I Have Stopped Trying to Seek Out the Storms, And Enjoy More Fully the Sunlight

Dear Fam,

this week has been absolutely killer. not a lot of lessons, no new investigators, no baptisms, and yet, somehow I am ok with that. I know that I am doing my best here. a bit difficult, but I have stopped trying to seek out the storms, and enjoy more fully the sunlight, as President Hinckley said it. it has made a pretty big difference. I am trying to stay busy, which means less time to stress. I am starting to learn how to cook, and so far I know chicken adobo. really good! I am also reviving my efforts to speak Tagalog, and so far, I am slowly working my way towards speaking Tagalog. it's pretty different from Waray, but I am absolutely surrounded by Tagalog, so it shouldn't take too long until I get the hang of it. hobbies are great things to have.

recently, I did 3 baptism interviews for the San Juanico sisters, and two of them are sisters. their mother, an RM, said that whoever did the interview would baptism them! so, I get to be there for the baptism of Sister L and Sister Z, and will be doing the baptism! it was a real sign for me, that the Lord still loves me and is allowing me this moment. I will have pictures for that. other then that, not a lot of work done in teaching. Next cycle, we may be changing areas, so we can have some real good investigators in the other area! I'm really excited for it. 

I really love the video of Elder Holland. that talk absolutely rocked my world, and was a bit turning point for my testimony. I love an opportunity to watch it again. It was really needed.

through all my office struggles, I have had a great revelation. despite all the hard times, there has been far worse. Joseph Smith and the early saints. Moroni, who was the last prophet and completely alone being hunted down by wild Lamanites. above all, Jesus Christ, who took everything I have ever felt, suffered through, or had happen to me, and suffered it. Not just me, but everyone. the scriptures say that He knows how to help us through our trials, because He knows them perfectly. No other church that I know of knows about that aspect of the atonement. it is such a wonder to me, and I have shed tears in sacrament meetings while thinking about it (I won't say how many times, so dad has less ammunition against me) I love my Lord and Savior, and appreciate the chance to serve Him.

I hope you know I love you all and want to return, but that is not the Lords plan right now. I am content to simply say "I love you" to all of you and wait until June 2018 to more fully express it. 

With love,

Elder Kuehne

Sweaters are Really Gwapo Too

Dear Family,

This was the hardest week ever, and it was also a great opportunity to learn and grow. we taught ONE lesson last week, because we were always backed up with office work. many times we were ready to go outside and proselyte, but some last minute, very important thing popped up that had to be done. even Saturday, we went on splits to Palo, but we didn't get to go until about 1 in the afternoon, and we returned at 5 to drop off a missionary that is going home. Sunday we had meetings. It was the most frustrating week of my life? Why am I telling you all this? because Life sucks, and it most certainly doesn't go where we think it will. But through all of it, I felt something, like the Spirit trying to speak to me. I am ashamed to say that I ignored it for a while, just being stressed and angry that nothing was working like I wanted it to. But, just yesterday, we had some Sunday talks, and they were about trusting in the Lord and accepting his will. The speakers spoke mostly English as well, which most definitely meant the message was for me. Life is hard, but the Lord has complete control over it and will NEVER leave us alone. It took me a long time to trust that I am in the office for a reason. I don't know it, but I can definitely enjoy it while I am here. Lots of great opportunities in the office. there are opportunities in our challenges, and if we focus too much on the struggles, we will not be ready for those possibilities that are coming up

quick note of the hair: I miss my hair before. The barber messed up, and now I am just waiting for it to grow back. 

My Companion, Elder C, is the travel secretary, and because I am his companion, We are always taking missionaries to the airport and picking up missionaries returning home from other missions. It has been so sweet to see these going home missionaries so strong in faith and courage come home to their reward. As for the new missionaries, it is a mix of fear, excitement, and determination. They are good people. I love missionaries.

The sweater is dope. Everyone always talks about my sweater. It's so nice! It gets really cold in the office, and rain season is coming up, so I have to prepare. Sweaters are really gwapo too, so that helps. That was the zone conference that you saw. The lunch was a chop suey veggies and beef, with rice. It was so GOOD! Sister Argana has been feeding us a lot recently, and is always inviting us from the office for a quick dinner or lunch while we are in the office. I had cheese for the first time in a year last week! so delicious! it's the little things that make me happy.

Life is still good here, and I just want to do the best I can. All is well here, just filling out orders and getting stuff. All I do is shop, pack boxes, and answer complaints about vehicles. It's harder then it sounds, I swear.

I love you all, and hope all is well with you. School starts soon, and I'm unsure if that is super fun to you all, but just work, hang in there, and party hard while you can!

Love

Elder Kuehne

The Mission has the Ability to Change People

Dear Fam,

this was a week full of office work. I got to take a trip to a pretty far area, San Isidro Leyte, and check out their apartment. Many missionaries are requesting new apartments, and that makes my life a bit harder. There are many big responsibilities I have, and that makes my office experience all the more insane. the people I live with (Kabalay in Waray) are all Filipinos, and they are really the best in the business. they are pros at office work, and they have helped me adjust. I have a lot of trips to make to check out apartments and deliver supplies. 

you asked about the tatay (trainer) of Elder C. Elder B was one of my best friends in the mission. He was the last companion of Elder D, my trainer, and we just got along so well. Before the mission, he really wasn't following the gospel too well. Now, he is a powerhouse. the mission has the ability to change people. Yes, everyone can change, and a mission is such an amazing way to grow and improve. it strengthens testimonies, plants a seed of obedience, and helps others align their will with the will of the Lord. I have seen that in myself. the growth I have experienced is pretty amazing, considering I was pretty lazy in the gospel as well before the mission. now I see it in the light I should have seen it before, and that is a life-changing and strengthening experience.

 The office allows emailing, and It would be great to continue to connect with you all. I hope that my emails can help some people who are struggling and need some help in their life. I am not perfect, but everyone can do something :)

I love you all so much. As I get to work and bring families to the Lord, I cannot forget that I too have a family, that is on the right path and can receive that blessing of eternal families. always continue to be strong in the faith, and grow everyday you can!

with love

Elder Kuehne

P.S. why is this email so short? simple: nothing happens around here :)

Big of a Blessing a Mission Is

Dear family,

What a long week....

Office life is pretty difficult, and can be a real pain in the butt the majority of the time. many people think all we do is mess around on computers while sitting in an air conditioned room and drive around in cars. while we do have air con and cars, the work we do is ridiculous. It helps me be more sympathetic to those who do the work now. We do get some proselyting time, but not too much, and we have not had too much success. we hope to have some baptisms in September, but we aren't totally sure about that. saiung.... but we are doing the best we can with the situation. 

Elder C is my new companion. he is from Lucena City, Quezon providence. He is the travel secretary, so he arranges all the travel for missionaries coming in, going home, and even people from other missions who live here in Tacloban. He is busy, but he is also a great missionary. His trainer is one of my best friends in the mission, and he and I are getting along great. I live with the other office elders, Finance and Recorder, and the assistants. it's a party always.

I mentioned how people drive in the Philippines before, but Let's review..... it's nuts. Motorcycles are swerving in and out of traffic, sometimes carrying 3-4 people, pedicabs are on the edges looking for passengers, all the cars on the road drive like they have somewhere to go, something to do always. they are fast. even the big vehicles like dump trucks, buses, things like that, the drivers drive those things like they are sport cars, weaving in and out of traffic and FLYING down the road. Many people here drive even though they don't have a drivers license. and somehow, I have only seen 1 accident before. so, when I drive, super defensive mixed with not backing down. Lots of cars, If you are not bumper to bumper with the other car, You can expect him to try to pass you. If I can drive here, I can drive anywhere. 

In the office, all 3 other office elders are the same batch, and they are all native Tagalog. That means I am left out of a lot of discussions. Before, I hated things like this. But now, I can understand a little bit more about the situation. They don't speak Tagalog just so I don't understand them... they just are more comfortable with that, just like me with English. They hang out a lot, but they are also batch and best friends, having been together in the office for 2 cycles now. I had a bad habit before of assuming people are just out to get me and mess with me, but now I can see they are normal just like anyone else and are comfortable with each other. I have learned to not be so worried about those things all the time anymore. It's been a long ride, but I really enjoy the lessons I have learned in the office so far.

I am so happy about the hygiene kits you all made for the missionaries down south. They are having a hard time right now, and the area is especially dangerous to foreigners, who many people would be happy to get rid of. Martial law has been declared, and from news stories I can actually understand, there are many gunfights between the government and rebels. In a time of hardship, I am so proud to see the Kuehne clan come together and help the people I have come to love and care for. Many great missionaries here went home/will go home to those places, and to think that you all are sacrificing to give these needed things to those people I love so much means a great deal to me, and more to them. 

I hope that everyone can see how big of a blessing a mission is. It's hard, it's rough, but the trials make me better. The Lord compared trials to a refiners fire, which burns away the chaff and leaves behind a cleaner, more beautiful diamond. we are better when we have trials. Now, that doesn't mean that we run around looking for trials... but, it does mean when trials come our way, we hold to the iron rod and push, no matter how bad it may look. We resist the adversary and his tricks so we can be better then before. I have only been here 1 year on the mission, but it has changed me so much. many of the missionaries before they came were living very different lives before. the mission is the fire, and people become closer to Jesus Christ. I have seen that, in my own life and others too.

I had a special visitor last week. It was my first zone leader in the mission, Elder F. (well, now, it's brother R.) he was such a great example to me, and it was great to see him again. he brought someone else with him, Brother N, a member from Calbayog. If he were married, he would be a member of the 70 dayon. he is a temple worker in Cebu, and has many, many spiritual gifts. We talked for a while, and he reminded me that he made 2 prophecies: the first being that elder F would be AP, which he was, and that I would be transferred to the office, which he was right again. just another reason I know spiritual gifts are real.

Harrison, Congrats on the baptism! everyone I have baptized has been very happy to be baptized, and it is a great gift from Heavenly Father to be baptized. Be a good boy, and endure till the end. Always be a good example, be kind to everyone, and do what Jesus would do. The scriptures tell you how to do that, and so will the Holy Ghost. trust them, rely on them, and you will help others.

I love you all so much. In addition, the office has permission to email any day, as long as the work gets done. So, I can spend more time talking to you all! yay. I also got to talk to Elder E, apparently he is moving to Utah. party,party

With love,

Elder Kuehne