Moms Connect

From Elder Kotter's Mom

I was reading through a Missionary Mom's website yesterday and ran across a name I recognized. It turns out I was able to connect with Elder Kotter's companion's mom. This is what she had to say. It was an awesome experience and I feel the Lord blessed me with this connection!

Good Morning Lesley,

Yes! They are companions! How funny -- I hardly ever comment or “welcome” someone in the e-mail group and am so glad I did this time. Our son is so happy to be companions with your son. He is his first American companion. Having Spanish speaking companions has been wonderful in so many ways, but him having an American companion, especially one that has the same vision, is what he needed right now.
This is what he said -

"Not only do we have fun being able to talk about things that only 2 United Staters can talk about but lessons are a lot more tranquilo. He knows our purpose and what to teach because he also was born in the Church. So it's been a lot less stressful because I don't have to worry about what he'll say. Also our study sessions are fantastic because they're in spanglish and we get to express a lot easier what we've learned and how we feel about the restored Gospel.”

This is only his 3rd area but has been out 13 months. He served in Cusco for 8 months and then went to Ollyantambo for 4 1/2 months - a very small village near Macchu Pichu. While in Ollyantambo he ended up having an emergency appendectomy! We have been living in Puebla, Mexico, this school year (for my husband’s work) and so when he had to have his surgery, it was a little worrisome because I know how different medical care is here than in the US and worried a little how it must be there! Pres. Harbertson assured me, though, that the facility was modern and that all would be well - and it was! How long has your son been out? How long has he been in Sicuani?

Thanks so much for contacting me -- what a small world. If you’re interested, there is a Facebook group called Missionary Momma’s that my friend created and mom’s from all over contribute to it. It’s fun to see pictures and hear about missions from all over the world. If you’re interested, let me know. It’s a closed group so I think a member has to add you.

Have a great day!

Kristi

Check out my llama tie!

MOM

Hey sounds like life is still going super Awesome! I can't believe that Matt Gerber is home and he is like HOME HOME. He is kicking it with his fam that's so crazy. I also can't believe how fast time is going it is almost March can you believe that? I can't. So I ordered my scriptures and water bottle so don't worry about that soon I will be a normal missionary and not have to use a borrowed pair of scriptures. Now I know how the early missionaries felt when they borrowed clothes scriptures and everything else to go on a mission its really weird.

So me and Elder Woolner are doing WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to big. We are teaching lots and teaching by the spirit. Pretty much we are doing everything we can to push the work of the Lord along. We had an awesome lesson with Berta this week. The spirit was so strong and she was so close to saying yes to baptism. She just said she wants to be 100% sure that it is the true church. I just wish i could get her to understand faith. She is ready she just doesn't know it yet

Well Things I want in a package... BBQ sauce, and peanut butter candy. I want food. Oh and a white tie and pants that would be good too.

I love y'all so much keep working in the lord's field.

Elder Kotter


Dad

Hey how are you doing? This week was awesome!!!!!!!! Elder Woolner and I are doing WORK!!!!!!!!!!! We are just busting out lessons and teaching people and we've got the spirit super strong. It's awesome. We are doing all we can to help the work of the lord progress. It's super crazy that Matt Gerber is now a normal person that has to worry about normal people stuff. I just can't believe it. It seems like yesterday he left. I remember that very vividly then I had to do my ROTC interview the very next day. Crazy stuff. Dad thanks for all that you do for me and our family. You truly are my hero and don't ever forget that I love you.

Elder Kotter

PS: I haven't made a plan to buy a camera maybe this week. There just aren't any places in my sector that sells cameras that's the problem.

Someone is desperate!

Mom

Wow sounds like Everything is coming to the end of the world in Atlanta. Snow earthquakes Matt Gerber. Well I'm glad y'all had a great fun week. Hopefully y'all we be going to school soon so y'all don't have to have so much school in the summer. I loved the pictures in the snow it seems like this storm is over the whole country because elder W said that they got 20 inches in Oregon. which is rare for them where he lives.

So I've got some bad news. My bag got stolen. Yup someone stole my bag that the mission gave me. It had in it my scriptures my hymn book my knifes my pamphlets a Book of Mormon my filter water bottle and my camera. Basically I feel naked right now. I just hope that the person really needed money because if they stole from me they are truly desperate because I have basically nothing. That was basically all my worldly wealth that I have so yeah that was fun. It happened in the bus station waiting for an elder and I sat my bag on the ground and bam they got it. I didn't realize until we left. Lucky I've sent all my photos home except from this week so y'all got all that.

Well this week we was pretty slow because of the changes. We did have a really good lesson with hna B. It was lesson 2 the plan of salvation. It was awesome. I just know she is ready she just has to know that. We also are just working super hard me and Elder W and he is great.

Keep being so awesome and I love y'all,

Elder Kotter

Happy Valentine's Day

MOM

Hey How was this week? My week was fantastic and guess what I took pictures too of actual people. I'm soooooooo happy that you did so awesome on your math test!!!!!!!!!!!! See mom you are good at math you just have to believe. It's like dad says your the smartest person ever. I hope you are happy with everything at home!!!!!!! I can't believe y'all are going to have another ice storm. That's crazy.

Well Like you said we have cambios(trasfers) tomorrow. And Wait for it......................... I'm staying and Elder Gomez is.................leaving.... sad day no. The elder that is coming in is called Elder Woolner. I think he is a Gringo but I'm not 100% sure but with a name like Woolner you have to be a gringo no.

So We are just going to keep working hard and hopefully I'll have some really good news for you soon about a baptism or something. Mom, I Love you so much and hope everything is going good.

Love Elder Kotter




A response to a letter from his dad:

Dad

Thank you so much for that. I've been wondering about that lately if I'm just wasting my time or not. I know I'm doing God's will but it just seems like nothing is coming from it and I know it's all in His time but sometimes I just wish his time was my time. I just feel bad sometimes because I don't have these crazy missionary stories like everyone else seems to have and I wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Thanks for your words if y'all are being blessed than that's good enough for me. I love y'all so much.

Elder Kotter

Pictures

No letter this week, but some great pics!