"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!