June 4 2012

KYLE!!!!!!! Congrats man! Spanish is legit and everything is bigger in Texas! Maybe you will come back taller. Im way stoked for you and couldnt be happier. Its a bummer we wont see eachother for 4 years, but hey thats life. Maybe I will make it down there to say hey sometime. Congrats again. and Happy Birthday!

 

Also... HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY! I remember when you turned 15!!!!! Time goes by way to fast. I hope you have a great birthday. Thanks for all the support and love. 

 

The picture from last week was during companionship study. We were in what we call the artic room, cause we always have the ac running and seal it off and after like 30 miutes it gets around like 40 degrees. Its awesome. I was laughing my head off at something we were joking abou, but i cant remember what it was.

 

Well we had a solid week, and we needed it because we are going to be in Merida for a bunch of meetings and training starting tonight until thursday. We had 2 baptisms! Finally! It was the daughters of the family we have been teaching. The dad, Gumaro, is way stoked to get baptized as well, but he has to get off the juice (coffee). Its like liquid cocaine for him. The mom is a different story as of late. She could just care less. But once she sees her whole family changed and baptized she wont be able to deny it much longer.

 

We knocked a neighborhood we had never been in this past week. While doing so, we came upon a house that looked like nobody was home. Here in the peninsula, its so hot and so few people have air conditioning that if they are home they leave their front door open. Well this door was closed but we decided to knock it anyways. A lady came out and we introduced ourselves ad the whole sha-bang. She told us she was interested in listening to us, but was about to leave and had only 5 minutes. We started off by talking about how we all have problems, but it doesnt matter what they are since Christ and the gospel can help. I remember specifically thinking that was strange since as missionaries we look for clues as to what might interest them in the gopel and we could ver easily see all the pictures of her kids and that her house was a lot nicer than most others. The family was an obvious in, but we went the other way with it. 30 seconds in, she starts crying. She stops us and tells us that literally 1 minute before we got there she was talking to a friend on the internet and she was telling her about how hard a time she was going through since she had lost her job a few months before and now they had to sell their house and everything. Her friend then told her, "Dont worry, God is going to knock on your door very soon". Then we showed up. We havent been able to go back and see her yet, but we are really stoked to see how it all goes.

 

Im drawing a blank for other things to write. So im just going to finish up there. Sorry for my extreme lameness. OH! I know Dahlin and Connie think they are too cool for school now that they are getting married and all, but i still have not heard jack from either of them. COME ON! Show a brotha some luv. They both have a letter from me on the way, but who knows how long it will take...

 

Pictures this week include: A crazy storm that rolled in that looked like it was going to consume campeche, overflow birthday festivities, BAPTISM, and "the mormon bus" after church (a member of the ward is a bus driver and took a whole bunch of us home after services)

 

Have a great week!

Love,

 

Elder Kitterman

May 28 2012

Hey peeps,

 

So the week was a succes on all fronts, and now May has almost come to a close. What a shame, May is always a good month...

 

Well we celebrated my birthday like 10 times over the day of, and then some more and Sunday. My fav was definetly when the primary teachers told us they wanted us to come in and teach the kids a little bit about the sacrament, when really it was an ambush so they could sing happy birthday and give me 50 million paintings they all made that say Feliz Cumpleaños. I was very extremely spoiled, but hey, whos complaining. I have included some pics of the celebratory festivities.

 

Other than that, the week was one filled with traveling and working in other areas. Wednesday I went to another area not too far away to complete my complete tour of Campeche, which means I have oficially worked in every single area there is in the whole entire state. Out of the 10 wards or branchs, I have had to attend 5 as an area, and ive been to all of them. I have been here for soooo freaking long....

 

It seems at this point our baptisms we have had planned are doomed to forever be pushed back due to un forseen cirumstances. But we are determined to slay the beast this week and get it done. The good news is that we have been working with the other daughter of this family we have and now she is stoked for baptism as well. So it looks like the 3 of them will be getting baptized this week. Prayers please.

 

 So last monday night, my comp was in district meeting with one of the districts in the zone, and i was in the other. Usually at the end of each meeting, we practice doing something missionary related such as teaching a principle or stuff like that. They talked about talking with everyone, so they were going to practice contacting people in the street. My comp, being the spiritual BOSS he is, decided to take everyone outside and do it for real to practice. Him and two other elders contacted some guy who didnt want anything, so the youngest elder of the three spots a middle aged man walking on the other side of the street and goes over to talk to him. Turns out, he is from the state of Sinaloa and had been atteedning church very regularly there, but for his work travels and has never gotten baptized for that same reason. He had only been here in Campeche about 2 weeks and had been looking for the chapel so he could attend. They showed him where it was and they got his direction. It was in an area that we are temporarily covering, and we went to visit him but he wasnt there. Sunday rolls around, and mid way through sacrement he shows up out of no where. While talking to him after the services, and straight up tells us that he wants to get baptized since he will be here for about 8 months, and he wants to do it next week!  Super intense legit escogido.

 

Well thats it for this week. Stay tuned for next weeks edition of the Elder Kitterman show. Have a good one my loved ones.

Love,

 

Elder Kitterman

May 21 2012

Im on a a computer from like Windows 95. Im praying it doesnt give up on me.

Well other week has flow by. It was a good one. To start, yes i did get the package and it was the shizzle. I loved it and especially all the ties and letters. It made me remember back in the MTC when you guys sent me of with all those wrapped ties with letters.  Thank you so much to everyone. The cookies somehow managed to survive mom. The Lord wanted me to have those cookies, i know it. The clothes are really going to help to. I did give one of the new shirts to Carlos who was baptized 2 weeks ago. He already has the Aaronic priesthood and they are now preparing him to recieve the Melchisedec in June, so I gave him a fresh white shirt and told him what Dad always used to tell me growing up- "preisthood holders always wear a white shirt to church". He didnt have one and he was very grateful. he says thanks.

The festivities have begun. They started last night when Carlos and Raquel made us hamburgers for dinner and then surprised me and their sons girlfriend with a cake for our birthdays. It was way delish. I had like 20 different members come up and ask me in church "isnt it your birthday this sat?" and when i would say yes, they would just nod their head and walk away. Im terrified they are all going to make us food, because I will have nowhere to put it after the first couple meals. Not eating here isnt really an option. We will see how it goes.

We also had zone conference this past week, and they gave a bag of candy to everyone whos birthday it was from the past like 5 months. And the zone conference was pretty dope.

The two baptisms we have planned now for like 3 weeks should be going down this week. Umaro, the papa of the Guzman family is  out of town right now for work, but should be back Wednesday. They are way stoked, and he already has mentioned to us how he wants a calling and asked if he could pay tithing even if he isnt a member. Its crazy to see so many of these people that find the pearl of great price midway through their lives and never take it for granted. It always makes me think about how Ive had the gospel my whole life and never even realized what I truly had. It nots everyday that you find people anxious for a calling or that cant wait to pay their tithing. 

Well thanks to everyone that wished me a happy birfday! I dont feel 21, but hey, thats life. And I was sad to hear about Dianes father passing away. I always used to love getting to talk to him when he was over at Dahlins house when we were growing up. He always had the coolest things to tell us. My heart goes out to the Johnsons and Drapers.

Also a huge shout out to Ryan and Amy Fifield! I was thrilled to hear about the new baby! Thanks Courtney for sending the pics and info.

Well thats all that I got this week. Hope everyone is doing great, and a big hello to all the peeps (yes that means you). Lots of love.

Love,

 

Elder Kitterman

May 14 2012

Hey everyone,

 

It was really great talking to everyone yesterday. I hope all the Moms had a fantastic mothers day!

 

So this is going to be super short, cause I pretty much said everything already over the phone. Oh, and heres all the pics ive been lacking lately. One is from thebaptism of Berenice, who continues strong, and the baptism of Carlos and Raquel. Carlos this past week recieved the aaronic preiesthood and hopefully they will be going to do baptisms in the temple on ma birfday. Sweet sauce.

 

This week was way tranquilo. We just worked and worked some more. I wish I could say I raised somebody from the dead or something like that, but Im still working on it. I wanted to thank everyone again for everything. I wouldnt be able to do any of this without you guys. Lots of love and a big peace out. Word.

Love,

 

Elder Kitterman

May 7 2012

Carlos and Raquel were baptized on Saturday. Sitting here, thats the only thing that really comes to mind from this past week. Its still hard to grasp to be honest. We invited Pres Salinas because they wanted him to be there as well, and to our surprise he did come. We gave him the floor to talk to the packed house to melt everyones faces with some spiritual mojo, and he didnt dissapoint. He talked about, of all things, John the Baptist. He explained who he was and what he did. He explained how the people saw him, and his sacred power that he held that made it all possible. Then he got to the goods; Christs baptism. Then he talked about the need that we all have to do the same. It was an amazing talk that had everyone going for a while. Then we moved onto the baptism, and it couldnt have been better. I was asked to baptize Carlos, and Elder Higgy was asked to baptize Raquel. 

I feel overwhelmed, over joyed. This conversion was different, and I have tried for these past days to figure out why. We didnt do anything special really, we were just the mouth pieces. Not in a million years would I dare say that they got bapitzed because of Elder Higginson or I, but for the faithfulness of their son.  They finally found what they had been looking for for more than 20 years because their son did the right thing. We were just lucky enough to be here to see it all. All of the people I have seen has been very fufilling, but this one had a very special spirit. The longer the search, the greater the joy i guess.

Mexico is finally catching up with the states. We will very shortly start using mormon.org to teach and find people. The site is already up in spanish, but its incomplete. but in august it will be launched in many languages, and with Mitt Romney making a run at President, the first presidency and the 12 are pushing to get everything out on the table. The church is been investigated more than ever. Tell a friend!

Well thats about all I got this week. i know its short, but phone call is coming up. i cant beleive its already mothers day. It feels like we just talked like a month ago. But hey, whos complaining. I will talk to you guys Sunday! Paz.

Love,

 

Elder Kitterman

April 30 2012

So we taught Carlos and Raquel this past week, the non member parents of the Elder Barera who just recently left for the mission. We have seen so many miracles with them lately and could feel they were getting close. On thursday at our appointment, Carlos told us he had something he wanted to read with us from the Book of Mormon. It was Mosiah 18. I wont tell you what it says, but it left us with our jaws dropped. Read it with their situation in mind. we went with the intention of putting the goal of getting baptized on the 12th of may, when to our surprise they start quietly talking about things and turn to us and say "couldnt we do it this saturday?" After we picked ourselves up off the floor, we started gettin everything put together to get it done. But Carlos, that very morning, had drank coffee, and we have a rule that they have to obey the word of wisdom for at least one week before baptism. He doesnt have a problem with it, he just for whatever reason drank some cause thats what they served for breakfast at the base (hes a marine). He didnt know he would be getting baptized two days later, but they wanted to. So we called Pres Salinas to get premission, but he said it would be better to wait. So they will be getting baptized this saturday. They told us everything had changed for them in the time that we had been teaching them. It is a huge blessing from their son serving a mission, even at the age of 25. If their is one promise I have seen completed over and over again in my mission, its that the Lord blesses them that serve him. So after 22 years of constant atending church, they will finally be members.

 

We also have another baptism for saturday. Its a 22 year woman named Luz. We have been teaching her for about a month and a half, and we were just waiting to go to church 3 times to be able to. She dreams about as much as Lehi did, all about baptism and the Book of Mormon and gates and what not. She runs track , long distance, and marathons as well. From what she tells us, she always wins, and sometimes thousands of pesos too. She is way stoked.

 

Today was changes, and we both stayed thank goodness. We are being blessed so much and I cant imagine it continuing like this with anyone else besides Higgy. (thats what i call him)

 

I have to give some shout outs! Congrats to Dahlin and Connie! As soon as i heard you guys were dating i knew it was a done deal. I would love to hear from the both of you more about it. Yes, i did get youre letter dahlin, thanks! If you can, push the wedding back like two more weeks so im there! But we will see what we can do.

 

Also, a huge congrats to Kyle. Way to go bro. Always always always strive to be worthy of the priesthood you know hold. It is the same power that the earth and heavens are governed by, and now you have it. Use it well. Its kinda like super powers...

 

Well I hope everyone has a great week! Lots of love to the homies.

Love,

 

Elder Kitterman

April 23 2012

We spent something like 22 hours on bus this past week due to all the traveling. Im so sick of busses its ridiculous. On Monday and Tuesday it was going to and coming back from Cancun, and then we found out my comp was illegal so we had to go into Merida to fix his visa, when we had just passed through there the day before. Then we had to go to Escarsega for some interviews... I never want to get on another bus again. 

The conference with Elder Anderson was amazing. It was mostly in spanish because he speaks it along with French and Portuguese, but spanish is his weakest language. It was pretty much like a spanish speech with a lot of french sounding vowels and some portuguese words. He would say something he wasnt super sure about and then look back at President and the other 70s and ask "Is that even spanish?" But other than being some what comical, it was way good. he taught a lot of important things such as the step of suffering when repenting, and how its not optional. He also talked a lot about how the mission ends, and we need to be prepared to get going when life starts back up. It was weird, because tin the mission it is normal to feel like it never ends. The happines just keeps going forever! 

We are working very extremely hard with a couple that has a son that just left on his mission a month ago. They have known the curch for years and years, but have never made the decision to be baptized. President Salinas was able to come with us the first time that we taught them, and among many other things that he told them, he promised them that they would feel what they were looking for BEFORE 3 weeks was up. That was 3 weeks ago this past Friday, the 20th. We had kinda forgotten about that, but when we went to go teach them on Thursday, the 19th, it was quickily brought back up. The more difficult of the two (the mom) always had a hard time with everything. She said she always prayed but never felt anything. Well when we taught them on Thursday, she told us about dreams she had been having , and about how that morning when she prayed she felt something different, something good. Her husband then made mention of the promise that Pres Salinas had made, and everything just dawned on her. We then talked about what she still needed to be baptized, and it all came back to the Book of Mormon. She just didnt understand it, or why we have it. So the next day, the 20th, we explained it all as clearly as we could, and again it hit her. They are so freaking close, and even they know it now too. It was realy cool to see how it all worked out perfectly. Actually today they demanded that the relief society secretary that makes our food list, change it so we could eat with them. 

Other than that it was a normal week. Yesterday we were given the whole sacrement meeting to speak, just us two, and it went amazingly well. My comp talked first on how to be an example by obedience, and then I talked on how to prepare yourself to be a missionary. Then after, we had to give the principles of the gospel class, and then in preisthood the second couslers just walks in, hands us a talk from general conference of how the missionaries are a teasure for the church and says "I think you guys should teach this one" and walks out. Plus it was the end of a fast, so church was rather exausting, spiritually and vocally.  

Our baptism went well. She was sooo ridiculously happy to finally get to do it after having to wait for about 2 months. The members are kinda getting tired of having to come to our baptims though. When we dont baptize, they complain, and when we do, they complain. What do they freaking want!!!???!!!

Well, I hope everyone has a great week! Love to all. 

Love,

Elder Kitterman