The country of Chile suffered a magnitude 8.8 earthquake, Saturday in the early morning hours (3:34 am)
Chilan where Eric is currently serving is about 65 miles from the epicenter. They have had many large aftershocks as well.
We contacted the Church offices in Salt Lake City and they were able to let us know that all of the Missions in Chile had checked in and all the Elders and Sisters serving there were accounted for.
Arianne Black, a young woman from our ward, is serving in Rancagua,Chile about 100 miles north of Eric, was able to send a short email to her family today that she was OK. We didn't get an email from Eric and may not hear from him this coming Monday either, the area he is in has sustained much damage and we know from the news reports they are currently without power.
Please remember Eric as well as all the people of Chile in your prayers.
We are sure that the Missionaries will be busy being about the Lord's work, helping and serving in anyway they can. We know that when we do hear from Eric that he will certainly have some exciting stories to tell.
Grant and Sherri Kuykendall
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Zone Conference and Lunch at McDonalds!
Hey everyone,
Well how is everyone doing? I hope good and alive and well. I am living and good. I had a good week and some weird weather. I loved reading all your emails and hearing about what is going on up there with all my people.
This week we had conferencia de zona en talca on Wednesday, it went really well....so hot though and sitting for 7 hour in a chapel with suit on was killer. I was dying When went up there on a train and it was an hour and a half ride compared to 2 1/2 hours in bus. I was just happy to be with all the other elders. We met the new couple who are working in the office and Hermana Fishbeck was struggling so hard to share her testimony but she will get it. Elder Fishbeck served in Chile in the north and actually baptised some really good friends of President Chavez. Cool stories. They are from Mesa AZ. it was a good conference. Also had a mini cambio with the zone leaders on Friday and I was in my sector with Elder Matherly. He is from LA and was my lider de distrito en parral when I was in Cauquenes. He is super cool we will definitely chill after the missions. We had a good time and good work together. To end the mini cambio Elder Matherly and I went to Mcdonald’s for lunch shhhhhh it is our little secret haha, just kidding everyone knows and was jealous....haha.
I have a bit of a cold but all is well....no biggy just need some rest today and fluids. All the members in the ward always comment on how skinny I am and stuff. Hermana Chavez always asks when I am going to buy a new suit I told her I will when this one is dead. I need to get a hair cut but don’t feel like it today will just have to part my hair this week I guess.
Luis y Gerthy our investigators had their baby this week. se llama Lyger, yes it is made up. 3.5 kg and 29 cm long. We went to the hospital to visit and she is so cute and small. They are awesome just need to get married, but we are working with them to do that and they have the pecos just need to find the time to go do it. When we walked into a hospital it is like the whole place has to stop and look at us I feel like a celeb, Iwould never want to be in a hospital here with a medical problem.
I have not weighed myself lately but I think I have lost some more weight. I looked in the mirror and I am skinny at the waist, por lo menos.....my legs are still tree stumps but hopefully they will get smaller. I am glad to hear plans for the wedding are going well and stuff is good. I have some pictures to download and I will attach them to this email. I have a really funny one and you have to read the sign above my head.
I love you all so much a wish you all the best. Please send my love and support to all especially Heidi, I sent a letter but it wont get there before she leaves....but tell her bye and good luck. I love you all so much and wish you all the best.
I know this is the work of the Lord and He loves us. He gives us trails to strengthen us and build us up. I love you all. I am sorry if sometimes I seem sad but it is not the work, I love the work and people....language is hard but I can see the blessings from serving already not just with me but here in others and with you all back home. I love you all. take care.
Cuidense, Love, Eric
P.S.Hey Mom, I don’t really have anything for you, I am bad at this stuff on the spot......but I gave a talk about love and how service is love and when we serve we show the Lord our love. The work is hard but it is worth it....it is scary but it is worth it.....it is the work of the Lord and brings all to Him. It is the work of life eternal. I would not be here if young men didn’t leave their homes and families to come and serve the Lord and teach Dad. I have the duty to bless others with the same blessings.
Well how is everyone doing? I hope good and alive and well. I am living and good. I had a good week and some weird weather. I loved reading all your emails and hearing about what is going on up there with all my people.
This week we had conferencia de zona en talca on Wednesday, it went really well....so hot though and sitting for 7 hour in a chapel with suit on was killer. I was dying When went up there on a train and it was an hour and a half ride compared to 2 1/2 hours in bus. I was just happy to be with all the other elders. We met the new couple who are working in the office and Hermana Fishbeck was struggling so hard to share her testimony but she will get it. Elder Fishbeck served in Chile in the north and actually baptised some really good friends of President Chavez. Cool stories. They are from Mesa AZ. it was a good conference. Also had a mini cambio with the zone leaders on Friday and I was in my sector with Elder Matherly. He is from LA and was my lider de distrito en parral when I was in Cauquenes. He is super cool we will definitely chill after the missions. We had a good time and good work together. To end the mini cambio Elder Matherly and I went to Mcdonald’s for lunch shhhhhh it is our little secret haha, just kidding everyone knows and was jealous....haha.
I have a bit of a cold but all is well....no biggy just need some rest today and fluids. All the members in the ward always comment on how skinny I am and stuff. Hermana Chavez always asks when I am going to buy a new suit I told her I will when this one is dead. I need to get a hair cut but don’t feel like it today will just have to part my hair this week I guess.
Luis y Gerthy our investigators had their baby this week. se llama Lyger, yes it is made up. 3.5 kg and 29 cm long. We went to the hospital to visit and she is so cute and small. They are awesome just need to get married, but we are working with them to do that and they have the pecos just need to find the time to go do it. When we walked into a hospital it is like the whole place has to stop and look at us I feel like a celeb, Iwould never want to be in a hospital here with a medical problem.
I have not weighed myself lately but I think I have lost some more weight. I looked in the mirror and I am skinny at the waist, por lo menos.....my legs are still tree stumps but hopefully they will get smaller. I am glad to hear plans for the wedding are going well and stuff is good. I have some pictures to download and I will attach them to this email. I have a really funny one and you have to read the sign above my head.
I love you all so much a wish you all the best. Please send my love and support to all especially Heidi, I sent a letter but it wont get there before she leaves....but tell her bye and good luck. I love you all so much and wish you all the best.
I know this is the work of the Lord and He loves us. He gives us trails to strengthen us and build us up. I love you all. I am sorry if sometimes I seem sad but it is not the work, I love the work and people....language is hard but I can see the blessings from serving already not just with me but here in others and with you all back home. I love you all. take care.
Cuidense, Love, Eric
P.S.Hey Mom, I don’t really have anything for you, I am bad at this stuff on the spot......but I gave a talk about love and how service is love and when we serve we show the Lord our love. The work is hard but it is worth it....it is scary but it is worth it.....it is the work of the Lord and brings all to Him. It is the work of life eternal. I would not be here if young men didn’t leave their homes and families to come and serve the Lord and teach Dad. I have the duty to bless others with the same blessings.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Scarey Dogs
Hey,How is everyone doing? I hope all is well back in the states land of snow and winter fun and Olympic games....yes I know they are in Canada! I am sure you are all super busy with your work school and wedding stuff plus church callings and other things.
I am still living, my toes and finger are still hanging on there so I should be good for another 100,000 miles this week and 900,000 hand shakes.
Big news from this week was that we had 2 investigators at church yesterday!!!!!! Luis and Gherty loved church. they just need to get married. They did go to registro civil to set up a time this week but it was closed so they will have to go again. They are awesome! They are 20 and 22 and they love me, they always talk about how I will go home and never come back and visit them and I tell them as long as they stay active and I can stay at their house, I will come visit and I will stay in contact. When we go teach them I am so happy because they are just so awesome.
I am doing good still....alive which is the best part....lots of dog have gotten close to biting me so I have got to be more careful with those rabid dogs.........We had like 5 corner us in a street the other day...I swear they were the devil. Elder Gallo was bitten, but just his pants....I told him to watch out because she had puppies.
It has been a bit rough with my companion, we went to lunch as a zone today and we were talking of how I could get through this.......just for starters, being obedient and trying my best to follow all the rules, when we leave the house I put everything else behind me and work.
The zone leaders said I got a package so I will go pick it up after I leave internet so I can enjoy it today. Please tell Heidi for me I will try to send a letter off to her this week so she will get it before she leaves. I meant to write one earlier but time has gotten away from me.
I love you all so much and hope you are all doing great. Is Em getting sealed in CA or UT? Nobody has said anything........ thanks for the letters, packages and emails they help. I am working my hardest. Love you so much, you are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Chao, Love, Eric
I am still living, my toes and finger are still hanging on there so I should be good for another 100,000 miles this week and 900,000 hand shakes.
Big news from this week was that we had 2 investigators at church yesterday!!!!!! Luis and Gherty loved church. they just need to get married. They did go to registro civil to set up a time this week but it was closed so they will have to go again. They are awesome! They are 20 and 22 and they love me, they always talk about how I will go home and never come back and visit them and I tell them as long as they stay active and I can stay at their house, I will come visit and I will stay in contact. When we go teach them I am so happy because they are just so awesome.
I am doing good still....alive which is the best part....lots of dog have gotten close to biting me so I have got to be more careful with those rabid dogs.........We had like 5 corner us in a street the other day...I swear they were the devil. Elder Gallo was bitten, but just his pants....I told him to watch out because she had puppies.
It has been a bit rough with my companion, we went to lunch as a zone today and we were talking of how I could get through this.......just for starters, being obedient and trying my best to follow all the rules, when we leave the house I put everything else behind me and work.
The zone leaders said I got a package so I will go pick it up after I leave internet so I can enjoy it today. Please tell Heidi for me I will try to send a letter off to her this week so she will get it before she leaves. I meant to write one earlier but time has gotten away from me.
I love you all so much and hope you are all doing great. Is Em getting sealed in CA or UT? Nobody has said anything........ thanks for the letters, packages and emails they help. I am working my hardest. Love you so much, you are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Chao, Love, Eric
New Chile Concepcion Mission President
I heard my new Mission President got called. He is from Sacramento, CA dont know any more info but I think it might be in the Ensign.....
Eric
New Mission President Announcement, February 2010/ They will begin their service July 2010
Neall Weston Humphrey, 61, and Leslie Diepenbrock Humphrey, four children, Chile Concepcion Mission; El Dorado Hills Ward, Folsom California Stake. Brother Humphrey is a stake marriage and family relations teacher and is a former stake Young Men president, high councilor, seminary teacher, bishop and missionary in the North Argentine Mission. President, Creative Concepts. Born in Sacramento, Calif., to Rufus William and Marie Weston Humphrey.
Sister Humphrey serves as a stake marriage and family relations teacher and is a former ward Young Women president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, Sunday School teacher and seminary teacher. Born in Reno, Nev., to John Robert and Jessie Lucille Edgar Diepenbrock.
Eric
New Mission President Announcement, February 2010/ They will begin their service July 2010
Neall Weston Humphrey, 61, and Leslie Diepenbrock Humphrey, four children, Chile Concepcion Mission; El Dorado Hills Ward, Folsom California Stake. Brother Humphrey is a stake marriage and family relations teacher and is a former stake Young Men president, high councilor, seminary teacher, bishop and missionary in the North Argentine Mission. President, Creative Concepts. Born in Sacramento, Calif., to Rufus William and Marie Weston Humphrey.
Sister Humphrey serves as a stake marriage and family relations teacher and is a former ward Young Women president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, Sunday School teacher and seminary teacher. Born in Reno, Nev., to John Robert and Jessie Lucille Edgar Diepenbrock.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Time Flys By. . . .
Hey yal how is everyone doing back in the promised land of Estados Unidos? Well it sounds like a lot of things have passed these couple weeks good and bad. I send my love to Julie and her family so if you could tell her that would be great, but the important thing is that Tony will be waiting for her and is in a place of tranquilidad y paz....he has a lot of work to do in the spirit world.
I am sorry to here that Dad was sick hope you are feeling better Pops and hope Kasey is doing better to. I hope all the rest of you are good Mom, Ally, Lisa, Tyler, Em, and Clay
We have gotten a taste of winter here the last couple days, on Saturday in the morning it was looking a little stormy and cooler out and around 4 pm the heavens opened up and it poured non stop from 4pm Saturday until noon Sunday. Saturday we were just soaked to the bone and we h only 22 people at church because of the rain and vacaciones.....but we did have an investigator Ella se llama Paula, Tiene 24 años y una hija y le encotramos esta semana. She is super excited to learn and to read and find out the truth. She is Catholic and told her family but, they are letting in the house because they have had good experiencias con otros mimbros de la iglesia. She is real cool and has a fecha para 28 Feb. We invited 2 other investigators to a baptism they are , Luis y Gherty they are 20 & 22 and Gherty is pregnant. She is due any day now but the thing is they need to get married. We taught ley de castidad last night and they are super listos para guardarla y casarse, so we are having success.....just not with baptisms, but baptisms don’t show success so I am still happy and working hard. We taught 49 lessons this week....wow. A lot of those were in the street and in doorways but that is awesome. Here you could walk up to anyone and start teaching and it is like normal because everyone has some kind of religion here not like in the United States.
I am sorry I don’t answer you questions if you write me just and email of questios I will do it. Sometimes when I write I get caught up in other stuff and forget to. Sorry Pops, love you, Dad.
Chiquillanes #417, Chillan, Chile. This is our house address if you want to look it up it is like 2 blocks from our chapel. The overhead view of the chapel is a building with a green roof. The chapel is on 290 Francisco Ramirez. I don’t know any of the addresses of my investigators because I just memorize how to get there and the house. But, I will try and remember and send them to you.
Last night I barely slept it was just one of those restless nights that come once and awhile and I was still tired when my companion woke me upToday is the start of a new cambio and no changes with me. I will probably be here for at least 2 more cambios. This cambio flew by so fast. Amazing how time flies sometimes.
I just want to know if you guys have like pictures or anything in the house about my mission or something just wondering.
This cambio has been a hard one, I have read my Patriarchal Blessing like million times. I love you all so much and love to hear from you all on Mondays....it really is my favorite day of the week.
I love you all so much cuidense and will let you know when I get my packages. I am like a week behind in my journal.....oh yeah mom I need a new journal too. Thanks love you all. Oh, congrates Pops on you Scouter award. GIVE HIM A BIG HAND....everyone puts their hands in the air! love you all Manda saludos a todos!
Love, Eric
I am sorry to here that Dad was sick hope you are feeling better Pops and hope Kasey is doing better to. I hope all the rest of you are good Mom, Ally, Lisa, Tyler, Em, and Clay
We have gotten a taste of winter here the last couple days, on Saturday in the morning it was looking a little stormy and cooler out and around 4 pm the heavens opened up and it poured non stop from 4pm Saturday until noon Sunday. Saturday we were just soaked to the bone and we h only 22 people at church because of the rain and vacaciones.....but we did have an investigator Ella se llama Paula, Tiene 24 años y una hija y le encotramos esta semana. She is super excited to learn and to read and find out the truth. She is Catholic and told her family but, they are letting in the house because they have had good experiencias con otros mimbros de la iglesia. She is real cool and has a fecha para 28 Feb. We invited 2 other investigators to a baptism they are , Luis y Gherty they are 20 & 22 and Gherty is pregnant. She is due any day now but the thing is they need to get married. We taught ley de castidad last night and they are super listos para guardarla y casarse, so we are having success.....just not with baptisms, but baptisms don’t show success so I am still happy and working hard. We taught 49 lessons this week....wow. A lot of those were in the street and in doorways but that is awesome. Here you could walk up to anyone and start teaching and it is like normal because everyone has some kind of religion here not like in the United States.
I am sorry I don’t answer you questions if you write me just and email of questios I will do it. Sometimes when I write I get caught up in other stuff and forget to. Sorry Pops, love you, Dad.
Chiquillanes #417, Chillan, Chile. This is our house address if you want to look it up it is like 2 blocks from our chapel. The overhead view of the chapel is a building with a green roof. The chapel is on 290 Francisco Ramirez. I don’t know any of the addresses of my investigators because I just memorize how to get there and the house. But, I will try and remember and send them to you.
Last night I barely slept it was just one of those restless nights that come once and awhile and I was still tired when my companion woke me upToday is the start of a new cambio and no changes with me. I will probably be here for at least 2 more cambios. This cambio flew by so fast. Amazing how time flies sometimes.
I just want to know if you guys have like pictures or anything in the house about my mission or something just wondering.
This cambio has been a hard one, I have read my Patriarchal Blessing like million times. I love you all so much and love to hear from you all on Mondays....it really is my favorite day of the week.
I love you all so much cuidense and will let you know when I get my packages. I am like a week behind in my journal.....oh yeah mom I need a new journal too. Thanks love you all. Oh, congrates Pops on you Scouter award. GIVE HIM A BIG HAND....everyone puts their hands in the air! love you all Manda saludos a todos!
Love, Eric
Monday, February 1, 2010
It's Summer in Chile!
Hey everyone,How is the klan doing hahaha.....breathing sleeping living haha. Well I hope you are all good and that all your attention is on Phyl and her wedding.....love ya Phyllis. Hope you all had good weeks and all is good with you. I am doing well up and down and tired but I can sleep after my mission.
This week went well. We found about 8 new inactive members this week while doing contacts and we are going to pass all the info to the Obispo so he can get the records into our ward and get these people to church. Summer here in Chillan is so hard with attendance because everyone leaves on vacation to the beach to get away from the heat here. I am thinking of doing the same thing (Just kidding) We had 43 asistencia but it was a lot of visiting families...They say it will be back to normal in March. It is hard to help our investigators get to church and kind of depressing because we had 8 fechas fall yesterday because they didn’t attend church. Struggles as usual but plugging along. I feel like I am a walking sector killer, in Cauquenes the sector got worse when I was there and now her in Cordillera it is on a downhill slide. We had no baptisms in January....got to work 100 times harder this month.
I feel bad for the bishop right now because he had like 6 people come to him yesterday and say they needed help with money, and you know the church just doesn’t have millions to give out. One of the people is a menos activo mom of one of our investigators....my companion told her that all she needed to do was talk to the Bishop and he would fix it all...so he is kind of ticked with us but it wasn’t my fault. I still am having problems understanding once and a while with complicated stuff like money talk.
We had to leave church yesterday after Sacrament Meeting to give a blessing to a baby of a member that is in the hospital with some health problem bad ones. The hospital is down the block from the church building and it is a Catholic one so we got all smiles....not. It is sad to see all the sick babies and kids here.
I think I might buy a suit here. All the members keep telling me I need to because it looks like my suit is from a giant. I am going to look today and see how much it will cost. A member said I could try and sell my suits and could probably get like btw 60-80 mil for one if I really pushed it idk. I think I might buy one and keep these just in case and them maybe later I can do that. I do need to buy jeans today though because we have to do service this week and my jeans are huge on me. I was thinking about maybe I might get my beach body I have always wanted but it could happen, I can still dream, right?
I wish I had some good stories to tell you but they have all left my mind. Well here is something funny, I made a sign and put it over my bed this morning it said “POR FAVOR- NO ME DESPIERTE, DÉJEME, ESTOY DURMIENDO” When my companion came to wake me up I felt him pick it up and throw it back on me and walk away.....I thought it was clever...What I have decided is the best I can do is be me....Elder Kuykendall....I can’t be him, and he cannot change me. This is the best I can be. Things are better between us I put myself aside and I am just focusing on the work and the people. The work is of the Lord not me and not my companion plain and simple.
I know God loves us and knows us. He knows our needs and wants He wants us to be happy,. We need to stay strong and push forward. I love you all so much and hope all is good with you all. I send my love, hugs and kisses to all. manda saludos a todos. Love you all
Love Eric
This week went well. We found about 8 new inactive members this week while doing contacts and we are going to pass all the info to the Obispo so he can get the records into our ward and get these people to church. Summer here in Chillan is so hard with attendance because everyone leaves on vacation to the beach to get away from the heat here. I am thinking of doing the same thing (Just kidding) We had 43 asistencia but it was a lot of visiting families...They say it will be back to normal in March. It is hard to help our investigators get to church and kind of depressing because we had 8 fechas fall yesterday because they didn’t attend church. Struggles as usual but plugging along. I feel like I am a walking sector killer, in Cauquenes the sector got worse when I was there and now her in Cordillera it is on a downhill slide. We had no baptisms in January....got to work 100 times harder this month.
I feel bad for the bishop right now because he had like 6 people come to him yesterday and say they needed help with money, and you know the church just doesn’t have millions to give out. One of the people is a menos activo mom of one of our investigators....my companion told her that all she needed to do was talk to the Bishop and he would fix it all...so he is kind of ticked with us but it wasn’t my fault. I still am having problems understanding once and a while with complicated stuff like money talk.
We had to leave church yesterday after Sacrament Meeting to give a blessing to a baby of a member that is in the hospital with some health problem bad ones. The hospital is down the block from the church building and it is a Catholic one so we got all smiles....not. It is sad to see all the sick babies and kids here.
I think I might buy a suit here. All the members keep telling me I need to because it looks like my suit is from a giant. I am going to look today and see how much it will cost. A member said I could try and sell my suits and could probably get like btw 60-80 mil for one if I really pushed it idk. I think I might buy one and keep these just in case and them maybe later I can do that. I do need to buy jeans today though because we have to do service this week and my jeans are huge on me. I was thinking about maybe I might get my beach body I have always wanted but it could happen, I can still dream, right?
I wish I had some good stories to tell you but they have all left my mind. Well here is something funny, I made a sign and put it over my bed this morning it said “POR FAVOR- NO ME DESPIERTE, DÉJEME, ESTOY DURMIENDO” When my companion came to wake me up I felt him pick it up and throw it back on me and walk away.....I thought it was clever...What I have decided is the best I can do is be me....Elder Kuykendall....I can’t be him, and he cannot change me. This is the best I can be. Things are better between us I put myself aside and I am just focusing on the work and the people. The work is of the Lord not me and not my companion plain and simple.
I know God loves us and knows us. He knows our needs and wants He wants us to be happy,. We need to stay strong and push forward. I love you all so much and hope all is good with you all. I send my love, hugs and kisses to all. manda saludos a todos. Love you all
Love Eric
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