Wow 2011 that is crazy. What a great year I had last year to be in the service of our Heavenly Father. The year went by really fast and its way weird to think that I will be coming home this year! I'm glad to hear that you all had a great New Years and got to do some fun things. That is so weird to me to think that its so cold there. I am like dying of heat over here right now. Its going to be hard this winter because I will go from an horrible winter in New Zealand to a freezing Utah winter when I arrive there. I guess I deserve it though because I have had so many nice days on my mission.
I am glad you got my pictures. I'm sure you liked them....I'll have to sit with you after my mission and go over them with you guys. I should take more pictures in New Zealand. I get so busy with the work I don't take very many photos here. The landscape is really beautiful and I need to take more photos. I still need to send those Niuean things but I might do it next week. I need to remember in the morning so I'm prepared. Plus I think the post office is closed today for some reason I don't know why. I bought some nice pants with some of the Christmas money that you put into my account. Oh yeah and when I went to the temple about a week or so ago I finally bought some white pants. Remember I never could get some before I went on my mission. Well it just turned out that I've been trying to get some for a while but it never worked out until then. It was cool to read that you went up to the cabin for new years. That sounds way fun. I cant believe it was SO cold though. That's also exciting mom that you shared with them about my mission. Your being a missionary, now just invite the Suters to church! :)
Oh yeah the Stucki's are an American family over here living for his work. They are from California and they are really good members of the church. They are in our ward and they fed us for dinner last week. It was really good and they had all their family over from the states with them. They live over in the beautiful country side of Rotorua and their view is just breath taking. You can see the Lake and all the green rolling hills WOW. I thought you mom and Jami and Kaylee would like it if she took a picture of the view with their horse in it.
It sounds like you loved the break off work Dad. I bet it was way nice to relax and have some time off. A lot of the members of the church have work off around the holidays too. They all go to the lake and beach and stuff. That sounds fun your going to go skiing in Colorado. Tell Sposi's hi for me again.
Well this week we had some pretty crazy experiences. My companion almost got attacked by a dog. Man some of the dogs here are CRAZY! Some places people have attack and guard dogs that just hate missionaries. You should have seen how fast he was running and the dog was snapping at his ankles. Man I thought he was gunna get it from the dog. The owner was chasing after it trying to stop it. We also had a weird experience. We knocked on this house and a guy calls out for help. We felt bad but it was a really large Maori guy that I guess had had a stroke some years before. But his care taker couldn't lift him out of his chair. So we helped him out and his sheet fell off and he was BUTT NAKED! ahhh it was nasty! then the lady was like wiping some ointment all over his butt and then she shook our hand! EWWW! we washed them like 10 times! Man some of the things you see or experience on your mission are crazy. We were walking down the street and a car drives by and they threw a bottle at my companion. It missed him but wow that's so rude. We go through difficulties but the rewarding experiences are what makes it so worth it.
We did some really cool site seeing last Monday. We are trying to figure out a way to go fishing today because my companion loves to fish. Oh yeah we have 3 investigators set for baptism right now. Aroha is set for Jan 15. Judy is set for Jan 22, and Debbie is set for Jan 29. We are really excited and will just keep working really hard for them. Well man I'm just working hard and just having great success with the Lords help. Its cool I have met a lot of amazing people.
I am going to go now. But thanks for everything. I really do love you all so much! Your prayers really do mean so much to me and I know I am drawing so close to you even though I'm so far away! Have a great week.
Love Elder Kitchen
Happy heart day
We love you too!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
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
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
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas Family!!
Wow it is just weird it is already Christmas. It is kinda starting to feel a little like Christmas because of our Christmas Mission Conference this week and we also had a big Christmas Sacrament Program yesterday. The people here do put up Christmas Trees and stuff but its not as big as it is over in United States. Christmas is just a small thing here. Plus its always weird because its hot and no snow is on the ground. I think its hilarious because they sometimes play and sing songs about a white snowy Christmas yet there's no snow on the ground. I really hope you all are having and will have a wonderful Merry Christmas!
I am still just doing wonderful on my mission. A lot of new things have happened this week. Like always we have been just experiencing many miracles and wonderful experiences in the life of our investigators and Gods Children. Time and time again I see the hand of the Lord in the life of his children. I know that our Heavenly Father loves all his children and he will lead them to the restored Gospel if they are truly searching. On Thursday we drove up to Auckland and stayed the night there. Then guess what during transfers the next day on Friday I got a new companion! Crazy huh! Elder Petty got transferred to Hamilton. Its cool because he will be doing the temple Christmas lights! AND guess what?! President Porter had me train a new missionary again! So I'm training again!! On Friday I met my new companion and he is a brand new missionary. His name is Elder Russell and he is from Spanish Fork Utah!! HAHA! so we live like 20 minutes away from each other. He is really nice and is a great missionary. He likes fishing and playing sports. He is 19 years old. His family is all members and he is the oldest in his family. This is really new to him because he's only been around a couple of states in the west and this is really far away from home. I'm excited he is my companion! Well the Christmas mission conference was great!! As always the spirit was just incredibly strong and I learned SO much! We had wonderful speakers and President Porter is taking this mission to places its never been before. We are experiencing many miracles in the mission field! They did a huge Christmas feed for us and the food was really good. They also had a really funny and great talent show for all the missionaries. It was so cool to watch and it was a lot of fun. Then President Colister spoke to us which was just great. President Colister is the Area President (he is from the quorum of the Seventy). It rained the whole way back from Auckland to Rotorua! Can you believe I'm still here!! HAHA and the end of this transfer I will be in Rotorua for 6 months! That's half of my mission in Niue and Rotorua!! Yesterday another general authority came to our ward. It was our Christmas program and Elder Neilson came and spoke! Wow those General Authorities have the spirit so strong!
Well I put all my pictures onto a DVD and I will send it today so you guys can get it and see all my pictures! I also did receive my other Christmas Package! I haven't opened it yet because I want to save something for Christmas so I can open a present on Christmas Day! But thank you so much for sending another one! That's cool you guys got a new Christmas tree! Its weird to think but I will be home next year for Christmas! I am really excited to talk to you guys on Christmas! But just so you know President Porter said we can only talk for about 40 minutes just so you know to be prepared. And I think I will call on your Christmas! So that will be on my Sunday and your Saturday! I will try and call around 1:00 my time. I will talk to you then!! I love you all so much. AND have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Love Elder Kitchen
I am still just doing wonderful on my mission. A lot of new things have happened this week. Like always we have been just experiencing many miracles and wonderful experiences in the life of our investigators and Gods Children. Time and time again I see the hand of the Lord in the life of his children. I know that our Heavenly Father loves all his children and he will lead them to the restored Gospel if they are truly searching. On Thursday we drove up to Auckland and stayed the night there. Then guess what during transfers the next day on Friday I got a new companion! Crazy huh! Elder Petty got transferred to Hamilton. Its cool because he will be doing the temple Christmas lights! AND guess what?! President Porter had me train a new missionary again! So I'm training again!! On Friday I met my new companion and he is a brand new missionary. His name is Elder Russell and he is from Spanish Fork Utah!! HAHA! so we live like 20 minutes away from each other. He is really nice and is a great missionary. He likes fishing and playing sports. He is 19 years old. His family is all members and he is the oldest in his family. This is really new to him because he's only been around a couple of states in the west and this is really far away from home. I'm excited he is my companion! Well the Christmas mission conference was great!! As always the spirit was just incredibly strong and I learned SO much! We had wonderful speakers and President Porter is taking this mission to places its never been before. We are experiencing many miracles in the mission field! They did a huge Christmas feed for us and the food was really good. They also had a really funny and great talent show for all the missionaries. It was so cool to watch and it was a lot of fun. Then President Colister spoke to us which was just great. President Colister is the Area President (he is from the quorum of the Seventy). It rained the whole way back from Auckland to Rotorua! Can you believe I'm still here!! HAHA and the end of this transfer I will be in Rotorua for 6 months! That's half of my mission in Niue and Rotorua!! Yesterday another general authority came to our ward. It was our Christmas program and Elder Neilson came and spoke! Wow those General Authorities have the spirit so strong!
Well I put all my pictures onto a DVD and I will send it today so you guys can get it and see all my pictures! I also did receive my other Christmas Package! I haven't opened it yet because I want to save something for Christmas so I can open a present on Christmas Day! But thank you so much for sending another one! That's cool you guys got a new Christmas tree! Its weird to think but I will be home next year for Christmas! I am really excited to talk to you guys on Christmas! But just so you know President Porter said we can only talk for about 40 minutes just so you know to be prepared. And I think I will call on your Christmas! So that will be on my Sunday and your Saturday! I will try and call around 1:00 my time. I will talk to you then!! I love you all so much. AND have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Love Elder Kitchen
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Merry Christmas family! What a wonderful time of the year this is. I am so truly grateful to be able to serve the Lord on a full time mission during this wonderful Christmas season. This is a great blessing to be able to be able to serve our Heavenly Father and help his children draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. I also have been reflecting on the saviors live and birth. I am so truly grateful with all my heart to Heavenly Fathers gift to us, his beloved son Jesus Christ. My gift back to Our God and our Savior is by serving them faithfully for two years of my life.
Thank you so much family for all the love, prayers, and everything you do for me while I am serving the Lord. I have drawn very close to the savior and that has brought me even closer to the people that matter most in my life, and that is all of you. I am truly grateful for the gift of our family. I love all of you with all my heart and I'm so grateful I was sent to such a wonderful family. I am truly grateful for all that you do for me and for raising me to be where I am today. It takes some righteous parents to raise a righteous child. I know that I wouldn't be where I am today without your love and support. I pray to God every night and thank him for the gift of his son, for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and for my beautiful family. I just love each and everyone of you.
It was great to read your e mails and find out that you've all had a great week and are having a wonderful holiday season. Thank you mom for sending your talk. Wow that was a very spiritual uplifting talk mom. I loved it very much and I'm sure everyone that heard it felt the spirit and the love of God. You can tell it was truly from your heart and you meant everything you said. That really helped me and gave me the spirit of Christmas every more during this season. That really is what Christmas is all about.
Yesterday was Stake conference at our stake here in Rotorua and the stake presidency was there and they spoke and also Elder Grow from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. Wow the spirit was very strong when they spoke. Elder Grow made it very clear as has President Monson that the Lord needs more worthy missionaries. Ryan please do all you can to be worthy and ready to serve the Lord. It truly is the best thing you could ever do. I have never and will never regret serving a mission. It is the best thing I've ever done and I love it so much. Mom and Dad you should also be thinking about serving a mission together when your older. I know it will be the best thing you could be doing when your that age.
This past week was great. We have been working really hard and mainly focusing on increasing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we have faith and qualify by our exact obedience and by our purity and righteousness, then anything we ask Heavenly Father that is right he will give it to us. We have experienced that in our whole week. I have seen many mighty miracles and I know this is Gods work and that he wants all of his children to return back to him. Saturday was Philippas baptism. Wow it was just great and a wonderful experience. I wish I could have wrote down her testimony. She bore her testimony after she was baptized and it was so heart felt and amazing. She got really emotional and said she knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God.
Well I wish I could type a lot more but I got to go now. This week I'm really excited because we have a Christmas mission conference in Auckland on Friday. President Collister will be there with his wife. Thanks again for the Christmas package I will be looking out for the other one.
Well Ryan it is almost your birthday! I'm sorry I don't have very much more time to write much. But I just want to say Happy Birthday Ryan! I love you. Have a really great day and just know I will be thinking about my buddy Ryan.
Love Elder Kitchen
Thank you so much family for all the love, prayers, and everything you do for me while I am serving the Lord. I have drawn very close to the savior and that has brought me even closer to the people that matter most in my life, and that is all of you. I am truly grateful for the gift of our family. I love all of you with all my heart and I'm so grateful I was sent to such a wonderful family. I am truly grateful for all that you do for me and for raising me to be where I am today. It takes some righteous parents to raise a righteous child. I know that I wouldn't be where I am today without your love and support. I pray to God every night and thank him for the gift of his son, for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and for my beautiful family. I just love each and everyone of you.
It was great to read your e mails and find out that you've all had a great week and are having a wonderful holiday season. Thank you mom for sending your talk. Wow that was a very spiritual uplifting talk mom. I loved it very much and I'm sure everyone that heard it felt the spirit and the love of God. You can tell it was truly from your heart and you meant everything you said. That really helped me and gave me the spirit of Christmas every more during this season. That really is what Christmas is all about.
Yesterday was Stake conference at our stake here in Rotorua and the stake presidency was there and they spoke and also Elder Grow from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. Wow the spirit was very strong when they spoke. Elder Grow made it very clear as has President Monson that the Lord needs more worthy missionaries. Ryan please do all you can to be worthy and ready to serve the Lord. It truly is the best thing you could ever do. I have never and will never regret serving a mission. It is the best thing I've ever done and I love it so much. Mom and Dad you should also be thinking about serving a mission together when your older. I know it will be the best thing you could be doing when your that age.
This past week was great. We have been working really hard and mainly focusing on increasing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we have faith and qualify by our exact obedience and by our purity and righteousness, then anything we ask Heavenly Father that is right he will give it to us. We have experienced that in our whole week. I have seen many mighty miracles and I know this is Gods work and that he wants all of his children to return back to him. Saturday was Philippas baptism. Wow it was just great and a wonderful experience. I wish I could have wrote down her testimony. She bore her testimony after she was baptized and it was so heart felt and amazing. She got really emotional and said she knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God.
Well I wish I could type a lot more but I got to go now. This week I'm really excited because we have a Christmas mission conference in Auckland on Friday. President Collister will be there with his wife. Thanks again for the Christmas package I will be looking out for the other one.
Well Ryan it is almost your birthday! I'm sorry I don't have very much more time to write much. But I just want to say Happy Birthday Ryan! I love you. Have a really great day and just know I will be thinking about my buddy Ryan.
Love Elder Kitchen
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Kia Ora Family!
How are the Kitchen Family all doing?! Wow it is crazy it is almost Christmas again! I remember last year I was on my mission and I was a brand new missionary! I cant believe time has gone SO fast since then. Well here in New Zealand it doesn't really feel all that much like Christmas. They don't put a big deal in it like we do. But we are singing Christmas songs for our investigators when we have lessons with them. We are also doing this media referral campaign called Joy to the World. Its a free Christmas DVD that people order from watching an ad on TV and then we go deliver it to them and try to enter in so we can teach them the message of the Restoration.
I got your Christmas package already but I haven't opened some of it. I did open the box though. Oh man that picture was something else. I laughed my head off. What the heck me and Cameron looked absolutely crazy! I showed my companion and some other missionaries and they just bust up laughing! Wow I'm sure Jami had a fun time doing that...I can just imagine her laughing her head off as she did that. I also just wanted to say Thank you so much for all the stuff. I loved it. I am going to wait until opening the wrapped stuff until Christmas! But one thing I laughed was that Mom I think you forgot and only put one of the shoes inside the package. I only have one of the shoes!
Mom it sounds like your really busy doing your school and field work. That's going to be great when you get a job as a full time teacher. Your always such a great worker. I enjoyed hearing you bore your testimony. I love bearing my testimony now...I like always go up when its fast and testimony week. I'm so glad I can be serving the Lord so you guys can receive blessings and be able to be happy. It makes me so happy to know your all so strong in the gospel and that your all happy, healthy and well.
My week went really good. Last P-day was really fun. We got to go mountain biking through the red wood forest. There is this really awesome red wood forest in Rotorua and there are these Huge trees and beautiful mountain sides. Our district went up the mountain path and then went on some mountain bike trails. It was a blast! It was so fun to go down the mountain and go on the cool trails. I was going hard out that I fell off my bike one time. I decided to slow up a lot because I'm a missionary. But it was really fun and beautiful to see of the great scenery. Dad we have to go sometime because its so fun and they have some really great trails to go on.
Ive been traveling a lot this week. I went to Tokoroa for a district meeting this past week. And then I went up to Auckland for a leadership training. It was just wonderful. I worked in Auckland on Wednesday with some missionaries up there while the zone leaders went to their training with the mission President. Then on Thursday we had leadership training with all the District leaders, zone leaders, and trainers in the mission. It was really good and I learned SO much. Wow the spirit is always just so strong and your testimony always increases every time. On Saturday we had a baptism. Corban decided he wanted to be baptized this past weekend. He asked me to baptize him. Wow it was an amazing experience I'll never forget. He was so happy after he came out of the water. It was a great baptism. Church was also great and we saw a lot of miracles this week. We found 5 new investigators and people to start teaching the gospel too. Phillipa and Pargat are ready to get baptized next week. They are both amazing and they have such strong testimonies of the gospel. My experience as a district leader is very rewarding but a lot of hard work. It is sometimes a little stressful but I just ask the Lord to help me have complete faith. My testimony has strengthened so much and I've learned a lot since I've been a district leader.
Wow I cant believe you guys went snowboarding that is awesome. I guess its that time of year again. That sounds like a lot of fun. I'm glad that Nicolas is enjoying the MTC that makes me really happy. I can still remember when I was in there. I loved the MTC. Wow that really seems like a long time ago. I'm glad Grandpa and Grandma are serving another mission I know I will be blessed because of their service. I got a letter from Grandpa Kitchen. It was really nice and I loved reading it.
I was excited to read the missionaries asked you to do missionary work. We have been working with the members to do their missionary work also. Really just pray to Heavenly Father and ask who you can share the gospel with. I know there is a lot of people that you can. And yes that sounds like a great idea to invite the Ver Steegs to my homecoming...I was surprised to read Taylor Judd and Cade Hill are already home from their missions. WOW time went by SO fast! Tell them hello for me! And I was surprised to hear Ryan maybe is thinking about going to College. That's awesome. When is he thinking about serving his mission??
Dad you asked me how the ward is. They are really nice and I love them. I always love every ward I serve in. That's one of the things I will miss so much about my mission, the people. I absolutely love the Maori people so much. And the Niuean people. I'm sure you loved the people of your mission too. My companion is great. I know when your doing the Lords work you just show Christ-like love to them.
Well I'm going to try and send some pictures to you guys. I just want you to know Mom that I absolutely love you so much. Your an incredible person and I admire you so much. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I truly miss you heaps and heaps. Please just let me know if there's anything I can do for you. Dad I also just love ya so much and I'm so excited someday we will be chillin' again going golfing fishing hunting and just all the other fun stuff. I'm grateful for your faithful example to me. I'm so thankful for how you raised me and supported me in everything I did. Your a wonderful dad and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I love all our family. May Heavenly Father bless you all so much. Please be safe this winter. Until next week...
Love Elder Kitchen
I got your Christmas package already but I haven't opened some of it. I did open the box though. Oh man that picture was something else. I laughed my head off. What the heck me and Cameron looked absolutely crazy! I showed my companion and some other missionaries and they just bust up laughing! Wow I'm sure Jami had a fun time doing that...I can just imagine her laughing her head off as she did that. I also just wanted to say Thank you so much for all the stuff. I loved it. I am going to wait until opening the wrapped stuff until Christmas! But one thing I laughed was that Mom I think you forgot and only put one of the shoes inside the package. I only have one of the shoes!
Mom it sounds like your really busy doing your school and field work. That's going to be great when you get a job as a full time teacher. Your always such a great worker. I enjoyed hearing you bore your testimony. I love bearing my testimony now...I like always go up when its fast and testimony week. I'm so glad I can be serving the Lord so you guys can receive blessings and be able to be happy. It makes me so happy to know your all so strong in the gospel and that your all happy, healthy and well.
My week went really good. Last P-day was really fun. We got to go mountain biking through the red wood forest. There is this really awesome red wood forest in Rotorua and there are these Huge trees and beautiful mountain sides. Our district went up the mountain path and then went on some mountain bike trails. It was a blast! It was so fun to go down the mountain and go on the cool trails. I was going hard out that I fell off my bike one time. I decided to slow up a lot because I'm a missionary. But it was really fun and beautiful to see of the great scenery. Dad we have to go sometime because its so fun and they have some really great trails to go on.
Ive been traveling a lot this week. I went to Tokoroa for a district meeting this past week. And then I went up to Auckland for a leadership training. It was just wonderful. I worked in Auckland on Wednesday with some missionaries up there while the zone leaders went to their training with the mission President. Then on Thursday we had leadership training with all the District leaders, zone leaders, and trainers in the mission. It was really good and I learned SO much. Wow the spirit is always just so strong and your testimony always increases every time. On Saturday we had a baptism. Corban decided he wanted to be baptized this past weekend. He asked me to baptize him. Wow it was an amazing experience I'll never forget. He was so happy after he came out of the water. It was a great baptism. Church was also great and we saw a lot of miracles this week. We found 5 new investigators and people to start teaching the gospel too. Phillipa and Pargat are ready to get baptized next week. They are both amazing and they have such strong testimonies of the gospel. My experience as a district leader is very rewarding but a lot of hard work. It is sometimes a little stressful but I just ask the Lord to help me have complete faith. My testimony has strengthened so much and I've learned a lot since I've been a district leader.
Wow I cant believe you guys went snowboarding that is awesome. I guess its that time of year again. That sounds like a lot of fun. I'm glad that Nicolas is enjoying the MTC that makes me really happy. I can still remember when I was in there. I loved the MTC. Wow that really seems like a long time ago. I'm glad Grandpa and Grandma are serving another mission I know I will be blessed because of their service. I got a letter from Grandpa Kitchen. It was really nice and I loved reading it.
I was excited to read the missionaries asked you to do missionary work. We have been working with the members to do their missionary work also. Really just pray to Heavenly Father and ask who you can share the gospel with. I know there is a lot of people that you can. And yes that sounds like a great idea to invite the Ver Steegs to my homecoming...I was surprised to read Taylor Judd and Cade Hill are already home from their missions. WOW time went by SO fast! Tell them hello for me! And I was surprised to hear Ryan maybe is thinking about going to College. That's awesome. When is he thinking about serving his mission??
Dad you asked me how the ward is. They are really nice and I love them. I always love every ward I serve in. That's one of the things I will miss so much about my mission, the people. I absolutely love the Maori people so much. And the Niuean people. I'm sure you loved the people of your mission too. My companion is great. I know when your doing the Lords work you just show Christ-like love to them.
Well I'm going to try and send some pictures to you guys. I just want you to know Mom that I absolutely love you so much. Your an incredible person and I admire you so much. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I truly miss you heaps and heaps. Please just let me know if there's anything I can do for you. Dad I also just love ya so much and I'm so excited someday we will be chillin' again going golfing fishing hunting and just all the other fun stuff. I'm grateful for your faithful example to me. I'm so thankful for how you raised me and supported me in everything I did. Your a wonderful dad and I couldn't ask for anyone better. I love all our family. May Heavenly Father bless you all so much. Please be safe this winter. Until next week...
Love Elder Kitchen
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Faka Lofa Lahi Atu
Dear Mom, Dad, Ryan, Jami, and Kaylee
How is my wonderful family doing this week? Weeks just fly by ehhh? I don't know maybe they go slower for you guys. Well its crazy to think you guys are all freezing and there is snow on the ground. Its nice and hot here. Sounds like a lot of fun things are happening and your all doing great.
I have had another great week. Just staying really busy with the work of God. Last P- Day me and my companion Elder Petty had a crazy experience. Our car was in the shop and so we decided to ride our bikes over to the east side of Rotorua. (it was pretty far but we needed to go see one of our investigators over there). Well it started to rain and then pour down and then just like a flood falling from heaven. WOW we got soaking wet!! I was pretty much swimming in water on my bike. It was an awesome experience I'll never forget. You should have seen the faces of the people that drove past! By the time we made it to the investigators house they didn't want to let us in because we were so wet, but I don't blame them. Tuesday was just a day of miracles. We taught a lot and just worked our butts off. We set Corban (one of our investigators) for baptism! He said yes and he's set for December 11. Nathan and Karin also got married in the chapel so they could obey the Law of Chastity. Pargat (our investigator from India) also accepted the invitation to be baptized on December 11. So right now we have 3 investigators set for Dec. 11. Wow its just great. All 3 are doing amazing and just progressing so well.
On Wednesday I did District Meeting and the zone leaders were there so I was a little nervous but it went well. Then we had a great day. There is a media companion going on for the free DVD called Joy to the World. So we're delivering DVDs to people and trying to get in their home to teach them the gospel. Oh my, Friday we had a funny experience with trying to do Nathan and Karins baptism programs. Saturday was the baptism of Nathan and Karin Tahi. They are just wonderful people. They are about 38 years old each. They have a wonderful family. They have such a strong testimony. The baptism service was great. Nathan bore a strong powerful testimony. Nathan and Karin were confirmed yesterday and Nathan received the priesthood. Wow I cant even describe how great it feels to watch the people you helped receive these ordinances. I also had a very spiritual experience yesterday. Kylie (the girl that I baptized in the last area) She gave a talk in church! YES ALREADY! she has such a strong testimony. So I got special permission to go watch her talk in the other wards sacrament meeting. There was a part where she got extremely emotional and said that God heard her cries and prayers and sent some angels to rescue her. (she was talking about me and my companion). She said we helped her change her life forever and now she has the restored gospel in her life. I cant even describe how much joy I felt. I am so thankful I was able to be a part of helping her receive the gospel. Moments like this are what makes the mission worth it!
Anyways it was great to read that your Thanksgiving went great. Guess what they don't celebrate Thanksgiving at all here so I totally forgot all about it. I didn't even know it was Thanksgiving. I was also jealous to hear about your hunting trip. That sounds like it was a blast! We'll have to go for sure. I cant believe Nick had his farewell. Wow that's crazy and your right next it will be Ryan. Time is flying by wow. I'm glad Kylie enjoyed my letter. I hope it made her happy and feel the spirit. Well that would be great if you could give my e mail to some more cousins for extended family.
Well sounds like its getting to that time a year again to go snowboarding! You'll have to tell me about it. Mom that was great to hear you had the missionaries over for dinner. Wow I bet that was great. I don't think we ever had the missionaries over for dinner before. That was fun to hear. I cant believe Kaylee was the first one to get stitches out of us. Wow I'm sorry to hear about that Kaylee....that's not good. Is everything alright now? And I know it was dumb they took the leaves out of my package. Thanks for doing that. That's a wonderful thing.. It was cool to hear that Elder Neilson came to our stake to talk to the youth. Ryan you'll have to tell me about that.
Well I'm so excited to get to call you on Christmas even though its like a month away. Well thanks for everything you do. Like I always say your just an amazing family. I love all of you. Until next week
Love Elder Kitchen
How is my wonderful family doing this week? Weeks just fly by ehhh? I don't know maybe they go slower for you guys. Well its crazy to think you guys are all freezing and there is snow on the ground. Its nice and hot here. Sounds like a lot of fun things are happening and your all doing great.
I have had another great week. Just staying really busy with the work of God. Last P- Day me and my companion Elder Petty had a crazy experience. Our car was in the shop and so we decided to ride our bikes over to the east side of Rotorua. (it was pretty far but we needed to go see one of our investigators over there). Well it started to rain and then pour down and then just like a flood falling from heaven. WOW we got soaking wet!! I was pretty much swimming in water on my bike. It was an awesome experience I'll never forget. You should have seen the faces of the people that drove past! By the time we made it to the investigators house they didn't want to let us in because we were so wet, but I don't blame them. Tuesday was just a day of miracles. We taught a lot and just worked our butts off. We set Corban (one of our investigators) for baptism! He said yes and he's set for December 11. Nathan and Karin also got married in the chapel so they could obey the Law of Chastity. Pargat (our investigator from India) also accepted the invitation to be baptized on December 11. So right now we have 3 investigators set for Dec. 11. Wow its just great. All 3 are doing amazing and just progressing so well.
On Wednesday I did District Meeting and the zone leaders were there so I was a little nervous but it went well. Then we had a great day. There is a media companion going on for the free DVD called Joy to the World. So we're delivering DVDs to people and trying to get in their home to teach them the gospel. Oh my, Friday we had a funny experience with trying to do Nathan and Karins baptism programs. Saturday was the baptism of Nathan and Karin Tahi. They are just wonderful people. They are about 38 years old each. They have a wonderful family. They have such a strong testimony. The baptism service was great. Nathan bore a strong powerful testimony. Nathan and Karin were confirmed yesterday and Nathan received the priesthood. Wow I cant even describe how great it feels to watch the people you helped receive these ordinances. I also had a very spiritual experience yesterday. Kylie (the girl that I baptized in the last area) She gave a talk in church! YES ALREADY! she has such a strong testimony. So I got special permission to go watch her talk in the other wards sacrament meeting. There was a part where she got extremely emotional and said that God heard her cries and prayers and sent some angels to rescue her. (she was talking about me and my companion). She said we helped her change her life forever and now she has the restored gospel in her life. I cant even describe how much joy I felt. I am so thankful I was able to be a part of helping her receive the gospel. Moments like this are what makes the mission worth it!
Anyways it was great to read that your Thanksgiving went great. Guess what they don't celebrate Thanksgiving at all here so I totally forgot all about it. I didn't even know it was Thanksgiving. I was also jealous to hear about your hunting trip. That sounds like it was a blast! We'll have to go for sure. I cant believe Nick had his farewell. Wow that's crazy and your right next it will be Ryan. Time is flying by wow. I'm glad Kylie enjoyed my letter. I hope it made her happy and feel the spirit. Well that would be great if you could give my e mail to some more cousins for extended family.
Well sounds like its getting to that time a year again to go snowboarding! You'll have to tell me about it. Mom that was great to hear you had the missionaries over for dinner. Wow I bet that was great. I don't think we ever had the missionaries over for dinner before. That was fun to hear. I cant believe Kaylee was the first one to get stitches out of us. Wow I'm sorry to hear about that Kaylee....that's not good. Is everything alright now? And I know it was dumb they took the leaves out of my package. Thanks for doing that. That's a wonderful thing.. It was cool to hear that Elder Neilson came to our stake to talk to the youth. Ryan you'll have to tell me about that.
Well I'm so excited to get to call you on Christmas even though its like a month away. Well thanks for everything you do. Like I always say your just an amazing family. I love all of you. Until next week
Love Elder Kitchen
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Kia Ora! and Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow it is just weird its already almost Thanksgiving again. I remember last Thanksgiving I was in the MTC. It is really crazy how time just flies away when your serving the Lord. Sometimes the days just fly by so fast because I am so incredibly busy serving the Lord. I have to work really hard to find time even to write in my journal. I haven't done the best at that but I'm really trying to do better. I used to write about everyday...I am still going to try and catch up. I don't know if i ever told you about my day...like the schedule but here it is:
6:30a.m.-wake up, pray, and exercise
7:00-get in the shower, get dressed, eat breakfast
8:00-personal study
9:00-companion study
10:00-Leave flat and begin proselyting
9:00p.m.-Return home and plan for next day (30 min)
9:30-call elders in district and report to zone leaders
10:15-prepare for bed and pray
10:30 lights out and sleep
That is a usual schedule of my day out on the mission field. I am just really busy. When a missionary is exactly obedient and a leader like me there is like NO time to do anything. I have to work really hard to find little bits of time to fit in something else. It is a sacrifice and it really is tiring to be a hard working missionary but the Lord Jesus Christ has done so much for me and this is all he asks from me is to serve with all my heart might mind and strength for two years. Each and everyday I am truly trying my very hardest and am giving it everything I have.
Anyways it was really good to hear from you mom and dad. It really is something I look forward to every P-day. Sounds like everyone is doing great and your all just staying busy. I cant believe it is snowing there already. That's crazy!! Well I am so sorry about not saying anything about the Halloween Package. I was so happy to get it and I loved it. It just kinda spaced my mind that I never said anything to you guys. I'm sorry about that. But thank you so much. I really loved all the candy and snacks. I miss all the American Stuff haha. I also was glad to get the pumpkin letters and face wash and stuff. Unfortunately the New Zealand government took out leaves or something before I got it...so I don't know what leave thing was in there. But my absolute favorite part was the Books of Mormon with your testimonies all in them. Wow that was amazing and it really was very special for me to read. It meant a lot to me and I still have them so I can read your testimonies. I will save them for some really great investigators that are around each of your ages and I will give them to them so they can read all your testimonies. At first before I saw your testimonies in them I was like what the heck? Why would they send Books of Mormon to me??! I am a missionary and like have A TON of Books of Mormon everywhere! I thought you guys were a little crazy! hahaha....just kidding :) but then I saw the testimonies and understood. I felt the spirit as I read each of your testimonies and it was something I loved to read so thank you all.
So yeah these past couple of weeks have just been great. I am loving being District Leader and it is very rewarding. I have received a lot of blessings from the Lord. There are 6 great elders in my district including me. There's myself and my companion Elder Petty. Then there's Elder Eckery (from Wellington New Zealand) and his companion is Elder 'Afa (my last companion) and then there's Elder Saunders (from Riverton Utah) and his companion is a brand new missionary named Elder Naicker (from Fiji). They are all really great missionaries. It is crazy because we are in the country instead of the city (you know Auckland) so we travel a lot. Well I do because I have to go on trade offs with the elders in my district. So I go down to Tokoroa and Tapo and Tarangi a lot. They are all really beautiful little cities in NZ. A couple Thursdays ago I told you guys I went down to Tapo and stuff. Wow it was just amazing. It was a great Trade off and I learned a lot. The lake Tapo is a beautiful lake and the city is a really big touristy town. We need to go there someday. I was able to give my first couple of baptism interviews to some people. it was kinda scary but I know the Lord helped me know exactly what to say. Saturday (13th) Lydia was baptized. It really was a great experience for me because I have been with her every step of the way and then got to baptize her. It was a very spiritual and meaningful experience for me. Yeah and then the last weekend we got to head up to Auckland. It was funny because there was like 5 of the exact same type and color of cars heading up one behind the other in a caravan all the way up to Auckland. And all the cars were full of missionaries. I wonder what someone would have thought driving by haha. Wow the mission conference was just great. It was all day event. It was great to have 3 general authorities come speak to us about missionary work. They kept saying how pleased they were with this great mission. I took heaps of notes.
This past Wed i went on another trade off down south again. We worked a lot in Tokoroa and had a cool experience down there. Then I interviewed a kid named jerimiah for baptism. We drove down to Tarangi and I got to see the French family (French is there last name) get baptized and also I got to interview two other young adults for baptism. Wow the Baptism of the French family was amazing. They live in a little branch with no baptismal font so they got to be baptized in the Lake Tapo. It was just an incredible experience . It was amazing to see them get baptized in the beautiful lake. It was a great experience to watch Bro French get baptized and then to get confirmed right on the beach then get the priesthood then get to baptize his two kids. (they usually don't do it that way anymore). This week I also witnessed a miracles. We prayed specifically for a new investigator and we had faith the Lord would lead us to one. So we looked at the map on where to go. One area looked just stood out to me so we went there. Then a certain street stood out to my companion. I got a prompting that the Lord had prepared someone and they lived on that street. I knew we had to go down that one. So we did and started knocking on doors. We were a little apprehensive about that street because it was a lot of really rich houses. But we had faith. The first door we knocked on was just horrible. It was one of the worst rejections I have ever had. A lady started screaming so loud at us even before she opened the door. Then she looked at us and screamed so loud and said that we woke up her baby swore at us and slammed the door so hard. Ouch! That hurt a little. We wanted to leave the area but I knew we should keep going. So we did and a couple of houses later a miracle happened. A lady let us right in her home and we had a incredible lesson with her. She really wants us to come back, She is really prepared by the Lord.
Well I'm sorry but I got to go now. I will try and send some more next week. But an answer to your question about my Christmas package. I would love slip on shoes and even some more black slacks, if you think it would be better you can just send money and I can buy them here. Its up to you whatever it best. Maybe another cool tie too. And about the candy or whatever. I don't know if you can send any doughnuts, but I miss those. They would probably get moldy. I don't care really. Anything I'm really easy. But I just love you all so much. I'm sorry if I left out anything. If there's anything from the last two e mails I forgot to answer please just ask it again in the next e mail. Thanks for everything.
Love Elder Kitchen
6:30a.m.-wake up, pray, and exercise
7:00-get in the shower, get dressed, eat breakfast
8:00-personal study
9:00-companion study
10:00-Leave flat and begin proselyting
9:00p.m.-Return home and plan for next day (30 min)
9:30-call elders in district and report to zone leaders
10:15-prepare for bed and pray
10:30 lights out and sleep
That is a usual schedule of my day out on the mission field. I am just really busy. When a missionary is exactly obedient and a leader like me there is like NO time to do anything. I have to work really hard to find little bits of time to fit in something else. It is a sacrifice and it really is tiring to be a hard working missionary but the Lord Jesus Christ has done so much for me and this is all he asks from me is to serve with all my heart might mind and strength for two years. Each and everyday I am truly trying my very hardest and am giving it everything I have.
Anyways it was really good to hear from you mom and dad. It really is something I look forward to every P-day. Sounds like everyone is doing great and your all just staying busy. I cant believe it is snowing there already. That's crazy!! Well I am so sorry about not saying anything about the Halloween Package. I was so happy to get it and I loved it. It just kinda spaced my mind that I never said anything to you guys. I'm sorry about that. But thank you so much. I really loved all the candy and snacks. I miss all the American Stuff haha. I also was glad to get the pumpkin letters and face wash and stuff. Unfortunately the New Zealand government took out leaves or something before I got it...so I don't know what leave thing was in there. But my absolute favorite part was the Books of Mormon with your testimonies all in them. Wow that was amazing and it really was very special for me to read. It meant a lot to me and I still have them so I can read your testimonies. I will save them for some really great investigators that are around each of your ages and I will give them to them so they can read all your testimonies. At first before I saw your testimonies in them I was like what the heck? Why would they send Books of Mormon to me??! I am a missionary and like have A TON of Books of Mormon everywhere! I thought you guys were a little crazy! hahaha....just kidding :) but then I saw the testimonies and understood. I felt the spirit as I read each of your testimonies and it was something I loved to read so thank you all.
So yeah these past couple of weeks have just been great. I am loving being District Leader and it is very rewarding. I have received a lot of blessings from the Lord. There are 6 great elders in my district including me. There's myself and my companion Elder Petty. Then there's Elder Eckery (from Wellington New Zealand) and his companion is Elder 'Afa (my last companion) and then there's Elder Saunders (from Riverton Utah) and his companion is a brand new missionary named Elder Naicker (from Fiji). They are all really great missionaries. It is crazy because we are in the country instead of the city (you know Auckland) so we travel a lot. Well I do because I have to go on trade offs with the elders in my district. So I go down to Tokoroa and Tapo and Tarangi a lot. They are all really beautiful little cities in NZ. A couple Thursdays ago I told you guys I went down to Tapo and stuff. Wow it was just amazing. It was a great Trade off and I learned a lot. The lake Tapo is a beautiful lake and the city is a really big touristy town. We need to go there someday. I was able to give my first couple of baptism interviews to some people. it was kinda scary but I know the Lord helped me know exactly what to say. Saturday (13th) Lydia was baptized. It really was a great experience for me because I have been with her every step of the way and then got to baptize her. It was a very spiritual and meaningful experience for me. Yeah and then the last weekend we got to head up to Auckland. It was funny because there was like 5 of the exact same type and color of cars heading up one behind the other in a caravan all the way up to Auckland. And all the cars were full of missionaries. I wonder what someone would have thought driving by haha. Wow the mission conference was just great. It was all day event. It was great to have 3 general authorities come speak to us about missionary work. They kept saying how pleased they were with this great mission. I took heaps of notes.
This past Wed i went on another trade off down south again. We worked a lot in Tokoroa and had a cool experience down there. Then I interviewed a kid named jerimiah for baptism. We drove down to Tarangi and I got to see the French family (French is there last name) get baptized and also I got to interview two other young adults for baptism. Wow the Baptism of the French family was amazing. They live in a little branch with no baptismal font so they got to be baptized in the Lake Tapo. It was just an incredible experience . It was amazing to see them get baptized in the beautiful lake. It was a great experience to watch Bro French get baptized and then to get confirmed right on the beach then get the priesthood then get to baptize his two kids. (they usually don't do it that way anymore). This week I also witnessed a miracles. We prayed specifically for a new investigator and we had faith the Lord would lead us to one. So we looked at the map on where to go. One area looked just stood out to me so we went there. Then a certain street stood out to my companion. I got a prompting that the Lord had prepared someone and they lived on that street. I knew we had to go down that one. So we did and started knocking on doors. We were a little apprehensive about that street because it was a lot of really rich houses. But we had faith. The first door we knocked on was just horrible. It was one of the worst rejections I have ever had. A lady started screaming so loud at us even before she opened the door. Then she looked at us and screamed so loud and said that we woke up her baby swore at us and slammed the door so hard. Ouch! That hurt a little. We wanted to leave the area but I knew we should keep going. So we did and a couple of houses later a miracle happened. A lady let us right in her home and we had a incredible lesson with her. She really wants us to come back, She is really prepared by the Lord.
Well I'm sorry but I got to go now. I will try and send some more next week. But an answer to your question about my Christmas package. I would love slip on shoes and even some more black slacks, if you think it would be better you can just send money and I can buy them here. Its up to you whatever it best. Maybe another cool tie too. And about the candy or whatever. I don't know if you can send any doughnuts, but I miss those. They would probably get moldy. I don't care really. Anything I'm really easy. But I just love you all so much. I'm sorry if I left out anything. If there's anything from the last two e mails I forgot to answer please just ask it again in the next e mail. Thanks for everything.
Love Elder Kitchen
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