Letter FROM Elder K July 26, 2006

My Dear Mommy,

Well right now I’m at Atlanta International Airport, and it’s HUGE. It’s 3:20pm, and I don’t leave here until 7:55pm. I’m not excited about the wait. I love you guys so much. I would have liked to have been more mushy with you guys but I had to just go without looking back or I might have had a breakdown and I wouldn’t have been able to leave. I had to do the same thing to Dad also. Said goodbye and had to go. Love you guys.

So, on the plane, the lady doing drinks came by and I got a Coke without thinking about it. After a minute or two I realized what I’d done and didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t sure if I’d make a bad impression on the guys next to me. But, I drank it anyway. Good times. But the next time she came by I went with the non-caffeinated Sprite and made it clear that that’s what I was getting. Other than that it’s been an incredibly boring trip so far. I just have to remember what awaits me at the end of the trip.

I love you guys so much. Already miss you terribly. Please send me Jake’s, Kenneth’s, Robbie’s, and Josh’s addresses. I forgot them in my room somewhere. Please check in on Liz every once in a while. See how she’s doing and if she’s still waiting for me, because…I can’t worry about that, but you can, and you can let me know either way.

Okay, I need to take a break from writing because I’m starving but maybe I’ll add some more later. Love Ya’

--So! While on said food break I met Elder Green from San Jose. He’s going to England, Manchester. Cool kid…pretty excited. Then I ran into three Elders and a sister missionary fresh out of the Provo MTC on their way to Switzerland. Then, when I got back to the gate I met two Elders from Seattle going to England—one of them to London South. Next was an Elder from Texas. More updates to come.

--Okay, flying to England now. Since last update I’ve been bored 50% of the time and excited/scared the other 50%. There was a group of eight Elders waiting to leave when we were in Atlanta, and we thought that would be it. Then a plane from Salt Lake City arrived and about twenty other missionaries came and joined us. It sucked waiting in Atlanta for so long (I was there longest). But when we were all sitting there waiting, I knew more than ever that I was where I was supposed to be and that everything was going to be okay. Here on the plane I’m sitting next to a 16 year old kid from England who knows better than me what he wants to do with his life. He lives up north in Manchester. He was in North Carolina trying out for the NC college soccer team. At 16! School works differently in England. At 16, you have to decide pretty much what you’re going to do with your life. You can continue schooling or you can start working. This guy got great reviews or whatever so for the next two years he stays in school and the soccer org keeps and eye on him.

He was telling me that he goes to a Catholic school and, of course, we started talking religion. He asked about the differences between Catholics and Mormons. He didn’t really know anything about our religion, so I started with similarities first and went from ancient times to Joseph Smith. It wasn’t great, but it was something.

This flight is so stinking LONG!!!. It’s 10:30 Atlanta time, so I’ve still got 5 ½ hours to go.

Story for Jamesson—the kid I was talking about just said “Cheers, thanks Love” to the woman getting our trash. So funny! I miss you guys. Love ya.

Okay, to conclude this letter, I’m writing from the MTC. It’s 8:30 in the evening on the 26th. First day at the MTC has been quite an experience. I think I’ll keep most of it to myself. It’s already been really spiritual. I heard a really cool quote about baptizing people. It’s about how even if you only baptize one person, it will affect many more. “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed.” Whoa, that hit me like a bag of wet potatoes. It was awesome. My MTC companion is Elder MacLee (mack-lee). He’s a really cool guy. He’s into racing cars. We were walking around the grounds, checking things out and we were talking about each other’s interests and he had to go back and explain 75% of the things he was saying, but he was excited to do so.

Well, I’m scared, excited, sad, and happy all at the same time. But I know I’m where I’m supposed to be. I didn’t have time to write down experiences and stuff twice, so I was hoping you guys could get a hold of Liz and set up some way of forwarding these messages to her. It can be by email if like or having her come over to read with you. Doesn’t matter to me, but please make sure she sees this stuff. Love you all so much. I want my whole family to know that I love them and that you guys are the most important things to me on this Earth and I’m so happy and thankful for the love our family shares. Love you.

Elder Kaupanger (Rhonda)

s/Big J

Dad's letter to Elder K July 31, 2006

7/31/2006

Elder Kaupanger,

Houston gave his “welcome home” talk yesterday. Among that which he had to say is that he had some hard things to do—some people didn’t like missionaries at all, some of his companions were difficult, etc. But he said he wouldn’t trade any of those experiences because of what he learned from them. (He said he wouldn’t necessarily want to do them again, but he was glad to have learned from them once.)

As you go through the MTC you may come to a point where you say to yourself that it seems a lot like sales and marketing…that you’re “selling” the Church. Some people have a problem with that. Well, one thing to remember: Satan does not have any problem marketing and selling what he wants us to do. He can make bad activities look fun or pretty or glamorous or exciting or whatever—he markets really well. As we as members share the Gospel with those who would listen, while following the Spirit we need to make sure we use whatever method of communication works for the individual we are sharing with.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you about your experiences, the people you have met, England, the MTC, etc, etc, etc.

MUCH Love,


Dad

Dad's letter to Elder K July 26, 2006

July 26, 2006

Elder Kaupanger,

One of the suggestions was for you to bring a story of your family ancestors that might be interesting in a missionary situation.

The following is from the Book of Remembrance of my grandfather’s grandfather, John Peter Rasmus Johnson (JPR) who was born in April 1824 in Denmark.

One night [at the age of 27] when JPR was out walking he met Christen Larsen, who was a convert to a new religion called Mormonism. The two men began a conversation which soon drifted to the new religion, and they talked until early morning. As Brother Larsen was laboring as a home Elder, he was happy to explain the principles of the Gospel to JPR who was inspired of its truthfulness. As they walked along they passed a pond of water which was covered with over twenty inches of ice. JPR said “Now here is some water, why not baptize me right now?” “I wouldn’t unless I was really converted,” replied Brother Larsen. “I am converted and I want to be baptized right now,” was JPR’s reply. They proceeded to break the ice and he was baptized. Later in the day he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; this took place on 7 December 1851. His wife was baptized on the 12th of December, five days later.

Two years later they emigrated to the United States and to Utah to be with the Saints. (More about the trip at a later time.)


I love you much and proud of you and inspired by what you’re doing. We’re looking forward to getting your first letter.

Love,


Dad

Dad's letter to Elder K July 25, 2006

July 25, 2006

Elder K,

You probably remember a US Army commercial where a dad is talking to his son, who is in uniform. The dad says something like “you did two things today you’ve never done before—at least not at the same time. You shook my hand and looked me straight in the eye.”

Well you did two things that were quite awesome today too as you left on your mission (which, of course, is awesome in itself). When we hugged and you went up the escalator you (1) stood/walked with confidence and great posture and countenance and (2) you didn’t look back. It was awesome to see how ready you are and how forward-thinking you are about your mission.

It was great to see how seriously you were taking your assignment the second you were set apart. I appreciate the example you are setting for us. I think it was great how you realized that whatever happens with the affairs of the world (such as the Middle East), that is not your focus right now—your focus is the Lord’s errand and his adventure for you.


Love ya’ lots,



Dad

Dad's Letter to Elder K July 24, 2006

Monday, July 24, 2006

Elder K,

I am so proud of you ! ! ! !

I am so happy about the pioneering effort you are doing for our family and the eternal blessings that effort will have.

I am happy to see your success when you spread your wings and accomplish so much. Your work at Redmond’s (and the compliments about you I received when I met someone from there) and your talk yesterday are just two examples.

Love the people. You have such strength in that area. I’m sure you will find and develop new strengths in yourself, but you have a huge head start with the love and empathy in your heart.

Work hard. Enjoy and savor the adventure.


Love,

Dad

Intro Letter to President S (Mission President)

President S,

We were asked to send a short note about our feelings about our son and his talents.

We love J very much and are very excited about his choice to serve a mission. We are glad he did not go out “just because he was nineteen”. He waited until he was ready. I believe he is really ready to be where our Father in Heaven wants him.

He is a missionary pioneer for our family. I was not active in my youth and did not serve a mission. My father was not a member. We are excited about the eternal difference J is making for us.

J is relatively quiet, reserved, and a bit shy sometimes.

I doubt J will be your top scriptorian. However, with his tender heart and a sense of empathy, I believe he will come to you quite ready to love the people—investigators, antagonizers, active members, less active members, his companions, and leaders. He especially loves children. He’s a big guy, but he’s a teddy bear with kids.

I believe he will come to you with a good foundation of being in tune with the Spirit. I believe he understands what the Spirit is, is learning to recognize It, and will be eager to explore how to cultivate and enhance his relationship with the Spirit.

He does sometimes get frustrated. He has a pretty good sense of the right thing to do, and sometimes when people don’t walk up to their duties, he gets frustrated. (Sometimes people either get better at their duties or they just don’t—and you can’t make them be better.) Jordan doesn’t ever “take it out” on them, but he sometimes internalizes his frustration.

I appreciate your willingness to serve in my son’s behalf.

Our contact information is:

Thank you,

Jim K

Instructions from the Mission President

This is a portion of a letter from the Mission President:

"Please write supportive letters [at least weekly]--not letters to make your missionary think too much about home or topics that will distract him from his work. Write positive letters that will cause him to be an obedient, cheerful, hard-working missionary."

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