Hello Family and Friends!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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
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| I just thought this was so cute. I wish dad would ride Jake and I around like this. |
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