The Three Kingdoms

Buen dia familia,

So, as you well know, in Latin America, the world cup is huge. So yesterday, we saw bits and pieces of the game because everyone and their dog had their TV’s outside and had the whole family over to watch the game.  And Germany won!  I wanted them to win, because people here think I am from Germany, so it was pretty funny to see what some of the people said. 

This week was a pretty interesting one.  It was changes week, so on Tuesday, we headed to the airport to pick up the new missionaries, two gringos and four Latin’s.  There was another gringo that was supposed to fly in on Tuesday night, but he missed his plane, so he didn't get in until Wednesday, but the reason he missed his flight is because he met a person in Atlanta at the airport and started teaching her, and a member saw him and came over to talk to him. Well, that member just so happened to be none other than David Archuleta! So, he taught a lesson with David Archuleta, and missed his plane.  Pretty cool first mission experience!

On Thursday, we took all the people going home to the airport early in the morning.  We all said bye to Elder P, we had a group of six or seven elders that were really tight in the Panama Zone, so it was good to see him off.  He wrote me and he is doing well.  Also, it is crazy that D is home already too.   It means that my time is dwindling here in Panama; I only have about ten months left to serve.

Changing the subject... It has been a little busy with transfers, so it has been some long days in the office. But, we did get some good lessons taught in our area.  We are trying to get another couple married, and we are trying to introduce them to the members right now.  Members make such a huge difference in missionary work. We are trying to get this couple married too, the wife is working on finalizing a divorce, which should be done this week, and then we can have a baptism.  It has been a while since I had a baptism, and I feel that I have been working well and trying to be more obedient, so I know that we will be blessed.

There was an activity in our stake on Saturday night about the Plan of Salvation. Each room in the Stake Center was decorated to look like a different part of the Plan, and a pair of missionaries was assigned to teach a different part.  I got put with Elder M, the new office guy, in the Terrestrial Kingdom.  I had never really learned before the difference between the kingdoms, I just knew that the Celestial was the best and where God lived, but it was a good experience to study in the scriptures and learn more about life after death.  It makes me want to try that much harder to make it to the celestial kingdom.

Well, that is about all the news from Panama for this week. That is crazy that mom met President Carmack's Aunt!  I hope you are recovering well mom, and that dad is taking good care of you! I love you all!

Con Amor,

Elder Austin Michael Kipp