Dear Family,                                                                                                            October 21, 2013

Hey! How is everything going? It was good to hear from you both Mom and Dad. Thank you for always writing and letting me know what's going on. I love hearing from you. That was cool news to hear who is in the world series. I hope to Tigers take it. Like you Dad, I'm shocked that it's already Halloween as well. It's weird to think that last year I was still in Mexico! Mom thank you for letting me know what you learned in conference and what you felt. It helped me remember some great talks that helped me as well. I haven't had time to re-read anything yet, but I want to. I'm glad Jamie has some fun at the dance. Kaylee wake up and go to the dances! They're fun if you make em fun. 

Alright so I'm sure you just read that section as fast as you could to that you could get to the exciting news part to find out where I am and what I'm doing. I still think it's nuts that I'm already in a different area. The pages just keep turning and I feel like my mission is going too fast. Transfers are always really awesome. I love the way President Reeves does it. We always gather together (everyone with transfers, their comps, and the leaders) and have a great meeting. It's awesome to get to see so many missionaries that I've served with. I have so many great friends out here. Before President announces the transfers, he has everybody stand up and move to the side. We all wait with anticipation wondering who are next comp, area, district leader, or zone leader is going to be. He started with the Nealtican Zone (which is where I started) and then made his way to the Mayorazgo zone. To my surprise he announced Elder Betts and I as the Zone Leaders! I didn't see that one coming. I'm really excited to be able to serve more missionaries and learn more as a Zone Leader. With one week I have already learned what it is like to be a Zone Leader. Super busy. I love it so much already! We have a great area and I love my comp Elder Betts. He was in my first district in Atexcac and now we're comps! We are already great friends. The best thing so far about being a ZL that we are able to teach a lot smoother. After 5 transfers of training it's kind of nice. Also I just feel a greater responsibility to look out for more missionaries and be the best example. Okay I'm sure you're wondering, where is Mayorazgo? It is the other zone here in Puebla, the city, but it's is a little further away from the center where I was in Agua Azul. It's a little more Ghetto, but I love it! We are in a great ward named 3 Cerritos. Funny thing is that Elder Knowlton, former comp, just finished his mission here, and now I'm here. President told me and Elder Betts that our zone is doing great right now. Our ward here in 3 Cerritos is on fire. President says that it is the best zone in the mission right now...I gotta step it up it sounds like! I'm really happy to be here and I've already learned a TON with Elder Betts this week. I love the mission! I agree with our mission Pres's counselor when he said: "In 2 years we learn 20 years worth of experience...it is the university of life."

3 our our investigators accepted to be baptized and accepted a date this week. I am so grateful to be here helping others come unto Christ. I thank each and every one of you, family, grandparents, everybody for allowing me to have this experience. More importantly, to be able to help others. You mean everything to me. Love you all. I hope that you have a great week, and that you can remember the Savior Jesus Christ and what he did for us each and every DAY. That is what we promise each Sunday...that we will ALWAYS remember Him. Apply the Atonement each day in prayer. Through the Savior we are saved and through nothing else. Read your scriptures! 

Also, just a fun little coincidence. On the 16th Elder Betts are I were at the mission home with some other Zone Leaders and we ate breakfast there. It dawned on me while I was there that exactly a year ago that day I had ate breakfast before the first transfer meeting...weird. I'm excited for what's in the future. 

Love you all!

Un fuerte abrazo, y con amor,

Elder Ryan Kitchen

Dear Family,                                                                                                            October 13, 2013

First off...HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMILYN!!! I felt bad that I couldn't wish you a happy birthday on your birthday, but on the 12th I remembered and I thought about you and how you're 18 years old already!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Weird. Tell me how your day went Jamster. I love ya. Big shout out from you big Mexi brother. Wow. I am shocked. Last night I was informed that me, and two other Elders from my district have transfers! I'm already leaving Atlixco! It literally feels like I just got here. The time has gone by so fast. In my first area I was there for 3 transfers, my second 4, and here only 2. I am anxious to know where I'll be going and who my new companion will be. Elder Ortega (my 2nd son) is staying here in Atlixco and will be getting a new companion. Sorry but this email is going to be a little short because as you know transfer P-days are crazy. On top of everything that you have to do on normal P days, you have to say goodbye to everyone. Tomorrow is the meeting in Puebla at 12:30. Thanks for writing me Mom and Dad I really do enjoy reading your letters every week and seeing how things are going. Like Mom was saying to me, it helps me to feel connected to everybody. I can really just see my mission flying by. Everybody is right, the last year goes fast. I can't believe that I'm already leaving Atlixco. Mom, you were asking about conference. Yes I can understand just fine. I have to pay more attention, but it's better that way right? haha. I guess there are a few words here and there that I didn't understand, but the Apostles use words in English that I don't understand sometimes! When we watch it in English we (English speaking missionaries) go into another room and get it on the internet or satellite on a TV. 

Well on Sunday we invited a new investigator to be baptized and she accepted with a date and everything. That was cool. I was happy for her. I wont be here to teach her, but hopefully I'll be able to visit her in my other area. The couple Salvador and Cristina, and Ricardo have been progressing really well and they LOVED conference. I know they'll be baptized as well. Too bad it wasn't when I was here, but I can come for their baptism. I feel good about what we've been able to accomplish here. I feel like I've learned a lot and that my Spanish has gotten that much better. I hope to improve more in my next area. I love the mission it's great!

Love each and every one of you. I send a big hug all the way from Mexico. Choose the Right!!

Elder Ryan Kitchen

Qué pasa?                                                                                                                 October 7, 2013

Hey guys how is everything going? Sounds like from the letters that everything is going smooth and normal. Yeah the pyramids were pretty cool last week we had a lot of fun. Yeah mom there are parts that look like ancient classic pyramids, but others that are covered by plants and stuff. It must have been from the Mayans and stuff that lived here anciently. There actually think that most of the Book of Mormon took place around here. I don't doubt it. General Conference was GREAT right? I loved it. I watched the first two Sat. sessions in Spanish, and then the Priesthood and Sunday sessions in English. 3 of our investigators came to the Sunday morning session, which was great. Tell we what you thought about conference and some of the things that you learned. 

This week went really well actually. We were able to see our good investigators twice this week, and also see other investigators. We did a lot of contacting referrals and trying to find new investigators. We were able to find 4 new ones this week. 1 is from New York and he is awesome. He wanted to talk with us because he feels like life doesn't have purpose and he wants to learn. He doesn't trust a lot of churches and he is searching. Golden. Well I can't believe that we are in October. In about ten days or so I hit my year anniversary living here in Mexico. It's weird to think that my first day in Mexico was a year ago. I've learned a lot since then. Elder Ortega and I are in our very last week of the 12 week training program. The transfers are coming up and we will know the news next P-day. I have no idea what is going to happen. I'll let you know. 

I learned a lot in General Conference. Some of the talks that I listened to were perfect for me. I wrote down doubts and questions that I had and basically everything was answered. I feel strengthened and renewed. It is a privilege to hear from living prophets. I love you family! Tell everyone hi for me. Until next week,

Elder Ryan Kitchen

Aló!                                                                                                              September 30, 2013

Hey guys how's everything going? I don't have hardly any time to write, just to warn you...sorry. It's because we asked and received permission as a district to go to Cholula and see the pyramids. It was awesome! My first area was kind of close to Cholula I don't know if you remember. This time we went into the caves and saw the ruins and everything. I'm glad to hear that everything seems to be going normal. It's that time of year with a bunch of homework and work. It's still crazy to think that Paulette is going to have a baby! That's cool Dad that you and grandpa played a Alpine. I miss playing there. Have you guys gone swimming a lot there yet? Or not really? Mom to answer your question, there is only one stake here in our mission that are experimenting with Facebook as far as doing things with investigators. Other than that we haven't really seen anything new yet. I figure it's going to take a while for things to really get rollin' down here with all of that. Good luck on your parent teacher conferences mom! Dad I'm going to really miss the hunt as well. And I miss Kit a bunch too. Grandpa told me in one of his letters that he has a shotgun waiting for me when I get home haha that's pretty cool. Oh... and what happened with Jazzi? Still kickin'? 

Well this week was a weird one. On Tuesday we had back to back meetings in Puebla. One for the trainers and trainees, and then after that a really long leadership meeting. It went well, and I learned a lot. Then on Wednesday we did divisions with the Zone Leaders. I went to their area in the center of Atlixco. After that we had an okay time here in our area for the rest of the week. We really need to keep finding, because a lot of the new ones we've found lately really aren't progressing and some aren't too interested. Sometimes it's hard to keep the faith high and keep the motivation out here. They never said it would be easy. We are going to keep going strong. So I recently talked to the Elders that are in Agua Azul 2. Not only are the Beltran Leon family progressing and Hector Luis going to be baptized, but there is another investigator that me and Elder found and started teaching that is also going to be baptized! Wow! It's a testimony to me that no effort goes to waste. Sometimes that is how it goes. Planting seeds and others harvesting. It's all the same work.

Well I love each and every one of you. Big HI to everyone back home, all the friends and family. Thank you so much for everything. My family means everything to me. Keep working hard and doing what matters most. God gives is trials so we can grow! :) As we make good decisions, we are always blessed. 

Un fuerte abrazo

Con amor,

Elder Ryan Kitchen