Shocked & Amazed--December 2, 2018

Dear loved ones,

I had the opportunity and extreme blessing to have my first birthday out in the field. I have never had so much cake in my life! Haha! We had some progressing investigators give me a whole cake! Later, the pensionista family made me pasta alfredo and gave me a piece of cake. After we taught an English class, some more people gave me some sweet bread and Inka cola! When we were heading home, the pensionista family caught us and said they had prepared a celebration for me. I was stunned. I walked in and Hermano Timiteo started singing with his guitar. They had set up the whole room with cute decorations, chips, and a HUGE chocolate cake!!! It was so special and sweet of them to do. I will be forever grateful! The next day Hermana Vargas bought some pizza and snacks and invited some of the ward members over for a small celebration. It was so cool! All of these amazing and sweet acts of kindness to celebrate my 19th birthday was amazing. All these beautiful people don't even know who I am - and they took the time, money, and effort out of their busy day to do these things for me. I wanted to feel my family with me during the day. God truly blessed me with with this amazing feeling of love not only from these amazing people, but also it was multiplied by the love sent by the love from Mom, Julia and Kelsea even though they are miles away. I testify God is truly powerful and this birthday has been a true miracle of LOVE. 

We literally climb mountains every day. The work is good -  just really slow. We've only had one investigator attend church. So they push numbers her like it defines success which I don't think it does. I am working my tail off everyday preaching and having no fear to talk to anyone, but people have agency and it isn't God's will for us to reach our goals numerically. I can testify that I have never been filled and edified by the Spirit more in my life. I feel so close to God and happy even when people are rude to me. I am hard on myself but I have to accept there is no such thing as a perfect missionary and I have to just do my best and repent. 

As you see in the pic we are decorating for Christmas! Ho! Ho! 

Love you all to infinity and beyond! 

Elder Kris Urbina
Here are the pics! 

Here in Peru -- November 19, 2018

Hey friends and fam!

I am going through some tough times trying to get get adjusted but the the Lord is helping me out a ton. I miss you all but I know what I am doing here is worth it. My companion is Elder Jensen. He only has 12 weeks of training but he is my trainer! He is a good guy and a hard worker. I love my companion and others in my district. It's very humbling and eye-opening to be in one of the poorest areas of the mission - called San Gabriel. Things are going well - but slowly, because Elder Jensen's previous companion was extremely lazy so the area is dead. But with both of us being motivated and with God's will, we're going to find people. Just gotta keep working - but I know it will come. The training here will last 12 weeks so I heard after that I heard time will go by faster. 

The food here is amazing and for the first time the pensionista gave me so much food/rice that I threw up when I got home. Too much food at one time, man! I was sick with grepe - which is like the flu here. But even when I was sick, I kept working and God really helped me out. My companion cared for me and made sure I was doing alright.Now I'm doing OK and we hiked a whole mountain and without my knee hurting! It was great! 

My P-days are Mondays now, so please send me videos and pics. I need it. 

Love you to infinity and beyond - 

Elder Kris Urbina 

Life at Mexico MTC -- October 23

Dear loved ones,

Here is a recap of Kris' time at the Mexico Missionary Training Center (or CCM in Spanish). I will share parts of his letters to give you an idea of how it's going. Please take advantage of sending Kris a free letter through mtcmexicocarepackage.com! They print your email out and hand deliver a paper letter to him the next day so he can keep a physical copy. Elder Kristofer Urbina District 13A. Kris will be leaving for Peru in the next week. Thanks! We love and appreciate all of you! 

Kris wrote:

You have no idea what a few days at the in the CCM can do to a person's pride and confidence. I have been continuously humbled time and time again. It has been hard to learn Spanish again, but through the gift of tongues it has all been coming back slowly but surely. They work you to the bone here and I'm glad I've worked hard in my life before because it has been easier to adjust to the routine and grind. I have been fun with the district and everyone seems to get along super well. We all have a unique tight bond and care for one another each day. They have become like family to me. They are all spiritually strong and I look up to every one of them.

After my knee locked up and got super stiff I had the prompting to ask for a priesthood blessing. God promised I will be healed and will have no more pain in my knee, but it's according to my faith. I thanked them and God for this miracle. I am doing well now, but I know I must be careful and have faith in God's healing powers. 

I was also able to give one of the Hermanas a blessing of comfort. She's from Lehi. I am so glad that I could be an instrument in the Lord's hands to tell her what she needed to hear. The Holy Ghost is real and the Priesthood is God's Power. 

So this week has been just stepping up to the plate and working my absolute tail off until the end of each day. It's good work and I am familiar with it from past experiences, but this is just way more spiritually exhausting. I have learned here is to try and apply the enabling power of Jesus Christ and his Atonement in my life. 

So this week has just been crazy. Good and a bit terrifying at one point. I'll start off with that life is good. I finally feel accustomed to the CCM thing and time has just been flying by. My companion and I are zone leaders over five different districts of 12 people each. We help support the district leaders and set up assignments for Sunday lessons and sacrament. I'm feeling tired and stressed, but I find happiness and laughter each day and it's so fun. My neck had a huge knot and lump on the left side, but after the doctor gave me medicine and after a few days of taking it easy - it slowly started to feel better. The doctor didn't know what it was. It was probably due to stress. 

The crazy story that happened this week was that I was in the shower and the power went out at the CCM. It was the coldest darkest shower I've ever had haha. There is a skinny cloudy window at the top of the shower and some guys put a hand on the window or tap it to give the person a jump scare. Well my companion wanted to scare me. So while I'm in the (dark, cold) shower with soap in my hair - he doesn't just tap the window - he smacks it. The window shatters and glass goes everywhere! He has a cut on his hand and I got a few cuts on my arm but God is so good and protected us. I don't even know how he broke it because the guy that came to clean it up took out the rest of the glass had to use a hammer to break it. Pretty crazy. I am OK and bear testimony that God is looking after all we do. And if we choose to be exactly obedient and we have perfect faith in Christ - we will be protected. I am learning so much and I'm excited to learn and be humbled more. 

Love you to infinity and beyond!

Elder Urbina 

1st Day -- Kris Urbina

Kris Urbina is a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He has been called to serve in the Peru Lima South Mission.  This is a record of his experiences as he serves as a volunteer missionary for a period of 2 years.  He left today for the Mexico MTC.

Email from Day 1:  September 18

Hey Momma I am here safely. Thanks for checking in. I am sorry you had such a hard morning today. I hope you are all holding up. Things are way cool here in Mexico. I was able to receive all my luggage just fine. I have to be brief but I am supposed to let you know that I am in district 13 and that my pdays will be starting next Thursday and on. I love you all!