Alò mis queridos!                                                                                             September 23, 2013

Time keeps on rollin' by. That's cool that you guys got to go to St. George for the weekend. I'm glad you all had fun. Dad do you golf at that course a lot, or not really that much? It seems like a nice course, and I'm excited to check it out someday. I not sure if I mentioned it last week, but Grandpa's other letter came already! I really enjoyed it. Thanks Gramps! Oh and don't worry we are all doing just fine up there in Puebla. We are really fortunate to not have any problems at all. The weather was really gloomy for a while, but nothing out of the ordinary, so don't worry all is well. Hah Dad don't worry when I get home I'm gonna work my butt off at school and work hard to learn as much as I can. The mission has given me an even deeper drive to learn as much as I can in this life. There is so much to learn!! With hard work and drive I know that I can be successful in anything I set my hands to. Utah won huh? I'm not too upset..I'm thinking about going there...sorry I know that's like going against the family! We'll see what happens right? 

This week was a little rough. We had a hard time putting appointments and finding our investigators this week. It was probably the slowest week here in Atlixco so far. It's okay though, because not every day or week is going to be perfect. I could see that some of our investigators weren't really progressing like they should be. They were kind of getting comfortable...so we went to town throwin' it down the way it is. Preach my Gospel Missionaries! I actually ended up dropping one of our investigators because she just wasn't doing anything we asked. That's how it is sometimes...we gotta have time to find the CHOSEN. I had a super cool experience yesterday on Sunday. We finally saw one of our great investigators named Brenda. She is really sincere and she started sharing some of her doubts and concerns with us. She said she has felt that our message is true and that she should be baptized, but she said that she has also had unforgettable experiences with the Catholic Church too. She started asking some really difficult questions after sharing some deep experiences. Literally..I didn't know what to say. I sat thinking for a moment and said a prayer in my heart. Then...I opened my mouth. Totally by the Spirit. Then I opened the Book of Mormon not knowing where we were going to read at all. Blank. As I flipped through it's pages I was just depending on the Spirit 100%. I received a prompting to go to 1 Nephi 32 and read the chapter...it was perfect. Great experience. 

We had a class this Sunday in principles of the Gospel about how we should develop our talents in this life. That along with many other things I have learned out here has motivated me to do just that. I have a vision of what I what to do and how I want to do it. That's why I was talking bout how this is much to learn. If you put you mind and heart into something, nothing is impossible. Even if you think that it is something that you think you cannot do. God has given us so many talents and opportunities. Today is the day to be who you've always wanted to be. Love you all so much. I send all the love that I got to everyone back there in Utah town. Thank you for everything. Que tenga una semana llena de sonrisas y felicidad!

Un fuerte abrazo

Con Amor,

Elder Ryan Kitchen

16 de Septiembre

Hey family!! How is everyone doing? Well today is the 16th of September which is the same as the 4th of July in the states. There has been parties, fireworks, and parades here in Atlixco. It has been a cool experience. There is a hurricane in Vera Cruz (far away) and so the weather has been really rainy and kind of cold all week long. It just won't stop raining! Sounds like everyone is busy again with school and work. It's a good thing. Jami good job on your talk, everyone has said that you did a great job and that you prepared it yourself. Nice work. 

Well this week went pretty well. Salvador and Cristina continue to progress. We just need to help them with the little things like reading and praying, because they aren't doing that very well. We also found 4 other new investigators that are from a small town far away. We have taught them twice and they went to the branch that we have!!! We were in the ward, but the members told us that they went. I see good things for them. They are really simple and humble people. They are so nice and offer everything that they have. I really do love this area. It has been really fun opening a new area with Elder Ortega here in Atlixco. Oh, one of the members from my old area in Agua Azul emailed me and told me that the Beltran Leon family is progressing like never before!! Even the Dad who never went once is now going and they all went to stake conference this weekend! Makes me so happy. If they get baptized I'm going for sure. 

Well I don't have much time left, and I really got to go to the bathroom. Something that I learned this week is that God will always answer your prayers now matter what. I have received a lot of strength through prayer this week. We always have to apply to the Atonement each and every day. It cleans and cleanses up from wrong doings,temptations, and sin. I'm so grateful for what the Savior did for me, and I know he did it for you as well. Until next week,

Un fuerte abrazo

Con amor,

Elder Ryan Kitchen

Hey family!!                                                                                                         September 9, 2013

It was great to hear from so many of you today! Thanks for taking the time to write me. I have read all of the letters, but I'm not going to have time to personally respond to each of you this week. I'll work on it for next week. Sounds like everyone is doing great. I loved the pictures that Kaylee sent me from Zion's! It totally reminds me of that hike. I'm glad to hear that Tyler got the package safe and sound and that it was a surprise. Benjamin is a really great guy. I'll tell Tyler more about it when I write him back.  Thanks for telling me about the Stake Conference! Sounds like it was great and that there was inspired messages especially for our Stake.

Well Salvador and Cristina are still progressing super great! I know that they'll be baptized. I have faith. They are great people and so faithful. I know that the Lord helps and guides us in our lessons with them. We've had some really great lessons. We were able to find 5 more new investigators this week!! We now have 2 new full families that we are teaching. Mom to answer your questions, we find basically through members. One of the families came from the Area Book. They listened to the missionaries about a year ago, but now they are listening again! The others came from our own efforts to get to know this inactive member who got baptized when he was young and then went inactive. His whole family are not members. We hope to teach them a lot. We are going to do a service project this week with them. Their name is De La Rosa which is rose and they plant and sell roses. It will great. 

I love my family so much! You guys mean everything to me. Thank you for being who you are each and everyday. You are all an example to the world. It's true. Not everybody lives the way we do. Also, something else to be grateful for is really strong wards and stakes in Utah. Sometimes there are things that go on in wards and stakes here that weaken unity and things like that. Nothing huge, but it's just a different culture and sometimes the church is still really new for people and for this country. Be grateful :) I love you guys. Miss you tons. I'm glad you're working hard and having fun. I'm almost done reading the New Testament in English. It's awesome. If you haven't read it....give it a shot! It's awesome. May the Lord continue blessing our family and each one of our friends and loved ones. Let us be true Disciples of Christ!!

Un fuerte Abrazo

Con Amor

Elder Ryan Kitchen

Dear Familia,                                                                                                            September 2, 2013
August has come and gone. Weird. Well thanks for the pictures and all the cool news about what you all are doing in life! It's awesome. I remember really well going to Zion's and going on that crazy hike. Yeah sounds like Kaylee has taken my spot as the one who thinks with the lopsided part of the brain and just goes for it haha. That's how I've always been. I'm glad that you guys are having a great time in St. George. You all look really good in those pictures. I'm not going to lie, I'm excited to see the St. George house when I get home. Seems like a really cool place. Yep sounds like Ty and Cam are off to paridise. That's cool to hear about all that cool stuff Tyler won. Nice work bro. They're planning a trip to New Zealand too?? That's way cool. We're coming in on 2 years since we went on that trip. So Tyler should be flying right now huh? Tell him that he's in my prayers and that I hope it adjusts well in Hawaii and everything. Dad you were saying how Tyler needs to find a wife, but being out here on the mission I feel like I don't want to get married until I'm about 25 at least haha. Oh and now that I have more than a year on my mission Tyler HAS to wait for me before he gets married. It's the law.

Well this week went great. Salvador and Cristina continue to learn and progress. They are great investigators. Every time we go to teach them I see the nice golf course, it makes me miss golf a lot. We had a great lesson with them teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reading 2 Nephi 31. I love teaching the truth! We also were able to find 6 new investigators this week! It was great. The transfer news came in this weekend, and like I thought, Elder Ortega and I are staying here finishing the training, and so are the two elders in my district. Nothing changed. It's going to be a fun transfer. The work is tough sometimes. These people are really closed here in Puebla due to their Catholic background and deep traditions. We search and find the honest in heart. The chosen. 

I love you family to death!! There are times when I really do miss you a lot. I appreciate your love, prayers, and support. I love each and every one of you. Tell all the family hi and that I love them. Tell every friend and loved one the same. I hope that you all have a great week. Never forget who you are! 

Un fuerte abrazo

Con amor,

Elder Ryan Kitchen

Hi family,                                                                                                              August 26,  2013

Here we are again on another P-day. I don't know about you, but Monday seems to come around faster and faster as the time goes by. Oh the letter from Grandpa Kitchen got here! Tell him that I really enjoyed hearing from him, and that I loved the story that he shared with me. I'll have to write him back next week. Sounds like it was good to see Tyler and everything. Did his team win all that cool stuff? That's too bad that he'll only be there for a little bit, but sounds like you've got some fun things planned. I still think it's way awesome that Tyler and Cam are going to BYU Hawaii. Do they plan on going there for the rest of their college experience, or for just a few semesters? Mom, you'll get the regular routine down in no time. Didn't Grandpa say that by the 3rd year things seems to smooth out? I hope that's how it'll start to feel for you mama. Yeah that view is way cool huh? It's beautiful out here. Dad I'll let you know if the Red Iguana is authentic or not, but just to let you know, we are going straight to JCW's from the airport for some good ol American burgers haha. Yeah you're right Dad...I should lay off them tortillas haha.

This week went pretty well. To answer you question, yes we do have a ton of little towns in our area. Where we live and spend most of the time is here closer to the city. Most of the members live here too. About once a week we take a trip out to some of the towns where we have a little branch. The town with the branch is called Cacaloxuchitl which is about 30 min away. There are other towns about an hour away too!! It's pretty cool to be able to experience both. Luckily, we were able to teach a few of our investigators. We had an awesome lesson with the rich couple (Salvador y Cristina). We taught the Plan of Salvation and it went great. They also went to a baptism of another ward and then to church. In church we had the Gospel Principals class on Charity and Love. It was super spiritulal and they felt the spirit really strong. We hope to be able to put a baptismal date with them. Things just keep on rollin' here. My second son and I are about to finish half of the training process. This is the last week of the transfer, and we have one more left after this. 

Tell Tyler to travel safe and that I hope that he arrives safe and sound. Have a great trip in St. George!! I love you guys so much. I miss you too. Keep up all the good work. Find way to uplift and inspire this week. I'll share this story that I heard a few weeks ago: There is an ancient sculpture of Jesus Christ that had been found many years ago. Upon finding it they could see that Christ's hands had been broken off and were no longer there. After much dispute as to weather or not they'd restore his hands before putting it on display, they came to the conclusion that they would leave it as it is....why? Because WE ARE HIS HANDS. Be true disciples of Christ. Love each and every one of you!! May God bless you this week. 

Un fuerte abrazo!!

Con Amor

Elder Ryan Kitchen