"Full of Love"

Hello family and friends - 

Sister it's cold outside!

     It’s been another cold week here in Minnesota. Today we were lucky that we were able to come email. It is really cold.  They said the wind chill is going to be -40. BUURRR!  Tomorrow is going to be just as bad. Funny story.  We were talking to a 90 year old man this week who has lived here all his life, he said that this winter is by far the coldest winter that he has ever seen.......What?  What are the chances that I am able to be blessed with the coldest Minnesota winter.  Wow!   But aside from this freezing weather let’s move on to the good stuff.

Holding the Prayer Square!

     Once again we got to start off our week with another Family Home Evening with the L family.  We talked to them about being an example.  We taught them the song, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" ... That one was a little more tricky to teach the kids, but they got an awesome duet from Sister Pead and I. Then we talked about different ways that they can be examples to others.  Once again they were cute as ever.  We then gave them some little pictures with Jesus and the Children, on the back of it is the 13 Articles of faith.  We told them to give them to some of their friends.  They said they would and they asked for some extra pictures so they could hand out even more.  I seriously love little kids so much.  They are so sweet and sincere.  I was actually reading in the scriptures this week and I love how we are taught to become as little children. (Mosiah 3:18-19)  Children really do have so many characteristics that we should all strive to have: "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."  There are so many things I love about this scripture but my favorite is "full of love." What a wonderful thing.  Children have such big hearts and they are so loving.  This is something we should all work on.  I think that so many times we are hesitant to love others and we think that they need to work for our love.  But it all comes back to the Savior.  He loved everyone no matter what and that is exactly what we need to do.  "As I Have Loved You, Love One Another." There is no better way so show our love for the Savior then by loving each other.  Also before we left, the 6 year old TJ went and grabbed the paper I wrote on last time to sing the prayer song, they love that song and wanted to sing it again.  Tabitha, the 2 year old loved holding the sign while we sang.  They are so dang cute!

     We had a district meeting this week and it was really good.  We focused on giving church tours.  All of us went around the building and role played giving a church tour in the different rooms.  I have never done one on my mission but I have heard about them.  It was really neat because the spirit was so strong.  You could just feel it.  My favorite was when we went into the chapel.  Right as you walked in you could feel the difference.  It got us all excited to go and do church tours with our investigators.  Then after the District meeting we had a District Brunch.  We usually have a district lunch where we go out to eat somewhere as a District but I came up with the best idea that we make breakfast together, District Brunch!  It was so much fun!

District Brunch!

I am hoping they are all pulling silly faces!

     We were also able to go see Phillip I again.  We were so excited to see him and to talk about the fireside that we went to with him.  We got to his house and I turned the corner and he was sitting on the couch in a sling! 

     "Brother I. what happened!?" 

     Then he told us that after we dropped him off at his house after the fireside he slipped on the ice and sprained his arm!  How sad is that!  And that is a 6 foot drop!  Ouch!  We felt so bad for him.  We then had a lesson with him and we asked him what he liked about the fireside.  He said that he loved all the different speakers and he loved how they mentioned how they just needed to listen to their hearts.  That was exactly what we wanted to talk to him about.  We then told him that as missionaries, our purpose is to come help him come closer to Christ.  We then said that he is already close and we have already gone over most of the lessons, so what exactly is holding you back?  

     He then told us that he needs to get that answer for himself.  He wants to know for sure that this is what he wants to do and then to stay committed to it.  We told him that was understandable and one of the best ways to get that understanding is by reading the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God and it is a way that Heavenly Father is able to talk to us and answer our questions.  We have already started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning with him, so we started readying where he was 1 Nephi 3, we were reading it and discussing it and answering his questions.  When we got to verse 25 we asked him what he thought was going to happen next.   He then said that he thought that Laban would trade them their riches for the brass plates and that they would return to the wilderness.  Instead of finishing the chapter with him we left him with the cliffhanger.   We told him that he would have to read while we were gone if he wanted to figure out what happened next. Ever since, he has been reading about a chapter a day. We are so excited and honestly we are starting to think that his injury is a little blessing from God.  Now since he is hurt he isn't able to work on his cars.  Now he has no excuse not read the Book of Mormon and he was even able to come to church yesterday.  The Lord works in mysterious ways. :)

     We were able to see Delores and Byron a couple times this week.  I really do love them so much they are basically my Minnesota Grandparents.  We were able to help Delores make a mormon.org account and we were able to get them started on their family history work.  It is so exciting to see her continue to progress, and the joy that this gospel is bringing her.  As for Byron, we have asked him to read at least 6 pages of the Book of Mormon a day, and he is.  He is so great we know that it is only a matter of time before he will decide to follow his wonderful wife and step into the waters of baptism himself.  He is just so stubborn. :)

     We also got to see Sharleen a couple times this week.  We were able to stop by one day and we were able to ask her what she thought of the Family History Center.  She told us that she loved it.  She stayed 3 extra hours.  She even told us that in the summer she wants to volunteer there so she can help other people do their family history.  How great is that!  I love the powerful spirit that Family History Work can bring and that even people who aren't members are able to feel it.  It truly is their loved ones on the other side reaching out to them.  All they need now is to get started on the second half of the wonderful work, Temple work.  Because it really is a 2 part things we wouldn't be able to do temple work if it weren't for all the family history work that is done before.  We also got to talk to Sharleen a little more about the restoration and we asked her if she would want to go to church with us.  She said not this week but next week.   We are excited that she is starting to have the lessons again.  It is all because of family history work or we would have lost contact with her.  What a blessing.

     This last week we had a lot of cold tracting days. But we were able to endure through it! (With a couple car breaks to warm up our toes!)  We were able to get a bunch of new investigators.  Some even invited us in because they felt so bad for us and they wanted us to warm up a little.  But last night we had an amazing experience.  It was one of the coldest nights and the wind was blowing so hard.  I was starting to give up.   I didn't want to be outside any longer but we kept moving.  Then at about 8:20 we knocked on a door no one answered so we moved on.  But then a man came running outside and invited us in.  Then we were able to teach this young family about the restoration.  He said that he was open to learn more.  We were so grateful that we continued to work and we were able to meet this new family.  We have been praying to find a young family and we were able to find one.  But we wouldn't have found them if we gave up and went in the car.  I know that as we work hard we are able to show the Lord that he can trust us with these people and then he is able to guide us to them.

     Also transfers are next week.  So we are pretty sure that one of us will be leaving.  I can't believe how fast time goes by!  It seems like just yesterday Sister Pead and I got here.  So what are you guesses?  Who is going to leave?  Me?? Or Sister Pead?

I love you all so much. 

Thanks for all the prayers and support. 

Stay warm! :)

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis