I Love what Heavenly Father has Given Me, and what Jesus Christ Did for Me

dear fam,

Last week was the best! Interviews in Catarman and Catbalogan zones, and a zone conference in Beautiful Calbayog city! Literally heaven. Life is so good here! The drive was long, and it was a pretty hard drive, just chilling in the passenger seat for 5 hours. but it was really worth it.

Calbayog has grown so much since I was last there. it's cleaner, has more stores, has a big new department store, new streets, and even has plans to build a new airport there! I was reminded that when I was there, it was so different, but now it's much better. Catarman is also so nice, except for the pouring rain of course! I got to see all the missionaries there, and some of my favorite missionaries are there too! Little secret; I am gaining back weight. Why? because President Argana buys a lot of food at restaurants, and then I am their last hope to finish it! plus, we travel a lot, so no time to walk. but, I'm starting to eat less and work out more. I was doing that, until I received your birthday package! :D I ended up giving a lot of it at the conference. They loved it by the way! it was their first time to have a rice krispie treat, and they said it was delicious. Thank you so much for the snacks and photos, They really gave me a boost in this rough time.

I say it's a hard time because this week is transfer week, the busiest week of the cycle. We have 4 missionaries staying in our apartment right now, that all will be going home. I should be happy for them, but all they did was talk about their experiences doing disobedient things like Boating, Going on hikes with Sister companionships, and all kinds of other activities. they really slacked on their work, and their key indicators show that. They really didn't mention their successes in the mission. Now that they are going home, they feel comfortable talking about it because at this point, they are already going home. They don't care. And I feel so sorry for them. They have been given a sacred trust, and they are breaking it. Something that I have learned on the mission is that when we eat the sacrament, ALL of our covenants are renewed, Not just the baptismal covenants. I have been reminded of those covenants, and I feel so strongly that I wouldn't want anyone, especially myself, to break those covenants. All I can do is try to remind them what they promised to do, and hope that they listen. Being a leader in the mission is one of the hardest things I could ever imagine. Long story short, I am reminded of that mormon message from Elder Ucthdorf about the man who traveled the world on the cruise ship, but didn't take advantage of the opportunities he had. The opportunities I am talking about is growing in the gospel, gaining knowledge, preparing for an eternal marriage and a family, for future callings. for success in the mission in Baptisms and obedience. I have resolved to not waste the time I have on the mission. Have fun, yes, but be obedient while I do it. 

On a happier note, I love the mission. I love what Heavenly Father has given me, and what Jesus Christ did for me. I am indebted to them with a Debt that I can never pay back. but I can try by sharing the knowledge I have to all I meet concerning the gospel and the church. I feel so happy helping others and teaching. I love the work with all my heart! I miss you all, but I won't trade these 2 years. I hope everyone is alright at home, and that you are all happy and well. Good work on the 5K, and if dad needs any advice about how to get referrals from the members, I would be happy to tell him how things are done here! yesterday, We got 3 referrals from the same family, and the ward has a program to have every family give a referral to us before Christmas day. We spend all week contacting referrals! 

I love you all. Morgan, I love and miss you. Bump mentioned some boyfriends, good work. Tyler, I heard you ran a 5k Race. I will do one with you next year. Let's see who is faster!

Mom and Dad, your example has taught me some things that I yet lack. I am so grateful for your patience for me and the rest of the family. I can't wait for next month to see you!

love,

Elder Kuehne

 

 

 

Working Harder is Good, But it's Better to Work Smarter

Dear Fam,

The day has past. Yup, MY BIRTHDAY!!! 20 NA AK!!! LAGAS NA!!!! good luck looking that up on the internet 😂😂 Recently, It's been a little hard to type English. My mind just kicks into Waray, and I just start typing Waray words. Thanks for the patience.

So, last week was a very different week. We didn't end up going to Palo for exchanges. Something came up, and we were unable to go. the good news is that we got to work in our area ALL WEEK!!! we taught so many people. We got a referral from a recent convert, Brother J. we asked if we could teach his family, and he said yes! also, he said that he had a cousin who wanted to join the church. so, we went and taught the cousin with brother J. we asked if she had a question. she asked how she could know if she could receive forgiveness from God for her mistakes. That is a question from the heart, and she meant it. We shared some verses, and she was blown away with the answer that YES, she can. we extended a date of baptism to her and her other cousin that was there, and they both accepted. Actually, this sister had already asked her parents if she could join the church, and they said yes! it was a good week for that. this girl is the perfect example of what the mission is aiming for. President Argana has been pushing for referrals, instead of tracting. there are some missions who have made actually made tracting forbidden. this girl is not someone off the street that we found and may or may not be interested. This girl is a person that we know is interested, is searching for something, and we have the answer! in addition, she has 2 people, 2 a member, that can answer her questions, teach her, and take her to church and activities. Working harder is good, but it's better to work smarter. We have the gospel, the ultimate answer to people's questions. there is no one that the gospel cannot help, there is no one "too good" to repent and be baptized. 

It was a very trying week. Lots of work, lots of teaching. but, I am better then when I started the week. This week, I go to Catarman and Calbayog for zone conference and interviews. Calbayog is where I lived in my first area, so I am absolutely stoked to go back! 

that's really all. I hope all is well at home. Make someone's day today.

Love

Elder Kuehne

photos: My lineage (Elder R, who I trained, and Elder H, who he is now training.)

District picks

Jeeps are weird

Filipino vandalism. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Super Brief"

Dear Fam,

This week marked a very important event. It was the baptism of Brother J and Sister J. They were interviewed for baptism before, but Brother J drank, so he didn't pass. But he did not let that stop him. He started reading the scriptures like crazy, building his faith, and stopped drinking from that day on. He and his wife are so happy that they were baptized. it was the greatest feeling in the world to know that they are now in the Lord's fold. After the baptism, we sang some hymns while we were waiting for them to change their clothes. As they did, their little boy, who is really hyper, found the backpack with their clothes. As we started singing another hymn, he JUMPS into the classroom, doing a superman pose with his spare briefs over his jeans, and Loudly shouted "Super Brief!" I could not join in the next hymn because I was laughing too hard!!!!!! 😂😂😂 Definitely one for the record books. We also started teaching brother D. He has come to church 4 times now, and we just had time to contact him at his home. We asked if he was reading the book of Mormon, and he said that he is in 2 nephi 22! he is very knowledgeable about the bible, but he understands the book of Mormon and understands it's role to testify and clarify. He is amazing and active in the classes at church. 

We also gave trainings to more zones last week. This week, President Argana is in Manila, so We are using this time to do some exchanges with the zone leaders in the nearby zones. That means I get to go and work in PALO, my 3rd area! i'm really excited to see how the area is doing. Recently, I have noticed something. I have baptized some people, but there are also so many others that I found or taught that others are baptizing after I leave. AND THAT IS OK!!! the work is too big to be done by just one person, and it makes more sense to set up baptisms for the missionaries to follow. In fact, It makes me think of others more then myself. If we try to steal all the baptisms, that that leads to issues like unclear teaching, unanswered questions, and unsure testimonies. But if we allow others to finish what we started, and prepare the investigators for the next missionaries, then they stay active and help others. perhaps there is a lesson in this for someone who reads it. For me, it's helping others to have success instead of just focusing on making myself look successful. 

I miss you all. A couple weeks ago, I got really homesick. it's better now that I am busy. I love you all so much that if I'm not working 24/7, I think about you! that's special, Diba? 😎 I hope all is well at home and everyone is happy and well.

Love, Elder Kuehne

 

The Lord's Love for and Confidence in Me.

Dear family,

This week was so much fun! We had the Tacloban Zone conference, and we got to visit 2 zones in the mission, And talk with and train 3 zones in the Ormoc Zone Conference. Lots of trainings, Lots of learning and training. This week, We go to Sogod, in the south, Borongan in the north east, and Tolosa in the east. It's a busy busy time as we give a training 4 times this week. The training is about setting goals and achieving them, and I am learning a lot from that training.

It was a good week, lots of fun. I had a very spiritual experience at church yesterday. It was a strong feeling from the Lord of his love and confidence in me. It was deeply needed at this time. 

Sorry that I don't have a big email this week. We had to do an internet training, and that leaves very little time for email.

I love you all, Morgan, good luck in surgery tomorrow, I love you Tyler, And I am so grateful for you mom and dad

Love,

Elder Kuehne

 

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