To Kevin, Love Lexi

My Uncle Kevin is the definition of high standards in my book.

From his family, to his career, to his service to god,

Kevin is always setting the bar high for himself and inviting others to become more like Christ. 

When I found out I had Kevin to serve this year, at first I felt a little intimidated.

"What could I possibly do that would be anywhere near a Kevin level of excellence?" 

At first the obvious answer came. 

Kevin worked several years as a bishop in his family ward, 

and you better believe that I had done TOOOOOONS of service for varies bishops in Costa Rica, 

but as I brain stormed with his wife, we realized that there is so much more to Kevin then "he was a bishop".

We both tried to come up with ideas of things that would honor other aspects of Kevins life.

One thing that my Uncle Kevin and I have in common was that we have both served as full time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints speaking the Spanish language.

I remember the first time I realized that my Uncle Kevin spoke Spanish. 

I was impressed when we first met our "fresh from Mexico" Cristina, who didn't speak a lick of English, 

and Kevin sat down and had (what appeared to be) and very loving and caring conversation, 

100% in Spanish. 

No miming, no speaking slow English, just a quality talk about her and her life.

My Uncle Kevin understood how hard it was to be somewhere where the language felt difficult, and how easy it was to feel alone and frustrated. 

This memory made me think of a time when I felt frustrated with my language abilities, and time I prayed and worked so hard, but felt like I was always disappointing myself. A place where I would have loved to have had someone extend an "Uncle Kevin" arm of friendship on my own language territory to get to know the "real me" not just the "nit wit who doesn't understand what we are saying in front of her".

Of coarse, the beginning of my mission.

Luckily for me, I live about 2 blocks away from the Missionary Training Center. A place where new fresh missionaries enter with and excited gleam in their eye, only to have that gleam turn into tears in about 24 hours as they wonder if they will ever "get this language down". A place where loving encouragement is ALWAYS needed. 

(The day I personally entered the MTC as a full-time missionary)

I decided that my service to Kevin would be to Volunteer at the Teaching Resource Center. A place where members of the church can be taught short, spiritual messages from missionaries in the language that the missionary is trying to learn.  As I decided on the idea I became very excited. A good way to still be involved in the missionary spirit and atmosphere, and to serve someone for my Uncle Kevin.

Unfortunately the process has become a little more difficult than when I was a missionary. An application was required to be processed before I could enter, and it has taken longer than I had hoped to get a couple of weeks of TRC time in before the Christmas holiday. With the delay in my application, I am on track to begin my volunteer time with the Lord's Army at the beginning on the new 2015 year. I am personally committed to visiting TRC at least once a month to uplift and be spiritually edified by the new missionaries before they head to "el campo misional". 

I am grateful for Kevin, and his example to me. Love you Uncle Kev!