Every member a Missionary!

Hello Family and Friends! 

This week has been a crazy one for sure!

     Monday was super crazy in the middle of our P-day we had to drive down to Bloomington so Sister Kekauoha could have her exit interview.  They usually do them on Tuesday but because there were so many missionaries going home this transfer they had to do some of them on Monday also.  It really killed our P-day but we were still able to get everything done that we needed to.  Then after our P-day was over we went and stopped by a couple of people so Sister K could say her last goodbyes.  We went and she said goodbye to Eva.  It was such a sweet, tender moment.  It brought tears to my eyes.  As I was sitting back and watching this sad goodbye, I had the strongest feeling of gratitude overcome me.  I am so grateful that I am in Minnesota, somewhere where I will be able to come back and visit.  I mean I can’t imagine getting to the end of my mission and then having to say goodbye to some of the greatest people who have forever changed my life.  But instead of saying goodbye I will get to say "See you soon!"  I will be coming back to Minnesota many times after my mission.  These aren't just people who I have been serving and teaching but these are people who are my life long friends.  My brothers and sisters.  People I will never forget.  Not to mention how blessed we are with the technology that we now have.  I mean the second I get off the plane I will be able to log on to Facebook and stay in contact with everyone I have met here.  With Sister Kekauoha leaving and my year mark coming up next week, I have been looking back and reflecting on my mission.  I can't believe all that I have done, all that I have learned and all that I have become all because of this one year that I have spent in Minnesota.  I will always be eternally grateful. 

Driving Sister K. to the mission
home (last car selfie)

     After I said my goodbyes to Sister K on Tuesday, I was with 2 Spanish sisters who also said goodbye to their companions.  They came with me to my area and we worked there.  Hermana Jones and Ramariz were so much fun!  I wish I was Spanish speaking they are so cool.  We had a ton of fun together I was sad that it was only one day.  

The Spanish Elders and Elder Hurst

So I took the Spanish Sisters to Galaxy (they loved it!)

     We were out together I had planned on going to a very rich neighborhood to go and knock on some mansions.  It has always been on my bucket list and I felt like this was the perfect time to do it but right as we pulled up to park we heard a noise.  When we got out we saw that our tire was going flat.  We couldn't believe it.  We ended up calling our Zone Leaders and they said that they would come over in 20 minutes and help us.  

Hermana Jones and Ramariz

     So instead of just sitting around waiting we decided that we would go knock some doors.  On the 4th door someone invited us in!  We couldn't believe it!  This house was HUGE!  It was beautiful!  It was a younger mom with 3 kids in their teens.  She invited us in and told us that she would get us some water.  As we were all speechless at the beauty of the house she came around the corner and gave us some water bottles.  She then asked a little bit about us and where we were from.  She then told us that she has a couple cousins that live in Utah who have also served missions.  She was very interested in us and why we decided to come on a mission.  We were able to tell her a little bit about that then we started talking about Jesus Christ and the church that he established then how there was a time of confusion where there were many different churches springing up.  But she then told us that she was a Lutheran and that she loves it and that it fits her and her family.  So we left them with a card and we told her that she is always welcome to come and check it out.  She was awesome and a such a nice lady.  Then right as we came walking out of the beautiful house, with water bottles in hand, we saw the Zone Leaders leaning against our car.  I can only imagine their thought process as they saw the neighborhood that we were in.  I bet it was  funny when we came out of one of the houses.  

This is the house of the nice lady that gave us water.

     They then said, "That would only happen to sisters!" They then helped us change our tire and there was a huge chunk on metal in it!  So for my first day with my new companion, Sister Noe, we had to go to a tire shop to get a new tire.  The tire boys, as I like to call them couldn't believe what was in our tire.  As soon as they saw it there were 5 of them around the tire with pliers trying to get it out.  They then came and showed us what it was, it was huge!  And then they let us keep it.  That was a pretty crazy adventure.

     My new companions name is Sister Noe, she is from Arizona and is the oldest of 10 kids!  She has been serving in a small town in Northern Minnesota called Askov.  She was there for 10 months!  So coming here to the cities is a little bit of a culture shock for her. She wasn't by anything and her branch only had about 30 people in it.  This is a big change for her but she likes it.  She is very different from Sister Kekauoha but I am excited to be with her.  Change is always hard but in the end it is for the better.  I am excited for the chance and the opportunity that I have to serve with Sister Noe.  I know that we are together for a reason.  She is going to teach me many different things that are going to help me in my missionary work and my the future.  I am really excited for this transfer.

     We were able to have a lesson with Sophia last week.  Things are going really well with her.  She understands what we teach her and she is able to comprehend it.  I was so impressed, we asked her what she remembered about Joseph Smiths story and she was able to tell us the whole story in really great detail.  She really is ready to be baptized.  But right now our biggest set back is that the mom is less active and she isn't quite ready to come back to church.  This Sunday she was able to drop off and pick up Sophia, so that was great she was able to talk to a couple people at church. 

          On Saturday we helped her paint her garage.  There were many different people moving and other things that were going on that morning so we came up with the best crew that we could at the last minute.  Five primary boys.  Surprisingly they did really good.  Sophia really liked them and they were able to play a little when they took breaks.  I think that was good for her to see Sophia having fun with some kids from the ward.  We really need to find ways to help her want to come back.  This week we are going to go over with the Young Women to help her paint the trimming on her house.  We think this will be a really good experience because she will see all of the good young women helping out and it will be good for Sophia to look up to them as well.  But over all Sophia is doing really good and she loves church.  She is doing great!

Our Painting Crew and Sophia!

     Another thing that Sister Noe and I did that is going pretty good is we are going to everyone in our apartment complex and we are introducing ourselves to them.  It is going really well.  We say that we are missionaries in the area and that we live in the complex.  People have been really nice.  We have met a bunch of great people and we are going back to see some of them.  They are all very interested in why we are here and where we are from.  It is great and we are able to do it now because we are both very new.  Where with Sister K she had been here for 10 months and she already knew a lot of people.  We are really excited to see if anyone in our apartment wants to come to church.  Maybe we will get a ride with them :)

The Browns! They go to Utah State and are here for an internship. 

Sister Noe and I emailing you on P-day!

     I think that is all I have time for today, but I am just so happy to be here.  I really can't believe how fast it is going by.  It’s so weird to think that in 6 months my life is going to be completely different, never again will I be living this life style. (Except for my senior mission with my husband of course!) The one thing that I am so grateful for is my life style will be different but my missionary work will never stop.  David O. McKay said, "Every member a missionary".  

     We all have the chance to continue to serve, to continue to invite others to come unto Christ.  This is our purpose. "Invite others to come unto Christ."  Its not our job to force them, its not our job to convince them, but it is our job to invite them.  Each of you need to look for those different moments in your life where your are given the opportunity to invite.  Don't be scared.  Be brave, because Heavenly Father has placed them in your path for a reason.  He trusts you and he has faith in you.  Don't forget to have faith in yourself. 

     I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week!  Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis