Message to My Entire Family, Especially My Younger Siblings and Cousins

Dear fam,

what a good week. and to top it all off, it ended with a baptism! sister A has officially joined the Lords church! what a huge blessing it is to have someone so willingly and happily enter the waters and come back up with a big smile on her face. her confirmation was just as blissful. her mom came to the baptism, and her sisters and mom came for the confirmation. everything worked out so well. I will attach a photo, which I took with my new camera ;). we have another person coming up, sister J. she is just as committed as sister A, and more so in some ways. she took part in the stake choir for stake conference, and has come to church as long as I can remember. so, baptisms wise, good couple weeks.

We had a ward conference, and the stake presidency came. President T, the 2nd counselor, was absolutely crazy. he talked about how the church members NEED to go and find good jobs. region 8, AKA, my mission boundaries, is one of the poorest areas in the Philippines. lots of people are underpayed, big jobs are understaffed, and people are getting degrees only to go and work at a clothes store or something else. it is a hard place to be, and many people just don't want to take a risk. to be honest, neither do I. but I am learning that education makes a bigger difference then I ever could have realized. I slacked in high school, but I can't afford to do that any more, so, I am going to work hard, and try to come up with what I need to make my future happy and secure. the church does so much for others, such as the self reliance program, to help others and prepare them for a better and more successful life. I want that now. 

lots of funny people. the Filipino people are natural jokers, and enjoy having a good time. I really love being here, because I connect with these people and it makes it easier to love them. 

I have played lots of basketball. the people here love it, and my companion really wants to learn how to play. so, we got up at 5 and played for almost 3 hours. I can really knock some poor kids over. I played one day, and there is a member named AJ. he is a big dude, and is honestly really good. but, They can't body up with me. I am just to big for them to have a chance. and yet, we still can have such a good time playing and being with them.
I got your package, and I think it is the best package ever. a camera, girl scout cookies, and some tic-tacs. All i need. I have found that I am missing the food back home now, and this package helped a lot. Thank you so much for sacrificing to give these things to me. 

to close this email, I want to share a message to my entire family, especially my younger siblings and cousins. I know this church is the true church. I chose one day to go on a mission, and so far, I still love that decision. I love the chance to have been born in this gospel, to have it early in my life. Many of you have had that blessing, to be raised by strong member parents. I know with all my heart that this church is the only way that we can return to Heavenly Father's presence. I feel that a mission is the greatest blessing in my life, but I also get to help others and bring them the true gospel. Heavenly Father loves us, and will help us with all our trials and our struggles. I am no perfect man, but through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can be perfected and live with Him for all eternity. no greater blessing. I love and miss you all, but, I am spending 2 years away from my own family, just so others can be with their families forever. And I don't regret it. I love you all, I will try to email you all more often, as time allows. Busy week, we have a zone conference, so, hopefully, it runs smoothly this time around. until next week, Trust in the Lord. 

-Elder Kuehne