My Last Email

Dear fam,

my last email as a young missionary. it's so strange to have this happen. I finally made it though, and we are now pulling into the station, so to speak. love you all so much. Good luck to you all, see you on thursday! which, will be the longest day of my life, literally. I cross the date line in the middle of the day. 

I prefer less bear spray on my campouts. let me know if that is a possibility!!!

love,

Elder Kuehne

P.S. you have no idea how much I want to see you all. I have been interviewed by president Argana for my exit interview, and it was trunky. but, that's ok. Because I am now allowed to think about going home! can't wait to see you!

Just Work, and Do the Things that Please God

Dear fam,

Not a lot to say this week. We have been working to get more investigators, and we are the planters here in Oras. We plant, someone else will water, but God will give the increase. It's totally okay with me! I love the work, and am really excited to move forward in the work. it's odd to think that my time is coming so soon, but it really is here. here goes nothing! 

mom, my shoe size is still the same, at 10 1/2-11. thankfully, that has not changed. for garments, I wear a large shirt and waist size 34. I expect to gain weight when I get home, because the portions are out of control compared to here. i think that's really it. As long as a temple session and mandarin are part of the plan, I'm good for anything. oh, and milk. fresh milk. that's expensive here and hard to come by in some areas. 

I can't wait to see you all next week!!!!!! I miss you all so much, and I have so much to catch up and talk with you all about!

I have some spare time, so I want to share a verse that has helped me. This area is hard to find in, and most people don't make it past the first lesson. That has made me frustrated, and I was very discouraged. then, one day, as I was fasting and asking what I could do to help the area, I read in the new testament john 8:29, and learned what I need to do. Just work, and do the things that please God. it's really simple, and was a reminder to me not to lose hope as long as I am working as hard as I can. I am now working as hard as I can, and it is such a blessing!

looking forward to seeing you!!!

Love

Elder Kuehne

 

By the way, Elder D, my trainer, emailed me this week. It's now official, he is getting married in August. he sent me an invitation. just fun news

 

Pray For the People in Oras

Dear fam,

only 2 weeks to go. I never thought that I would ever say this. it's a strange feeling. before I forget, I got your package. I will be sure to give out all these items. thank you so much for sending them! it will make the members day! last week, we spent about 4 1/2 days in Borongan. it was useful, because we had some great experiences, but not so great because they happened outside our area. It was hard to accept, but we are now back at 0. we will be working hard to reverse the negative trend in Oras and work on getting some investigators. all I ask is that the family pray for the people in Oras that their hearts will be softened, that they will be drawn to the gospel and the blessing it can be in their lives. that's really all I can ask for right now.

Elder P is slowly becoming more social and excited for missionary work. this week is our last district training meeting, and we have baptismal interviews in Sulat, Dolores, and Borongan. We are going to be busy this week! next week, we go to Tacloban for a zone conference, also my last. lots of lasts these next 2 weeks. 

I love you all so much

Elder Kuehne

I Want There To Be No Doubt About It

Dear Fam,

I'm really not sure what to say in these emails anymore. Not trunky yet, despite my districts constant reminders of how many days I have left. 

to start, the potential here in Oras has not yet been fulfilled. Another hard week. we're trying so hard to teach, have new investigators, and accomplish something here. nothing yet, the members haven't caught the vision yet. we're working on helping them grow and increase their testimony and desire to share that testimony. Let's hope it works. :)

Elder P is doing well. nothing to really complain about. he's still shy to start a discussion, so we will be working on that this week. It will be a short week, though, because we have exchanges this week with the Sulat elders in our district, and the zone leaders in Borongan. also, zone interviews and district conference. We will only work here in Oras for 2 1/2 days. the rest will be in Borongan. As if that will help me not be trunky.........

anyway, miss you all so much! last week flew right by. so now we are trying to get some new investigators to prepare the area before I leave. I am really getting nervous. It's already week 4 in the mission, which will pass by so fast! week 5 and 6 are also busy with zone conference, baptismal interviews, and other responsibilities. it will be a short 3 weeks, I promise that!!!!

Lastly, I just want to share my testimony. It has grown since last time I shared it, and I want there to be no doubt about it. I know that God hears our prayers, that he is in the details of our lives and if we serve him, if we do our best to magnify our callings and lives, we will receive all we need. I know that Jesus is the Christ and Messiah, that the scriptures teach about Him and knew what role He would take. He is my Savior, and I love Him with all my heart. I serve Him. This is the true church, restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, who layed down his life for the truth. 

I love my mission. it has changed me. I look forward to seeing you all in a short 3 weeks!

Love

Elder Kuehne

p.s. Don't get too excited about pictures. but if there is anything that I can bring for souvenirs, let me know if you have any requests. 

You Must Have Gotten My Travel Itinerary

Dear fam,

You must have gotten my travel itinerary. Bit odd, but 2 days in Manila sounds pretty good! not to mention spending it with Elder D and Elder J. both very hardworking missionaries and personal friends. 

the work here was great this week! everything really seemed to click here, and it's starting to work. We got some new investigators, who have some great potential. everything else is just about the same. Elder P is really changing! he has become more natural in teaching and more hardworking in his work. he's wonderful, and I am blessed to be companions with him. I don't really know what else to say, because nothing else really happened. 

this week, it will be June. after this week, we are BUSY! we have district conference next next week, so that means 3-4 days in Borongan. then we have exchanges, baptismal interviews (A lot, because the zone leaders are the district leader for their district, I am the only one that can interview their candidates, and they are nearly 100% sure that they will have 8 in ONE DAY.) not to mention zone conference on my last week in the mission, in Tacloban. That will make me trunky as can be, I promise you that. 

Love you all

Good luck on your knee mom. Good luck with your calling dad. Good luck with your new empty and boring schedules, Morgan and Tyler.

Elder Kuehne

It's Officially My Last Cycle, My Last Area, My Last Companion, My Last Planner

Dear Fam,

Transfers happened, and believe it or not, I transferred. Elder P and I both transferred to Oras, in Borongan zone. This is a bigger branch then Maydolong, and it has a real meetinghouse, so that was nice. It's a beautiful place here. It's close to the ocean, the houses are all bright colors, we get some great breezes here, it's just beautiful. 

It is also, however, a bit of a struggling area. I say that because the last missionaries really did not take care of this place, and we came in with no area book and no map. So, we are working on it right now. Once again, no time to be trunky, because there's too much going on here. We have to get this area up and going in 5 weeks, so the next missionaries will be able to reap what we sow. It's officially my last cycle, my last area, my last companion, my last planner, it's all too real. The office is emailing me about confirming going-home documents, which is straight evil. we are working hard here, and have seen some good opportunities in this area. The travel is hectic, but the rest is well.

Not a lot of time today, as we are emailing in another area because there is no email in Oras. looking forward to hearing from you all, hope all is well.

Love

Elder Kuehne

That's Easy, I Have That!

Dear Fam,

it's been a pretty hard week. not a lot of success sadly. we do have a new investigator, Tatay N, who is the brother of one of our members. he said that wanted to know the requirements to join the church, so we talked about the gospel. He was funny, because we said, "first, faith in Jesus Christ." he said "that's easy, I have that." next, repentance. "I think I can do that." he was pretty funny, we set an appointment this week. not a lot of investigators have come to church, because they had a holiday in one of the barangays close by. When that happens, even the strongest members may excuse themselves to go to the fiesta. kinda rough, but it feels like all is well so far.

it's going to be a while before we can move, because We haven't found an apartment. we have no signal, and the house is pretty run down. we'll see what happens. 

Just a short one, because I had to take a survey for the church. I'm thinking for the skype, we can do it tomorrow. Filipino time, Tuesday, may 8, at 1:00PM. not sure what time that is in the U.S., but I do want to wish you a happy mothers day in person, so we'll continue the skype. We have to come here anyway in Borongan, so that will work out well. sound good?

Love you all

Elder Kuehne