Dear Family!

I thought I should e mail you guys first this time so I can give a good e mail. Well here in Whangarei it is most definitely Fall. It has been like this for a while now. Yep like you said mom its starting to get colder and colder...especially in the morning times. You'll have to remember that the houses over here are not insulated like they are over where we live. There is no heaters and so its really cold. Some of the trees have turned different colors and the leaves are starting to fall to the ground. Its nothing like where we live though. I miss those beautiful leaves and trips up to the canyon. Its starting to rain a lot here too. Well other than the cold weather everything is doing great. well I don't know what I'm saying its not that cold...only in the mornings. Its kinda still hot during the day. I was glad to get to read your e mails this week. It sounds like you had a wonderful time in St George. I loved the Picture...wow it looks beautiful where you guys hiked. Man from being here in New Zealand and then looking at a picture like that...its a completely different world. They both have their own unique beauty.

Well this week was just great. I want to tell you about a funny experience I had. This Tuesday I went on a trade off with the one of the companion ships in my District. There names are Elder Davis and Elder Hussain. I was with Elder Hussain for the day over here in our area. He is from Austria but is a Fijian Indian. He is really great and funny. Well he is terrified of dogs....and let me tell ya there are HEAPS of huge, mean, scary dogs over here in NZ. Especially in the parts where we do most of our work. Its usually in the humble more poor areas and so they have the Pit bulls and mean dogs guarding their houses. Well I have had some pretty crazy experiences with dogs on my mission. Sometimes I've almost gotten bitten a couple of times. This one was a close one for me and my companion. So we were just riding our bikes along this road and I knew there was this house that had a mean dog that would bark like crazy. Sometimes the gates open so we got to be careful. This Dog like literally chases after you and tries to bite you. Well Elder Hussain is already SO scared of just any dogs. So we went past and I saw the gate was closed so I thought we'd be alright. And as we rode past the dog JUMPED the FENCE and bolted after us. OH MY I was pedaling So fast I thought I'd burn a hole through my tires. The dog was like snipping at my feet. Well I was able to bike up the hill because I'm kinda in shape now. Well Elder Hussain is not in shape and isn't used to riding up the hill and when the dog went after him.......well lets just say you should have been there....I almost pee-d my pants laughing. He flipped out and rode is bike down the hill screaming and then he flew off his bike and ran. Luckily the dog had stopped chasing him by then...awwe it was just a really funny experience.

Oh yeah guess what! I got a cell phone to use for our missionary work! President Porter has just made it okay for District Leaders to have cell phones. Its so nice to have while doing missionary work. You can get a hold of your investigators and members so must easier. He also has allowed texting. So we can text our investigators sometimes and see how they are doing with their commitments and stuff. We have a baptism coming up this weekend. His name is Naina...he is an unbaptized 9 year old and his dad is a Less Active...we are trying to help come back. We also have 2 investigators set for baptism for next month! Caleb and Azailla! We are working with a lot of investigators right now. We had a lot of bike trouble this week. Ugh flat tires are the Worst! My companions bike just kept getting flat and we'd fix it then flat again. We had to buy a new tire and tube! There is a Lamb of God DVD campaign going on now. People watch a add on TV to order a free DVD. We then deliver it to their house and try and teach them the gospel. Its really cool and we've found some new investigators that way. We helped a old Maori lady scrap up her vinyl on her kitchen floor a couple days ago. We do some service sometimes. It's great to help people. We taught 25 lessons this week and so we did a good job teaching a lot. We are always talking to everyone we see on the street and a lot of times knocking on their doors. I know what you mean dad...its hard to go tracking in rich areas. we tend to not go up to the rich parts. In this area I'm in its kinda a more poor area...so we usually can track and do a lot of finding our selves. We are trying to get the ward more involved too. Transfers are coming up soon. I wonder what is going to happen to my district.

Yes it rains a lot here and rain or shine we are still out working. Sometimes we get soaked!
My District is doing pretty good. We had a little of a struggle this week but we are starting to see a lot of miracles and do better. My companion and I get a long pretty good. We have some moments where we don't, just like most companions. I like Elder Daniels though. He is a hard working missionary. He really loves the people we serve and has a strong desire to help them get baptized. His family are from Nevada. His dad is a convert to the church. He is the only boy in his family. He did a lot of Track and Cross country back home. He went to BYU Hawaii for a year before his mission. He loves the beach and just chillin. He and I teach the gospel pretty good together and we work hard. He's taught me a lot about the area.

I'm glad to hear you all had a good time in St George. I'm sure it was nice to go golfing dad. That's great Grandpa Kitchen went with you. I'm sure it was a great experience. Mom you looked like you had a great time hiking. I'm sure you loved the warmer weather...I'm sad you guys have been so cold for so long.

Well I got to go now. But I'm glad I've been able to e mail you this week. Its always a high light to my week. I love you all so very much and I'm grateful to be apart of our family. I miss you ya all heaps and heaps! I hope you all have a wonderful Easter. I am so grateful to be able to celebrate the time when our Savior Jesus Christ gave his life for us and was Resurrected! What a blessing it is to know we too can live again and be able to live with God again if we are faithful. I am so grateful to know I can spend the rest of eternity with all of you...my family. Because it wouldn't be heaven without you. I love you so very much. Know I'm always praying you each of you and hoping that your all safe, happy, and healthy. I pray the Lord will continue to bless you as I serve him in the great work. Have a great week!

Love Elder Kitchen

This letter was sent April 10th. The post before it was written April 3rd, but I just posted them both today, so you may want to read that one first:)

Dear Family!!

How is everything going?! Well everything on my mission is just wonderful. I absolutely LOVED General Conference so much!! Wow it is just incredible!! It's amazing...before my mission I thought it was kind of boring and didn't really pay that much attention....but oh boy....now I seriously love it. I pay attention the whole time, all 10 hours and I take notes!! I have learned so much and am always trying to improve and become a better person and missionary!! I hope all of you guys listened and are trying to change some things to improve on becoming better overall people.

This letter is not going to be all that long...I'm sorry. I emailed Ryan and sent him a long email. Please make sure he gets to read. Thanks :) Well sounds like your all just doing great. I cant believe its snowing where we live!! What the heck is wrong with Utah weather hahaha. I'm glad you guys are in St George and enjoying some warmer weather down there. Mom you asked about the weather and stuff here in Whangarei. It is kinda like St George but I think it is colder still or something. There are a lot of palm trees and its definitely warmer part of New Zealand. I love it here. Our area is a lot smaller than my last one and we bike around all day long. There are so many hills and its kinda hard sometimes to bike up them haha. But my legs are getting really big! This past week I have just been really trying to be way more full of the spirit and have more and more faith. We are definitely working so hard and just doing a lot of great things...but we are not seeing as much success as I have in my last areas. This area is a lot harder for missionary work wise than my last. But I know that has nothing to do with having success. No matter where you are the Lord has prepared people to receive the gospel. I just have to increase my faith and follow the spirit always. We are still seeing a lot of miracles and teach a lot of people. Its just really hard to help them make it to the last step of getting baptized.

It was great to hear from cousins and family and everything. That is awesome that Jessie and Krissy went on a cruise. Sounds like they are having a blast. I'm sure you guys are having a great time in St George too. Tell all the family hi for me :) It was cool to hear that Ryan and Talon went to prom down there. The pictures were very nice. They all look like they had a great time. I'm sure dad that you are going golfing and loving it. That's cool you guys are going to go on a trip to Arizona have a great time. Well I'm sorry...I got to go now. I know you guys are sad when the letters are short. I will try and make it up next week. I love you all so very much. Have a great week. Love Elder Kitchen

I got behind posting letters, this one was written April 3

Dear Kitchen Family!

Well how are you all doing this fine April Day!! Can you believe its already April....wow crazy!! Next month I turn 21 years old!! Wow I'm getting older and older....its weird. And its weird to think that all you guys are getting even older...including you dad hahaha just kidding! But the pictures you sent me were really good! I liked them and all of you look really nice! Kaylee and Jami are growing up so fast and they are no longer little annoying girls anymore. I'm excited to see them in person. I miss you guys a lot. Ryan looks like he's having a blast doing the house. I cant wait to go to the house when I get home. That's cool ehh that we both did that class. I miss it. it was really fun. Wow I really try not to think about life before my mission and stuff. Well at times I just love remembering everything but other times it just gets me really sad because I miss things. But life moves on and greater things are ahead of us.

That is awesome you guys already get to watch general conference. Because we live clear in New Zealand we don't get to watch it until this weekend! I'm really excited though. Man that made me think of some really good memories when you talked about conference at Grandpas church dad. That makes me feel very good and happy that Grandpa prayed for me. I love them so very much. I miss Grandpa and Grandma so much and cant wait to be able to see them again. Wow its snowing Still WOW crazy!! its starting to get a little chilly just at nights and in the mornings and stuff. But yeah it rains all the time and we get soaked while riding our bikes everywhere. I'm really sad to hear about Kaylee's arm and stuff. And mom that you cut your leg really bad. Man I'm so sorry that happened and I cant believe you had to get stitches...wow everyone is getting hurt...I'm going to have to pray for you guys more! haha :)

St George will be fun for you guys to go down too. I loved reading the letters from Krissy, Jessie, Ryan, and Kaylee! I cant e mail all of them back. I will try and find some time to do that next week. For some reason they all left really early and I'm going to have to get off soon. Sorry about that. But wow I have to say that is SO weird to think that Lynn Anderson and Paulette are dating!! HAHA wow I would have never thought of that one! What if he becomes my uncle hahahaha!! That's hilarious!! Sounds like you'll all had a blast skiing and doing all of that! Sorry this letter was really short and boring....Hopefully it will be better next week. I miss and love all of you so very much! My week was great and we're just working really hard. We have been able to witness a lot of miracles again and see the hand of the Lord in his work. I know this is Gods work and not ours. I see so many miracles and experiences where I just know it. I love you all so very much and think and pray for you all the time!! Until next week be safe and please everyone be careful and get better from all your injuries. haha

Love Elder Kitchen

PS. This morning we made pancakes...awww it was SO good. I haven't had those in a long time! I miss your pancakes mom...awe I miss So much of your food and cooking and I miss a lot of Americas food! Oh yeah a couple of days ago I had Captain Crunch (a missionary got it sent from home) and oh boy I absolutely LOVED it! The cereal over here is not good compared to American. I cant wait to eat your food again mom! Love ya!!

Hey Dad, mom, Ryan, Jami, and Kaylee!! How are you all doing this great week?? I cant believe it is still snowing...I guess it makes sense because it is still pretty warm where I am but I think that its because I'm clear up north and its warmer up here. Its funny ehhh how I always get sent to the warmest part of our mission during winter. Niue last winter which is the hottest part of our mission and now up north which is the warmest part of the north island of New Zealand!! It was great to read all your e mails. Susan also wrote me an e mail and it was nice to hear from her! I was wondering can Krissy, Kylie, Issac, Mandy, and maybe Nick (if he can) write me an e mail. Like some of the cousins my age? Haha if they can't or whatever that's okay but I would love to hear from them. Samantha wrote me and it was great to hear from her. I want to hear from Ryan too! As always I LOVE Pictures!! I'll try and send some this week too...if I have time of course :) anyways....sounds like everyone is doing great!! I loved the picture of Ryan and his date. She is really good looking. What is her name again. Sounds like they had a blast at the dance. Wow that's really cool they went to some hot springs! There was so many of those around me in Rotorua but we couldn't get into any of them!! It's crazy to think that it's Ryan's very last date dance in high school....I can't believe how fast time is flying. Some times I miss those old times when we were younger when I was still in high school. I have so many wonderful memories of my life that I hold dear too. But in other ways its great that time is going forward. But we are all growing up so fast...especially me and Ryan. Its so weird to me that I'm on a mission and Ryan is gradating from high school, Jami is almost driving, and Kaylee is also just getting so old like almost in high school! WOW crazy!! Sometimes I wish I could be there to experience it all with you guys but its alright I'm where the Lord wants me to be. This past week and every week my desire to serve and save souls is increasing all the time. I just want to do everything I can to help other people receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! Oh yeah guess what dad, I met an elder named Elder Christiansen. I guess he know someone you work with and also Elizabeth. He just said hello. And I had another crazy experience too. Last night we were over eating at these members in our ward, they are a older couple. They live out in the beautiful country side of New Zealand. They drove us out to their house. They live on a ranch and stuff. They have an apple orchard and they had us pick a lot of apples off their tree so we could take them home to eat. Anyways we got talking and mom your going to think this is so cool. They know Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth!! They met them when they were on their missions in New Zealand. You should some how tell Grandma and Grandpa...or let me know how I can contact them. Their names are Harris and Jean Shortland. I guess during Christmas time a couple of years ago they lived in Tolaga Bay. Grandpa and Grandma were at the Tolaga Bay Chapel (Pres. Hindmarsh is the branch pres.) Brother and Sister Shortland asked grandma and grandpa if they wanted to spend Christmas with their family. But they said they had family in New Zealand who they were going with (Susan and Jason when they were visiting here) Cool ehhh! You should ask grandpa and grandma if they know them!! This past week was great! Leadership training was jut amazing in every way! Our district is just doing really good and we are saving a lot of souls. We went out to a little town we cover called Portland New Zealand. It was beautiful out there. We did some good missionary work. We had a really great lesson with this one investigator!! We have found 9 new investigators this week! What a miracle. We are excited to help them progress into the waters of baptism! I'm glad to hear Ryan is planning on going to college before he leaves that will be really good. I wish I could be there for his graduation. When is he graduating? It sounds like you and mom had a great time skiing and had a great dinner. Its so weird to think about snow..I haven't seen it in such a long time! I'm glad both of you get to have some fun and spend some time together. Good job Kaylee on your soccer game!! WOW that's awesome you score a goal! You're really good! Maybe if you keep playing you can play in high school, then college, then PRO!! haha. I'm glad to hear Jami made to golf team too. That's great! Thank you for all those experiences you wrote about your mission and all that good advice. It really helped and I will do some of the things you did, many, we do already and it's cool to know you were a leader too. I love reading stuff about your mission. Guess what I have to call each companionship in my district every single night! I have SO much to do that's why I'm so busy...I never have time to do anything...literally. Mom I loved your e mail, that's awesome you guys got to go to that young women's thing. I'm sure it was a great experience. I wish I could e mail more but I got to go pretty soon. When I get off my mission I want to go to SLC and do all the church things again, like temple square and everything. I want to go to all the temples around Utah too! I'm glad you finished your teaching and you did a good job. Congrats!! WOW everything is going to be different around there when I get home, with all of the construction and bridges! Well I love you so much everyone. Love Elder Kitchen