Answers to Questions

Hello Everyone!!!!
How is everyone doing? What is new? How is life? Lots of Qs
I am doing well and all is well hear. It is hot as usual and I am still sweating, just incase you were worrying I am still gaining weight even though I am barely eating. Well I am eating but healthier. I have come down with a little cold so I sleep even less than usual. But everyone else in my district had it so I knew I would get it I am fine though its gets better everyday.
I guess I will start answering the old questions for this week.
I don't have my flight stuff yet I won't get it until a week and a half before I leave. I do know that I will have a lay over somewhere in the USA but I don’t know where. The district that leaves Monday has theirs in LA, I really hope mine isn't in CA, it will kill me. But, I will tell you when I know.
My Gnome is named “Chastity” because it was one of the first words I learned here while I was looking at a booklet in espanol. I know I‘m weird. I hope you enjoyed all the pictures
Elder Thomas, my companion, is the second of four in his family. He has and older sister and a younger brother and sister. We are getting along better. Elder Bates and I are almost exactly alike though, he reminds me of Donny and Nick put together. It’s coolio. I’m sad because he leaves on Monday, for Santiago North. We plan to write in Chile. Elder Bates has a twin in Honduras right now. We just get along great. We are the life of the parties here its fun. We party like every night and on Saturdays we have fiestas and this week’s theme is beach party
Let’s see what happened this week; I taught my 1st lesson in Espanol on Tuesday and it went very well. I still have a lot to work on but it felt great. My Spanish is progressing teaching wise but my regular conversational still stinks. Brother Latimer told me too not worry that it will come, just stay focused on teaching and stuff like that. I believe him, his Spanish is super good.
I got this cool book from the book store “The Gospel in Spanish”. It has how to say a pray and blessings and how to conduct in Spanish. I will get one for Dad and send it home next time I have stuff to send.
Please send Hermana Black’s mission home address and info about Elder Hardester and Dallin Blank. I know Elder Hardester is here but I want to find him and say hi. I heard his name get called last night.
Can I get my address stuff to the mission home and pouch mail so I can give it to the missionaries here? Thanks! Can you find out how mail and stuff works like air mail and stuff I wish I could find out but nobody knows. I just want to know a head of time.
Oh something funny we got like eight missionaries on the top bunk in my room and it was about 1400 lbs, those things are tough. Please say hi to everyone for me and I want to hear from you all. I love to get mail!!!!!!!!
I love you all so much, the Church is true and Jesucristo is our Savior. Thank you all for everything love you so much take care until next Thursday!!!!!!
Love, Eric

hola mi familia! como esta?

hola mi familia! como esta?

The scripture for my plaque is 2 Nefi (Nephi) 31:20 It talks about if we have faith and press forward with steadfastness that we will have eternal life. I love that verse. How is everyone doing? Whats new with you all?

(back row: Hermana Leggett, Elder Bird, Elder Squires,

Elder Grant, Hermana Jackson, Elder Thomas, Elder Deering,

ft row: ElderHigham, Hermana Cornelious, Hermana Talbot, Elder Kuykendall, ElderHansen)

Well to start off I was made District Leader on Sunday......I am not happy about it but I said yes... Some Elders in my district didn't like it, I really didn't want it, but I must need it. Bro Robinson told me that I was a natural born leader and that people want to follow me....I told him I have no idea why. But, I will try and serve the Elders and Hermanas as best I can. The best leaders are those who serve and that's my goal. Thats most of the new stuff for this week.

Elder Thomas broke his wrist 2 months ago so he has to go to physical therapy for rehab, so three times a week we are there. Things with he and I are getting better. He has been better about being on time because I' m District Leader now and I told him I cannot be late. He is a cool guy he just lacks a little discipline but hopefully I'll rub off on him and Iam sure I could lighten up sometimes.

Believe it or not I have turned into Mr. Plan every minute of the day. That is what they
encourage us to do, and it is good.

Elder Bates leaves in 2 1/2 weeks, so I will have to live 2 weeks without him and the rest of my misssion. He is awesome, we are so weird and so alike I wish he was serving in Concepcion and not Santiago North, it is a hard area. You all would love him. He is me but shorter with blonde hair.

The reason I need new shirts some of the older ones from last summer have shrunk. I want to wear these out and have new ones before I leave. If you can get them 17 neck think should be fine and maybe 6 of them. I like the thinner material not oxford cloth and maybe wrinkle free they don't seem to help though I take my shirts out when they are still damp and still I have to iron, oh well. Thanks mom love you, I just love ties and guys keep saying silk will get ruined and my bleed onto my shirts in the rain down there. I love my ties but I love more so if you send my more please send polys okay? Thank you so much sorry for asking for so much I feel so bad about it.

I hope you got the stuff I sent you last week. If you haven't sent that stuff back I need more forever stamps, I am almost out. Time is flying by, we teach in spanish from here on out. Next Tuesday is our first lesson in spanish. I hope I can do it. It is so nerve racking but I know the Lord will help me. A district left on Moday and one of the Hrmanas had a Vsa problem so she joined our Hermans so now we are almost even. We all love the hermanas they keep us on task and humble. So Hermana Kartchner is now with us.

John H Groberg came and spoke at our devotional Tuesday. It was such an amazing talk, He talked about the focus in our missiopnary work is to get people to the temple so they can receive those blessings. It was just so awesome. Sorry my letter is all over the place, it is easy to write when I qestions to answer it helps in this short time. My spanish is getting pretty good. The native speakers are starting to compliment on my greengo accent! Its all good I love it. Has anyone heard from Ronan or Donny. I need an address for Ronan and Don hasn't written me at all. I am just worried maybe he hasn't gotten my letters. Please find out how he and Nick are doing.

Thanks. well I better wrap up I love you all and you are all in my prayers. Oh I gave another Book of Mormon away to a woman who called in, this work is amazing. The Church is true and God lives! Jesucristo is His Son. I love you all and can't wait to hear from you

Love Eric

Email Issues!

Hey Everyone,
Okay for starters the email kicks me off if I go over time so please do the dearelder.com thing or regular mail, because I don't have time to read emails. My time includes reading and typing sorry for changing my mind so much they found out we were going over time. It is just so crazy around here at email time.
Elder Deering and Hansen left for Guatemala on Tuesday so we are a district of 10 now which is weird it feels so small.
Our teaching appointment this week was awesome. The spirit was so strong and I used dad, if it’s okay, because the guy was scared of what his parents would think if he was baptized. The spirit was so strong and it was just amazing. It was our best lesson taught yet. At the referral center a woman called in for a Book of Mormon and I got her to agree to have the missionaries come to her house and teach her. It felt so cool that over the phone I could bring people closer to Christ.
My Spanish is getting pretty good for just three week. How is yours coming Dad? I am going to try and send you two things that are just cool they help me and maybe can help you. One is the Hymnos index it tells you which hymns are in English and the number in the Spanish Hymn book and the other is a verb chart, it has irregular verb conjugations and has all the tenses on the other side. I hope they help. I am going to send a memory card home and if you could just download them but not delete them thanks. Also a picture of the district you might be able to scan it onto the computer I hope the mail doesn't mess it up or fold it.
Sorry this is so sort but I want to read the emails I got. I love you all so much. thanks for all your love and support. You all are the best family ever!!!!! les amo ! That is I love you all in Spanish. I don't need anything right now I can get most everything in the bookstore.
Oh can I get my aunts and uncles addresses so I can write them. I am trying to just rotate who I write. I was so happy to get a letter from Grandma Hofheins and Grandma and Grandpa Kuykendall it was a great surprise.
Well I want to hear how all of you are doing sorry about the email thing I hope it gets better in the field. but that dearelder.com thing seems to work really well. Its nice to get letters
throughout the week. Thank you so much I love you, I hope you enjoy the pictures.
I know the church is true and that God loves us. I know JesuCristo is his son and our brother and He died for us. I know there is a prophet today to lead us and show us the way. I love and I will keep you all in my prayers.
Love, Eric
P.S.: I loved the cookies and ties Ally, muy bien!

Hey Everyone!

Dear Family, Friends, Ladies, Gents, and everyone else!

I was so sad to not see an email when I logged in but that is okay you all have sent me stuff this week but feel free to send me emails too!!!!!!!

It is always nice to see my inbox with stuff in it.Well thank you so much for all the letters and packages it is so nice to walk in to the mail room and pick up that package its like walking down the red carpet, that is funny to me cause the carpet is actually red haha. Anyway....thanks for sending the stuff I needed mom I know it isn't cheap to send stuff. I really appreciate it (I’m giving you a hug and kiss right now) I have so much food its like being in a store. Elders marvel at my collection of treats I have barely put a dent in it but I have almost eaten all the gummy sharks and apricots, so good. I have had Elders buy Dr. Pepper off of me.

I am starting to get really fat and it is bad because I notice it. We only get 40 minutes of gym time 5 days a week and we usually play Fútbol!I play defense so I don´t get too much of a workout but it is a blast . I forgot how fun soccer was. Elder Bates and I tear it up out there we are pretty much the MVP’S. I’ll tell you about Elder Bates in a bit he is my BFF here I love him, in a missionary sort of way. On Martes (wed) we play volibol as a district it was fun. I was covered it sand from head to toe and I burned the bottom of my feet in the hot sand...not fun!!!!!!! Oh well it wasn’t anything big. Every night the elders in my district do as many pushups as we can. I am at 53 straight which is bad but my goal is to do 150 straight by the time we depart in august, it is attainable!

Well my schedule is super busy as usually here nothing new about that. On Sunday we had testimony meeting and it was amazing. All our branch and zone meetings are in Spanish because we all are learning Spanish! But I got up and bore my testimony in Spanish. I blanked when I got up there but it came back to me. It was one of the most amazing testimony meetings. Because everyone was trying so hard to say all they could and get it right, and everyone was listening intently the spirit was so strong in that meeting. I figured I wouldn't cry but nope I did. About halfway through mine I was crying....I’m your boy Mom and Dad. It was just amazing!
We had mission conference which is like general conference, but no General Authorities and it’s just for missionaries. The day was killer though because you’re awake for your whole fast, every Elder wanted my tie but I told them it wasn't up for trade. (Eric bought matching ties that he and Grant both wear on the first Sunday of the month)

Oh, yeah if you girls have time I would love it if you could maybe send me some awesome poly ties from like goodwill or DI, so I can trade with them. Ties are better than money around here, but no worries I have tons as you know.

I try to write in my journal but at night. I just want to unwind and somehow like our whole zone likes to chill in my room every night. Its cool though the Elders in my zone are cool. It’s probably because I make sure our room is clean. You wouldn't believe it mom but I am like the “Cleaning Elder” and I keep my stuff so neat and clean it really helps to invite the spirit. I did learn from your nagging to clean my room. I was just lazy but I’m glad you did it. We get the highest rating on our inspections! Anyway I don't get time to write in my journal but I need to! I have missed the last couple days.

Oh yeah, I figure I’m popular cause everyone loves my last name haha, most of them can't say it right but its all good. In Chile they will not be able to say it either. I’m used to it.

We are working on lesson two this week and next. The teaching evaluation keeps getting harder. The test is a two part thing the first is a language part and the next is the lesson. The language part this week is, “we are picking up an investigator for church and we have to get on a bus and go to church and talk to them and get to know them, in Spanish”( its a simulation, imaginary) but some of the people are actual investigators which is nerve racking. But it is good practice and it is a challenge that helps us grow.My Spanish was going ok but it has kind of stalled out. I am trying to stay positive and work hard. Oh yeah now I have 2 libro de mormons and santa biblas because they gave them to us our first day.

Oh I’ll tell you about Elder Bates. He is from Utah, but he is awesome. I love the guy. He is 5'6" with blonde hair and he could be my twin personality wise. We were like instant BFFs. Its cool I’ll have to send a picture of us! We are making plans to hang out after our missions. He is going to Santiago North though, but its all good we plan to write!

I want to know how you all are doing? Its good to hear from you all. I love you all so much and miss you. I know God lives and He loves us. I know Jesucristo is His Son and died for us all so that we can return to live with God again. I know that through the restoration we can use the atonement and repent for our sins. I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of god and did see God the Father and Jesucristo, and through Him Christ’s Church was restored. I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and contains the fullness of the gospel. I know through keeping commandments and following God we can return to live with Him and have eternal life. I love you all. God bless and go forth and serve!

Tell everyone hello.
Love,Elder Kuykendall

Hello from the MTC

Dear Mom, Family and Everyone else,

Hey how is everyone doing? What’s new? How’s work, school, scouter stuff?

Well I am doing well; I am starting to get the hang of things around here and the schedule. It has been so hot and I have just been sweating nonstop so it hasn't been too fun haha. Let’s see I’ll tell you about my district; there are 12 missionaries, 4 Hermanas and 8 Elders. Let’s see Elderes (that’s Spanish) Deering and Hansen are going to Guatemala. They leave in 2 weeks because they go to the ccm (mtc) down there. Hermanas Talbot and Cornelius are going to the Santiago east mission, Hermana Jackson is going to Rancagua, and Hermana Leggitt and Elderes Grant, Squires, Higham, Bird, Thomas and Kuykendall (me) are going to Concepcion and all leave on Aug 24. It’s pretty cool because we will probably get to travel together as a district. Our teachers are Hermana Bott y Hermano Latimer they are cool and served in Bolivia and Chile. Class is super intense and they speak in all Spanish basically. And we have to try and figure out what they are saying but it is part of the learning.I CAN PRAY, BEAR MY TESTIMONY AND SHARE STUFF ABOUT THE CHURCH ALONG WITH MEETING PEOPLE IN SPANISH. It is so amazing how much I have learned so far but lots more to do!

We have amazing devotionals. Elder Holland spoke to us on Friday and it was just an awesome talk I don't have time to tell about it thought right now I only get 30 min and it will kick me off and I will lose the whole email. So if you have a lot to say send it snail mail because 30 min counts reading and composing also. The First Presidency, was here on Sunday along with the Quorum of the Twelve to set apart the new mission presidents. I saw Elder Bednar and Elder Scott leaving the ccm (mtc).

It is super busy around here and this first week has been fast but I hear it slows down quite a bit. But I tell you the spirit is so strong here and you can't deny the truth. I get so emotional whenever we sing whether in a meeting or just in class because the spirit is so strong. I sing Hymnos all day and nobody gives me dirty looks. I try to find missionaries going to San José but haven’t found any, only ones going to San Diego and Los Angeles, but I m looking. I saw Hermana Black. We see each other often she is doing great. I saw John Stuart and Cordon Davies. I think I saw Dave Rodriguez’s son and Bro Pratt from Grandma Hofheins ward, so ask her about that. Sorry this email is all over the place I just don’t want to get kicked off.

I know this Church is true and I know god loves us and knows us by name. I know He wants us to return to live with him. I know Jesu Cristo is His son and died for us all so we could return to Heavenly Father and I know through the atonement we can repent and be forgiven. I know Joseph Smith restored Christ’s Church to the earth and that President Monson is the prophet today. Yo se que el libro de Mormon es la polabra de dios and that it can help guide us. I love you all so much you are in my prayers and thank you all so much!

I love you

Love, Elder Kuykendall

PS Mom,Dad thank you for everything I don’t say that enough you are the best parents any missionary could have. I love you both.