Family and Friends,


There is really not a whole lot that goes on here in the MTC besides learning the language and doctrine and having amazing speakers come to our devotionals. So last Sunday David Archuletta came and spoke to us and then sang for us while Richard Elliot (MOTAB organist) played the piano and organ. That was soooo awesome. And also the guy that spoke in Conference that sounds like Grue from Dispicable Me, spoke to us a couple weeks ago. And then this past Sunday Vocal Point came and performed for us. And then yesterday it was Elder Neuenschwander (sp) who mentioned Kate and I in his talk and read of Kates testimony from one of her letters. And the next 3 weeks are all general authorities!! Between David Archuletta and Vocal Point, I am not sure if they are TRYING to test the sister missionaries. It is not working..........That is all that is exciting here. But I would love to hear from all of you about what is going on in all of your normal lives. I love you all and I am so blessed to have you all in my life. xoxoxox love, Sister Kuykendall

Neil L. Andersen

Hi friends and family!


I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter week! We definitely are here at the MTC. I can't remember what things I've already told you so forgive me if I repeat things.

Cool things: Vocal point came and performed for us. The BYU Mens Chorus performed for us. And David Archuletta, and Richard Elliot (MOTAB organist), and Elder Oaks is coming on Sunday. When Elder Neuenschwander came and spoke to us (a friend of grandmas) he quoted Kate's testimony that she emailed home and then mentioned that I was currently here at the MTC so of course I turned bright red when everyone turned to look at me. But it was awesome to get to speak to him afterwords. He's an awesome man. Then yesterday our devotional speaker was Elder Neil L. Andersen. So that was cool. But was even cooler was that as I was getting up at dinner to take my tray to the bus belt Sister Nally (the MTC president's wife) came up to me and asked if my companion and I could do someone a favor. Of course I couldn't say no, especially because she somehow always finds me to tell me she's going to keep me in the MTC longer. So I had to keep the good feelings there. She then told me that she needed us to sort of 'babysit' Elder Andersen's grand kids while they all ate dinner together. So when they all arrived at the MTC sister Thueson got to meet him and talk to him for a bit. (we got a picture with him but I haven't been able to track down the elder that took the picture. so hopefully i can find it for everyone) We then sort of took the grandkids (8 of them. ages ranging from 18 down to 6) and took them to the cafeteria to eat and kind of just entertained them. Then we got special treatment and got to sit up in the front at the devotional. So that was a neat experience.

Funny things: I think we're all a little worn/stressed out so we haven't laughed a whole lot lately. But don't worry we all still love each other, we're just a little more focused because we leave in less than 2 weeks.

Sad things: 2 of our favorite elders left for Madagascar this week. That was really rough. I never realized how fast you could grow to love people here in the MTC. We're all just best friends. Sister Thueson and I got released as the Sister Training Leaders. That was sad but it was also a bit of a relief seeing as it was sometimes a stressful calling. But I'll miss being there for all the girls to turn to when they need help.

New things: We got 3 new sisters and 1 new elder in our zone. 2 sisters are going to Indonesia and they are so cute. One is from St. George and the other is from Australia. The Elder is going to Malasia and is from New Zealand. And then our other sister is from Ghana and she is beautiful! She is going to Madagascar. So we are so excited to have new people in our zone.

Scary things: I LEAVE IN 12 DAYS!! But I have never looked forward to something more! I have been waiting so long for this and its finally almost here!

Spiritual things: I don't just believe in this Gospel, I have fallen in love with it. And that is a whole other step. I love this more than anything and I never really understood that before. It's not just going to church on Sunday and reading your scriptures and praying every night. It is so much more than that. It is my life now and I love it. I never thought the day would come when I looked forward to personal study where I could just dig into the scriptures and find new perspectives on things, and l pray for everyone I love! I Love it!!! And I know you all can too. In honor of Easter I challenge you all to ponder scriptures on the Atonement and the Resurrection. Really ponder and try to understand the importance and the incredibility of it all. Read it and love it. I promise you won't regret it. This day is so incredible and it has EVERYTHING to do with you - those that support me and love me.

I love you all so much and I love getting everyone's letters. Letters are my favorite! Thank you for thinking of me :)

Happy Easter! love, Sister Kuykendall

Three Weeks!

Friends and family,

The MTC has the same schedule from day to day so I have a bit of a hard time thinking of new things to tell you. So I decided I would break it up into sections for you.

Funny things: So a few nights ago it was pretty late and everyone was getting ready for bed (around 9:45) when the fire alarm went off! I was just about to get in the shower so I kind of freaked out and ran in circles around the room for about 30 seconds just trying to decide what to do. You know like deciding if you'd rather be in a town while your house burns down or just leave all of your favorite stuff like your bag of hot cheetos or favorite lipstick that you(i) can't live without. Eventually, I frantically put my grandma's pj's on (they really are grandmas) and we all ran out screaming! So apparently I wasn't the only one who had those same thoughts because half the girls were in robes and bare feet, mid-shower, and the other half had piles of their most precious things in their arms. So we're all just outside shivering while the fire people go in to inspect. Anyway, to wrap it up, someone just burnt their popcorn and so it was really lame. So we're all okay, we just all smell like burnt popcorn now.

Another funny thing: So we have converts to the church that walk around the MTC and you can ask if you can teach them as if they were investigators. And one of them is George. George walks around slowly because he has a prosthetic leg. (He lost his leg in the war.) As we walked past him walking ever so slowly up some stairs one of the girls in my district, trying to be friendly, asks him what he's doing. To which he replies,"just doing my excercise." She then proceeded to tell him," Oh that's cool! We were just exercising too except we were running!" We all look at her just absolutely horrified!!! As soon as we were past him she turned bright red and said, "i didnt even think about what I was saying! im the worst!!!" She was so embarrassed!
Spiritual things: There hasn't been any particular thing but I have just felt the spirit so strongly lately. My favorite part of the day is personal study hour where you get to just read the scriptures for an hour! Just read and ponder and search anything you want! It is so awesome! I can't exactly explain what it's like but I do invite each of you to do your own personal study. You love it i promise. But you have to go into it with the attitude that you'll love it or else you won't. Pick a story in the BOM and read it, ponder it, treasure it. In fact I want you all to go read Ether 12. The whole thing. And if you don't love it as much as I did then read it again until you do! The scriptures are so full of amazing stories, it baffles me that I ever complained about reading them! Pray beforehand the the Holy Spirit will be with you and help you appreciate and understand the things that you read. Because he will.

The spirit is so strong here and I am just amazed everyday at how much He loves all of us. It's so wild but so so true. He has made a MASSIVE universe with trillions of galaxies and stars, He has such an incredible understanding of EVERYTHING because he MADE EVERYTHING. Yet he knows you. He. Knows. You. Before you go on to read the rest of this email, let that sink in. Did you do it? Okay, well you probably weren't able to wrap your head around it because I sure can't. But it's just incredible to KNOW how much He loves each of us.

Language things: ummmmmm. well it's coming along.

Missionary things; Well when they say there are such things as missionary jokes, they weren't kidding. The things we laugh at in the MTC is nothing I would have ever found even slightly funny in the world of normal people.

But to close, I love you all so much and I am so blessed to have to support of all of you. I love what I'm doing. It's the hardest thing I have ever done. But it is the best thing I have ever done. And I'll probably continue to say that in all of my letters for the next 17 months. I love this gospel with all my heart. I love my Savior with all my heart and I know that everything in this gospel is true and more than anything I want the people of Armenia to know just what I know. This Gospel is essential. This Gospel Is Essential. And we are SO blessed to be a part of it. So do your jobs and spread the word!!!!! I love you all so much!!!!! Love, Queer Kuykendall