We are as the Armies of Helaman

Hello my favorite family and friends,

     Okay let me just start off by saying that Minnesota is a strange place.  The weather is so weird!  One day we had a heat wave of 40 degrees!  Then the other day it was back in the negatives.  Then one morning we woke up and there was 8 inches of snow.  What in the world!  It has truly been all over the place!  This is really the weirdest mission we have had so many late starts and snow days.  I would have never guessed that the weather would be this bad.  But this week was a great week!

     To start off we had our District P-day and it was super fun.  We have a great District.  It is probably my favorite one.  We all met at the church and we just had a big game day!  It was really fun.  We played Lighting (I was in the top 3), we played a really fun game called 7's (ask me about it when I get home), we played Egyptian Rat Screw "I Won! :)", and the funniest game I have ever played, the bag game (ask me about it in 13 months!) haha.  It was really fun.  Then after all of our games we went to Olive Garden, my favorite restaurant, we got to go because it is in our District leaders area!  I was so happy because I have been craving it for  5 months!

     Then we went and saw the L. Family and had another Family Home Evening.  I love going over there so much!  This week the lesson was about prayer again.  We sang the prayer song with them and they could do the whole thing all by themselves!  We were so proud! :)  Then we broke down the song and we asked them why each of the different parts were important.  They had the best answers.  Then at the end of our lesson Sister Pead and I gave the kids some "Prayer Mints" (mentos).  We told the kids that every time they said their morning prayers they would get a prayer mint.  They were so excited to say their prayers.  

     Right then the 4 year old Skyler said, “If I say a prayer right now can I have a prayer mint?” 

     We said yes.  Then he folded his arms and said the cutest little prayer and he didn't forget anything.  After he said Amen, he looked at all of us and said very happy, I did it!  Then he ran up and we gave him a mint.             

     His mom was once again so happy and said, “That was the first prayer that he has ever said.  He would never say them before.  Thanks so much!”

     It is such a good feeling to see that they are actually listening and learning the different things that we are teaching them.  We saw them yesterday at church and they came up and told us that they have been saying a lot of prayers!  What cute kids! :)

     This week we were finally able to see Sharleen again.  I don't remember if I wrote about this but a couple weeks ago we stopped by her house and she told us that she didn't want to meet with us anymore.  We think that she talked to some of her friends and she got Anti-ed.  We were so sad.  But we stopped by her house last week to see how she was doing and we saw that she finally got her carpet in her apartment and that she needed some help moving her furniture around.  We told her that we would love to come over and help her move things.  She was very grateful.  As we were helping her move we asked her if we could come by some other time to talk to her about Family History work.  She said that she would like that.  We were then able to set up another time to come and meet with her.  Then we talked about Family History work and the importance of it.  We helped her set up an account on Family Search and she loved it.  Then we invited her to a Family History class that was at the Stake Center on Saturday and she loved it.  It was lucky because we were able to go with her and it was awesome.  It was really cool to see how easy it is to do Family History work now and all the different things that you are able to with it.  Sharleen loved it.  She brought one of her binders and stayed a couple extra hours so the Family History workers could help her get started.  It was so great to watch her get so excited about doing her family history work.  We really think that this is what is going to change her mind.  I have such a testimony of Family History work and even while we were sitting in that class I felt the spirit so strong and I know that she will feel it also.

Phillip I. is an honest seeker 

     This week we were able to have a couple more lessons with Phillip I.  This week we have been focusing on his Book of Mormon testimony.  Last week we were able to address his concerns about the Godhead and we know that as he gains a testimony of the Book of Mormon everything else with follow.  So we started reading from the beginning with him.  We read 1 Nephi 2 with him.  As we have been doing this he has really been getting into the story of the Book of Mormon and we really feel like this is going to help him in his conversion.  At the end of his lesson he said a really awesome sincere prayer and talked about how he wants to understand for himself the truth.  He really is an honest seeker.  That is one of my favorite things about being a missionary.  Watching each of these wonderful people search for truth.  I love being able to share the truth with those that I meet. 

We had way to much fun dressing up in African clothes.
You all know how much I love to dress up.

     

     We also got to have some lessons with Byron.  Earlier in the week we were able to talk to Delores and ask her what it is that she thinks we can do to help Byron have the desire to give up coffee.  She told us that she thinks that we might need to ease up a little bit because he feels like everyone is bugging him about it, which is understandable.  But also a little frustrating, if I could use only one word for Brother Larson it is, Stinker!  He is such a little stinker.  It’s just so funny because he knows what it is that he needs to do but he is just so stubborn.  In our lesson with him we asked him how praying about coffee went.  He said that he didn't feel bad about it so he doesn't think that he needs to stop... Then he said to us, I just don't think that God would hold someone back just because they drink coffee.  I just looked at him, with a big smile on my face and said, Better safe then sorry! :) Haha I really do love him so much and I love that I can say things like that.  I truly know in my heart that one day he will join.  One day.  All we can really do at this point is pray.  Pray that he will have a life changing experience that will make him want to start this journey.  We gave him the challenge of reading at least 6 pages a day and he has been doing it.  Just like Phillip we feel like he needs to gain that testimony for himself.  What better way then reading.

     This week we had Zone Training.  It was really good. Like I say every time we have one of these I love the chance that I have to learn.  I love to just sit and take notes on how I can become a better missionary.  They talked a lot about gratitude, working with members, and sincere prayers.  All great things that we can improve on.  Then we got to have an interview with our Mission President.  It was really neat to talk with him. As he was talking to both Sister Pead and I he told us that "He needs good leaders like us."  Wow.  What a compliment.  It really made me realize that there is so much more that I can do to become a better leader.  There is so much I can always improve on.  

     Then he asked me how I feel like I have improved over these last five months.  I had to think for a little bit.  I then said that I feel like I have improved the most in my confidence.  I feel like I have always been really good at hiding behind my smile but as I have been on my mission I have realized that I know what I am sharing is true and I love sharing it. :)

     Yesterday we were able to go to Presidents Fireside with Phillip, Delores, and a member from our ward.  It was a really good fireside and it was perfect for each of them.  There were four awesome recent converts who shared amazing conversion stories.  There is nothing more powerful then a recent convert sharing their testimony.  I love whenever I am able to go to the Presidents Fireside.  I always feel the spirit so strong.    

     There was one thing that was really powerful that I wanted to share before I go.  The Mission Presidents wife Sister Clements got up and talked to us for a little and she was very emotional and was so grateful for everyone that was there.  Then she paused for a minute and said, I have never done this before but I am going to have all the missionaries come stand up front and have them sing to you what it is that our purpose is.  We all walked up and we sang, Armies of Heleman.   It was so powerful, there where about 100 missionaries and the spirit was so strong.  I honestly started tearing up a little bit.  I love this work so much.  I love the people that I am serving and I love the opportunity to share the most important thing with those who don't remember.  Truly that is what we are doing here.  We are just helping their spirits remember what they once knew.  I love this gospel.  It was really powerful for everyone there watching it.

I have to go but thanks for everything that you do.  

I love you all so much!  Have a great week! :)

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Sister Ida Donley and Sister Kendra Curtis