I am a Mormon Missionary!

I just love this picture (notice the pen)

Dearest Family and Friends!

Sister Simpson and Sister Curtis
on their way to the airport
early Wednesday morning

     Hey! Guess where I am right now in MINNESOTA! Can you believe it? Because I sure can't! I am really on a mission teaching actual people it is so exciting! 

     On August 21 we had to leave the MTC at 3:35 in the morning. We got on a shuttle that took us to the Front Runner that took us to Trax that took us to the airport. I was so grateful that I didn't bring HUGE suitcases because I had to drag those all over Provo and Salt Lake. My arms were tired!  Then once we were at the airport we had to do all the airport stuff check in, security, blah, blah, blah.I was really missing my mom because she usually does that for me. My one bag was over 50 pounds so I had to take 6 pounds worth of stuff out but I was able to get all checked in.

Shuttle to Front Runner to Trax to Airplane to Minnesota

     Then we finally got to Minnesota! I couldn't believe all the Lakes! I was lucky enough to have the window seat and I was so excited as I was looking down on my new homeland. 

     We all got off the plane and then we were off to claim our bags. Right there waiting for us was President Clements and his wife. They are really nice and it was great to finally get to meet them.

Then we went to the mission home and we were taught a couple last minute things and told about all the important information like safety and using our debit cards. Then the moment I have been waiting for! Finding out where I was going and who my companion was.

Fun Facts: 

Minnesota has almost 300 missionaries, 
30,000 members, and 8 stakes.

Her Greenie package was waiting
for her at the Mission Home!

     We were all sitting in the chapel, all the "Greenies" on the right and the trainers on the left. Then President Clements and his wife would read the emails that our parents mailed to them and introduce us then say where we were going. They finally called my name and then told me that I was going to Shingle Creek and that my trainer/companion was Sister Ballif. I was so excited!  My trainer is awesome I was so excited to get to know her better and find out what my area was like. Sister Ballif told me that we had the best area and that we are basically serving in Africa. Wow Africa! *Dad! Was I not just talking to you about how much I would love to go serve in Africa! Little blessing number one!

     Now for all of you (Dad) who want to go Google Maps my area I am covering Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. Minnesota is really such a diverse area. I am mostly teaching Africans, they have all moved here from Liberia. They are all so nice and my companion tells me that I am very lucky because they will almost always listen to us. So I have been able to teach many lessons which is such a blessing.

     My companion says that she is very impressed at how fast I am picking everything up. She says that usually when you are training you have to do all the talking and then at the end the new missionary will commit them to baptism. But I talk a lot and I say most of the stuff with her. She says that I am a very hard worker and because of that it makes her always try to do her best. 

Looks like they get to drive a car!

     Now let me tell you about the mission work. So my very first lesson was Thursday morning. We went to this lady Sister Williams. She was just recently baptized so we went to go read the Book of Mormon with her. Right as we got there I realized that she was a cat lady.... Cats all over the place. I am allergic to cats! Aggh. So my whole first lesson I kept sneezing and breathing really heavy. It was not the best experience. haha

    My second lesson was MUCH better. Now before I got to Minnesota Sister Ballif got a call from this guy named Robert Conway saying that he needed to meet with us. So we were on out way to his apartment and we were looking for his house but we couldn't find it because he gave us the wrong number. While we were looking he called us and left us a voice mail. The voice mail said that he really needed to meet with us and that he hopes that we didn't forget and that if he can't meet with us today he will keep calling us until we can because he knows that we are the answer to his prayers. While he was saying all this he was very emotional. Okay what?!  This is unreal!! We were honestly only 4 minutes late. We finally ended up finding him and we then asked him how he was doing.

     He broke down. He told us that his fiancee of 16 years left him and took his 3 daughters with him. When he was walking through a park he found our Restoration pamphlet and he has been reading it ever since and that he knows that this is the answer to his prayers and that he wants to get baptized and that he wants to have the Book of Mormon that it was talking about in his pamphlet because he needs something else to read. He even said that he already stopped smoking weed and drinking.  WHOA! I couldn't believe it, we hadn't even taught him anything and the Lord has already prepared him. After hearing all that we then taught him the restoration and he loved it. Then when I asked him to commit to baptism he said “yes” again. He is going to get baptized September 21!  I am so blessed that I was able to experience this and that I am able to teach him about the gospel and how much it is going to change his life.

     The next time we met with him we were able to teach 2 of his girls, Atheana and Ariana. They are both 8 and 10. And they both want to get baptized with their dad also! Wow! They are absolutely adorable. I am so lucky to have met them. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation and it went great. Robert read the pamphlet before hand so he was basically teaching his girls with us. He even answered all the questions in the back of the pamphlet. I can't believe how much he wants this and how willing he is to change. 

     Yesterday we took him to church with us and honestly... it was a struggle. He HATED all the crying babies. I felt so bad because that isn't really something that we can fix. But he brought his girls with him and they loved every minute of it. He said that he will come back next time.   I think he is doing it so that he can keep being that great example to his daughters. 

     That is probably the only investigator that I can go into detail today. But we are teaching lots of people and I am loving every minute of it. The only rule that is killing me inside everyday is the fact that I can't hold kids.  All these little African kids are so cute and they always want you to hold them and I can't, I can't hug them or anything. :( It is really hard for me but basically that is my only struggle right now so that is a blessing. 

     I love my mission so much I can't imagine being anywhere else.  I know that I was sent here for a reason. That I personally am going to help change so many peoples lives.  I love that this is going to be my life for the next 18 months!  I love this gospel and I love that I am able to share it with everyone I meet. 

Love Sister Kendra Curtis      

P.S. Look at my FHE just like yours mom! 

Robert and his girls loved it!   SEND ME FHE STUFF!  

These are some other pictures that she emailed.  

Yet, none of her letter went with them so here they are:

(I kind of feel like a detective looking at the time the 

pictures are taken and trying to put all the pieces together)

(It looks like she got to go to the Provo temple on Saturday)

These two have taken a lot of self portraits together.
This is at a meeting Saturday Night.

      So this was taken Monday night and I think that they thought this was the last time that they would see each other. (this is most likely why Kendra is in her Pajamas)

Until we meet in 2015!

What do you know?  Look who was at breakfast Tuesday morning!

This really was their last goodbye.
Sister Elise Curtis (Kendra's cousin) left Tuesday
and is now serving in the Helsinki Finland Mission

This is one last picture of her Zone in Provo
(did she get one of the Elder's to blow a kiss?)

I have no words for this picture

(lunch on Saturday in Minnesota)

Sister Curtis and Sister Ballif

Looks like a bright sunny day in Minnesota

Letter from President Clements

I was so excited to get this 

email from the mission home.

She looks really happy!

 August 23, 2013

Dear Brother & Sister Curtis,

On Wednesday afternoon, my wife, Julie, and I, greeted Sister Kendra Curtis at the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport and welcomed her to this great mission.  She was happy and excited to begin her mission.  Thank you for all of your efforts to prepare her for the adventure that lies ahead.  We understand what a great sacrifice you are making to support your daughter. 

We drove from the airport to the mission home and took pictures of our new group of elders and sisters.  We then had lunch and provided a mission orientation.  I also interviewed each missionary.  The Assistants provided training in finding new investigators. 

At about 6:30 pm, Sister Clements and I introduced them to their trainers, who greeted them with big smiles and bear hugs.  After some more training, we sent them off to their assigned areas.  Sister Curtis has an outstanding trainer whom I carefully and prayerfully selected.  In two weeks, we will bring them back to Bloomington for a day of training in finding, teaching, and extending the baptismal invitation.

Your daughter joins a remarkable corps of accomplished and dedicated missionaries.  There is a great tradition of obedience and accomplishment in this mission.  She will serve with missionaries who desire to build the kingdom and who are willing to sacrifice their all for the cause.  We serve in a beautiful part of the Lord’s vineyard where mighty rivers and beautiful lakes are plentiful.  We are privileged to serve among faithful saints.  The work is blessed and prospered by their faith and commitment.

Please encourage your daughter to obey all mission rules.  She will become stronger, more mature, and more self-disciplined as she faithfully follows the rules.  Her first area of service is Shingle Creek, Minnesota; her companion is Sister Shelby Ballif.  Attached are some photos, which I hope you will enjoy.

Regards,

Jordan W. Clements

Mission President

President and Sister Clements and Sister Kendra Curtis

32 missionaries arrived in Minnesota (13 Sisters and 19 Elders)

Sister Curtis and Sister Shelby Ballif

I made it here!

Mom and Dad! 

     I made it here! Holy cow is it humid! It is like 10 times worse then Hawaii!  There really are so many lakes! But we are at the mission home right now and they said that we can email a short letter home. First of all I sat by 2 missionaries on the plane so there was no converting there, but I did talk both of their ears off!  Then when we landed we went to the church by the mission home. There were some ward members who made us some lunch...Hawaiian Hay Stacks! Now they are just getting us ready and telling us the things we need to make sure to be doing. Like always being safe and following all the rules! I don't get to meet my companion until later tonight but then I will know who will be training me!  They also gave us a challenge. In the next 24 hours, I have to invite someone to be baptized! A real person! I am really scared! But I'm going to try, I just hope I can say the right thing and not mess up. Well I love you guys so much and I was so happy that I got to talk to you this morning! I miss you all so much and I can't wait to write you again on P-day! (Monday) LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Ready to go to Minnesota

Hey Family and Friends!

     Once again I had an amazing week at the MTC. I just can't believe how much you can grow in such a short time. They are able to teach you so much. I really do feel ready to go to Minnesota and teach the people. I finally know that I can do this! Ever since I've been at the MTC my biggest concern has been being confident in what I am saying and knowing that I can do this. I finally know this and I can't wait to actually do what I have been practicing!

    
 Sunday was really fun. We went to sacrament and had sacrament in a relief society room. It was really strange but it just made me think of how it might be in Minnesota if we are in a small branch or something. It’s cool that no matter where you are as long as you have the priesthood it is the exact same even if we aren't in a chapel. Then after our branch sacrament meeting we had to walk over to a different building where they had Relief Society.  All the sisters on the West Campus were their so I was able to sit by Sister Elise Curtis!  I was so excited!  I was just sad that I still hadn't been able to talk to her. But she pulled out a piece of paper and was able to write me little notes and she was able to tell me lots of things that she hasn't yet. It was so nice to just sit by her and have that family comfort. I really am so lucky that she is here. How blessed are we!

   
  For Relief Society we had a broadcast from the main campus. We had a speaker it was the Primary General President, Rosemary Wixam. She was a great speaker she is just so happy and talked about Heavenly Father's love and how we are so blessed to be out here. I really liked when she said "Jesus has such a great love for everyone and we can help share that love with the world!"

Broadcast at Marriott Center Sister Simpson and Sister Curtis

     Then on Tuesday we had a devotional. We were so lucky because guess who came and spoke to us! Elder Richard G. Scott! How great is that?  We had an apostle come and talk to us. I was so excited because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to hear one since I am only here for 2 weeks but we did!  This was the first ever MTC broadcast.  We were in the Marriott Center and they broadcasted that meeting to 5 other MTCs throughout the world! (Side note: guess what dad!  Elder Scott went to Uruguay on his mission. I thought that was pretty neat.)  It was a great talk. He talked about prayer and a lot about missions. Then at the end of his talk he gave all of us an Apostolic Blessing!  It was so cool.h Then when the Devotional was over and Elder Scott was getting ready to leave everyone stood up then right when he was almost out the door he turned around and started waving to us. Then everyone waved back to him. Then he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled "Be Good!" and then started waving again. It was such a sweet moment. I was so grateful to be there and have the whole experience.

     Overall this week has really been my favorite. I really love all the classes. We study all day long and I just love the spirit that is constantly with me. As we have been teaching different people it’s been cool because I have been able to notice when the spirit isn't there so then my companion and I are able to teach the lesson according to the investigator, make it more personal to them and then bring the spirit back. My favorite part is that Sister Simpson and I have the best companionship, when we teach we are one and we work so well together.  I am kind of sad that I have her now instead of out in the field.  I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to have her when I am out in Minnesota. 

     

Working Out on P-Day!

Making their Point

     One last thing that I realized. I have to say goodbye to Elise again! She is leaving on Monday at 3 in the morning. So tomorrow is going to be the last time that I am going to see her. I just can't believe that we are actually leaving! This still doesn't seem real! 

I love you all so much I am running out of time so I have to get off. But I am so grateful to be on a mission. What an amazing blessing!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Sisar Elise Curtis and Sister Kendra Curtis

More MTC Pictures

After Kendra sent her email she 

sent a bunch of pictures.

She did not send any captions 

so I am adding my own.

Where are the bronze helmets?

Called to serve

The firm Missionary handshake 
with Elder Dawson Burrap

 Jake's friend Elder Luke VanSkyHawke

(may the force be with him)

and Elder James Jewkes

shoes from Grandma Stott

(I think she's gonna need more stamps)

Grandma Shoes

"Overall this really has been my favorite week at the MTC"
(this one is a quote)

Officially a Missionary!

Hey Family and Friends!

     Can you believe it? I am officially a missionary now! It honestly still hasn't hit me. It kind of feels like EFY when Elise and I went together a couple years ago. We go from class to class learning about the gospel and you feel the spirit so strong. We are even having some of the classes in the same Chapel by the BYU football stadium. The only difference is all the boys aren't trying to get our number!  I love the MTC so much it really is such an amazing experience.

     My first day went great. Right after I said goodbye to my family,  the host Sister I was with took me to the place where I was able to get my name tag, Sister Curtis! The new name that I will be known by for the next 18 months!

     I have an amazing district! In the last couple days we have been able to get really close to each other. There is 9 of us, Sister Simpson, Sister Smith, Sister Hulet, Elder Ford, Elder Marvin, Elder Thomas, Elder Hughes, and Elder Curtis! No we aren't related we already tried to figure it out, he is from St. George and we couldn't find any connection. Everyone in my District is going to Minnesota but Elder Curtis is going to Tusan Arizona. He is on some medication so he had to say at the MTC for another 2 weeks.

     My companion Sister Simpson is amazing! She is from Starvalley Wyoming. I can't even tell you how perfect we are for each other. She is so nice to everyone and is positive about everything. I honestly think that if we were home we would be friends and hang out together. I have such a love for her and I really do care about her. Its funny because you hear everyone say that you need to love your companion and I honestly didn't even have to work on that, I just had an instant love for her when I met her.

     Okay now on to the next day. So right when I met Sister Simpson I told her that my cousin is on this campus and if I saw her that she would have to take a picture for me. Well this morning when my companion and I were walking back from breakfast, I saw her. I found Elise! I started running towards her calling out her name! Then she saw me and was doing the same, except I couldn't understand what she was saying. We ran too each other and gave each other the biggest hug and just started crying! I was so happy to see her. It was such a comfort to know that she is here with me going through the same thing! It was one of the sweetest moments, I have really missed her this summer. I was so HAPPY! Then when we finally stopped crying and pulled away I tried to talk to her. But then I realized that her and her companion were speaking Finnish!! I couldn't believe how good she was!  After playing some charades with her I was able to figure out that she can't speak English until next Thursday. That was also part of the reason that she was crying, because they started that day.  So now we have to wait a whole week before we can really talk to each other. But honestly I don't even care.  I know her so well that I can understand her so easily.  It  would honestly be fine if that was the only time I saw her, but it wasn't.  I see her all the time in the cafeteria. One time my companion and I sat with her at the Finnish table. It was super funny because none of them can speak English but they were trying hard to still be able to communicate with us. It is amazing how well Elise and I can communicate.  I can't wait until next Thursday when I really can talk to her about all this!

     So in our class we were able to have a teaching experience just like it would be out in the field. Our teacher showed us a video about the person that we are going to teach Ian Kyger (he is really just a teacher pretending) but we have never met him before. We found out that he lives with his dad,  is going to the community college, has a strong belief in God and goes to a baptist church. He has heard of the Mormons and Joseph Smith. My companion and I  went and prayed and asked Heavenly Father what it is that He would like us to teach Ian. We felt like we should teach him about the Restoration. So we planned a lesson and were then able to teach it to him. I was so nervous because this was starting to seem real. We were going to go knock on his door and ask him if we could talk to him. He let us in and then we got started. It was amazing how strong the spirit was and how the spirit really did help us to know what to say. We told him about the restoration, we gave him a Book of Mormon and then we were going bring up baptism. When Sister Simpson was talking I was looking through my scriptures trying to find a scripture I had just seen that talked about baptism but all the sudden Sister Simpson stopped talking and looked at me wanting me to say something but honestly I wasn't even listening to what she was saying because I was looking in my scriptures. So I just looked down and read what was highlighted. 

     It was Alma 32:21 "And now as I said concerning faith-faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen which are true." Then I just bore testimony on that scripture and I told Ian that you don't need to have a perfect knowledge you just need to have faith and we would love to keep meeting with him so that he could gain a better knowledge. 

     That was an amazing experience because I was able to read the perfect scripture even though I wasn't even looking for that one. Right then I knew that I can do this. I can go into peoples houses and teach them about the gospel. I can go to Minnesota and be successful. I can be guided by the spirit and teach people the things that the Lord wants them to be taught.

     I am so grateful for this experience I know that I am here for a reason and that I can do this. I have already grown so much and I feel the spirit in my life. I love the MTC and all that I have learned. I can't wait to apply it all in Minnesota. I know this church is true and I want others to feel that happiness that I feel.

Thanks so much for all the support I don't know how I could do this without it.

I love you all!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis 

I love you so much and I am out of time but thanks for all you letters everyone! 

Everyone couldn't believe how many I had! You are truly the best.

( I just love this picture of the two companions in their jammies with their name 
tags on this was taken on the first night at 10:02 pm)