three of the transfer and Sister Bushnell and I are exhausted, haha. We have a lot of fun together though. I feel like we are the same person, it's crazy. We say the exact same things at the same time with the same voice and its so awkward. She is a lot more nice than I am though, ahah. 

The service here is so much fun! We go to the Old Folks home (English) and play dominoes with them, and we go to the La Casa de los Abuelitos (Spanish), and play La Loteria with them (spanish bingo). It is a blast. We helped out a lady in the ward yesterday cover mattresses and move them into her garage and helped her drill stuff and we got to use power tools and i felt just like MOM! :) (except I know mom doesn't scream when she uses them.)

We are teaching this DARLING family. the wife, Kathy is about 25 and is a world wide champion for like Mounted Steer Riding? I think that's what it's called. Basically it's riding on a horse and shooting stuff. She is SO AWESOME! and Lane is the husband, he is so big and indian. He is very special, and we actually found out that he was baptized but hasn't been to church since he was about 14. He loves little house on the prairie and we talk about that all the time. They have a 2 year old girl named Kimana and she is so cute. She loves playing with my name tag. They are so prepared for the gospel, they don't even know it. I love teaching them. 

Not a ton happened this week.. I had a lot of break downs because i have been really stressed out, haha. Poor Sister Bushnell. Pray for her. I am doing so well though! I am so happy. I have learned that happiness doesn't come from being a missionary. Happiness comes from keeping the commandments. 

I love you all so much. Thank you for all your love and support! XOXO

Pics: me wearing this SICK Texas belt that Hna Pedroza made! Haha Sister Bushnell taking a nap. 

Naca New Mexico

I have arrived! Tuesday was a looong day of driving, but I finally made it to my new area and I am so pumped to be here! My cute new companion is named Hermana Bushnell and she has been out for about 2 1/2 months. She is from St George, Utah, and just so darling. Her trainer was really really tough, so up to this point she has had 0 fun on her mission and just feels sad all the time. From the first hour we were companions though, I have just loved the crap out of her and we have been having so much fun. We are serving in a heavily Spanish area with a Spanish branch, and we both know only a little Spanish, it's been so hilarious. But miracles are going to happen with our language. I testify that the Gift of Tongues is real and working in us. We have been working so hard. 

Guess who was asked to give a talk at the Branch on Sunday? Me. I was. I don't even remember what I said, i was so nervous. The people here just get so happy when they see ANYONE who is trying to learn their language. So they were all pretty touched, it was beautiful! :) 

Portales was Sister Donis's first area and she made SUCH an impact here. The people here just LOVE her! She gave me so many letters to hand out to people and each one of them tells them to take such good care of me and to love me, haha. That goes a really long way coming from her. I feel to blessed to have served with her. I love her 

Everybody reeeaallllyyyy hated the last Sister Missionary who was here, so they are so so glad to have a change of sisters here. Everyone has been so welcoming and loving. They also have this theory that if you eat chile and habenors, you will learn to be fluent in Spanish. So needless to say, this had been a very SPICY couple of days being fed by people. 

We also got a phone call from President Heap a few days back telling us that we were now in charge of the Branch, Ward and YSA! We are SO sos so so so SO o sos os busy. But it is really great. Have you ever been to 6 hours of church before? I have!

We both feel like we are starting from the very beginning because we have to pick up after the last Sister who was here, ugh. I really think i can make a difference here though, I am really excited. 

I miss Irene so terribly and think about her and her girls often. I can't wait for the day that I get to see her again. 

Sister Bushnell and I started running again! I am so sore. But hardly any of my clothes fit me, so it's about time... I am actually totally fine with gaining weight though, because it shows how hard I have worked to serve and love the people here, by eating all of their food they give me. I am proud of that!  

There is an AMAZING family here, named the Pedroza's. They are so wonderful. We met with them like the second day I was here and it was like walking into our home. They have just embraced us with open arms and have worked REALLY hard to instill in our minds that their home is OUR home. We are ALWAYS welcome. They really would do anything for us. i love them. They made us the best gorditas last night. YUMMY! I find myself at home every day eating rice, beans and salsa, and tortillas. I don't even know how that happened.. 

I love you all so so so much. Heavenly Father has so much he wants me to learn here and I am working so hard to learn it and share my talents. 

Please send me letters and cash. 

p.s. there are SO many dogs here. Everywhere. We wake up every morning to like 3 or 4 dogs sleeping on our porch.

Good Bye Borger. Hello NEW MEXICO

This has been the best and worst week of my mission. Hermana Donis and I have worked so SO hard and we've seen so much success. My heart is so full of love and gratitude for the opportunity to serve in Borger. AH! I love this place, but the Lord needs me to serve in Portales, New Mexico now to work with the Spanish branch and follow up train Sister Bushnell. I am more sad than excited at this point, but I know it's where I need to be.

When we got the transfer call, we were at Irene's house. We had it on speaker phone and we were all BAWLING! Sister Donis found out she was STAYING in Borger and we were both so surprised and they told her that her new companion would be Sister Aviles and we both just looked at each other with so many TEARS in our EYES and they told me I was called to serve in New Mexico. Irene just freaked out. We all hugged each other and just criiieeeddd. She's like "at least Sister Donis is staying so I will always have a piece of my Sister Kynaston here with me." Irene is my angel. She is throwing me a giant fiesta for me tonight and I am so excited! She's cooking me my favorite Mexican foods and has a big cake for me (that she bought on Sunday, yikes, we need to go over Sabbath day with her, lol) Momm I love that family so much and my heart is broken!

We got 17 hours of service this week! Whoohoo!

I bore my LAST testimony in church yesterday and I just cried at the pulpit and it was really embarrassing. Bro White came up to me after and said he appreciated all my "y'alls" in my testimony, lol. #TEXAN

My fave food in the world is arroz con leche. Yummmy

I have grown up in Borger. I have found myself and found my testimony. It feels like I am leaving my HOME, but I am so grateful that the Lord sent me to serve here, and I cannot wait to find what else he has in store for me and the other Irene's i need to find  in Portales. What a blessing it is to serve a mission. I hardly have room for all these blessings and all this love I feel. I got to meet Irene and her girls! I got to serve with hermana Donis! I got to work with the Borger Ward and meet the Longs! I learned to LOVE LATINOS and LOVE SPANISH and LOVE MISSIONARY WORK! I love getting up at6:30 am. I love personal and companion studies. I love planning and goal setting. I love praying. I am crying AGAIN! Ah, I have been so blessed. Thank you EVERYONE for helping me come out on a mission. This is amazing. I am right where I need to be. Portales is going to be amazing and I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. 

Love y'all,

Sister Kynaston

Here are some other small emails that she sent to me:

1801 N Ave K, Portales, NM 88130 (new address)

SO SAD TO LEAVE MOM

*(regarding new companion) Her name is Sister Bushnell, and I am finishing her training. I've never met her. Hermana Donis served in Portales for 4 transfers (7ish months) and she LOVED IT! Totally spanish, tiny little branch. She says New Mexico is so different from Texas, but it's awesome. There is so much work to do there so i am so excited, just so heartbroken to leave my home and family and Irene and Sister Donis

*Mom I wish you could chat with me. Today has been better than the other two weeks. But still poopy. I love you so much Mommy. You take such good care of me. You've given me everything. And now you are taking care of my family! WOW best gift. 

I want to also let you know that I am learning to just be so happy with who I am. I love the person i am becoming. I am so beautiful and a blessed daughter of our Father. 

i love you and dad. I love love Amanda and her hubby. I love Sophie so deeply. I love Hannah! AH! I love Graham and love seeing him grow. I love Jonas. I love Isaac. I love Emmett. I love my boys. I LOVE my sisters. I love our family. 

*(regarding her Companion, Sister Donis)  Mom, I want to introduce you to my best friend in the entire world. Her name is Hermana Donis. She is the funniest person alive, so sweet and understanding, a stellar missionary, a naca thug gangster, and the most amazing human alive. Yesterday at a members house, Anita made the comment that of ALL the missionaries she has ever met and worked with, she has never seen companions that get along and love each other as much as we love each other. She means the entire world to me. I will love her forever and ever and am so grateful for everything she taught me. This has been the most amazing transfer because of her. I love my mission because of her. I love Borger because of her. Irene was baptized because of her. 

*They have this CRAZy mice problem in their house and they only use those sticky traps so during lessons we just watch all these mice get stuck and it's NAST! Irene had to go to the hospital because of pains she was having in her belly (she's okay)

I will have to add pictures later.  She sent a ton and they are adorable.

LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL

You GUYS! This week was so great! Well, the end was. I had strep throat in the middle and had to stay in bed and be bored out of my mind. I watched ALL of our movies. All of them. I am like so educated on the life of Jesus and the history of the church now. #checkit

I went on exchanges in Pampa with the STLS and that was fun. That's when I started getting sick though. I didn't know if I should stay in or go work, so they all told me to pray about it and left the room. I fell asleep trying to make the decision, so i guess I got my answer, lol.

Sister Donis and I had a lot of fun together this week. UGH i just love her so much I could die. She taught me how to say "You're ghetto" in Spanish. (Tu eres naca) Hahahhaa, I love that.

The ward has taken so much care of me this week, so sweet. I love LOVE LOVE the ward. They are my family. 

OH MY! Irene and Isabel's baptism was amazinnnngggg. Angels were everywhere. So many people showed up, we had to move to the chapel! WOAH! Irene was so nervous so we all said a prayer together in the church kitchen and it was so powerful and peaceful. God loves them so much. Bishop Long baptized them, and it was so tender and spiritual. Irene squealed when she came out of the water and came up the stairs and gave me this HUGE hug. ( I was SO wet) Isabel, the 11 year old, was so excited and practically jumped into the water. She just glowed coming out. Everyone was bawling. We had a recent convert sing a hymn in spanish and is was amazing. Just such an amazing experience. It wasn't even our doing. It was the ward. Borger is CHANGING! We are on to something so great and big. 

In Irene and Isabel's confirmation blessing, they were PROMISED that through their faithfulness, they would receive every ordinance of Salvation. WOW! That was an amazing thing to hear. THEY are my mission! I was called AT. THIS. TIME. For them. Those little girls can say my last name perfectly and that's because they knew me before this life. (my philosophy) 

I am learning SO much about self worth. My Heavenly Father just loves me so much. He lets me see and feel His love daily. I have been praying to see myself the way He sees me, and it is amazing. He is molding me into the woman I need to be. I love Him! Everyone! Smile in the mirror, don't think or say ANYTHING negative about yourself. Try it for a week. It is life changing. 

I love each of you so darn much. AH! SO MUCH! 

Mom thank you for your funny letter. I read them all aloud to my companion and she dies laughing. We just love you :)

Sister Kyanston

 

And her seperate one to me:

MOM! I am on! And I have had the best week even though I've had strep throat. I had to stay in for like 3 days. IT SUCKED! But the baptism...was....amazing....... Absolutely breathtaking. Wondrous. The ward hasn't stopped talking about it. So many people showed up we had to move to the chapel! We had a recent convert sing an Spanish hymn, testimonies, a great little video.. For the actualy baptism, Irene wanted me to stand next to her on the stairs. And i just cried and cried and she gave me the biggest wet hug after. Isabel practically lept into the water she was so happy! SHE GLOWS! Everyone was bawling. Brianna and Sylvia are being baptized on the 13th. Such amazing things are beginning to happen in Borger, On Sunday, we had 8 investigators at church... WOAH! Borger is changing. Mom can you do me a favor? Can you go to Deseret Book and buy some cute scripture marker things for Irene and Isabel and Bri and Sylvia? Irene and Isabel got quads and there aren't any stores like that here to buy those at. I bought them al ljournals today. ANGELA KYNASTON, I LOVE THAT FAMILY! I love them I love them I love them. They are my mission. Irene found out she is having a GIRL!!!!!! AHHH!! aND GUESS WHAT!?? She's thinking of naming it Savannah :)