# Embark in the Service of God

Dearest Family and Friends!

2015 Baby!

     Happy New Years! Can you believe that it is 2015!! Back to the FUTURE! hahaha This was a crazy week! A lot went on and miracles are happening in this area! I love the people here in this area! Carlton is the best!

     Trevor is doing so great. I can't believe it but it was a month ago yesterday that we met him walking down the street. He has changed so much in the last month. He is so happy! We were able to meet with him 3 more times last week. He has been having a hard time getting into the Book of Mormon. Its hard for him to understand. Last week we told him to read the introduction in the Book of Mormon. He then texted us at 2:00 am saying, "Sorry to text late but I did as asked in Moroni 10:3-5. I got this feeling, then randomly, as if someone had whispered it to me I heard, Almost there but not yet. I don't know what just happened when is the soonest we can meet up?"   We couldn't believe it! We then met with him the next day and had a really good lesson with him about scripture study. We wanted to help him get into the scriptures and to help him realize how it applies to him and how he can use it. We had an awesome lesson about Alma 32 and how right now he is planting this seed in his heart and it is up to him to help it to grow into something big that he can rely on. 
     This week was great for him but then Saturday night we got a text from him saying that his grandma found his Book of Mormon and that she wasn’t happy. She kept saying, Anyone but the mormons. We ended up calling him to help him through it. It was neat talking to him because anyone else at that point would have probably dropped us because it would be too hard. But he just kept telling us that he was frustrated that they didn’t understand and weren’t willing to listen. As we were talking to him all the sudden the thought came to my head. I said, Trevor maybe this is it. Maybe this is why Heavenly Father wanted you to wait. He knew it wouldn’t be easy and that this would happen. You should try again to pray, and this time specifically pray and ask is this worth it? Is it worth going though and I promise that you will get your answer. It was so weird the thought came into my head so fast and before I even knew what it was I was sharing it. I truly feel like in that moment the spirit was working through me. He is such a great kid! He came to church for the third time and we were all fasting that his families hearts would be softened. The sisters are going to be seeing him tonight to hear more about how things are going. I am excited to hear what is in store for him.

     This week Sister Shumway came to Carlton with me. She is from Star Valley, Wyoming. Our day was completely wonderful and we had a ton of fun. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! We were able to do some service, we got to see some less actives and we had lessons with our investigators. Another thing that we have been doing is going to anywhere and everywhere that will let us hang up our Meet the Mormons flyers. We are hoping it will be a pretty big thing. So far so good! :)

Exchanges with Sister Shumway!

Blow Pong!

     This week we were able to have our district P-day. I think this was the first time ever that the elders didn’t want to play basketball or sports!! MIRACLE! ha Instead we played a ton of games. We played this super funny game called Blow Pong. It’s kind of like four square, you all have a certain section of the table and if the ball goes of your section then you are out. It was a ton of fun we played it for a pretty long time. Then we played Sequence, Liars Dice, Spot it, Egyptian Rat Screw and Signs. It was a ton of fun! We have a really fun district right now and it’s always better when there are 2 sets of sisters! :)

     David was baptized this week! We were so excited for him. We had some good lessons with him this week and he was really excited. The part that he was most excited for is that all of the sins of his past are going to be washed away and that he truly is going to get a fresh start. He also said that he is excited to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost so that he will be able to make good decisions in the future. It was a really special day and we are happy for him. 

Exchanges with Sister Shumway!

David was baptized!

     It was funny because the water wasn’t very warm. We kept having to turn the water on and off to make it warm. So we decided that it might be a good idea to boil a pot of water and to throw it in there so we totally did that!

     Also, today is the day that we find out about transfers.  But actually yesterday we got a call from President Forbes telling us that we aren’t getting transferred but that we are going to be going on a week long exchange. Sister Shumway is going to be coming down to Carlton to be with Sister England and I am going to be going up to Duluth to be with Sister Simpson. Sister England has been struggling with anxiety and depression. President Forbes is trying to figure out the best thing to do for her right now so that she can continue to serve. Sister Shumway's last companion had depression as well so president it going to see if this will help the situation. Honestly, I don't know what my feelings are about all of this. It definitely wasn’t expected. I am sad to leave Carlton. I love that area so much, I love the members, I love our less actives and we have some really awesome lessons planned with our investigators. I’m sad I am going to be missing it but hopefully it will only be for the week. But it will be really good for Sister England. It will help her to have the confidence that she can do this and that she will be able to take over the area when I am gone. I am happy that I am going to be with Sister Simpson though. It’s finally what we have both been asking for for the last 17 months! Crazy how the Lord really does have a plan through it all! So starting today I will be in Duluth for a week then we will talk to President Forbes and we will then decide what to do from there.   

Rosie!  I just can't get enough of her!

     I guess my last thought has to do with the new youth theme! EMBARK! "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." D&C 4:2 Check out the video! Its so awesome! I just love the church so much! It’s cool to see how they are totally embracing social media. ....secretly it gets me excited for when I get home. :) This has actually been something that I want to focus on this year. Being aware of opportunities to serve. #embark. Its such a great thing to know that even thought I won’t "technically" be serving the Lord anymore, there is always an opportunity to embark in the service of God. 

     I love you all! The church is true! I am so happy to be here! I know that the Lord places us in certain areas and with certain people for a reason! I am so grateful that we can trust in the Lord with everything. Not everyone has that knowledge.

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis 

Hazel let me borrow her hat!

Lunch with Sampson.

District Meeting!

The blanket for President and Sister Forbes!