Email: July 4th

Hey everyone!

My last email was pretty much a downer but I can tell you that this past week has really picked up! We have TWO baptismal dates!!!! One with our investigator Rosen and the other with Alex!! Rosen is a man who is in his 30s and has really felt the spirit in our lessons. He loves the gospel so much. I committed him to baptism! I was a little scared but I just went with it and he said yes! HOLLA! hahaha. Hes a good man and I can really feel his spirit. Alex is the other one. Hes in his 50s. Hes a bit slow, hes homeless and he brings all of his things in a bag to our lessons but he is a special spirit. I really like Alex. Hes very patient when I have to look down at my bulgarian notes so I know how to say certain things. Im horrible at memorizing! Eeeeek. Its great though! We havent taught the commandments yet. Im a bit hesitant about that. Both Rosen and Alex have problems with the word of wisom and maybe even some other things...we'll see though. I know this is the time where Satan works his hardest but I have faith that they will be ok. :) Pray for them! 2 baptismal dates in one week! Check us out!!!

We had another lesson with a man named Ivan. We taught him about the restoration and he said that he thinks anyone who has faith is in "the right church". Him and Sister Speth then got in a heated arguement about it. I stopped it by posing a question to Ivan. "Ivan, why did you want to meet with us?" He responds with, "Because I want to know what you believe." I then look at him and say, in my horrible bulgarian, "You met with us because you have a great desire to find truth. You want to find something your heart is searching for." I felt the spirit was so strong. I wasnt going to let his little excuses get past me. I know hes searching for truth. I bore testimony about his spirit, his heart and the great desire that he has. He really calmed down and just listened even though I was struggling to find words and talking choppy bulgarian that probably made no sense lol. BUT He listened and I could tell it through his eyes. The spirit testifies to peoples hearts...even if you cant speak their native tongue. It was a very cool experience for me. He will be meeting with us again :)

In other news. I didnt go to primary yesterday during church. Ian, one of primary friends DID NOT like that. He came searching for me and told me that he wanted me in primary. I told him that I had to stay with my investigators. He said ok and then slowly made his way to primary with his little hand on his eyes. I think he was starting to cry. It broke my heart but I have my responsibilities you know? I know he was ok in primary. After church he came rushing up to me and told me all about primary. The primary teacher told me that he has a major crush on me. His parents told me that they use me to get him to do things at home. "If you put your socks on, Sister Kinkead will play with you." LOL. I love it! I love little Ian. Im gonna have to get his last name so I can look him up when I get back into the states. Hes the one who is here for vacation and lives in Utah. Cuuute kid. The elders try talking to him and even the sisters but he solely talks to me and only wants to be MY friend. Hahaha! His mom was like, "I dont know what you did but...hes in love with you" Lol. Love him!!

Bulgarian is coming right along! Ive been working on a gospel principle each day and writing it down in my little notebook. I will use my notebook in my lessons if I have to *Shrugs* If I want to learn this language I gotta start somewhere. I had this really cool experience yesterday as we were visiting this gypsy family. I was talking about baptism and the importance of it. I felt really calm and collected and the words just came! All these thoughts came to my head as to what I should tell them and it just flowed!! I was SO excited! I walked out of the lesson thinking, I CAN DO THIS! Its a good feeling! Im finally taking the Berlin Wall down one brick at a time! Im BREAKING THROUGH TO FREEDOM! Glory!!!

Anyways, thats about it! Thanks for all the supportive emails everyone! I love you!!!!!

-Sister Kinkead