HUMP DAY!!! August 26, 2011

As you come to the one-year mark of your mission, I am sending you this camel to remind you how far you have come, and where you are going. There are many similar characteristics of a great missionary and a camel.

The first is the "hump". Yes, you have crossed the mark and now are over the hump of the first year. But remember the hump of a camel is used to store food for the long journey. Camels can go for long periods of time without food, but he must store his food in his hump. A Missionary has learned from many experiences, but a wise Missionary will store the knowledge he has gained, and put it to greater use the second half of his mission.

Another important symbol is what the camel does to be prepared to carry the load for his Master. A camel will sometimes protest his heavy load, but will drops to his knees for the Master. This is why the camel's knees are heavily padded. Once the camel gets started, however, he patiently carries the load wherever he is lead. As a missionary, your knees are calloused from the many hours of kneeling in prayer. Sometimes the load seems heavy and difficult to carry, but when you drop to your knees and succumb to the Master's will, he will carefully lead you. Then you can bear the load patiently and do your Father in Heaven's work as he would have you do.

The camel has high-set eyes that enable him to see long distances. A missionary has his eyes set on higher things. He follows the Spirit which enables him to find the children of God who are seeking answers and teaches them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The camel has broad, two-toed feet that keep it from sinking in desert sand. A missionary has a broad knowledge and a firm testimony of the Gospel. This enables him to teach with boldness and stand firm in his testimony. The people you teach do not yet have the blessing of such sure-footing, but as you teach with love and the Spirit, you will help them gain their own testimony. This will help them walk on firmer ground and find the path that will lead them back to their Father in Heaven.

So you see…a missionary has a lot in common with a camel. Put this camel where you can see it often. Dedicate yourself to do as the camel does. Serve your Master well and patiently over the long journey. You have come a long way but there is still much ground to cover. Continue to move forward, serving with love, until your mission is complete and your Father in Heaven will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

2nd Area - Tacuarembo' with Elder Ashby

Jumping back to the after Empey/before being called into the mission home change. (2nd Area) Kyler was asked to serve in Tacuarembo' with Elder Ashby. This was the companionship where Kyler could clearly see the blessings of serving a mission as he worked with a missionary that was in his final months of service. Elder Ashby was a great teacher and so motivated to work hard. Kyler really enjoyed learning from him and being his companion. They were changed just one month before Elder Ashby was to return home. Kyler wished that he could have stayed with him his last month, but was so grateful to have had such a great opportunity to be Elder Ashby's companion before he left. He also loved Tacuarembo'--out in the country, lots of hills and wonderful people.

Really?? Has it been 7 months since my last post??!

I kept looking at previous posts hoping that it really hadn't been as long as it had since I added to Kyler's Blog. I didn't do much better in keeping their baby books. Sure glad they keep perfect records in heaven...sigh!

Just a short run down of what has happened since the last post--7 MONTHS AGO!!

-Kyler got a new companion (staying in his first area) named Elder Empey. He is from Alpine, Utah which is only 10 miles from where we live. I actually met Elder Ashby's father by sheer "coincidence" when he came to the Lindon Cannery where I work. The Hendrickson/Empey companionship was already finished when we met and Kyler had moved on to a new area, but a twist of circumstances had crossed their mision paths for a 2nd time just about the same time I met Brother Empey.

Elder Empey had hurt himself on a p-day activity and was having a lot of back pain from it. He couldn't walk without being in a lot of pain. This was just a few days after changes had happened, so his companion was new to the area. Kyler, on that same change, had been moved into the office to be over the statistics of the mission and help President Heaps. But, since he knew the area where Elder Empey and Elder Smith were, and Elder Empey was having a hard time with the work because of his injury, they transferred Kyler back to Montevideo and brought Elder Empey into the office where he could rest his back and still be actively working in the mission.

When Kyler got back to Montevideo, he found one of his investigators, Mauricio (in picture), had overcome his set backs and had been baptized. He was very happy to be able to see him again. They also put him right back into playing the piano in the ward. So it was like "coming home" in a sense.

Kyler was supposed to be moved back into the office on the next change, but President Heaton decided instead to move him to his current area (as of this posting), Frey Bentos, and make him a district leader. Kyler was a bit shocked since he hadn't been out the "normal" amount of time before being put into that kind of position, but he faced it with a "I will go...I will do" positive attitude that has infused his mission. (see upcoming post on Frey Bentos)

Geneology in the Mission Field...

Kyler sent a "family picture" of his companions. I guess your trainer (Elder Hamilton) is known as your "Dad" and the "Dad's" trainer (Elder Mace) is known as your "Mom". So...once again...I am left with no grandchildren...sigh!

1st Baptism of Kyler's mission - Jan 16, 2011

Kyler is so excited to see the fruits of his and Elder Hamilton's labors in the mission field. Thanks to a member referral from Maria Jose--her friend, Lilian will be his first baptism since arriving in Uruguay. This baptism ends an 18-month-convert-baptism drought in this branch and they are very excited to receive a gospel infusion to their numbers. When she was deciding who would baptize her, she asked Elder Hamilton if he had already baptized someone. He said yes. So she asked Kyler if he had been able to baptize anyone...and, of course, he said no. So Lilian asked Kyler to do the honors. Kyler was indeed honored and excited to comply. He said all went well at the baptism and Lilian has turned out to be a wonderful addition to the branch. It was strange, but it took 3 weeks to finally confirm her because they do that in the Sunday meetings and not immediately after the baptismal services. Each week there was something that prevented it from happening...strange. We encouraged Kyler to be especially aware of her until this happened since the Holy Ghost is so important to remaining strong and making righteous choices. They confirmed her on the same day as two new babies were blessed. Kyler jokes that the branch doubled that day!

First Companion - First Apartment

Elder Hamilton has been a great trainer for Kyler. That was one of my sincerest prayers--that he would get a great trainer--and he is from Utah, so the connection will most likely continue when their missions are over. The city of Montevideo hasn't seen a baptism in over 1-1/2 years and Kyler is determined to be involved in breaking that curse. The picture of Elder Hamilton and Elder Hendrickson are just after they got the first official missionary haircut--shaving their heads. They think there will be a transfer this next week. Thanks for the great beginning to Kyler's "Best Two Years."


I see the pictures of their first apartment, and I am thankful that he is not suffering--at all! I'm sure it won't be quite this good for all of his mission. There are probably some missionary-life-lessons still to come. I mean, a bidee' in a missionary apartment? (That's something he will have to learn on his own--I potty trained him, but have no idea how to use one of those things!) His apartment is the first balcony on the right--just behind the tree!

Missionaries are soooooooo cool!!!

The art of living in the world and not of the world can sometimes be a little challenging when you are a missionary and just sooo cool at the same time. It just takes practice to keep it all in perspective! Here is the GQ missionary pose. (And by the way...GQ stands for "great qualities"...just in case you didn't know!)