Enjoy Elder Kitchen's final emial from the mission field. Also note that I posted his last letter earlier today.

Dear Family, November 13, 2011

My heart is racing with emotions right now. I cannot believe that the two years of serving the Lord as a Full-time missionary is almost over. Tonight from 6:00-9:00 is the last time I will proselyte as a young missionary for this great and marvelous church. What an incredible absolutely life changing mission I have had. I am so truly grateful with all my heart to my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ who gave me the sacred privilege to be apart in saving the souls of the Sons and Daughters of God. The mission has changed my life and I know the lives and many others. I am so thankful that with the help of many others including you that I made this decision in my life to serve the Lord. I am so thankful for you mom and dad and all your sacrifices that you have made to allow me to be out here. Countless lives have been blessed and changed for good because of your sacrifice and willingness to be such great parents. I just want both of you to know that I love you with all my soul. Thank you for everything. I want everyone to know with all my heart that I know for a fact that God our Eternal Father in Heaven Lives! That Jesus Christ is the Son of the Almighty God and that their work and glory is to bring to pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of man. I know that they know us, they love us more than we know, and that they dwell in the heavens listening to our prayers. I know Jesus Christ will someday return to the earth glorified and perfected and that he will reign on the earth as King of Kings. I believe and have a strong testimony of the reality of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that he suffered for our sins, pains, and iniquities in the Garden of Gethsemane. That he was bruised, beaten, and then was crucified for the sins of the world. That he indeed rose of the third day and was Resurrected with a Glorified immortal body. I know that his Atonement can literally clean us from our sins, heal our pains, strengthen us in our trials and can make everything that is un-fair in life become right. I have felt the Atonement in my life, it is real, and I know we must use it everyday in our lives. I love Repentance and I know it qualifies us for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that if we read its pages it will endow us with power from on high. I know that this Church is true and that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God. There is so much more of my testimony I could write but because of time I leave these things with you in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well I don’t have that much time left, and I will be seeing all of you very soon. The last week in the mission field was amazing. We were going to have a baptism tonight but I just heard it got postponed....oh well. But the Wade family is great and they are so excited to get to meet all of you. Everyone can hardly believe that all of our whole family gets to come here to New Zealand...what a blessing. I cannot wait for that once in a lifetime opportunity. And mom that’s awesome that you invited the Versteegs to come to my homecoming. That is a great missionary opportunity. Well you also asked about going to Whangarei ward....I cant remember what time their sacrament meeting starts...I’m sure I can look in my old planners and find out. But we will probably be very tired from traveling...I’m sure just going to Massey ward will be great! :) we can still see a lot of the members when we go to Whangarei. Its going to be an adventure....but no worries like you said I know how to drive on this side of the road. Its going to be confusing going on the right side for a few days and then going right back to the left haha.

My Dear wonderful Family soon I will be able to see you all and give you a big hug. I cant wait....you all mean the world to me. I’m so excited and I can’t wait. I’m also extremely sad and it’s very hard to leave the mission behind. I’m excited, nervous and just wondering what the future will hold for me. I know if I trust in the Lord and stay worthy for his blessing that he will lead me to have an amazing successful life full of peace, happiness, and joy.

I will see all of your beautiful faces soon and until then just know that I love you all so much. May the Lord bless you all.

Love, your son and brother,

Elder Tyler Paul Kitchen

Kia Ora Family! November 6, 2011

I can’t believe the day has come where I only have one week left in the Mission Field as a full time missionary. There are so many different emotions that I’m feeling at this point. I am sad to know that an extremely incredible adventure and my mission are coming to a close. I’m overwhelmed with Joy to know I will soon be home to see all of you and be with my family. I am also excited/wondering what the future will bring and kind of just wondering what is going to happen when I get back. I don't really know exactly what I’m feeling....it just seems weird because I’ve been on my mission for so long. What a blessing its going to be to have all of you come to New Zealand to see this beautiful place that I’ve spent two years of my life serving the Master. I cant wait until you get to meet all the people, be here in the country, and get to see all the places I’ve been. It will be a trip of a lifetime!

About when I get home, I still haven't thought very much about what exactly I’m going to do. I have pondered a little and prayed about it to. I know when I get off my mission I will have more time to ponder and pray about the important decisions I will need to make. I know I want to go to college as soon as I can. I also want to get a job. I want to attend BYU.... I don’t really know what I want to study yet or to do for a future job....Maybe I should know....is that normal. I remember when your younger you always say I wonder what I’m going to be when I grow up. I cant believe its already here....I’m grown up. I still can’t believe I’m 21 years old. Its even more weird to think that Ryan is almost 19 and that Jami is 16 and Kaylee is I think 14 or 15? Wow that must mean that you Mom and Dad are getting really old hahaha just kidding! I know the Lord will help guide my life and help me understand what I must do to have success. My Faith in Jesus Christ has increased a lot and I know he will bless me and our family for my service to Him. I love serving Heavenly Father and I know I can continue to serve him as I receive a calling in church.

This week was a really good week. Last P day we got to play a lot of sports like basketball and volleyball with the other missionaries over in Harbour District. The APs came along too. We went on some trade offs this week and had a lot of miracles. We worked hard and found a lot of new investigators. We have some preparing for baptism but I don’t know if I will be here for the baptisms. The Wade family is going to feed us next week because I’m leaving soon. The keep saying they're going to miss me...they are just a wonderful family. I can’t wait for you all to meet them. They are so excited that all of you are coming. They don’t know a lot though because I don’t talk about it very much. Not very many people even know I’m leaving soon. Our mission President asked us not to talk about it much so it wont get us trunky. On Saturday New Zealand had guy fox day. It’s like the 4th of July! There were fireworks everywhere. Wow and I never told u but I’m sure you heard but New Zealand won the World Cup! Wow we were in our flat planning and reporting to other missionaries when they won but we could hear everyone go crazy! It was A HUGE thing over here. We didn’t get involved at all of course. But you could just hear people scream and shot off fireworks haha. Church yesterday was great!

Well I’m sorry but I got to go now. Thank you so much for everything you do for me. What a blessing it will be to have all of you come here to New Zealand. I love you all so much and the very thought of seeing my wonderful family just makes me so happy! I can’t wait to see you all! I love all of you so very much. All the best and I hope you have a great week until next Monday!

Love your son and brother,

ELDER TYLER KITCHEN

Kia Ora Family! October 31, 2011

Wow time just flies by so fast. I cannot believe it is already Halloween and that tomorrow is the first day of November. My mission has seriously been the most incredible experience of a lifetime and something that will never leave me. I love New Zealand and the people here with all my heart and I'm so thankful for everything I’ve experienced here and all the lessons I’ve learned. My testimony has grown so much and I’ve learned so much about the gospel. About our Heavenly Father, the Plan of Salvation, Jesus Christ and his everlasting Atonement for us all. I’m grateful to have a greater understanding of the true purpose of our life her on earth and a greater understanding of how we can live with God again as a forever family. I have learned to love reading the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon. I know that it is a true record of God and that it can lead us back to the presence of our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ. I’m so grateful you have raised me in the Gospel. That is the greatest thing you could have ever done for me. I’m so thankful for you dad for being a righteous and worthy priesthood holder and helping me know how to keep the commandments of God. I’m thankful mom for your strong testimony and your constant effort in helping us live the gospel in our home. I’m grateful for you Ryan and your decision to serve a mission, the greatest thing you could ever do. I’m grateful for your testimony and your willingness to keep Heavenly Fathers commandments. Jami and Kaylee, I’m so thankful for your desire to go to church and be a good example to your friends. This world is very wicked and you have temptation all around you....especially growing up as a teenager. Please before you ever do anything you might regret just think of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ....also think of all of us your family. I love all of you so much.

Well my week was another good and hard working week. We have a lot of investigators progressing to be baptized. We had some push their dates back, which was hard but we will keep helping them overcome their trials and temptations.

Dad you asked what the weather has been like. It’s been pretty warm. It’s not extremely hot or anything but its been nice and sunny. The weather when you guys come should be very nice and warm. It should be good. It won’t be extremely hot like the middle of the summer...well I don’t think. I don’t know the weather here in New Zealand is so unpredictable. It can be beautiful and then RAINY! hahaha. Also you asked if they celebrate Halloween....not really...they don’t do holidays very big over here. And no I haven’t really made any contact with my friends for so long....I’m such a bad friend....I will try and write some but we are just so busy!

About when I come home.... I honestly haven’t thought very much what I’m going to do. Maybe we could talk about that and think about that when we are on our trip. I really am just staying focused on the work of the Lord. I will think a little bit about it and let you know hopefully next week. Right now I know I want to go to college and get a job. I want to go to BYU! I know that would be a really good school and help me stay completely strong in the gospel. I hope I will be able to get in. All I know right now I want to do for those couple days I am home is spend time with you and my family.

Well I got to go now....I’m sorry. I love you all so much.

Love Elder Kitchen