Traveling this Week!!

*Aloha from da parents!
Elder Kim left the MTC on Monday, February 22, 2016, at 3:30am. He traveled from Salt Lake City to Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany and then to Porto, Portugal. While he was not able to send a regular email out this week due to the traveling, he was able to send some short notes and pictures prior to departure. We have included excerpts and the pictures below. We were also fortunate to be able to hear from him while he was in Chicago awaiting his connecting flight. The phone conversation, while necessarily brief, was very positive. He was barely able to contain his excitement, and the same can be said of the parents. We will resume posting his weekly email next week, when we expect to receive his first email since his arrival in Portugal. Mahalo nui for your prayers and aloha!!

Feb. 21, 2016

Always make goals. I've been doing that a lot more, and I wish I had started earlier. Goals are good. They help keep us focused, and moving forward. What I've learned is that you start off with a vision. That means, the end goal, what you eventually wanna do. After you list the things you need to accomplish, list the things that will help you accomplish this goal. Knowing your vision and the things you need to do, you then make weekly goals. These goals should be attainable, but also should be stretching you. From there you split your weekly goals into daily goals, so that you make it bite size and you’re able to progress steadily. This is what I've been trying to do with the language and stuff. What’s awesome is that if it’s not working out, you just reevaluate and change your plan to fit you.

I'm so grateful for the MTC. Its been up and down, but I've grown soo much. It’s cool to be able to see how far we've progressed, with His help, in the last 6-7 weeks

Tie draft last night. Everyone enters a tie and put their name tag in a bag. When your name gets pulled you have 5 seconds to choose a tie. The rule is, you have to wear the tie the next day on Sunday.

 Elder Kim w/ Irmao Machado  "Heʻs Super Cool"

 Elder Kim w/ Irmao Nor "Super Cool"

 Elder Kim w/ Irmao Staples, his teacher from Day 1 "I love him so much! Heʻs a great man."

 Elder Kim w/ Irmao Workman "Super Cool"

 Last class together with Irma Smith (front, middle center). She was also Elder Kimʻs teacher from Day 1 - "Sheʻs awesome, I love her!"

 Elder Kim, pointing to his home for the next 22+ months!

 Packing everything up and moving on out!

Elder Kim, just released as zone leader, in preparation for departure

 Elder Kim and Sister Kuamoʻo-Mendiola. Both proud products of Keaukaha Ward, which now has 6 missionaries out with more to come in the next few months.

The traveling group headed for Portugal. Due to extenuating circumstances, they were joined by two more missionaries in Chicago who were also headed to Portugal.

Week 6 of the MTC

February 15, 2016

Bom Dia Minha Familia! (Good morning/good day my family)

Another week has flown by here in the MTC! Sooo fast! It sounds like it was busy week for you guys too with Pulama, BIIFs, and your other events. Crazy!

So how was Pulama? Pehea na hula? Ua mana'o au e ninau no ka Kumu Hiapo ha'i'olelo, aka maopopo ia'u he maiau a maika'i wale no kana, with a hint of umph haha. 'Olu'olu e ha'i ia ia e leka uila mai i hiki ia maua ke kama'ilio, 'oiai he mau ninau ko'u no kekahi mau hua'olelo hou a pela mai Ka Puke o Molemona. Pela ke 'ano o ka loea haha. Ua ku'ai aku 'ia na "poke bowls" a pau? Lohe wau maia Dad mai ua helu 'ekahi na ho'ike'ike a na papa. Lohe pu wau ua komo piha na kaikaina me ke kaikuhine ma ka hana. Ke ola nei ka inoa o Kim ia 'oukou! haha. Nui ko'u ha'aheo! E o'u mau muli e ho'omaopopo mau 'oukou i ka lu'u piha 'ana ma ka hana. Ke komo piha kakou ma ka hana ke ho'ike nei kakou i na kumu, na 'anakala, na 'anake, i ko kakou 'ano makaukau, ko kakou 'ano kanaka makua, a i ko kakou 'i'ini e a'o. E ho'omau 'oukou i ka hana maika'i! 'Eo Nawahi! 'Eo Pulama Mauli Ola! Ke komo nei au i ko'u pale'ili Pulama keia manawa no ka ho'ike aku i ko'u kako'o, 'oiai 'a'ole i hiki ke komo i kela po'aono aku nei hahaha

As far as my buddies go they all leave this week. Elder Ortiz and Elder Parker left this morning to Mozambique. I'm soo stoked for them. People going to Lisboa, Portugal, will leave tommorow morning at 3:30am, and people going to Cape Veirde will leave Wednesday at 11:30am. I'm sooo stoked for all of them and I pray that they will all be safe. Super cool. What’s crazy is that we expect 26 new missionaries, at least, to be coming in on Wednesday! Crazy! As zone leader, I'll be working hard to make sure everyone is ok and settled in before I leave a few days later haha. It'll be cool though to see Kawena on Wednesday! I'm stoked for Vaea going to Nuku'alofa, Tonga! How’s Ku'i's papers going? What about 'Ohu? Sooo exciting!

It's been a pretty good week. Super busy as usual. This past Wednesday I got to host!!! It was awesome!!! I was able to host three elders. One is from the Philippines going to Korea (apparently there’s a lot from the Philippines going to Korea) and two elders from mainland China going to Australia! I guess there’s a large population of Mandarin speakers there. It was sooo cool to hear them speak Mandarin. I wanna learn haha. With those people going to Korea, I was like “aniyo! kahmsamnida! neh!”, the only three words I know in Korean. It was just exciting to see people going to the Motherland.

Also this past Wednesday me and some other missionaries were asked to participate in the "People and their purpose" activity. Basically its an activity that all new missionaries do when they get to the MTC, where they have an investigator and two missionaries who start the lesson, and then after the reins are handed to the group of new missionaries to continue the teaching. The goal being, they are able to discern the needs of the investigator, and help them come unto Christ. Well, me and Elder Wanlass were asked to be those two missionaries who start the lesson!!!! Soooo cool! It was cool to have come full circle.

I'm excited to go to Portugal!!! One of my teachers, Irmao Lemperle, who served in Portugal a few years ago, was showing us a few pictures from his mission, and it looks sooo cool!!! I was like "This is awesome!!!" I really hope I go to Madeira!

Sadly, this week we didn’t have a video skype lesson. I guess they didn’t have enough volunteers :( We'll get another chance this week though. I must say those are downright awesome!!! BTW last week i spelled the word fixe wrong. I think I spelled it fiexe last week, but its actually fixe. It’s pronounced like the word fish though, with an accent haha. As far as our other investigators go, we told Silvia we were leaving and encouraged her to continue to meet with the other missionaries, and continue to work towards baptism, since we had committed her to be baptized already. Our other one, Guilherme, we almost lost. haha. The last lesson we taught him, he was like, “I don't wanna be baptized. I just wanna be Catholic.” But we ended up convincing him to pray with us and he felt like he should read the Book of Mormon more to see if the Church is true. We were like "YES! Day 41, church is still true!" haha I hope we will be able to teach him one more time before we leave.

To end on a spiritual note, I totally agree with you, mom. Teaching the restoration of the gospel is one of the most important things we can teach people. When people understand the restoration everything else makes sense. If the first vision is true, then the whole church is true! If it isn't, then the church isn't true, but the first vision is true, so the church is true!!! Every time we share the first vision, we bring the spirit in. It's awesome!  It goes like this in Portuguese: "Vi um pilar de luz, acima de minha cabeca. Mais brilhante que o sol, que gradualmente sobre min. Quando a luz posou sobre min, vi does personages, cujo eslpendor e gloria desafiam qualquer descricao, pairando no ar, acima de min. Um deles, falou-me, chamando-me pelo nome, apontando para o outro, "Este e Meu Filho Amando, Ove-o"" (Sorry there’s no accentuation stuffs.)

Another important thing I'd like to say is that missionaries are to teach repentance! In the scriptures Alma tells the people, and Christ also tells his apostles, to teach nothing but repentance. The reason is repentance is turning from the natural man unto Christ. When we repent, we are becoming more like Christ. I think sometimes repentance is given a bad rap when really its an awesome thing! By repentance we come unto Christ and are perfected in Him. Awesome right?!

I love you, family! Please take care of yourselves! Work hard! Ate proximo vez (until next time)

Me ke aloha,

Elder Kim

An Excerpt from a different email:

Here’s my testimony of the restoration of Christ's church in Portuguese. Sorry there are no accentuation marks, and there might be some spelling and grammatical errors

Eu sei que Deus ama-nos, e ele e nosso Pai Celestial. Eu sei que porque deste amor de Deus, ele restaurou o evangelho por meio Joseph Smith, seu propheta primeiro dos ultimos dias. Eu sei que o primeiro vision de Joseph Smith e verdadeiro,e este vision e primeiro actividade de restauracao. Eu sou muito grato o evangelho de Jesus Cristo e opporutunidade viver com Deus e minha familia  no reino Celestial por eterna. Eu sei que e nesesidade para ter o restauracao. Eu escrevo estas coisas, em nome de Sua Filho, nossa Salvador, Jesus Cristo, amen. (I know that God loves us and that He is our Heavenly Father. I know that because of this love, he restored the gospel thru Joseph Smith the first prophet in these latter days. I know that the first vison Joseph Smith had is true, and was the first major event of the restoration. I am so grateful for the gospel of Christ and the opportunity to live with God and my family in the celestial kingdom forever. I know the restoration was neccesary. I write these things in the name of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen).

Ate proximo vez (until next time),

Elder Kim

Elder Kim with two new missionaries, who come from Mainland China, who will be serving in Australia. When Elder Kim "hosts" new missionaries, it means he welcomes them to the MTC, helps them get settled in their rooms, takes them around to help them learn where everything is at, helps them check in with the office, the MTC medical doctor, etc. 

 Elder Kim also "hosted" this new missionary from the Philippines, who will be serving in South Korea, the Motherland for us "Kims".

Elder Kim, in one last picture with his zone. Most of these missionaries will be leaving the MTC for their missions this week. A sad but exciting time for all as they take the next step in their service.

*Small Kine Side Note

Aloha,

Just to let you know, Elder Kim will be leaving the MTC on Feb 22, 2016. If you write him (letters) after that date, please send it to the mission address in Portugal. Emails will still use the same email address.

Mahalo,
Da Parents

Week 5 of MTC

Feb. 8, 2016

Bom Dia e ka 'ohana!!!

This has probably been the fastest week so far. Time is truly flying now. At the beginning it felt like we had nothin’ but time, but now it feels like there’s never enough time to do everything. We made a month this past week and it feels likes its been longer than that, and shorter than that, at the same time. We'll make 5 weeks on Wednesday! So crazy!

I've been progressing slowly in Portuguese. I've been working hard and it’s slowly starting to show. I'm still a noob, but I'm getting better haha. Learning the grammar is the most frustrating part to me, but its super rewarding when I'm able to speak it well. I'm sooo grateful for my teachers, Irmao Staples and Irma Smith, for all their love, support, and patience.

I should be getting my flight plans this Tuesday or Wednesday. When I get them, I'm allowed to email back so I'll shoot out an email when I get them. I'm sad to be delayed a week because of the social aspect. Our whole entry group will be leaving, and only the people going to Porto, 6 of us, will be left from that group. I've heard rumors of us being delayed because Porto is having an apostle over to “turn the mission”, but I really don't know. I guess I'll find out in a few weeks. Its kinda sad, cuz I left a family to get here, then I gained another one here, and now I'm losing them too. I realize though, that we all have work to do, and gotta get to it. The MTC is the in-between place, not the end destination. I'm happy to be delayed though, because it gives me more time to study, and more one-on-one teacher time. It gives me a little more time to hunker down and get some work done. BTW, I am able to see the comments on my blog but I probably won't reply back on there. To those who do comment, please know, I do read the comments, and I'm always happy to read um.

Usually every week we have TRC meetings, which is when we teach two-20min lessons to members who speak Portuguese, but this week was a little different. We still had a TRC lesson but.... WE TAUGHT THIS LADY IN BRAZIL VIA SKYPE!!!! IT WAS AWESOME!!! Going in to it I was so excited, a little nervous, but mostly excited, and right when her picture came on, I was just soo happy to be able to have the opportunity to teach someone who speaks Portuguese!  Me and my companion were stoking! The volume on the computer we were using was pretty junk, so we couldn't hear her that good, but we were able to mostly understand her, and she could understand us!!! We taught about "preseverar ate o fim" (persevering to the end) that some of the things we need to persevere to the end is: The Savior's Redemptive Power, The Holy Ghost, to serve others, and to make sure we have diligent scripture study and personal prayers! The whole time we’re just stoking and grinning ear to ear. At the end, when we asked her to bear her testimony, I kinda started to tear up cuz she bore her testimony about God's love for us, and then told us about the important work that we’re doing and that we'll do great. It just meant soo much to me to hear that from her. We then closed with our testimonies and a prayer. Afterwards we got feedback from our teacher, from the lady, that she loved it and loves us. We love her too! What was funny was that she asked our teacher "Fiexe, fiexe! O que este palavra fiexe??" (fiexe, fiexe (prounounced like fish but with an accent)! What is this word fiexe?) during the feedback, cuz we kept saying muito fiexe (super cool), which I guess isn’t really a term in Brazil, even though it is in Portugal. haha. Once she found out what it was, our teacher told us she just started bus’ laughing hahaha. 

Something else that was cool this week was that I GOT A PUKE O MOLEMONA!!!! I'M SOOOO HAPPY!!! I can't believe I haven't read it before! I started to read it this past Thursday and I'm loving it! It's like I'm in Kumu Hiapo's class but for spiritual stuff as well as language haha. Aia wau ma ka 'ao'ao 26. Akahi 'o Nepai i 'ike i ka hihio a kona makuakane, Lehi, i 'ike ai. Mio!!! Kohu mea la ke heluhelu nei wau i ka puke no ka manawa mua loa ma loko no o ko'u kama'aina mua i na mo'olelo o loko. Ma loko no o ke 'ano kahiko o ke kakau 'ia o keia puke (ka loa'a 'ole o na 'okina me na kahako) mau no ko'u hiki ke heluhelu me ka ma'alahi. Mau no ka loa'a 'o na hua'olelo a hopuna 'olelo hou, aka lilo ia mau mea i mea ho'ohoihoi i ka heluhelu 'ana hahaha. Eia kekahi lalani a'u i makemake nui ai, ma ka puke mua a Nepai, mokuna 1, pauku 20, mana lalani hope 'elua "No laila, ea, o hele, e ka'u keiki, a e ho'opomaika'i 'ia 'auane'i 'oe e ka Haku, no ka mea, 'a'ole 'oe i 'ohumu." E o'u mau kaikaina, e o'u kaikuahine, o hele aku kakou ma ke ala pono o ko kakou Haku, me ka 'ohumu 'ole i mea e hau'oli ai kakou a i mea e ho'opomaika'i 'ia kakou e Ke Akua. What's funny about me getting one of these is my friend Elder Dude, who’s going to the Phillipines, showed me he had gotten one just to collect, and showed it to me. That promptly reminded me that I should get one so I can keep up with my 'Olelo Hawai'i. When I went to get it, it was the last copy! I was soo relieved that it was still there! Elder Dude is an anjo (angel) sent of God haha, but pretty true.

I'd just like to give a shout out to Elder Vaea Enos on his call. I'M SOOOOO STOKED FOR HIM GOING TO NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA!!!! MUITO OTIMO (SUPER AWESOME)!!!! I just think that's soooo cool! I'm sure Aunty Melissa and Uncle “Peeta” are sooo proud of him. Gonna see the sole in him come out! I'd also like to tell Sister Kawena Mendiola that I'm soo stoked for her as well, and can’t wait to see her here at the MTC! Ku'ilua and 'Ohu, I hope your papers are in! I'm just so excited to hear everyone getting their calls and deciding to serve missions!

Mom please tell the family on O'ahu that I love them and that I wish I could be there to pay my respects to Aunty Marjie. I didn't really know her, but I know better now than I ever have before, that she is in a better place, and that she'll be waiting for us. Speaking of family, I was able to get the endowments done for our Portuguese family! I was sooo happy. We went early this morning and did the 6:15 session. While I was sitting in the Celestial Room, I felt a lot like I did last week, the love our Father has for us, and the love we have for our ancestors. I realized that we love our families here on earth, and that that love doesn’t end when they pass on, and that we can still help them. I am soo grateful for the opportunity to be able to help my ancestors who have passed on.

I love you, family! I'm so thankful for the packages and letters. I'll try to shoot out a response soon. I love you guys!!! Malama pono!

Me ke aloha,

Elder Kim

Ate Mais!

 Elder Kim and da mexican braddahs (Elder Fernandez and Elder Castillo)

 Elder Kim and the "newbies", Missionaries who just arrived at the MTC and are part of his zone

Shout out to Troop 7

* Notes from the parents

Aloha Everyone,

We received information from Elder Kimʻs mission president in Portugal regarding the mailing of packages to Portugal. If any of you are considering mailing packages to Elder Kim once he is in Portugal, we urge you to contact us, either Daisy or myself, before doing so. Portugal enforces strict mailing guidelines, which if not followed, may result in Elder Kim not getting the package, or getting it months later, and on top of that, he may possibly be forced to pay major fines/taxes/import duties (in excess of $100 US according to the mission president) just so he can get the package. Please, contact Daisy or myself before sending a package to Elder Kim in Portugal so that we may further advise you on these guidelines and procedures. Thank you for your considerate attention on this matter.

Mahalo nui,

Daisy and Kahale Kim (Elder Kimʻs parents)

Week 4 of MTC

Feb. 1, 2016

Bom Dia e ka 'ohana!!!

It has been a pretty crazy week this week. It’s been both super frustrating, and cool, at the same time haha. Because of this important work and because of all the movement all the time, change is always in the air!

I'm sooo happy that they got my letters! I'm happy to hear they got my handprint on the back. I thought that that might be a nice personal touch on the back to make it more meaningful and real. I really do appreciate the letters and that our pen pal relationship can continue. Letters feel soo much more personal that’s why. I'm also happy to hear aunty Barbara got my letter. I don't know how relevant, meaningful, clear my card to her was, but I hope that touched somebody. I also got a letter from the Enos family this week, and I'm soo happy to hear from them. I’m gonna try and send off my reply to them today. Tell Sam that if he writes me a letter I will reply but it might take a little while. I have responded to his email though. Vaea is still waiting?! Shucks. I was hoping to hear from him or about him today! That’s okay next time. Maybe the call will come in today, that’s when mine came in.

As far as weather goes it’s been okay, cold, but bearable. It started snowing yesterday and is continuing today. We've gotten about 3-4 inches now I'd say. It's been pretty dreary here with all the clouds. On our walk over and back to the temple this morning, we were covered in it! haha. What’s even crazier is THAT THERE WERE STILL PEOPLE RUNNING!!!! I'm sorry to hear there hasn't been any rain in Hilo. Hilo just doesn’t look right without green grass under-feet and rain clouds rolling in. haha.

I haven’t seen Elder Duffin but I'll be on the look out. I have like one more week to catch him, and hopefully I'll be able to find him. That'd be soo cool. Turns out Grandma and Grandpa Foley's neighbor’s daughter is here and I've seen her a couple times, but haven't talked her, so I'll try do that today. Also, remember that pic I took with that elder from Kona, Elder Aholelei? He’s the Enos’ cousin! Soo funny!

As far as our investigator's are going, it was a rougher week. Our lessons haven't gone as planned and we've kinda been teaching the lesson not the person. I think we're gonna try and keep our lessons focused more on the why, and less on the how. Our job is to help them see the big picture, and find the truth. But sometimes we get in the way of our own purpose. It can be a fine line to walk.

I've started to teach Elder Robertson some Hawaiian phrases and stuff. I know he won't ever learn it, but I'm super excited to just talk with somebody who’s interested in it hahaha. Going through withdrawals, nah jk! But I like it cuz it helps me to stay connected so I don't forget it. I was telling my friends it would just break my heart if I came home and mom started talking to me in Hawaiian and I couldn't understand and/or respond. So I'm trying to hang on to it. Hawaiian is like my deep, connected language, the language of many layers. English is like just the common tongue. Portuguese is like the language of renewal, the language of opportunity I guess. I'm not really familiar with Portuguese yet to be able to describe the feeling. I really love Hawaiian and Portuguese though, how they feel when you speak them, super cool. Literally the languages of my ancestors. It's like I'm discovering new parts of my soul hahaha. So corny I know hahaha. I know though that Portugal is where I'm supposed to go, and that God needs me there. I know that my ancestors are watching over me, along with my Heavenly Father, and that they love me.

This morning we went to the temple and did some initiatories. What made this time special was that I got to do the family names Aunty Kalei gave me, which are: Jose de Medeiros, Antonio Raposo, Manuel de Medeiros, and Joao Machado. I also have uncle Joy's name but he only needs his sealings done. Even though I've done initiatories before, this time felt different because I had a real connection to these people. As I was doing the work, I kept thinking how awesome it is that I had the opportunity to help my family, koʻu ʻohana o ka pō, even though they’ve passed on. I felt so happy to be able to help my family and give them an opportunity to receive further blessings. I could feel the love God has for them, and the love people still living have for them. I could also feel their love for me. It was soo cool. Doing the work ourselves really makes the concept of eternal families more real and relevant. I plan on doing their endowments next week with the help of the elders of my district.

I just wanted to share one more thought. In one of the classes we had this past week, we decided to group study a question one of us had. We decided on Elder Robertson's question of "How can I help my family be comforted while I'm here on my mission?" We split into two groups and started to search. In my group we decided to look at the stripling warriors. We read Alma 53:16-23 and this thought hit me and I started to tear up: Me, and the other missionaries here, have entered into a covenant with God to preach the gospel, to be the sharp side of the sword that God wields to fight back against Satan. We are here to rescue those who have fallen and bring them back into the light. We fight for the eternal salvation of souls. Also, in reference to the previously mentioned question, there isn't too much we can do for those at home physically. What we can do is that we can be good examples, we can write home and be encouraging, and fast and pray for them. I realized that the people of Ammon were being blessed through their sons, just like how I know my family and others around the world are being blessed because of their missionaries who are serving God. God knows our needs and hears our cries and He will answer them in His own time, in His own way.

I hope all is going well! I love you guys soo much!!!! Continue to send pics and stuff. The pictures really make it amazing. I really like that book mark you guys sent me with the picture of us on it. It’s awesome! I look at it everyday before I study. Please take care, especially you Jonah. Don't get more hurt please. I recommend watching "Safety for the soul" by Elder Holland. It's an awesome talk!!!! Literally and figuratively, chicken skin!!! I love you guys!!!

Ate Proximo Vez (Until Next Time)

Me ke aloha,

Elder Kim

 Elder Kim w/newly named Elder "Abraham"

Apparently, Elder "Abraham" is on his way to Romania for his mission. He cannot use his own surname, as it means "Old Man Pig" in the Romanian language. Hence,  he is now called Elder "Abraham".

 Elder Kim w/ Elder Robertson. Elder Robertson is very interested in the Hawaiian language and culture, as illustrated in this picture.

 Friends of Elder Kim who are headed to the Philippines for their missions. Boy are they in for some weather/culture shock.

 Elder Kim getting snowed on, and enjoying it.

 Elder Kim with (l - r) Elder Wanlass, Elder Robertson, and Elder Cannon, all in the same district.

Elder Kimʻs first ever attempt at shining shoes. Notice the dryer sheets inserted to keep the shoes from smelling bad. Tricks of the trade...