Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone! 2023 We made it! Fun fact, New Zealand is the first country to go into the new year. It was so cool watching the hundred of fireworks go off over the city. We partied all night celebrating. It was for sure a time to remember!!!

This week was pretty good. Mostly just classes and reviewing the lessons and stuff. We've still been teaching "Michael". The fake investigator for practice. But those lessons have been super great. He wants to get married so he can be baptized. So we have been working towards that. Other than that we just have had normal classes. 

We've been having wars with other districts. They destroyed our room so we took off their door handle and locked them in theirs. Our teacher was so proud of us haha. Besides the war, we went to this park during exercise time. It was super pretty. It was nice to be able to walk around and have a break from the MTC. While we were there we went on this bridge that went over this pond that had eels. And there was this beam under the bridge so you know I had to hop on down and try to catch an eel. Happy to report, mission was a success!!! After that we walked around some more and met these super nice members who we talked to for a long time. It was good to finally find people that like us. Not us just being missionaries, but also being Americans. Worst combo here. Everyone hates us. We went to the mall last Tuesday and people were very open about their feelings towards us haha. But on the bright side, the mall was super cool. It's the largest mall I have ever been in, but pact with people. We're going again today, so I'm excited for that.

Everyday we get exercise time. We usually play basketball. But this week, Sister Spillman and I played to Tongans in volleyball. If you have seen a very large Tongan play volleyball, then you would know why I never play. But it was actually a ton of fun and we killed them. Maybe not killed but definitely won haha. After, the Tongans asked me to play with them every week. I've been accepted! haha It's been a blast playing that and then also learning rugby. 

Just one more week and I'm in Australia. I am beyond excited to go out and serve!!! This has been a life changing experience. I'm sad it only lasts two years. But I've been trying to make every second count. This MTC and people here have been such a blessing for me. With every set back, there are those who help with the push forward. No matter who you are, you will always have those bad days/weeks/months. But in 3 Nephi 15:9, we are told that through Jesus Christ, we are able to endure and make it to the end. We just need that faith and trust. If we have those two things, nothing will stop us. 

I love you all, and hope you all have the most amazing week! Thanks for the emails! Talk to you next week!

Da Elders

Park Photos

District

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas everyone!!!

This week was just mostly classes, so pretty boring. But there were some exciting things. To start off, we went to the temple last Tuesday. The temple was a two hour, super hot and crowded bus ride, and was super small. But it was super pretty and such an amazing experience. I was so blessed that we were able to go. There was a family there that asked if I was a tour guide, and seemed pretty disappointed that I was just a missionary. Oops. Then on the way back, one of the president's wife had me sing the National Anthem by myself. To set the stage, probably 8-10 Americans max. And I went all out and it was the greatest solo of my life haha. 

The week after that was just lessons. We learned 2 and 3 and are learning lesson 4.

Saturday was Christmas Eve for us. We played a ton of games and my competitive side came out and it was a blast. Ofc my team always won bc we're just too good. We then had a devotional and a good lunch. Later a guy from the 70 came with his wife and daughters and we played a lot of FHE games. We then had a concert thing and watched Christmas Oranges. 

Then... Christmas!!! We started off with church and my district sang and it went good. We then were able to call our families and opened Christmas presents. Let me tell you, the nerf hoop was clutch. After we had a devotional and watched The Other Side of Heaven 2. That was good but after was the exciting stuff. We went to the back and watched the sunset and sorry Utah but you take the L. You can't beat the sunsets here. After we played nerf basketball. It started as pig and my comp belly flopping and most likely broke his hand. Then we got two mattresses and had a dunk contest. It hit different. Best night ever. Stupidest night ever. This week was so baller, I loved it. The song loved this week was He'll Be There. It is such a good song. 

I invite everyone to put Christ as the center of their life and their focus this week. I love you all, thank you for the emails, I love them. I can't wait to talk to you next week. Just two pdays left. Love you, have a good week!

Temple

Sunset

New Zealand

We Made It!!!

 Hello everyone!!! 

This week has been so amazing and crazy. To start out, we had a big delay to Dallas and then when we got there we almost missed our flight. The desk was literally calling out our names and we were the very last people on the plane. It was so crazy and such a blessing that we made it. I had a window seat and sat by this super nice couple who are from New Zealand. Let me tell you, longest 16 hours ever! The food was not good whatsoever. My screen stopped working so I couldn't watch the little airplane. It was super cloudy and dark so I couldn't look out the window. I finally got two hours of sleep when I was woken up at 2 am for the worst burrito ever! Who eats a burrito at 2 am!!! I listened to one song on repeat because for some reason my other music wasn't working. Let me tell you, when we had 5 hours left, I was so happy. I have never been so happy for a 5 hour trip. Once we landed it was all good. Got through customs and to the MTC. Driving on the left side of the road was so trippy.

We had to fill stuff out and then I met my companions. Elder Simister and Elder Masima. I love them. Being in a trio is seriously the best thing ever. We met our districts and there are 7 of us, and probably a total of 75 people at the MTC. It is super small, but I love it this way. Everyone is knowing everyone and it's so peaceful. Everyday is just classes, classes, classes. We only get breaks on Sunday and p-days. But after lunch we get an hour of exercise, and let me tell you, I'm ballen. A lot of missionaries here know little English, but the English they do know is all trash talk. It's so much fun. In the end, everyone loves everyone and it's super fun. 

The food here is hard to get used to. Like today we had baked beans, like hotdogs, and noodles. Meals we have are like food I wouldn't have for that meal. It's fun for sure, but some of the food just isn't it. There food here as no sugar!!! It's so bland. But, their lollies are fire. Every night a group of us elders hit the vending machines to get the lollies. They're so gas. I could live on this stuff. We have friends from home in the room next to us, and so we party all night. (Not literally because we're obedient ofc;)) You know that string and cup thing we did as kids? Well I had the amazing idea of doing that with our room and Elders Fleming and Stokes. It doesn't work but we did it. That's all that matters haha.

There are so many funny stories I wish I could say, but this would be a novel. Let me say, American's stick out so bad. There are like ten of us. But it makes it even more funny joking around with the others. This week we have to sing for Christmas. While practicing the teacher in charge came over to me and listened and said, "Kapp, come to the piano." I told him nah bro I don't sing. He said stop the cap(get it haha) and come sing this part. So I had to sing in front of everyone and was one of the four people with an actual part. Two sisters and two brothers. Elder Peneha is the other. I just call him Poly Poly. It's hard to remember his name haha. He loves it so it's all good. He's the chillest dude ever. 

Through all the fun and 15 hour classes, I have felt closer to Heavenly Father than ever before. I know coming here was for the best because I have not been home sick once. I love it here and it is so amazing. The song I listened to on the flight was "I Can Do All Things Through Christ."(2023 youth album) It is seriously the best song I have ever heard. Everyone needs to listen to it. I love you all and love the emails and letters I got. Thanks you for all the support and helping me get here. My other emails will be shorter while in the MTC because all we do is classes. But through this experience my testimony that I might have questioned a while ago, has strengthened to a whole new level. I feel my Father's love and support everyday and never feel on my own or alone. I feel like I matter and that I'm doing the right thing. Even leaving my family and crying in front of a ton of people waiting in a security line, this has been one of the best weeks of my life. If anyone has questions then pray and search the scriptures. Repetition is key. Just keep at it and never give up on our Father in Heaven, because he will never give up on you. I love you all and hope you have such an amazing week!

-Elder Kapp

1. Sunrise from the plane (which I thought I lost)

2. Sunset

3. Poly Poly! (asked me to put him in my email)

4. Bugs are such bigger

Sunrise from the plane (which I thought I lost)

Sunset

Poly Poly! (asked me to put him in my email)

Bugs are so much bigger

Off to New Zealand MTC

 

Farewell Talk