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!!!

Kia Ora!

Kia Ora from the Land of the long white cloud! Beautiful New Zealand! Its so good to hear from you again today. It was great to read your e mails and to hear about what you guys have been up to. Sounds like everyone is getting really busy again and been doing school, sports, work, and just heaps of things. I'm sure your week was great and mine was just really incredible. I'm loving serving back in New Zealand and I love Rotorua. It's so nice, green, and beautiful over here. Thanks for giving my e mail to some of the family. I received e mails from some of them. Just keep giving it out to them. The e mails I send you guys might be a little shorter. But don't worry that much, I just would like to spend some time e mailing them because I e mail you guys every week.

Thanks for sending some pictures. I will try again but the only ones that worked were one of Jami and Kaylee and Disneyland and one of our house. Wow the yard looks AMAZING mom, its so green! It reminds me of New Zealand haha. And Jami and Kaylee look a little different from the last time I saw them, and its weird to see Kaylee with braces. When I get home they will be off by then. Sounds like your crazy busy again mom. Good luck with your school this year. I'm excited because by the time I get back you'll probably have a job and you'll be a teacher. Oh yeah maybe since you'll be making some more money we can all come to New Zealand for a vacation! YAY! just kidding but really that would be incredible if we could. Dad sounds like your staying busy at work and that your still very successful. I bet your just having a great time golfing since you guys have some nice September weather. That makes me happy to know Ryan is doing the building construction class this year. Ryan you'll have to tell me about it and everything. Where is the house you said its near ours? I loved that class so much. Well Jami and Kaylee hows your school going? Do you like your teachers and classes? Hows sports going and everything. Sounds like the family is just staying busy and having a great time.

Sometimes I feel time goes by really fast. That last week just flew. It was probably because I've been so much more busy over here in NZ. Well I guess like more teaching and tracking and stuff....not any service really over here. Well the weather is still really cold. Luckily I have a lot of warm coats and things because Dad made me bring them...which I'm really grateful for. Your right mom our house is freezing cuz there's no central heat. We don't even have a very good space heater in our house. So we just wear our coats and warm clothes inside. Its alright but hopefully it will get a little warmer soon. Oh about the earth quake...to be honest I didn't even hear much about it. You know as missionaries we don't watch the news or TV. But I did hear some people talking about it, and yesterday at church too. I didn't feel the shock at all and nothing happened over here. I just hear Christ-Church (the biggest city in the south island) had a earth quake but no body died or anything. If there was a natural disaster here in Rotorua it would be a volcano eruption because there is a lot of volcano's around here. All of them are extinct or sleeping or whatever. Well this last week was just crazy busy with missionary work. We have gotten a lot of new investigators, and we taught a lot of lessons. We have one of our investigators set for baptism on September 25. His name is Dunken, hes about 40 years old. I'm excited for that. We also have a investigator named Scotty that is doing awesome. And others are Pete and Athena. David, Lydia and Gerald, Patricia, George, and Anetta. We have other people we're teaching also. I've just felt the spirit so much. The Lord is helping me become a better missionary. My teaching skills are improving, my preach by the way skill are improving (like talking to people on the street or knocking on doors) and just everything. We've seen a lot of miracles and have felt the investigators progressing very well. I had a really amazing experience this week. We just had got done teaching a lesson and there was about 30 minutes until we had to be back home (it was 8:30 pm) and we didn't know what to do. So we took off our helmets and said a prayer. After we waited for Heavenly Father to tell us through the Holy Ghost. The name Peter just kept coming to my head. But I didn't know why because we had already seen our investigator named Peter that day, plus it was way too late because he has little kids. So we just started riding our bikes and I just kind of pushed the prompting aside (which I shouldn't have done) but Heavenly Father gave it to me again. I suddenly felt like I should look up so I did and guess what?! There was a street sign right above my head and the street was name PETER ST. I knew we were supposed to go down that street. Then the spirit lead us to a house which we knocked on and a lady came to the door. She said she would love to hear our message and to come back when it was a little bit earlier. It was a miracle and I know the Lord leads us to his children he has prepared.

The rest of the week was just great. So many miracles, and amazing teaching experiences. I love my mission so much. Zone conference was also just incredible. It was good to see President and Sister Porter. I learned so much from them. The spirit was so strong during the whole conference. The food was great too. It was also fun to be around so many other missionaries. I saw some of the ones I knew before I went to Niue. Oh yeah and the temple was just absolutely amazing. I loved it and I had a very sacred spiritual experience in the celestial room. I'm not going share it but I just know with all my heart and soul God lives and loves me and all of his children so much. I love the temple so much. Oh you asked what temple dad but there is only one temple in all of New Zealand, its in Hamilton. It's the same one I went to before I went to Niue.

Dad that was hilarious reading about you shaving your goatee. I want to see a picture, you should send one. That's cool the bridge and high way are done over by Saratoga Springs. I'm excited to see all the updates around in Utah when I get back. I cant believe you mowed the lawn Mom! Mom the yard really does look amazing. You've done a great job.

Well I'm going to write some other family now. Well before you guys know it you'll be skiing again! Crazy how time flies. Thanks for everything. I love you all so much. I'm doing great and just loving my mission. Have a great week and may Heavenly Father bless all of you.

Love Elder Kitchen