Hola! Como estan? Tengo gozo en mi alma ahora!

Porque estoy saliendo el martes! A las 4 de la manana! Que loco, no!? It has been a great week in the life of an elder at the MTC. It is so incredible that I am leaving in less than 4 days to head off to cold Canada. I met an Elder that is from Edmonton at lunch yesterday. He was overjoyed to find that I am going to where he grew up. He told me that the members and the people are just amazingly nice. He also told me that it is really cold, but I would get used to it. He worked for a construction company over the summer and said that there are lots of Spanish speakers but not many spanish members. Most of the latin people that are in Edmonton are there for the work so it is hard to keep a branch. He told me that my mission president is great and I would love him. This gives me a lot of motivation to get up there and start pushing the work for the Spanish members. The field is really all ready to harvest. I pray that I can have the companionship of the Savior and the Holy Ghost to lead me to people that need the gospel.

I got my travel plans last Friday. My flight leaves on Tuesday morning at 7:10 am from the SLC airport. I have a half an hour layover in Denver ad then off to Canada. I will be arriving in the cold at about noon. I am so excited to finally be going. I love the MTC and I have grown so much here but it is time to leave. I am ready to use the skills that I have learned and focus on the people rather than me learning. Yesterday me and Elder Anderson where given the chance to demonstrate "How to Begin Teaching" to a group of new Elders that arrived yesterday. We were placed in a room with about 30 new elders and we got to teach 2 investigators (actors). We started the lesson off with conversation about religious backround and introducing principles of the gospel. At an appropriate point in the lesson we were cut off and the new elders got to take over. It was a great oppportunity to help other Elders and also to strengthen my teaching skills. I have realized since I got here that people are just people. They want to just have a conversation and learn new things. Everyone has different needs and different questions. Our job as missionaries is, with the Spirit, figure out new ways to present the gospel to people and build their relationship with Heavanly Father. The gospel is for everyone, it helps everyones problems in a unique way. That is what is so amazing about this church. We are all part of a church run by Jesus Christ with standards and values, but it is also incredibly individualized. Anyones problems can be fixed by the Savior and gaining a relationship with Heavanly Father.

On Tuesday, the devotional was given by Elder Clark of the Seventy. It was the perfect talk to be leaving on. He said something that really touched my heart. "Don't just go through the mission, allow the mission to go through you." Meaning that we need to allow the mission and the work of the Lord to become all we are about for the next 22 months. It is hard sometimes but I have faith that I will become a tool in the Master's hand and have a front row seat to the greatest miracle on earth, the true change of heart through the gospel of JesuCristo. Another thing that he mentioned was that it is not intelligence that converts people, but really diligence and realization of the Spirit. We as missionaries are not capable of solving other people's problems or converting them without the Holy Ghost. We are simply providing an environment for the Spirit to teach people.

Spiritual Thought: Read Mosiah 18:9. Think if you have made a difference in the life of someone else today.

Mucho Amor,

Elder Kipp

OH MY!

Hello from the MTC,

This week has been a great week. Can you believe that I only have about 12 days left in the MTC!? It is completely crazy. As many people know, it feels like I have been here for years and at the same time it feels like I just got here. But I wouldn't trade this time that I have had for much of anything. It has surely exceeded my expectations. I went to the temple today and got the chance to do sealings. I feel like this is one of the more important ordinances in our church. There are so many blessings and gifts that are associated with being sealed to your family forever. I marvel at the blessings that spill from heaven when you follow the plan that Heavenly Father has laid out for us. It is so simple. All we need to do is follow the example of His Son.

Umm....guesss....what! I have now heard from 3 apostles of the Lord in the last month. First Elder Holland and then Elder Ballard. On Tuesday we where priviliged to hear from Elder Russel M. Nelson. He spoke on the power of The Libro de Mormon in conversion. The new copy of the Ensign was received by every missionary in the MTC. I encourage everyone to get their hands on a copy. It is almost like scripture. The more I read the Book of Mormon and the more I understand, the more I realize the small amount that I know. The study of this divine book is a lifetime pursuit. I realize that it was meant for our day and and I have a testimony that all the prophets that wrote in it, saw our day.(Mormon 8: 34-35). When you study diligently every day, it really does have the most positive benefit of any other book. And Elder Nelson stressed to start that book from the title page. Because this was written by Moroni and was translated by Joseph Smith.

Elder Anderson had a rough week. He got pink eye the first part of the week but got that taken care of. Then on Tuesday he sprained his ankle very badly playing volleyball. Yesterday it was the size of grapefruit and dark purple. But he did walk to the temple and back. It seemed fine. But he did get his visa so that is a good thing. But I was able to be a host yesterday. These are the missionaries that get to help the new missionaries get situated. It was a fun experience to experience the feelings again that go through your mind as you enter this sacred place.

Remember this gospel is true! Christ lives! and remember that when you choose to follow the Savior, he is obligated through love, to carry the load of life with you. Much Love!!!!

"Today is the tommorrow that we worried about yesterday"

18 Days Left!

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

Como le va? Que pasa? Well it has already been close to six weeks in the MTC and I can hardly believe it. I have been having so much fun. I cannot wait to see the excitement that awaits me in the field. I saw Alex Jafek today in the cafeteria and he seems to be doing very well. He is looking good. It is always exciting to see a familiar face in the MTC. Also Dad you might be excited to hear that I met someone on my floor that knows the Berthas very well. He has been family frineds for a long time and I told him that you know Sandy very well from seminary. His name doesn't come to mind at the moment. Is Devin still working here? Because I have not seen him once.

Umm you wont believe this but we were treated to another apostle this Tuesday night. M. Russel Ballard spoke to us. Thats two apostles in 2 weeks! I know you're jealous. But the Spirit they bring with them is amazing. From the moment they walk in you can tell that they are true apostles of the Lord. He spoke about many things pertaining to missionary work but he mainly spoke to us about keeping the teaching simple. Why make something more complicated that it should be? He also stressed the importance of having a solid testimony in Christ. That is the reason why we are here and he is the center of this doctrine. It was amazing! One thing that I have been thinking about this week is that when we choose to follow the Savior, he is obligated through love, to lift us up and comfort us. I don't remember who said this but "Two men can do anything; as long as one of them is the Savior."

I feel like I am finally in a groove here. After a while you find what you are good at and also very quickly realize your weaknesses. I have been trying to work on my weaknesses when I teach most of all. It is nice to have practice teaching sith people almost everyday, but I am so excited to get out there and help real people. My purpose is to bring people closer to Christ through his glorious Atonement and gospel so that they might gain joy in this life and the next. (3 Nephi 3:15) I started the Book of Mormon about 3 weeks ago and I am already in Alma 20. I have loved getting myself acquainted with the BOM stories once again. There is so much converting power in this book. I have also made it a goal to read through the entire "Preach My Gospel" with all the scripture refrences by the time I leave. It will be difficult but I know it will help me. Also reading the scriptures in Spanish has become a favorite thing for me. It is amazing the amount I can understand. The gift of tongues is a real thing. I taught a member of my old ward in the TRC on Saturday. It was a great experience.

We got some new roomates yesterday. Elder Underwood and Skiles are both from Washington state. They are very excited to be here. They are going to Brazil speaking Portugese. I told them about Brock and the wonderful time that he had. Hopefully they will not have to heat up water with a battery! But I am excited to get to know them. Elder Anderson has not gotten his Visa yet to go to Mexico. So I hope he can recieve it soon. I think if he got reassigned he would be great wherever he went.

I want to thank everyone that has been able to write. It really means a lot.

Spiritual Thought: I challenge you to read over the story of Ammon and King Lamoni in Alma 18. This conversion story is amazing to me and it brings me a lot of hope for the work that my Savior has for me. Also read Mattew 11; the last three verses. Some of my favorite in the scriptures.

I love this work with all my soul. It is a privilege to serve my Lord everyday and become the best I can through Him.

Mucho amor,

Elder Kipp

Como le va?

Hola mis amigos! Como esta su dia?

The good old MTC is treating me very well these days. I cant believe it is already September. The time has gone so fast but the experiences are getting better and better everyday. The language is getting easier everyday to understand and reading has become easier as well. But I cannot wait until the day that I am fluent. And feel comfortable talking to anybody about anything. I have discovered that this language is very simple and beautiful. My teachers have been very helpful in everything that I ask and everything I have been improving on. The elders in my district have become like brothers to me and I am striving everyday to be an uplifting person.

The flu has hit my district and many people on my floor. I have luckly been able to keep healthy and not get too sick. But it is hard to stay away from the sickness because you are with these people all day long. A regular day at the MTC includes six hours of class, 2 hours of meals, and 3 hours of personal study time. You spend all of it in a classroom with the people in your district. But that is why you are so close. As I have said before, this place is truly unique. You can have the most fun and the most spiritual experiences of any place. When we were at the devotional on Tuesday, we were told that we were the most prayed over group of individuals on the planet. This is really amazing to think about. The responsibility we have and the truly unique call that is put on our shoulders. I marvel at the chance to be in the same boat as Paul, or Hirum and even Alma. We are called to change the world. It is fascinating. But I have realized that it does not end after our missions. We are just doing it full time here. We need to carry the same attitude on the mission and bring it with us the rest of our mortal lives.

Some members of my district and I are doing a little "Biggest Loser Competition". It has been going very well so far. I'm not going to say how much I have lost because that doesn't matter. What really matters is that we are getting healthier to serve the Lord. It is somwhat difficult to do with the food choices we are given but it can be done. The winner gets a tie from each of the losers at the end. I plan on working hard and winning but we will see.

I have had some questions this week about Canada and the people I am going to teach. I wonder if I will teach many different latin cultures and if it is diversified like America. I just know that there is at least one person that I am going to affect that speaks Spanish. And I realize that I am learning this language for my benefit throughout my life. I urge everyone to learn different languages and broaden your cultural understanding. I hold it against myself that I did not learn any other language better until now. I can't wait to speak with my friends, all my uncles, and my dad. Get ready when I get beack to have long conversations in Spanish!

Spiritual thought: Read Helaman 11; it talks about faith and outlines many examples of faith from the bible. But the first verse gets me everytime. Faith is like the seed (as it says in Alma 32) that grows ones testimony that is as a tree. I hope someday that I can have a giant Sequia forest for my testimony.

Yo creo en Dios. Se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y amigo. Yo se que Dios tiene un plan para todos Sus hijos y quiere el mejor para nosotros. Yo se que este Iglesia es verdadera y contiene la plenitud del Evangelio de Jesucristo!

Nos vemos,

Elder Kipp

PS: Tell Brock and Layne and Staci and Bacho thnaks for the packages. I love you!

Booyah!!!

Hola! Como estamos?

This past week has been great. I am learning so much and feel like I am understanding more everyday. How is the outside world? It has been about a month but it goes by so fast. To see the progress I have made is amazing. As always on Thursday we get to go to the temple. It is probably one of my favorite things to do every week. And today more that other weeks it was beautiful. Provo is perfect at this time of the year. Not too hot, not too cold and the sun is always shining. I better take it all in before I go to the freezing cold Canadian weather.

We got two new teachers this week. We have had so many teachers these past couple of weeks. With Hermana Bauserman leaving and Hermano Arnold changing districts we have had 12 different teachers. It is nice to hear so many different missionary stories but it is also difficult because we don't really have a continuance of teaching. But these two new teachers, Hermanos Ackerson and Clayton seem amazing. Hermano Clayton went to Connecticut but spent his high school life in Argentina. He seems very interesting and I feel like I get along with him very well. Hermano Ackerson went to the Dominican Republic and has tons of chevre(cool) stories. When we teach lessons I am finding myself being able to just talk to people rather than struggle through memorized phrases. It is becoming more of a teaching experience everytime. Hopefully the next time we go to the TRC we will recieve a native speaker. Last week Elder Ostler and Elder Stevenson tought a native from Mexico and said they learned more than they taught. I have made a goal to read at least 10 pages in the Book of Mormon daily in English. It has helped me so much find things to learn for teaching and brought the Spirit that much greater. I challenge all to get into the scriptures daily. It will truly guide your life.

Elder Anderson, Elder Bigalow and myself are in a little Biggest Loser competition. Since the food here is not to healthy, we are limited on our options. But we are helping each other in the gym everyday and I feel so much better. The leaders of the mission have stressed the importance of eating healthy and exercising 6 days a week. It makes you focus more on studying and allows you to feel less tired. But I will keep going and keep you posted on the results.

We had a treat this week. Elder Holland spoke at the devotional this Tuesday. It was magnificent. This Spirit testified to me that he was a true disciple of Christ. He talked about the true importance of missionary work. He also stressed that we do not have the right to change the "perfect" image that the world has of missionaries. We are "apostles" with a lower case and we are declaring truth unto the world. I was greatly humbled that night and will remember it always. I will strive to receive that faith that he has and love people the way that he does. One thing that really stuck out to me was "Be better than who you are." Meaning that we can always be better than the person that we think we are at that moment.

I love Spanish hymns! "Tengo Gozo en Mi Alma" is my favorite. We usually sing two a day. I am so excited to find out what the latin culture is going to be like in Edmonton. I have already been thinking about the people the Lord is going to affect through me. I am so excited to have a front row seat for truly amazing changes. It will be hard but as long as I have the gospel on my side I will succeed.

Spiritual Thought: I have been thinking a lot this week about the character attributes of the Savior, especially patience. We need to have patience in every aspect of our life because we are being guided to become the best we can be. Sometimes things may not happen the way we want, but patience is necassary to truly be content in life. Patience with others is te most important aspect of this characteristic. If we do not realize that everyone has problems around us and are not understanding patience we cannot be happy. Let us not be offended when people us their agency. You can only control your actions. I will keep praying for Christlike patience and challange all to do as well.

Also Read Helaman 15:7 - this explains what true repentance is, a change of heart.

With mucho amor,

Elder Kipp