Nothing to report!

The last few Mondays have been really frustrating...for me not Kyle!  I think with all of the many missionaries that there are out there, the missionary mail site is on overload and I generally don't get Kyle's emails in a very quick fashion.  Not to mention that when he emails me he generally tells me NOTHING!!!  Today my email consisted of "Mom...I need some garments, I received a package from Madson's and Aunt Jenni and Uncle Dennis and their packages were cool and they made my day.  My companion bugs me and I lost it with him this last week.  I have a new favorite scripture and I wish it was on my missionary plaque."  So...you can see that I am left with many wandering questions.  How did he lose it last week and why?  Did he yell and scream?  Did he remember who he is and what he stands for? Are things better now? What is your new favorite scripture? etc. etc. etc.  I have to just assume that Rich and I have done our very best to teach him and that he actually learned something.  I know that everyday he is going to continue to learn and grow.  There is no doubt that he will be a different kid when he returns. What a journey....enjoying every minute!

Favorite Scripture

Another Tender Mercy

I am thankful everyday for little tender mercies that happen to fall into my path.  As I reported a couple of weeks ago, Kyle was really struggling.  I was left a couple of Mondays ago wondering if he would stay or throw in the towel and come home.  Kyle was so discouraged and as his Mom I was worried sick and there was nothing I could do but pray for him.  A few days after talking with him, a friend that Kyle has made on his mission posted this picture to Kyle's wall.  This was all I needed.  Seeing Kyle's smile, I knew that everything was going to be okay.  Kyle is going to have his ups and downs, but in the long run...I know that Kyle will be okay.  He has always been a good kid.  He sometimes pushes things right to their very limit, but ultimately he always finds himself on the right path.  I love Kyle for the choices that he makes and there is no doubt that he will do great things.

Week 12

I am so happy to report that things are going alot better for Kyle this week.  He was excited to finally get a package and letter from Rich and I.  The package was nothing to brag about....some gold fish, Cinnamon Life cereal, and a letter...but Kyle said it put a smile on his face and hearing that put a smile on his Mom's face.  He sent this picture to us today.  It is a picture of his Zone Leader...Elder Hegland.  Kyle says that he loves this kid and that he looks up to him alot.  It's good to hear that there is someone Kyle looks up to as he has struggled with his first two companions.  I keep reminding Kyle that there is something to learn from everyone we cross paths with.  I had to chuckle...Kyle also said that he would like us to send him a blanket as the one he took with him has gotten too small.  He says that he is playing lots of ball and that he is "stacked".  It was truly good to hear from Kyle today, and especially to hear that life is good.  He expressed to me the saying, "When life gets too hard to stand...kneel".  He says this is what he lives by. 

Week 11

The past couple of weeks have been challenging for Kyle as he has been extremely homesick and even questioning why he chose to serve a mission.  Kyle is a strong kid and I know that he will get past this but as his Mom, I can't help but worry about him.  My grandma passed away on the 5th and my sisters and Rich and I all travelled to California to go to her funeral.  Believe me....it was so hard not to just pass through Irvine and see if we couldn't hook up with Elder Hess.  As tempting as it was....we didn't.  We did however put together a fabulous package that we knew Kyle would love.  I have an aunt and uncle who were willing to drive the California freeway to deliver the package.  We stuffed the package full with 5 boxes of Cinnamon Life, a big bag of peanut M&M, a big box of goldfish crackers, and $25.00.  My aunt and uncle delivered the package to the mission home and we heard from Kyle today that he didn't receive the package.  He said that the zone leaders picked the package up, placed it on top of the car, and then forgot to put it into the car and drove away.  Once the zone leaders realized what they had done and they went back to retrieve the package....someone had stole everything in the package and left them with an empty box.  Kyle said, "the zone leaders said they feel really bad and want to buy all the stuff I didnt get but I told them no.. its a good lesson for me to be more humble and gratefull for the stuff that I do get and I hope wherever the food did go the person really needed it so im not down about it at all."  Kyle also reported that this last week they lost another propsective investigator.  Kyle expressed this week that going on a mission has been the hardest thing he has ever did.  He isn't telling me anything that I didn't try to tell him, but he is now learning and experiencing the hard things I knew would come.  Nothing is harder for me as his mom to not be able to take all the frustration away...to make everything better...and to protect him from the disappointments.  I yearn to be able to give him a hug and help him see that this too shall pass and everything will be okay. Kyle knows the gospel, he knows the principles, and he knows what he needs to do.  Sometimes he just doesn't always like it.  Always.....Kyle is in my thoughts and prayers.  I miss him deeply but I too know that he is where he needs to be.  President Hinkley's father expressed to him while he was on his mission that he needed to forget himself and get to work.  I reminded Kyle of this today in our emails to which I am sure he was not very impressed, but he knows I am right. 

Week 8

We waited all day yesterday to receive no email from Kyle.  If we would have been thinking we would have realized that it was Labor Day and that the libraries were all closed.  I was excited however to get an email from him today...it actually brightened my day leaps and bounds.  He really didn't have much to say but he did express that his week was going alot better than last week.  He said that it was transfers today.  He said that he wasn't being transferred but that he would be getting a new companion.  He is nervous for what lies ahead.  Although he struggled a bit with his last companion, you just never know what the next one will be like.  I told him just to remember to be nice, understanding, and patient.  He says that the area he is in is very slow.  This past week he was able to teach the lessons to several inactive ward members.  He shared an experience he had this past week with a homeless/drug addict man that he was teaching how to pray.  He said that once the man said "Heavenly Father", you could feel the spirit in the room.  He said that the spirit was so strong that it gave him chills and that he couldn't help himself from crying.  He goes on to testify that the power of prayer is real..."it's amazing Mom".  I asked if he had taken any pictures.  He told me yes but that he had left the camera in the car so I would have to wait until next Monday before I saw them.  I miss this kid of mine terribly, but everyday I am thankful for road he has taken.  I am thankful that he is choosing the right and that he is sharing his testimony and the gospel with others.