My Testimony has Been Reinforced

Dear family,

Boy oh Boy, last week was a doozy. I gave my first training at a mission leadership conference to all the zone leaders and sister training leaders, and I also helped train 2 zones during their zone interviews. Yes, My companion is also an AP. We do all the planning, training, and discussing together. The good news is that Elder D was my companion before, and I already know so much about him, and he knows so much about me. That really makes life so much easier, and less awkward. He's teaching me how to handle the life of an Assistant. This is a little secret, but there are missionaries that do not like the Assistants. Not a lot though, just a few. Elder D is a fun loving guy, but he is also strict about the rules, and does not leave any room for disobedience. He does it so lovingly, because he really does love the missionaries, despite their individual issues. He is honest, and when he says he will do something, he does it. He also listens to first promptings, and follows them immediately. He is the best, I love him. he's a really special guy. people don't like the assistants because they are obedient and will tell president about the disobedience that is happening. People can be offended, but that is the work that the Lord has called us to do, and so we do it, no matter who doesn't enjoy it.

This week was also a pretty hard one. Lots of struggles, lots of working and teaching. Nothing new has come up yet, but we did contact a referral, C and E. Yeah, they live on the side of a fetching mountain. That was a hard walk. But they are really good, and I am excited to visit this week. I have learned a valuable lesson. I was stressing out because of Tagalog speaking people, But Elder D helped me out and simply told me to focus on Waray, because people here understand it just fine, even if they are Tagalog speaking. So, the stress went away, and happiness is back.

This week, We have 2 zone conferences!!!! one in Tacloban, and one in Ormoc City. Ormoc City is so clean, but the issue is that they don't speak Waray there. They speak Cebuano. so I probably won't be doing that much OYMing there. but the conferences are so much fun and a great opportunity to meet the missionaries and help them grow. it will be a pretty long drive, But I imagine that it will be pretty fun. We will also be staying in Ormoc and Biliran Island for a night. Lots of traveling. just like Dad, but with no pay. However, we still get free food. 

Love the pictures. Ty must have been in heaven. I hope the rest of you are enjoying your vacation. I love you all. The reason I haven't sent photos is because the computer shop here is a little bit sketchy, and it has deleted my sim card twice. So, I am forced to wait until I find a better way to send those. forgiveness, eh?

All is well here, and I enjoy the work still. However, My testimony has been reinforced, and I know things I never knew before. Missions are the best!

Love,

Elder Kuehne (by the way, Most people just call us "Der". the Filipino people have some interesting quirks)😂😂😂��😂😂

The Head is Just as Important as the Feet

Dear Fam,

This week has been a very long one. Last week, I woke up at 4:30 every morning for transfer week. I got to meet the new missionaries, and they are a good group. transfers were really long this time around, but still they were very enjoyable with new people being in new areas, new assignments, and so on. 

Being an assistant means that in every aspect of the work, I am to be an example. It means that even President Argana asks sometimes for my advice. I helped decide who would transfer when and where. however, I am no better then any other missionary. If all the mission had were assistants, then that would be impossible. the Savior said that the head is just as important as the feet,(so to speak) so callings do not make anyone better then others. in fact, Elder Haynie said that President Monson has a lot of spiritual impressions. However, He does not receive them because he is the prophet, he gets them because the Lord knows that He will act on the impression and do His will. I hope that if I am obedient and listen, I too can get some spiritual impressions and be able to help others. 

Assistants give a lot of trainings to the missionaries how to be better and what is lacking in the mission. I will be giving a LOT of trainings, starting tomorrow at MLC. 

We haven't done a lot of teaching, because We are completely slammed with trainings and traveling. But, the good news is Tacloban 2nd ward. That ward is the best! in a past email, I mentioned a family with a little boy named C that I taught on exchanges with Elder W. Now, they are baptized and attending church. There Are a lot of recent converts in Tacloban 2nd, and blessings come from sacrifice and obedience. I am enjoying my new assignment. 

I hope all is well at home. I don't have a lot of time to email anymore, but I will attempt  to email often. 

Love,

Elder Kuehne

 

 

Prayers to be Strong and Filled with Charity and Humility

Dear Fam,

this week, and last week, was a complete blur. Last Wednesday, President asked me into his office so that he could consult with me about some office and apartment matters. In the middle of his questions about an apartment, He asked me a little about myself, then extended to me a new assignment and area. He asked me if he was willing to serve in Tacloban 2nd ward, just downtown, and then asked me to serve as his assistant. Yes, I am now the assistant to the president. I cannot even begin to explain just how inadequate I felt about that assignment. He then told me that he had been asking for a very long time who would be the new AP. My name kept popping into his mind. I remember 2 weeks ago that I had a feeling, and that feeling was that I was needed and had to step up and work harder and be more obedient. Now, I know why. 

During the last week, I have kept that assignment secret, because President asked me to. Naturally, A lot of people are excited for transfers, and a lot start asking who will be the new leaders. A lot of names were thrown around, and the Lord picked me. I am no perfect person, but I am expected to serve as a leader. It just shows the Lord knows who I am. He has prepared me for this work, He has trained me. Elder D was my companion in Palo, and now he is now my companion again. I love him, he is the best missionary here. It just goes to show that the Lord picks small and simple things to be His leaders. I ask for your prayers that I may be strong, and that I keep my head clear and my heart may be filled with charity and humility.

I am currently training my replacement supply manager, Elder M. it's an easy training, he's doing great.

Other then those things, normal week. Just working and trying to prepare for later today. I love you fam

Elder Kuehne

Something Big Happened

dear fam, 

I am a little disappointed I didn't get to email you earlier, but this is transfer week, and we are absolutely SLAMMED busy! I will email tomorrow morning when I have some time.

Here's a trailer about my email.... Something big happened last week, and It has a big effect on my mission work. 

Love you all, KitaKitz buwas

Elder Kuehne

 

Hard Things Make Me Strong

Dear Family,

I have officially started my picture game. I am determined to firstly, not lose my photos, and secondly, to send more to you and take more. that explains these photos....

This week was a very spiritual and exciting week. General Conference was amazing! I was deeply impressed with every talk, of course, but I do have some that I remember better. For Example, Elder W. Craig Zwick said "We live in a world that feeds on comparisons, labeling, and criticism. Instead of seeing through the lens of social media, we need to look inward for the Godly attributes to which we each lay claim. These Godly qualities and longings cannot be posted on Pinterest or Instagram." Isn't That amazing? I have found that I do that often, and learned about trusting in the Lord despite our imperfect eyesight and imperfect faith. in addition, the talk by Stanley G. Ellis, entitled "Do we trust Him? hard is good" was exactly what I needed to hear at this time. Missions are hard, believe it or not. These hard things make me strong and capable for later challenges and struggles. This Conference was especially memorable to me, and I hope to have time to read the talks and prepare for further inspiration from reading them.

Conference itself was fun, because of the people. Palo is Tacloban stake, so the members were all there. The missionaries are great, the Spirit was strong, life is good! 

Other then that, just preparing for a tough week this week and next. Next week is transfer week, so It will be soon that we can expect some changes in the mission. Busy as always, nothing to report really. I'm just doing my office work and trying to do some teaching and finding. Brother D is super busy, so we will be making a appointment with him. we have an appointment tomorrow with a family we will follow up, hopefully all is well there.

I do remember that sister. she was very kind, and in my limited Cebuano, I did my best. She spoke nothing but Cebuano, which makes it difficult for me to have a conversation with her. I don't really understand.   In Sta. Margarita, the branch president spoke nothing but Tagalog, but he understood Tagalog, English, and Waray. I have no clue how it works. Most Filipinos are fluent in Tagalog and their local language. Tagalog is the national language, but here are about 172 different languages, such as Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilongo, Bicolano, Kapampangan, Chavacano (which is kinda like broken Spanish), and English. No offense to Leyte, but I really enjoy Waray, so hopefully I stay around here 😂😂😂😂

that's all for this week. Love you all

Elder Kuehne

"Pagbabayadsala"

Dear Fam,

General conference is now available on my computer, and It takes all my will power not to watch it early. I may just not open lds.org until Saturday... we'll see😂

this was a very enjoyable week. I have had lots of time to think and consider, and Many great things have come from it. not a lot of lessons, because busy. But, still such a great week. We found a little family that we started talking to, and we shared the lesson to the son and mother, with the sons wife and sister coming in and listening every once in a while. The issue is in the Philippines, people are pretty shy around the americans, especially the girls and kids. even the boys are pretty shy. We asked them if we could come back, and they invited us back. It's just me and Elder C, Elder D is a little better and back to normal work. 

All we really did this week was office work. We are going to start cooking more, so I can practice some filipino cooking. The new apartment is pretty darn fancy, with aircon and all that. It's a nice place to live, and really makes it easy to study and rest in there. 

I would like to share a word in Waray. The word is "Pagbabayadsala," which means atonement. The direct translation is Pagbabayad, which means paying, and sala, which means sin. so, it literally means paying of sins. While I was sharing with brother D, I realized the literal translation of the word, and I just broke down. I had a feeling, undeniable, which said that this is true. Jesus Christ is alive and He really did pay for our sins. It was a very special experience for me. 

I heard about Elder Hales, and while it's not a big surprise, it still is sad. It's wonderful to think about the reward that is waiting for him. that same reward awaits all those who are as valiant to their testimony as he was. many times, people think of the apostles as greater then anyone, unfallable, and above everything. Yes, the apostles and prophets are all amazing men who have worked and are called of God, but they are not perfect, and if we work as hard as we can, Our reward will be the same. I fully believe that this church is true, that the gospel is here and we have the fullness of it. Elder S, the assistant, has a poster on his wall that said "if you knew how to cure cancer, would you share it? of course. You know how to bring souls back to the father, so share it." This gospel is the answer.

I miss you, but the work here is so important and progressing that I cannot help but love it. The Philippines is the 4th country to receive 100 stakes! that's amazing, considering missionary work truly started sometime in the 60's. The people are prepared here, and I love that so many are finding their way to the path that leads to eternal life. I really enjoy missionary work. 

I love you all

Elder Kuehne