Run,Run, Rudolph!

Hello Family and Friends!

     Just because I know everyone is probably wondering, YES! This Christmas was way better then last year's! There was no dog or dog vomit! What more could you ask for! Merry Christmas Everyone! It’s crazy to think that this is my last Christmas away from home. My time here is truly flashing before my eyes, but I'm not going to be talking about that. This week was so wonderful. I'm sad the season is over. But I am looking forward to the New Year. It’s a time to set goals and make plans to have things turn out better then they did in the past year. I don't know how I could possibly top this past year, but hey, I'm up for the challenge. Sister England and I have been sharing a new video with the members now that Christmas is over. The video is called, New Year's: Look Not Behind Thee. It is really great and it’s a good way to kick off the new year and to think about what we need to leave behind this year. 

     But back to Christmas, I was starting to jump ahead! This week was so much fun! We were able to do lots of fun things this week. We were able to go with a less active family down to Duluth to go see Bentleyville which is a huge light display! But on the way we decided to stop by another place which was on "Park Point", some lady did all of these pretty lights in her yard and then it went out to the beach and I didn't even realize this but the lake has these huge waves like the ocean! It was the coolest thing to see and the lights just made it even prettier. It was a really great way to know the family better. Then we went to hurry and go see Bentleyville before it was time for us to go home and right as we got there the lady looked at us and said, "You know the lights are turning off in 5 minutes." Oh no! We came all this way and didn't even get to see it. Then the mom was like well if you want you can try to run through it, Sister England and I looked at each other and said okay! So we hurried and we booked it through the whole thing. It was so magical! It totally felt like I was in Home Alone, "Run Run Rudolph!" haha! We got about 3/4 of the way through then the lights flipped off. But we didn't know any different, so we loved it and we still managed to get some pictures! Now we just have an excuse to come back.

Lights at Park Point in Duluth!

Park Point with a less active family we are working with :)

Bentleyville in Duluth!

Cute little Lindsay!

     Then we were also able to go on a Sleigh Ride with our Branch President and his family. It was a lot of fun and we were able to get to meet some of the non members of the family, well the in-laws but it was also a good experience because they haven't been very open to the church in the past so it was good to talk to them. We had a ton of fun! There was a sleigh pulled by some horses! And a little sled on the back and even a zip line. We were able to do all of it because our mission president gave us permission. It was kind of weird to do it as a missionary but it was a lot of fun. Roise is always the star of the show she is so funny. There was this big discussion between the mom and the dad about whether or not she could go on the zip line she ended up going because everyone practically voted and it was hilarious. She had no expression at all. Kids are the best! It was so much fun! What a neat family tradition.

Sleigh Ride with the Branch President and his family!

Rosie!

Me on the zip line, don't worry we got permission :)

Rosie on the zip line

Caleb was being nosiy during a
Christmas program so I
was helping him say quite the
camera was a huge success.

     Christmas Eve was fun and a little strange. We went to a couple different members houses and then one of the members asked us if we would like to come with them to a Methodist service because their family members were in the program. We went and it was really beautiful but I am grateful that instead of all gathering at the church that we are able to gather as a family. I feel the spirit is way stronger in the home. But then again it is neat to see the things that we have in common and how we truly are all celebrating the same thing. The gift of Jesus Christ. 

     Christmas morning was fun! It was super relaxing this year which was nice and much needed! We had a fun time together and a fun time at members homes. We truly are so blessed to be here in the Carlton Branch. 

Our Christmas Jamies!

Look who got Footie Jammies too!! :):) Happy New years to us!

     Then I got to talk to my sweet family! I love them so much! That always feels like the quickest 40 minutes of my life. But it was so great to see everyone and hear how they are doing. It’s crazy to think that in less than 2 months I will be able to give them all a hug! SO WEIRD! I am so blessed with the best family! I love all of them so very much!

Skyping my Family! YAY!

"our cute little Christmas stockings"

We found Pugmire on Christmas day! Santa must have left him!

     Then on top of all the magic that comes with the holidays, we were able to meet 3 times with both Trevor and David. Trevor is doing wonderful he truly is like a sponge, he is just soaking in everything we tell him. Right now, he has a baptismal date set for the 24th of January. Things are looking good so far. He really enjoyed the plan of salvation. It meant a lot to him to know that there is a reason why we are here and that we have a place that we are trying to go. I love to see the light that has come into his life. When we met him he had very little hope and now there truly is a whole new light.

     David is doing great as well, he passed his baptismal interview and he is going to be getting baptized this Saturday. We are really excited for him. He is taking some big steps. He has totally quit smoking and he has been reading from the Book of Mormon everyday. He is in Mosiah right now and he really likes it. It should be a really great experience. Hopefully he will be able to have some friends and family attend. 

Christmas Lunch with the Martindale's and
some other members of our branch!

     Then one last thing before I have to go. Sister England and I came up with a branch activity. Our mission president has a copy of Meet the Mormons so we are going to have a showing up here! No one in our branch has seen it before because it didn't show in the theaters up here. We are turning it into a huge missionary opportunity. We made these flyers and we are going to start handing them out to less actives and investigators and the Branch is going to put it up on local bulletins and also in the local paper. Hopefully we have a good turn out. The showing is going to be on January 16th. Everyone is looking forward to it! We hope to get some new investigators from it too!

     Well I don't know if I have said it before but this is truly such an awesome area. We are totally here for a reason. Sister England and I were talking about it and it truly doesn't make sense to put us here, because they already shut down the area, there is going to be a huge drop in missionaries especially when I go home so it’s really strange to be opening areas at this time and we are the only sisters serving in a branch. But aside from all of that, the Lord had a bigger plan. He knew the people we would see and the people we would touch. And I am so glad to be here! I love the gospel and I love teaching it to others! My time is up, I better go. I love you all so much and I hope you have a Happy New Year! Make it a good one! Peace and Blessings! :)

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

My gift from SAWYER! I love that boy!

Cedrick found his way back to Minnesota!