I was Praying for a Halloween Costume!

Hello Family and Friends!

     Happy Halloween!  I can't believe Halloween is in three days!  AND!  I can't believe my family isn't having a Halloween party... how sad but I understand.  Kids grow up and then think that they are too good for family parties.  Been there done that, but now I know that family is the best! 

Look at the Halloween Decorations

     Also, here is a little fun fact for all of you!  So guess what!  Guess where Trick-or-Treating was invented!?  Anoka, Minnesota!!!  How great is that!  I wish I could tell you more about it but honestly I don't know.  The only way that you really can find out anything in this world is via Google.  Look it up!  I bet its an awesome story!

Raking leaves!!! "Service Sticks"

     So Mission work!  Its still great as ever but this week we were kind of frustrated with our area!  Don't get me wrong I love Shingle Creek and I love all the people that we meet.  That is the hard thing, we meet so many awesome people and we have these amazing lessons with them where the spirit is so strong but then we are never able to get back in with them.  The African people are so busy.  They are always working and are hardly ever home so it is really hard to help them progress.  So this week Sister Ballif and I used a lot of our time trying to find all the amazing people who we have lost contact with and get back in touch with them.  Doing that has been great.  It reminds me of the parable of the lost sheep.  God loves all of his children and he rejoices when we help find those "lost sheep." 

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-declares-the-parable-of-the-lost-sheep?lang=e ng

     Prince Charles: He is one of those lost sheep.  We had one of the most amazing lessons with him about a month ago.  He felt the spirit so strong and talked about how he had seen our church back in Liberia.  That is the most beautiful church, with a big white steeple.  Then he talked about how he loves the symbol of the white point going straight up to heaven.  We were so sad that we were never able to get a hold of him again.  BUT, we got to see him this week!  He is absolutely amazing!  But so busy.  He works a full time and a part time job, goes to school, has a wife and two children, one who is only 1 month old.  He truly has his hands full but he loves the gospel he wants to learn as much as he can but, honestly just doesn't have the time.  We were able to have a restoration lesson with him and set up another time to meet with him for only 15 minutes.  He wants to make time for this because he knows and can feel the importance.  It was a miracle that we were able to contact him again and that we got to have a lesson with him.  We are going to need another one to help him progress with the little time that he has.  But I know that the Lord will help if we ask!  He is already showing faith by using the only spare time that he has to meet with us I know that something amazing will happen with him.

Halloween Party with Tamara

     Tamara: Friday night was the ward Halloween party and we felt like we should go over to Tamara's house and invite her to come.  We then went and asked one of the young women, Megan, to come with us to pick her up. (She turned 16 in February...! Just like my Megan!)  When we drove over to Tamara's house and asked her to come, she was so excited.  Then at the Halloween party she had a good time and knew one of the other investigators.  After the party Megan went to take her home but Tamara was locked out of her house.  Megan then invited her over to another young women's house, Lidia, to hang out and watch a movie.  We were so excited because she is finally getting that fellowship that we have been praying for.  Megan then texted us after the movie told us that they all had a great time!  Friendship!  Then yesterday we had a lesson with Tamara and Megan in the chapel about the Book of Mormon.  The spirit was so strong and it was great to have Megan there and have her share her testimony of how the Book of Mormon has blessed her life.  Tamara has a baptismal date again for November 30! Yea!

Favorite Family Brother and Sister K dressed like the Hunger Games 

This is the cutest baby ever at the Ward Halloween Party

Samelle is in the pink

     Samelle: The sweetest little girl!  Her dad brought her and her friend to the ward Halloween party but they didn't have any costumes.  She is the happiest most positive girl you will every meet and she told everyone that she was a jogger because she only had sweats on.  Long story short.  Sister Ballif and I had 2 princess costumes for one of our investigators but they didn't end up coming so we gave the costumes to Samelle and her friend.  She was soooo excited and ran to the bathroom to put it on and it fit like a dream!  She then came up to us and said  "How did you guys know?  I wanted a costume so bad and I was praying for one for Halloween and you answered my prayers, Heavenly Father answered my prayers!  Thank you so much!!" That just about broke my heart!  I love that at such a young age she is able to recognize the power of prayer in her everyday life.  I wish we all could be like children.  They truly do have such strong faith! 

How did you know I wanted a costume so bad?

     Bishop: We had dinner at the Bishop's house and then we went through the ward list with him.  They have probably 300 people in ward and more than half of them are less active.  More Lost Sheep!  This made me start to think about my home ward.  I wonder how many less actives there are and what I could do to help them come into activity. You all know about Greg and Kristi B.  Kristi was a less active and came back into activity and then Greg later joined!  They always had visiting teachers and home teachers who would always come and check on them to see how they were doing. Those little acts of service always stuck with them.  We need to look for those little ways to serve because "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." 

     The other day in personal study I came across a scripture Alma 26:12, 

     "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." 

     I loved reading this scripture because it is exactly how I feel. I know that there is no way that I could do this work without the Lord's help.  When I turn to him I am blessed to witness "Many Mighty Miracles."  I am so grateful to be on a mission at this time it truly is a blessing and I am so blessed to be here in Minnesota!  I love the people here, especially in Shingle Creek, but I know that I need to make every second count!  I only have 16 months left! (Almost 15..)

I love you all thanks so much for everything! :):)

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

Look Mom another gnome!

P.S. Challenge

Who can mail me the best CD! :) haha

Rules. 1) Only hymns or primary songs 

           2) Can't have a "beat"

We only have one CD in our car and we have over played all the songs. 

We really need some new music. "Help a Sista' Out"

We Are a Family!

Hello Family and Friends!

     This week has been another great week.  It’s starting to get pretty cold here but don't worry, today I was finally able to buy a warm coat and some boots so I should be set for a while.  It even started to snow today, it wasn't for very long and it didn't stick but there was definitely white stuff falling from the sky!

     Moving on to the good stuff.  This week I was able to go on an exchange in Elm Creek with Sister Hudson.  It was a good exchange and we were able to learn a lot from each other.  We were very blessed and were able to teach a lot of people.

     Eric: He was not into the lesson one bit the only reason that he was staying to listen to us was because he had to finish his cigarette.  He had this huge black crazy dog who was jumping all over me.  I'm not kidding he was huge!  He was bigger than me.  So the whole lesson I was trying to be a good teacher but this mutt was running all over me, jumping on top of me and started biting my shoes while it was doing absolutely nothing to Sister Hudson... I am not a fan of big dogs.  I think they can sense it.  It wasn't my best lesson.

In Elm Creek with Sister Hudson (we found Utah Ave)

Theresa: Before we could even knock on her door, she opened it and invited us in and then offered us some water.  Then we started talking about Christ and I told her that she was a very Christlike person because she didn't hesitate to invite us in and give us water.  She then told us that she is really strong in her faith and that she loves her church because it is like her family.  Then she told us more about her faith and what it is that she personally believes, we were able to realize that she has a lot of the same standards that we also have.  She has kept the Law of Chastity and also the Word of Wisdom.  We were able to talk to her a little bit about the Word of Wisdom and how it is a health code that Joseph Smith received through God.  She really liked that and thought that it was really interesting.  Then we were able to lead into the restoration.  We taught her the full restoration and she loved it.  She said that it all made sense to her, then as we told her the first vision all she could say was "wow."  Then I asked her how she felt and again she said "Wow! I am speechless."  It was amazing to watch the spirit teach her.  She then said that she wanted her own Book of Mormon so she could read it and then pray.  She is a seeker of truth and I know that she was able to feel that this is true.  Now she gets to go pray and get that answer for herself.  I think she even went to church this week.  It is amazing how this really is the Lord's work and that the Lord is aware of everyone and is able to lead us to those people who truly are prepared to hear the gospel.

     Bud and Sami: After the exchange I came back to my homeland, Shingle Creek.  I really do love my area!  We had dinner with a part member family.  They are the greatest old couple Sami is the sweetest lady, she is a member and then there is Bud.  I love him!  He loves the outdoors and golfing.  He really is a nice guy and such a sweetheart, but he is so stubborn about the gospel.  He says we can try but it is never going to happen.  He also thinks its funny to slip in the S word when we are around.  That little stinker!  Sami wants him to join so bad but all she can do it pray.  Sister Ballif and I think that we can maybe crack him.  He really does like us.  I was telling him how I don't have a coat yet.  He ran to his closet and pulled out his XL coat and put it on me and then gave me some coat tips. He even pulled up the hood and pulled it up to my face then said, "Something like this will keep you warm." He has such a tender heart and is really supportive with Sami going to church but for some reason he doesn't want any part of it.  So keep him in your prayers and so will we.  We are meeting with him this week! :)

     Beauty and Jane: These two are the funniest African ladies that you will ever meet.  They call us their daughters.  This week we brought them some potato soup because we owed them a dinner and they LOVED IT!  They kept telling us how much they love to eat and that we are good cooks.  Beauty was baptized last month and now we are teaching Jane.  Jane has too work every Sunday so we are going to fast with her next week so she will be able to get another job.  We were also able to help her with her resume.  She is soo funny.  We love when we get to go see them.

Mary, Beauty, Sister Curtis and Jane

This really was the best lesson ever!

Lovi's daughter

     Lovi:  She is a African woman from Kongo.  She can understand English but can only speak French.  I don't remember if I already told you guys about her but we were able to go and visit her this week.  We were able to go with another African woman who can also speak French. It was a really good lesson and we were able to hear some of her thoughts.  We then watched the Restoration movie in French and it was really cool to watch it with her in her own language.  She said that she knows that it is true but she doesn't know if her husband will let her go.  Hopefully we will be able to teach them both and then we can get them to church.  Also, she probably has the cutest kids I have ever seen!!

     Esther: Amazing! This was the best lesson I have ever been apart of.  She is from Nigeria.  We taught her the Restoration lesson and she was floored.  She couldn't believe that she had never heard this before.  Then she asked us what about all those people who haven't heard this before.  How will they hear this?  I just pointed to our tags and told her about our job.  I love when people are able to recognize the truth!

     Last of all this week we were able to go to the Presidents Fireside. That is where we get to go down to Bloomington to hear from some recent converts and listen to their testimonies.  It was a really good experience and there is truly nothing better then listening to a conversion story.  At the end, our Mission Presidents wife, Sister Clements got up and talked a little bit. She said that she loved to get up and look all around at all of the Brothers and Sisters because that is what we all are.  She then said "We are a Family."  

     Right when she said that it made me think of my mom.  One day when we were gathering together for family prayer my mom said, "Everyone guess what? We are a family." We all made fun of her a little but we all new that it was true. “We are a family”, and we are so blessed to have each other.  Now on a mission I have a new perspective. As I look around at everyone I pass I look at them as Children of God and God is our Heavenly Father, so guess what.  "We are a family!"  Look around and look for ways that we can help our family.  My  challenge for this week is the same as the last.  Pray for mission experiences, pray for ways that you can help your family.  I know that as you do this God will bless you.  Because... 

Mosiah 2:17

“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.”

Kema (11) Samie (5) Denise (3) Total guesses on their ages

     I love you all so much and I am so grateful for the amazing family that I have been blessed with.  Without a doubt, I know that this church is true.  My testimony has grown so much as I have been here and I still have so much to learn but I love this learning process.  I love Minnesota! 

ADIOS AMIGO! (That's what I say to all the Hispanics that I pass!) :)

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Look at the Wild Turkeys

Brueshabers Dog had puppies

This Gnome picture is for you mom!

Got my huuurrr did!  (this is not a typo this is how my little girl talks sometimes)

"Service Sticks"

Hello Family and Friends!

Sister M. and Sister Curtis 

     Another great week!  This week I was nervous because Sister Ballif had to go to MLC or Mission Leadership Conference.  That meant I was going to be on my own for the first time in my area with another Sister.  I was nervous because we had a lot of things planned but none of them were solid and I wanted to make sure that I gave this other Sister the "Shingle Creek experience."  I said a couple prayers just asking for opportunities and help that I could be able to have a successful day.  We meet up with the Sister from St. Cloud and I was able to meet my companion for the day, Sister M. We went home and started our Personal Study then our Companion Study.  It was weird because it was like I was in charge.  We made plans for the rest of our day and planned out our lessons.  I told her that most likely most of our plans would fall through so we would probably be knocking on a lot of doors.  She said that she was excited because she isn't very good at door contacting and wants to improve.  After all of our planning we some how got on the subject of working out on the mission and how it is really hard to stay in shape.  I then told her how my sweet mom sent me some Pinterest work outs (I'd love some more by the way:) and that she could write them down and take them home. She was so grateful but didn't know what a lot of the work outs were.  So right then and there I showed her what each of them were and the right form and then we made her a work out plan.  She was so grateful and then she later told me that I was an answer to her pray.  That she has really been struggling with her weight and doesn't know how to work out and that she has been praying for help.  It’s awesome how the Lord is so aware of everyone and he is always looking out for us and able to answer our prayers.

     But back to missionary work.  Like I thought, most of our plans fell through but I made sure that every person that we saw we talked to and we also knocked on a lot of doors.  Sister M was really nervous to do door approaches but we role played what we were going to say and we worked really hard.  We had an amazing day!  That day was my personal best!  We taught more lessons then we ever have before and I was working so hard because I wanted to make sure that this Sister would have a great time in Shingle Creek.  I was so grateful for the wonderful day that we were able to have and I loved helping Sister M.  It was really fun to work with another Sister.  I just love the feeling of helping others.  It made me excited for someday when I am a trainer.  I have always been the kind of person who is more motivated whenever I have to motivate others.  I love the feeling of building people up and helping them out. 

Quick investigator updates:

     Fred: an awesome african boy on a college soccer team so he is always busy but we had a great Restoration lesson with him and he wants to learn more when ever he has time.

     Morris and Karte: an awesome African couple we are teaching.  The wife is Muslim and the dad is Christian.  They have the most beautiful 3 month old baby.  They both want to learn more and want to be the same religion to help strengthen their family.

     So here is a funny little story. Sister Ballif and I were trying to get creative in ways that we can help serve the ward so guess what I came up with.... SERVICE STICKS! ( It’s funny because of Spirit Stick..... cheer reference.) :) We bought rakes and those orange pumpkin bags so whenever something falls through we can go rake peoples leaves for service!  Clever right??

     Jamaican Family: I loved this lesson the very most.  We taught the coolest Jamaican Family with the best joint teacher.  Brother J.  He was baptized in Africa and has been a member of the church for 24 years!  It was amazing to hear his conversion story and his testimony.  It was a great lesson too.  Hopefully we can get them to church next week.

     This week Sister Ballif and I were able to go to Greg and Kristy B's house for dinner. It was so great to go visit with them again!  Their house has completely changed ever since Brother B's baptism.  You go in their house now and you can feel the spirit so strong and they both look so happy.  Also they invited a non-member to dinner, Jan!  Isn't that crazy!  That is exactly what every missionary wants is for their recent convert in invite over non-members to dinner.  We had dinner together and it was wonderful. Mashed potatoes and gravy my favorite!  Then we went into the living room and had a lesson.  We taught the Restoration.  It was the one of the best lessons that we have ever had.  Both Brother and Sister B bore their testimonies and the spirit was so strong. Then Brother B shared his conversion story and talked about how he knew that this church is true.  I was smiling ear to ear I couldn't believe how happy they both were and that they were able to share that happiness with a neighbor.  It was a great lesson then Jan accepted to be baptized on November 9!  I was so happy it was just so great to be a part of that moment and to watch how this gospel has completely turned around a families life.

     During dinner I was telling the B family that I had to give a talk in church this Sunday. Then their granddaughter said "You can't talk in church you have to be quiet!" I love little kids so much!

     Yep! I had to give a talk.  As my family knows I hate talking in front of big groups of people.  I hated giving my Farewell Talk I get so nervous.  So you can probably picture how excited I was to give a talk.  But I was very lucky because I truly had the best topic. What did you learn from conference?  How great is that. So I don't really know why exactly but I decided to talk about Elder M. Russell Ballard's Talk "Put Your Trust in the Lord" 

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/put-your-trust-in-the-lord?lang=eng 

     This talk talked all about missionary work and how missionary work is for everyone.  I really did love this talk.  I loved how it talked about members and missionaries coming together as one and working together.  As we do that we realize that this work was never ours in the first place, but it is the Lords work.  I will mail my mom a copy of my talk maybe she can type it up or something.  But I highly suggest that you all read this talk again.  Missionary work is truly so important and we all need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help others feel the love of  Jesus Christ.

     As President Monson announced there are 80,000 missionaries out serving missions, but there are also15 million members of the church. If every member would help just one person come unto Christ and help them be baptized then just think of all the people who we could help.  Then Elder Ballard challenged everyone to do just that. "We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ and what a wonderful gift to the Savior."  One person by Christmas!  I know that we can do it!  Everyone deserves to have the happiness that we do.  Now I also challenge everyone back home to pray, pray for missionary experiences. Help “Hastening the Work of Salvation!”

(Watch the Video "We Are One")

 http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening?lang=eng 

     I love missionary work I am so grateful to be part of this great work at this time.  I am also so grateful for all the support that I have back home thanks for all that you do!  I know this church is true! I love you all!

Until next week Bye!

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

We took some soup and the sweetest card to Sister Abrahamsen.

"How crafty am I?  Check out those stickers."

"When in doubt, Serve it out!"

Hello Family and Friends!

     Guess what! Today is my 2 month mark! Can you believe it?  I know I keep saying it, but time truly does go by so fast.  I am so very lucky to be blessed with Shingle Creek as my area because we are able to teach so many people each day.  The days go by so fast when you are always doing something and in Shingle Creek you can always find someone!  I am also so blessed to have Sister Ballif as my companion because we both love talking to people and just like Elder Ballard said in General Conference "If you want to teach more, you must talk to more people every day."

It's Fall in Shingle Creek!

     Everyday after personal study we sing a Hymn with the Hermanas. They started from the beginning of the Hymn Book and just sing the ones that they know.  One of the days this week we started singing, "Because I Have Been Given Much".  As we started singing that song it really touched me.

"Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live. 

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see, 

who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…

I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-

my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head, 

that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord,

I’ll share thy love again according to thy word. 

I shall give love to those in need. I’ll show that love by word and deed, 

thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed."

     I feel like this song is a perfect description of my mission.  I have been blessed with so much in my life.  My family, my friends, the house that I lived in, and great examples all around me.  I really don't know why I was able to be blessed so much.  I love that I am able to show Heavenly Father how grateful I am for all that he has blessed me with by helping others.

     "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17

This is Sister Abraham.  We read the Book of Mormon with her every Wednesday.

     All day, everyday, I get to serve others.  I am a firm believer that when you are serving others it truly does make you happier.  Even if you are going through something so hard in this life and you don’t know how you are going to get through it, when you are lost in helping others your problems seem to not be as bad.  I promise, I have seen it help so many people here.  "When in doubt, Serve it out!"  Ha!  I just made that up!  Feel free to quote me.  I really do know that serving others will make you happy and lighten your burdens even if it’s only for a little while. 

     This week Sister Ballif's knee has been hurting her.  I like to call it a prayer injury.  Someones praying a little too hard.  So we ended up having to go to urgent care.  

It was a wild adventure, we made sure to 
take all kinds of crazy pictures.  

     It was such a bazaar experience.  I swear, there is no way that he was an actual doctor.  He came in with some wild hair and dirty scrubs, slapped around Sister Ballif's knee and then told her, and I quote "It seems sturdy."  

     Then he said to ice it every 15 minutes..... We don't have that kind of time.  Sister Ballif insisted on getting an x-ray because we did not trust this "doctors" opinion.  The x-ray turned out fine.  They said that it is just a minor strain. So now Sister Ballif is rocking an awesome knee brace and applying Icy Hot frequently, but other than that everything is going good. 

Looks like they got stickers!

     This week we were able to take Tamara to two different sessions of General Conference. The first one that we watched with her was on Saturday in the chapel, but honestly she didn't like it.  She thought it was super boring and didn't quite understand why we were listening to a bunch of old men talk for so long. That was our bad, we didn't explain it to her very well and we knew that she probably had a lot of questions. We decided that it would be better to have her watch conference in a members home. 

     We called up Brother and Sister R, probably my most favorite family it the ward. (He served his mission in Colombia. Uncle Bryan what years were you in Colombia?) We have dinner with them once a week so we knew that Tamara would be able to connect with them and their little baby girl. We met with her an hour before and had a lesson on prophets and why they are important.  She was able to have a better understanding and get some of her questions answered.  It was so smart to have the lesson in a members home because just like we all heard in conference, missionary work should be done with both missionaries and members.  Lessons are always better whenever their is a member present.  They are able to share their testimonies and it’s awesome to hear from "real people" not just missionaries.  We also gave her a study journal so she could write down what stood out to her in conference.  The second session went a lot better.  It was a better environment and she was able to get more from it.  She even took notes!

     As for me, General Conference was amazing!  It was honestly like Christmas I was able to watch 2 sessions in the chapel and 2 sessions in members homes.  Honestly I kind of liked watching it in the chapel best because in both of the members homes we were at they have the cutest babies and if any of you know me I get way too distracted by babies.  It would have been fine except for that one rule... :( I can't wait to play with babies again!  I'm so baby deprived!!)  But conference was so good!  I loved everything that was said.  I love how conference really focused on families.  

This is my wall!

     I also thought it was interesting how much they talked about the importance of members and missionaries working together!  Its true!  Members add so much to missionary work.  I didn't even realize it until I got out here but you really can't do missionary work without the members help because missionaries eventually have to leave but members will always be there.  So all of you back home don’t forget that you are all missionaries too.  Try and share what you know with someone you normally wouldn't.  I know that  when we speak up, we will effect someones life and bring them closer to Christ.  I know that this church is true and I am so grateful for a prophet today that we can get guidance from. 

Ruth's Baby (she is so cute)

     This week we taught an awesome girl named Ruth. She is 16 years old and has the cutest baby girl who is 5 months old.  It is really sad because she is really lonely because her baby daddy is back in Liberia and she is always home taking care of her baby.  When we knocked on her door she invited us in because she was so excited to have company over.  We taught her about the restoration and she felt the spirit so strong and got emotional.  She really loved the part about the atonement and she can't wait to read and find out more for herself.  We invited her to General Conference and she said yes, but when her ride went to pick her up her parents wouldn't let her come. The next day we were able to see her again.  We read the Book of Mormon with her Mosiah 24.  She felt the spirit and really has a great understanding of the scriptures.  Next time we see her we are hoping that we can meet with her parents and that hopefully they will continue to let her learn or they will start to learn with her.  We are really excited to meet with her again.

I love you all so much. Thanks for all your support! 

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

P.S. Next week I have to give a talk in church. :/ But I have the best topic ever... What did you like about General Conference? So wish me luck!  I'll tell you about it next week.

Yum! Fiesta Cancun!!! Best Mexican Food!
I highly suggest you try the chimmy cheesecake!
Sister Donley took them to lunch on P-day!

My new cute planner!