christmas blessings!

Merry 26th of December! Everything is well out here in Biancheri with me and Elder Lopez. For Christmas day we had the blessing of seeing 14 inverstigators present... And yes this week we will see 3 kids of a family be Baptized! I am so very excited to Participate in my first Baptisms! and we have another baptism next week! (one individual) Just seems when that there is Miracles taking place out here, and i absolutely love it! -talking to my family for Christmas was also a great blessing as well, a strength, a lift to continue on!  I know the Lord continues to prepare people to recieve the gospel, we have a new investigator, Hna. Lorena, that has already read the miricle of forgivness, and she uses it to teach poeple, Yesterday in church she order a years worth of Liahonas, and a copy of Jesus the Christ she want to read, as well she wants to visit and see the Temple... wow a blessing to find her.. We Pray the work continue to move forth! 

w/ love - choa!
-Elder Tucker

today i am just happy - panama temple!

 :) I am just happy today, and i dont know why! maybe because the Lord and the Gospel is Amazing!!
Its Christmas time this week :) and i attached photos of the Temple, because it is Gorgeous, and because now at this time is a good time to have the Savior at the center of our Holiday :) its is quite unique, first Christmas away from home and the family, but ive got to find peace somewhere, and that is through Him :) really, Christmas is a blessing, I hope each member of the family is loving this Christmas time, and enjoying one another :)
Sounds Like everything is a going well too! it is so good to hear others are thinkin about me, i definately feel there prayers, because i would not be able to do it on my own... so thank everyone when ever you talk to someone thats been thinking about me :)

a "white christmas"!

Another Report here from Panamà, Panamà City - Elder Tucker is alive and doing well :) Its December, and i love that, yesterday we had the opportunity to view the Christmas Devotional, it was in spanish, but its not difficult to feel the Spirit of those Amazing Men, who we were able to hear :) I pray all of you at home may love the Christmas Season! Do something for another, even if its just a smile :) I am loving my time here, it is very difficult at times, but through the Lord strength is givin! - I may even take part in my first baptisms this month, to truly have a ¨White Christmas¨, hehe yup thats how we do it down here in a tropical mission, gotta baptize if ya want a white christmas! Temple Square is beautiful, i want you all to know that! I have a testimony of this great work, and know that the more we give ourselves to the Lord, the more we are blessed :) I miss many of you, and think of you often! - and i hope the photos are enjoyed! (these three - the holiday last monday, parade photo - one night after getting barried in rain (nothing new!) - and me and Elder Hutchinson at the Stake Christmas activity, Christmas Devotional last night ) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is True :) w/ love -
-Elder Tucker

mentos for thanksgiving.

Love your Email :) Always do!!  I love you Family! yeah Thanksgiving, doesnt exist here in Panamà, haha! had a pack of mint mentos that day i bought from the store ;) The Sacrifices for the Lord :) but i do hope it was an amazing one for all of you!! Weather sounds good, glad its warm - yeah here when it goes below like 78 we start to get cold.. thats happened a few times the last coulple weeks, dont like it when its cold! Keep warm please! I do miss the Snow though, oh someday i will return! the memories i have out with Dad out on snow removal, I love :) Great that the package is sent out, no worries, ill get the vitamins when i get them :) Well its a Holiday here today, Parades and what not, kinda crazy, dont have a ton of crazy time!  hey mom - can you thank sister hoer for always writting me, really i appreciate it so much :) - Well received more letters from you and the fam last week, Love dads letters :) and i finally got one from Lea... :)
so the mail is starting to come, thank you :)   Me and Elder Hutchinson are doing great together, we are starting to really help each other out, The Lord puts us in certain places for a reason, I know he is guiding this great work :) and i Love him with All of my heart!! As I love you guys with All of my heart! thank you for everything! w7 love! take care- and welcome December!
 your son

-Elder Tucker

info on the new area

Elder Tucker here and back :) So info on the New Area - It was unique being whitewashed (craigs mission shotguned) into an area. We arrived on the 2nd a Wednesday and didnt have a meal till Friday night, We Survived by getting food at little vendors, but it wasnt the best for the body if ya know what i am saying! haha and with the Companion, it was a little hard at first but we are doing much better now! we know much more members in the area now, and have investigators that are progressing, which i am so glad for :) I included pics of: Pic out the window of the plane when traveling to Panamà :) A beautiful pic of the Temple when we arrived :) - and then also a Pic of last P-day with me and my new Comp! Hope they are enjoyed!
The mission is difficult but i know when we trust in the Lord, things can always go better! :) I have a testimony of this great work! :)

-Elder Tucker

new area, new companion

Good Afternoon! Well New area, new companion - My area is Chorrera, specifically Biancheri, my Companions name is Elder Hutchinson! Honestly and Sincerely its been very difficult.. in the past week i have experienced the Lowest of lows, but at the same time, i know if you trust in the lord and give yourself to him, he will bless you. I was able to recover and go from the lowest of lows, to the highest of highs :) there is strength in the book of mormon, it is true! I pray for strength and as we are in a completely new area, me and my companion! Short message this week -not much time! Love you all, I will write next week! take care-

-Elder Tucker

another report from Panama

Hey Hey - Another Report from Panamá - Loving it! and yes transfers are this Wednesday! New area, new companion, everything coming! - Kinda crazy! We have continued to prep the area for the new Sisters that will be replacing it, We had four indivudauls accept babtisimal dates - three november, one december and her dad is going to fly down from the States to baptize her :) Ahh I just Love it! The work will continue to progress, even after we have left, the Sisters will do great! As for Panamá - we continue to see Amazing things on P-days, Love it, so much fun! I will hopefully get some pics attached! Love you all, continue to thank you for your support! Happy Halloween :) (its not really celebrated here,so definately miss the holidays)! take care -
-Elder Tucker

Hey Everyone! Well can i just say - Piña (Pineapple) here is incredible! ahh i just Love it! Well the Panamá culture is great! Another week has passed and the Work of the Lord continues forth! We had the opportunity to have a member of the Area Presidency of the 70, come to the Stake Conference in the area i am serving in - Elder Martino. He is remarkable! I love the Church and Love how it is the same all over the world! - As for me, they are changing our Area into a Sisters area so i will be transfered next change - sad and exciting all at once. Oh and i included pics of last P-Day after playing kickball on a mud field, fun time :) also just me and Elder Alley out on a days work! -haha, no that was taken on the end of a road somwhere, we just thought it wold be fun!  I love everyone at home, and thank you for your support, letters and dear elders are amazing, i really do apprecieate the few that have arrived, send more :)

-Elder Tucker

Wonderful to Write you!

Hey Hey! Wonderful to write to you this morning, i have been looking forward to it! :) So All is well Here in Panamá! just lovin it!  We had three investigators in church yesterday, which we love! the work is going forth! We are continuing to work hard to try to find and teach people! Oh last week we went to the baseball game for P-day that was incredibly fun, i will definately have to attach a pic of that! An tremendous rain storm yesterday, wow, goodness when it rains oh how it can pour! the streets are just covered in water, but everyone keeps on going as if it were a normal day! To just be able to sit and watch the rain is amazing, i absolutely love it :) Well the Mission is a blessing, i can promise you that! love it and we will continue to work- take care, I love you all!

-Elder Tucker

another great week

Another great week out here on the mission! we are working hard! Elder Alley is from Bountiful, Utah,and we are doing great together! Definately improving the work from the past! Its Amazing to be surrounded by the tropical vegitation, palm trees - and all! I feel blessed to be out here, it definateley is one of the hardest things ive ever done, but rewarding. The Lord is incredible, I hope you are all inviting him into your lives each day :) The people are a humble people, its different here. just circumstances of living, and they will give the shirts of their back to help you :) The work is wonderful, we continue to meet people, lots of people, lots of amazing people! there hasnt been a baptism in my area for a while,and i hope we can change that, not by our strength but the strength of the Lord :) we must continue to work hard, and with Urgency! - I love it! take care i will talk to ya soon :)

 - Elder Tucker

Q & A's

Kyle answered a few of our questions for us this week…

Where do you e-mail?

We email at this little computer place, just a lab in a building on one of the main roads, the zone meets together to email together, on monday and we pay 1$ for an hour of computer time, so thats what we do! :)

How are you are doing with the weather?

                Oh the Weather! haha its hot lots, but it doesnt bother me at all, and yeah its humid too but that doesnt bother me at all either! I love it, the Sun is great, and ya just get used to having sweat dripping off your face all throughout that day ;) haha Love it! -Thats the Mission- :) oh but the rain stroms are nuts, they are way legit, it comes down, fun lighting and thunder too, like last night we has some sweet lighting! doesnt rain as much as i thought tough, or maybe i just dont notice when it does, we always carry our umbrellas because the weather is so shifty, kinda fun :) Love the Adventure!

 How big is the area that you are teaching in?

How big is my area.. hmmm.. good question.. i dont know!  nor do i really know where i am! i have an idea, but yeah, haha.. as i mentioned in my first email, we are in Arraijan, and me and Elder Alley are in the part Vista Allegre, i am emailing right be a market called The Rey right now :) i think our area is a few miles by a few miles big. The other day i took a pedomiter with and we had 23,600 somthin steps in that day.. like 12 miles worth! haha it was nuts! that was high though, in preparation to running around everywhere inviting everyone of our investigators to conference :) but yup so that more on the area!

  How much conference  did you get, and where and how, etc... ?

Conference - OHHH YEAHHH! oh got to watch every single second -so legit- Conference was absolutely amazing! i do hope that all of you at home really got to spend some time to take part in that wow :) Lots of notes, is what i got, learning from the speakers and the Spirit! Love love love it!

So did you hear the announcement?  Provo tabernacle will be made into a temple!

Kay wow - Another Temple in Provo, and from the Tabernacle.,?? Incredible, when i heard that announcment by President Monson, i was just filled with Joy :) I thought of you too mom, cause i know it was hard for you to see it go, wow what an amazing opportunity!! Ahhh this Church is so True!!

Have you received any letters yet?

Oh and dont worry about Mail, we havnt recieved it yet since ive got here, the office has been holding it, like stock piling it since we got here! haha so it will come, no worries :) I am very excited to recieve it! Next week is when we will! -Dear Elder included in that-

Well Lovin it! Lovin Everything!

Love you all!!

-Elder Kyle Tucker

On the Mission :)

first photos of Panama!

 Panama Air Port

 Panama Temple!!

Mission President and his wife!

 first companion, Elder Alley

 the view from the mission president's appartment

and finally, our appartment (:

i am here [in panama] and i am alive!

Hi Everybody!! -well i am here and i am alive! The City is Huge!!  Arrived late monday night and all of the incoming Elders stayed at the AP's house - 20 New Elders - Spent Tuesday being taught about everything about the mission, most the survival things, money, mail, immigrations, health, etc. We also spent time that night with President & Sister Ward learning about the mission, Love President Ward! Wednesday was changes and that is where i recieved my new companion who is my trainer Elder Alley, He is an awesome Elder - has 15 months out on the mission. We then went to our area, which is Arraijan and more specifically our companionship in Vista Allegre II! its outside the city, but i guess still considered part of the city, we are on the other side of the canal. Its crazy being here, defiantely different than Utah, let alone the U.S.A. wow - boy will it be an adventure for the next two years! but its good :) we are here doing the Lords work and it is Amazing!!
so just some things: if ya want to send me mail this is where it goes- its the only way i will recieve it!

Elder Kyle Tucker
Panamá Misión
Carrasquilla
Entrega General
A.P. 0834 Panamá
Republica de Panamá

I also included a picture of a little bit of the city - fun from Presidents house. Also a pic of me and Elder Alley when met at changes. Also a pic of our little place.  - just me and Elder Alley live there, little fun, unique! It definately is different here, but the Church is still the same, I love it :)
I Love all of you, and thank you for your support! May the Lord be with you in all you do-

-Elder Tucker

Elder Cool {photos}

Friends at the MTC {photos}

Elder West. (kyle's caption on the back of this photo: Thugs)

Sister Thomas! 

 Elder Martel & Elder Dastrup

 Elder Ashton

 Elder Martel

2 days - a new journey!

Hi :) 2 days away - and about to embark on a new journey! am i ready? I would like to say so :) its been an amazing week! we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Ballard this past Tuesday - and Wow! The Spirit that an Apostle of the Lord brings can not be desribed! His wife spoke as well and was so very sweet! some Amazing words shared that meeting, ones that will always need to be remembered :) Such a strong Spirit! So Yup!  Elder Holland and Elder Ballard while at the MTC - I Love IT :) we feel so blessed to have this amazing opportunity! Well today we packed everything up, and are preparing to go to PANAMA!! It will be Incredible :) I pray the Lord may be with you all while I am away! I love you so very much! I go to do the Work - and know that through my strength i am nothing, but through the Lords strength, I can do All Things (Alma 26:12)!! - Thank you all again!

-Elder Tucker

nine days away and counting...

How is everybody doing? The MTC is great, and the days are running out! This week has been great! We have progressing Investigators (Instructors that play full role of someone out there in the world) We have been teaching since we have arrived - but i just wanted to make note, I know that the Lord has his missionaries in mind and helps them daily. Even if it is a role play the Lord blesses us with learning experiences that better prepare us. This is a guided work, i know it!    - Also Prayers are answered, Always are :) I know this to be true!   - I recieved a wonderful package yesterday, from my family :) which i Loved so very much! Thank You!  - The MTC is amazing and i am sad to say i will be leaving soon, I am soooo Very Excited to arrive in the Field though!! Nine days aways.. and counting :) I love this work, I love all of you :) thanks for everything!

-Elder Tucker

remarks from Elder Holland

Hi :) I have absolutely loved this past week! we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Holland this past week, for the Tuesday devotional.... - Wow - .... remarkable Spirit present. He is a Man of God. He, along with the Spirit, taught how much is expected of us as missionaries "All the missionary work in the World will happen in this dispensation" He let us know how amazing we are and how much the Lord truly does Love us. He chastized, and Loved :) He said "others", being past prophets, he would feel to say "have seen us, have seen us today, have seen us preparing and doing this great work, and that is why they kept pushing forward in their work.' absolutely remarkable. he taught so very much that evening - I am so greatful for the opportunity to be at the MTC at this time and have had the opportunity to recieve the words which were spoken that evening! I Love this Gospel, I Know it is true with all of my Heart. I know God Lives and i Know he Loves us. More than we can Imagine. I Know Jesus Chirst is the Savior and Redeemer of the World, i have witnessed this first hand. I love each of you and thank you. These things i say in the name of Jesus Chirst, Amen.

Absolutely Loving it! grateful for all the Love and Support! today and always!

-Elder Tucker

Panama will be a remarkable country!

Hey everybody!! Another week at the MTC gone by, wow! This week has been great - We (as a district) got to meet a Native from Panama!! He was Incredible - I can't even descibe what it was like to talk with him! - grew up there until age 18 then moved to America for school - he is in a branch presidency here, an an older man, and is a remarkable servant of the Lord! Served as bishop, counselors, stake pres, mission presidencies, etc. Long story how we met up with him, but he came and visited us, which we feel blessed for :) He just talked about Panama with us - A Remarkable Country - and He said there couldnt be a better time in history for us to be going there, the peolple are amazing! lets just say - it will be great! :) So Excited!!!
On other news - I asked what i can share on the blog and i was told to share little details, basics. The MTC is great we continue to learn! we are very busy all day every day! we don't really have free time, youve always got something to do :) We get to go to the Temple once a week - on P-day, and we Love it :) well theres some little details for now!
Love Everyone - thank you for all the Support! The Church is True - Our Heavenly Father is Real!

-Elder Tucker

first set of mission pictures! {photos}

district with branch president Shumway

MTC companion - Elder Boyd

with Elder Hollingsworth

district at Provo Temple

sprained ankle

Megan - PGHS trainer 2009, works at MTC now!

write to me, missionaries love letters!

Hey Hey! great here at the MTC, we continue to learn and progress! Had a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy here on Tuesday, Elder Evans! absolutely amazing!! He is a Man of God! Days are so Long, but go by fast! the Lord continues to help us in our studies as we work and progress! Spanish continues to progress, sometimes ya just have to stop and really look at all you have learned since the beginning, its amazing! The Lords hand is here in the Work at the MTC! its amazing to be continue to feel his Love! I feel very blessed to be on a mission!! and hey - if you havnt written to me yet, then do it! haha we love letters! Love Everyone - Thanks for Everything!

- Elder Tucker

thank you for your support!

Hi there! So the MTC is going great so far, been here for a little while now! weve recieved two new districts in our zone since then! so this last week - The Zone leaders went to the field (Chile), and Elder Hollingsworth & Parmer (MTC- Guatemala) sad to see them go, Love them, and may the Lord be with them! Thank You for all of the support from everyone, if ya didnt already know, missionaries love letters and packages!! I continue to draw closer to the Lord each day, Its Amazing here at the MTC! and when ya feel your doin great, the Lord will bring you low again, so you can continue to grow! kinda like a stripping down building up experience! i guess i will just say its definately humbling here :) I love my district, and have come closer to each Elder in it! we are now The Solid Six or "Los Seis Solidos" We continue to strive to work hard but also enjoy :) I pray we may continue to have strength to progress the Lords work foward! I know the Church is True brothers and sisters, with out a shadow of a doubt, i know we can each pray and our Heavenly Father is there! to listen to us and to answer us :)

Take care, I love you all!    "Yo se que Dios y Jesucristo viven"

-Elder Tucker

more MTC news

Hey, how is everybody doing? I hope great!! its great here at the MTC! My district is working hard and we are progressing :) it is difficult in some circumstances because both of our teachers have been out of town, one in Spain, the other in California. So we have had lots of different teachers! We love them though, just yes, we will be grateful when Our actual ones come home! Firesides and Devotionals are like the Highlight of the week, we love them :) oh and getting to watch a church movie after the fireside sunday evening, thats fun too! so far we have seen The Legacy, and Joseph Smith the Restoration ( Lucy Mac's View ). Elder Hollingsworth (from Ohio) and Elder Parmer (from Highland, Ut) are leaving our District next Tuesday, on they go to the Guatemalian MTC ( the are serving in Guatemala! ). I will miss Elder Hollingsworth, he is a stud, definately will be keepin in touch!! The MTC is a wonderful place, I am able to feel the spirit so strong here, I love it! The Spirit helps me to learn everyday, i definately wouldnt be able to progress as i am without the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Also struggles do come, difficulties, but the Lord helps me to make it through! I love my family and dear friends! thanks to you all!

-Elder Tucker

Very First Email!

Hiii, Elder Tucker here! First time to write home being here at the MTC. kind of exciting! I am doing great! it was hard at first, very difficult. but it gets Easier! as it has already! Must rely on the Lord! My companion is Elder Boyd. He is a great guy, we are working well together, being obedient & positive! I have been called to District Leader, so more responsibilities, but all the better right?? it'll be good! I love my district, good group of Elders! We are all trying to adapt fast! there is eight of us, six are going to Panama, and two to Guatemala, sooo Exciting!! The Spanish is coming it takes focus, but it is fun! I am very excited to continue Learning! Well that is it so far! - Elder Tucker

p.s. I have meet everyone - Elder Stewart, Elder Schone, Elder Tonoai, Elder Esteban, Elder Martel, & Elder Schade - I am sure there will be more to come, Love them!

-Elder Tucker

The MTC

The last good byes and hugs

Sefa, a buddy of kyle's, pulled up right behind us! - reporting at the same day and time!

Good luck Elder Tucker :)