Sunshine and Answered Prayers

Hello Family and Friends!

I am wearing my light coat, because
it is 43 degrees! That is Hot!

     I hope you are having a wonderful week.  Are you staying warm?  This week has been so strange it started off cold then out of no where it was hot!  Positive 43 degrees!  Whoa! Sister Callister and I were sweating!  We walked around half the day not even wearing coats!  I promise you after living in the wonderful land of Minnesota you will never hear me complain about Utah Winters again, because I can promise you... it could be worse!  Now in the same week we had a "Snow Day."  Minnesota never has "Snow Days" but because it was so hot, everything was melting, then that turned to ice and then it snowed about 6 inches of snow on top of that.  So what did that leave us with?  HORRIBLE roads!  So once again our cars got grounded.  This is the strangest mission.  I never expected I would get grounded so much on my mission.  The good thing is we are so close to our proselyting area we are able to walk to campus and then still be able to teach people.  Another plus side about being on a campus, people still have to go to school so there are always people to talk with.  

This is the Snow Day!

     Before I get started on the good stuff I have a quick story for you!  Now picture this!  It is a wonderful day outside, about 30 degrees.  The sun is shining down melting all the snow.  It is looking like it is going to be a good day.  Sister Callister and I just finish our prayer and are ready to get started.  We then start strutting down the street and I am ready to talk to the world nothing can stop me, when all the sudden.... VRRROOOMMM! SPLASH!  A semi truck drives past and covers me in melty, slushy, snow!  I couldn’t  help but laugh!  What the heck!  I turn and look at Sister Callister she didn't even have a drop on her.  Luckily we were close enough to the institute and I was able to go dry off.  I couldn't believe it.  I have only seen that stuff in movies.  Who knew that could actually happen!  Sorry I should have taken a picture... Next time!  Ha

I<3 Sister Callister!
(this is not a typo it means I heart...)

Anyways Mission Life! :)

     The start of the week was wonderful.  The warm weather really lifted my spirits!  It’s amazing what a little vitamin D can do!  I was so happy and it was a lot more fun to share the gospel with others.  Lately, I feel like this cold weather has really been getting to me.  Almost like, I have been lacking faith.  I start to think to myself, "It is too cold.  No one wants to listen to us.  Everyone is in such a hurry.  I don't want to bother them."  

     All these crazy thoughts are getting in my head when this is never something that I would normally think.  This has been something that has really been bothering me the last couple of weeks.  I started making lots of goals to help me overcome it.  I wanted to know how I could be more effective and how I could be better and enjoy the work I am doing.  This week was amazing!  I had so many different experiences that were able to help me.  It made me realize how Heavenly Father really is aware of us and he is able to answer our prayers.  I was able to see my prayers answered all throughout the week.

     First I was able to receive a letter in the mail from my sweet mother.  First of all I love getting mail! Nothing lifts your spirits more then receiving postage in the mail!  Yes!  I got a letter from her and in it she printed off a copy of Sisar Elise Curtis' blog post, The Finnish Line.  I love whenever I am able to get these because it is cool to see my Sisar (cousin) experiencing the same thing as me.  So in this specific letter she talks about making "Friends"

(Mom will you copy that paragraph here?) :)  

This is an excerpt from Sisar Elise Curtis

AND THEN, this is the last thing about Mrs. Incredible, she asked us if we had any other FRIENDS like her that were learning about the church. That completely opened my eyes. Obviously, we always talk to members and other missionaries about our INVESTIGATORS. Were they in church? How did the lesson go? Etc etc. And then it hit me, investigators are our friends. Which changed my perspective on finding. It's not so much about FINDING INVESTIGATORS (which is hard and intimidating) but it's about MAKING FRIENDS. Which I can do. And I love doing. I don't know why this new perspective has helped me so much. And I don't know why I didn't realize it earlier. Anyway, last night was a reassurance that THIS is exactly where I am supposed to be. And I love it. I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. And I love you. Have a happy week!!

          This was exactly what I needed to hear!  It amazing how Elise was able to answer my prayer, and then how my mom was also able to answer my prayer by sending this to me.  I know without a doubt that the Lord is aware of each and every one of us no matter what we are going through.  Reading Elise's letter made me realize that I have been taking things too seriously.  I have been way too formal.  I then got to thinking about myself when I was up at Utah State.  I would have never talked to someone if they stopped me and instantly started asking me a bunch of religious questions.  I would have got out of there really quick.  But if someone came up to me and asked me how my day was going, what I was studying or even complemented me on something I was wearing, I would definitely stop and talk to them.  It really is way easier to make "friends" then to find new investigators. (Wise words from one of my favorite people. :) 

Sister Training Leaders (STL's) Sister Fawcett and Sister Shurtz both when to Utah State!

     Then that very next day Sister Callister and I were able to go on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders (STL's).  I was able to go with Sister Fawcett and Sister Callister was with Sister Shurtz.  The day they came over was one of the days that our cars were "grounded" Sister Fawcett and I were supposed to go to her area, New Brighton.  But because of the snow we were able to stay in Dinkytown and work on campus. 

Sister Fawcett and Sister Curtis

     Sister Fawcett is amazing!  She is from Riverton and she went to Utah State.  We have a lot in common and we are already planning on living in Logan together.  I really loved the opportunity that I had to work with her.  She was another answer to my prayers.  It was amazing to watch her talk to everyone on campus.  She was so friendly to everyone she met, she was super outgoing, easy to talk to, relatable and really down to earth.  She was exactly what I have been setting goals to become.  My favorite thing about working with her was that it was fun!  She got to know everyone that we met and then was able to share her testimony about our church and why it has blessed her life.  I couldn't help but just sit back and smile because in that moment I realized that I have been so caught up in the "job" that I haven't been enjoying all of the amazing people that I have been able to meet.  Ever since, I have truly seen a difference in myself.  I feel like I have been so stressed with the new area, my new companion and the new people that I forgot why I am even here.  I am here because I LOVE the gospel and I want to share it with others.  I truly am in the best area and I know and feel that I will be able to truly embrace it!  All I'm going to do is make "Friends".

Taco Time (we are making tacos)

Here is a quick investigator (Friends) update!

Eva: I absolutely love her.  She is the sweetest girl. This week we were able to have 3 lessons with her.  We have really been focusing on getting her fellowshipped and getting her friends in the ward.  It has been going wonderful.  Every lesson we have we are able to get members to.  She was even invited to a Birthday party Saturday night with most of the ward.  I feel like a proud parent!  I am so excited to see my baby fitting in and making friends AND she is getting baptized on March 8th!  Man Eva is amazing!  It is so awesome to see her testimony grow.  I know that this gospel is going to bless her life and I know that in this ward she is going to make friends that she will remember for the rest of her life.

Ashley: She is awesome.  We were able to have another lesson with her this week about the Plan of Salvation. She really liked it and she liked that fact that she actually knows why it is that we are here on earth. There is a purpose.  She won't commit to baptism yet. She wants to learn more which is completely understandable and we are glad that she is being honest.  She wasn't able to come to church this week because she had a fundraiser that she had to be a part of but she was able to come to the Linger Longer after church.  There she was able to meet a bunch of new people who invited her to FHE and some other activities that will be going on this week.  Friendships. Yes!

Rose: We got to have a lesson with Rose where we were able to go over the Restoration with her and we were able to answer questions that she had about church.  It went really well.  She got to meet some of the institute students and they are all so friendly and outgoing.  She was then able to come to one hour of church yesterday and she loved it.  She told us that she loved it so much she is going to try and get Sundays off work so she can come and learn even more. Wow. These people. :)

Joyi: She is so busy.  She is from Korea, she is taking 18 credits and she owns her own business which is basically run over Skype to people in Korea so because of the time difference she hardly has time to sleep. But she loves this gospel and she loves learning more. She was sick on Sunday but we stopped by her house and were able to share a mini lesson with her.  She is amazing.  We are praying that she will be able to have the time to progress and continue to learn more.

     You already got to hear a little bit in the friends update but this is the most amazing ward!  The people here are amazing!  They are always willing to help us with anything whether it is teaching, giving rides, sending text messages, inviting “friends” to different activities, anything!  They are wonderful!  It is really needed because most of them are recent converts themselves.  They know exactly what it is that the investigators are going through because they have been there before.  It makes me realize that I want to be a good member missionary when I go home!  Fellowship is so important.  Our mission president once said, "Social conversion is just as important as spiritual conversion." 

     I know that this is true.  If people don't feel loved and welcomed in the ward they won't have a reason to come back.  Friends are that extra support that we all need in our lives.  We need to constantly be looking for ways that we can be  better friends.  

     One comment that was made in Relief Society that I thought was interesting was, "Sometimes it is easy to look around at those who aren’t at church and give them a call to see how they are doing and ask what we can do to help. But sometimes those who are there, those who are coming to church, need that same help if not more." 

     I know that as we are more aware of those around us and have that prayer in our hearts to help those around us that the Lord will bless us.  We need to trust in him and know that he will put people in our paths who we can bless and who we can strengthen.

I love you all so much! 

You are all the best! 

Keep being wonderful! 

Stay warm. :)

Love, 

Sister Kendra Curtis

Trying out the campus buses!  Success!!!

What the Heck?

     This is the ward mission leader in her ward.  He came to Utah for his Sister's wedding and offered to take a package back to her.  Jonathan gave him this sweatshirt and told him to wear it the next time he saw her.  That look is just priceless.

I love Family History!!!

Hello Family and Friends! 

     This week has been wonderful.  Like I said before we are basically starting from nothing.  Things have been going great for Sister Callister and I.

Miracle Chick Fil A! I haven't 
seen one my whole mission!!

     I guess I will start off by telling you a little bit about my new companion, Sister Callister.  She is 19 years old and she is from Pleasant Grove.  In high school she was on the swim team and the soccer team.  She is great!  We bonded super quick, really fast. Transfers are always strange because you have to build relationships really fast and it sometimes seems a little forced.  We were able to overcome that awkwardness really quick once we found out that we both like musicals.  Friendship instantly.  We have already planned to see a musical together when we get home. 

Getting ready for bed!

Quick Fun Fact: So 3 of my 4 companions will be on the plane ride home with me!  How crazy is that!?  Anyways, I really like Sister Callister.  She is a really great teacher and I can already tell that we are going to help each other out in many different ways.  We have a good 6 weeks a head of us.  (Maybe even longer!)

Institute advertisement 

     Like I already said this is a hard area, because we are both new here so we are basically figuring everything out on our own.  Last week we were able to teach a ton of lessons.  We would just stop people on the street teach them the first lesson right then and there.  So number wise we were doing really good but it honestly wasn't very affective.  We were just telling a lot of people a lot of information and then they didn't want anything else to do with us.  So this week we are trying out a bunch of different techniques.  We wanted to find some people who would actually want to meet with us again.  We started just giving people mormon.org cards, talking to them about their beliefs and asking them if they wanted to learn more about our beliefs.  We started to have a lot of success.  We weren't teaching any lessons but we were getting some people who actually wanted to come and to learn more.  We were STOKED!  Since there are so many people to talk to, this way we are able to teach those who are actually searching and who are prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel while planting seeds for the others.  We also have been calling a lot of potential investigators, people who the other missionaries came in contact with.  There are lots of different ways to help our area flourish!

Igloo on campus???!?!!

     One day we were walking trying to find some people to talk to and we crossed paths with a girl named Ashley.  She was super friendly but was in a hurry so we told her that we could walk with her.  As we walked we talked about God and her belief in God.  She then told us that she was actually on her way to a church meeting so she couldn’t talk now.  But she would love to learn more Friday at six.  Whoa!  She just set up her own appointment!  We said goodbye, as she went into the church we just looked at each other super confused but way excited to teach her!  Miracles! :)  We were able to have a lesson with her!  An actual lesson!  We have been trying so hard to have an actual sit down lesson with someone we found.  She is really interesting.  She believes in God but she said that her faith is wavering.  We were able to teach her about the restoration and we were able to have a member with us.  The member was recently baptized in the past year and she is wonderful.  Her testimony was so powerful because she was exactly in the same place that Ashley is now.  She testified to her that this is the best decision that she will ever make. :)  The members here are wonderful.  They all have such awesome testimonies  and they are so willing to share them.  I love it here.  Ashley then said that she was going to come to church with us on Sunday.

A really pretty church building.

Sister Pead, and Sharleen
at the Presidents Fireside

     We were then able to have a lesson with Eva.  She was a pass off from some Sisters in a different area because she needs to come to the Singles Ward.  She is from Liberia and she is so cute.  She has such a sweet spirit and loves reading from the Book of Mormon.  We were able to have 2 lessons with her last week.  One was about tithing and the other about fasting.  They both went really good.  Sometimes it is scary to teach tithing because that is a really sensitive concept for some people.  It wasn't for Eva she was able to understand that it is an act of faith and a way that we are able to show our appreciation to our Heavenly Father.  We also had some more members who were able to come with us and to testify of tithing.  Then we had a another lesson with her about the For Strength or Youth pamphlet.  It went really good and she liked all of he standards that were in there.  She is really great and she is excited to be baptized.  She is praying about which day in March she should get baptized, what an exciting time.  She also came to the Presidents Fireside yesterday.  She really liked  it and there were some great speakers who said exactly what she needed to hear. 

     While we were calling some of the potential investigators in our phone we were able to get a hold of a girl named Rose.  We asked her is she would like to come to the Institute building so we could share more with her.  She said yes!  So we also taught her a lesson about the restored gospel and she also said that she would come to church this Sunday.  Sister Callister and I were so excited.  We had so many people falling into our laps.  We were so grateful for the Lord and for Him trusting us with them.

     Yesterday at church we had three investigators.   Ashley, Rose and Joyi.  Joyi is Korean and she is hilarious!  She is really busy with school she is taking 19 credits so we haven't been able to meet with her very much but she has great faith and desire to learn more. Then long story short Ashley and Rose are best friends.  It was a crazy but amazing day.  One other funny thing.  Ashley came to church with a coffee cup in hand... We didn't know if we should say anything ha! But they all loved church!

     Last the best!  I had a really amazing experience this week.  We were able to go to the Family History Center with the brother that does it in our ward.  He took us to the building and helped us learn more about the center and how it works.  Then we were able to do some of our own family history work.  I was super excited and I was determined to find something.  I have already seen, with Sharleen, what a blessing family history has been in her life.  I was able to go to the class with her.  I have been learning so much about family history, I have really been wanting to try it out for myself.  We finally got started and I couldn't find anything and it was starting to get overwhelming.  I stopped and said a prayer and asked for peace and guidance.  

     Then the family history consultant helped me print off a fan chart.  As I started looking at the fan chart I realized that there was a big hole after my Grandma Curtis so I started working there.  Then guess what!  I found something.  I found my great great grandfather, Charles Edward Hoops, and guess where he was born!  In Stillwater Minnesota!  My last area!  It was an amazing experience and I can't believe that I was actually able to find something and what are the chances that I was able to serve in his birth place!  After I found that I kept finding things!  I was able to find a whole list of people.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I love being able to recognize all the many blessings He gives us.  NOW I love family history work!  This week in church they talked to us about family history work and temple work.  And how amazing it is when you are able to have one of your own family names to take to the temple.  This really just opened my eyes to how this is something that I personally can do.  This isn't just one of those neat stories that you hear about.  This is something we can all do.  I challenge you all to go check out familyseach.org.  It is super easy and if you go to a family history center it is even easier because there are people who are willing to help you.  I know that it might seem over whelming but it is worth it!  Finding someone in your family that you are able to help progress is an amazing thing!  It’s a way that you are able to help the missionary efforts on the other side.  How great is this work! :)

     I love you all so much and I am so grateful for all that you do!  I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here serving a mission in Minnesota.  I know that I have been sent here for a reason to help specific people.  I love this work!

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

Valentine from my dad!
 (Jonathan sent her chocolate roses, we didn't  think
 real ones could stand the Minnesota temperature)

Dinkytown!

Hey Family and Friends!

Sister Curtis and Sister Pead

     Wow!  Transfer weeks are crazy!  I have so much to tell you this week!

     First off let's start with Stillwater.  Those last couple days were crazy!  I had to start packing up all my things but I also had to go start saying goodbye to everyone, and teach more lessons of course but it was a really crazy change!

Sharleen (we has so much fun taking her to the Family History Fair)

     My last moments in Stillwater we were able to have dinner at Delores and Byron's house.  I was so happy to spend more time with them.  I really do love them like my family.  Gabe was able to join us.  Then after dinner we had a lesson with them about recognizing the spirit.  This is something that we feel Byron needs.  Whenever we ask him when he has felt the spirit in his life, he always brings up some crazy story or experience and it is never something little.  We wanted to focus on those little things and the different ways that the Holy Ghost is able to talk to us.  Delores bore an awesome testimony about how she has felt the spirit in her life and how she has been able to recognize a difference in her life ever since she got baptized.  I love her testimony.  Then we talked about one of the hardest things about feeling the spirit which is, not knowing what you are trying to feel.  I was then able to share with them an experience that I had when I was in high school.

Delores and Byron L. are like family

     I was one of those people who never had one of those amazing moments.  I never really felt that I had ever felt the holy ghost.  If I did,  I didn't notice it.  This really bothered me especially at church when all the people around me had these life changing experiences in their lives and I never had.  I was starting to wonder what was wrong with me.  But then one week in seminary they were talking about exactly that.  My teacher said that it’s hard to know when the Holy Ghost is talking to you if you don't know how he does.  She then left us with a challenge.  She told each of us to go home and to pray and ask Heavenly Father HOW we feel the spirit.  Then to just sit and wait.  After we heard this I was really excited.  I wanted to go figure this out.  That night I went and I knelt at the side of my bed and I did just that.  I said a simple prayer just wanting to know how I feel the spirit.  Then I just sat there waiting.  I didn't know how long I was supposed to wait or what I was waiting for but I waited.  Then all the sudden I felt it!  It felt like butterflies in my chest getting bigger and bigger.  It just made me feel good inside.  Ever since that moment I have always been able to know when the spirit is talking to me.

     As I shared this story with them I felt the spirit so strong then I started getting emotional.  I realized that this was the last lesson that I was going to have with them.  I was so grateful that it was able to be such a spiritual one.  We then left Byron with the exact challenge that my seminary teacher once left me.  I wasn't able to follow up with him and ask him how his experience was but I hope and pray that he continues his search.  I know one day he will be baptized.  I have no doubt.  It is only a matter of time.

     Then we were able to stop by Phillip I's house and have one last lesson with him.  We also talked about feeling the spirit.  But we feel like he is more of a visual learner so we were able to watch the Mormon message “Patterns of Light”.  It was a good experience for him as well.  It was sad to say good bye to him and his family.  I feel like I am so close to them.  I promised them that I would come back and visit if he would continue to pray and ask God if he should be baptized.  He said he would.  What an amazing man!  I then was saying bye to Sister I. and I told her that hopefully I will be able to come to their sealing in the temple and she said to me kind of sad, "I keep praying for it." Whoa!  That's huge!  I told her I will be there then she gave me a huge hug.  I told her that I was going to miss her so much she and looked at me with watery eyes and said, "It will be alright!" Sad!  She is not a crier!  I miss them so much already.  I love this family!  They even gave me some African clothes as a good bye present how sweet are they!  I LOVE THEM!

Chubby and Sister Curtis 

Saying Goodbye to MJ

Pat Norton made me an
angel that said Kendra!

     We also got to say good bye to a couple of the awesome members in our ward!  I am really going to miss the Hudson Ward. There are so many wonderful people who are very mission minded.  I can’t wait to come visit!

Schroeder Family (MY FAV)

Gabe and The L. Family

L. Family Home Evening

 

     We were able to get Gabe to another Family Home Evening with us at the L family’s house and it went really well.  This week we talked a lot about gratitude and the importance of being grateful for things.  Gabe and the kids were able to connect really well as well as the whole family.  Sister L invited Gabe over to dinner later that week.  I am so excited for all of the things that are happening in Stillwater.  Great things are ahead and I am so excited to hear all about it from Sister Pead!

Saying goodbye to Gabe

Old Osbores

Young Osbores

Saying goodbye to Sister Pead was really hard!

The New Crew!

     Okay now Transfers!  So now I am in my new area.  I know I said I am in St. Paul but I am actually in the Twin Cities YSA Ward.  They call it Dinkytown.  There are 5 sets of missionaries in our ward!  Sister Callister and I, Elder Harrison and Elder Hicken (Zone Leaders), Sister Pao and Sister Huang (Chinese Sisters), and then 2 senior couple companionships , Soelbergs and the Husteds.  Crazy huh!  I don't even know where to start so much has gone on and so much has happened.    

     So Sister Callister and I are technically white washing the area but since we are taking the spot or 2 Elders it’s basically like we are opening an area because all of their investigators were men and the men are passed on to the other Elders, so we are basically starting with nothing.  The way it is going to work is the Elders will be teaching all the men, the Chinese Sisters will be teaching all the Chinese speakers and we will be teaching all other women.  It is very split up here.  We spend all of our days on campus at the University of Minnesota.  There is no more knocking doors and going to member’s homes all we do is contact on campus, all the time.  There is no other option and yes it is freezing!  Whenever you teach a lesson you typically do it at the Institute building.  The Institute building is tiny!  That is actually the building where they have church.  I would say it is more of a branch. But it is awesome and there is always people there!  I am really excited to work in this area!  It is different from anything that I have ever done before but I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me.

Sister Curtis and Sister Callister 

     This week we were also able to have a Zone Conference.  We learned about three main things: Working with members, Repentance and Self Confidence.  It was an awesome meeting and I learned so much.  I wish I could share more with you.  There is one thing I wanted to share.  At the end of the meeting President Clements got up and said that he was going to have the rest of the meeting be for testimonies and if anyone wanted to come up they could.  Right as he said that I thought to myself I would never go up there in front of all these missionaries that is way too scary.  But right as I said that I got that feeling!  Oh no!  I thought to myself.  What have I done!  I never get this feeling unless I'm at girl’s camp!  And if anyone knows me I don't like to bear my testimony.  I get really scared talking in front of big groups of people.  But the feeling was horrible and I just wanted to get rid of it so I went up there and shared my testimony.  I got up and I shared a thought that I had the other day, which came to my mind as we were talking about repentance.  Sometimes when people look at repentance they think of it as this horrible thing that they need to confess.  But truly all that repentance is, is the blessing and the gift that we have to change and become better.  I was thinking back before my mission.  How everyone would tell me that I was going to change so much on my mission and I secretly hated it.  I liked who I was and I didn't want to change.  I was comfortable and I didn't see anything wrong with what I was doing.  I was then able to make the connection that this is exactly what I am doing each day.  I am asking people to change.  To change their lives, to change their habits, to change everything!  To step out of their comfort zone and that it’s all for the best.  If I am not willing to change the little things about myself how do I expect  my investigators to do exactly that but even more so!  Everyone needs to change or repent in their lives.  The hardest thing is to accept it or admit it.  I am so grateful for the ability to repent and to become better.  I know that through daily repentance we are able to come unto Christ.  I am really so grateful for this gospel each and every day my understanding grows even more.  I know without a doubt that this gospel will give you the happiness that you need in life.

University of Minnesota

Dinkytown!

     I am so excited to be here in Dinkytown.  I know that it is going to be challenging.  I already feel the pressure but I know that the Lord has trusted me to be here in this area.  Now I have to do my part.  I have to be diligent and trust in Him.  I need to focus more on my faith and less on my fears!  Let me tell you, talking to college kids is scary!  It is way easier to knock on an old ladies door then to walk up to people my age.  But I know that as I am able to get over my fears and step out of my comfort zone that I will be able to see miracles!  I am so EXCITED!  I am learning to love change.  There are new things ahead and it is going to be exciting.

I love you all!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Ice Tracting!

Hello Family and Friends!

     Oh wow!  What a wonderful week this week has been!  I LOVE STILLWATER!  So I better get started.

     This week we started off by  having a lesson with Sharleen at a members home.  We were going to start of by helping Sharleen with more of her Family History.  But for some reason, the computer was not working we weren't able to do or look at anything so instead we felt like we should just read from the Book of Mormon.  We read about faith and how faith is like a seed and it is something that needs to constantly be growing. After our lesson Sister Pead and I realized that maybe the computer wasn’t working because at that moment Sharleen needed to hear about faith.  It’s amazing how the Lord works. 

     As we were getting ready to go I asked the member for a priesthood blessing.  For some reason, my arm was hurting really bad, it felt like I maybe pulled a muscle some how.  He pulled up a chair and was then able to give me a priesthood blessing right there.  One thing that I have really been missing on my mission is blessings from my dad.  I just love father's blessings.  There is truly nothing better then a blessing from your father.  But one thing that I have come to realize that no matter who is giving the blessing it is still from God, our Heavenly Father.  This past week a lot of things have been bothering me and been on my mind that the member didn't know about, but he was still able to tell me exactly what I needed to hear and the blessing was able to comfort me.  I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood and for the men who are worthy and able to give them.  In my blessing I was told that in a couple days my arm would heal on its own and two days later it was gone.  It was also really neat that Sharleen was able to be there and witness the blessing.  It was a really powerful and spiritual experience.

Blazing Challenge!

     The next day we had District Meeting, our very last one with all 8 of us there.  For District Lunch we went to Buffalo Wild Wings so they could do the "Blazing Challenge" It was super funny!  Everyone did it except for Elder Cryer and I, but don't worry I was laughing my head off the whole time taking a funny video.  The challenge is that you have to eat 12 of the hottest wings in 6 minutes, 3 of the Elders were able to do it and won the "Blazing Challenge" T-shirt. They are so great I am so grateful for them and all that I have learned from them. They are some of the best missionaries. 

Stillwater District

     Then we got to have another family home evening with the L family.  This week was extra special because we were able to bring Gabe with us.  Gabe is Delores and Byron's 20 year old grandson.  He use to meet with the missionaries in the fall but he stopped meeting with them because he kind of felt like he was file://localhost/Users/jonathann/Desktop/DSCN3606%5B1%5D.JPGgetting pushed.  He has been struggling in many different ways.  He has depression and a lot of bad influences in his life.  Since Sister Pead and I have been here we have never been able to meet with him but this week we were able to invite him to family home evening with us.  And he said he would come!  We were really excited.  We thought that family home evening would be a good idea because it is really simple and the L family was perfect for him.  As you know they are a younger family and the husband was baptized about a year and a half ago and is only a couple years older then Gabe.  The lesson was really fun and we talked about loving and serving others.  When we were finished Gabe and the husband started talking and were able to get to know each other a little better it was perfect!  We are excited because he is going to be coming to another one with us tomorrow.  It’s going to have to be a very slow process because he is very sensitive but we are excited that we got to introduce him to such an awesome family!

     We were able to meet with Phillip a couple times this week.  Each time we were able to bring a different member to his lessons which was really good. We were able to discuss the Mormon Message Your Potential, Your Privileges, then the next time we were able to read Alma 32 with him,  and we talked about the difference in being humble and being prideful.  Then as we were planning and getting ready for our next lesson with Phillip we got a text from our mission president that said, "Tell Phillip that the sprained shoulder is God's way of getting his attention!"  Whoa!  That is bold.  He must have just read our emails to him.  We were then really excited for our lesson with Phillip. We were going to be bold and we were going to tell him how it is.  Because that is exactly what he needs.  But like I said we brought a member with us and... honestly... that was our downfall.  It was our fault because we didn't prep her the best we could.  As we were asking him different questions and telling him that his sprained arm was a sign from God.  She started getting super defensive and nervous that we were being too bold.  She was talking... a lot.  We asked if if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by the priesthood authority of God?  Then silence.  Because that is truly when the spirit is able to do its work.  That is were the spirit will touch his heart. But then guess who started talking... the member.  She didn't know the power of silence which again was our fault we should have told her.  He is sooo close!  He did promise us that he would continue reading the scriptures and coming to church.  And at the end of the lesson we asked him to pray right then and ask God if baptism is what he is suppose to do.  Wow!  The spirit was so strong.  I know that it is only a matter of time before Phillip will join his family and be baptized.

     We also had a lesson with the Delores and Byron.  As Sister Pead and I were planning and trying to decide what kind of lesson Byron needs at this time we realized that we needed to ask him if he was ready to be baptized.  We decided to ask him the baptismal interview questions and see where he is in his conversion.  So as always, our lessons with him turn into these great discussion.  We talk to them about what they have read and any questions that they have.  Then we moved on to what we had planned.  We started asking Byron different questions that you would be asked if you were to be baptized.  Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father?  Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?  Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith?  Do you believe that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God?  What does it mean to you to repent?  And then a couple other questions.  He answered yes to all of them.  The most powerful part of this whole lesson was the testimony that Delores shared with her husband.  Just those sweet and simple truths that she has come to know.  The main concern that it all came back to was coffee.  He just doesn't feel like it is necessary to give it up.  So I looked at him and I said, "Byron, if it wasn't for coffee would you be baptized?" 

     He paused for a long moment and then said, “I have been a Lutheran for 70 years there is no reason to change now”. .... ahh what a Stubborn man! :)  We were really grateful that we were finally able to hear this from him.  For now he is still reading the Book of Mormon, 6 pages a day.  He really likes it and is really getting into it.  I know that it will all come as he gains a testimony of what is in the Book of Mormon.  I love them!

     Sharleen is wonderful.  We have been able to keep doing service for her, helping her get her house back in order and after we were able to have a mini lesson with her and leave her different movies/videos that she could watch online.  We were able to leave her with the Joseph Smith video, and a couple Mormon Messages.  Each time we came back and asked her what she thought of each of the videos,  she would start to get emotional.  She said that she loves the feeling that she feels and the messages that they share.  Each time we were able to talk about them and what the Lord was trying to teach her through them.  It is always so powerful.  She then broke down in tears and told us that she thanks the Lord everyday for sending us to her.  Not only to help her with her house but to help her with her spiritually.  She even came to church with us yesterday! (She got a ride with Delores!)  Then we were able to have a lesson with her last night.  We talked about the feelings that she has felt in the church and the love she has felt from everyone.  Then we watched a Mormon Message with her and the spirit was so strong.  We were then prompted to ask her if she would be baptized.  She looked at us and said no.  She then told us that she made a promise to her husband (who is living somewhere up north right now) that she wouldn't be baptized as long as he is living.  She is a woman of her word but as soon as he dies she will become a Mormon!  Wow! ..Now you know what we will be praying for! .......That the Lord will change his heart! (What were you thinking??)  We are really excited for her.  What a wonderful lady!

     Now as you all know today we found out who is getting transferred!  I AM LEAVING STILLWATER!  Can you believe it?  I love this area so much and I love all the people here.  They will always be so close to my heart and I am so excited to come back and visit them!  Stillwater is an amazing place!  I look back with nothing but the best memories.  Sister Pead is going to be so good with her new companion.  I know that she will be guided by the spirit and help bring others unto Christ.  As for me.  I am being sent to....... the Young Single Adult ward in St. Paul at the University of Minnesota!  How awesome is that!  I will be serving with Sister Callister.  She was also in the MTC the same time as me and she was in Sister Pead's District.  We are both going to be new to the area so we will either be opening the area or white washing, we aren't sure yet. Wow!  I am so excited this is such a great opportunity.  Everyone talks about how great the YSA ward is and now I am going to be able to serve there.  Great things are to come.  I am excited to see what the future has in store!

Tracting on the St. Croix river!

     One last fun story before I go.  So Sister Pead and I knew that one of us was going to be leaving so we decided that we would do something crazy!  Something we have been talking about since the day it started getting cold.  And we did it!  We went tracting on the St. Croix river.  That's right ice tracting!  There is a little village of people down there trying to catch some fish.  What a great opportunity to talk to someone.  They can't go anywhere.  So Sister Pead and I put on our layers, bought some toe warmers and we were on our way!  

     We maybe drove the mission car on the ice... but don't worry we went back and parked it on solid land!  It was a super cool experience.  I suggest everyone tries it.  The line that really gets it all started is, "Hey!  How many fish did you catch?"  They will talk to you every time!

Loyd was really nice and let us take a picture with his fish. 

I love you all so much! Thanks for everything! 

Have a great week! Stay warm.

 And don't forget to pray and read your scriptures! :)

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis