Expect the Unexpected

This week flew by I can't believe it’s Monday already! We had a great week!! 

Monday was awesome!! We had Family Home Evening with one of my favorite families out here!! They had us over for dinner and then we had a great lesson on the Atonement. I love when we go over there because I feel like I'm at home!!  What a great family I love the the Dumas family!!

Tuesday we had a great Zone Meeting. That night we had dinner with a sweet family. They have a 17 year old daughter we have been working with.  At dinner we gave her a hard time for skipping out on church activities and Sister Tanner was able to get her to commit to coming to early morning seminary again, and she actually came the next day!!  I'm so grateful that I never had a rough go throughout High School!! I'm so grateful for great friends and family that kept me pointing in the right direction. That night I went on the last exchange to good old Hebron.  It’s just a bit different from Chi-Hights and Gary haha but it was great all the same. 

Wednesday…So Hebron is nothing but corn fields!! It was so pretty to drive around in. We did a lot of stop bys and we taught some solid lessons. It was a great day! I’ve really enjoyed being an STL this transfer. We have some amazing sisters in the Valpo Zone and it’s been really fun getting to know all of them and getting to work with them. It truly has been a great blessing. I don't know if I mentioned this in any of my last emails, I can’t remember, but we have started a Book of Mormon class on Wednesday nights and it’s been super fun! It was my turn to teach and I loved it!! One thing I’ve learned on the Mission is how much I really love studying and teaching!! I learned a lot and I hope everyone else did too.

 Friday we spent most of the day doing service which is always super fun.  We had a lot of members reach out to us asking if we could lend a hand to some of their friends, which of course we love helping out. We got to throw in a few lessons with non members and let others see what the "mormons" are really all about.  The ward had a family dance which sounded like a lot of fun, we of course didn't go but it was a great thing we were able to invite people to. Instead, we went to go and teach a potential new investigator that is living with a less active family. This week has been good!  We've been trying to build our teaching pool for quite some time. This week we got a glimpse of our work. We've had a lot of members and just individuals in general, interested in learning.  We have a lot of potential new investigators to work with.  Just when I'm about to be transferred!! Well at least the next sisters will have a chance to teach.

 Saturday we had a lesson with Beth on recognizing the spirit.  It was a great discussion we read scripture after scripture in an effort to help recognize the ways the spirit speaks, or gives promptings.  Explaining how to recognize promptings has been one of the hardest things for me to teach on the mission. You can only share ways that the spirit can work and how it can give prompting. You can’t really teach how the spirit will work with each individual on a personal level. And most of the time that’s not much help.  But I hope help we were able to help Beth. 

Sunday was Elder Ward's birthday and we wanted him to have a great day, so as we were putting balloons on their truck 40 mins before church started. A young guy drives up, gets out of his pick up, and asks is this is where the Mormons meet?  Confused and excited we told him yes it is but you're a little early.  Well he told us his name was Robby and he would like to attend today. Long story short he's been going around to every church in a 40 mile radius and the Mormons were next up on the list. He's just looking for the true church. OK SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS.... I dropped the balloons and took him in to the chapel; you always have to expect the unexpected! Hopefully we will be able to start teaching him.  Does his story sound familiar to anyone a young kid looking for the truth?  Ya, we are going to jump on that. 

All and all this week was great 

I hope all is well back home!!  I love you all 

Keep smilin 

Love sister Kendrick 

The week I turned 20

Happy Valentine's Day!!  Thank you all for all your kind notes!!  I love them so much!!  On Tuesday we were able to do so much service and help people feel loved!  We made hearts and notes to put on 15 people's doors in our ward.  It was so fun to do and to know we were putting a smile on their faces and helping them to have a good day. We also were able to go to the nursing home with the YSA and give out homemade cards we made for the residents and the workers.  It was super fun to talk to all the elderly and show them how much they are loved and appreciated even thought their family or loved ones may not be there with them.


On Wednesday we went on exchanges with Griffith which was so super fun!  They have like 15 investigators which is a lot and so we were busy from the time we woke up until the time we had to go and exchange back.  Seriously it was amazing to be in nonstop lessons.  I haven't been in nonstop lessons for literally forever.  Teaching is so fun on the mission and I have missed it so much!  It was such a blessing to be able to teaching talk with people and help them come closer to Christ.

Thursday started out a normal day with service at the museum and then planning.  I was thinking we would just be planning and then we would go finding.  Well I was wrong.  Around 5pm we were finishing up planning and our apartment door just opens up and its 3 members that are coming to kidnap me for a birthday dinner!  I was really surprised!  They took us to Albanese Candy Factory and Store and had fun getting candy and then we went to Red Lobster which was super sweet of them and then we were going back to teach a lesson.

  I was literally clueless and had no idea that weren't going over there for just a lesson.  We were going for a little surprise birthday party. They made me a cake with Africa on it which I love and the whole apartment was decorated.  Sister Tanner is so sweet and got me a cute dress and then I was able to dissect a sheep heart which was a gift from a member that knows me too well. Lol. I also got to take everyone's blood pressure which I was so happy about.  Then of course the surprises weren't over!  When we pulled up to our apartment the Hebron Sister missionaries had broke into our apartment a decorated it for my birthday.  Then on top of all of that I got so many wonderful cards and letters and emails!  I felt so loved on my birthday and the day before as well.  Thank you to everyone who sent me gifts, cards and emails.  It meant so much to me!

Friday was my actual birthday haha.  In the morning we did service at the museum and I also helped give tours to people who were visiting all by myself.  It was basically like serving in Nauvoo.  Super fun! Then we went to Senior Prom at the nursing home because we have some sweet members that live there.  We got to dance with them and help them have fun with all the music.  It is so funny to watch all the elderly get their dance on!  After that we had MCM and they were so sweet and surprised me with ice cream! 

 Wow I am one blessed missionary!  I had so much fun these past few days.  Thank you again for all ALL of you do to make me feel loved.  

Saturday was a lot calmer of a day.  We spent a lot of time reaching out to less active members and trying to clean up the records we keep on the less active members and investigators.  We also visited the sweetest old man, Brother Ackley.  He is so precious.  We played a gospel testimony game and it was so amazing to hear his testimony that he has been growing for the past 70 years that he has been a member. He is a convert and his wife just passed away so we try to visit him every week so he doesn't feel lonely.  Then on Sunday he bore his testimony which was pressure.

I love you all!!

Keep smilin!
Sister Kendrick

God is Good

Well, this week has been great as always. Were just working it down here and lovin every second!! We've been up to the same old same old for the most part so I just want to share the highlights of this week:)

Exchanges with Sister Mattinson:
I love this girl so much she is one of the hardest working missionary I know!! It was such a great day with her!! This exchange was filled with tender mercies for me. Coming in strong at the start of the night we went to a Bible referral.  The church has these ads that pop up on the computer and on phones that offer a free Bible and then the missionaries get notified and we go and drop it off.  It's really neat and we are able to teach a lot of people this way especially in Chicago, they get so many Bible referrals it’s hard to keep track of them all.  Anyway, we went to meet this man and his wife and low and behold he was from Africa!! Nigeria, actually.  So after giving individual the Bible we then transition into introducing the Book of Mormon.  When we gave him the Bible he said "no I know about this book! I would like to know more about The Book of Mormon!" Not something you hear all that often!! To make a long story short,  growing up the government would not let the church build a church in Nigeria for a very long time, and when they did they pushed them to as far away from the people as they could (mind you, this is all out of his mouth) they pushed them right into his home grounds.  He said when he was in high school there were missionaries that went out and about and he remembered a lot of white people haha:) His cousin was interested in the new building and the white people so he went and found out for himself.   He said that his cousin was baptized but he never had an interest.  A few years later his brother met the Missionaries and decided to join the church and he currently lives in Utah.   He said that his cousin is now "in Charge of the church or something " aka Bishop haha So we were able to teach him.  He is now at the age of 60 he is able to learn more about the church after all of his interactions with Church before.  Also I loved it because I love Africa!

Skyping Sue:
So Sue has been down in Kentucky these last few weeks so we have been skyping her while she was gone:) it’s been so much fun!  We taught her about the temple which she is preparing for and had some pretty funny conversations.  She is hilarious!  I love her!

Fun Hobby Lobby Experience:
So I normally like to give people compliments when I see them in stores and on the streets because I know that it brightens their day and mine.  Also I think it makes it less awkward to start a conversation as well.  So we were in Hobby Lobby to get some things that we needed and I saw this older lady and just said, "You look pretty today!" I had no idea how much this would mean to her, but later on in the store we bumped into her and she asked us if we Christians.  We said yes and that we were actually missionaries.  She then went on to tell us how she felt like she looked like a rag doll today and then we talked to her she knew it was an answer from God to be told she was pretty and she just wanted to tell us God is good.  I had no idea it would mean so much to her, I was just being kind and God knew what she needed and met her need through such a simple act of kindness.  God is good.

Thank you to everyone that sent me an email this week! I appreciate them so much!  I am working on writing letters and responding to emails!  I love y'all!
Keep smiling!
Sister Kendrick

Mission Life

Hi y'all!

This week has been great, but it had its ups and downs mainly because we got dropped by everyone we were trying to teach.  Mission life is the real deal and mission life is hard.

MLC was this week and we talked a lot about the training we received last week with the missionary worldwide devotional.  As I've been studying it these are some things that I enjoyed. :).   Because this week was a fail I thought I'd share the quotes and my thoughts!!! Love y'all Hope you enjoy this!

"I think too often that we as members of the church have a cookbook checklist mentality about living the gospel.  So faith is this little separate thing and repentance is a separate thing and then there is this ordinance of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. All things are gathered together in one in Christ.  So faith is in the Savior in him as the son of God, in his nature and his attributes, repentance is a dependence upon Him, faith in Him depending upon him is repentance.  Following Him is baptism.  Pressing forward with Him is enduring to the end with the companionship of the Holy Ghost its all gathered together in Him. As we are proclaiming dependence upon Christ that is repentance which leads to the mighty change of heart."

Elder Bednar

I thought this was really cool because we so often just go through the motions of just checking off our to do list of the gospel that we miss the truth and big picture of Christ permeating our entire life.  Application is key. It is all done through Him.

How does a missionary know if they are being successful?

"I hope I don't sound harsh, but part of how you know is when you quit worrying about it! The success Is not given to the missionary for him or her.  Success is a blessing and a gift from the Lord. Alma 26:22  Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing--unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

emphasis on given.  Many missionaries read this and say if I just read this and follow this checklist I'm going to baptize thousands...only if God gives it to you! Alma 26:27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. I will give unto you success. So I think the measure is will a missionary do the simple things each day he or she knows he or she should do regardless whether or not the Lord chooses to bless them with success."

Elder Bednar

So true! When you worry about it it doesn't make it happen.  Heavenly Father will make it happen at the right time in the right way and until then we gotta just keep working and doing all that we can to move his work forward. So that's what I'm gonna do.

"You just have to be as good as you can be and God will magnify you and make you more than you can ever become."

Basically that quote speaks for itself.

"A way to know if a missionary understands the doctrine of Christ will show up in the way a missionary acts and the way they behave.  If a missionary really understands the doctrine of Christ and what it stands for they'll act differently. they are going to be more obedient and they are going to develop a better lasting relationship with their companions and they're going to seek the spirit more fully and fervently."

So as I have strived to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ it has been working within me.  Like this quote says I changes you from the inside as you share it with others!

I Love y'all!

Keep smiling!

Sister Kendrick 

Hey Y'all!

So this week’s letter is gonna be short and sweet.  Things are coming along here in the boondocks.  This week has been the same as usual. We have been doing a lot of outreach to members in the ward.  It is really important to reach out to all of God's children.  There are so many people that have left the church whether they were offended or just fell away or even possibly felt pushed away, but Christ's church is supposed to be for everyone.  It is so important to remember that the Gospel is perfect, but the people in the Church are not.  It is so important that we reach out to those who are feeling lost or have fallen away from the Church.

Challenge this week: Reach out to someone who might need to feel Heavenly Father's love for them.

Second thing that has been really fun the last few weeks has been reaching out to the youth.  It has made me miss mutual so much!! I really loved the young women and the program, even though I did complain sometimes!! :) It truly has prepared me for my mission and the rest of my life.  I watch as the youth out here don't have a lot of support because there just aren't many members.  These youth are literally the only members in their schools.  It has reminded me again what it truly means to be a Light of Christ.  I see these youth being a light even when no one else has the same beliefs.  They have to choose everyday to be an example of Christ, but it really is cool because they have already had to make the hard choice, so they are ready for life and missions.  They have to be truly committed or they literally have no reason to stand alone.

So long story short we have been really encouraged to work with the youth and I have loved it.  It’s like having a mini MTC. Haha.

Love you all!

Keep smilin!

Sister Kendrick

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