E-mail 6/27/2013

Mom,

Hey how is it going? I'm just doing some laundry and got lucky to find a computer right next to the washers!!!!! Well this week was pretty awesome as you can expect. I was in the MTC Choir and all that cool stuff. It's no big deal to sing for 11 of the 15 apostles. I'm sorry I haven't sent any pictures but I can only send pictures during email time so that's why I'm trying to send lots of emails and make sure every one gets a reply back. I think the highlight of my week though was the Tuesday night devotional. In that we sang primary songs like I love to see the temple. It was truly amazing to sing these songs that I sang as a kid. As I sang them I just realized those songs were true. Y'all raised me in a way where all those songs were so true to my life. I am so grateful for you and dad for doing that for me. I am so glad that could happen. Well 3 weeks and only 101 left but who is counting(Mom you probably are). Half way done with the MTC and still nothing with my visa yet. Oh so last Sunday me and elder Worthlin were asked to be zone leaders. We start Sunday so that's going to be fun. I don't know jack squat about being a zone leader but I mean I don't know jack squat about being a missionary so i feel like it really doesn't matter. The lord will help me and its only for 3 weeks too so that's not bad. Well Mom just know that I love you and sorry for all the spelling mistakes you know that was never my strong point. if y'all have questions just send me one big email with all your questions so I can remember to answer them.

Love,
Elder Kotter

Letter to Mom

Mom,

Hey, how are you? Two weeks down 102 to weeks until I get a hug from you, but who's counting? I love you so much. I wish that you could be here with me and see how much I have learned. I am just trying to make you proud. I am trying to give the Kotter name and most importantly the Sutton name a good reputation. People already know the good the Kotter's have done and how great their influence is but I want people to say to me, "Are you Wayne Sutton's grandson?" I want to spread gradpa's name as far as I can. Even though I wear Kotter on my badge I wear Sutton on my heart.

Y'all are always in my prayers. Please just forget about me. I have the prayers of almost 14 million people plus the prophet and in every temple in the world. I'm in good hands. If you really want to do something for me start spreading the gospel as much a you can. I love you so much. Keep up the good work and I will see you in 102 weeks.

Love your only oldest best son,
Elder Kotter/Elder Sutton

Singing in the Missionary Choir at the MTC

Elder Hartman, Elder Montgomery and Elder Kotter at the MTC together!!

MTC 2nd Week

Mom

There are just so many emotions. One day will be a high the next will be a low so its just so weird to know what to say. I want to tell you I love you so very much. I want you to know that we started teaching Geraldo(pronounced Heraldo in Spanish the g makes a h sound) We taught him how to pray and gave him a Book of Mormon. He said he has an alcohol addiction and it is really affecting his life. Things like he lost his job and he has trouble with his girlfriend and his parents. We told him that if he would pray and read the Book of Mormon his life would turn around. When we said that I could feel that the power of God was backing us up. I knew what ever I promised him God would bless him if he did those things. Mom I love you so much and I want you to know you are the reason I am the man I am today. Please tell everyone thanks for the love letters and food. I love you with all my heart.

Elder Kotter




Dad

Just to let you know I was kidding about you not writing a letter but I am very grateful that you did. The quest sounded like a blast. I really wish i could have been there to see all the wonderful things y'all have talked about. Dad this place is probably the hardest thing I've done ever in my life, but even though I am tired, stressed out, and emotionally drained I am the happiest I have ever been. I eat sleep and breath the gospel and I'm trying to get to the point where I do that with missionary work. I can't remember if I told y'all about my first Sunday here. We watched a talk by Elder Bednar called Characters of Christ. He gave it in the MTC on Christmas of 2011 I think. Wow it was life changing. If nothing else I am grateful I am here and not in Peru just for that talk. It basically says when the natural man turns inward Christ always turns outward. I don't know if you can watch it or even find it but I would highly recommend it! Please make sure everyone is dealing with me being gone that includes you. I'm doing what I need to do and what I want to.

Love Elder Kotter

First Handwritten Letter

Mom, Dad, Shelby, Shae and Gigi, Hey familia. I am alive and in the MTC. This place is crazy! I am so overwhelmed by so much information at once. It is awesome! I am only on my second day and I can understand about half of what is being said. Compared to the 1st day which was about none. Spanish words are starting to come back but I still don't know nearly enough. I am still adjusting to the rigorous schedule. It is a lot of studying. A LOT!!! My brain is having a hard time taking it all in. It is also hard because most of the studying is personal so you have to focus yourself. Elder Worthlin is my companion and yes he is related to Elder Worthlin. Elder Worthlin is his grandpas cousin. He was just called to be the district leader. He is going to do a great job at it. I am a little confused though because I am the senior companion. So we are not sure who leads and stuff. It still hasn't hit me that I will be gone for two years. These two days seem like forever. I've seen Elder Garner and Elder Walton. They are doing great and why is Shelby writing Elder Garner? Anyway, Elder Walton Can't wait to get his cinnamon rolls. I just really don't know how but I feel at home. Tomorrow we are teaching our first investigator, Carlos. It is in all Espanol. Que Lastima! No hablo Espanol. Well, I love y'all and just keep praying for your neighbors. Forget about me and go put your shoulder to the wheel. I am in God's hands so nothing will happen to me. Yo se que Jesu Cristo es mi salvdor. Yo se que las iglesia is verdadero. En el nombre de Jesu Cristo Amen. I love y'all so much! Elder Kotter PS Dad I got a bright orange dork dot!!! PSS My Pee Day is Thursday. I have to hold it for a long time!!! HA HA PSSS Share this letter with whover needs it.

First Letter from the MTC

Hey family, How is it going!!!!! The CCM(MTC en Espanol) is so awesome. Mom that is awesome that you are going to college you will not regret one moment of it!!!! Don't worry about the math classes it will come to you as you work hard. You can do anything!!!! I mean you raised me right. Well I just want to let y,all know that I am doing great. I want y'all to know this week was a real struggle for me up until Sunday. I honestly was thinking what have I gotten myself into. I thought I wasn't ready for this at all especially with Spanish. But then on Sunday we had some seriously awesome talks that got me over myself and with a super humbling lesson on Monday I was finally ready to teach by the spirit. Friday we had to teach our first investigator in Spanish. Yeah that went really bad hahaha. But yesterday we finally had a really good lesson. Not because of my Spanish or my companions Spanish, but because we invited the spirit into the room. We testified of Christ and the Book of Mormon. Then we challenged him to be baptized. Carlos Said SI!!!! That simple word was so good to hear!!!!! I couldn't stop smiling all day yesterday. Yo sé que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios. Yo sé que el libro de mormon es verdadero. I love y'all all so much. Keep praying for the other guys in the ward waiting to go on missions they really need it. Just keep remembering that we must be humble and always turning outward when the natural man would normally turn inward. That is how we become like Christ because that is what Christ did. Love Elder Kotter Oh Thank you Shae for writing me soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it soooooooooooooooooooooooooo Much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shelby and Dad y'all need to step your games up your getting shown up by a little 11 year old. Grandma Kotter´s p.s. Umm nothing really good for sight seeing here, but is a really great spot if you ever want to be humbled and learn of the Doctrine of Christ

See you in two years!!

Please Write Me!!

I'd love to hear from all of you!! I can't promise I'll always write back but I would still love to get your letters. My address is Elder Stephen Sutton Kotter July 16 PER-CSC Unit 230 1011 N 900 E Provo, UT 84602 My e-mail is stephen.kotter@myldsmail.net

Full Time Missionary

I was just set apart by President Scott Johnson as a full-time missionary!! Dad, Mom, Shelby, Shae, Grandma Kotter and Grandpa Kotter all attended!

No Visa

I was assigned to the Lima, Peru MTC. Unfortunately, my visa has not come yet. I will leave on June 5th for the MTC in Provo, UT. My address while in Provo is Elder Stephen Sutton Kotter July 16th, PER-CSC 2011 N 900 E Unit 230 Provo, UT 84602 I'd love to hear from you!!