"This is my Sacred Grove"

Hello Family and Friends!

     I always think that it is so funny how this first paragraph always turns into a weather update.  And guess what!  This week there was a lot of rain.  It is also the last of the month and at the end of the month we run out of miles (we are only allowed to drive a certain amount every month) so we were actually walking in the worst part of it.  The rain storms here are crazy!  There is so much water.  There is a golf course next to us that now has a huge lake that isn't supposed to be there.  It is really funny.  Those poor golfers.  The day we were out in the rain Eva came out teaching with us.  It was POURING!  We were lucky that we brought umbrellas. 

Last week when it was pouring rain here in Utah, Jonathan said, "shouldn't Kendra be out there dancing around with Chessa or her sisters and having us take a million pictures?"  So when I got all these fun rain
pictures this week in her email it made my heart so happy!!!  I am glad some things don't change!

     As for Eva, she is doing awesome.  I have never seen a recent convert progress as much as she has.  We were able to help her make her make her mormon.org page ( http://www.mormon.org/me/FY26/Eva ) and we were also able to help her sign up for institute classes.  She is taking 2 classes, one about the Book of Mormon and another about the Teachings of the prophets.  Then for our lesson we had her teach us about the restoration.  It was such an amazing and powerful experience.  She taught the lesson like she was a missionary. (She is thinking about whether or not she should serve a mission.)  She did better then most young missionaries would.  She touched every topic and bore an awesome testimony but the highlight of it all was when she was sharing the first vision, the spirit was so strong.  I started tearing up.  I am so grateful for her and for the amazing testimony that she has.  I know that she is going to change the lives of many and I am so grateful for the chance that I have had to know her and to have taught her. 

     We spent some of our service hours taking out Eva's braids.  That was a lot of work.  We still had a lot of fun together.

Sister K and I were glad to finally get a Curtis Plumbing Shirt.

     We were then able to have another lesson with Sophia, the 9 year old.  She is really good at understanding and applying what it is we share with her each week.  This last week we were able to have a lesson about faith.  We asked her what faith was?  She answered faith is to believe in something.  We said very good there is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that shares that plus a little more.  We then read Alma 32:21 

     “And now as I said concerning faith, faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." 

     I then asked her what are some things that you have faith in that you can't see.  She answered very quickly and said, "Fairies!" Some times she gets a little silly so I gave her a look and I said, "Are fairies real?" She then said. "Yeah!  The Tooth Fairy!" Duh! What was I thinking. "Of course", I said, "I forgot." 

     She then told the funniest story she said, "One time I found a tooth that I lost but that I forgot to put under my pillow.  So that night I put it under there and the tooth fairy didn't come.  I did it the next night and she still didn't come.  I went and told my mom and then she sent the tooth fairy an email so she would know and then she came the next night.  I know that she is real because it couldn’t have been my mom because she doesn't have any money." ....HAHA! 

     Sister K and I were trying so hard not to start laughing.  We just played along and said that that was a perfect example of having faith in something.  She is so cute.  We then were able to read Alma 32 with her and we made a little wheel that showed the process of a seed growing into a tree.  She really liked it.  Then we asked her if she would show her faith and be baptized. She had a couple questions about why you get into the tub with clothes on but after we cleared up that concern she said yes to August 9th, but her mom wasn't as supportive.  She is nervous what the grandma is going to think and say.  So for now our focus is to help the mom come back to church and to recognize the importance of letting her daughter get baptized. We are hoping to find someone that she can relate to who can help her come back and feel comfortable so then she can have the blessings of the gospel back in her life and so Sophia can progress. 

     Guess what happened this week!  It was Sister Kekauoha's Birthday!  She turned 22!  It was such a special day.  She woke up and someone decorated the table for her.  I filled her in about the birthday bunny and I told her that he woke me up.  She was a little sleepy and isn't the biggest fan of pictures but I am pretty sure that it was the best birthday that she ever had!

Happy 22nd Birthday!

"Look at all the Birthday Bunnies"

     I just wanted to really quick talk about our lesson in Relief Society yesterday.  It was the best one I have ever been a part of.  The lady who taught the lesson is a Native American she was less active for most of her life but is a really strong member of the church.  She is constantly sharing the gospel with others everywhere she goes and she truly knows the blessings that come from trusting in the Lord.  The relief society President asked her if she would teach the lesson.  She was very nervous but did the most amazing job.  In her lesson she shared some really personal experiences.  She talked about how there was a time in her life where she had to go to jail and it was really hard for her because while she was in jail she had to leave her two girls with her ex-husband.  It was a really hard time for her but while she was in jail she would read her Book of Mormon every single day and she was always praying to her Heavenly Father.  In jail her testimony grew because at that point she felt completely hopeless.  She knew that she couldn't do anything for her girls all she could do is trust that Heavenly Father would watch over them and protect them.  Then all the sudden a thought came to her head that said, "I will protect them.  They are my children too." 

     She got on her knees right then and thanked him for everything he had done for her.  I was completely blown away by this lesson because this is not your typical Relief Society lesson.  But because of her sincere love for God and for others she was able to get many other women to open up and share some of those stories deep down where their faith has been tested. It was really cool because in that moment I saw these women become strong together.  We all go through different trials and struggles and many times we feel like it is something that we should be ashamed of.  But like this wonderful sister showed, it is not only something that blessed her life but has now blessed the lives of others. 

     We had our last Zone Conference with the Clements.  It was sad because it was the last time but it was so good.  Like I had mentioned, we were focusing a lot on conversion.  To prepare for our discussions we read the talk by Elder Bednar, “Converted unto the Lord”.  I learned so much about the importance of conversion and how it really is a choice if you want to be converted or not.  An Elder shared a comment of what he thought conversion was, a conviction to do the Lord's will.  I thought that was a great definition.  It really is a choice.  It is so much more then just doing what you should be because you have to, but doing something because you understand that it is God's will. President Clements asked the question, "Are you going to give it your all or are you just going to put in the time?"  This question can be asked in many different situations, whether it is me serving a mission or my personal study each morning.  It is up to me what I am going to get out of it so I better give it my all.  In a way that is conversion.  Conversion comes as we are continually repenting, showing our obedience and being diligent.  As we were talking, I was thinking a lot about my life as a missionary but really this will apply to my life afterwards even more so.  We constantly need to be converted, we need to not only know that the gospel is true, but we need to consistently be true to the gospel.  

     Then President Clements called on a couple of missionaries to come up and share their "conversion stories".  As many of these missionaries were sharing their experiences, I was trying to think to myself when I became converted... Looking back, I know I was not prepared to be a missionary.  It was never something that I was planning on.  But when they made the age change and said that girls could now go at 19 instead of 21, I knew that I needed to go.  I knew that I needed to go serve the Lord.  I knew that I needed to be a missionary.  I didn't understand at all what the title actually meant.  That I was literally going to be a representative of Jesus Christ.  I didn't know that I would have my faith tested every single day.  I didn't know that some days I would just want to go home because I was so tired.  I didn't know all of the different ways that a mission could shape and mold me into something that I wasn't quite comfortable becoming.  Change is hard.  But it is something we need to experience to become better.  

     Looking back, my conversion began here in Minnesota.  This is my Sacred Grove.  This is where is all began.  This is where I learned to trust in the Lord.  This is where I began to understand for myself the importance of scripture study.  This is where I gained an unshakeable testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ.  This is where I found the need for prayer.  This is where I began to trust the Lord in every circumstance.  I have gone through many different challenges on my mission, I have seen struggles with my investigators and hardships back home but over all the only thing I can do is trust.  I have to trust that He will take over.  As I do my part, as I am obedient, diligent and making the different changes that I need to, that he will continue to watch over and guide those who I love and care about so much.  Whether they are here in Minnesota or back home, I know that He will watch over them.  I know that this gospel is true.  It is the only way that we can have true happiness.  Never loose hope because in our Savior Jesus Christ, hope will always be there. 

Last Zone Conference with President and Sister Clements

“And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.”  Moroni 7:41

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Elder Fullmer is going home
this transfer and then is going
to Utah State.  Go AGGIES!

"You really believe what you are saying."

Hello Family and Friends! 

This was after the crazy rainstorm.
Trees were ripped out of the ground!

     This week was crazy!  Weather wise I have never seen so much rain in my life.  It was pouring!  It looked like Niagara Falls was falling from our rain gutters!  And the lightning, holy cow!  There was so much one night.  We couldn't even fall asleep because it was so bright and the thunder was so loud.  Minnesota weather has extremes in every aspect.  I didn't even mention the humidity, I feel sticky all the time.  The worst part is when Sister K and I come home at night our apartment is so hot.  There isn't AC in our bedroom only in the living room.  A couple of days ago, we decided that we would move our beds into the living room so we can have some air!  It has been wonderful. We are what some may call problem solvers.

Sister K. wouldn't be in the picture.  She is hiding!

     Update on Eva!  I love that girl so much.  We have been stopping by her house lately and we have been having the best lessons with her.  They are completely from Preach My Gospel, since she has her own copy now.  We went over chapter 5 with her.  It talks all about the Book of Mormon.  It is something that she has been wanting to know more about because since she has been baptized she has been sharing her faith with everyone.  She has come to find out that not many people are to excepting.  She has really come to know the importance of defending her faith.  The lesson we had was perfect because it talked all about how you can use the Book of Mormon and ways to answer all concerns.  She has been doing this and has even given some Book of Mormons out to her friends.  AND she went to the temple this week!  I LOVE HER!

     This week we went on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders. I was with Sister Schwarts.  She is an amazing missionary.  I was able to learn so much while I was with her.  I love going on exchanges because I love seeing how other missionaries are and how they teach.

     We were able to meet with Don again this week, the 84 year old.  I was able to go over to his house again when I was on exchanges with Sister Schwarts.  He did his reading in the Book of Mormon, Moroni 10, which was a huge surprise.  Last time he told us it wasn't likely.  We were able to talk about it and answer some of his questions.  Then we were able to start teaching him about the plan of salvation.  He has a lot of questions and a lot of concerns but the best part is that he is really opening up to us, he has never opened up to any other missionaries.  We were only able to go over the first half, but it went really well.  During our lesson he was drilling us with all kinds of questions.  All I could really do was bear my testimony, I expressed to him that I trust God and I know that everything happens for a reason.  We may not understand why but if we have an eternal perspective, everything will make sense in the end.  He then was quite for a moment and said, "You really believe what you are saying." 

      I really do.  And I know that if he will give it a chance that he will be able to know also.  We are excited to meet with him later this week!  It is his time I can feel it. 

     We then were able to have a lesson with Sophia today.  We had a lesson about tithing.  She is a really smart girl.  She understands everything that we are teaching her very well.  We went over tithing then at the end we gave her two jars, one said tithing and the other said savings.  Right after we gave them to her she ran and got her money and started putting 10% into her tithing jar.  I really love teaching children.  I love the faith that they have.  I really hope that her mom will help her come to church.  She is completely ready it is just the mom that is holding her back at this point. 

     This week we were able to stop by a less active member, Brenda.  The last time we stopped by her house she was completely drunk.  Then we saw her later this week and she apologized for the last time.  We were able to come in and have a lesson with her about Sabbath Day and the importance of coming to church and doing the little things that God has asked us to do. It was a really good lesson.  She felt the spirit and she said that she would try to come to church this week. She did!  And she even brought a friend.  It was a miracle!  We are excited to see her later this week and to help her strengthen her testimony even more. 

     In sacrament today there was a 15 year old boy who was asked to give a talk in church.  He is a really cool kid, he has a lot of friends, he starts on the high school rugby team, but right now his family is going through a lot of hard things.  This past week him and his 16 year old sister went to EFY.  He was asked to give a talk on what happened there and what he thought of it.  It was one of the most powerful talks I have ever heard.  It wasn't very long and he didn't say much.  But he told everyone that EFY changed his life. He told us how he used to not like church.  I hated it. He said he was going to leave the church as soon as he could.  He said he wasn't to excited to go to EFY and that we was planning on just going through the motions to make others happy and that he wasn't going to be changed by it.  He then said, "Boy was I wrong."  He then bore the sweetest most sincere testimony about how the gospel blesses his live.  It nearly brought everyone to tears.  We could all feel and see the change that had happened in this young boys life.  I know that the decision someone made for him to go to EFY, made an impact that no one expected, him self included.  

     I know that this gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ can change everyone.  It has the power to change us. With the help of our Savior he can give us His perfect strength.  We need to realize that we will all get discouraged at times, that is part of life.  But it is our choice to embrace what it is that we have been given and become better because of it. 

This is a free Library. There are tons of these in
Minnesota. I like to put Book of Mormons in there and
For Strength of Youth Pamphlets. Mom you would love these!

     One last thing, this is the last week we will see President and Sister Clements.  Before they go we get to have one last zone conference.  In preparation for zone conference we have been asked to read a talk by Elder Bednar, Converted Unto the Lord.

( https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/converted-unto-the-lord?lang=eng ) 

     This talk has changed my life. I am so excited to learn all about it in zone conference.  After reading this, it has continually been on my mind.  I have been thinking about the difference between a testimony and being converted.  

     Elder Bednar says it perfect, "Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony.  Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel." 

     A question that has been in my mind all week is, what is the missing piece?  Where is the disconnect? Then yesterday, at church, President and Sister Clements came to our ward for the third hour, it was a combined lesson.  He focused a lot on missionary work and being member missionaries.  He even had everyone get up and role play, just like we do at zone conferences.  It was amazing to hear him and it was really powerful because it was his last Sunday in the mission field.  As I was sitting there listening he answered the question I had all week.  It was something I already knew but not until that moment did I realize it.  The difference is understanding the atonement of Jesus Christ.  I know that if someone can truly understand Christ's atonement and what it does for us then they are converted.  As we understand more then we are able to help others come to know for themselves.  My understanding of the atonement isn't all it can be, but everyday I am learning more and I can feel it in my teaching.  I know that as we strengthen our testimony in the atonement of Jesus Christ that we will truly be able to become converted.  After all, we can truly do anything, Because of Him. 

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

I just thought this was so cute.
I wish dad would ride Jake and I around like this.

"His Grace is Sufficient"

Hello Family and Friends!

     As always great things are happening here in the land of Minnesota!  Great things.  So one thing that I haven't told you yet is that in our ward there are a lot of Native Americans.  There isn't very many in the area that I am serving in but there are a lot in other parts of our ward boundaries.  This week we were able to meet a man and are you ready to hear what his name is, Richard Bald Eagle Bear.  Yeah!  Bald Eagle Bear is his last name.  There are a lot of awesome last names but that one is one of my favorites!  Isn't Minnesota the best place ever!

Sister Curtis,  Elder Nelson, and Siter Kekauoha

     Okay now are you ready for this one?  Guess who I met this week!?!  Elder Nelson!  Yeah!  My companion and I met him!  He came to Minnesota to speak to the Medical School, surgeon people or something like that.  He actually got his PHD at the University of Minnesota! (I served there!)  Sister Kekauoha and I were the only missionaries who got to see him.  A member of our ward had him over for dinner with the top 14 surgeons in Minnesota.  So he told us when the dinner was over, there would be a gap of time where we could stop by and meet him!  It wasn't very long, but it was long enough!  It was amazing!  We couldn't believe it!  I guess you could say that was my tender mercy of the week. :)

     We are teaching a really awesome girl named Rachel.  She is a single mom with a 9 year old son.  She met missionaries back in February and now we have been able to start teaching her.  She has a baptism date set for July 12th.  She is wonderful and has a great understanding of the gospel.  Everything we have taught her she has absolutely loved and she is really diving into the scriptures.  She just keeps having things come up so she hasn't been able to come to church yet.  We are hoping she will come this next week to further her progression and feel of the spirit that is there.

     We are meeting with an older man Don.  His wife is a member and he is not.  He is 84 years old!  He has met with many missionaries but has never been "convinced".  We went to their house for dinner last week and we were able to set up an appointment for us to come back and meet with him.  We went over the restoration with him, we asked him his concerns and we were able to get him to open up about a lot of things.  At the end, we asked him to pray about being baptized on July 26th.  He agreed that he would.  He is very stubborn but his wife called us later and told us that our visit with him was a complete miracle.  She said for some reason he is very open with you girls and has told you things that even I didn't know.  It really was a powerful lesson.  I think his heart is being softened.  Hopefully we will be able to continue to help him feel of the spirit and feel of the importance of being baptized so he can be sealed to his wife for eternity. 

     Last night was the President's Fireside!  It was President and Sister Clements last one!  I can't believe they are going home at the end of this month.  It was a really good fireside.  The best part was that Eva spoke at it.  She did such an amazing job.  She was really nervous.  But she bore the sweetest testimony.  She talked about all of the hard family struggles she was going through.  She talked about how her dad wasn't supportive at all.  At one point he told her if she was going to join the Mormon church that she would have to find a new father.  She was crushed.  She didn't understand how he could hate something that brought her so much happiness.  She shared a moment that really changed her.  One time when Sister Callister and I came over to her house we showed her a mormon message, Dare to Stand Alone.

( https://www.lds.org/youth/video/dare-to-stand-alone?lang=eng )    

     We then left and later that night she watch it on youtube by herself.  She felt like this was exactly what she was feeling.  She felt like she was completely alone.  But something was said in that video which she felt was directed right at her "Dare to be a Mormon, Dare to stand alone, Dare to have a purpose firm, Dare to make it known." 

     "If we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven."  That was when she decided that she would follow the feelings that she felt inside to be baptized.  Everyone in the chapel could feel and see the sacrifices she had made to be where she is today.  I am not going to lie, my eyes weren't dry the whole time she was speaking.  I was just re-living the whole experience with her.  I saw her at her lowest of lows and I am so grateful that I have been blessed to see her reach these spiritual highs.  I love Eva so much!  I will forever be grateful to be "her missionary" and more then that her friend. 

Eva at the President's Fireside

     This week, something that has really been standing out to me in my studies and in the meetings I have attended is the concept of grace.  I was able to read a talk that Sister Kekauoha gave me called, "His Grace is Sufficient."  As I was reading this talk it touched my heart.  I have always heard about the importance of grace and how it's not by grace alone that we are saved.  These are all things that I have heard throughout my life but I guess it is something that I never really grasped.  In the talk it mentions how we make mistakes in our lives and sometimes we feel like we aren't worthy for His grace.  But that is the exact opposite.  We are all worthy of his grace, that is why we have it.  There was a scripture I read earlier that I thought was really powerful, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 

     "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 

     I love the wording this this passage.  My favorite part is where it says: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  To me this is saying that without weaknesses, we wouldn't need Christ's help.  We wouldn't need grace.  But we do need it.  It is the only way.  We need His strength to come unto Christ, and be perfected in him. (Moroni 10:32) Trying to understand the concept of grace has really helped me in my mission work.  I now know that through grace we don't have to do this alone.  We have Him by our side the whole time.  We just need to use the gift that has already been given.

     I have such a strong testimony of the gospel.  Just when I think I have learned everything that I need to know, I am wrong.  I love this gospel and the happiness it brings me.  Thanks for all of the prayers and support.  I truly can feel the love everyday.  I love you all!  Have a great week.  Until next time!

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

Rachel got her mission call she is going to
Rancho Cucamunga, California Mission.
She leaves August 13! Exciting huh!

Meme (Leticia's daughter)

Amy's last day she is moving to Murray, Utah!

"Who doesn't want never-ending Happiness?"

My Dearest Family and Friends!

Riding Bikes!

     This week started off with District P-day.  I am not going to lie.  It wasn't the funnest P-day I have had.  The Elders definitely planned it.  We started off by meeting at the church.  We then strapped on our helmets, pumped up our tires and went on a bike ride.  We biked to a Mexican restaurant that was pretty good then we went to... the Mississippi River.  This had potential, but it was a pretty long ride and Sister K isn't the biggest fan of biking in the first place.  We reached the Mississippi River and guess what we did.. nothing.  We were probably on the riverside for a total of 3 minutes then we biked back.... Yep.  That is an Elder P-day for you.  The worst part was our behinds were sore for the rest of the week.  It hurt to sit down and especially on wood chairs.  But hey at least we could make some memories.

This is our whole district at the Mississippi River!

     This week we were able to meet with Awate.  We had a great lesson with him and an African couple.  The lesson went really well and Awate told us that he would come with us to Eva's baptism.  He came and he loved it.  We weren't able to talk to him about it very much because his ride had to go.  We are planning on seeing him next week. 

     Then yesterday we were sitting in church, a little disappointed because some of our investigators weren't going to be able to come to church.  Then, all the sudden, guess who came walking in the door, Awate!  He came walking in with the members who took him to the baptism.  We were completely mind blown.  When we had last talked to him he told us that he wouldn't be able to make it.  The members must have invited to take him to church the following day.  We had no idea.  But he loved both the service and the church meetings. We are so excited to talk to him more this week and see what he thought of all that he heard and learned. 

     We had another lesson with Albert and Heidi.  We were able to bring a young couple with us, the Browns.  They are actually both going to Utah State right now.  We really focused our lesson this time on helping him feel the spirit.  We have started to realize that he is so caught up in what the Bible is saying, the text and the facts, that he isn't allowing the spirit to teach him.  It has been really frustrating and we aren't able to teach him anything in that case because the real teacher is always the spirit.  We were able to watch a couple videos with him which was really good but he still has a really hard time feeling the spirit.  It is going against what he has learned.  He was taught not to lean on his feelings but to lean on the Bible.  It is really hard to teach him but over all he is really good at recognizing truth.  That is why he continues to let us meet with him.  I know it is only a matter of time before something will touch him.

     There was a less active family that came to church last Sunday.  They introduced us to a girl that is going to be staying with them for a while her name is Patience and she is 12 years old.  We were able to go over and start teaching her.  It was been a great experience.  The whole family was their and we were able to teach them both the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation.  She is a really smart girl.  She understands everything really well.  She is planning on being baptized on July 19th.  We had a really fun lesson and we taught the Plan of Salvation.  We wanted to make it fun and exciting so we made them bring their chairs outside and we drew the Plan of Salvation on their sidewalk.  But then it started sprinkling, so they were all sitting under an umbrella while we endured through the rain.  It was really fun.  We are excited to help her learn more, at the rate we are going we might even be able to move her date up but we will see.

Guess what!?  Eva was baptized!  It was the best service!  I loved it!  It was a double baptism service, Eva was baptized and one of the Chinese investigators.  It was actually the mother of a recent convert named Wei.  She was baptized a year ago and now her mom flew in from China to join her in this amazing decision.  It was amazing to be apart of this.  I was also very happy because the YSA ward was there.  I was able to see many members who I have missed and the missionaries as well.  I was so grateful for so many different things.  It was the best part of my entire mission.  Eva was so excited and ready to be baptized.  She was so excited. 

Four Best Friends! Rachel Eva and the sistas

Eva and Matt!
 (He is also a
recent convert)

     It all started with the opening hymn, I Stand All Amazed  this is Eva's favorite song. It was then followed by two great talks.  Then it was on to the ordinance.  Eva was so nervous to be baptized because she didn't want to drown.  She put in many requests to have a strong person baptize her.  She had to do it twice but it was a wonderful service.  Then after they were both baptized Sister Kekauoha and I taught the restoration to everyone in the room.  The spirit was so strong, I started to get emotional.  I was thinking about all that just happened and the great step that both Eva and Wei's mom just took and then to think that it all started with the Restoration of the gospel.  Then they both came into the room and we were able to hear them both bear their testimonies and how they came to know that this was true.  It was so powerful.  I felt like a proud parent listening to my baby girl speak!  She is typically really shy but surprisingly she wasn't nervous at all.  

Eva and Wei's mom and the missionaries!

     To make this even better, President Clements asked Eva to speak at the President's Fireside next Sunday!  YAY!  This is the best thing ever.  For those who don't know or remember, the President's Fireside is every 3rd Sunday in Bloomington.  It is where President Clements asks about 4-5 recent converts to come up and share their conversion stories.  I am so excited for her to share her experience at the Presidents Fireside.  I know that her testimony will touch the lives of others!  It has already touched mine.  While she was bearing her testimony and sharing her story, I knew in that very moment that I was here in Edina, with Sister Kekauoha for a reason!  It was no coincidence that we were both teaching her at this time.  Sister Kekauoha originally started teaching Eva about 6 months ago, then 5 months ago, Eva was passed off to the YSA Ward, where Sister Callister and I were able to teach her.  There she went through a lot of hard things.  She had a lot of family opposition and a lot of things were holding her back.  She wasn't ready yet.  Then I was sent here.  I know it was because of Eva, she needed both Sister Kekauoha and I to be here in order for her to progress.  I know that there is a purpose and a reason for everything we go through in life.  Eva is a living example of that.  

     She is going to change the lives of so many people.  As she was bearing her testimony she shared her favorite scripture.  Mosiah 2:41. "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." 

     Eva loves this scripture so much because she knows that as she continues to stay strong in her faith and as she keeps the commandments of God, that she will receive "never-ending happiness." And as Eva said, "Who doesn't want never-ending happiness?"  I know that this gospel brings that happiness.  It changes lives and it make us all what God knows we can become.  But it is so important to remember, "Happiness isn't a destination, it is a way of travel!"  Enjoy the journey, make every second count.  There is no going back, only new beginnings. :)

Have a great week! I love you all so very much!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Mexican Village for lunch!

Look its Lilo and Stitch!

I love my new skirt!

We gave Eva this cute testimony journal!

This is my best little friend Scarlett.
I sat next to her at church!

It was so good to see these Sisters!

Galaxy Drive In!  Cutest Place Ever!

Sister Smith in the pics at galaxy. She was with us for a couple hours while her companions where in a leadership meeting 

A new map picture for you!  I love Minnesota!