Merry Christmas Family!!

Wow it is just weird it is already Christmas. It is kinda starting to feel a little like Christmas because of our Christmas Mission Conference this week and we also had a big Christmas Sacrament Program yesterday. The people here do put up Christmas Trees and stuff but its not as big as it is over in United States. Christmas is just a small thing here. Plus its always weird because its hot and no snow is on the ground. I think its hilarious because they sometimes play and sing songs about a white snowy Christmas yet there's no snow on the ground. I really hope you all are having and will have a wonderful Merry Christmas!


I am still just doing wonderful on my mission. A lot of new things have happened this week. Like always we have been just experiencing many miracles and wonderful experiences in the life of our investigators and Gods Children. Time and time again I see the hand of the Lord in the life of his children. I know that our Heavenly Father loves all his children and he will lead them to the restored Gospel if they are truly searching. On Thursday we drove up to Auckland and stayed the night there. Then guess what during transfers the next day on Friday I got a new companion! Crazy huh! Elder Petty got transferred to Hamilton. Its cool because he will be doing the temple Christmas lights! AND guess what?! President Porter had me train a new missionary again! So I'm training again!! On Friday I met my new companion and he is a brand new missionary. His name is Elder Russell and he is from Spanish Fork Utah!! HAHA! so we live like 20 minutes away from each other. He is really nice and is a great missionary. He likes fishing and playing sports. He is 19 years old. His family is all members and he is the oldest in his family. This is really new to him because he's only been around a couple of states in the west and this is really far away from home. I'm excited he is my companion! Well the Christmas mission conference was great!! As always the spirit was just incredibly strong and I learned SO much! We had wonderful speakers and President Porter is taking this mission to places its never been before. We are experiencing many miracles in the mission field! They did a huge Christmas feed for us and the food was really good. They also had a really funny and great talent show for all the missionaries. It was so cool to watch and it was a lot of fun. Then President Colister spoke to us which was just great. President Colister is the Area President (he is from the quorum of the Seventy). It rained the whole way back from Auckland to Rotorua! Can you believe I'm still here!! HAHA and the end of this transfer I will be in Rotorua for 6 months! That's half of my mission in Niue and Rotorua!! Yesterday another general authority came to our ward. It was our Christmas program and Elder Neilson came and spoke! Wow those General Authorities have the spirit so strong!


Well I put all my pictures onto a DVD and I will send it today so you guys can get it and see all my pictures! I also did receive my other Christmas Package! I haven't opened it yet because I want to save something for Christmas so I can open a present on Christmas Day! But thank you so much for sending another one! That's cool you guys got a new Christmas tree! Its weird to think but I will be home next year for Christmas! I am really excited to talk to you guys on Christmas! But just so you know President Porter said we can only talk for about 40 minutes just so you know to be prepared. And I think I will call on your Christmas! So that will be on my Sunday and your Saturday! I will try and call around 1:00 my time. I will talk to you then!! I love you all so much. AND have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!


Love Elder Kitchen

Merry Christmas family! What a wonderful time of the year this is. I am so truly grateful to be able to serve the Lord on a full time mission during this wonderful Christmas season. This is a great blessing to be able to be able to serve our Heavenly Father and help his children draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. I also have been reflecting on the saviors live and birth. I am so truly grateful with all my heart to Heavenly Fathers gift to us, his beloved son Jesus Christ. My gift back to Our God and our Savior is by serving them faithfully for two years of my life.

Thank you so much family for all the love, prayers, and everything you do for me while I am serving the Lord. I have drawn very close to the savior and that has brought me even closer to the people that matter most in my life, and that is all of you. I am truly grateful for the gift of our family. I love all of you with all my heart and I'm so grateful I was sent to such a wonderful family. I am truly grateful for all that you do for me and for raising me to be where I am today. It takes some righteous parents to raise a righteous child. I know that I wouldn't be where I am today without your love and support. I pray to God every night and thank him for the gift of his son, for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and for my beautiful family. I just love each and everyone of you.

It was great to read your e mails and find out that you've all had a great week and are having a wonderful holiday season. Thank you mom for sending your talk. Wow that was a very spiritual uplifting talk mom. I loved it very much and I'm sure everyone that heard it felt the spirit and the love of God. You can tell it was truly from your heart and you meant everything you said. That really helped me and gave me the spirit of Christmas every more during this season. That really is what Christmas is all about.

Yesterday was Stake conference at our stake here in Rotorua and the stake presidency was there and they spoke and also Elder Grow from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. Wow the spirit was very strong when they spoke. Elder Grow made it very clear as has President Monson that the Lord needs more worthy missionaries. Ryan please do all you can to be worthy and ready to serve the Lord. It truly is the best thing you could ever do. I have never and will never regret serving a mission. It is the best thing I've ever done and I love it so much. Mom and Dad you should also be thinking about serving a mission together when your older. I know it will be the best thing you could be doing when your that age.

This past week was great. We have been working really hard and mainly focusing on increasing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we have faith and qualify by our exact obedience and by our purity and righteousness, then anything we ask Heavenly Father that is right he will give it to us. We have experienced that in our whole week. I have seen many mighty miracles and I know this is Gods work and that he wants all of his children to return back to him. Saturday was Philippas baptism. Wow it was just great and a wonderful experience. I wish I could have wrote down her testimony. She bore her testimony after she was baptized and it was so heart felt and amazing. She got really emotional and said she knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God.

Well I wish I could type a lot more but I got to go now. This week I'm really excited because we have a Christmas mission conference in Auckland on Friday. President Collister will be there with his wife. Thanks again for the Christmas package I will be looking out for the other one.

Well Ryan it is almost your birthday! I'm sorry I don't have very much more time to write much. But I just want to say Happy Birthday Ryan! I love you. Have a really great day and just know I will be thinking about my buddy Ryan.

Love Elder Kitchen

Kia Ora Family!

How are the Kitchen Family all doing?! Wow it is crazy it is almost Christmas again! I remember last year I was on my mission and I was a brand new missionary! I cant believe time has gone SO fast since then. Well here in New Zealand it doesn't really feel all that much like Christmas. They don't put a big deal in it like we do. But we are singing Christmas songs for our investigators when we have lessons with them. We are also doing this media referral campaign called Joy to the World. Its a free Christmas DVD that people order from watching an ad on TV and then we go deliver it to them and try to enter in so we can teach them the message of the Restoration.


I got your Christmas package already but I haven't opened some of it. I did open the box though. Oh man that picture was something else. I laughed my head off. What the heck me and Cameron looked absolutely crazy! I showed my companion and some other missionaries and they just bust up laughing! Wow I'm sure Jami had a fun time doing that...I can just imagine her laughing her head off as she did that. I also just wanted to say Thank you so much for all the stuff. I loved it. I am going to wait until opening the wrapped stuff until Christmas! But one thing I laughed was that Mom I think you forgot and only put one of the shoes inside the package. I only have one of the shoes!


Mom it sounds like your really busy doing your school and field work. That's going to be great when you get a job as a full time teacher. Your always such a great worker. I enjoyed hearing you bore your testimony. I love bearing my testimony now...I like always go up when its fast and testimony week. I'm so glad I can be serving the Lord so you guys can receive blessings and be able to be happy. It makes me so happy to know your all so strong in the gospel and that your all happy, healthy and well.


My week went really good. Last P-day was really fun. We got to go mountain biking through the red wood forest. There is this really awesome red wood forest in Rotorua and there are these Huge trees and beautiful mountain sides. Our district went up the mountain path and then went on some mountain bike trails. It was a blast! It was so fun to go down the mountain and go on the cool trails. I was going hard out that I fell off my bike one time. I decided to slow up a lot because I'm a missionary. But it was really fun and beautiful to see of the great scenery. Dad we have to go sometime because its so fun and they have some really great trails to go on.


Ive been traveling a lot this week. I went to Tokoroa for a district meeting this past week. And then I went up to Auckland for a leadership training. It was just wonderful. I worked in Auckland on Wednesday with some missionaries up there while the zone leaders went to their training with the mission President. Then on Thursday we had leadership training with all the District leaders, zone leaders, and trainers in the mission. It was really good and I learned SO much. Wow the spirit is always just so strong and your testimony always increases every time. On Saturday we had a baptism. Corban decided he wanted to be baptized this past weekend. He asked me to baptize him. Wow it was an amazing experience I'll never forget. He was so happy after he came out of the water. It was a great baptism. Church was also great and we saw a lot of miracles this week. We found 5 new investigators and people to start teaching the gospel too. Phillipa and Pargat are ready to get baptized next week. They are both amazing and they have such strong testimonies of the gospel. My experience as a district leader is very rewarding but a lot of hard work. It is sometimes a little stressful but I just ask the Lord to help me have complete faith. My testimony has strengthened so much and I've learned a lot since I've been a district leader.


Wow I cant believe you guys went snowboarding that is awesome. I guess its that time of year again. That sounds like a lot of fun. I'm glad that Nicolas is enjoying the MTC that makes me really happy. I can still remember when I was in there. I loved the MTC. Wow that really seems like a long time ago. I'm glad Grandpa and Grandma are serving another mission I know I will be blessed because of their service. I got a letter from Grandpa Kitchen. It was really nice and I loved reading it.


I was excited to read the missionaries asked you to do missionary work. We have been working with the members to do their missionary work also. Really just pray to Heavenly Father and ask who you can share the gospel with. I know there is a lot of people that you can. And yes that sounds like a great idea to invite the Ver Steegs to my homecoming...I was surprised to read Taylor Judd and Cade Hill are already home from their missions. WOW time went by SO fast! Tell them hello for me! And I was surprised to hear Ryan maybe is thinking about going to College. That's awesome. When is he thinking about serving his mission??


Dad you asked me how the ward is. They are really nice and I love them. I always love every ward I serve in. That's one of the things I will miss so much about my mission, the people. I absolutely love the Maori people so much. And the Niuean people. I'm sure you loved the people of your mission too. My companion is great. I know when your doing the Lords work you just show Christ-like love to them.


Well I'm going to try and send some pictures to you guys. I just want you to know Mom that I absolutely love you so much. Your an incredible person and I admire you so much. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I truly miss you heaps and heaps. Please just let me know if there's anything I can do for you. Dad I also just love ya so much and I'm so excited someday we will be chillin' again going golfing fishing hunting and just all the other fun stuff. I'm grateful for your faithful example to me. I'm so thankful for how you raised me and supported me in everything I did. Your a wonderful dad and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I love all our family. May Heavenly Father bless you all so much. Please be safe this winter. Until next week...


Love Elder Kitchen

Faka Lofa Lahi Atu

Dear Mom, Dad, Ryan, Jami, and Kaylee


How is my wonderful family doing this week? Weeks just fly by ehhh? I don't know maybe they go slower for you guys. Well its crazy to think you guys are all freezing and there is snow on the ground. Its nice and hot here. Sounds like a lot of fun things are happening and your all doing great.


I have had another great week. Just staying really busy with the work of God. Last P- Day me and my companion Elder Petty had a crazy experience. Our car was in the shop and so we decided to ride our bikes over to the east side of Rotorua. (it was pretty far but we needed to go see one of our investigators over there). Well it started to rain and then pour down and then just like a flood falling from heaven. WOW we got soaking wet!! I was pretty much swimming in water on my bike. It was an awesome experience I'll never forget. You should have seen the faces of the people that drove past! By the time we made it to the investigators house they didn't want to let us in because we were so wet, but I don't blame them. Tuesday was just a day of miracles. We taught a lot and just worked our butts off. We set Corban (one of our investigators) for baptism! He said yes and he's set for December 11. Nathan and Karin also got married in the chapel so they could obey the Law of Chastity. Pargat (our investigator from India) also accepted the invitation to be baptized on December 11. So right now we have 3 investigators set for Dec. 11. Wow its just great. All 3 are doing amazing and just progressing so well.


On Wednesday I did District Meeting and the zone leaders were there so I was a little nervous but it went well. Then we had a great day. There is a media companion going on for the free DVD called Joy to the World. So we're delivering DVDs to people and trying to get in their home to teach them the gospel. Oh my, Friday we had a funny experience with trying to do Nathan and Karins baptism programs. Saturday was the baptism of Nathan and Karin Tahi. They are just wonderful people. They are about 38 years old each. They have a wonderful family. They have such a strong testimony. The baptism service was great. Nathan bore a strong powerful testimony. Nathan and Karin were confirmed yesterday and Nathan received the priesthood. Wow I cant even describe how great it feels to watch the people you helped receive these ordinances. I also had a very spiritual experience yesterday. Kylie (the girl that I baptized in the last area) She gave a talk in church! YES ALREADY! she has such a strong testimony. So I got special permission to go watch her talk in the other wards sacrament meeting. There was a part where she got extremely emotional and said that God heard her cries and prayers and sent some angels to rescue her. (she was talking about me and my companion). She said we helped her change her life forever and now she has the restored gospel in her life. I cant even describe how much joy I felt. I am so thankful I was able to be a part of helping her receive the gospel. Moments like this are what makes the mission worth it!


Anyways it was great to read that your Thanksgiving went great. Guess what they don't celebrate Thanksgiving at all here so I totally forgot all about it. I didn't even know it was Thanksgiving. I was also jealous to hear about your hunting trip. That sounds like it was a blast! We'll have to go for sure. I cant believe Nick had his farewell. Wow that's crazy and your right next it will be Ryan. Time is flying by wow. I'm glad Kylie enjoyed my letter. I hope it made her happy and feel the spirit. Well that would be great if you could give my e mail to some more cousins for extended family.


Well sounds like its getting to that time a year again to go snowboarding! You'll have to tell me about it. Mom that was great to hear you had the missionaries over for dinner. Wow I bet that was great. I don't think we ever had the missionaries over for dinner before. That was fun to hear. I cant believe Kaylee was the first one to get stitches out of us. Wow I'm sorry to hear about that Kaylee....that's not good. Is everything alright now? And I know it was dumb they took the leaves out of my package. Thanks for doing that. That's a wonderful thing.. It was cool to hear that Elder Neilson came to our stake to talk to the youth. Ryan you'll have to tell me about that.


Well I'm so excited to get to call you on Christmas even though its like a month away. Well thanks for everything you do. Like I always say your just an amazing family. I love all of you. Until next week
Love Elder Kitchen

Kia Ora! and Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow it is just weird its already almost Thanksgiving again. I remember last Thanksgiving I was in the MTC. It is really crazy how time just flies away when your serving the Lord. Sometimes the days just fly by so fast because I am so incredibly busy serving the Lord. I have to work really hard to find time even to write in my journal. I haven't done the best at that but I'm really trying to do better. I used to write about everyday...I am still going to try and catch up. I don't know if i ever told you about my day...like the schedule but here it is:


6:30a.m.-wake up, pray, and exercise
7:00-get in the shower, get dressed, eat breakfast
8:00-personal study
9:00-companion study
10:00-Leave flat and begin proselyting
9:00p.m.-Return home and plan for next day (30 min)
9:30-call elders in district and report to zone leaders
10:15-prepare for bed and pray
10:30 lights out and sleep


That is a usual schedule of my day out on the mission field. I am just really busy. When a missionary is exactly obedient and a leader like me there is like NO time to do anything. I have to work really hard to find little bits of time to fit in something else. It is a sacrifice and it really is tiring to be a hard working missionary but the Lord Jesus Christ has done so much for me and this is all he asks from me is to serve with all my heart might mind and strength for two years. Each and everyday I am truly trying my very hardest and am giving it everything I have.


Anyways it was really good to hear from you mom and dad. It really is something I look forward to every P-day. Sounds like everyone is doing great and your all just staying busy. I cant believe it is snowing there already. That's crazy!! Well I am so sorry about not saying anything about the Halloween Package. I was so happy to get it and I loved it. It just kinda spaced my mind that I never said anything to you guys. I'm sorry about that. But thank you so much. I really loved all the candy and snacks. I miss all the American Stuff haha. I also was glad to get the pumpkin letters and face wash and stuff. Unfortunately the New Zealand government took out leaves or something before I got it...so I don't know what leave thing was in there. But my absolute favorite part was the Books of Mormon with your testimonies all in them. Wow that was amazing and it really was very special for me to read. It meant a lot to me and I still have them so I can read your testimonies. I will save them for some really great investigators that are around each of your ages and I will give them to them so they can read all your testimonies. At first before I saw your testimonies in them I was like what the heck? Why would they send Books of Mormon to me??! I am a missionary and like have A TON of Books of Mormon everywhere! I thought you guys were a little crazy! hahaha....just kidding :) but then I saw the testimonies and understood. I felt the spirit as I read each of your testimonies and it was something I loved to read so thank you all.


So yeah these past couple of weeks have just been great. I am loving being District Leader and it is very rewarding. I have received a lot of blessings from the Lord. There are 6 great elders in my district including me. There's myself and my companion Elder Petty. Then there's Elder Eckery (from Wellington New Zealand) and his companion is Elder 'Afa (my last companion) and then there's Elder Saunders (from Riverton Utah) and his companion is a brand new missionary named Elder Naicker (from Fiji). They are all really great missionaries. It is crazy because we are in the country instead of the city (you know Auckland) so we travel a lot. Well I do because I have to go on trade offs with the elders in my district. So I go down to Tokoroa and Tapo and Tarangi a lot. They are all really beautiful little cities in NZ. A couple Thursdays ago I told you guys I went down to Tapo and stuff. Wow it was just amazing. It was a great Trade off and I learned a lot. The lake Tapo is a beautiful lake and the city is a really big touristy town. We need to go there someday. I was able to give my first couple of baptism interviews to some people. it was kinda scary but I know the Lord helped me know exactly what to say. Saturday (13th) Lydia was baptized. It really was a great experience for me because I have been with her every step of the way and then got to baptize her. It was a very spiritual and meaningful experience for me. Yeah and then the last weekend we got to head up to Auckland. It was funny because there was like 5 of the exact same type and color of cars heading up one behind the other in a caravan all the way up to Auckland. And all the cars were full of missionaries. I wonder what someone would have thought driving by haha. Wow the mission conference was just great. It was all day event. It was great to have 3 general authorities come speak to us about missionary work. They kept saying how pleased they were with this great mission. I took heaps of notes.


This past Wed i went on another trade off down south again. We worked a lot in Tokoroa and had a cool experience down there. Then I interviewed a kid named jerimiah for baptism. We drove down to Tarangi and I got to see the French family (French is there last name) get baptized and also I got to interview two other young adults for baptism. Wow the Baptism of the French family was amazing. They live in a little branch with no baptismal font so they got to be baptized in the Lake Tapo. It was just an incredible experience . It was amazing to see them get baptized in the beautiful lake. It was a great experience to watch Bro French get baptized and then to get confirmed right on the beach then get the priesthood then get to baptize his two kids. (they usually don't do it that way anymore). This week I also witnessed a miracles. We prayed specifically for a new investigator and we had faith the Lord would lead us to one. So we looked at the map on where to go. One area looked just stood out to me so we went there. Then a certain street stood out to my companion. I got a prompting that the Lord had prepared someone and they lived on that street. I knew we had to go down that one. So we did and started knocking on doors. We were a little apprehensive about that street because it was a lot of really rich houses. But we had faith. The first door we knocked on was just horrible. It was one of the worst rejections I have ever had. A lady started screaming so loud at us even before she opened the door. Then she looked at us and screamed so loud and said that we woke up her baby swore at us and slammed the door so hard. Ouch! That hurt a little. We wanted to leave the area but I knew we should keep going. So we did and a couple of houses later a miracle happened. A lady let us right in her home and we had a incredible lesson with her. She really wants us to come back, She is really prepared by the Lord.


Well I'm sorry but I got to go now. I will try and send some more next week. But an answer to your question about my Christmas package. I would love slip on shoes and even some more black slacks, if you think it would be better you can just send money and I can buy them here. Its up to you whatever it best. Maybe another cool tie too. And about the candy or whatever. I don't know if you can send any doughnuts, but I miss those. They would probably get moldy. I don't care really. Anything I'm really easy. But I just love you all so much. I'm sorry if I left out anything. If there's anything from the last two e mails I forgot to answer please just ask it again in the next e mail. Thanks for everything.


Love Elder Kitchen

Dear Family!


It was really great to get and read your e mails this week. I bet it was a little hard for you guys to wait a whole other day to get my e mails. ..I just love ya guys. Well over here in New Zealand it is getting pretty beautiful weather and so that is nice. I am driving now in a car so that's cool too. We have a restriction on the number of Kilometers (miles) we can use so we have to be careful. Well this last week was another great week. It is something else being the Distinct Leader. I have been blessed so much and it is helping me become more Christ-like. It is definitely hard though. I have been more busy and I have a lot of responsibility. But I love each elders in my district.


I'm sorry but I don't have a lot of time to e mail this week. Ugh so many things are going on and I used some time e mailing Kylie because I haven't really even written here since I left. So I will just go over my week pretty fast. We are just working really hard in Rotorua. We are experiencing a lot of miracles. We have a lot of investigators we are teaching. Right now we have 4 investigators set with a baptism date. The Lord has truly blessed us. On Thursday I was able to go on a trade off with some elders in my district. It was awesome. They are serving all the way down in Tapo and Turangi. So I got to see this huge lake in New Zealand. I think its the biggest lake in NZ. It was absolutely beautiful. We have to go there someday. Then because I'm now the District Leader I interviewed some people for baptism. Aw that was a very spiritual experience. On Saturday I was able to baptize Lydia! I don't know if I told you that she was getting baptized. She was in my last area but because I was just in the next area over I was able to baptize her! Aw I will have to tell you more about that. It was just amazing. Sunday was great. I was the one that drove the car all the way to Taranga and then up to Auckland. We stayed the night up there and then had our mission wide conference. Wow it was literally amazing. I have no time to tell you about it but it was great.


Well my companion is name Elder Petty. He is from Melbourne Austria. He a white Aussie with a accent. He has light brown hair and is just really funny. He is a great missionary. He has been on his mission for about 3 months now. His family is all members (well some of his extended aren't) We get a long very well.


Oh my. I'm so sorry but I forgot that I have to send in this thing to Sister Porter today. I'm sorry this e mail was so short. I know it makes you guys sad. But I really have to go now. I do love you all so much. I'm glad you all had a great week. I will make it up to you guys next week. I just am so busy I feel bad. Have a great week!


Love Elder Kitchen

How is my favorite family doing over in good old Utah?? Man some one asked me where we got our name, a lot of people think our last name is really cool or weird over here in NZ. I guess it isn't a common name over here. Well another week as came and gone....sometimes the weeks just fly by here in the mission field. Its crazy! I loved your e mails this week and the pictures you sent were great too. It is so great to always hear from my family every week. I know some missionaries don't hear from their family like Elder Afa because they are catholic and aren't very happy he is on a mission. So it truly is a blessing from God. Well seriously I love my mission but really I miss you guys so much its crazy. A lot of time, my mind doesn't think about it but sometimes I just miss everyone back home. Because I'm such a loving person I just absolutely miss my family and friends.


I know its so crazy my year mark is this Thursday!! I don't want to think about it, because really I just love my mission and I don't want it to end right now. It really is such an incredible experience. I wish I could do another one after this one. No wonder why they only make it two years otherwise missionaries would want to spend a lot more time out on their missions. Well so much has happened since the last time I e mailed you guys. First though....man I loved your e mails and to hear from you.


It was good to hear that you started your school thing mom. I am praying that you will have a great experience and that everything will go well for you. Thanks for all the updates with my friends and everything. Man I'm really a horrible friend for not writing them. I really am going to try and do a lot better this year. But it really is really hard. I sometimes get letters from my friends so its good to hear from them. About Kylie and nick...I was really wondering if I could just e mail them. I know I can e mail cousins cuz they're family. I just wont really have time to write them a letter. Oh yeah mom you asked about what time it is here...well right now its 12:45 pm but I don't know what time it will be when I send it or what time it arrives but probably around 1 or so.


Dad wow I absolutely loved your experience you wrote me about that you had on your mission. That made my whole day...man I loved reading it so much. I'm going to print it off. That is truly a crazy incredible experience you had on your mission. You really never will forget that. See I loved hearing about your experiences you had on your mission especially because I'm on my mission right now. I would love it if you had any other cool experiences you could tell me about. I cant believe that you guys really dropped him off in the middle of the desert!! And then you got to baptize him in the river and the heavens opening thing was just amazing! Wow do you talk to him still? I wonder where he is now!! Thanks for sharing that experience with me. That truly does mean so much to me dad. I love you so much. Wow and I was really excited to read your going hunting. Man your lucky that sounds really fun. I am so excited to go a lot when I get back from my mission with my new gun! And it was cool to hear Ryan is going out on a dance. That's the high school life right there.


I'm glad all of you enjoyed my experience about Elder Afa baptizing Dion, it really was hilarious. I have experienced so many things I'll never forget and things that are just priceless. Well this past week was just incredible. We were double working the area for a while because some missionaries got switched up. Then it was transfers this week and a lot of new missionaries came in and got switched up. Okay guess what?! The mission combined the zones of Rotorua and Taranga so they made Rotorua a district. Elder Breeze went over to Taranga to be the Zone leader over there. AND GUESS WHAT?! President Porter called me to be the new DISTRICT LEADER for Rotorua!! Wow I was like really surprised. But I know this is a sacred blessing and experience from the Lord and from President Porter. I know they both trust me and I will be held accountable for how well I fulfill my responsibilities. Well so I got transferred but just to the other side of Rotorua. So I still go to the same chapel and everything but I'm in a different ward. Tarawera ward now. My companion is Elder Petty. (I already knew him really well because he has been here in Rotorua the same amount of time as me). And because I'm the District Leader I have a car now. There is 5 elders in my district (including my companion). Elder Afa is still in the area I just came from, so I see him all the time still. He is here with us as we e mail. Well I have a lot more responsibilities and have to do more now. I am trying to have more confidence in myself and trust in the Lord so I will be a great Christ-like leader. The area over here is just doing great. We have a lot of progressing investigators and the Lord has blessed this area also. I'm loving this ward also they're great. Its different doing missionary work in NZ with a car. You have to be more creative in the way to talk to people on the street. When we have bikes we just talked to everyone we saw on the street. Saturday we kinda had a hard day and we got a lot of rejection and a lot of appointments fell through. It was hard and the trails were a lot. But I know the Lord was qualifying us for Sunday, because we experienced a lot of miracles. Aww its just incredible to see people accept the gospel.


Well I'm sorry but I have to go now. We have had kind of a crazy day. Just so you know I wont e e mailing you guys until Tuesday next week, so not on Monday. The whole mission is going up to Auckland for a big mission conference, so they are making P day on Tuesday. The mission is breaking records. The NZAM (New Zealand Auckland Mission) baptized 186 people last month. Wow miracles! It was a wonderful experience to have been able to baptize 3 people last month.


I love all of you guys with all my heart. Tell everyone hello for me. I miss you all like crazy. Have a great week. Bye


Love Elder Kitchen

Well hello family!! HOW is everyone doing over in Utah..??

I cant believe its almost been one whole year since I've seen any of you...wow crazy! Sometime it feels its gone so fast others its been forever since I've seen you. Well Sounds like you all loved Halloween and did some fun things. How is the holidays coming along. Over here in New Zealand they don't celebrate the holidays very much at all. They are pretty boring over here. For Halloween no kids went around trick or treating. They don't celebrate Thanksgiving because its an American holiday and Christmas isn't a huge deal over here. They do celebrate it but don't make as big as deal as we do.


Wow its weird to think its already snowing over in Utah. I cant believe snowboarding season is coming around the corner. You'll all have to tell me about your experiences. You should take some photos up at the mountain and send some to me. Oh by the way this e mail me a little shorter because I'm going to try and send some pictures over the computer to you guys. Then I'll hopefully get the pictures ready to send a CD or something home next week. I'm glad everyone is doing well and your all safe. So hows school going Ryan Jami and Kaylee...? Man soon Ryan you'll be all out of high school! Oh man Ryan your turning 18 this year!! Crazy! mom and dad you have another adult in our family now. Can you just imagine when we are all grown up and have our own families. Its going to be different for you guys. We'll have to do some really fun things when I get home and before Ryan leaves on his mission. So Ryan where do you wanna go on your mission. We should start making bets soon and see whose the closest. Well maybe its a little too soon for that haha.


Sounds like mom your still busy at school. Man by the time I get home you'll be a full teacher. Dad your work is going good it sounds like. Whats your guys callings in the ward again? I was just wondering. Well it was cool to hear about Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth's mission. I'm sure they are going where the Lord needs them to go at this time. There really is no greater work than missionary work, I would never trade this experience for anything. Its weird to think the holidays are just around the corner. You'll all be getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Its always kinda a hard time being away from home. I think this year will be easier than last though. It seems like the more time I'm gone from home the less it hurts ...its not that I don't miss you guys its just its easier or something. I still miss you everyday. Man every P day I want to write some letters to some of my friends. Because only on Monday are we allowed to write letters. But we work so hard during the week and we have no time whatsoever to do anything else during the week so when Monday finally comes around I'm so tired and don't feel like writing. Have you heard anything from my friends lately? I miss them. I feel bad I haven't written them for a long time. Ugh man I just know I'm going to get even busier... now that I'm training Elder 'Afa I've noticed my time has even gotten tighter. I'm struggling to find time to write in my journal but no worries I'll catch up with that. Well anyways everything is wonderful on my mission.


Wow this week Elder Afa and I experienced miracles from the Lord. Yes Dion was baptized and confirmed a member of the church. It was so amazing to see the wonderful change in him. Aww its priceless. The Baptism was great. Elder Afa was the one that baptized him. It was his first baptism ever! Oh man it was funny though because Dion is a pretty big guy and Elder Afa is a small short guy. So we were kinda afraid he would have some difficulty baptizing him...and we were right. HAHA. I'm sorry but it was funny. I was the witness. So elder Afa raises his arm to the square and says the prayer right but when he goes down the baptize him he like dropped Dion in the water but half of Dion didn't even go under water. Oh it was sad...I felt bad for him. Then the second time he tries again but Dion is just to heavy for poor elder Afa. It didn't work....Then the third time he said the prayer wrong and didn't get him fully under water. By now everyone is trying to think of a way to do this. Elder Afa said he was like Heavenly Father helped me baptize Dion. A guy came over and thought of a way. Elder Afa said the prayer and than Dion got on his knees in the water and then elder Afa used all his strength to dip him fully in the water and after he did that he could barley lift him up and he slipped and then both of them slammed into the water. So Elder Afa baptized Dion and himself. Everyone clapped after he finally baptized him. That's the first baptism I've been to where people clapped afterwards. It was an experience I'll never forget. Dion said he was kind of embarrassed but he still felt incredible being baptized. Elder Afa and I had a big laugh about it that night at our house. Awww the experiences you have on your mission. Well yesterday I was able to confirm him a member in Sacrament Meeting.


Well I'm going to probably try and send some pictures now. Well this week was just great. Miracles and we have been working so hard. I love this work. The members are just awesome. Oh ya dad I'll answer some of your questions. Here in Rotorua I've seen and heard about a lot of cool things. Ive seen some of the hot pools and stuff. But we haven't been able to get in them. I've heard of the caves and stuff but never seen them. And the members feed us four times a week (like dinners) its a mission rule only 4 times a week. We cook the rest of the time. My suits are in pretty good condition. I just need to get them dry cleaned. I keep putting it off because its expensive but I will. All my clothes are good for now. Our area is pretty big and we have to ride our bikes everywhere. Man sometimes I get such a great workout because of all the hills. Its hard work sometimes. And dad I know what you mean about eating to much like your going to explode. Aww man sometimes the members just don't know when to stop feeding you. I eat so much...if I wasn't on a bike I would probably get so fat. You should tell me about some more experiences that you had on your mission...I like reading them.


Well I got to go now. I sure do love all of you so much. Mom your really the best mom ever. Thanks for everything you do. Dad your just so awesome and I love ya heaps. Your a wonderful family and a blessing from God. Please get better be safe and keep doing whats right. Love ya.


Love Elder Kitchen..
PS can you please have Nick and Kylie and some more of the family e mail me. I want to write them but I just don't have time. thanks love ya...I'll try to send some pictures but I don't know if I can send very much.

Faka Lofa Lahi Atu Family (aw I miss saying that....thats hello in Niuean)

How is everything with the Kitchen family this week?? Sounds like winter is just around the corner and you'll all be up skiing and snowboarding down the mountain soon! Crazy...its weird to think about snow now...I haven't seen it for like 1 1/2 years now. But man it will hit me when I get home. I'm excited to pick up snowboarding again...I miss that a lot. Its really weird because my life is so different now than it used to be. I miss certain things and than others its good to have a break from them...like worldly things. I've never been happier and I know it is because I'm in the service of God.

Well my week this week was another incredible week. We have been teaching a lot of lessons lately...even more than we have been in the last couple of weeks. I know the Lord is helping me improve my teaching skills and I always have spiritual experiences where the spirit leads me to exactly what to say. I forgot if I have told you about Dion. He is Jessica's really good friend. We have been teaching him a lot and he has been coming to church for a while now. This week we set him for baptism for NEXT Saturday October 30!! He said yes and now we're preparing him for his date. He has a very strong testimony and has been keeping all of the commandments. He used to smoke but now hasn't had one for almost a week. He is just incredible. He is about 24 years old and is a really cool guy. He proposed to Jessica and their goal is to get married at the chapel in a couple of weeks and then be able to get sealed in the temple a year after he gets baptized. Its just awesome. Well yup this week Kylie and Jessica got baptized!! It was just a absolutely incredible experience for me and for them. I truly can't describe how it feels to know you were apart of helping someone of their whole spiritual journey...from meeting her outside her house to be with her in the waters of baptism. It is just amazing to know that I was an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring two of his daughters into His kingdom. Yup so I was the one that baptized both Kylie Flavell-Brown and Jessica Petersen. Wow the baptismal program was wonderful and Elder 'Afa gave his first ever talk in English. He did an awesome job. Then it was just incredible to have been able to baptize Kylie and Jessica. The feeling when I raised my right arm to the square and then said the prayer and when I baptized them it just is over whelming. To see their faces after brought tears to my eyes. They both said to me they never have been more happy in their entire life. You could just see the change in them after all their sins had been washed away. And they said they felt pure and clean. Its just amazing to know that you brought someone the gospel, told them that they were a child of God, and helped them completely change their life for the better. Its simply priceless. Yesterday Elder 'Afa gave Jessica the Holy Ghost and I confirmed Kylie. Kylie told me when I was giving her the blessing she literally heard a whisper from the Holy Ghost and she could feel a change when I said "receive the Holy Ghost" It was just amazing.

The rest of the week was great. We went up to Hamilton on Wednesday and had a missionary training by President Porter. I learned a lot and as always the spirit was really strong. He truly is called from God. President Porter is a incredible servant of the Lord. When he speaks its like God is talking. He definitely speaks with the power and authority of God. I bet he will for sure be a general authority someday. Then we had interviews with him and mine went great. We have been teaching some Tongan families lately. Elder Afa is able to speak and teach in Tongan and I just bear my testimony in English. Its really a cool experience, its like I'm back in Niue kinda. We literally see so many miracles every day on the mission field. The Lord has blessed me with more spiritual experiences these past weeks then I've ever had on my mission. It seems like we are always getting lead by the Holy Ghost to someone ready to receive and accept the gospel. We have received 5 new investigators this week and each one has a unique spiritual experience. God just keeps leading you to his children when He can trust you with them and when your qualifying by being exactly obedient and having strong faith. A lot of our investigators are doing great and 3 right now have a baptism date. Dion, Timi, and Horace. We are going to try and set Lydia with a date soon. Her husband Gerald has to wait until his probation is over. Wow there is so much more about my mission and all the experiences I've been having but that's all I have time to write about.

I received a letter from the ward and it had a bunch of ward members writing letters to me that was nice. It was cool to read your letters too. I'm sorry a lot of you aren't feeling very well. Its always good to read grandma and grandpa like reading my letters. You asked about Halloween dad...in New Zealand they don't celebrate any holidays very much. So they don't really do Halloween at all. I hope all of you have a wonderful Halloween. I was so surprised when I heard grandma and grandpa got their mission call to St George...because that's where they live. Are they going to work in the temple or go tracking and stuff like I do? But I'm so happy for them. Tell them congrats! I'm so grateful they are serving another mission for the Lord. I'm excited for them...I cant wait until I go on a couple mission with my wife.

Well thanks so much for the letter mom and dad. It was great to read them. I'm sure you'll miss me during the holidays but don't worry because then next year during the holidays I'll be your early Christmas present haha. Well I'll try and write Kylie and Nick. I hope all of them and my friends read the blog so they know about my mission and stuff...ugh I wish I wasn't so busy...o well I'm focusing on what matters most and that's saving souls while I'm on a mission. Well Mom your an incredible Mom. I love you with all my heart. Don't miss me too much. Ill be back sooner than you know it. And dad your awesome...thanks for everything I love ya. Your all an incredible family. I love you all so much. Have a great week.

Love Elder kitchen

Malo Lelei Famili Fefe Hake?!

(haha! That means Hello family...how are you? IN TONGAN!!) I'm trying to learn some Tongan because I've had so many Tongan companions! Man I really want to go to Tonga someday. To see the beautiful island and to see all my Tongan missionary companions.. Man what would be a dream come true is if someday I was able to go on a long cruise around the South Pacific Islands. Like go to Niue again and Tonga and all the other beautiful islands, maybe some day....


Well anyways how are ya all doing?! Sounds like winter is coming up soon...you'll all be going skiing and snowboarding in no time while I am soaking up the hot sun in New Zealand. Thanks for the E mail this week! It was great and it sounds like a lot of cool things have happened since the last week we e mailed each other. It was really fun to read all the cool things you all have been up to! Well your son clear across the world is doing great! Just still loving his mission so much. I just absolutely LOVE it! Its just the most priceless and amazing thing to watch someone find out that their a child of God and that He loves him. That He has a plan for them and that we can return back into His loving arms. Its so incredible to teach people how to pray for the first time in their life and watch them receive answers to their prayers...it really is the best thing in the world. I know I'm helping to save souls and helping them come unto their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.


Man dad I always laugh when I read about your business trips :D haha. I read them to my companion and the other missionaries and they think your job is the coolest. Your one lucky guy dad. I'm glad you had a great time in LA. You asked about the weather...its getting better. Some days its nice and warm and others its pretty cold still. I think its a lot warmer in Auckland but Rotorua is more south. And during our leadership training we didn't go back and forth from Auckland to Rotorua, we stayed at a missionary flat up in Auckland. My clothes are doing good. My suits are still in good condition, my shoes are too except one pair is starting to wear out a little. I haven't really gained any weight...I think I've gained a little. It seems like I gain more weight here in NZ than in Niue. I'm glad Grandpa and Grandma are doing good. Tell them I love them...and I'm still really excited to get that gun when I get off my mission, and Grandpa will have to take me out on his boat when I get home.


Wow that surprise trip you took the girls on Mom sounds really cool. You are such a wonderful mom....you always do such nice and awesome things for us when you don't even have to. I hope Jami had a great birthday and I'm sure she was excited about the St George trip! It sounds awesome. I bet Marissa was very surprised too! Man I miss them...did you ever give my e mail address to Kylie?! I want to e mail her sometime....I feel really bad I haven't written her a letter yet. If she could e mail me next week or something that would be awesome. I'm sure Jami and Kaylee loved that horse racing movie...its probably their favorite movie now and Jami probably wants to be a horse racer now haha :) I know her. Well yeah please tell me when Grandpa and Grandma Ellsworth get their mission call!! I'm really excited for them! What if they came to NZ again?? haha jk but that would be crazy. I haven't heard from Cam ...we technically cant e mail other missionaries at least in our mission and I want to be exactly obedient so I cant e mail him. James sends me a email every week (well its one he sends to everyone) but I never can reply to him. What...Issac is getting married?! CRAZY!! WOW that was a big shock he has only been home not long at all. He didn't wait at all...I think I have only met Melanie a couple of times. But that's awesome...please tell him Congrats and I'm so happy for him.


Well my week was great! Elder 'Afa is doing wonderful. I just love to hear his testimony and his conversion experience whenever he shares it when we teach our investigators. He is adapting to mission life really well. Its completely different than anything he is used to because this is his first time off the island of Tonga. Well seriously we are just seeing so many miracles from God. It is amazing. He is preparing so many of his children for baptism. This week we set two more people for baptism. We were teaching our fairly new investigator name Timi and Elder Afa said the spirit told him to ask him to be baptized so he did and he said yes...it really was a amazing experience. Then just the other day we had met this friend of Duchans (the guys we just baptized) hes name is Horece and he had been to our church before. It was the first time we had ever seen him and the spirit told me to ask him to be baptized so I did and he said yes. WOW! miracles after miracles. Ive never seen so many in my whole mission. It really is just amazing. We are also teaching a lot of other people that are progressing very well and that we might set soon. We are teaching a TON of investigators. The Lord just keeps giving them to us. I know its because we are qualifying by being exactly obedient and having faith. I seriously am working so hard. I love it so much. This is definitely the best thing I've ever done in my entire life. Oh yeah this past Friday Lydia and Gerald got married!! We went and it was just the best feeling to see them get married and to know you were a part of helping them obey the commandments of God. It was a beautiful wedding, they got married in the chapel and the bishop married them. Wow it was such a humble wedding. They don't have a lot of money and so they had their little reception in the garage. They didn't get baptized because we found out Gerald is still on probation for being in jail and he has to wait for a couple of months. But I don't even care because I know they'll be baptized someday. Well Kylie and Jessica are all ready to be baptized this week. I'm really excited. Its just so amazing to be a part of helping them change their life and help them come unto the true gospel.


Well I got to go now. I know I only get to e mail for a little bit but I try to write a lot so you guys have some cool things to read and know about my mission. Well I really do love each and every one of you so much. You mean everything to me. ...man I miss you all so much, but your always in my heart and mind. I pray for you all the time. Have a wonderful week family. Thanks for everything...and I will try and send some pictures soon so you can see all the other Niue pictures and some of the NZ ones.


Love Elder Kitchen

Hey Kitchen Family! How are you all doing?!
Wow it seems crazy sometimes how fast the weeks go....I'm glad I get to e mail you every week and hear how your all doing! I'm glad as always to hear your all happy and safe it truly is a blessing from God.

Jami your birthday is coming up like TOMORROW I think....haha. Happy Birthday Jami! I love you very much and I hope you have a wonderful day. Okay its really weird to think your going to be 15 years old....time just flies so fast. I bet your just so excited to start driving!! WHAT?! that sounds really weird for me to say driving.....scary! But by the time I get home you will probably have your license and will be driving me home from the airport. Wow the experiences you have in life are just priceless.

General Conference was wonderful ehh?? I loved it. I learned So much. I tried to look for Cam but I never got to see him. That's awesome he was in the choir WOW!! he's lucky he had that experience...well my week was just great. I loved it. My Auckland trip was incredible...except all the driving back and forth from Auckland to Rotorua... On Wednesday I was with the Chinese speaking missionaries.... great experience, speaking Chinese haha. No jk I just kind of sat there because I didn't know what was going on. I was really close to downtown Auckland...wow huge city. Thursday was the leadership training I went to. WOW seriously it was amazing. I learned so much that I can improve on. There is always so much we can do as the Lords servants. I felt the spirit so much, I loved it. We've just had a great week. I don't have time to say much more. But we had a very spiritual experience. We were teaching Jessica and Kylie a lesson and all of a sudden Jess just starts getting emotional and says she wants to be baptized!! It was just amazing, so both are getting baptized on October 23!! awww I just love it.


Well I go to go. I love you all so much. Keep praying... Have a wonderful week.


Love elder kitchen

Hello my Kitchen Family!

How is everyone doing this week?! I'm sure all is good and your all doing great. I'm so glad you all enjoyed my letter last week and it was great to hear that you got a letter from my mission president. Its always nice to hear your all enjoying the weather and loving life. Its a blessing from God to me every time I hear your all happy, safe, and well. I know the Lord is protecting you and blessing my family while I'm away in his service.

Well things are going wonderful for me. I'm still having a very incredible life changing experience being a trainer out in the mission field. I love it and I know the Lord is blessing me to be able to do all my assignments. This week has been another great week of missionary work. Work work work is what missionary work is. We literally are so busy and work so hard during the day that when our heads hit the pillow at night I knock out right away. But I know we are qualifying for miracles and this is what the Lord expects of us. I always remember how much Jesus Christ has done for me and everything he went through and I know that what I am doing is only a small payback to him. I truly love the Lord and I'm so grateful I can be doing something he really wants me to do. I know we are gathering his lost sheep and giving people the chance to accept the gospel. I've never really gave you any stats of how a missionary week goes. This week for instance we taught 19 lessons, we had 7 investigators at sacrament meeting, we received 4 new investigators, we talked to 151 people this week (either by knocking on doors or street contacting) and we have 4 investigators set with a baptism date! Yup this week we had a incredible experience with setting Kylie for baptism!! (she was the one we met on our bikes). She truly was prepared by the Lord. She is what we call a golden investigator. She agreed to be baptized during the second lesson we ever had with her! Now that is a miracle. Lydia and Gerald's son is 8 years old and he will be baptized with them! Oh yeah we had a powerful lesson with Lydia and Gerald and taught them the Law of Chastity. We committed them to live it and they agreed to be married. So we are planning their marriage at the chapel on October 14 and then their baptism on October 16! Aw its just amazing watching people completely change their lives according to Gods will. We are definitely seeing more and more of Gods miracles everyday. Our other investigators are doing great. Anetta came to church yesterday for the first time! We were so excited. Timi is also doing really good, he is praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Our other investigators are all doing great. We were lead by the spirit to Steven and Crathie and we taught them a lesson. They both want to change their lives and turn to the Lord. I'm so excited to see how the progress.

Well my week was just great. Teaching a lot, talking to everyone, and trying to cry repentance to all the people I see. I'm becoming more bold and telling and warning people if the reject this incredible message. I'm not scared at all the talk to people on the street. Literally we talk to so many people. Some yell and freak out at us and others kindly say no. But it makes me feel bad for these people that reject the message because they don't even know what the gospel can do to their lives. Well my companion Elder 'Afa is doing great. He's loving his mission, its hard and its cold for him but he has such a strong desire to serve the Lord and he has a burning testimony that's on fire. He bore his testimony yesterday in fast and testimony meeting and the whole ward was literally in tears. Its sad because Elder 'Afa was the only one in his family that supported them financially and now he's on a mission. So his family is probably struggling but he said he had faith that if he served a mission then Lord would provide for his family. Now that is strong faith. Members of the church came to our flat last night and dropped off heaps of clothes, shoes, and tons of stuff for Elder 'Afa. It touched my heart....I truly am so grateful for what we have. We are so blessed and to often take what we have for granted. This mission has changed me in so many ways for the better. I know I'm a better person then when I came on my mission. I love it so much.

Well that's enough about me. There's probably lots more I could tell you but I don't have a whole lot of time. We have some other things to do today. I just found out that tomorrow I'm heading up to Auckland to go to some leadership training with our mission President because I'm a trainer. So I will be up there for like 2 1/2 days. All the crazy experiences on your mission eh. Aw sometimes....well always I just wish I could talk to you on the phone just like once a month or something just so I could tell you all the stuff about my mission. There is a lot that I never have time to e mail you about. But that's why I will have so many stories to tell you when I get home. And you know how I tell stories, so you better get the popcorn haha.

I really do miss all of you. I think about you a lot and pray for you all the time. I love you guys so very much. Oh yeah about General Conference I guess we are not watching it until next weekend. The reason why is they don't just broadcast it live is because its in the middle of the night here I guess. So they just send DVDs over the NZ and they all watch it at church. So I'm excited to watch it next week. Dad you asked about the weather...its starting to warm up a little but at night and in the mornings its still freezing. Mom you asked if I have confirmed anyone else. Yeah remember that family I baptized in Hamilton, well Danielle was the 16 year old girl. I confirmed her a member of the church.

Oh yeah thanks for the pictures. I got all of them...well I think. I got ones of you mom and Ryan, and others in the past e mails. Thanks I enjoyed them. Well I got to go now. Thanks for everything. I sure love and miss you guys. You really do mean everything to me. I love ya. Have a great week.


Love Elder Kitchen

Hey Family!!

It is so good to finally get to write you an e mail. I'm sorry again about last week I was frustrated I didn't even get to e mail anyone....luckily I did get a chance to read your e mails but I didn't have time to write you back. Awe man how are you guys?? It was so great to read your e mails and to hear everyone is doing fine. Even though I'm so incredibly busy as a missionary and I have so much on my mind I always think of you guys. I love my family so much and you seriously mean everything to me. As for me I'm doing so great and seriously just loving every single second of my mission. I truly know I am a servant of the Lord and this is His work and no one else's. I can literally feel the Savior and our Heavenly Father rescue their children through me. It is just a wonderful feeling.

Wow seriously so many things have happened since the last time I wrote you. Well the week I never wrote about (two weeks ago) was Elder Christensen's last week on his mission. (he was our zone leader) He has taught me a lot about being a missionary and I really liked him. It was sad to see him go but I know he is now back with his loving family. Elder Faka'i and I worked really hard that week. We had a lot of lessons and just had seen a lot of spiritual experiences. We talked to everyone we saw just crying repentance and sharing this message of the restored gospel with everyone. I don't think I've ever worked so hard on my mission. We are qualifying for the spirit and the Lord is leading us to his prepared children. It is just incredible what Heavenly Father does to lead us to his children. I had so many experiences where the Holy Ghost lead me exactly where to go. I wish I had time just to let you guys know all the miracles I see on a mission. I experience so much of Gods love for his children and see miraculous things only performed by Gods hand. One was last Saturday we were just riding our bikes and then all of a sudden a girl just yelled "hey have a nice day!" I got prompted to stop and talk to her. So I stopped right away and my companion crashed into the back of me (on his bike) It wasn't very hard it was funny. Then we walked over and asked her if we could teach her the message of the Restoration. She said yes and to come back tomorrow. So last Sunday we went and truly witnessed a miracle. Long story short we were testifying that God lives and that she was a daughter of God and the spirit flooded the room. She just began to cry and was so happy and said we were an answer to her prayers. She had been praying that morning and that's when we rode past her house. She told us she knows the church is true and feels the Holy Ghost so strong when we teach her. Her friend also is doing amazing. There names are Kylie and Jessica. They came to church and I think we are going to set them for baptism.

This week we've found some new investigators that are just prepared by God. They are doing awesome, keeping commitments, and changing their lives. Its a priceless experience to watch someone change their life, repent, and follow Gods commandments. Awe my faith is just increasing everyday. I love this gospel with all my heart and soul and I know with out a shadow of a doubt this church is Gods church. I know it and no one can take that knowledge from me. I've received so many answers to my prayers lately....Heavenly Father is just blessing me so much and I know its a lot because of people like my family at home praying for me.

Well you are going to be shocked but last Wed Elder Faka'i got a call from the APs and they said he was getting transferred to another area. So I was only with him for one transfer (well not even a full transfer). They told him he was going to Hamilton. So I was wondering what was going to happen with me. Then finally early Thursday morning President Porter called me and told me I WAS TRAINING A BRAND NEW MISSIONARY!! I was surprised and he said he knows the Lord has prepared me to train a missionary. He said I was staying here in Rotorua but would go to Auckland for transfers to get my new companion. So on Thursday Elder Faka'i, Elder Jenkins, and I drove up to Auckland. It was sad to say goodbye to Elder Faka'i. I really did like him a lot, we taught great together, we were exactly obedient, and he taught me so much. I'm going to miss him a lot. We worked really hard together. Well at transfers it was great to see my old companions. I saw Elder Sessions, Elder Belnap, and a lot of other missionaries. Well then I met my new greeny companion (greeny just means brand new) His name is Elder 'Afa! He is from Tonga TOO!! So now I've had 4 Tongan companions!! He is a lot different from Elder Faka'i though. He is very small and short. He is really quite and shy and is really nice. His English isn't very good so sometimes we have a little language barrier but not too bad. Aw it was great to meet him and show him around everywhere. I cant believe I'm training him to be a missionary. He just came from the MTC, but seriously guys I love him so much. He is an incredible person. He is SO humble, nice, Christ-like, loving, and just a great missionary. He does so much for me...he is always looking for ways to serve me and do things for me. I'm trying my hardest to serve him back in every way and be the best trainer for him. Wow and guess what?! HE IS A RECENT CONVERT TO THE CHURCH-ONLY ONE YEAR!!! He just barley got baptized one year ago in Tonga and is now already on a mission!! Seriously his testimony is so strong and his faith is like a rock. It makes me feel the spirit so strong and everything and he shares his conversion story with our investigators. He is 23 years old and has a small family. Only his parents, him and his sister. His family is still Catholic and I guess were angry when he joined the church but now they are very happy for him. He is just a humble person and is grateful for everything. He also loves Heavenly Father with all his heart.....he shared an experience with me. In Tonga his family is very poor...they hardly have anything. His house was flooded and he lost a lot of stuff. But he knows Heavenly Father loves him and his family. I cant even describe how grateful I am that God has sent him to be my companion. I've already learned so much from him. During my mission I have learned to appreciate what I have alot more. We are truly so blessed and I cant even describe how grateful I am to Heavenly Father for all my blessings. Aww I just love my life and most of all I'm grateful for our savior Jesus Christ and his gospel in my life.

Well training a new missionary is wonderful but also stressful at times. I just want to make sure I do everything exactly right, because they watch everything you do and they do it also. But I know the Lord is helping me. Everything is going great so far. Friday we witnessed two incredible miracles. GUESS WHAT?! we set Lydia and Gerold for baptism!! Wow the experience was just awesome. They are getting baptized on October 16!! Also guess what I forgot to tell you on Thursday Doogie passed his interview for baptism by the stake president. So YUP DOOGIE WAS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY and then CONFIRMED A MEMBER ON SUNDAY!!! It was my first baptism where I had to plan everything!! It was kinda stressful but it went very good. The program was just amazing and the spirit was very strong. And I was the one that baptized Doogie. Awww it was another life changing experience. I loved it. He was so happy to have his sins washed away. He truly has changed his life completely and its a miracle to see where he is now. Yesterday in church I confirmed him a member and gave him the Holy Ghost. That also was a sacred experience. The spirit literally lead me to exactly what to say. A thing that touched my heart was after he received the Holy Ghost (when sacrament meeting was still going) I looked over and he had teary eyes and I asked him if he felt the spirit more now and he said yes....awwww experiences like this and all that I've had these past two weeks is what makes doing the Lords work the best two years of your life!!!

Well I've already written a lot and now the other elders are getting ready to leave. So I gotta go. Sorry if I missed any ?s. Anyways I love you all with all my heart. Thanks for everything you do for me. Your all the best. Have a great week. Tell everyone I love them.

Love Elder Kitchen

Okay, I got behind again so read the post before this one if you want to read them in order.

HEY Family!!

How is everyone doing?? I'm just doing great and loving serving here in Rotorua New Zealand. I miss a lot of things about Niue but I'm so glad to be serving here. I love the ward and I'm getting to know all the people. Its nice to be back in a civilized place unlike Niue haha. Well thanks for your e mails. Just a kinda heads up this email is going to be shorter because I wrote some other family plus one of the other missionaries is paying for my email time this week because I left my wallet in our house. So I don't want to spend that much time on the e mail. NO worries it will be longer next week.

WOW about the pictures....Jami and Kaylee look so much older than the last time I saw them...its weird to see them so different. It's cool they got to meet David A. and looks like they had fun on the beach.. AND what the HECK?!?! DAD looks so different since his goatee is gone!! hahaha dad I think you should grow it back... just kidding...it doesn't look bad but you just look different I think that's why people are saying so much about it. I think you look really cool with your goatee so grow it back. Now you should send some pictures of you mom and Ryan should send some of him. Its cool to see you guys faces and pictures since I haven't seen you in FOREVER!! I cant believe I've already been out ten months...I don't wanna think about it cuz that means I'm almost half way done. Its weird to think I'm almost on my down hill slide.

Well the house and the yard looks great. The new patio furniture looks amazing. It sounds like everyone is staying busy doing school work and all that short of stuff. Time really flies I can't believe its fall already there. Things are probably so different than the last time I was there. I'm gald everyone is doing fine though. I haven't sent that stuff yet...I've been really busy...I'm slowly getting prepared to send it. And no worries I'll send some more pictures of me.

My week was just really good. Heaps of cool experiences and just serving my very hardest. I love the Lord and I'm doing my very best to serve him. Not that much has changed or happened. I just can't believe my testimony keeps growing and growing. I just love the gospel so much. My faith is increasing and my understanding about the gospel and my way I teach it has improved. I'm growing and becoming a better missionary. I'm becoming a better person everyday. I'm changed a lot but I'm also still the same person as I was when I left.

Sounds like your staying really busy dad. Did you guys really get to hear 2 apostles speak in real life?? That is so cool, I want you to tell me about it. Well sounds like you've been up to a lot of cool things mom. I just love reading about all your lives and everything you've been doing. Well I'm so sorry this is so short. But there's always next week. Its just they are done now and I'm using his money to pay for the email. I'll write longer next week. I love you all so much. Everythings great with me. Have a great week.

Love Elder Kitchen

PS Ryan and Jami I will try and write you back next week I love you guys!!!