Dear Family,

Wow it was great to talk to you guys on the phone yesterday! I loved every second of that one hour. It is really hard to only talk for one hour....it went by really fast. Oh well I know I have to be obedient to qualify for miracles. It was really hard to say goodbye but when I just start getting back into the work it will be fine. It was so cool to hear all your voices. Mom and Dad your voices sound the same. Jami and Kaylee's sound a little different and more mature. But Ryan's sounds a lot older and just different. I'm sure you all look different too...you should send me a picture of all of you. Just like take one and then send it to me next week. I already sent all the pictures on two DVDs last Monday so you should get them in a little while. Tell me when you do. Well I did have a great Christmas and I'm glad all of you did also.

I was really glad I got to get an update and how everyone is doing. It was great to talk to each one of you and to listen how your doing. I sure did love the Christmas package and I'm going to enjoy eating all the goodies and making those cookies thanks!! That stocking was HUGE! I wore it as a Santa hat on Christmas as we went caroling to the less active/recent converts of the church. I haven't received the Christmas card yet but I'm sure I will soon. And the Cd's are good. I like them...I haven't listened to all of the Trek one but it seems to be mission appropriate so far. Guess what James sent me some pictures of his mission. It looks like he is doing great! I wish I could e mail him back.

I am going to send a letter from Sister Porter that she sent to our entire mission. It tells us how we did for the year 2010 as a whole mission. It is amazing how well we did and how the Lord has helped us bring about the salvation of many souls unto him. I love this great mission. New Zealand Auckland Mission is the BEST!!

I love you all very much. I pray for you all the time. Thanks for everything. Have a great week and be safe.

Love your son and brother Elder Kitchen

Dear Elders and Sisters,

Wow, you did it!!!!! Through the grace of God and your hard work and faith, the mission achieved what a prophet of God asked the church to do--double the number of convert baptisms! In 2007/2008 the mission achieved 776 saved souls. We end 2010 with a total of 1,724, almost a 1,000 souls more. Congratulations! We hope this year has been a great witness to you of the power of faith. Truly, when we put aside our personal doubts, fears, etc. and fill our souls with faith in Christ, all things are possible in doing His work. Thank you so much for your hard work throughout the year and especially for working hard to have a "White Christmas." It all paid off.

Today, it is time to turn our thoughts to the new year. Remember, the Lord is a God of progression. He would expect all of us to turn our thoughts and actions from ending strong to starting the new year strong. In Luke, chapter 9:62, it tells us, And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Let us start the new year today. Put the thoughts of home, family and friends to the side and gear up to go hard and make January a very successful month in terms of saving souls like crazy. We invite each one of you to, "awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment (Alma 32:27), in stretching your faith. For the next three months, we ask each of you to commit to the Lord in doing everything possible to "baptize weekly!!!" We have a core of the mission who are already doing this.

Thanks again! We love you all very much!
President and Sister Porter