Dear Family.
The weeks just fly by sometimes don't they. I don't know what I'd do without this e mail every week. I love e mailing all of you and to hear how your all doing. Esther, Paulette, and Samantha e mailed me this week. It was so good to hear from them. I wish I had more time to e mail all the family. I've already written them back. I can e mail a lot faster and I actually have time to do that. I would love to hear from some other cousins and family members. I'm sorry I always ask but can you have some more cousins e mail me. I'd love that...thanks. Mom and Dad I just want you to know I love you guys so much. Awee man I miss the family so much. If it weren't for the Lords work I know I couldn't be away from all of you this long. I miss Ryan so very much and I think about him a lot. How is Ryan doing?? I hope everything is great with him. Thanks for the up dates on how is knee is doing. I was very sad to hear when that happened. So its SO crazy to think everyone is graduating pretty soon. Ryan and Ashley from High school and MOM from college...Wow Congratulation MOM!!! I'm so happy to hear your about to graduate. I can remember clear back when I was still at home and you were going to college. I'm sure your so happy and cant wait to graduate. I wish I could come and support you and be apart of it, but you know I'm there in spirit and my prayers are with you. Seriously though what an amazing accomplishment, mom your incredible and I'm sure not a lot of people could have done what your doing. I really do admire what you've done. I just love your example of hard work and your effort in trying to help others. I know that's one of the reasons why I have been able to accomplish the things I have on my mission....because of your example. I love you.
Dad thanks for your e mail...don't worry when I get back I will teach you how to pronounce all the Maori and Niuean words...Its pretty crazy how they say and do things over here. But yeah sounds like your staying busy and working really hard. I'm glad your park city trip went well and you were able to go skiing a lot. Yeah its been raining a lot here! I heard it rains the most here or something. Its actually raining heaps right now.. its rained a ton last night too. But I guess that's why it is so beautiful and green here. Time flies ehhh...?? Can you believe I've been out of my mission for this long already! Wow it is just really weird. I'm glad to be able to leave Rotorua and experience something else. I have more responsibility...what was it like when you were District leader? or zone leader or whatever? What are some of the things that helped you? You should tell me about some more experiences that you had on your mission. One of the things I have to do every Tuesday is do District Meeting...I just always hope I'm doing a good job and being an effective missionary.
This past week was cool. I went on some trade offs and got to travel and see some other parts around the north of New Zealand. I guess we have a leadership training down in Auckland this Thursday so I will go down there. I did 7 interviews for baptism this week. Because I'm the District Leader I have to interview the investigators in my district for baptism. It was a great and spiritual experience. We have had some great things happen this week and some trails too....Our investigators that are set with a date aren't looking too solid to get baptized...but we are still having faith. Some miracles that happened this week are I was in the area with one of the zone leaders and I didn't know the area too well. We had prayed that we would be lead to some new investigators. I got prompted to try this certain house. I rode my bike in the drive way and knocked on the door. A really nice Maori guy welcomed us in straight away. He and his wife sat down and listened to us. They are both very religious and have a very strong belief in Jesus Christ. It was amazing because we were able to teach the message of the restoration and bare our strong powerful witnesses to them of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It was just really a great lesson. And then we had another experience where we tried to teach a potential investigator and he let us in and we were able to teach about God and prayer and how is answers out prayers. Then we committed him to pray with us right then and there and so he did. And he got an answer straight away. He said he felt this incredible feeling, he was silent and then started to get tears in his eyes and said he knew that God had answered his prayers. It was such a spiritual experience to watch him receive his first answer to a prayer. I know Satan tried to stop it because we had some big distractions during the lesson but we still keep teaching.
I'm glad to hear Jami made the Golf team!! that's so cool...I'm excited to go play some golf with her when I get home. Tell her I'm very proud of her. I'm sure it was cool for her to try out and make it, she is probably way excited. And that's also great to hear that Kaylee is going to play soccer...that's really cool she is such a good player. I'm also way excited to hear Ryan can start working again..that's good. Yeah its crazy I'm on bikes again eh..? I get rained on sometimes and its really tiring biking up these huge hills everyday....I'll be more in shape that's for sure.
Well I got to go now....the other missionaries are starting to leave and finish their e mails.
Love you,
Elder Tyler Kitchen
Happy heart day
We love you too!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Kia Ora! Whanau! Kei te pehea koe?
Haha it means Hello family! How are you? In Maori language.
Well first things first because I know how you guys are about worrying....I heard about the earth quake in Japan....its very sad. Its pretty scary all the natural disasters happening throughout the world..there is SO many that have happened since I've been on my mission. It definitely is the signs of the times. Its so important for us to be righteous in keeping the commandments. We did have a Tsunami watch in NZ and I think the very tip of the north island got hit a tiny bit but nothing bad at all. I am doing very good and safe. But guess what?!?! I got transferred!! YAY!! President Porter sent me right past Auckland and UP NORTH to WHANGAREI !!! it is clear up north in the country past Auckland. Whangarei is pronounced (Fang-arei), the wh in Maori makes the sound of an F. Haha Cool eh? I'm very excited to be up here and experience the beautiful country of northern New Zealand. The funny thing is I cant believe I've still never served in Auckland. That is very unusual for the amount of time I've been on my mission. Most missionaries serve a lot or at least some of their mission in the city. I don't really mind...I would like to serve there someday and experience serving in the big city but I love the country. President Porter said I'm a very powerful missionary out in the country and that's where the Lord wants me to be. It is very nice up here and I'm enjoying being here. I got here last Thursday. This is my first P day here. My companion's name is Elder Daniels! He is from Elko Nevada in the U.S. He has been out for about 5 months on his mission. He is really nice, cool, and we get a long SO well. He is a hard worker and he is a great missionary. He is tall and skinny just like me. I'm excited to work with him. My zone leaders are Elder Aldridge and Elder Wingenton. I am still the District Leader up here. I have 5 companion ships in my district including our companionship. There are two more companion ships than in my last district. There is me and my companion Elder Daniels, then Elder Atkin and Elder Tokay, and then Elder Davis and Elder Hussain, and then there is a companionship of sister missionaries in my district. They are so nice and it is a blessing to be able to work around sister missionaries. There names are sister Hafoka and sister Mouata. And then the last companionship in my district are the zone leaders. WOW I have a huge district to supervise, help, lift, and encourage. I feel very blessed by the Lord to do so but I'm a little nervous. The Elders and sisters in my district are from around the world. Only one other elder and myself are from Utah. The rest are from different parts of the world. Elder Daniels is from Nevada, Elder Atkin is from Oaklahoma, Elder Toka is from Vanautu (island in Pacific), Elder Davis is from Utah, Elder Hussian was born in Fiji but lives is Australia, Sister Hafoka is from Hawaii, Sister Mouata is from the islands of Kitibus (spelling is wrong in a lot of these) Elder Alridge is from Virginia and elder Wingenton is from California. I am so excited to work around these wonderful elders and sisters. I love it here. There is miracles happening all the time and the district is doing SO good. We are baptizing a lot of people and miracles are happening.
Well I'm serving in the Whangarei 3rd ward. Guess what I am on a bike again.... :( so I lost my car....ugh, its alright though). And guess what we have SUCH a hilly area! Our area is basically on two huge hills. So we have to bike up and down hills all day long. I get so tired at the end of the day. I know the Lord gives me strength because I cannot do it without Him. My legs are going to be big and strong by the time I leave here. We live right next to some members. The ward seems really cool. I only met some of them at church last Sunday. The flat is nice and an average size. There is an apple tree right outside our flat...oh guess what mom, I absolutely LOVE eating fruit now!! Almost any kind of fruit, it doesn't matter what it is, I'll eat it. I love it! I love eating the apples right outside our flat. Its like a treat for me. I cant believe I never ate our apples from out tree. I'm so dumb for not doing that. when I get home I'll eat a lot of apples. I'm telling ya guys you'll be surprised how I'm not a picky eater at all anymore! We are in downtown Whangarei now emailing. Its in the other elders area and they pick us up with there car. Its nice to work around other missionaries. I'm grateful I am starting to get to know a lot more missionaries. I love our investigators in this area too. We have two investigators set for baptism. Kevin and Haden. They are both in the upper 20's and they are awesome. We would more than love it if you pray for them and that all their concerns will go away so they can be baptized at the end of this month. Whangarei is really close the ocean. I can sometimes see it when we are up on the hills. I guess we cover another town outside the city and its right next to the ocean so that'll be cool to go to. The district has a lot of baptisms coming up and I will be the one to interview them all. This leadership position is making me stretch and become a better person. Aww I absolutely love the Lord Jesus Christ and I'm so thankful for everything He has done for me. Transfers were so great. I got to see a lot of my old companions including Elder Sessions. He is down in Hamilton again but this time is he a zone leader. It was also cool to see all the new missionaries come in and have to stand in the middle of the huge circle of missionaries and shot where they were from, who their companion is and where they are going. I remember when I did that...it brings back memories.
It was sad to say goodbye to all the members and people in Rotorua and I'm going to miss that place. But I'm grateful that I was transferred...I was there for too long. It was really good though because I was able to say goodbye to a lot of the investigators, members, recent converts and everyone. The Bishop of the Tarawera ward (Bishop Wilson) said some very nice words to me and thanked me for all the hard work and things I've done for their ward. A lot of people said way nice things to me, we took photos, and said goodbye. I got emotional because I love the people. I just love the New Zealand people so very much. I'm going to and already do miss everyone that I've met on my mission. I really miss the people from Niue too. One experience that was really cool was the night before I left (when I was saying goodbye to everyone) I went up to the chapel and the first ward I was in (the Fairy Springs Ward) was having a ward council. I went inside the bishops office to say goodbye. There was a lot of people and it was so nice to see them again and say goodbye to all those members. We got to take a picture too.
Thank you for the pictures you sent last time. I liked them. Next Monday you should send more. Also you should tell some of the cousins and family to e mail me because it will be easier if I email some of them. I am going to try and do better and writing people here. Mom you were wondering if we got to see real kiwi birds. Yes that was what i was talking about. You can't see them very often over here because they are endangered. How are Jazzi and Zoe doing? I miss those dogs. Our member neighbors have a dog that always comes over and we pet her and shes so cute. Her name is Molly. Well I'm about really to go now. Thanks for everything family. I love you all so very much. Your the best and I miss everyone of you so much. I'll pray for you everyday. Tell everyone in the family I love them all to death and miss each and everyone of them. I miss all my family and friends so much. Take care and God bless everyone.
Love your son and brother, Elder Kitchen! :)
Well first things first because I know how you guys are about worrying....I heard about the earth quake in Japan....its very sad. Its pretty scary all the natural disasters happening throughout the world..there is SO many that have happened since I've been on my mission. It definitely is the signs of the times. Its so important for us to be righteous in keeping the commandments. We did have a Tsunami watch in NZ and I think the very tip of the north island got hit a tiny bit but nothing bad at all. I am doing very good and safe. But guess what?!?! I got transferred!! YAY!! President Porter sent me right past Auckland and UP NORTH to WHANGAREI !!! it is clear up north in the country past Auckland. Whangarei is pronounced (Fang-arei), the wh in Maori makes the sound of an F. Haha Cool eh? I'm very excited to be up here and experience the beautiful country of northern New Zealand. The funny thing is I cant believe I've still never served in Auckland. That is very unusual for the amount of time I've been on my mission. Most missionaries serve a lot or at least some of their mission in the city. I don't really mind...I would like to serve there someday and experience serving in the big city but I love the country. President Porter said I'm a very powerful missionary out in the country and that's where the Lord wants me to be. It is very nice up here and I'm enjoying being here. I got here last Thursday. This is my first P day here. My companion's name is Elder Daniels! He is from Elko Nevada in the U.S. He has been out for about 5 months on his mission. He is really nice, cool, and we get a long SO well. He is a hard worker and he is a great missionary. He is tall and skinny just like me. I'm excited to work with him. My zone leaders are Elder Aldridge and Elder Wingenton. I am still the District Leader up here. I have 5 companion ships in my district including our companionship. There are two more companion ships than in my last district. There is me and my companion Elder Daniels, then Elder Atkin and Elder Tokay, and then Elder Davis and Elder Hussain, and then there is a companionship of sister missionaries in my district. They are so nice and it is a blessing to be able to work around sister missionaries. There names are sister Hafoka and sister Mouata. And then the last companionship in my district are the zone leaders. WOW I have a huge district to supervise, help, lift, and encourage. I feel very blessed by the Lord to do so but I'm a little nervous. The Elders and sisters in my district are from around the world. Only one other elder and myself are from Utah. The rest are from different parts of the world. Elder Daniels is from Nevada, Elder Atkin is from Oaklahoma, Elder Toka is from Vanautu (island in Pacific), Elder Davis is from Utah, Elder Hussian was born in Fiji but lives is Australia, Sister Hafoka is from Hawaii, Sister Mouata is from the islands of Kitibus (spelling is wrong in a lot of these) Elder Alridge is from Virginia and elder Wingenton is from California. I am so excited to work around these wonderful elders and sisters. I love it here. There is miracles happening all the time and the district is doing SO good. We are baptizing a lot of people and miracles are happening.
Well I'm serving in the Whangarei 3rd ward. Guess what I am on a bike again.... :( so I lost my car....ugh, its alright though). And guess what we have SUCH a hilly area! Our area is basically on two huge hills. So we have to bike up and down hills all day long. I get so tired at the end of the day. I know the Lord gives me strength because I cannot do it without Him. My legs are going to be big and strong by the time I leave here. We live right next to some members. The ward seems really cool. I only met some of them at church last Sunday. The flat is nice and an average size. There is an apple tree right outside our flat...oh guess what mom, I absolutely LOVE eating fruit now!! Almost any kind of fruit, it doesn't matter what it is, I'll eat it. I love it! I love eating the apples right outside our flat. Its like a treat for me. I cant believe I never ate our apples from out tree. I'm so dumb for not doing that. when I get home I'll eat a lot of apples. I'm telling ya guys you'll be surprised how I'm not a picky eater at all anymore! We are in downtown Whangarei now emailing. Its in the other elders area and they pick us up with there car. Its nice to work around other missionaries. I'm grateful I am starting to get to know a lot more missionaries. I love our investigators in this area too. We have two investigators set for baptism. Kevin and Haden. They are both in the upper 20's and they are awesome. We would more than love it if you pray for them and that all their concerns will go away so they can be baptized at the end of this month. Whangarei is really close the ocean. I can sometimes see it when we are up on the hills. I guess we cover another town outside the city and its right next to the ocean so that'll be cool to go to. The district has a lot of baptisms coming up and I will be the one to interview them all. This leadership position is making me stretch and become a better person. Aww I absolutely love the Lord Jesus Christ and I'm so thankful for everything He has done for me. Transfers were so great. I got to see a lot of my old companions including Elder Sessions. He is down in Hamilton again but this time is he a zone leader. It was also cool to see all the new missionaries come in and have to stand in the middle of the huge circle of missionaries and shot where they were from, who their companion is and where they are going. I remember when I did that...it brings back memories.
It was sad to say goodbye to all the members and people in Rotorua and I'm going to miss that place. But I'm grateful that I was transferred...I was there for too long. It was really good though because I was able to say goodbye to a lot of the investigators, members, recent converts and everyone. The Bishop of the Tarawera ward (Bishop Wilson) said some very nice words to me and thanked me for all the hard work and things I've done for their ward. A lot of people said way nice things to me, we took photos, and said goodbye. I got emotional because I love the people. I just love the New Zealand people so very much. I'm going to and already do miss everyone that I've met on my mission. I really miss the people from Niue too. One experience that was really cool was the night before I left (when I was saying goodbye to everyone) I went up to the chapel and the first ward I was in (the Fairy Springs Ward) was having a ward council. I went inside the bishops office to say goodbye. There was a lot of people and it was so nice to see them again and say goodbye to all those members. We got to take a picture too.
Thank you for the pictures you sent last time. I liked them. Next Monday you should send more. Also you should tell some of the cousins and family to e mail me because it will be easier if I email some of them. I am going to try and do better and writing people here. Mom you were wondering if we got to see real kiwi birds. Yes that was what i was talking about. You can't see them very often over here because they are endangered. How are Jazzi and Zoe doing? I miss those dogs. Our member neighbors have a dog that always comes over and we pet her and shes so cute. Her name is Molly. Well I'm about really to go now. Thanks for everything family. I love you all so very much. Your the best and I miss everyone of you so much. I'll pray for you everyday. Tell everyone in the family I love them all to death and miss each and everyone of them. I miss all my family and friends so much. Take care and God bless everyone.
Love your son and brother, Elder Kitchen! :)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Kia Ora Kitchen family!!
How are you guys all doing?? Wow I was just reflecting when I found out where I was going to serve. Remember when I opened my call letter. We had all our family and I just yelled out New Zealand Auckland mission!! Awww I was SO happy. I feel so blessed to serve here. It truly is a beautiful country and I just absolutely LOVE the people here!! I have made so many life long friends that mean so much to me. The country is beautiful and the mission is just undescribable! I just love every single second of my mission. There is so many things I miss about home, normal life, and people....most of all you guys. But there are times when I just wish I could stay on a mission for a long time. Because it truly is just a dream come true. But there are those times when you wish you were anywhere else except here hahaha. Just reflecting on my mission...I'm so blessed to have gone to Niue and New Zealand. Awe I've met so many wonderful people. Its always so sad to leave the ward and the people to whom you just come to love. I am always sad to leave the investigators and everyone else too. Well I haven't found out about transfers yet...but I will on Wednesday. I have a feeling that I will get transferred. Deep down in side I really want to leave...even though I will really miss Rotorua...but I've been here for so long..its time for a change now. I wonder where I'm going to go. If we ever come back to New Zealand...WE HAVE to come back to Rotorua...hey I was thinking one of the good things about me not serving in very many areas yet is that if we wanted to come back and see the areas where I served at least so far all we would have to go to is Hamilton, Rotorua, and NIUE!!! YAYY!!! haha just kidding that would be a dream come true if I got to go back there!!
Any way I really want to tell you about our P day we have had today. Its the reason why I am e mailing so late. A member got us into this Maori Culture Adventure center! It was so awesome and I loved it so much. I took so many pictures and it really got us involved with the Maori culture. Wow the people here have such a rich incredible culture but the sad thing is a lot of Maori people have lost most of their culture...but some still carry it on. I love hearing people talk in Maori its so cool. I wish I learned more Niuean and then learn some Maori so I could bear my testimony in the language during my home coming. ..I might still try and do that. Well this place we just learned so much about the culture and their traditions and beliefs. We got to see all this cool stuff. We got to go inside a Marae (its kinda like their culture church/temple) We then got to go see this traditional Maori village. Then we got to go see all these weapons, costumes, and everything. Then we got to go see REAL alive KIWI's Wow there are so Cool! Then we got to go to a traditional Maori performance. Wow it was just amazing!!! The dancers and performers were just unreal. They did the Haka!! The war dance. They did a lot of dances. They also did this crazy welcome thing to welcome us onto the Marae and Elder Russell was the chief guy...it will take me too long to explain what they did....but man sometime you'll just have to come experience it. Then guess what!! We went to a real natural geyser! Like old faithful in yellow stone. Its called Te puia and its the biggest geyser in the southern Hemisphere. It was cool we waited for a while but then it erupted! WOW it was awesome and it burst out...I guess the water is like 250 degrees F. It was just so fun and really cool, There is so many cool things to do here in Rotorua but most of the stuff we cant do as missionaries...but we got to do that.
Well my week was really good. We went on a lot of trade offs and it was nice to be with some of the other elders. We got to go to our mission tour/zone conference on Thursday. We drove up to Hamilton. It was just SO Spiritual as usual. I loved it so much and took so many notes. The spirit whispered to me so many things I needed to hear. One thing I am going to miss so much about my mission is those zone conferences. I cant even tell you how incredible they are. I wish you could have experienced yourselves. President Collister is such a good speaker. We gave a breath taking training on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Then guess what President Porter asked me to stand up and share my feelings about the Atonement in front of all the missionaries. I got emotional and just bore a powerful testimony. I felt the spirit so strong. I learned so many things at that conference. I wish I would have known President Collister knew Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth, because I got to shake his hand and talk to him for just a little bit but I didn't know to say anything about them. After I got to go on a trade off with Elder Breeze ( my zone leader) over in Tauranga. It was so cool to serve over there a couple of days. It is absolutely beautiful over there. Its right on the coast of New Zealand. I got to see the beach and the ocean...it is truly incredible. We had some really cool experiences and saw some miracles. I learned a lot from him, he is such a great missionary. Saturday we went to our little town we cover called Mururpada. Sunday was good also.. church was great. We had such a powerful testimony meeting and I bore my testimony and just thanked the ward for everything and basically said goodbye and told them I'm going to miss Rotorua so much. I'm so used to bearing my testimony now and I don't really get nervous anymore up at the front of church. We had a lot of investigators at church and a lot of them are progressing. I'm sure the ward will start to have a lot of baptisms! I'm just sad because I wont be here to see Jessica get baptized and Judy and the other progressing investigators. Oh well where ever I am there will be people to rescue and bring into the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It was so good to hear from you guys....I loved reading your e mails. Sounds like you all had fun in Park City this week...especially you dad. Man you did a lot of skiing. I'm sure your going to be pro soon...haha I miss snowboarding...its weird to think next winter I will probably be able to go snow boarding, WOW Oh by the way its starting to get a little cold here...that probably means its getting a little warmer there eh? Oh yeah tell Grandpa Kitchen HAPPY BIRTHDAY for me!! I hope he has a great wonderful day and just tell him a love him so much. I'm excited to see them when I get back. Thank him for the letter he wrote me too, I loved it. Oh yeah before I forget I did get your package for valentines day a long time ago. I loved it too. The candy was great and I have almost ate all of it already. Thanks for that. Its good to hear Ryan is getting better. I have been praying for him. I'm glad he is better but that's still really sad he wont be able to do all those things.
Well I love you all so much. I miss ya all. Have a great week.
Love Elder Kitchen
How are you guys all doing?? Wow I was just reflecting when I found out where I was going to serve. Remember when I opened my call letter. We had all our family and I just yelled out New Zealand Auckland mission!! Awww I was SO happy. I feel so blessed to serve here. It truly is a beautiful country and I just absolutely LOVE the people here!! I have made so many life long friends that mean so much to me. The country is beautiful and the mission is just undescribable! I just love every single second of my mission. There is so many things I miss about home, normal life, and people....most of all you guys. But there are times when I just wish I could stay on a mission for a long time. Because it truly is just a dream come true. But there are those times when you wish you were anywhere else except here hahaha. Just reflecting on my mission...I'm so blessed to have gone to Niue and New Zealand. Awe I've met so many wonderful people. Its always so sad to leave the ward and the people to whom you just come to love. I am always sad to leave the investigators and everyone else too. Well I haven't found out about transfers yet...but I will on Wednesday. I have a feeling that I will get transferred. Deep down in side I really want to leave...even though I will really miss Rotorua...but I've been here for so long..its time for a change now. I wonder where I'm going to go. If we ever come back to New Zealand...WE HAVE to come back to Rotorua...hey I was thinking one of the good things about me not serving in very many areas yet is that if we wanted to come back and see the areas where I served at least so far all we would have to go to is Hamilton, Rotorua, and NIUE!!! YAYY!!! haha just kidding that would be a dream come true if I got to go back there!!
Any way I really want to tell you about our P day we have had today. Its the reason why I am e mailing so late. A member got us into this Maori Culture Adventure center! It was so awesome and I loved it so much. I took so many pictures and it really got us involved with the Maori culture. Wow the people here have such a rich incredible culture but the sad thing is a lot of Maori people have lost most of their culture...but some still carry it on. I love hearing people talk in Maori its so cool. I wish I learned more Niuean and then learn some Maori so I could bear my testimony in the language during my home coming. ..I might still try and do that. Well this place we just learned so much about the culture and their traditions and beliefs. We got to see all this cool stuff. We got to go inside a Marae (its kinda like their culture church/temple) We then got to go see this traditional Maori village. Then we got to go see all these weapons, costumes, and everything. Then we got to go see REAL alive KIWI's Wow there are so Cool! Then we got to go to a traditional Maori performance. Wow it was just amazing!!! The dancers and performers were just unreal. They did the Haka!! The war dance. They did a lot of dances. They also did this crazy welcome thing to welcome us onto the Marae and Elder Russell was the chief guy...it will take me too long to explain what they did....but man sometime you'll just have to come experience it. Then guess what!! We went to a real natural geyser! Like old faithful in yellow stone. Its called Te puia and its the biggest geyser in the southern Hemisphere. It was cool we waited for a while but then it erupted! WOW it was awesome and it burst out...I guess the water is like 250 degrees F. It was just so fun and really cool, There is so many cool things to do here in Rotorua but most of the stuff we cant do as missionaries...but we got to do that.
Well my week was really good. We went on a lot of trade offs and it was nice to be with some of the other elders. We got to go to our mission tour/zone conference on Thursday. We drove up to Hamilton. It was just SO Spiritual as usual. I loved it so much and took so many notes. The spirit whispered to me so many things I needed to hear. One thing I am going to miss so much about my mission is those zone conferences. I cant even tell you how incredible they are. I wish you could have experienced yourselves. President Collister is such a good speaker. We gave a breath taking training on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Then guess what President Porter asked me to stand up and share my feelings about the Atonement in front of all the missionaries. I got emotional and just bore a powerful testimony. I felt the spirit so strong. I learned so many things at that conference. I wish I would have known President Collister knew Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth, because I got to shake his hand and talk to him for just a little bit but I didn't know to say anything about them. After I got to go on a trade off with Elder Breeze ( my zone leader) over in Tauranga. It was so cool to serve over there a couple of days. It is absolutely beautiful over there. Its right on the coast of New Zealand. I got to see the beach and the ocean...it is truly incredible. We had some really cool experiences and saw some miracles. I learned a lot from him, he is such a great missionary. Saturday we went to our little town we cover called Mururpada. Sunday was good also.. church was great. We had such a powerful testimony meeting and I bore my testimony and just thanked the ward for everything and basically said goodbye and told them I'm going to miss Rotorua so much. I'm so used to bearing my testimony now and I don't really get nervous anymore up at the front of church. We had a lot of investigators at church and a lot of them are progressing. I'm sure the ward will start to have a lot of baptisms! I'm just sad because I wont be here to see Jessica get baptized and Judy and the other progressing investigators. Oh well where ever I am there will be people to rescue and bring into the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It was so good to hear from you guys....I loved reading your e mails. Sounds like you all had fun in Park City this week...especially you dad. Man you did a lot of skiing. I'm sure your going to be pro soon...haha I miss snowboarding...its weird to think next winter I will probably be able to go snow boarding, WOW Oh by the way its starting to get a little cold here...that probably means its getting a little warmer there eh? Oh yeah tell Grandpa Kitchen HAPPY BIRTHDAY for me!! I hope he has a great wonderful day and just tell him a love him so much. I'm excited to see them when I get back. Thank him for the letter he wrote me too, I loved it. Oh yeah before I forget I did get your package for valentines day a long time ago. I loved it too. The candy was great and I have almost ate all of it already. Thanks for that. Its good to hear Ryan is getting better. I have been praying for him. I'm glad he is better but that's still really sad he wont be able to do all those things.
Well I love you all so much. I miss ya all. Have a great week.
Love Elder Kitchen
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Dear Family!
I am so grateful to be able to e mail my wonderful family! I love you all so very much and think and pray for you all the time. I am so grateful to say I am doing great, safe, healthy, and just really happy. Awww I just love this wonderful gospel and I'm so truly grateful to represent the Lord Jesus Christ for these two wonderful years of my life. Sometimes its so weird to think I've been gone for such a long time and that I've haven't seen any of your faces...I miss them. I know it will be one incredible reunion when I return home. But that's not for a long time so I don't need to be thinking about that at all. I'm doing really good...I am staying focused and working really hard. I know the Lord gives me strength everyday. Transfers are coming up next Thursday and I have a strong feeling that I'm getting transferred. I actually hope I get transferred because I've been in Rotorua so long and I want to experience something else.
I'm sure you all heard about the earth quake down in Christchurch. Well just so you know nothing happened at all in Rotorua. I am perfectly safe and okay. We didn't even feel a movement. But members have told me somethings and I've seen just glimpses of what has happened down in Christchurch. It is very sad and horrible. I feel extremely bad for all the people of New Zealand. I guess this is one of the worst natural disasters that has ever happened in NZ. A lot of people have been killed, injured, and A TON of people have lost everything including their homes. A lot of people have left to go down to Christchurch and help them out. I have been remembering them in my prayers.
My week was pretty good...some ups and some really hard downs. Last P day was really fun, we went fishing...I never caught anything and my companion just caught a really small fish. we need to go to a better spot next time. We have had some miracles and some really good lessons. We received 8 new investigators this week and had some very spiritual lessons. We also had 8 investigators that came to church yesterday! Jessica and Adam got married too! It was great! A huge trail is that a couple of days before her baptism she told us that she isn't fully healed from having her baby...so she cant get into the water. So she is set for baptism this Saturday. And another one was a couple of days before Judy's baptism she told us she wasn't fully commit ed at this point to pay her tithing so she wasn't baptized either. It was pretty hard but I'll just keep moving forward. Jasmine's partner doesn't want to get married so Jasmine wasn't baptized either. The only thing is that he wont marry her so they aren't keeping the law of chastity.
Sounds like the family is doing alright. Man I still feel really bad about Ryan. Thats too bad that he can't play any sports for that long. He must of really messed up his knee. My prayers are with him. But I'm glad that he is able to walk and drive better and that he knee is getting a little better. Oh yeah I remember when I had senior- itis! Haha yeah it gets hard but its good just to keep it up because your grades are important for college. Dad it was cool to hear that your going up to Park City again. I'm sorry that your still sick. You've been sick for a while...I hope you start to feel better. Mom that is so cool that your teaching now. I wish I could watch your class as you teach.
Its cool that President Porter is moving to Alpine because he will live so close to us! The new mission president is from Perth Australia! So that's not far from here but way far away from Utah!
Oh yeah we had a crazy experience. Well we always have people yelling at us sometimes and some people are really rude to missionaries. Its funny to see some of the experiences you have when you go tracking. Well we were having a lesson with Jessica. We actually and just finished watching the DVD on Joseph Smith and the spirit was really strong, and then comes in her uncle, and he was drunk, way drunk. We were late to our next appointment. and he asked us in a really rude way to teach him at that very second. We told him we would set up an appointment for him. Oh man he didn't like that answer. He was drunk and just being stupid. It's funny I think, to see the stupid things people do when they're drunk. I have had a ton of crazy experiences I just don't always type them out.
Well we have our zone conference in Hamilton this Thursday! I'm excited President Collister (the Pacific area president) is coming. It will be cool. Well I got to go now. I really love you all so very much. Thanks for all your prayers and everything you do for me. I couldn't be out here serving if it wasn't for you. Thanks again. I love you.
Love Elder Kitchen
I am so grateful to be able to e mail my wonderful family! I love you all so very much and think and pray for you all the time. I am so grateful to say I am doing great, safe, healthy, and just really happy. Awww I just love this wonderful gospel and I'm so truly grateful to represent the Lord Jesus Christ for these two wonderful years of my life. Sometimes its so weird to think I've been gone for such a long time and that I've haven't seen any of your faces...I miss them. I know it will be one incredible reunion when I return home. But that's not for a long time so I don't need to be thinking about that at all. I'm doing really good...I am staying focused and working really hard. I know the Lord gives me strength everyday. Transfers are coming up next Thursday and I have a strong feeling that I'm getting transferred. I actually hope I get transferred because I've been in Rotorua so long and I want to experience something else.
I'm sure you all heard about the earth quake down in Christchurch. Well just so you know nothing happened at all in Rotorua. I am perfectly safe and okay. We didn't even feel a movement. But members have told me somethings and I've seen just glimpses of what has happened down in Christchurch. It is very sad and horrible. I feel extremely bad for all the people of New Zealand. I guess this is one of the worst natural disasters that has ever happened in NZ. A lot of people have been killed, injured, and A TON of people have lost everything including their homes. A lot of people have left to go down to Christchurch and help them out. I have been remembering them in my prayers.
My week was pretty good...some ups and some really hard downs. Last P day was really fun, we went fishing...I never caught anything and my companion just caught a really small fish. we need to go to a better spot next time. We have had some miracles and some really good lessons. We received 8 new investigators this week and had some very spiritual lessons. We also had 8 investigators that came to church yesterday! Jessica and Adam got married too! It was great! A huge trail is that a couple of days before her baptism she told us that she isn't fully healed from having her baby...so she cant get into the water. So she is set for baptism this Saturday. And another one was a couple of days before Judy's baptism she told us she wasn't fully commit ed at this point to pay her tithing so she wasn't baptized either. It was pretty hard but I'll just keep moving forward. Jasmine's partner doesn't want to get married so Jasmine wasn't baptized either. The only thing is that he wont marry her so they aren't keeping the law of chastity.
Sounds like the family is doing alright. Man I still feel really bad about Ryan. Thats too bad that he can't play any sports for that long. He must of really messed up his knee. My prayers are with him. But I'm glad that he is able to walk and drive better and that he knee is getting a little better. Oh yeah I remember when I had senior- itis! Haha yeah it gets hard but its good just to keep it up because your grades are important for college. Dad it was cool to hear that your going up to Park City again. I'm sorry that your still sick. You've been sick for a while...I hope you start to feel better. Mom that is so cool that your teaching now. I wish I could watch your class as you teach.
Its cool that President Porter is moving to Alpine because he will live so close to us! The new mission president is from Perth Australia! So that's not far from here but way far away from Utah!
Oh yeah we had a crazy experience. Well we always have people yelling at us sometimes and some people are really rude to missionaries. Its funny to see some of the experiences you have when you go tracking. Well we were having a lesson with Jessica. We actually and just finished watching the DVD on Joseph Smith and the spirit was really strong, and then comes in her uncle, and he was drunk, way drunk. We were late to our next appointment. and he asked us in a really rude way to teach him at that very second. We told him we would set up an appointment for him. Oh man he didn't like that answer. He was drunk and just being stupid. It's funny I think, to see the stupid things people do when they're drunk. I have had a ton of crazy experiences I just don't always type them out.
Well we have our zone conference in Hamilton this Thursday! I'm excited President Collister (the Pacific area president) is coming. It will be cool. Well I got to go now. I really love you all so very much. Thanks for all your prayers and everything you do for me. I couldn't be out here serving if it wasn't for you. Thanks again. I love you.
Love Elder Kitchen
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