First week in Armenia

Dear Momma,


So I love it here. There is no longer a doubt in my mind that this is where I am supposed to be. Everyone has taken me in and just loved me from the minute I walked into the church building last week. Mom jon (that's my nick name for her since I am forbidden to reveal real names. It translates to mom dear) is my 'new mom'. She's a member of 11 years and she is so sweet. She said that she will be my Armenian mom and you can be my American mom. I told her that was okay :). Our investigators are pretty slippery but we try our best. We are very persistant missionaries here :) I have already learned so much about charity while I've been here. The Armenian people are so wonderful and so sweet and kind a charitable and..... :)

Everyone hugs and kisses your cheek even if they don't know you. It's so sweet. I love just walking through the streets and seeing grown men hug and kiss eachother in greeting. It's amazing. They are just one big family. They sometimes get impatient (not in a mean way though) with me while I struggle with the darn language and will jump in and start to bear my testimony for me if i pause too long (usually .5 seconds or more). More just to help me out. But it's just funny because I can never get a full sentence out without someone jumping in to suggest what it is that they think I want to say.

My companion is great. I love her so much and she is so patient with me. We have sooo much fun together and we are always laughing.

On another note: these people here have nothing, and they are so happy because they dont know anything different. You walk into their one room house and their ceiling looks like it's about to cave in and they have one table in the middle of the room with a couple of chairs and maybe a bed or two scrunched together by the wall. They don't even know if they can afford food for the next day but they will go in debt just to feed you when you come to visit.

I know this is bad, but I have already picked some favorites. Two little ladies that live together, mother and daughter. theyre both old and they have a little shack that's just in shambles. We go over to visit them and they have a bowl of fruit and cookies waiting for us. That is such a huge sacrifice for them. It makes me want to just cry but im not really sure if it's because I love them so much or if it's because their life is so hard.

This is truely the gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings people so much happiness and I have already seen so many miracles.

These people are special and I have caught just a little glimpse of the love that the Lord has for them.

Remember that you are a missionary too and it is also your duty to share this gospel even though you're not wearing a tag. I love you so much momma. Happy mother's day!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

A lady gave us flowers because we cleaned the park

Beautiful Armenia

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

Two weeks

Hi friends and family,


Unfortunately, I only have a few minutes so this will be short. These past 2 weeks have been great!!! We have investigators almost nightly that we have to teach - in Armenian. memorized. It's so hard!! but soo rewarding! i love the mtc. you'll get sick of me saying that, i promise. i also promise that you'll get sick of me saying how much i have learned to absolutely love this gospel. My testimony has grown more within the past 2 weeks than it has from the time i knew i had one. I have to tell everyone something SO funny. (we laugh more here than i ever have, everything is so funny) So it was about 3 in the morning and we're all sleeping, of course. We always sleep with the window open because our residence is so bloody hot. And i wake up to this awful noise. I kind of lay in bed for a minute trying to figure out what it is and whether i was dreaming or not. It sounded a little like a goose in distress. It was so ugly. So when it continued to get louder and louder i like shot up in bed at the same time that my roomates did. everyone was like "what is that??" so i look out the window and there are these 2 cats chasing eachother up this tree right outside our window(keep in mind we are 4 stories up) and screaming and growling and making hideous noises at eachother. and it went on for a good 3 or 4 minutes. it wasn't funny at the time, it was just plain frightening. but its hilarious now. SO FUNNY. Mom probably wont like that i am admitting this in the group email, but there are SO many attractive elders here. I dont understand it. Maybe they only accept attractive missionary applications or something. either that or i already have missionary goggles on. Anyway, thats not important, but i can just think of a few people that would appreciate that. Also, the language is coming faster than i thought. Its hard, so so hard, but i definitely see the Lord's hand in my life right now. I would not be as far into the language as i am now with out him. So i'm in the missionary choir and we MIGHT get chosen to sing in conference but we'll see. Every one look up dear elder. :) its the best ever. and then the last thing that i can think of that is new is another super funny story. My companion was sitting next to an elder in the computer lab during language study. she reached over to grab her flashcards without looking and accidentally grabbed his hand! We are all super close so it wouldn't have been weird if we weren't in the MTC but they both ripped their hands away with horrified faces. It was the funniest thing ever! So now you know that missionary humor and missionary goggles are a real thing. I love you all so much! and i hope you all know how much i love this gospel and how much i love my savior and what he sacrificed for me. i have strong testimony of these things and it is only getting stronger! stay cool everyone, i love you all. dont forget to write!! ;) love, Sister Kuykendall

One week

Hi momma. I only have 10 minutes to write to everyone so this will be short. The language is coming. :) i have been blessed with the gift of tongues. whenever i get discouraged i have to remember that I've only been here for a week and i can already read armenian and for sentences. and i know lots of verbs. its such a hard language but it is so worth it and i love it. sister thueson and i still love each other SO MUCH. Jill is the cutest! tell her i love her. I have only gotten one letter so far which is a little sad because everyone else is getting letters daily. :) but its okay. Have grandma tell you about DEAR ELDER. please. if you dont remember anyting else from this letter remember to have her tell you about it. I love this gospel so much mom. It is so amazing and i have fallen in love with the gospel. We had the most amazing fireside last night. someone from the seventy spoke to us. his name is really long and weird so i dont remember it but it was amazing. I was in the missionary choir last night. I will be auditioning (not of my own free will) to sing with a irish sister in my distctict in front of the whole MTC. Everyone wants me to which is weird because i cant sing. oh well. I want you to know that i am so happy you raised me in this amazing gospel! my time is up but i love you so much i love this gospel so much i love my savior so much. i love you. love, Madie

First MTC e-mail!

Hi momma!

I love the MTC. Period. although not much has really happened. But I am really happy. My companion is Sister Thueson and she is so super. Like I just really love her. We get along splendidly and we are so similar. She is super skinny but she's a couple inches taller than me. She is from Highland Utah. She is so funny and always smiling! We will be best friends in no time. I was assigned Sr. Companion last night. Oh my goodness! Last night while i was showering, Everyone was singing hymns in the showers! It was so cute! We had a meeting with the Branch presidency meeting last night. They are nice but not like Bishop Summers. But no one is so I'm not too disappointed. The language is..... slow coming. I got frustrated yesterday in class and just broke down and cried. But I pulled myself together quickly. I love my language teachers! They are so cute.

Sister is actually pronounced Queer with the r rolled. And I can say "hello, how are you? my name is Sister Kuykendall. what is your name?" its a little rough but i'll get it. The first day in the MTC they only speak to you in Armenian. So the rumors were true. It was really cool though. I'm more worried about learning the doctrine and learning how to teach than i am about learning the language. I'm kind of super stressed about that. But i know with your prayers and mine i will be fine.

So the food is gross. but its okay ive just been living off water and cold cereal. which i'm okay with. Its better than the mystery meat. I'm having a hard time thinking of other things to tell you.

A lady that works at the MTC found my companion and recognized her and found out that she knew her uncle. She then introduced me to her and she asked where i was from and i told her i was from bountiful. She asked if i knew the Pitts! i told her i did and that my grandma was good friends with them! she said, "Oh well let me take a cute picture of you too and i'll send it to your grandma!" so that should be getting to grandma soon!

I loved getting this email from you! I miss you but i'm not home sick. I cant believe you had to put chains on the tires and STILL spun out! that is SO scary! i'm so glad you were safe! i prayed for you so hard to drive safe and know Heavenly Father answered my prayers.

I will continue praying for you. I do every day and night. I hope you're happy. If you could pray that i will have the gift of tongues and learn the language quickly along with the doctrine and teaching of the doctrine I know that i will be blessed with those things. 2 prayers are more powerful than one! :) I also cant remember where i put my temple recommend. I know i at least got it out of grandmas house but i cant remember what i did with it after that. so it could be in her car or it could be hiding in my luggage somewhere. So hopefully i find it. I also left my debit card at grandma's so i'll have to email her if i have time to see if she can send me that and look for my recommend. My Pday is Wednesday just so you know. But it was today just for this week. I'm going to go get my mail! So hopefully i have some!!! :) I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOMMA. YOU ARE MY HERO. Talk to you soon! Love, Mads