First Baptism

Zack's Letter November 29, 2010 (First Letter From Mexico!)

¡Hola!

So I got in safe. Im very sorry Mom, but i have been so busy we never had time to get to the cyber (Internet cafe) and write until today, P-day. So i got into to merida fine, and the humidity hit me like a bus. I got way to used to Utah. Its freaking hot! And its only Noviembre....Hijole...

Well we met with my president for just a few minuites that night. He is way legit. He doesnt speak barely any english, so our first interview was interesting to say the least. As far as the language goes, I am begining to understand a little better, but the first 2 or 3 days were horrible. I coulndt understand anything. For my first night, and every night for the next two years, I am sleeping in a hamock. It is actually extremly comfortable, and i understand why everyone sleeps in one. Because its hot!The next day we went to the mission office to get a shake down on everything we needed to know and then get our trainers and our areas. This is the good part.

We found out the different areas that the nuevo missionaries were going, and 2 of us were going to Cancun. Yes, the same Cancun as the vaction capital of the world pretty much. I immediatley knew thats were i was going. I didnt even listen to the other areas. You know how good I am at knowing that kind of stuff usually. Well wouldnt you know, Eldr Rupp (a roomate of mine in the mtc) got our areas in Cancun. The kicker is that we were companions, and we were going to be in a 4-some with the zone leaders. They are Elder Kight who is from utah, and Elder Valdivia whois from Mexico City. They are both awesome. Elder Valdivia doesnt speak english, but when we go out he will get mad at something like not beiong able to find an address and start talking really fast, but then i will catch a "Fetch" or "freaking". Its hilarious. 

Well just a little more on our area. When i got interviewed by pres, he asked me what kind of trainer i wanted. All i said was i wanted a trainer that worked hard, and i wanted to get to work, like 5 minutes ago. I wondered if he understood my broken spanish, but now i knw he did because holy cow, he dont let up to take a breath. 

Im not in the hotel part of cancun. Im actually like 8 kilometers from the coast, in the area of Peten. Its awesome here. This is the highest baptising area of the mission (shocking I know) and I am in the best part of it. Our area has had months in the past where we baptize as many as the rest of the whole mission. We are constantly teaching. Dad wanted to know how many lessons we have taught, so in the past 4 days i have been here, we have taught about 28. 

Alrighty, I will give it to you straight. I baptized someone on saturday. Her name is Elizabeth Montero Prieto. Shes 21 and the nicest girl ever. I cant say i did anything really. Elder Rupp and I showed up thursday night, and our trainers were like "I hope you have your baptism clothes ready" Im not sure how many missioneries can say they baptized someone in thier forst 4 days on thier mission. Im also not sure what i did to deserve all that I have been given, but I thank heavenly father every night for all of this. its amazing.

Mexico is preety much what i expected, except without all the horror stories. Everyone is super nice, and although the city I am in can be none in some places to be a little unsafe, we just dont go over there unless we have to, and even then, there is some kind of barrier around missionaries. its legit.

Well sadly, i have had no time to figure out the postage system here, so for this week no letters will be sent out. im very sorry but im still trying to get my bearings. It takes about three weeks for a letter to get to the states, so when i do mail, dont expect it fast. Also, it takes a package a month to get here, so send anything you want me to have for christmas now. I dont really need anything. just surprise me. 

Im loving it here. Mom, dont worry about me at all. If there is one thing you can trust in, its the lord, and he will always protect his missionaries. the ward here is awesome and always feed us everyday. im never hungry, like never. the mission address where you will send packages and letters is Calle 45 por 70 y 72 numero 527 colonia 97000 Mérida México.

I love everyone and will have more time to write some cool stories next week! I have some good ones already, but no time! 

Love, Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter November 22, 2010

Hey everyone!

 

So I got my travel plans for those who havent heard. I leave tomorow morning at 8! Its about time I think.

 

So yes I have seen Elder Williams a few times thus far. Unfortunetly we havent had the opportunity to talk for more than a few minutes. Hopefully I catch him tomorow morning at brerakfast before I ship out. We took some pics together though.

 

So Wednesday was quite the day this past week. I woke up at 4:15 to head to the hospital with Elder Moser for his procedure. He went in and I sat and talked with his parents for a few hours. Brother Moser was my temp. companion and they took me out to breakfast once E. Moser was out and resting. Everything went perfectly and he is nnow recovering at home. They also got me lunch later one. It was sooooo nice eating real food.

 

I was supposed to be picked  up at 2, but the MTC called the hospital and told them that they would be picking me  up sooner, but they didnt say why. Well i figured it was for my visa. It was. II couldnt believe that the day E. Moser left the MTC we got our visas and then travel plans the next day.

 

This computer is retarded and puts twoo letters sometimes when I only type one, sorry.

 

So I still havent recieved the ipod yet, Im praying it comes today. Shipping an ipod to Mexico probably issnt the brighest idea. Mom, you mentioned in your emaaiil you wanted more pictures of me in this wonderful place, so since today is my p-day i took a ffew. Im in my Mexico shirt i got here, so ya.

 

Today is my day to pack, and I have a lot of work to do with that. So unfortuently I cant write a lot. Mom will get hers, and if i have somme time maybe a few others that wrote me this week. I will do my best. 

 

Alright, once I get to Mexico, Dearelder is no longer the way to go. If yiou want to write me, just email me at zachary.kitterman@myldsmail.net  Ive heard the postal service isnt the most reliable down there, so Im hoping my pres  gives us permission to email others besides my family. If not, then i will find a way to get letters out safely.

 

Great news!!  I forgot to tell you but I am now, so listen up. Our district has 6  Elders in it, 3 going to Merida and 3 going to mexico city west. The merida elders got thier visas, but the mexico city elders did not =( We were all bummed to be leaving them. But literally just now they came and told us they are going to  sign thier visas today! Hurray!

 

Well Im trying to think of any other cool things happened this week, but im drawing a blank. So i will justt list a few things im looking forward to.

-Teaching and Baptizing Mexican famillies

-Real food

-Visiting temple ruins

-Speaking spanish fluently

-Sleeping in a hammock

-Not seeing a Utah native for months, hopefully years

 

There is a lot others, but I just remembered that we had a sub teracher this week, who was from northern mexico, who served in the mission next to mine. He grew up in Mexico so he told us as much as he could about our missions. He said that Mexico was a super huge city, and they will have great food and lots of work  aand baptims. Then he looked at the merida elders and told us we have a celestial mission. Im not sure exatly what that means, but it sounds good. I feel so blessed to actaully be leaving now, it seemed like it was never going to happen. Now we are finally leaving, but it all seems like a dream.

 

He also said in the bigger cities its pretty upper class. Nicer houses and all that. But if you drive out of the city far enouggh you will end up in some rural village with houses that have dirt floors and the palm frawn roofs. (How do you spell frawn?) He said thats where the people are most prepared. If im in  an area next to the ocean that has a lot of those kinds of villages, I will get to baptize in the ocean a lot. Pretty cool right? I might just catch a wave on the way in.

 

There is no measure as to how blessed I am. I simply gives thanks everyday for the opportunity I have ahead of me, and ask that I can be the best tool in the Lords hands possible.

 

I love everyone and cant wait to email you from Mexico next week! Thanks for all your prayers!

 

Love, Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter November 15, 2010

So if I was a twelve week elder, I would be leaving today or tomorw I believe. But Im not, and there is still no word on visas. We do have some good news though. Three other Mexico missions that came in the same day as us got all of theirs, so that means that we should be next. Im really hoping for tomorow, which means we will sign our visas in salt lake wednesday, and then leave possibly thursday, maybe friday. But if not, its all good =)

 

Mom, in your email on friday you talked about Alex McCellen. I absolutely remeber him. When i heard he had taken his own life, I remember wishing I would have been a better friend to him. Not so say I was mean or anything, but I could have done more. Please please please keep in contact with his Mom, things for her do not sound good. But the other part made my day. I cant remeber exactly when I told those Woodward boys that praying everyday would garauntee you a beuatiful wife, but that definetly wounds like something I would have told them!

 

A lot happened this week, mainly starting on thursday late morning. We were in gym playing basketball, but not very intense. Elder Moser said he felt light headed so I said we could just start walking back, we only had 5 minutes left anyways. He had me feel his heart beat, and it was going crazy and he wasnt even breathing hard. I ofte think back to when i made him go to the clinic with his stomach, if that was the spirit prompting me or if it was more my common sense, probably both. But at this moment, I distinctly heard the spirit say to me, as if it was standing right there, "go to the clinic" so i said "we should go to the clinic" he said no but after I didnt move he said ok. we went in and they immediatly sat him down and pulled the doctor out of whatever he was doing then. They took his pulse and it was well over 220 bpm, and he still wasnt breathing hard or anything. The doctor had him do a cool trick where he tightened up his whole body, and his pulse within seconds dropped to 130. They still had us go to the ER right then. The ER Doc told us it wasnt anything super seriously, but he set up an appointment for us to go to the cardiologist the next day. So friday we took off for the cardiologist. There they told him that this could be a problem for the rest of his life if they didnt fix it. So long story short, This Wednseday he is going in for a procedure where they snake catheders through him into his heart while he is out, and after they make his heart go crazy again, they will close all the open ended nerve ways that cause it. Pretty intense stuff. But the worst part is that there is a possiblilty he might be going home for a little while while he recovers. Im still not sure how its all going to work, but it will work out, that much I know.

 

Thursday, after we got back from the ER, Elder Moser got to call his parents. So Mom, Elder Moser's Mom wants to give you a call probably on Wednesday she said. I will give Elder Moser the flower shop number with the hours you might be there, and also your cell number in case your not working. She will probably apologize for all the things that has happened to Elder Moser, but make sure you tell her that I love him and he has done nothing but bless and uplift me. He has not one time been a burden.

 

So we had ANOTHER apostle last tuesday. That makes 4 in a row, which i heard never happens. SO we had Elders Nelson, Scott, Balard, and Bednar. Elder Bednar was always one of my favortie speakers, and his devotional was amazing. Unfortunetly for Casey, that means he probably wont see any apostles, but its all good because all the speakers are good. Im stoked to see him this Wednesday! It will be nice to see a friendly face and talk with him.

 

Mom, you kept asking about our new schedule now. Well we got temporarily assigned new teachers, so we still have class. We got moved from our legit class to a really cold, dark, room in another building. Its depressing. It has snowed a few times, but it hasnt stuck yet. I cant wait to get to Mexico...

 

I wont lie, I want to get out of here pretty badly. But I do my best to keep my head on striaght and move forward with whatever. If something like this had happened to me back home, I would have put my head through a wall, but the blessings of serving a mission are unparalled. I love it here, and I know I will love it in Mexico.

 

Im stoked for the work I will be doing in Central America. Alma 17:11.....<-- Yup thats me

 

paz

 

Love, Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter November 8, 2010

Hey everyone,

 

I have lost all sense of time. Is this my tenth letter? i think so...

 

Anyways...Still no word on when i will be getting out of here. Bummer, i know. Casey comes in a week from this wednesday, and I have the impression that I will get to see him. As awesome as it would be to talk to him, I hope Im not here. the people in the travel are still optomistic, so my possitive attitude forges ahead. our teachers get a new district this wednesday, so after that day I wont have class anymore and just a crap load of free time. Its tough to keep learning spanish because I feel like i have exausted all my resources. But regardless, its coming along.

 

We got to hear from another apostle! thats number 3 in a row. According to my inside source I told you about last week, there should be one more and then a drought for a little while. Sucks for casey, but wether its an apostle or not, the speakers are always amazing. Last night we heard for Sheri Dew. I had never heard of her before that but i guess she is a big name in the church. She was amazing! Pretty southern and told us how it was.

 

So friday night i fell out of the top bunk again. thats lucky numer 3 for me. Im convinced that back at home I got out of bed in the middle of the night a lot more than i realize, but its tougher now considering I have a 6 foot fall to the floor. I told Elder Moser if I fall out again we are switching beds, because I dont want to brake my leg and stay here longer. Speaking od Elder Moser, he is doing better. There was a letter sent to him by his dad this past week, thursday I think. I could tell when he was reading it something was up. I asked him if he was good when he finished, he smiled and said ya. well he went to the window in our class room and knelt to pray. when he finished he came away crying and asked our district for a blessing. He wanted me to give it. The power of the priesthood is truly amazing and Im grateful for the spirit and its guidance, because without it I would have have no idea what to say to comfort him. His dad isnt doing as well as he would have liked with his cancer. Its rough for him at times, but luckily he knows this is where he is supposed to be.

 

Yesterday, Elder Moser and I were released as the zone leaders. Usually, they get released when they leave. but our branch president didnt want a repeat of what happened to me and e. moser, where the last zone leaders left on short noticed and we didnt get trained. As much as i enjoyed being a zl, its nice to be able to relax a little bit more now. Mom and Dad, you have been asking about the airport and the call so here goes.

 

When we show up to the front desk to leave the mtc, campionships and callings are dissolved, and you become one big "travel group". A travel group leader is chosen, and they are the ones in charge of taking care of everything. I dont know how they pick this leader, but I dont think it will be me, or at least i hope. There is never a certain day or time elders leave, it is completely up to when the church can get you a flight. but its true the church likes to send out the elders as early as possible. but ive know elders to leave as late as 8 or 9 in the moring. I will be able to let you know for sure, so dont worry. Dad, they have calling cards here for me to buy before i leave that are cheaper than you can get them, so dont worry about it.

 

You might have forgotten, but I was still wondering about the exchange rate there and that ice cream place. dont judge me on the ice cream place, your just jealous. I cant freaking wait to get to mexico. all i ever here about my field is how amazing it is. I was talking to a sister missionary who studied in Merida for a summer and she said it was the most beutiful place in the world. Its also the only large city in all of mexico where its considered safe enough for a woman to walk down the street by herself after dark. She had been to the rest of yucatan and said everywhere is awesome.

 

Everyday here feels exactly like the last. It tough now to tell a huge difference between them. Exciting and awesome letters are usually the best cure. Well my time is almost up, hopefully I wont get to email from the states next time i email! Pray for my visa, I love you all.  Adios.

 

Love, Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter November 1, 2010

Hey Hey

 

So as I sit here in the basement/laundry room of the MTC, I sadly realize I should be hitting my connecting flight at LAX, and then straight to Merida. Depressing I know, but Im grateful for the oppurtunity to be here just a little longer and learn that much more. I was talking to another Mexico elder this morning, who got reassigned 3 months ago and is just now getting his visa. He said he has been out almost 6 months, without stepping into his mission field yet. Ive been blessed because the travel office told us we are one of the first district in a long time to get our pro-misas (or however its said) so fast. They sound very opptomistic and said we could be here as short as one week, and hopefully 3 at the most. I am throughly convinced that being a Mexico bound Elder is the most nerve wracking thing at the MTC. But im lucky i have the chance to go straight to Mexico. 

 

Mom! It was so freaking fantastic talking to you. I totally meant to play amean joke on you when you answered too. I was going to make up somestory about how i broke my femur or something and had to come home. But I heard that beloved "Heaven Scent flowers, How can I help you?" and froze up. I never thought i would miss hearing that...

Sorry Dad, that I didnt call you, but i know you understand. It would have gotten you in trouble more than me! But seriously, 5 minutes is nothing...

 

Well we got another apostle this week. thats two in a row! Elder Richard G. Scott. The teusday night devotionals are seriously the best part of the MTC. Rumor has it that there will be an apostle speaking tomorw tonight, and then the following week too. We heard it from an Elder whos Mom works at the mail room that recieves flowers everytime an apostle comes, and there is flowers coming for the next two weeks. One can hope....

 

Well Happy Halloween! It was just another normal sunday here, but we threw on some sweet 'staches last night to celebrate a little. I took some pics but have no way to develop them to get them out today. But there are some pictures on thier way! 

 

The only thing that happened this week that was crazy was that my companion, Elder Moser, thought he might have testicular cancer. Cancer runs in his family hardcore. Like more than half is relatives have some kind of cancer. He had a cousin die from testicular caner a while back, and he was in some pain and the doctor wanted to him to go to the hospital to get an ultra sound. It was pretty scary for the both of us. But luckily we found out this morning thier is nothing wrong. He has gone through so much in these past two months. I wish I could help him even more somehow.  I appreciate everyone that has been praying for both him and I. But regardless, going out into the real world was so nice. Everyone would come up to me and shake my hand and ask how i was doing (only in utah). One lady asked what i thought when i opened my call and it said Provo. I laughed and said i was at the mtc and was going to Mexico. She looked releaved hahaha.

 

So every sunday night we have a fireside. They are usually pretty good, but not as good as tuesday night devotionals. Every fireside/devotional there is a specail musical number that you have to try out for and then get picked to do. they are always way good. Well last night, an elder from my zone was told he was playing an hour before it started. Tey had tried out like 2 weeks ago. He played the Chello, another elder played the piano, and another sang. It was way good but i bring it up because it was a disaster for my elder. First someone kicked his chello 5 minutes before they were supposed to play and threw it out of tune i guess, and he rushed to get it back into tune, then his michrophone wasnt working so you couldnt even hear him, and then he was so nervous he missed one of his notes pretty bad. it was one of the few you could hear. Luckily was joked about it after ward, so i can admit that it was hilarious.

 

So yes, I do like the suit. Thank you so much for sending it. I dont know what i was thinking wheni told you 42 L. Its a good thing you sent a 40 L though. Its a little big but Im really not trying to impress anyone around here. I am very grateful for such amazing parents, who, lets face it, raised a stud. 

 

I have come (Im pretty sure through force) to love the MTC. It truely is an amazing place. When you are here you get used to the spirit always, and just want to leave, but I know once I will leave I will miss it, so Im making the most of the extra time I have here. I love everyone, and I love those that write me even more. Hope everyone has a great week! I know I will.

 

Love, Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter October 25, 2010

Hey Everyone,

 

So i know some of you are interested to know where i got reassigned to.... well i wont make you wait any longer. Im going....drum roll please.........No where! Thats right, you read correctly. Our permisas (i think thats how you spell it) came, but not our visas. A permisa is the mexcio side of the paperwork. it allows me to get into the country, and the visa allowes me to get out i believe. Well this means that all we are waiting for is the America side of it, which usually doesnt take that long. What does this mean for me and my destination? It means I will be going straight to Mexico, but i get to spend 1-3 more glorious weeks at the oh so beloved MTC. Those who know how I feel about the MTC are probably feeling bad for me right about now. Not saying you shouldnt, but I look at this as a blessing and a opportunity to learn more and become that much more prepared for 100% spanish in Mexico. I was excited to get another call, kinda like a 2 mission calls, but i would rather have it this way so i get to work in Merida faster. 

 

Its getting balls cold here. Last night at the fireside they anounced that they are resuming regular MTC dress requirements. I didnt even know we werent on regular dress. That means I have to wear a suit everyday. I only have one suit, so thats sucks. Oh well. Also, we got an apostle last tuesday! It was Russel M. Nelson. He ended 20 minutes early, which was confusing, but it was still amazing.

 

Elder Moser is doing a lot better. We just fill our time with as much work as possible and that keeps his mind from wondering and him getting worked up about stuff he doesnt need to. Im doing really great. I feel good, the food still sucks but I am used to that now. My spanish improved a lot this week. One of my roomates wouldnt pick up his dirty clothes, so i started telling him off in spanish without realzing it. I stopped and realized how well i was speaking. He looked at me and was like "that was way good".

 

Honestly Im having trouble remembering anything good that happened this week besides our visa siituation and the apostle. Oh, we hosted the new missionaries, whiich is where we wear a cool sticker that says "HOST" and we wait on the curb sside where they get dropped off, then we take them around to everywhere they need to go to get thier stuffff. This was as new to me as it was for the new elders becuase I was too cool to show up on time and had to find my away around myself. But mostly me and Elder chong from my ddistrict just helped the new sister missionaries up four flights of stairs with all their luggage. Ya i know, Im a good person.

 

The highlight mail wise for the week is an easy pick. Kims package was off tha chain! Moms was way good too beccause it had a lot of good microwave dinner items, but kims was awesome because it had the most legit batman stickers and staionary ever, not too mention some other really cool stuff like a spanish hymn book. Also, it helped that Nick included two of the sickest clip on ties ever. I know he said they are for emergency blessings in the middle of the night and stuff, but i liked them so much i have worn both already. Thanks to them and Mom as well!

 

other shout outs include my hommies just around the block, Kiera and Connie for their letters and pictures, and also a letter from my main man Dahlin. If he gets this forwarded to him, he should know im writing and sending a letter today, so it should get their by christmas, i hope....

 

Well Im sorry this is shorter than usual, the printer was broke today so i had to spend some of my time reading instead of writing. but i have a joke i heard. Whats the difference between the MTC and prison? You get visiting hours in prison...

 

I love everyone!

 

Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter October 18, 2010

Hey everyone,

 

So one email is all i get? You people are slacking....

This week was fantastic. Everything with the new elders went smoothly and they seem like a good group. I remember how old my Zone leaders looked when i came in, so i asked the new elders how old i looked... they youngest I got was 21 and the oldest was 24 i think...ridiculously. i dont get it. But a few people asked me this week what i as a zone leader. my first responsibility is glorified babysitter. next would probably all the work we do with the incoming elders. Wednesday night when they first get here Elder Moser and I introduce ourselves and then talk to them about a few things for about 30 min and then take them back to our residence hall and show them our room and how it should look and the rules of the hall. then thursday night we teach them about how to study and some sother junk, and then give a tour of the mtc and all the different places they need to know. it was a lot of fun. We get a lot of stupid questions though, like "what kind of water do i put in the iron?" seriously?...

 

So the winner for Best letter of the week goes to, drumroll please, Casey Williams! His letter had me and E. Moser rolling on the ground laughing. It was hilarious. Also I heard that Ohio State lost to an unranked team...Sorry dad, that blows. But that means Oregon is number 1. Good stuff.

 

Well there has still not been an apostle come and speak to us. Im getting pissed about it. All the leaders say going 8 weeks with no apostle speaking is super rare, and it will be just my luck it goes 9 weeks without one and i miss him by one week. If i leave here without seeing one speak, im going to write a very angry letter or something...

Elder Moser was not feeling any better at the start of this week, but he refused to go to the doctor. So i told him we had a teaching sppointment with some other elders i met with and took a different route down to the doctor. he still gets lost after 7 weeks so i knew he wouldnt realize where we were going. When we walked in and looked at me and said "im going to kill you" i was already telling the recoptionist that my comp was very ill and needed to see the doctor asap. about an hour later he came out with a blank llok on his face. He said that the doctor thinks he has ulcers, and that his body is in a state of mal-nutrition from not eating enough and what not. the doctor also said that if he waited any longer chances were that he would have had to been hospitalized from it. Ya, he owes me one. Well the doctor said it was stress related so he sent him up to talk to the counsler. the counsler told him he has Obsesive compulsive disorder and needed to chill out or the uclers would get worse. I was like "wow, ive never known anyone in my entire life that stressed too much and had ulcers but refused to go to the doctor and nags me about everything!" (can you sense the sarcasim?) I love you Mom.... 

 

I know for sure now why Heavenly Father put me with Elder Moser...It is because Im probably one of the few Elders here that can handle his obsesiveness. But in reality we get a lot done because of it so i am extremely grateful. He is doing a lot better now.

 

This past Sunday was crazy. We didnt get properly trained as ZL's, so we had to figure it out on our own. As zl's you have to put together your branch's preisthood meeting and sacrement. Lucky for us, it was literally the one week out of the year that we were in charge of putting together the sacrement for the MTC Staff as well. So pretty much we had to put together two sacrement meetings and a priesthood meeting all within an hour when we found out. I had to conduct the MTC Staff meeting too...that was fun. NOT! But we got it all done and it turned out great.

 

Its crazy to think but we only have two weeks left. I will find out about my visa and where my reassignment is as early as thursday this week, and as late as wednesday next week. I will let you know as soon as i can. Im not sure if I can even do this, but i pray not to go anywhere in utah. But I will have a good attitude no matter where I go, that much I have already decided.

 

Well Im going to do my best to write a crap load of letters this week. so everyone be heads up on that. I didnt get as many letters as i normally do so lets fix that. I love all of you

 

Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter October 11, 2010

Hey everyone,

 

This week went really well. Felt like it took a long time for some reason. Our new classroom is freaking sweet. Its on the 5th floor and looks out over the rest of the mtc, and because provo is on a hill and the mtc is near the top, I can see most of BYU and provo. We were lucky enough to get a classroom with a few windows. From one part the the building i can see a piece of BYU's nasty blue track, and although its ugly, it depresses me. i stay away from that window. I mis track and randomly ask elders from my zone if they want to race coming back from gym or something.

 

I got all of the other menifee elders' email, and wow. It seems like they are all doing especially well right now! Nick's story about the police force going on strike or something and the stores all being broken into and the gunfire....that legit. Andrew seems like he is on spiritual steriods or something... i need to get me some of that. They were all so good but i have limited time to email!

 

Well this past week elder Moser and I were made the new Zone leaders. A zone is comprised of 3-5 district, and a district is comprised of 8-12 elders. We are now in charge over our zone. I guess somebody upstairs didnt think I was having enough trouble handling just spanish, and on top of the Elder Moser has been feeling really under the weather lately. Like 15 trips to the bathroom a day, under the weather. He has lost 10 pounds, not good. So im afraid that i will have to shoulder most of the load for a little while. My district is now the "oldest" district in the zone, and on wednesday and thursday elder moser and i have to show the incoming elders the ropes. im really excited for this because i really looked up to my zl's when i came in.

 

Luckily our zone is made up of some of the best elders around. I wont have to babysit, which is good because i have so much to do already I probably wouldnt handle a disruptive elder with much patience. Spanish imporves everyday, little by little. We had our first full lesson in spanish in the trc this past thursday. Can anybody say "gift of tounges"? i know i can- and in two languages to boot.

 

Casey everlovin Birchard finally wrote me, so sierra wont need to kill him. But on that note, the old Zone leaders are leaving a week sooner than our branch pres thought so this means i dont have the normal week long trainging as a new zl, i only had a one day training. so because of this i have to go to a bunch of meetings today, on my p-day. not too happy boiut that... this unfortunetly means i will proably not have time to get a lot of letters out. Dont worry mom, yours will arrive promptly on wednesday, along with sierras and kims. they might be short buts all i have time for. I love everyone that wrote me this week. Im probably jyxning myself saying this, but i have yet to go one day without a dear elder, and for that i am extremely grateful. please keep it up.

 

On a depressing note, the zone that just lext all got reassigned to the staes because they were mexico elders as well. there was one elder who was from california and he got reassigned to provo, just like the district' only california elder before them. im screwed. But maybe i will get to say hi to kiera and connie... I hate utah...

 

I wont find out where im going till aboiut a week before im supposed to leave. so yes mom, there is a 90% chance i will be in the states for thanksgiving. im happy about that, not about the utah thing though...ugh!

 

I still don't need any more food. i know your sending some tomorow, so i will have plenty still after that. maybe i will give a little too the new district... who knows. Emily has asked a few times about the dance thingy, and my answer is "I dont see why not, but Im definetly not her mom or dad" -you can quote me. Its really up to sarah and michael. sorry if that doesnt help.

 

Well im out of time. Pray for me and my new zone. I love everyone!

 

Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter October 4, 2010

Its been a whole month. I can hardly believe it!

So how did everyone like general conference? I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Pretty good stuff. A few of my favorites were both Utchdorfs talks, Richard G. Scott's, Holland's, all of President Monsons of course, Eyering's talk in the second saturday session i think, and a bunch of the 70 guys were way good. If you didnt get to watch it, its already up on LDS.org. 

 

Well conference made the weekend fly by. Usually the weekend goes slower because we dont recieve dear elders saturday or sunday. In fact, if you wait till after friday morning to dearelder me, i wont get it till monday night after i have already hand written a million letters, so dont procrastinate. Mom, i dont waste time reading emails because i just print them off. it only takes like 2 seconds of my time off, so dad and whoever else wants to can write me as long an email as they want that i will be able to read every monday morning! Do it! also dearelder makes the mtc world go round, so dont forget to write using that also.

 

This week didnt go as well as i was hoping, but it was good none the less. The gym is finally open, and they have a 160 meter square track on the third floor, so ive been running a lot (I hope your reading McCarron). other than that, i quickly found out that everyone from utah, regardless if they are 5'4" and whiter than me, played basketball in high school. i did not.... but i still like to play and can keep up pretty good. Other physical activites worthy of note include the residence hall olympics. if your wondering, yes i instigated them. They started last week when the rowdy district left and nights before bed got boring. so what started as random events such as wrestling, pull up/ push up competions have now escalated into a full blown production. I come up with random events such as asian push up contest, exercise band high jump (my personal fav.) and crab walk races around the halls. The asian push up one is pretty cool. My district leader is Elder Chong from washington, who is 5'4", 145, and gives me a run for my money every time on high jump. we simply see how many push ups we can do with him sitting on our backs. All of these events bring more joy into my life than i thinnk anyone will ever realize.

 

I got the stewarts package this morning! It is freaking sweet. That shirt is amazing, and the batman bear is the coolest thing ever. My district was jealous about all the cool thinnggs inside too. Mom, Im pretty much set on food for a while so you dont have to worry about that for a few weeks, but if you could please send my patriaichal blessing that would be great. i forgot it, and i can have it copied and resized here and then i wwill send it back. its in the top door of my nigh stand.  That Birchard kid better email me or wirte me pretty quick or we are going to have a serious issue. 

 

So tonight we are moving classrooms. Im way stoked about it. We are moving to a room twice the size of our class now, with all brand new stuff. It has a fat wide screen computer monitor, that is directly under a brand new 40 inch sony high def flat panel tv that is hook up as a dual monitor to the computer right below, so you can move stuff for the computer screen onto the tv screen with the mouse. its legit. there is also ttwo cameras in the room. thats why we are being moved. a few districts in our zone have been choseen to be recorded while taught so that the mtc education board and a few of the 70 and a few of the 12 apostoles can watch us and improve on the way they teach us. When they told me that, my first thought was "well class is going to be a lot more boring now" haha. but its should keep me a little more focused.

 

The rumor is Bama lost. this is awesomee. That means Ohio state moves into number 1? Im already calling it: National championnship is Oregon and Ohio state, and Ohio state wins.

 

Dad, any word from the canadians yet? I have a feeling me and you will share mutaul feelings troward the coutries are are supposed to be living in coming up here pretty quick.

 

Spanish is going reallly great. In line at dinner the other night i had a conversaion with a native mexican who was learning english to serve in the states. he was talking to me in english and i was respondding in spanish. it was pretty cool. Im getting faster and dont have to think about what i want to say as much anymore.

 

Well my time is running out. I wiill try and get lots of letters out today. I love you guys. Venga lo que venga, disfrutalo.

 

Love, Elder Kitterman

Zachary's Letter September 27, 2009

Dang Im good! I got a whole bunch of letters done already, and the mail hasnt come yet!

well this past week was the best yet. My spanish is really starting to improve a lot now. I can speak about a lot of stuff without having to think about it, but there is still a lot to learn.... for instance, 96% more of the language. The TRC (teaching resource center) was also the best yet. We got our first commitment to "baptism". of course its fake but the lesson still went really well. The contact in spanish however didnt go so great...

I was feeling very confident going into because i knew the topic pretty well. We had to pick up a new investigator and take the bus with them on the way to church. of course this is all role play but the investigators are all return missionaries who are fluent. So we greeted her and went to the bus and sat down and started talking. i asked about her keeping her commitments to read and pray about the book of mormon, and everything went as planned. but then about 10 minutes in there was a lull in the conversasion and she decided to ask us about baptism, and why her catholic baptism wasnt good enough. I must remind you this is all in spanish. My freaking companion thought she said something completely different and said something that made him sound dumb, bless his heart. he could tell he messed up and just looked at me. this was a question i could barely answer in english, now i have to figure out how to answer it in a language im started learning three weeks ago. I somehow managed to choke out a rough explanation. I remeber saying something about the priesthood and 8 years old. Who knows...

Other than that everything went well. We said goodbye to another district this morning. This was the very rowdy district in our zone. Things form now on will probably be a lot quieter which is cool i guess. One of the elders, Elder Poyfair, who is the exact equivelent to the VanWilder of the mtc, loved elder moser and i so he gave us his "inheritance". Its literally a small mountain of little toys and candy and other random junk. so needless to say i will be able to keep myself entertained for while now. Our district is now the second oldest in our zone. thats crazy. after next week i think, we will be the oldest. It feels like we just got here. But seeing the new elders come in and how bad they are at spanish only encourages me. is that bad? probably but i dont care, i had to go throught it.

So i finally read dahlins email for last week i think. that totally blows about his companion not letting him email home. if my companion told me that i would probably break his arm, and then i still wouldnt get to email cause i would be on a plane home. but it sounds like this transfer he is in is shaping up to be sweet. My companion for some reason always wants to go to the book store to get random crap, so i just look at all the book of mormons in all the diferent languages. Japanese is the coolest to look at i think cause it looks like the matrix writing to me... also cambodian is pretty sweet.

Mom, my letter this week to you is a little bit...eh...more than a letter. so if it doesnt come on the day everyone elses comes dont freak out, it should be there the next day. Thank you to everyone who wrote me this week. it looked like my plea for more letters worked! ;) Its a good thing kyle finally worte me because i was about ready to sick the plauges of egypt on that guy...like boils and frogs status.

To all the girls, how was Disneyland? let me know.
Sorry to kim for forgetting to give her a b-day shout out in last weeks emails. Michaela too! Happy Birthday!

Elder Willis left this morning. We saw eachother sat. night and said we would say goodbye the next time we saw eachother, but we never did. sad day. bueno suerte to him.

dad, check my account, im out of cash. dont ask questions, just check it

Nothing really super profound happened this week. pretty quiet. As a missionary we are told to teach simply and powerfully. things for me are getting really simple. i would encourage all of you to do the same. its easier in life when things are simply. The gospel is amazing and serving a mission is the best decision i have ever made.

Until next week, adios.

Elder Kitterman

Zack's Letter September 20, 2010

Hola everyone!

So three weeks has flown by! iIt feels like I just got here. Im finally used to everything that goes on here; theres a lot. Im learning so much its ridiculous. Like last night a couple elders locked themselves out of their room so I learned how to get into a locked room using nothing but an envelope, dental floss, and a vacuum cord. Im not even joking. It was straight up McGiver. But im alos learning so much about the gospel. One of my roomates, Elder Rupp knows everything gospel related so i just ask him weird questions all day about stuff that is church related and he knows...like the other day i was wondering about Kolob so we had an hour discussion about it and now I know a lot more. its way cool.

I have a lot I want to cover and only a little time so here we go.

Mom- You asked about if i got into the choir. Im very upset about it. They were putting together a special choir to go to the priesthood session of conference coming up and when i went to fill out the paperwork for it, there was all these questions about highschool choir and how many years you have been singing and special awards and all this lame crap. I was mad about it so i put down that my name was elder potter, i had attended hogwarts for 4 years and i was headboy in my 4th year. also, I had outstanding results on my OWLS as well. i thought it was funny...until this morning when a few other elders got a notice saying they got in when they didnt ever sing in any choir. i was pissed. i could have gotten in. but i guess thats what i get...Thanks for finally sending the package with some of the stuff i needed. i havent gotten anything except those two that sarah and kim sent me a while back and im tired of wandering the halls at night looking for handouts of food from the other elders. i hope theres some food in there. Im glad to hear the flower shop is doing well, but im also glad i gert to miss putting up the trees. have fun dad. Thanks for the update on the ring ceremony. im glad coach didnt make me sound bad haha. if you havent already, send all that stuff you said you got from it, except the dvd.

Dad-Send me the top 25 listing for college football. im dying here. also get me president smiths address. I want to write him. Make sure as well that coach McCarron is being forwarded these emails, and mention to him on the email that he needs to email me on this account about how the team is looking. His email is on the school website under athletics. My comp wanted me to tell you that he is a huge dallas fan, but i told him it didnt make up for the fact that he likes michigan and the yankees. but its a start.

I figured out a few other things i want. I want my fav blue batman shirt. some guy down the hall wears a batman shirt a lot and he thinks hes the coolest. hes not even a true batman fan, and i want to drop kick him in the face when he wears it. but i like him other than that. alos i want that picture of me when im young starring up at the giant cristus in salt lake, as well as the pic kim took of me at socals where im looking up at dad leaning against the wall. pretty please.
So last week was way exciting for a bunch of districts, mine included. A travel plan is very comparable to willy wonkas golden ticket. or early paroll, you pick. a district that has really helped me and my comp out are leaving, but because they are going to mexico, its only natural their visas havent cleared so they got tempoarily reloacted to places like portland, san bernadino, arizona, and salt lake. i will probably get relocated untill mine clears, but if its salt lake im going to hang myself. portland would be legit. it only lasts usually like maybe one transfer if that. so im not worried about it.

Somebody get me dahlins address. ive been waiting for a letter but i got nothing so far. alos nicks if you can (im speaking to the general public)

So i think thats everything i wanted to cover. The TRC (teaching resource center) went extremely well this week. I learned a lot of spanish and can almost understand just about everything my teacher says as long as its gospel related. i know that doesnt sound good but ive only been here three weeks, i think its awesome. I was slightly dissapointed with this weeks letters. i wrote a lot last week and didnt get a reply from a lot of them. but if you did write me im very thankful for that. Letters are a missionaries life blood. Keep them coming por favor.

Sierra is not keeping me udated on track enough. im going into track related withdrawls. i miss it soooo much. also how are my babies doing? (the stang and the vette) please take good care of my car sierra. Make sure you drive the vette at leat once a week dad, i was and it was running great.

Dad- Im out of time so i will hand write you instead of another email.

I love all of you. till next week!

Zack's Farewell Slideshow

Here is the slideshow from Zachary's farewell party for those of you who weren't able to be there, or just wanted to watch it again because it's so awesome :)

Zack's Letter Spetember 13, 2010

Hey everyone! Sooooo week 2 done! This week was a lot better than the the first week, just because im finally getting a feel for the crazy schedule. I have been asked by some people what my schedule is, so here goes. everyday we wake up at 6 to get a hot shower and not wait in line. breakfast is at 7, thats usually not great. then its usually to class for gospel/language. we have about 6 hours each day of that, and then at least one hour of personal study, one hour of companion study, and a few hours of MDT (missionary directed time) where we can do what we choose as long as it is productive to our purpose as missionaries. Elder Moser and I usually study spanish or teach lessons to other elders. lunch is at 11:30 every day, we have gym at different times each day for a little less than an hour. dinner at 5:30, and then back to the halls at 9:30. then we mess around till lights out at 10:30. i can never fall asleep till later cause my mind goes over everything we did that day and its a lot. im always tired but im getting used to it. the work is going great, and the spanish is coming, slowly but surely.

MOM!!! A miracle has happened! it came in the form of a chicken pox shot. haha the immunizations lady had one random one in her fridge that she said she would give me, so i got it. it was 80 bucks, but i paid for it myself (your welcome dad).

The guys that run the MTC gym area told me and elder badger that we cant bring our own running equipment out to the field, so no more resistence workouts. we were pissed. i guess soccer it is... one of the elders in our zone sprained his ankle. dont worry, it wasnt my fault this time. they tell us not to play competetively...ya right. it was district on district and we were winning. so naturally someone got hurt.

Thanks to Kim and Sarah for the pakages! Ya i was laughing after i said to send healthier things and then got those the next day, but its all good. i shared! so i have a lot of people to write but i swear i will get to them all! thanks everyone for the dear elders. i got several a day and i love it! some of the other elders get jealous, but what ev. im loved.

So Im on the top bunk in my room and the other night, i think i was slepp walking, cause i barely remember moving around and then slamming onto the floor. i tried to roll out of bed like i was next to the ground and fell all the way down. My comp woke up and was like "what the heck elder?!" I didnt know what was ggooiing on so i just said "im good", got a drink and went back to bed. I did something else really cool at gym the other day too. it was before elder badger and i were told no outside equipment, so we has the running band, which is a very long bungie cord you attach around your waist. it streches rreally far but is wrapped around by fabric like material, so it only goes so far before it catches and wont go any firther. me and another elder had the bright idea to face eachother while strapped in and back up till it was streched all the way, then we ran at ecahother full speed and passed one another barely. so now we are running away from eachother at more than top speed with a cord attached to each of our backs. it cuaght and we both got yanked hard back onto the ground. i had a light bruise across my stomach for a while buts its gone. it was awesome...it made me feel like i was back home with kyle nick and dahlin. Dahlin would have thought up the idea, Nick would have told us exactly how to do it, and me and kyle would have executed perfectly...

Me and elder moser had a 5 minute message we had to share with a member of our branchh president. it was to see how our teaching was coming along, and all we had time to do was get to know him and get a return appointment. he is a tough guy when it comes to teaching. he was pretending to be a guy going to work on the bus and we had to contact him. all thhee other guys on our district couldnt get a return appointment, but elder moser and i did! it was way sweet.

Congrats to Brendy on the engagment! wanna know how i know? My teacher is Dallin West from Gilbert, who is a friend of Brendy and Aaron. He told me haha.

A lot of people have been asking me questions...i cant really think of them right now and i only have a little bit of time left, so just know that if you dear eldered me before friday this past week, i will be writing you and answering your questions in my letter. Mom, can you send me my rcc track sweat shirt? we are up before the sun on service days andd its getting cold.

Well my time is almost up. I love you guys and hope to hear from everyone this week! My letters will be puut in the mail today.

Elder Kitterman

Pictures of Zack's Farewell

We had such a fun weekend to celebrate Zachary leaving on his mission. It was filled with good food, lots of fun, and tons of amazing people with one thing in common; a great love for Zachary.

The food

The Par-tay

After his Farewell Talk

Zack's Letter September 6, 2010

So just so you guys know, most missionaries are aloud to check email once a week, and it would be nice to get the low down from eveyone! The mtc is great! I realy love it here. My companions name is Elder Moser, and he is a cool dude. Hes a smaller guy, but he played middle linebacker, basketball, and baseball. He works as hard as i do, so i got pretty lucky in that sense. we have a lot in common, but wednesday he came out of our room wearing a yankees shirt... i threw up a little. as if thats not bad enough the next day the whole district was talking and we found out the probably the only Ohio state fan in the whole branch (me) got stuck with probably the only Michigan fan in the whole branch (elder moser)....but i pray for patience. Let me know how sports are going.

how is everyone? this past week has been a little strange. Dearelders come monday through friday at around 4 so if you send it before like 12 it will get to me that same day. but today is monday, my p-day, and it is alos labor so no dear elders today. Ive gotten letters from Mom, who must know not to start a story without finishing the WHOLE story, kiera and connie, and Nick. I want to thank Nick especially for his letters, they are a big help. Im writing mom her letter later today and there will be more questions and a few more details in that.

Basically the spirit here is awesome. everywhere we go we are followed by the spirit. I love it. Spanish is coming along, its only been 4 days but Ive already learned to pray and testify in espanol. Everyone thats been here for a while always tells us that no matter how badly you think you suck at it, it will come. So i try not to get frustrated but its tough sometimes. other than that we have learned a lot about our purpose as a missonary and a little bit about how to teach. Elder moser and i are awesome teachers. we have taught a few lessona in english to get the hang of it and i swear its as if we have ben out in the field doing it for 4 months together. we are studs. i love teaching and all the teachers say that i can hang with the best of them. its easy for me.

Congrats to casey! thanks for telling me like you said you would you punce, but im excited for you. The short sighted side of me is jealous of you, because learning a new language is hard, and i can only wonder how awesome it would be to just go out and teach in your native tounge right away. your going to love the mtc! you know everyones first name right away (elder) and the brotherhood only after a few hours is unparalled. Word of advice, study pmg. its the life blood of a missionary, and because i studied it before i came im heads above the rest of my district in terms of teaching.

So my district is 11 guys, and they are feaking sweet. there is one elder, elder snow, who is hilarious. he and a few other elders think i look a lot older than everyone else, like 24, but because they know im not they joke around about it a lot and call me padre kitterman or abuelo kitterman (grandfather). old man jokes all day, and being helped out of my chair, when i dont hear something and say "what" its always "turn your hearing aide up!" its hilarious. there is another elder, elder badger, who got full ride offers from the following schools to play football (safety): BYU, utah, Cal, Stanford, UCLA, Florida st, LSU, Oregon, and Notre Dame. he chose Notre Dame...ugh. but regardless we become fast friends. they are holding his scholarship so he brought a whole bag full of work out equipment. like a portale sled, parachute, ladder, and some other stuff. we fill up bags of sand and load them onto the sled and while everyone else is playing sissy soccer at gym we are running with a 75 pound sled attached to us up a small hill. hows that for dedication?

make sure everyone knows to use dear elder, i need some mail! i hate to compare the mtc to prison, but mail is all we have besides ice cream on sundays and wednesdays....i live for sundays and wednesdays. i cant write anyone until they write me first so i have their adress. oh i opened up a tie the second night cause i was way tired and frustrated from spanish. it happened tobe nicks tie, which was exactly what i needed to see cause at that moment the tie represented that i am not the first, nor the last to be frustrated at something in the mtc and everything will be ok so thank you nick. My time is almost up, we only get 30 minutes to write. i love all you guys and i hope your doing well. tell sierra i want her to take the tv already! you big baby...