Teaching with The Bears

This week was very much out of the ordinary but I can't quite explain why.

Tuesday was my 5 month mark, crazy stuff.   We did nothing out of the ordinary, food pantry studies, the usual, and then we had a mini lesson with Karla. All and all a really slow day, we didn't even really celebrate :(

Wednesday we did some service and help set up a wedding, ok scratch that I took the role of the wedding planner. Let me explain!! So first off I need to thank Lex for letting me help set up her wedding, what 2 yrs ago (oh man that's crazy!!)  So they saw on Pinterest what they wanted to turn the gym into, but they were a little unsure as to how to do it. So Sister Jones (the mom of the bride) and I went to work.  With a little prior experience and a little ingenuity I crafted up a storm.  Within three and a half hours the two of us had put up a tent that didn't look all too shabby if I might say so myself! Haha.... But really, I was the only one who had done anything similar, and let me tell you it was a lot of fun!! I'm not being sarcastic :) ;) Well I tell you what if I stay at this rate I'll be the next best wedding planner :) At least this one turned out
a thousand times better then the last one did :)  They were really grateful.   I told them that they could all fly out to help me with mine whenever that is.   hahaha I also told them after all of that chaos I was never having my own wedding! Haha... I had recruited the Hermanas to come and help us.  We've gotten really close this week.

That night we had a lesson with Danielle and it when so good.  Ten min before we were to be there she texted us and was like “hey, hope
you guys don't mind I brought a friend with me, I want her to learn a little bit more about the Mormon church too because I think you guys are awesome” !! Whoot whoot !! Who does that? I was so happy #bestinvestigatorever!  Anyway, we had a really intense lesson about the plan of salvation.  They had question after question, and she had annotated, the Book of Mormon like no tomorrow.  She’s so cool. I still am back and forth though.  I can’t decide if she just wants the information for educational purposes of if it’s to know which church to join.  I really don't care all that much because she is an awesome person to teach and she is feeling the spirit so I have faith that it will move her:) so now we have two new investigators Danielle and her friend Emily :)

Thursday we had zone training.  It was really good as usual I love President Bingham, honestly I could listen to him teach all day long!! I would have loved to be in one of his institute classes.  The majority of the zone training was on working together as a mission, as zones, and as districts and most importantly as companionships to get the job done.  We also broke down characteristics of some of our favorite Book of Mormon characters.  Their attributes and how we too can become great.  I
always learn a lot at zone trainings and I love seeing and learning because that's in turn when I get to see my weaknesses and my faults which
then allows me to know where to go so I can improve.  Later on that night we had dinner and a lesson with the Cunninghams. It was a really good lesson.  We talked about the daily things that we should be doing, praying, reading ect...   I challenged them to read and mark the Book of Mormon cover to cover the same way I did when I first received a testimony of it. That being when as a family my mom had us all go through and mark each reference it had to the Savior. That was a neat experience for me!! I challenged them to do that by New Year's Eve. So hopefully they'll do that and they'll gain a stronger testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

Friday in between the appointments we had we tried to weekly plan but we didn’t get too far.   Most of our day was spent teaching and service.  We helped Robin box up her whole front room because they are coming in to fix some water damage.  That was fun!!  We had to fit a whole lot of stuff into a teeny tiny area. Good times, good times.  She is doing really well though just plugging along in this endure to the end stage.  Later that day we had a lesson with Karla! She is doing so good, she's loving life :)  We talked about the Plan of Salvation.  She had a lot of great questions and she's moving right along!!

Ok the best of the best days are still to come….. Saturday was truly one for the books. So a little background, the Chicago Bears are doing an outreach program to the community this year. With that, they did a practice at the high school right across the street from the church.   It was free and it was going to be packed... so for selfish reasons of my own, I really wanted to go. But being a missionary I couldn't.   I wasn't going to miss something like this haha...   So I was thinking all week how could we capitalize on this.  Well, my answer came through Sister Jones, and we decided to do a lemonade stand with the Hermanas hahaha..... Just picture this for a second.   Ya, I don't know what was going through my head but we went along with it. Saturday morning I was pumped.   We got it all set up, and the people started coming in like floods.   It was crazy!!  So our lemonade stand failed, mainly because I couldn't sit there any longer me and Hermana Ammit went to town.  I had never really street contacted before but let me tell you I caught on fast. Needless to say we us two gave out over 200 + pass along cards we had over 80 really good conversations with people, and on top of that we got 20 phone numbers  aka 20 pni (potential new investigators) Go Team!!! There were so many people!   It was so much fun!   I hope that one day I get to go to the city and do that every day because it was the best time I've had on my mission, in the eyes of contacting!!  And then we came back when the event was ending we did it again.  I didn't get to go to the practice but I got to do something even better.   I got to share the gospel with so many people!!

Well, that was my week in a nutshell ;) we had a lesson early today with Danielle and she made a really cool comment that I thought was pretty funny.  So she has studied many many religions, both for her own knowledge and for her major so keep that in mind.   She said “if you’re looking for Christian church the Mormon church is where it's at! It's got the best morals the best set up and I would have to say it's the best Christian church there is”.  Well what Danielle doesn't know is that not only is it the best Christian church, it's the true church!!  Ah man, I love being on a mission!  It's been the best!! I'm so grateful for all of you back home that have helped me become the person that I am today, and for all of you that have helped teach me along the way! Heaven knows I wouldn't be out here working really hard having some of the best experiences of my life without you!  It all came into perspective on Saturday when I walked up and down the same sidewalk 100+ times sharing restored truths making people smile sharing what little light I have with them! This is what it's all about. I wish you all could #1. Be out here with me experiencing these same things and #2 jump into my heart and feel how deep my love is
for you all. The Church is true!!! I love you all!!  Have a magnificent week!!
Keep smilin
Sister Kendrick

The becoming

Hey y'all,

So this week has been something else.  Well, here are a few highlights...

Monday we ran ragged trying to see everyone.  It was Sister Grant’s last day and we had to see everyone one last time:) I was very impressed she didn't have a hard time fitting everything in and she kept everything under weight and she didn't even have to leave more than 3 outfits behind ... Go Team!! oh and one last thing, we weren't up late packing!! She is awesome!!!

I love Sister Grant so much!! I was so sad to see her go!! She taught me so much.  She really prepared me for the rest of my mission!! She was a great example to me of the kind of missionary (and person, for that matter) that I want to be. She went out strong! She left it all out there for the Lord!! One of the coolest parts about being on a mission is that you gain life long friends. She and Sister Jones have been too good for me ;)

Okay, so Tuesday we woke up way to early and headed out to transfers.  I got a Greeny!! Whoot Whoot!!! Her name is Sister Christiansen.  She is from a small town called St. David in Arizona.  She loves to play video games and watch TV.  Safe to say she is sacrificing her wants and desires for Heavenly Fathers which I think is pretty cool!! She is the youngest of 5.  She's pretty cool :) Most of Tuesday was orientation for the new missionaries and their trainers. It was so much fun.  It was like a flash back, crazy that was almost 5 months ago. When we got home I showed her the area and we went to work !!

Wednesday

We went and visited Gail.  She got a job so she can’t meet on Fridays any more.  She's such a hoot!! We taught her about the 2000 stripling warriors.  She had me laughing so hard.  I was describing what these young men were like and why they are so important and she was like, “Kendrick those boys sound mighty fine, I think you should marry one of them” I told her, “oh Gail, don't you worry. Don't you fret!! I’ll get me one of those boys one day!!  We also did some service for her.   We conquered her room!! AHHHH!! Let’s just say that I took 3 big garbage bags of crap to the dumpster, and then I wanted to burn my clothes!!   After I left that place, the floors were shined like the  top of the Chrystler building !!  

Thursday

We had a lesson with Karla and HER SISTER. She is really interested in the gospel and wants to learn all she can!! IT is so cool what an example Karla is to those around her!! We had the lesson outside and right in the middle of it, it started to down pour!! We didn't care!! Nothing could stop us from testifying about the gospel and the restoration !!

Friday

So we went and saw Robin, and guess what!!! She going to go to the temple !!! whoot whoot!!! I’m so happy for her.  The first week I was here she was inactive.   Then at week 3, she started coming back to church regularly.  Now flash forward 5 months and she is going to the temple!!! I am so so so proud of her !! She is an awesome daughter of God.   ah man, there are no words to describe the love that I have for her!!!

Saturday,

The Sister Training Leaders were in the park earlier this week and a girl named Danielle came up to them and asked them if they were missionaries and if they could teach her a little bit about their religion. Crazy, right??   So it gets better!!  She lives in our area so we get to teach her!!  It was music to my ears.  I felt bad for the STL's though because she is solid.  We had a pass off lesson with the STLs and it was so much fun and the spirit was so strong.  Danielle is microbiology major with a minor in religion.  A little while back she decided that she wanted to do what was right in the eyes of God but she didn't know what church to join so she decided to do her homework and figure it out.   She has studied a lot of religions just looking for the truth.  Well guess what she just happened to stumble upon the truth.  She is so cool!! At the end of our lesson she asked, “What do you guys want me to read for next time”? We gave her the scripture 2 Nephi 2 and she asked, “Is that all”?? Needless to say, she is solid and I’m excited to see where this will go.  She doesn't have a whole lot of time.  She is just back home until school starts and then she will return to Denver, so once again time is against me but never worry,  I got this! Nothing is imposable with the Lord on my side!!

Sunday,

Mr. Sheffield came to church again and we had a great lesson with him later that night, on the plan of salvation.  He believes everything we are teaching him. He is just a little slow to act but, hey we got time :)

Anyway, this has been a terrific week.   Being a trainer is a lot harder than I ever thought it would be but I know Heavenly Father qualifies those he calls, and if nothing else, I have gained a better relationship with my Father in Heaven.   With all the prayers that I’ve been saying lately, you would think that we were joined at the hip!  I’ve truly seen where I need to improve and what I need to become and the missionary and the person that my father wants me to be.   The refiners’ fire is real! I’ve been studying the qualities and the leadership of King Benjamin in my studies these last few days.  If I can be a sliver of the leader that that he was and have as much love and serve those around me then maybe one day I could get a hang of this leadership role:) Anyway, life has  been good.   I’m enjoying the ride :)

I love you all and hope that you have a marvelous day and a terrific week.   You are all in my prayers!!   

I love you

Keep the faith

Keep smilin

Love,

-Sister Baylee Kendrick-

What a week!!

Hey! Hey!!

Okay, so it’s not a legend!!   It’s the cold hard truth!!   The week before a baptism is the craziest of craziest weeks.   If something could go wrong it does, and anything and everything gets thrown in your direction! But all and all it always ends up working out one way or another :) I won’t go into the nitty gritty, but this week was one for the books!

For the majority of the week, we were spending time with Karla.  She had a interview with President Bingham on Tuesday. While she had her interview, we talked with Sister Bingham and the member that had brought Karla. We were having a grand time getting to know one another and swapping stories, when it started to dawn on me that Karla and President had been gone a long time. An hour went by, then an hour and a half, two hours. Sister Kendrick and I were getting a little worried. Finally, a little over two hours, and they came out. We got the good to go! Karla and President Bingham really connected and he was able to help her through a lot. She was more ready and excited than ever for her baptism!  

The next day we were able to take Karla to go buy a dress (funded by the one and only greatest mom on the earth).   When I told her my mom wanted to buy her a dress for her special day, she started to cry.  She was so so so happy!!  What I didn't know at that moment was that Karla didn't own a dress or a skirt.   When she first tried it on, she said, "oh my goodness I look like ... I look so ... I look like so pretty!! I look like a woman”.  It was a lot of fun to see here smile!!

So since I’m on her I might as well tell you about the baptism.  It was amazing! it was so so so good!! Her mom and 2 sisters came so that was really cool! The Hermanas translated the entire program and taught Karla’s mom the first discussion. That was cool! When it was time for the baptism, everyone was herded into the room and then we were just waiting for her to come down into the font.  It seemed to me forever but I asked the elders and they said it was maybe a min.  I ran into the bathroom to see what was happening, if she had gotten lost on her way to the font ( well that is what I had hoped because in my head there was one of two reasons why she wasn’t in the font  1)she got lost or 2) she didn't want to be baptized).  Needless to say, I was panicking just a little bit.  When I walked into the bathroom, she was crying.  I grabbed and gave her a hug ( ok now I was sure she wasn't going to go through with it).  I asked her what was wrong and she said,

K: I just feel like crying

SK: like a good crying or a bad crying?

K: well I think that I’m just feeling the spirit so strong right now that I just want to cry

SK: well Karla your right. That is the spirit and it’s telling you that what you are about to do is what Heavenly Father wants you to do, so get you little butt in that font and get baptized.  What are you waiting for??  (ok so maybe I should have gone about that a little differently but hey it is what it is haha)

It was so cool!! She was baptized in Spanish so that her mom could understand what was going on.  It was amazing, and then she got up and shared her testimony with us.  It was awesome.  The spirit was so strong!

The Thursday before her baptism, we had a lesson with Karla.  We went over how the baptism would go with the member couple whose husband was going to baptize her. We also went over what a testimony was and how to help it grow. It really is the primary answers: Pray, read your scriptures, go to church, live the commandments, that make all the difference in the world.

After the lesson, we dashed over to the stake center in Buffalo Grove for the mini-missionary fire side. There we were assigned a mini missionary, which is a youth from the stake 16 or over who serves a mini-mission for a few days during the summer. We got Sister Meza, who was a ton of fun and so excited for the work. We had a blast with her this weekend, and got to teach the Three major missionary lessons to investigators and members! Hopefully she still wants to go on a mission after living it with us in such a crazy week... we had lots of fun!!

Well I as much as I hate that Sister Grant is going home tomorrow, I will get a new companion so that should be a lot of fun!!! I will be training her so lots and lots of prayers that I don't mess it up:) I don't know what her name is yet but, I’m excited either way!!!

We told Gail that I was training and she was like KENDRICK???? Oh that poor poor girl!!)

Needless to say, she is doing really good too haha, oh and Mr. Sheffield came to church!! Life is good!

Well the adventure continues; tune in next week to see what will happen next!!

Love you all

Keep smilin

Love,

Sister Kendrick

Let your light shine

Hey y'all,
How is everyone?? I hope all is good!

Well I'm just plugging along out here life has been good:)

Tuesday we had exchanges, I stayed in my area once again ;)
nothing really to report on ;) oh I guess I could. Say that the Cunninghams came to the food pantry and helped set up so that was cool and oh ya and I lost the car keys in the church.  I seriously walked into the church, walked to the primary room and sat down so Sister Diether could do interviews with some other sisters.  Somewhere along the way I lost them!!  So we literally tore the church to pieces to look for them. Eventually we found them, and we were late to our next lesson but what the hay life happens haha...

Wednesday was packed.  Sister Bingham and the Zone Leaders came to a district meeting just out of the blue and we had to teach.  That was fun and the pressure was on, then we had a lesson with Karla, and planned to have a lesson with a pni, who
actually had to reschedule, then a lesson with Bobby and Robin:)
All the eggs in a basket, right?? We had great lessons with
everyone they are all doing great!!

Ok quick story though, so we asked Gail to come with us to the pni but she was getting her hair done so she couldn't but that night she called us in a panic wondering if we were alright.  Well, we had arranged to have our lesson with the pni at the library, and the neighborhoods on the other side of the road had some shootings bad enough that they had to block the roads off.  I wasn't very thrilled that we had to move the appointment, but Heavenly Father works in strange ways. Who knows, we could have just been in a really bad situation but he was watching out for us!!

Friday, we had a lesson with Gail, I don't know If I told you guys or not but we gave her a children's book to read out of and she
absolutely loves it.  She calls it her BOM comic book.  We had a great lesson with her about the anti Nephi Lehis.  It was great (she says that they people in the BOM had to be black because they name their kids crazy names just like black people today haha) oh and she let me take more pics whoot whoot

 We also had a great lesson with Karla it ended up being like a two
hour heart to heart, about her baptism this Saturday.  It was really really good!!!

Saturday we took bishop to meet Karla, and to finalize some things and later that night we taught the Cunninghams with music ;)  we taught them using How firm a Foundation and Helaman 5:12. We talked about making Christ our foundation ect.... and then we
ended with The Wiseman and the Foolish Man.  They loved the actions.   It was a good time ;)

Sunday we took Charlie with us to Mr. Sheffield’s and we had a great lesson about the Atonement and repentance.   Mr. Sheffield is coming around.

In my studies this week I came a crossed this quote and I thought I would Share ...
“Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps you are the light sent by Heavenly Father to lead another safely home or to be a beacon from a distance to show the way back to the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life? Your light is a beacon and should never stop burning or mislead those who are looking for a way home” (“That Ye May Be the Children of Light)

Maybe it will get you guys thinking idk, but I hope that you'll use
your light to bless the life of those around you, let your light so
shine!! (Matthew 5: 14-16)

 
Well I love you I hope you have a fantastic week!!

Keep smiling
Love Sister Kendrick