Pioneer Day

Baylee:  My 2 favorite states!!

Happy Pioneer Day to everyone I hope that you all joined in on the pioneer spirit this week :) thank you all for your love and support!


Tuesday we were able to see Cunninghams, We shared a message with them about the priesthood in preparation for Frank to bless and pass the sacrament.  They were both so excited.  It's so cool when they get excited because most of these things I've always known and they have always been part of my life.   I've taken these little things for granted and it's totally changing their life!! It's awesome!!  On Sunday Frank passed the sacrament!! Life is good!! THE GOSPEL CHANGES LIFES!!

Wednesday
There is a huge cancer hospital by us and there is a lady here that came from Arizona to receive treatments. Her Relief Society president reached out to us to let us know.  We spent some time down there, helping her, mostly just visiting her. She is battling Leukemia and she is not doing very well.  She was talking all sort of medical stuff and I was eating it up!! I miss the hospital!!  Sister Grant thought I was crazy haha.. She is going to receive a bone marrow transplant as a last stitch effort, so hopefully it works!!

Thursday we had interviews with president.   It was great!! It was like front porch sittin talk. It is like I've known him all my life :) I'm not really struggling with anything right now so we just sat there and laughed. I told him a few stories, he told me a few.  He commented on how he read the emails my mom posted on Facebook and how it seems I just jumped in feet first, and then I started running.  He was impressed with all that I've accomplished in so short of time :)  I asked him if he had any advice or what I could do better and he said, “Ask for referrals from those I'm teaching and then keep doing what I'm doing.” It was a good 30 minute visit.   He is a cool guy. We're going to get along just fine.  The Hermanas got in a car accident so after interviews on Thursday we had to take them to the doctors. It took 4 and half hours (the health care here is crazy) so most of our day was spent helping them with that and interviews our day was pretty much done.  We still had to finish up planning, but we got it ALL done.  It was Sister Grant’s 18 month mark Thursday also!! Crazy,right?

This weekend was the picnic that we have been planning our big friend push with and it went really well.  We were able to talk and teach a few people about our beliefs in a very relaxed, conversational way, hopefully we are able to start teaching some of them. The heat kept quite a few people away. It was 95 degrees with 90 % humidity, It was cool, NOT!! I was sweating like crazy haha tmi, but it was a great Pioneer Day celebration

Speaking of the weather this week has not been fun but it makes for
some pretty cool storms.  We've had to stay in because they’ve been
really crazy. We had a tornado warning it was so cool!! I'll send a
video!!

I also wanted to tell you about Bobby.   We met him at the beach. He's amazing! He’s been through a lot and has a very strong relationship with the Lord. He has a sister that's a member and she's been trying to convert him for a long time. He says he believes in a lot of similar things, just has a hard time with The Book of Mormon. Super great guy!! We have been teaching him and it's been great! He came to the food pantry with us and he came to the picnic and he came to church, it's supper cool! We are just working on the Book of Mormon thing right now.  He believes in everything we do but he is being stubborn, and he won't let his guard down, but when we first met him two weeks ago he said he would never go to our church and that changed so I have faith the BOM thing will pass soon too;)

And then Mr. Sheffield is doing great.  He's totally coming around :)  We have taught him a very broad amount of the GOSPEL and he is right along with it. I would bet that we get him to church in a week or so ;)

Karla is on date for August 6^th.  She is doing great!! She loves the church and she loves the ward members. Her biggest concern was that she wanted to make sure she was ready and that she was getting baptized for the right reasons. She now knows that she is ready it's supper cool!!

Last, but not least, we got word today that Nick has met up with the missionaries in San Diego that they are going to baptize him !!! Whoot whoot I'm so happy that there is a happy ending to that story! I'm going to try to Skype into the baptism.

Well all is well here and I’m loving this mission thing ;) I hope all is well at home; you’re all in my prayers ;) Keep out of the heat!! Have a good week!! Love you all!!
keep smilin

Love Sister Kendrick

City Girl

Hey everyone,

So this is going to be a pretty short letter this week.  I was in the city today and this week wasn't very eventful.
Tuesday we had planned on going to the temple with the Cunninghams, but unfortunately they couldn't make it.  They had some family thing they need to care to, so we're just going have to wait awhile.  The food pantry people were so funny; they’re warming up to Sister Grant slowly but surely.

Best thing that happened this week was the fact that we got new beds!!  It was really bad.   I wasn’t even sleeping. And both our backs were in knots so the kind zone leaders brought us new beds and I threw a party!!

Wednesday we had zone conference.   It was so good.  We cover a whole slew of things: teaching not talking, stress management, plan of salvation, overcoming the natural man, Facebook, and the list goes on. This was the first zone conference with our new president and he killed it, it was awesome, I learned so much from him. It's crazy how much energy can be in such a little person haha... He went from pounding the pulpit to jumping up and down to super inspiring and spiritual all in the same breath!! It was great!

Sister Grant went to the temple this week for the last time with all those that are going home this transfer so I got to go on exchanges.   It was super fun.  I got to see Sister Trowbridge again!! WHOOT WHOOT I love her, anyways... They had an appointment set up to teach a 9 little girl and they were totally stuck on how to teach her.   I have a lot of little people in my life and so I was able to design a lesson for her and I felt like it went really good.  It made me really miss Bree though.  I felt like it was blessing that I was able to be there

We had lessons with most  of our investigators and new members this week Karla, Gail, Mr. Sheffield, Bobby and Robin  It's been a good week, a roll a coaster, but none the less a great week !!

Funny and crazy moment that happened we were in a lesson with Karla; I started to relate her situation to a rodeo.  While I was talking she had such a confused look on her face!! I asked her what was wrong and she then asked, “What’s a rodeo?”   I just about died!!!  I'm so far from home its crazy!!

Well it's always so good to write to you and to hear from you.  I hope you all have a great week
Keep smilin
Sister Kendrick

Temple Ready

Sister Grant, she is great! She goes home one month from yesterday, crazy right? She is from Herriman, Utah.  She is the oldest of three.  She loves Lacrosse and loves art.  She knows the scriptures inside and out.  It’s so cool.  She is teaching me a lot!! She is also a very hard worker and loves to give her all.  She has a lot of faith. I'm learning so much from her, I'm trying to learn all her tricks before she goes. She is itty bitty... She is awesome. I've been really blessed!

Another week has come and gone crazy right?? It's been another packed week.  I've just stopped trying to write all the things that have happened and my email is still forever long :( sorry   I hope you are all doing well.   I love you!!

CITY GIRL....
      So last Monday was kind of lame.   In the city where I live, they did most if not all their July 4th festivities on Sunday so we didn't go to a parade or anything like that. We had to be in the house by 7 because it's one of the worst nights her in chi town....  But all is well.  We did get to see a few fireworks from our apartment.  That’s one thing that is crazy here. It's really logical but it didn't occur to me that there is so many houses/ apartments and so many trees and no open wide open spaces so you see can’t see any fireworks that are going off around you. Back home we would go out back or in front and watch fireworks from other cities.  Ya… you can't do that here #imacitygirlnow

GETTIN IT DONE....
      Tuesday we had so much to do here are a few highlights….We started off with a lesson with Trisha, she's the one from Belize. After our great lesson with her last time, her life just exploded and got really busy, so this was the first time we've seen her in a long time.  But it was really good.  We taught her about the plan of salvation. I think it's safe to say that we caught her attention!! She had never heard of the three kingdoms before and that really interested her. She also had a friend, just a few months ago, take her own life, and we talked about that and I was able to bear a firm testimony that I knew that she was on the other side learning about the gospel just like she was. Over all I think it was a pretty good lesson!!
      We also had lunch with Charlie!!! Need I say more? I love Charlie!!! He never ceases to amaze me! Among a lot of other things I asked him what it was like to be sealed to his wife (he joined the church after his wife had passed away)  Oh boy was that a good question to ask.  He shared a remarkable story with us of how he knew she was in that same room holding his hand over the alter, the spirit in our little booth was radiating ahhhhh... So cool... I love Charlie....
      Then we finished the night out strong with a lesson with the newest members of the ward;) (the Cunninghams) we are now preparing Frank for the priesthood so that we can take them to the temple to do baptisms for the dead !!!  I'm so glad the temple is so close that I get the opportunity to do these things.  Later on in the week we did family history with them and, you all know how much I love family history.  It was great!!  They want to do the work for their parents and siblings!!!

MIRACLES.....
        Preface, I hope that I am able to put into words the events that took place on Wednesday in a way that y'all might be able to understand and be able to get the magnitude of this experience. This really happened and it counts as a huge miracle in my book...
I don't know how the story ends but I sure know how it begins!!! The story begins June 6th. It was a Monday and Sister Jones and I were on our way to the city for our p-day when the conductor came by.   We smiled at him and we greeted him.  He commented on how we were always smiling and talking to others and how cool he thought that was.  We continued to talk to him and told him we were sister missionaries.  We invited him to church to learn more about the gospel.  He said that he would look into it because he really admired us and thought highly of a church that would raise young women like us, your basic contact right...
            Ok now fast forward one month to the day!!  We were just closing up district meeting when this man, John, entered into the room and he said “peace be with you, I don't know if you guys can help me or not.  This is going to sound crazy, I know, but a month ago I saw two sisters on the train headed to Chicago and I was impressed to share with them this video but I didn't.  Ever since that time I have been think about how I should have shared it with them, and how I didn't follow that prompting!  Last night my toilet broke so I had to come up this way to get a part.  I thought maybe someone here could help me get this video to those sisters so that I can follow through with that prompting!"
       Ok so side note.  When the man first came in I had no idea who he was but once he said he was on the train to the go to work, I saw his face.  My mind was taken back to that day and I remember seeing him sitting in his seat a few rows back.  As soon as he finished talking, I asked him, “was it June 2” and said, “I believe I was”  Then I asked, “do you remember those sisters talking to the…” He finished my sentence “conductor?”  I told him that yes indeed we could help him get in contact with these sisters.  I told him that it was me and Sister Jones...He had wrote up an email, so that someone could pass it on.  This is what the email said:


Peace be with you.

There were two young lady missionaries traveling like the 70.  (2) disciples to Chicago on the Metra.  God compelled me to share this video with them.
Please forward this email to them.

This video shows physical evidence of the events in the bible.

The Holy Spirit will guide you.

God bless you,

John


So we were with our whole distinct when this happened and I was the only one talking because the rest of them minus Sister Grant had their chins on the ground.  After all, I was the only one that knew what the heck was going on!! After it was all said and done and John left the room it, was dead silent for a good minute.  We were all just trying to soak in the experience!!

Ok so,so crazy!!  Am I right???
1. We are never at the church
2. That fact that he found the church (I still don't know how that happened)
3. The fact that the spirit worked on him that hard (I mean this guy
has shaking and he was all blotchy and pale, he was nervous)
4. We as missionaries go find people they don't find us!!    (this is like riding my bike down the road and the spirit tells someone to stop those two on a bike, but this is even better!! Haha;) )

SISTER SCHROEDER
We took Sister Schroeder to Karla's lesson and they clicked so well.  It was such a good thing, totally inspired. I love love love Sister Schroeder she is the best!! I will be friends with her for the rest of my life!!

We have been teaching a lot and trying to build up this area as much as we can!! We're working hard.  There's a fire lit here and we’re fanning it like crazy ;) nothing can stop us :D

I'll end with kind of a funny story.  Sunday after church one of the sisters locked both sets of keys in her car, haha and I walked into all the commotion.   They were trying to figure out how to get in.  The police won't do it and she didn't want to pay an arm and a leg, so one sister said, “Just go ask the next G that walks by the church, 10 bucks says he can do it in a minute”.  Well you all know that I had to get in on the action, I told them that was ridiculous and we are not waiting for a G  to walk by to break into her car.  I said, “at least give me 5 minutes to try it myself”, they all agreed that it wouldn't hurt.  All the men laughed at me... ;)  I grabbed a hanger and went to work.  Less than a few minutes later, I had it unlocked.  Thanks dad for teaching me some good tricks;)  everyone was amazed haha... They said why would you need a straight up G when you’ve got Sister Kendrick.  

The best part of yesterday by far is the fact that Frank received the priesthood and Shelly was crying because she was so excited for him!! She said that she has always known that he is the best man, but now she feels like everyone will know that... So so so cool he was so excited jumping up and down again;) We are taking them to do baptisms for the dead tomorrow so so excited!! I LOVE THE TEMPLE!!!  I hope that they will too.

Well as always I'm doing so well!! It's been nothing but blue skies and the gospel is amazing, it’s so cool being able to see it change others lives as they dive into it and really begins to understand it. Not only does it change others lives, but it changes mine too. The simple truth of the gospel has the ability to bring so much joy and happiness into lives. I love it!!

Well thanks for all the support I love you all!!
Keep smilin
Sister Kendrick

Gunshots or Fireworks??

Happy Fourth of July everyone!!!  I hope you all are having a magnificent day!!

So another week down its crazy!!  But as always it was a great one;)
So Tuesday was a crazy day.  We woke up bright and early to take Sister Jones down to the city.  I said my goodbyes and she was gone just like that. I'm gonna miss her. So much good came from our companionship.   So many lessons learned, so many unforgettable stories and moments. We were definitely meant to be together :)

 And then the waiting game... I told Sister Jones and all the missionaries I know, not to tell me one thing about Sister Grant!!! I didn't want anyone painting a picture of her; I wanted to decide for myself :) so really while I was sitting at the church, waiting to pick her up I was regretting that decision.... Hahaha it was pain staking.   I didn't even know what she looked liked, let alone if she was going to be a hard working missionary. All of that came to a rest when she arrived.  I grabbed her bags we said goodbye, and we were off. I remember thinking this could really be the longest car ride of my life, but in that exact moment she said, “so Sister Kendrick tell me about the work that's going one up in Gurnee”!!! I was so excited haha and she has been great ever since.  We are gonna do wonders here I can just feel it :)

We had a crazy busy day ahead of us (we didn't even eat lunch or study!!) We taught Karla a killer lesson on the plan of salvation. She is awesome she asked us if she could get baptized, and she wants to know exactly what she needs to do so she can be... #miracles it might be a long road but never fear!!!

We went straight from that, to do some service/ preparation for the nights event. The Relief Society did a fire fly fireside.  It was so cute!!! We were all able to share a quote or scripture or thought that has brought us strength.  It was really good!!! Shelly has a hard time with the Relief Society and it was like pulling teeth to get her there.  Frank practically pushed her out of the house. All was well and she was having fun until I introduced her to Sister Grant.  She lost it. (because she is trying to quit smoking she has been having a hard time) she was so sad that Sister Jones had to go. She kind of got attached to us, because we have been on such a long journey with her.  After she pulled herself together, the rest of the night went really well. And it was so good for her!

Wednesday: For about four weeks now President has been saying goodbye, this will be the last time we see you sorta thing, but then they turn around and either set up another meeting, or invite us to go somewhere on P day to see them.  The list goes on, right.  So I just stopped listening to him (that's so bad to say) haha but it's true I was like OK President whatever you say.  But
on Wednesday I knew for a fact when they said they wanted to meet with us one last time that they meant one last time. We gathered together by zone we sang 3 songs said a prayer/was given a blessing. (1) Cast out the adversary (2) That we would have success like never before and (3) He called down the powers of heaven to assist us, that we might have angels attend us in this work and that we might be able to feel them. Then they were off for the last time.  That was sad and really hard. Even though I've only know them for a short amount of time, they have really impacted my life. It was a hard day...

Later that night the Cunninghams had their last interview and we got the a ok. We gave them the jumpsuit to try on and oh my goodness Frank was in heaven.  He was dancing and singing and moving and a grooving.  He was so excited he was literally jumping up and down, and striking all sorts of posses, I was laughing so so hard!!!

Thursday we meet with Karla again and taught her about the Ten Commandments.   It was so good and then she opened up to us and what we thought was just going be a short lesson turned into a 2 hour lesson, the spirit was so strong!!! It's so crazy but one of the most amazing feelings I am able to feel as missionary is the love God has for each one of his children and I was able to testify of that to Karla. It's truly one of the most incredible feelings ever!!

Friday we met President Bingham and his family.  They are awesome!! I instantly gained a love and a respect for him as he came in those chapel doors!! He and his family came around to great us and when they got to me and it was really fun but really sad at the same time. Sister Bingham grabbed me and gave me a huge hug and she whispered in my ear “I've hugged your mom since you have and I'm passing it on”!! President grabbed my hand and said, “|Sister Kendrick it’s so great to finally meet you in person.  I've seen your picture, I've heard your voice and I've even talked with you a little but it's so great to be able to do it all at once”!!  Then they shared with us their story and how they were called and the events leading up to that.  They all shared their testimonies and their faith with us in a very uplifting and motivating meeting!! They are going to do wonders for this mission!!

Our Saturday was a great Big Bang!! Ok , um rewind just a bit.  So we went to the church at 7:30 to fill the font and make copies of the program and to set up. The Cunninghams were supposed to be there at 9:30 so that we could go over any last minute questions and so they could get dressed! All was well until 9:45 came around and there was no one from the ward there and there were no Cunninghams. Ok all was good. I was fine; we had 15 minutes and Mormon standard time right? Ok so now its 9:50 still no Cunninghams, no members but we do have the baptizer Brother Eagar, ok let’s just say I started to panic (we will leave it at that) I thought they were going to ditch us.  I was nervous for just a bit. But finally at 9:55 they got to the church and members started filling in for what turned out to be a full house and an amazing baptism. It was truly spectacular!! The spirit was so strong and they were so happy!!!

Sunday was just a great as Saturday!! The Cunninghams received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and there was a baby blessing (this will come into play in a bit). Gail got a new calling as the gospel principles class president ( aka welcomer and attendance taker) it was great!! She thought that I told bishop to give her that job so she was so mad at me haha I love her!!!  She did a great job though I wish I could have taken a video of it!! #priceless
Ok but the best part of the day was that Karla came to church. That's all good and all, she's been before but this time there was something special.  She was asking about all the blessings that were taking place in sacrament meeting, and why they were happening! We were able to tell her about the power of blessings and what their purposes were.  Then she asked, “Do you think I could go up and get one next”? Haha we told her the same Elders would more than happy to give her one after church ;) So, after church we went and got her little boy, Liam, out of nursery. He was beaming.   He was so so so happy!!! We headed over to the Elders and they gave her a powerful blessing. Afterwards she was crying. I asked her what was wrong.  She said she felt weird. Immediately I said “what do you feel like”?  She answered, “I think I feel happy”!!!  It was so crazy.  It was the first time she felt happy in years!!! I was also able to tell her that that is what Gods love feels like.  She was in awe.   Such a cool experience!!!

Ok so funny story, every once and awhile we play this game gunshot of fireworks and we go back and forth trying to decide if we are hearing gunshots or fireworks. Tonight I will be able to say for sure fireworks!!! hahahaha Happy Fourth of July

Well those were just a few highlights from this week.  Life is going good here. I'm loving life. I hope all is well back home!!! Enjoy they summer!   Love y'all!   

Keep smilin

Love Sister Kendrick

Is it dead??? Let's fill the font!!!

Hey everybody! Sister Jones is being transferred to the South Side! I’m thinking she may never return home ;) jk I'm so jealous!  She will be in Morgan Park to serve with Sister Mattinson as a Sister Training Leader. She is going to be great!!!

This week was great! We met with Frank and Shelli a few times.  We were concerned about their baptismal date being so soon (July 2nd!) because they have to quit smoking, but when we came to our lesson on Saturday they said they had kept the Word of Wisdom completely since Friday night! They are amazing. I am always blown away by them.  It's so crazy how far they have come in just so little time.  They are SO determined and excited to be baptized this Saturday and I'm so happy for them!  It's been so fun to become friends with them :) so, in other words the font is being filled!!  whoot whoot!!! High-five heaven high-five

On Wednesday we went to the park to contact, and we stopped to talk to a man and his family. So, just imagine this, a big scary African American man, aka straight up G and his fam. This will be important in a minute, or it will just help paint a better picture for you. They were fishing for their first time! #straightouttachitown…..His little girl caught a catfish and they put it in a bag to take it home to eat it...but they didn't kill it. So I was trying to teach this guy how to break the fish's neck. We couldn't find anything to hit it over the head with, so he resorted to hitting it on the curb. He smacked the fish against the curb then turned to us and said "He dead??" ...but right after he said that the catfish moved! He shuddered, I started laughing so hard!! Here is this big tattooed man scared to of a little fish, he was dancing around because he had the heebie jeebies so bad... He hit the fish over the curb again, and the fish was still alive! His wife was freaking out! She was saying "he's a survivor, you better throw him back! I think he's not meant to be taken home!" They took the fish home anyway, and I tried to tell him how to gut it ( I knew having friends that worked on a fish farm on your soccer team growing up would help out as some time in my  life!! haha) I finally gave up and we told him to YouTube how to gut a fish! He said he could do that. :) Oh man, I am neck deep in city folk here and it freaked me out!! I mean who doesn't know how to kill a fish back home??   No one!! It was really funny.  It had me laughing for a good hour.

We got a Bible referral this week (requested a free Bible online) from a man named Kayode. We called to ask what time we should drop it off, and it was really hard to understand him.  We had a bet, Sister Jones thought he was Jamaican and I told her he was from Africa.  After all, we have been though this; she still doesn't trust my African intuition but that’s beside the point. We successfully set up a time to come by. We show up and Kayode and his friend Isaiah let us in. They are so kind! They are both from Nigeria and both preachers. We had a good discussion about the Holy Ghost and receiving personal revelation! We testified of a modern prophet but after that they were concerned for our salvation. At the end all four of us each said a prayer. While one was praying, the other one would interject things like "amen", "Thank you Lord!" and "mmhm!" It was a good time.

We met with Karla this week as well! She said she really enjoyed church last week! She just needs a lot of love so we are doing our best.

I am so excited to see what this new week will bring.   Sister Grant will be my new companion and I'm really excited.   She has been out for 17 months.   I'll be her last comp, so I'm so excited to learn from her!!

President Woodbury and Sister Woodbury are leaving this week and President Bingham and his family is coming. So this week is going to be crazy but I'm ready to ride the wave and take the energy and let it push me to places I haven't even thought about yet!! The work is going forth!!

We had a district finding activity and then we went to lunch after, and someone in the restaurant was so sweet and they picked up out tab... I am so grateful for sweet strangers.   It made me so happy... We tried to figure out who it was so that we could say thank you but the waitress refused to tell us because the person that paid for us insisted on being anonymous!!! Ah ah I love people :) happy day!!!

So Nick is getting shipped out tomorrow.  That's so sad but he is still going strong  with the church, once he gets settled he will be baptized in Sand Diego!! I'm so excited for him :)

Ok well, I love you all keep smilin and have a great week love you!!  

 Sister Kendrick

P.S. Challenge this week: serve 5 people! Just imagine if each person you serve serves 5 people...pretty soon thousands will be served!

And if you have Facebook, share this post:

"Tag you're it! Here's the challenge: serve 5 people in the next 24 hours, and post how you served! Share this post and tag five friends, let's get this rolling! #startwithfriendship #pic [add your story here]"
We visited with a widower this week and helped him fold a fitted sheet!
#startwithfriendship