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