"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."