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