Bringing in the Harvest

Hey:) 

I'm not sure if I mentioned it but Saturday was transfers :) I will be staying here in Portage and I will continue to train sister Tanner  and then I have also been asked to be a STL on top of training so this will be a really Fun Transfer :)  I'm excited to see what's around the corner! 

Well things are starting to look up here in Portage. It was a great week and we were able to have quite a few lessons, two of which are with new investigators. So that’s really exciting. It’s been a struggle here ever since the winter hit but its slowly getting better.  Side note: this week seemed as if it were summer! I didn't even have to wear a coat! It was 45-50 degrees for most of the week and it was amazing. Well let me share with you my week :)

Monday:

I'm not sure if I told you this last week or not.  Monday was such a great day!! We went down to a member’s home in Hebron. They are so sweet and had invited us down to teach Sister Tanner how to make bread :)  Although making bread was supper fun, it wasn't the best part of the day for me. They have little girls that are 11 and 9 and there wasn't school so they were running around all day. It’s been a really long time since that been a norm for me. It was like I was home again!  I loved it!! Next to having the girls home and running around Ashley brought me a present. She is a science/ Medical teacher and in her classes they have been dissecting. And Guess what she brought me A Cow Eye!! I was on Cloud 9. So Gracey, Ashy and I went to town. It was so much Fun!!! Sister Tanner wanted to throw-up but other than that it was great!! Later that night we had a lesson with Sister Vickers. All and all it was a great day.

Tuesday

 We got up and went to Seminary….Which by the way, we are so spoiled in Utah.   The youth out here are so committed!!   They are awesome!! Seminary starts at 6 and many live 40 mins from the church!! They such good kids! Anyway, we are working with a few youth that are struggling, and one of them decided that she would give seminary a shot this semester. So we are making the most of that….whoot whoot!! We are only going 2 times a week but it’s been really great. We are also striving to build relationships with the youth. The Stake President here really wants us as missionaries to invite and bring the youth out with us so that they will be ready for their missions.  After seminary and studies we went with the Valpo Elders in our district back over to give some service to a recent convert Nedra.  We helped her finish paint a rental house that was thrashed.  It was a good time. (I’m so grateful for all the skills that were been taught to me as I grew up… even to the littlest things, it’s amazing to me how many handy things I’ve been taught. For example I taught Elders how to putty, how to sand, how to patch, and how to paint. I am so grateful for the examples of all those that were around me growing up that took a second to teach me there skills) We then had a great Zone Training. We emphasized the importance of building up our wards and what great roles we must play in helping our wards become Zion. Tuesday was a really long day but it was great one:)

Thursday: 

We did a lot of teaching. We started off with Anna; she is one of our new investigators. It was really cool to teach her. She has many beliefs that go right along with the Gospel.   She would say something like I believe this….  and we would be like yes that is what we believe and this is how we know that it is true... It was really cool; we were able to back up everything that she has believed and everything that she has been searching for. From all of this it just helped to emphasize that Gospel just makes sense…. It’s just logical. We then had a lesson with Antoine.  This has a cool story…. so back in October we had received an online request for a Bible.  Sole and I dropped it off but he wasn't interested in learning more. So fast forward to last week, the church followed up with him to see if he got the Bible and if the missionaries came by, because they followed up, he was then able to tell them he was willing and now interested in learning more. We taught him the Restoration, and invited him to read and come to church… so we will see if this is his time.   For me, this was really cool though because many times I think the whole “we are planting seeds" phrase drives me crazy!!! I don't want to be planting seeds, I want to be teaching the Gospel, but in reality we ARE planting seeds…and it worked for Antoine. Later that night we had a fun lesson with Beth and Cort, about applying the scriptures to your lives!! It was more of a reflection lesson but a good one none the less. Cortney is one of the youth in our ward that we have been working with quite a bit we are helping her to prepare for her mission!! She is a great girl!! 

Friday: 

 I went on my last exchange with Sister Trowbridge!!  It was such a great exchange but so sad all at the same time. Sister Trowbridge was my first STL and we've been close ever since!! Time flies!!  Her mission has come to an end, its crazy! We had a lot of fun on Friday, lots of stop bys and finding!

Saturday: 

We really focused on cleaning out our area book.  We had a lot of potentials that we weren't able to get any action with or they were back and forth. The area book was a mess though, so needless to say we did a lot of stop bys and a lot of dropping ;) 

Sundays:

Well Sundays are really hard  when you are training or being trained. It’s hard to fit it all in with all your studies and all the meetings :S Let’s just say you do a lot of sitting…but church was really great! It’s always a blessing to be able to partake of the Sacrament and to be edified at church each and every week.  

 Well, that sums up my week  I’m sorry, I try to make my emails interesting and think of fun ways to tell you about the adventure I’m on and it always seems to be really dull so I’m sorry. Basically I've been doing the same things as always. I’ve been bringing in the harvest for the Lord.  Well here's to another Great Transfer( 6 weeks) 

Love yall 

Have an Amazing Week

Keep Smilin

Sister Kendrick

10 Month Mark

!!!! 10 MONTH MARK !!!!
 Whoot Whoot
Well the majority of my email is going to be that of Zone Conference.  It was something that  was really neat to me so I wanted to share it with you….so here we go


 We had Zone Training from 9-4. It was so much fun!! The spirit was so strong!! I Learned so much! I wish that I could teach you all that we were taught over email!!  I just wish that you all could be here and just experience all of this wonderful adventure!! One thing that I really loved was a segment done by President Bingham and the Assistants.  They shared some insights on 2 Nephi 15: 26-37.  Man such a cool Missionary Scripture!! In 2 Nephi 15 Isaiah is prophesying of the last days.  Try reading it with these insights:

26-27 Here Isaiah is speaking of today where men will be able to travel quickly from place to place.  He would not have understood our technology so he used words from his day saying things like we could travel quickly without even undoing our shoes like when we travel quickly in cars and planes from place to place

28. In this scripture Isaiah is speaking about how strong the testimonies will be in the last days when he talks about the arrows being sharp and the bows are bent representing we will have the skills and tools and we are ready to spread the gospel.  The Savior is the Lion of Judah and we roar like a lion when we represent the Savior as His missionaries as we share His Gospel. (Rev 5:5)

29. We will continue to roar like lions representing the Savior. We are able to bring others into the gospel and protect them like a lion would protect their own cubs like babies in the gospel we teach them and bring them into the protective gospel.

30. The roaring waters in this verse represent the fears that we have as members and missionary the fears the world brings us and also their mocking, but the roaring of the lions are greater and will overpower the weak roars of the world

 31. The world sits upon the waters and looks upon the things that we do as members and missionaries and they mock us for not drinking and partying etc.

In Hebrew the English word roar comes from two different Hebrews words. In verse 28 roars in Hebrew is Shaag which means voice of warning and invitation.  In verse 29, roar in Hebrew is Nahame which means growl, groan or complain


Well now that I’ve shared this with you, I hope haven't butchered it. But I have to say when you understand what the heck Isaiah is saying; it’s really inspiring and really great!!

The rest of the week was really great too!! We got so much done! We also did a lot of service that included painting a house so that was really fun!  We worked a lot with less active and man oh man am I pumped I’ll let you in on what's going on next week :)  we also got a new investigator so let’s just say it’s been a Great Week!!

I Love You All!!
Have a great week
Keep smilin
Love Sister Kendrick

Frost Bite??

What a week!!

Tuesday:)
We Had a great lesson with Sue.  She’s getting there!  I'm excited for her to go to the temple at the end of this month :) It’s fun seeing her progression:)

Wednesday:)
We had an Awesome District Meeting.  We are really stressing and focusing on working with the members and there was a lot of great point of views.  Prayers were answered.  The church is true. Now maybe we will be able to get something going down here.  Stay tuned

Thursday :)
We went down to the city for new missionary training, which is one of my favorite meetings in the mission next to MLC. We talked about all sorts of good things.  My favorite thing was applying Mathew 14
when Peter walks on water. We all have those moments when our faith wavers when we have to reach out to the Lord and cry out for help.  It’s in these moments we decide who we really are. Our true character shines through. Those who choose to rely on the Lord, who call out in times of need, are raised up out of the deepest waters. I really liked how they applied it to us as missionaries when we are having a hard time, or when we are not seeing the successes we wish.  Then they applied in to our investigators and those we teach and help! Love IT!! At the end of the meeting we had a true testimony meeting.   Small and simple testimonies but so pure we were asked to share simple what we know!!  The spirit was so strong I loved it. I have been so surrounded by the sprit on my mission and in my life that sometimes it’s hard to distinguish when Its actually really strong so I treasure moments when it hits my heart and I know that the spirit it is present, that day it was!!

Friday:)
We had an opportunity to do a district finding opportunity. We did service at the soup kitchen. It was supper fun!! And were able to help so many I truly love doing service I can’t get enough of it.

Saturday:)
not  much to report  we did a lot of tracking in the freezing cold !!

Sunday:)
We got to teach the 9 and 10 year olds about the Restoration and the Apostasy ! I love when we get to teach the Primary. It’s one of my favorites, but it makes me miss all the little ones back home :)


Were just working hard here!! Bound and determined for success
I Love you all!! Have a great week!!
Keep smilin
Sister Kendrick

Sick Week

Happy 2017

Well another year has come and gone!! It’s crazy how fast time goes by. I feel like the older I get the faster it seems to go!

This week was somethin else!
It started off on a good note with solid lessons with Sue and then some solid contacting :) We had a lesson with Jet and her family.  They are new investigators so that was fun and exciting and new :)  When you’re a new missionary you have a program you follow called “12 Week” Part of that programs breaks down the discussions and Preach My Gospel and it give more of a Study Guide. So, we have been practicing and teaching the Plan Of Salvation a lot, mostly to help Sister Tanner. It has been fun to dedicate so much time and depth into the Plan :) I love how it’s all set up so perfectly and so individually. Each of us as children of God has a plan and a special role to play :)  We also had a really good district meeting. Sister Tanner was asked to teach on Ether 3 :) if you have a second go reread it, it’s a good one!! We talked about how if we have the faith, we too can ask for something in our life to be touched.  Our efforts can be magnified!!  I really enjoy this Chapter :)

For the latter part of the week, well I've been sick.  That’s been fun :( It’s the worst thing to be sick on the mission because you have to stay IN and you wanna go crazy because you can't do anything!!  It’s the pits :)

I'm getting better!!   I think!!   I HOPE!!

 

So we had quite a mellow New Years Eve!! Lots of sleep!!! ;)

So that’s about it for my week!!  Kinda lame!!  Sorry!!

Being the New Year and all If you have some time look up this talk "Of Regrets and Resolution” in 2012.  Hopefully it will help you set up for a wonderful New Year!!  I love what he says, “if today was your last day, would you be happy with your life? Would you have any regrets?”  If so, change them. Make this Year… 2017 one to remember!!  Live it up!!  No Regrets!!  "We cannot take for granted one single day. I pray that we will not wait until we are ready to die before we truly learn to live."

I Love You All

Have A Good Week

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Keep Smilin
Love Sister Kendrick

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Hey y'all

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!! I’m going make this one short and sweet seeing how I got to talk you all yesterday!!

This week was really fun sharing the good tidings and the Joy that comes with the Birth of Christ what a better time than this to be serving a mission!  We were able to share this message with many people. What a blessing, with our hard work Heavenly Father blessed us with 5 new people to teach. None were from our own labors, which makes them even better Heavenly Father truly blesses those that are doing his work!

We got real creative on Christmas Eve and Christmas by passing out treats with the Light the world pass along cards, going door to door with the video of Christ Birth, and testifying to all who would let us in, to hanging candy canes and pass along cards on the crazy shoppers car doors.    (I still don't know if that was ok to do or not but hey what's done is done)  ;)  I watched as an older man walked out to his car and when he saw the candy cane he looked at it and then looked up and then looked at it again and read it and then with it in his hand, scanned the parking lot, I tried to act normal but he saw Sister Tanner in the act. He yelled as loud as he could, THANK YOU GIRLS!! MERRYCHRISTMAS GOD BLESS!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU’RE RIGHT HE IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!  It made it all worth it.  Hopefully we were able to share the Christmas spirit with many more than that sweet old man, but if not he was worth are every effort!! :)

Christmas is an amazing time of year for all that will let Christ into their hearts!! That’s the true magic behind Christmas and I TRULY felt that magic this year!!

Everyone here is doing pretty well.  Everyone is at their own speed coming to Christ and it’s truly just a blessing to be a part of their journey!!

Once again, thank you all that wished me a Merry Christmas and was so kind to me and my Companions!!  I truly am grateful!!  I’m excited to pay it forward one day!!

Love Ya!! 

HAPPY NEW YEARS !!

Keep smilin

Love Sister Kendrick

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

Well I feel like the first week of training is always so much!  I have forgotten how much you don't know when you first come out haha!!  But it’s been so much fun!! So my new companion’s name is Sister Tanner and she is the sweetest and funniest person!! She's an awesome teacher and she's got that greeny fire!! It’s going to be a real game changer down here in Portage!! She is from Salt Lake!! She is seriously the best!! She reminds me so much of my friend from high school, Ashlyn it’s crazy!!  

Tuesday

I had to say good bye to Sole. My heart broke in two!!  I love that girl so much. It was so hard to walk away!! It’s almost like when you get dropped off at the MTC. You’re so sad because you’re leaving your family and there is just a lot of emotions.  You’re so sad to go because of the love you have for your family, but you know it’s time. You’re scared and excited for what's coming next. The unknown is your best friend and your worst enemy. Words don't do it justice. It’s just the hardest moment ever. Anyway, that is how it is with every new companion and every new area….. this one was especially hard for me though :)  

But then I met Sister Tanner and I couldn't be happier. Because this is her first week, I had to teach her a lot and help her get use to the mission life.  It has been so good! Here's a little run down of what we spend a majority of our time doing: 

For part of her training, I am to help her learn how to teach!! So we have been teaching the restoration and role playing like crazy. It’s been so much fun for me!!  As you all know we don't have a lot of investigators right now, but we have plenty of less active members.  What better than to share the Restoration with them!! 

Another fun thing we did this week was going tracking.  So in my mission, we don't go tracking hardly at all because of the amount of people that are normally out and about, and a number of other things. But this week has been really cold so no one leaves their houses.  So, if no one is going to come out, guess what, we are going to go to them!! Sister Tanner froze!! Poor thing put her entire closet on and she still couldn't stay warm!! I was laughing so hard because she couldn't bend her arms because of the amount of clothing she had on!! 

We had a great lesson with Sue this week. She is going to the temple to be sealed next month! It’s been so fun to help her grow!! What a better way to start off the New Year!! 

Friday was my hump day.....We're halfway there.....oh we're living on a prayer

Sunday we got dumped on and I literally had to shovel a path to the car and then shovel our car out. Church got delayed 6 hours and we only had a 30 min meeting. It’s crazy but I was just so grateful to be able to partake of the sacrament. A member of the stake Presidency spoke yesterday on this article and I really liked it so I thought I would share it with you. 

Before I do though, I just wanted to thank everyone who has been so kind and has remembered me this Christmas holiday! The cards and letters and the packages!! It means so much to me!! It means so much to know that I have such a support group back home!! I love you all and I just want to say THANK YOU, your kindness and love has not gone unnoticed!! 

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!! And for all of you that took the challenge to read the Book of Mormon by Christmas, you have one week left….. Get on it Hahaha :)  

Ok here's that article!! I Hope that you can take it and see where you and your family stand.  Take in the whole meaning of Christmas and let it change you all year round!!

In our opinion: The 3 levels of Christmas

Christmas is a beautiful time of the year. We love the excitement, the giving spirit, the special awareness of and appreciation for family and friends, the feelings of love and brotherhood that bless our gatherings at Christmastime.

In all of the joyousness it is well to reflect that Christmas comes at three levels.

Let’s call the first the Santa Claus level. It’s the level of Christmas trees and holly, of whispered secrets and colorful packages, of candlelight and rich food and warm open houses. It’s carolers in the shopping malls, excited children, and weary but loving parents. It’s a lovely time of special warmth and caring and giving. It’s the level at which we eat too much and spend too much and do too much — and enjoy every minute of it. We love the Santa Claus level of Christmas.

But there’s a higher, more beautiful level. Let’s call it the "Silent Night" level. It’s the level of all our glorious Christmas carols, of that beloved, familiar story: “Now in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus ….” It’s the level of the crowded inn and the silent, holy moment in a dark stable when the Son of Man came to earth. It’s the shepherds on steep, bare hills near Bethlehem, angels with their glad tidings, the new star in the East, wise men traveling far in search of the Holy One. How beautiful and meaningful it is; how infinitely poorer we would be without this sacred second level of Christmas.

The trouble is, these two levels don’t last. They can’t.

Twelve days of Christmas, at the first level, is about all most of us can stand. It’s too intense, too extravagant. The tree dies out and needles fall. The candles burn down. The beautiful wrappings go out with the trash, the carolers are up on the ski slopes, the toys break, and the biggest day in the stores for the entire year is exchange day, Dec. 26. The feast is over and the dieting begins. But the lonely and the hungry are with us still, perhaps lonelier and hungrier than before.

Lovely and joyous as the first level of Christmas is, there will come a day, very soon, when Mother will put away the decorations and vacuum the living room and think, “Thank goodness that this over for another year.”

Even the second level, the level of the Baby Jesus, can’t last. How many times this season can you sing “Silent Night?” The angels and the star, and the shepherd, even the silent, sacred mystery of the holy night itself, can’t long satisfy humanity’s basic need. The man who keeps Christ in the manger will, in the end, be disappointed and empty.

No, for Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at the third level, that of the adult Christ. It is at this level — not as an infant — that our Savior brings his gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope. It was the adult Christ who reached out and touched the untouchable, who loved the unlovable, who so loved us all that even in his agony on the cross, he prayed for forgiveness for his enemies.

This is Christ, creator of worlds without number, who wept because so many of us lack affection and hate each other — and then who willingly gave his life for all of us, including those for whom he wept. This is the Christ, the adult Christ, who gave us the perfect example, and asked us to follow him.

Accepting that invitation is the way — the only way — that all mankind can celebrate Christmas all year and all lifelong.

"The Three Levels of Christmas" was published as a Church News "Viewpoint" in the Dec. 15, 1985, issue of the Deseret News. It was written by then-editor and general manager William B. Smart, who included it in his 1989 book, "Messages for a Happier Life."

The last paragraph of the Deseret News' editorial policy reads: "The Deseret News embraces the divinity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the light, life and hope of the world. it nurtures the light of faith in the darkness of an unbelieving world and acknowledges his teachings, grace and redeeming power as the way to everlasting happiness."

Love you 

Keep smilin 

Sister Kendrick 

Raise the Roof

Hey transfer updates..  Sister Sufia will be going to North Shore and I will be training again!! I'm so sad but it is what it is!  I love Sister Sufia and I'm so sad to see her go!! 

This week was kind a crazy we had to take some STLs responsibility and try to take care of our Hebron sisters. So on Tuesday thru Saturday, we were in a trio with them. 

So, let me tell you about Tuesday. We had to help one of our members, she was really struggling, so we spent some time taking care of her and making sure that she was able to cope with the death of a love one and making sure she wouldn’t do anything stupid. At the same time, we were trying to coordinate and fix and split the Hebron sisters so that they could be productive and work. One of the companions, Sister C is going home.  Sister C was one of my past companions. I'm sad to see her go but I hope she still continues with all that she has learned and that she strives to push herself to achieve more.  She is an awesome girl and I love her so much I just wish her the best. There was a lot on our plate that day. In an effort to get the Hebron sisters where they needed to be, that night we had to take them up to Chicago Heights (1hr 15mins) and come back down, and then Hebron is 40 minutes away from us, so you can get an idea of how long this took:) haha road trip !!! We ended up getting home really late. Good thing we didn't turn into pumpkins!!  Just when we thought we were done with the craziness, one of our recent converts text us and she said that she was having a really rough day. All and all Tuesday was a crazy day.  When it rains, it pours!! 

Wednesday Sister Sufia had a doctor’s appointment in the morning. We are trying to get everything worked out so she can feel better. They did a scope of her nose and her adenoids were the sizes of two LARGE GRAPES... ahahaha they gave her some medication and they hope that it will help to shrink it. 

We also had district meeting and it was really good. We went over how to teach the restoration so simply, so that it will be easier for investigators and members to understand.  

Later that night we had a lesson with Sue. She's preparing to go to the temple and we are helping her with the temple prep classes. This lesson in specific went deeper into the plan of salvation. Then we went to try to figure out the logistics of Skype so that we can start using it for our lessons. We figured out all sorts of cool things and we're excited to use it. Before you know we will be having four way Skype lessons with members and investigators. It's gonna be so cool!! The mission is really embracing the technology and the information given to us from the First Presidency. We are taking missionary work to a whole new level. 

Thursday we were able to go and help at the Salvation Army!! They do a thing call the Angel Tree. Families that are in need are able to be give Christmas presents for the little ones. We as missionaries became elves in Santa’s workshop! There were presents out the wazoo. It was so much fun to serve and to give. It’s always so rewarding when we are able to serve our Heavenly Fathers children. "17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." 

Saturday was the highlight of the week!! We were on point with the #LightTheWorld. We didn't intend on what happen to happen but we're so glad that it did. Our plan was to go and visit Sister Vickers and sing Christmas carols with her and help her to have that Christmas spirit. So, about 30mins into doing this I went outside to check on something and she heard some music playing.  Ok rewind for just a moment… When we walked into the nursing home we noticed that they were having a little get together.  When we got to Sister Vickers room we asked if she would like to attend the Christmas party… she was completely against it. After I heard the music I came running back to the room.  I insisted that she come out. With the sense of urgency and excitement we helped Sister Vickers to get down to the party. This is where the Light the World comes in. We took helping others to walk to a whole new level. We got Sister Vickers to start dancing. It was the best thing in the world. Then our toes started to pop to the beat and we just couldn’t contain any longer. We started a train with a bunch of old people around the room in a big line. I've never danced in a line so slow (everyone had their walkers and cane).  You know you’re on a mission when your Saturday night out on the town consists of a dance party with a bunch of 90 year olds. It’s the most excitement you get all week!  But for real though Sister Vickers was getting it on! She only lasted 15mins until she had to sit in her walker. But that didn't stop her.  She had her hands clapping and her hips swaying from side to side. We were asked to come back and do volunteer hours anytime. #lighttheworld #raisetheroof #foundaNewClub. 

Later that night we had a great lesson with Bev. She has so many good questions. We got really deep in the plan of salvation and we were able to help her understand some questions she has had for a long time, and how to help her brother to understand. Beth is doing amazing. She's seriously the sweetest person that you will ever meet. It's crazy to see that Light that has started to glow within her. I feel like she's a completely different girl from the first time I met her. She's still the same happy, sassy, girl, but you can see that she's figuring out the Light of Christ and what her purpose is. She’s definitely helping me grow. 

Sunday didn't end up being a normal Sunday at all! We woke up early to go to Ward Council.  Half way there we received a txt message that church had been canceled. We have received a snow storm and the news called for everyone to stay in. Everyone but the Missionaries that is. We grabbed our snow shovels and went to work. There are very few individuals that we knew that needed help in this winter wonderland!!! Wasn't typical Sunday but you can be sure that we felt the spirit and shared Christ’s love. 

Hey I wanted to share Sister Sufia's testimony. I'm am truly grateful for her. " I know the World is being Light because of all of our testimony and all of our Smiles. Keep shining and keep the Faith. "  

I love you all! Have a great week! Keep smilin 

Love Sister Kendrick 

Sister Parke is going home 

Thank you to the Ercanbracks for the package!!  So sweet of them!