Expect Miracles!

Happy Halloween Family and Friends!

Christian as Harry Potter

     Can you believe it is almost Halloween?  Crazy how fast time is going by.  This week Sister McCullough and I had a really awesome week.  I will start off with the fun stuff then I will move into the miracles.  We were able to have the ward Trunk or Treat party on Friday and it was so much fun.  Sister McCullough and I wanted to dress up so we decided to buy some nerdy glasses and be 80s nerds!  You can guess who's idea that was!  It was really fun!  We were a little nervous that we might get in trouble for dressing up but then when we got to the church we saw that the elders dressed up too!  They were Body Guards so it was perfect.  We both tried to dress up as much as we could.  It was really fun all the members loved our costumes and thought that it was really fun.  

Sister McCullough and I dressed up as 80's Nerds.
You know how much I love the 80s! :):)

The Elders were Body Guards!

The Bishop and his wife!

Sister Young

Look at the cute little animals!

     We have a really awesome ward and a lot of people dressed up which is always fun.  We were also able to get Sharay there.  She even brought a friend along.  They ended up staying for the whole thing and they really enjoyed it.  Then at the end we were able to participate in the Trunk or Treat.  A member got us a bag of candy that the missionaries were able to pass out.  It was really fun the kids loved it!  

Gemel Sharays son

     We were glad because the day before I got a letter in the mail from Grandma Curtis and in it she gave Sister McCullough and I some balloons so we were able to decorate our trunk.  It wasn't as good as the other members but it was a lot better then a trunk full of missionary supplies.  It was a super fun night.  I wish that our ward would do more fun activities like that so we could invite more non members.

Trunk or Treating!

We love Sister Gretz!

     We were able to start off the week by going over to the Young families house and having a family home evening with them.  It was really fun.  They did the lesson while Sister McCullough and I came up with an activity.  We brought corn starch and we showed them that cool little trick of how you can make a ball.  We told them that it represented a testimony.  You have to constantly be doing the things that you are supposed to or your testimony, just like the corn starch ball, will weaken and then fall apart.  (If you don't know what I am talking about, Google it or ask my mom.)  It was a really fun lesson.  It got a little messy with the 3 boys but they loved it.  It is always so great to be in members homes because you can always feel a difference.  When you walk into their home you can feel the spirit so strong.  I am so grateful for the awesome members here in Apple Valley. 

Family Home Evening with the Youngs

     This week I was able to go on exchanges with the Lakeville sisters and I learned so much.  I was able to be with Sister Toone.  She was trainer in Shingle Creek right after I was with Sister Ballif.  It was fun being with her because we were able to talk about Shingle Creek.  We were able to do a lot of teaching and meet a lot of people.  We had a really cool experience because she was planning on stopping by a member who is actually the mother of one of the members we are working with.  It was such a great experience to be on the other side of things.  To meet the mother who has been saying so many prayers from a distance just hoping that someone, somewhere would reach out and help her daughter.  I am so grateful that I was able to meet her and to hear about the prayers that are being answered.  I am so grateful that the Lord has put us here in Apple Valley.  Once again it goes to show that He knows what He is doing an He knows where we need to be. 

     We have also been able to do a lot of service.  It’s that time of year.  There are leaves everywhere!  Soo many leaves.  Raking is hard here!  It’s not like Utah.  I have a whole new expectation for a pile of leaves.  We were able to go with one of the members and help them do a secret service for someone they home teach.  It was really funny because he offered to just put all the leaves in his van and then to drive them to a field behind his backyard.  Ha.  I don't know what his wife thought of that but Sister McCullough and I thought it was hilarious!

     This week we were able to meet with Sharay a couple times.  It has been going really great.  We were able to tell her about family history work and she is super excited.  She is interested in finding out more about her family and where they are from.  Then we had a lesson about the word of wisdom and she loved it. She totally agrees and is willing to give up tea to follow it.  I am always so amazed at how willing people are to follow the commandments after they haven't been doing it.  It just shows that they feel the spirit and know that it is true.  She was able to go to the Trunk of Treat and to church.  She is starting to meet a lot of members and is making a lot of friends.  She loves it.  Hopefully next week we will be able to set a date with her.

     Khalia is doing good as well.  She is preparing for baptism on the 15th of November.  The only problem is that it is the same week as Stake Conference.  We are asking out mission president if she will be able to be confirmed on the same day that she is baptized.  He has to check with the mission department.  But other than that she should still be good to be baptized on November 15th.  She has been meeting with us at leave twice a week and we are hoping to see her more so that she can be prepared.  So far things are looking good. 

     Then last night we were able to go to President's Fireside with Khalia.  She really enjoyed it.  This was a really great fireside.  A recent convert from the Shingle Creek Ward spoke first.  Then a recently married couple from the YSA Ward, Grant and Brittney, who I know very well spoke and then we had a member of the quorum of the 70, Elder Carlson speak to us.  It was a really great fireside and it was really inspiring.  

Khalia came with us to the fireside!

     Then on top of that Eva was there!  She came running over and gave me a huge hug and sat by me.  I was so grateful to see her!  I have missed her so much and she has been on my mind a lot lately.  

EVA! And her new missionary Sister Chapman!

     I am always so grateful every time I get to one of those because I sit there and I am always so grateful!  I am so grateful for all of my blessings.  I am grateful for the work that I am doing and I am grateful for the people I am able to serve and serve with.  I just know that the Lord loves us all so much.  Then on top of that I found out a bunch of awesome stuff!  I found out that Desirae and her kids got baptized last week (Lake Nokomis ward), Eloisa got baptized a couple months ago (Hudson Ward), and 2 people I found right before I left Dinkytown, Dona and Dane both have date set and they are preparing to be baptized!  It was the coolest moment last night.  Because I just realized that the work still goes on after I leave (obviously) but it was really cool because in that moment I was able to hear about all of the miracles and all of the great things that are happening her in Minnesota in all of the places that I have served!  I am so grateful!  I know that this church is true.  I know that this work is so important and I know that we can help Heavenly Father can make a difference in peoples lives.

President Stacey! He was in the Lake Nokomis ward.

Must be a member!

     I hope that some of you took the challenge I gave a couple weeks ago about missionary week.  The youth in Apple Valley did an awesome job.  We were able to be with them for the third hour of church and we were able to hear their testimony meeting about the experiences that they had.  After watching all of those youth I know that the Lord is saving his best for last.  The youth keep getting stronger and stronger.  I don't know how we are supposed to keep up!  I am so grateful for the examples that they are to me!  I would love to hear different experiences that you are having in your lives with missionary work.  Write me and I promise I will write you back. 

I love you all.

Thanks so much for all of the love and support.  

I truly can feel it everyday.  

Have a wonderful week!  

Expect miracles! :)

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

Noodles with his new book!
(I like to find cute church books at yard sales and thrift
stores and then send them to Kendra to give to people.) .50 cents

Chick fil A for district lunch! My choice!

Look Po from the teletubbies!

I love Noodles!