I don't doubt they will make it

What a week!!

The days are all running together now, looking back on the week and trying to remember what happened is a struggle.  I'm sorry if I'm a little vague I need to get back in the habit of writing a little thing every night for my email ;) We did three major things this week in this order.

            Finding….. in the form of finding all the less actives in our area.                                                       I don't know if I've shared this already, so if I did just ignore it, but we have 5 active members in our area and about 200 less actives, enough for a whole ward... so we are up to our ears in invitations to the ward’s Halloween party this week. We have been working on this for two weeks now and have made contact with about 46% of them :( hahaha let's just say we have our work cut out for us, but we have had really good results.   We've found some solid people and we're hoping to be able to start teaching them.                                                              Teaching  

We have been teaching very little compared to what I have been used to and to what I wish we would be, but with that being said we've had some great lessons this week! They just say Sister Sufia can bring the spirit like no one else I know!! She has gone through so much which allows here to bear such an outstanding testimony.  Anyone within the sound of her voice can't help but to feel the spirit!!  It makes our lessons so good and for me it's so much fun!! We have been building up our teaching pool for the last few weeks (because if we don't we're going to be walking Popsicle this winter knocking on doors). I think this week we began to see the some headway with all of our work and our prayers and our deep desires. We have had three families drop in our laps this week!! We are very excited.  No promises yet, but we have set up return appointments with all of them for this coming week so hopefully we will have some new ones to teach!! 

            Preparing for the baptism 

So Michelle's baptism was this week and oh my goodness it was so good!! The best I've been to yet!! It was such a wonderful day. I don't know if I have shared this or not, but Michelle has been investigating for a little over a year!! Sister Grant was one of the first ones to teach her, crazy right!! Anyway, Michelle wanted to be so sure that this is what she really wanted, and because of that she is so solid!! She knows without a doubt that this is what she needs to do for both herself and her kids.  Her husband Robert was baptized when he was about 10 and shortly after his family moved and they kept moving because of different things that were going on within his family.  As a result his family has become inactive. In his own words, he said that they didn't stop going to church they just stopped going to our church.  They just went to the closest church and because of that he has experienced many churches. Ok now fast forward 30 years Robert and Michelle are married now and they have two kids.  Side note Michelle was raised devote Catholic. Ok so they both knew that they needed some guidance to raise their kids and some sort of structure, going to church and good values was something that they knew was going to be vital. Thinking back on all the churches that Robert had attended he thought that the Mormons had the best set up and he felt the best when he was there.  He said there was always a peaceful and joyful fellowship that he felt and he didn't feel anywhere else. He told this to Michelle and she was a little hesitant but agreed.   So, he looked up the closest LDS church and they went one Sunday and the kids just loved it.  Robert talked to the bishop about getting his wife more involved and the rest is history. A year later Michelle is baptized Robert is going to receive the Aaronic priesthood and the kids were basically the main driving force… they love it!! 

On Saturday it was very special day.  You could have cut through the spirit with a knife!! Words can’t describe… more than any of my other baptisms this one was super super special! I think it was because I could see the gospel working on a greater level then just an individual. I got to witness how this baptism affected a whole family!! It was so good. Such a sweet thing! It’s also been fun to watch me as they have supported each other though it all.  Granted I’ve only seen a small peek of it, but it’s so cool! I realized too, that Michelle had something different from those that I have taught before she has that love and support, my other recent converts are for the most part by themselves, yes they have a ward family, but they are all by themselves most of the time. They have to be constantly working and fighting to do the things they need to, to stay true to the covenants they have made. I’m not saying that it won’t be a struggle for Michelle sometimes but it’s going to be so much easier for her.  On Sunday night we went over to their house to fill out some paper work and her and her husband said, “So now all we have to wait for is this year to pass”.  Together they have made the goal and they are all ready working towards it! I don’t doubt for one second that they'll make it.  They have each other and they have a firm faith and a strong testimony of the Gospel!! It’s great to be a missionary and to be able to watch what the gospel can do for families and what joy comes from it. 

Well that’s about it for my week, I’ll end in with a funny story that happened to me yesterday.  They asked me to speak in sacrament meeting.   I’m up there giving my talk. About half way though, I see all of these brothers stand up and leave.   I was thinking, well that’s weird. Then someone in the back of the chapel starts waving their hands in the air, and I’m thinking to myself, what the heck is happening.   I’m looking around still trying to give my talk; I look at the bishop and he’s not doing anything. I couldn't figure it out.  Was I talking too long? I looked at my watch that wasn't it. I continued on and stranger things kept happening.  I Came up with three conclusions:  1. I am Teaching False Doctrine or  2. I had something on me or 3. My talk was so bad that they were just telling me to put them out of their misery and just sit down.  I Kept looking at Sister Sufia for some answers as to what was going on and she just looked at me with a big smile on her face ( She was No Help) I Said a quick Prayer in my heart.  Mind you I’m still speaking while all this is going on in my brain.  I felt like I should deliver the message that I had prepared.  Right as I was finishing up, a man from the audience walks up to the stand, goes and kneels by the bishop and starts whispering something to him, I was like, “great this is the worst talk ever and they are asking him to make me sit down (that was the only answer that I could think up of)  I finished with my testimony and sat down, The lady sitting next to me leaned over and told me that I gave an amazing talk. I was so confused.  At last all my wonders came to a close as Bishop got up and said we are going to forego the rest of the talks, and the songs and just end with a prayer.  There was a gas leak and we needed to leave the church as soon as possible. We were dismissed for the day.  All that worrying for nothing, I didn’t give a bad talk I gave a killer talk.  I brought the spirit so strongly that there was no need to go to the next two hours, they had been spiritually fed!!   jk  But that was one for the books:)

Hey, thanks for everything you all do for me and the many prayers in my behalf!  I can truly say that I have felt them. That’s the coolest thing about being out here is that I feel like I’m never alone, so many of you right alongside me! Many have told me that they feel like they are on this journey with me.  Many have said that these people out here have changed them and have inspired them to reach deeper with their own faith, try a little harder to build up their testimony. I’m So Grateful That you are able to be on this AMAZING ride with me. Once again thank you for the all the Prayers… it means so much! I love you! Thank you for believing in me enough to give me confidence that I can do this :) 

I hope you all have a great week 

Keep SMILIN   

Sister Kendrick

P.S. If any of you are not aware… The Cubs made it to the World Series and everyone is going crazy here!! The Curse has been broken! Everywhere we go the game is on!  It’s been really fun 

Real Intent

Hey Y'all

 So I’ll jump right to it  :) 

Monday

On the 2nd Monday of the month, all the empty nesters and all those who don’t have family, get together and have a dinner and a family home evening.  I think it’s pretty cool!  This week they invited us and some recent converts over.  It was a fun evening and we didn't even have to teach the lesson :) haha that doesn’t happen too often.

Tuesday

We have been doing a whole lot of less active work here. In our area we have 5 active families and a little more than 250 less actives!!!  We could have a whole ward in just the amount of less active families that we have. The majority of Tuesday was just going around and trying to find out if these people are even still at the address we have and inviting them to our ward Halloween party!! We had a lot of success in getting in with people and also some return appointments which is always good :) 

Wednesday

We had zone training and president interviews which took most of the day. I love zone training.  We talked about planning and setting goals, my favorite! There is nothing better than a check list and worthy goals and then not losing the fire that came with opening our calls, (which is really hard some days). President showed a picture of his grandkids and they were wearing Future Missionary name tags on and the biggest smiles on their faces!!  So Cute!! He asked us to remember that feeling and never let go it. He asked others to share the day they opened up their call and it brought back all those fun emotions again. It was a good time.

Friday

We went on exchanges. Sister Bott and I had a good old time. That night Sister Grant came back!! It was so good to see her! 

Saturday

We had a few appointments during the day and a few more stops at less actives and then we were able to go to dinner at Ashley's with Sister Grant and Sister G :) We had a solid lesson with them and then we had a mini testimony meeting!! I missed Sister Grant so much!  It was so good to see her again She was and is such a great missionary!! I never did call her by her first name!! She will always be sister to me

Sunday 

We did some hard core family history!! whoot whoot A recent convert has a ton of family that she wants to take to the temple but first we had to enter it all into Family Search!! Let’s just say I was very happy on Sunday.  Also, fun fact, did you know any member of the church gets a free membership to Ancestry.com?  Just go to Familysearch.org/partneraccess .  Learn something new all the time.   Also check out Wiki on Familysearch.org.   It’s really helpful.

Story Time!! 

It was 8:00 and needless I was done with the day.  We were trying to find one home in particular.  It wasn't working out so well because you see it gets dark at 5:30 and its pretty much pitch black at 8:00.  We parked the car and got out to walk to get a better look at the mail boxes. We couldn't find the dumb house.  As we were walking back, I had seen a house with the lights and T.V.on and toys in the window.  I thought Sister Kendrick, you should go knock on that door.  Of course, I was thinking "no it’s a school night and its 8:00 there probably going to bed" ... the excuses went on.  We didn't go and knock on the door. We got to the car, I opened my door  and Sister Sufia said " hey Sister Kendrick, did you see that house with the light on, I just got the feeling that we should go and knock on the door what do you say we should go?" Well, I got that same feeling I guess we better go!! 

So, pause the story for a minute. If you don't listen or heed to the whisperings of the Spirit or if you’re not willing to do the Lord’s work, he will let you pass by and wait until a dependable servant comes along. I had stopped feeling or stopped listing to the Spirit. After that first initial prompting, nothing else happened.  Only one prompting and done.  I wasn't willing, so he passed me by. I’m grateful Sister Sufia was willing to listen to the spirit

Back to the story, we did go and knock on the door and we set up an appointment to go and teach this cute family.  Whether it turns in to anything or not, I don’t know and when it comes down to it, it really doesn't matter.   What matters is the fact that we are willing to act on the promptings we are given. As we got into the car after talking to that sweet family Sister Sufia reminded me that earlier that day we had asked our Heavenly Father to guide us where to go and we promised him that if he put people in our paths that we would share the gospel with them.  I learned a valuable lesson that night.  We had prayed.  I thought I was praying with faith and with a sincere heart and truthfully I was, but I was missing the real intent.  I dad lacked in my responsibility to act. I lacked real intent!!  Moral of the story…. Learn from my mistake. Follow the spirit always!! Most of you don’t have an awesome companion that will pick up where you slack off and you might miss out on the blessings and the experiences that could have been yours!

I Love You All!! I hope you have a great week!! 

Keep smiling 

-Sister Baylee Kendrick-

Paycheck

Hey 

 Another great week here in the boonies :) 

 Tuesday 

We spent a good portion of the day helping a lady pack up her belongings for a move. Rewind just a little bit… a member called us and asked if we had time to help her friend.  We were like ya we would love too.. she told us that she didn't particularly know anything about the church so it would be a great opportunity for us to share with her as we packed.  Sweet!!  Right?  That's what we were thinking:) ya let’s just say it was an interesting day.... she was super stressed about the move and her divorcee.  It made it really hard to share a message with her but all is well because we got to do some great service for her;)  

We also had a fun lesson with a less active later in the day.

Wednesday 

We had a dinner that night at the one of the elders investigator’s home with a recent convert.  She invited one of their friends/ coworkers to dinner.  Afterward, when we were sharing our lesson with them, she opened up and wanted to know everything!!   It was super cool!!  She is a very devoted orthodox catholic. It was really awesome for a number of reasons……1.  was the fact that the inv. and the recent convert were testifying over and over again about the church and the Book of Mormon   and second from the outside looking in it might have seemed like a bible bash but it wasn't the spirit was so strong.  We taught her about the restoration and a little bit of the plan of salvation.  After it was all said and done she didn't take the Book of Mormon and really wasn't interested but she was very grateful to us for sharing our faith.  She said she really enjoyed it and wanted to meet up again to talk a little more. I’ve learned just as much about other religions out here as I have about my own, its really neat!

Thursday

We started off the day with a little service.  We got to dress up like pioneers and give a guided tour of a old farm house and also of the portage museum.   It was super fun!  The people were so surprised at how much I knew about the 1850 to 1900s and it was fun to share with them how I gained the knowledge…. Genealogy, church history, and of course things like Brigham Young's home and Nauvoo.   It was so much fun, and at the end, the people that actually work there were like hey Sister Kendrick, you really know your stuff.   I learned a lot from you today.  Your church really has their heads on straight,  haha!!! Mathew 5:16 whoot whoot!!  I’m so glad that we treasure our history and our Families!!

Later that day we had a lesson with Michelle and her kidos.   They’re adorable! We taught the little ones what it meant to be a child of God and we asked Victoria if she would sing I’m a Child of God at her mom’s baptism. At the end Sister Sufia asked her, “who are you again”?... just being funny.   She was like Sister you know who I am; I’m Victoria Oaks a child of God!!  On Sunday Michelle was showing me a something on her phone and she came to a video of Victoria singing I’m a Child of God!! It made me so happy Paycheck moment!! 

Friday 

So about 8:45 at night president called us.  We were in a lesson, so I excused myself and called him back. The Hebren sisters (Sister C) had been in a car accident and they totaled their car.  We were the closest to them so we had to go get them.  The sisters were ok, but they were pretty banged up!! The car was squished and totaled!! Anyways the paramedics and the mission wanted the sisters to go get checked out so at 10 we got to the hospital!! (this is really bad but I was so happy to be back there, nothing else was open so we had to go to the ER!! I was on cloud 9).   Sister C got the most banged up she had some awesome bruises!! After the X-ray and the discharge work we left at 1:00 am, so we decided to sleep over at their apartment :)  So minus the accident it was a great night!!

The rest of the week wasn’t too exciting:) we just did the same old same old haha:)

Well I’ll leave you with a fun quote that I’ve tried to live by, both here and in just life in general!!

 It’s from President Monson 

             "If you want to give a light to others, You have to glow yourself"

Have a great week everyone I love you and the Lord loves you :)

keep smiling 

-Sister Baylee Kendrick-

Think outside the box

Talofa, 

Well another week down :) 

So I don't really know what to write about for this week.   It’s just the same old same old nothing too exciting happened this week haha...   It’s had its ups and downs as most do, but it ended with a high note with conference. I hope you all had the opportunity to watch it.  What a blessing it is to have a modern day prophet and apostles that lead and guide this church.  It truly is a blessing!! 

Our investigator, Michelle Oaks, is doing really well. This week we had a really fun lesson with her and her kids Victoria (5) and Bubba aka Robert (3).  We talked about the importance of prayer and how to pray and then after we painted prayer rocks with them it was the so much fun. (We took a picture on Michelle’s phone but we forgot to get it from her next week ;) ) I love teaching little kids it is the best and Michelle is so strong!  She is the one that we put on date last week.  It is going to be a really cool baptism.  Her husband is a less active member and now they will be able to come to church together, and as a family they will receive the many blessings the gospel provides.  Sunday, they invited us over to  watch conference in their home.  It was so cool.  Michelle’s husband had to work for the first session but was able to come and watch some of the second.  After all was said and done, he was like, " how cool is this, I love that we are able to watch this and learn.  I have a lot I need to do, but I really just love it all of it". 

Cool thing happened this week~ 

 I was talking to Sister Sufia and trying to decide how we can find people to teach down here.  I told her, we’ve got to figure out something outside the box some way to find a lost family... And as I said that the phone rang and a less active sister that just moved into our ward called and asked if we could help her get back to church, and teach her boys about God.  They are (9) and (11). She said that she has been going through a lot lately and feels that it was God humbling her to come back to Him and to get her boys involved in a church. We went and saw her and we are going to start teaching her.  So long story short, we found a way to find, that was outside the box.   Just let them come to you haha.. I wish it was that easy all the time ;) in the words of Sister Sufia Very Minia, Good stuff good stuff :)    

 I really don't know what else to say so I guess I’ll call it quits:)  Life is good down here in the boonies.  We are working hard to bring in the harvest for the Lord. 

I want to echo the words of President Uchtdorf and say "God is real... He lives... He Loves you... He Knows you... He Understands you... He Knows the silent pleadings of your heart... He Has Not Abandoned you... He will not forsake you!!!"

If I’ve learned anything in my life and with those I have the opportunity to work with, if we look hard enough we will see His hand in our own lives.  It is my prayer that each of you will be able to see the blessings he bestows upon you!! He loves you and I love you!!  

  Keep smilin

~ Sister Kendrick~