Picture

This is a picture of Elder Kotter and Elder Garner while they were both still at the MTC in Provo.

Puno

Hey family

Well I'm so glad y'all are having a fun time in the sun. I don't think I will be getting very much sun for the next little bit. The rumors are true, people do cook and do our laundry for us and the food so far has been super good. I have eaten more tomatoes than I want to count. The weirdest thing I have had to eat is a hot dog with avocado and tomatoes on it. Well my Spanish is horrible hahaha oh well I'm trying my hardest. The church is fairly big here. It was so funny two Sundays ago these little kids kept asking me why my eyes are blue and why is my hair yellow and I had no idea what to tell them. Yesterday we didn't get to go to church because Elder Green got sick with the double headed dragon(stuff coming out of both ends at the same time). So that was super boring but he is better now. I have got everything I need so don't worry mom. Oh the rumors are true about the packages with the pictures of Christ and stuff. Well I want to tell you we have a baptism this coming Saturday, hopefully, and we also are teaching this 20 year old girl named Karinea at our last lesson she brought her sister and 3 cousins so that was freaking awesome. They all seem really excited and we might have 6 baptisms by the end of the month. Well Tatum looks like the cutest little thing ever I'll keep Memaw Merle in my prayers. Keep strong and don't ever give up!!

Lots of love,
Elder Kotter

From President and Sister Harbertson

Dear Parents of Elder Kotter,



As you can see in the attached photo, your son has arrived safely to the Peru Cusco Mission! We are thrilled to have him here! He looks great, a bit tired from the travel, but ready to go! Thank you for allowing us to watch over him for the next two years. He has promised that he will be a missionary we can trust, and we have now given him that trust. As well, you can trust that we will do everything that we can to care for him and to help him to become a successful missionary.



Con Gran Amor,



Presidente y Hermana Harbertson

I MADE IT TO PERU

Dear family


Well guess what Monday is my pday and guess what else I am no in Lima. I was only there for about 8 hours. This week has been really crazy. After arriving in Lima we were told we are going straight to Cusco. So after like 3 hours of sleep we left for Cuzco, spent the day there and then met my companion. Elder Green. Yeah that's right I came all the way to Peru and I get a North American as a companion. We are assigned to the Puno zone right next to Lake Titicaca. So after getting to Cusco we take an 8 hour bus ride to Puno. We have to leave our bags behind because there is not enough room on the bus. Well I lost a bag but dont worry I've got it now. It was one crazy week. Well all I have to say is whoever said Peru wasnt cold is dead wrong hahaha Puno is so cold. But besides all this stuff this week has been so awesome I think it is awesome here there are no traffic laws and people just walk on the streets even though there are side walks. Wow a new cousin that's so awesome. Tell everyone I love them


Elder Kotter

On the way to Peru!!!

Stephen left the Provo MTC today on his way to Lima Peru. He thinks he will stay in Lima at the MTC a couple of days until he is able to get his permanent paperwork processed. We'll see how that goes for him. He sounded great and was in really good spirits!! He left the MTC at 2am this morning and is scheduled to arrive in Lima at 12:05am tomorrow morning! Tomorrow is his 19th birthday!! Happy Birthday Stephen!!

PERU

OK well yall are at girls camp you wont believe what happened

wait for it




I'M GOING TO PERU!!!!!!!!!!!! I leave monday and land in Lima at 12:05am on MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEST BDAY PRESENT EVER!!!!!!!! I am going in on a travelers visa and hopefully will get my real visa but I'm going!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just wanted y'all to know and i love you so much!!!!!
Elder Kotter

Letter To Dad (written June 27th)

Dad,

Hey Dad, so I think I'm going to write a real letter to each of you every other week and write emails every week. So let Mom know that. This week it's you and Shelby's turn. Well 3 weeks in and I'm going to be a zone leader. It's kinda weird. I don't feel like I am even old enough to be here let alone be a leader. All of our other Zone leaders seem to be so much older and wiser than me even though I know they are only about 6 weeks ahead of me at the most. It's funny as soon as you start to feel slightly comfortable the Lord throws a curve ball at you just to keep you on your toes. Gotta love the challenges.

I am honestly surprised how fast these 3 weeks have gone by. I am almost 1/24 done with my mission and I haven't even been in the field yet. Before you know it I will be home. Then we can move mulch together all day long!!

Dad, thank you for teaching me how to work. I'm sorry I was too hard headed to take full advantage of your lessons. So please forgive me. Dad I have done hard things in my life and mos of the time it was because I didn't want to face you to tell you that I wanted to quit. I just didn't want to disappoint you. Now though this may be the hardest thing I have ever done the crazy thing is I don't want to quit at all. I want to give my all. It is the weirdest thing I have ever felt. In fact it's enjoyable once I got over the 9 hours of studying part.

Dad, you mean a lot to me and I feel bad sometimes that I don't talk about a lot of stuff, but then I remember we are men and I mean men don't really do that. Thank you though for always being there, no matter what I knew you would always stop anything you were doing or wanted to do for me. Thank you for letting me "catch the catfish". Thank you for letting me drop the prize winning Pinewood Derby car. Thank you for being a worthy Priesthood holder. Thank you for making me eat my green beans. Thank you for showing me how to love others more than myself. Thank you for letting me win at chess every time. Thanks for running around with your green sweatshirt being the lamest super hero, the Green Lantern. Thank you for about a million hours of swim meets and thank you for the worlds largest super soaker. Thank you for coming home after 1 night of camping when we were going to go for 1 week. And most importantly thank you for teaching me the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Con mucho amor,
Elder Kotter

PS Could you send me a picture or two I have nada.

Where we study and where we live!

Happy 4th of July!!

Wow 100th Stake (in Peru) that's awesome!!!!! That is so many people in one of the best countries of the world. Well that was great to see that newsletter. I can't believe I made it I didn't even do that much.

Well the work is moving swiftly across the earth. This Wednesday I was able to Host and I think about 800 new missionaries came in. A lot of them are going somewhere in our very own country of America. I think that is awesome. As more and more people live the gospel in our country the more and more it will be blessed by God! And that is wonderful because we need all the blessings we can get. It was really fun to see missionaries that were just leaving home. It brought back many memories about my host and leaving. I think the way we did it was the best way for our family well at least for me. I don't know if I could have walked away from y'all if we were at the MTC. Well Guess what I got my second investigator to commit to baptism!!!!!!! Wow that never gets old. I know it is just role playing but when our teacher walks into the room he really stops being our teacher and he becomes a soul in need of what the gospel of Jesus Christ can give to him. Well Happy 4th of July. Eat lots of meat for me and have fun with fireworks. Know that all of y'all are in my prayers. Remember that the worth of a soul is great. Much greater than the worth of your comfort. Go out and find someone that either you can talk to or get the missionaries to talk to them. I'm sure the Elders or Sisters will love to talk to them.

Con Mucho Amor
Elder Kotter