Hello Edina!

Hello Family and Friends! 

     As you all know transfers were this week!  We had to pack everything up so we would be ready to move out by Wednesday.  I hate packing so much!  It takes me forever to pack for a 3 day trip it is even worse having to pack up everything I own!

Last lesson with Ashley

     We had our last lesson with Ashley this week. Jordan was able to join us, a member in the ward who just left for the MTC on Wednesday.  He is going to Taiwan.  It was a good lesson.  We were able to all bear our testimonies to her.  It was really powerful because it was the last time that she was going to see all of us since we were all leaving.  Hopefully she will continue to read from the Book of Mormon and continue to feel the good feeling that she feels when she is with us.  The Elders are going to start teaching her and then she is going back home in a couple weeks after the semester.

     Tuesday was a crazy day!  So remember how we got a flat tire last week right before we went to go email. Well we had to go get it fixed and guess what it wasn't a pen!  It was an electronic hooka!  Only in Dinkytown! So Sister Callister and I spent the majority of our day at a tire shop trying to get our tire fixed.  It was terrible. 

Eva

     Then afterwards we were able to go and see Eva one last time before we left.  It went really well.  We were able to show her the video "Because of Him".   She loved it she said that her favorite part was how it showed that we all get to live again.  I love watching this video with investigators because the spirit is always so strong and it helps them see the importance of Christ.  It was another really good last lesson with her.  I always hate last lessons because it is so sad to think you might never get to teach them again but the spirit is so strong because you are doing all you can to help them feel of the importance of the message that we share.  I love Eva!  It truly is only a matter of time before she gets baptized!  Guess what she even asked us!  So when is the next baptism thing? WHAT!  Yes!  I can't wait for her to finally take the steps that she needs in order to feel of the happiness and peace that comes from this gospel!

     Then we went back to the Institute and we were able to talk to the Elder who will be taking over all of the people that we will be leaving.  We were able to write a list of all of the people that he needs to meet with.  It was comforting to know that they won't be lost or forgotten.  Then the best news of all!  We decided that it would be best if I continued teaching Eva in Edina.  She already knows both Sister Kekauoha and I so it will be better for her to continue with her progression!  YAY!  I was so happy when I heard this!  I get to still teach Eva!

     Then we were able to have a lesson with Dona and Tyekeela!  They both are so awesome!  We showed them both "Because of Him" and again we were able to bear our testimonies to them.  It was really good because they got to hear why this gospel is important to us and how it has changed our lives.  I really do know that this church is true and it is all Because of Him! They are going to continue meeting with the missionaries when we leave.  We are excited for both of them to continue learning more.  They both have very little if any belief in God.  This was a perfect lesson for them. 

 Elder and Sister Soelberg

Sister Simpson

Sister Callister

     

The Husted's!

     Then it was a lot of goodbyes.  I hate goodbyes!  I have grown to love this ward so much!  YSA wards really are the best!  I  am going to miss everyone so very much.  They aren't just members of the ward but they are my friends that I have grown so very close to. I am already planning on coming back and seeing them again. 

Tyekeela

I will miss all of them.  These two are getting baptized in June!

Christina

Karem gave us some cute going away 

gifts! I am going to miss her so much!

Naye!

    









    

     The hardest goodbyes for me was saying goodbye to the Chinese sisters!  I love them truly like sisters!  It was really fun because the morning of transfers we were able to go with them on one last bike ride.  We went to go see all of the famous landmarks of the University of Minnesota and Dinkytown.  It was a great way to say goodbye to this great area which I have grown to love so very much!  Hey maybe I will come to the U of M when I get back from my mission!  Just kidding!  UTAH STATE!   AGGIES ALL THE WAY! 

Our last bike ride on campus!

Goodbye University of Minnesota!

     Finally!  My new area!  I don't have much time so I will do all I can to sum this up...

Sister Curtis and Sister Kekauoha

     I LOVE IT HERE!  My new companion is Sister Kekauoha!  She is Hawaiian and Japanese, but is from California.  She is so much fun.  She is 21 and she went to 3 years at BYU before her mission.  She is almost done with her mission, she goes home in 3 months!  I can just tell you right now that this is probably going to be the best transfer (hopefully 2 transfers) of my mission!  We get along so well and we have way to much fun together.  And even better then that we teach very well together.  On day one we were teaching lessons like we have known each other for a while.  I am so excited to be her companion!

     My new area is pretty nice.  There is, like all of Minnesota, a lot of diversity.  It is so exciting to be back knocking doors.  I didn't realize how much I missed it!

     We were able to have a lesson with Eva in my new area and it was so great!  We are working with the YSA Elders on her progress but things are going a lot better.  We are able to see her more then we did in Dinkytown because we are closer.  We had a lesson with her and Rachel and it went really well.  She was able to go to church this week at the YSA ward, the CES fireside at the institute and she is working towards baptism.  We told her to pray about what day she should be baptized.  We are so excited to help her along.  I am so very grateful to continue teaching her!

     Last thing!  Sister Kekauoha and I did some nasty service this week!  We went and cleaned a less active members house.  Sick!  It was the grossest thing I have ever done!  There was trash, food, cat hair, and so much more everywhere!  And there are only 2 people living in the house! Ewwww!  We were able to make a huge dent in her house and she was so very grateful.  Oh my goodness!  It was so gross.  I literally started gagging at one point.  But hey, I am glad we could help her.

This was so hard to clean...

Look all clean!

Here are my old shoes I decided
it was time to throw them away.

     Overall though, I am so happy to be here!  I know great things are going to be happening here I just know it! :)

Okay that is all I have time for today!  I love you all.  I hope you have a great week!  Thanks for everything!

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

"Doubt your doubts before you doubt your FAITH"

Hello Family and Friends!

     I am going to start of this week with transfer results!  I am getting transferred!  And so is Sister Callister!  No more English Sisters in the TC YSA ward.  I am so sad.  I don't feel like I am ready to go somewhere else.  There is still so much to be done!  I really wanted to stay in an area for more then 3 months.  Man the Lord must have something else in mind.  I have no idea what is going to happen with all of our investigators and the people that we have met.  I am really nervous that they are going to be lost or forgotten.  One thing I have really grown to know on my mission is the Lord's timing never seems to be the same as mine.  But in the end it all works out.  The biggest challenge for me is being patient enough to see the blessings that come.  Luckily, this isn't my work, it is the Lord's.  There are many different tools that can get the job done.  I know that the amazing people I have met won't be forgotten or lost but they will all get a chance.  At least I was able to help plant the seeds. :) 

Temple Day Lunch!

     As for me I am going to be getting transferred to Edina!  My new companion is Sister Kekauoha.  I have met her of couple times and she is super nice.  She is Polynesian and really happy.  I am excited to serve with her!  Also I will finally be with an older missionary.  It is funny because my last 2 companions were both in the MTC with me.  Now I have the chance to learn some wisdom.  I will tell you more about her next week.  As for the area, I have no idea!  But I do know that they were the missionaries who originally first started teaching Eva.  Maybe I will still be able to teach her and stop by her house.  I don't know but I am super excited!

     We had another lesson with Ashely.  This time we had a lesson with her about the restoration.  We were able to find out that she is lacking a testimony of the restoration.  We had a really good lesson with her about that and we were able to let her watch the Restoration video.  We had a member with us and we talked to Ashley about how the restoration has changed our lives.  Like I have said before the biggest problem with her is that she doesn't have the desire to change. She just likes to learn.  So at this point all we can do is keep giving her things to read because she loves reading from the Book of Mormon.  She is also going to be leaving after finals.  All we can do is plant the seed.

     We weren't able to meet with Eva this week because she had to work a lot but we are planning on seeing her Tuesday.  She has had a lot of contact with the members of the ward.  I know that it is only a matter of time before she comes back.  I am really sad I won't be there for it. 

     We had a really great lesson with the Spanish Sisters and two of their investigators, Joanna and Tannia.  We were able to watch the video, "Because of Him".  They both got really emotional during the video. Their family is going through a lot of hard things right now.  Something has happened and because of it their brother is in jail.  It is amazing to see how strong they both are through all of this.  Joanna is the one who is progressing the most and she has completely turned to God through all of this.  She expressed that she knows that God has a bigger plan for them and it is through the atonement of Jesus Christ that they will be able to get through it all.  I love this gospel.  I love the strength and understanding it gives to us all. 

     This week has been a crazy week because it was Spring Jam.  Finals are coming up so this was the University of Minnesota's last chance to party.  And boy was there a lot of partying!  It started Thursday morning and ended Saturday night.  It was crazy to see everyone and it was kind of hard to talk to people.  They were either on their way to a party or they were already partying.  Like for example we went out to go contacting Saturday morning at 10 am and people were walking around with cases of beer getting ready to #SpringJam.  Every corner we turned there were speakers blaring loud music.  There is even a street called "Frat Row" where there is about 20 frat houses.  I’ll just let you imagine that one.  It was really funny but also kind of sad.  I am so grateful that we don't have to live like that.  It really does just look lame and sound terrible.  We heard so many side conversations about people getting drunk and throwing up all weekend.  I don't know about you but that doesn't sound fun at all.  This was a huge testimony to me of how grateful I am for all of the commandments that we are given because they truly are there to keep us safe and to make us happy! 

     Aside from all the crazy partying we saw we were able to talk to some really awesome people this week. It was a kind of a strange way to sift through those who aren't ready at all.  We met a guy named Ash who is working for a service project to raise money and help people in Ghana.  We were able to share more with him and he is very interested.  We met the sweetest boy from China who doesn't believe in God.  We were able to share Joseph Smith's story with him and he felt the spirit!  He wants to learn more and feel of it more in his life!  We then talked to an older man from Nigeria who works at the U of M.  His faith is amazing!  He has all the same beliefs that we do and he will hopefully be going to church next Sunday.  We talked to a girl Lauren who is on the swim team, also searching.  Even a frat boy who knows some Mormons and sees the happiness that it brings to their lives.  

     I am really going to miss the YSA ward.  I am so grateful that I was able to spend my last Sunday there. It was the Sunday where all of the Seniors came to check it out for the first time and it was also a farewell talk.  A lot of what was talked about was trusting in the Lord and having faith.  This is one of my weaknesses and something that I am really striving to improve on.  Sometimes I am too realistic and in ways I lack faith.  There was an analogy that was shared in sacrament meeting yesterday. 

Thank goodness I was preparing to leave
(I took a few pictures just in case)

     Opposition is like a log and we are the fire.  The log will either smother us or we can light it on fire and turn it into something even brighter!  I loved this and it really put things into perspective for me.  I need to make my faith even brighter.  I can’t let it get smothered by my doubts.  Like President Uchtdorf said, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." I am so grateful that I am in a church where they ask us to do hard things.  It gives us the change to be guided and to grow.  I know I have seen that in the last 9 months.  I have grown so much and I truly have been guided.  It’s all part of the refiner’s fire. 

Sister Missionaries with the Ward Mission Leader!

     I love you all and like always I am out of time!  I am sorry I can't share more!  I can't believe all the changes that are going to happen!  I know that everything happens for a reason and I am so excited to find out what it is! 

Love Sister Kendra Curtis

For our District P-day we went to the St. Paul Cathedral.

Because of Him!

Dearest Family and Friends! 

A rainy day at the University of Minnesota 

     I just want to start off by saying Happy Easter!  I don't know about you but this has been such a great Easter week.  I have been so grateful for the opportunity that we have had to look back at the life of Christ and to see all that is possible Because of Him. This month we have had the opportunity to read through an Atonement packet that our mission president gave us.  In it there are different talks and chapters in the Book of Mormon that we were able to study and read about the Atonement of our Lord and Savior.  It has been a real blessing to me.  It has been a blessing because it has helped to come to realize what is the center of the gospel.  Jesus Christ.  It is all Because of Him.  The reason we believe what we do. The reason I am even out on a mission right now is to bring others closer to Christ.  Because of Him.  We have been showing everyone we can this new video that the church made.  It is amazing!  Every time I watch it I get the chills!  

Because of HIM   

(click on this ^)

What is possible for you Because of Him?

Happy Easter Everybody! :)

     To start off we were able to have a lesson with Ashley and Sister Soelberg joined us for the lesson.  It went really well.  We wanted to focus our lesson on recognizing the spirit.  We were able to share patterns of light with her.  It was amazing, she would express concerns that she has and then right after Elder Bednar would answer her question exactly even using some of the same phrases.  And Sister Soelberg was great as well.  She has such a great spirit and just a wonderful way of making others feel loved.  We helped her understand the different ways the spirit talks to us and then we were able to commit her to have a "spirit journal".  We gave her a journal specifically for the times when she feels the spirit.  Told her to write them down and if it is easier to even draw pictures.  We are trying a bunch of different ways so that she can better know how the spirit is speaking to her and then realize just how much it is happening.  We are excited to meet with her this week and see how it turned out. 

Sister Pead and Phillip  at the fireside... still not baptized...Aggh!

     I have quite a few crazy stories for things that happened this week we will see how many I can fit in. So one night Sister Callister and I were walking around and we were able to talk to a guy names Cortez.  He was african and he was trying to ask people for money. He asked us and we said no but then we were able to talk to him about God.  I was basically holding the conversation the whole time and all of the sudden I just looked over and Sister Callister was jusg staring at him.  She had no idea what this guy was saying.  This guy was all over the place.  We were trying to teach him the restoration but he would get so off topic.  Let me give you an example of how crazy off topic it was. We were talking about how Heavenly Father loves us so much and how he sent his some Jesus Christ because he loves us. 

     Then all the sudden Cortez says, "Jenny... Jenny! Just like Jenny!  Jenny loved Forest so much that she would do anything for him!" ....Sister Callisters eyes go huge she was completely caught off guard.  I then say, "Yeah imagine all that love but even more for us.  Jesus Christ did so much for us...." Then I just kept going. 

     It was a hilarious lesson.  We tried to get his information so we could share more with him but it is kind of hard to get a hobo's address and phone number. We ended up just having to give him ours.  

Football Stadium!

     Another one, we had this awesome lesson with a girl named Callie.  We meet her on the bus and we were able to teach her all about the restoration.  She loved it!  She was so full of the spirit and had such a desire to learn more.  We got off the bus and we started walking her to her apartment.  But then all the sudden as we were walking some girl came up to Callie and gave her a note card and said "you dropped this" then ran off.  We have talked to her before, her name is Filimena.  She is not a fan of what we are sharing with others.  She said that she felt bad for us because we were going around telling everyone something that isn't true.  Sister Callister then looked over Callie's shoulder to see what was on the note card and it said, "Don't listen to them they are lying!"  From then on things got way weird and Callie gave us a fake email address.  It was heartbreaking to watch the light that was in her eyes disappear.  I was so sad that because of Filimena, Callie didn't want anything to do with us.  It is so sad.  It made me feel just a little bit how Heavenly Father must feel.  He is constantly looking down on us rooting us on but then all the sudden little things will get in our way and we then loose the light we once had.  One thing that is hopeful is this probably wasn't the last time that she will see missionaries.  We at least planted a seed and one day someone will be able to help her see more and come back to the light.

Easter Bunny Magic!

  On Saturday morning we had the great idea of making Sister Pao and Sister Huang some Easter baskets (...trash bags).  We filled there baskets (bags) with grass, eggs, candy and love notes just like every good basket should have.  Then we ran over there bright and early and they were able to have a Happy Easter!  This was Sister Huang's first Easter ever and Sister Pao's second.  They have never been able to experience the Easter Bunny magic.  It was so much fun and they loved it!  Thanks for all of the Easter candy family!  I was able to share and have a Happy Chinese Easter! :)  Everyone loved it!

Thanks Family!

Easter Dinner all the TC YSA missionaries

Husteds and Soelbergs senior missionaries

     Oh update with Eva!  Last week were able to send her a letter with a general conference talk in it.  We just let her know how much we love her and how the Lord loves her.  Then we talked about how He is always there to help us through our trials.  Then one of the members in our ward was able to get a hold of Eva Saturday night.  He asked her how she was doing and she then told him that her father had a stroke!  He is doing fine.  The member was then able to talk Eva into having a lesson with us this week.  We are so excited. We were able to talk to her on the phone for a little and it was good to hear how she was doing.  She said she got our letter in the mail and that it really helped her.  It is amazing to see how the Lord has his own timing.  This could be Eva's time!  We are so grateful that the Lord has answered our prayers and made it possible that we will be able to meet with her again. :)

     Yesterday was the best Easter ever!  We has such a great service and the spirit was so strong.  I love hearing the testimonies of others and how the atonement has blessed their lives.  The day was mostly focused on the atonement and all that is possible because of it.  One of the speakers shared this amazing poem, I wish I knew the name.  I will try and find out.  I will do my best to tell it.  
     It talked about a man and how he had dug himself into a huge hole and he couldn't get out on his own.  Then all the sudden from above he heard a voice that said, "Don't give up. You can get out.  Build a ladder with the sticks and rocks that are around you."  

     He did just that.  He started doing all he could to build a ladder to the top so he could get out.  Once he did all that he could, he then climbed up the ladder and realized that he was 10 feet short from reaching the top.  He went back down, started to cry and wondered why?  Why his ladder wasn't long enough?  Why he couldn't get out?  

     Then all the sudden he heard a voice that said, "Your ladder is high enough now I will throw down a rope."  He then climbed up the ladder and then climbed up the rope.  Christ was standing there.  He makes up for what we can’t.  When it looks like things are completely hopeless and we have done all we can, He will do the rest.  He will always pull us out if we will do our part.  

     He then asked his Savior, "How can I repay you, what can I do?" 

     The Savior said "Feed my Sheep."  He then looked around and saw other holes with people inside.  He went around telling them, “Don't give up.  You can get out. Build a ladder with the sticks and rocks that are around you.”

     We can use what we have had to go through to help others and to lift others up.  By sharing our experiences and trials with them, they can have the same happiness that we have in our lives. 

     This has been a big part of what has stuck out to me this week.  This week has probably been my turning point in my mission.  I have felt like a lot of my mission I haven't been doing my "very" best.  That I have been holding something back and I have never been sure of what it was.  This week has really got me thinking about what it is that I need to do to become the very best missionary that I can.  I really do need to step it up and I need to start now.  We got to meet with the Sister Training Leaders and they were able to teach me a lot.  

     They talked to us about the talk Refined in Our Trials by James E Faust.  They talked about about how we all have "refiners fire" moments in our lives.  This got me thinking.  At first I didn't even know if I had any.  But I have specifically been praying to have them brought to my memory and I have had a flood of life changing experiences brought to my mine.  Things that I have completely forgotten about.  I know that it is through the spirit that I was able to remember.  These experiences and trials aren't "mine" anymore, they are the Lord's.  While I am here on my mission, I get to use them to bless the lives of others on my mission.  My investigators, members, and my companion.  I have been given them for a reason.  They really are the life changing moments in my life that have made me into the person I am today.  I am so grateful for the blessing I have had this week to have my eyes opened. To see how I can better help those I am serving with.  I love this gospel so very much.  I want to help others get out of their holes, because I know that I have been helped out of mine.  Like I have said before it is

 Because of Him!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

I love these sisters!

This is Sister Pao's hat!  I love it!
(mom try and fig one of these for me for next winter)

Weirdo Fountain!

The Lamb of God

Dearest Family and Friends!

P-Day Lunch at Eddington's
 missionaries get 50% off

     Hello!  It is so good to email again!  I always love email because it makes me realize just how much happened this week!  And holy cow so much did!  First off weather update!  It got to 70 degrees this week! Whoa!  I was in a short sleeve shirt with no tights!  Spring is almost here!!

     I don't know what you all have heard, but Dinkytown was a crazy place this past weekend!  The University of Minnesota had a couple huge hockey games going on. After the games there were some crazy riots!  Crazy! Like they flipped over a cop car and lighted it on fire crazy!  Ten people were arrested and got kicked out of the University because of it.  The next day they were prepared.  They had cops everywhere!  Cops in cars, cops on bikes, cops in the air, cops on foot, even cops on HORSES!  They were not going to let this happen again!  Now don't worry I was completely safe.  I didn't even know about it.  I was just 3 floors up in my bed listening to the helicopters flying around.  Crazy huh!

On to the work:

     This week we were able to have a lesson with Ashley.  We have been meeting with her for about 2 months.  She is doing fine.  She has been reading everything that we leave her with and continues to meet with us but we just feel she isn't applying what she is learning.  We have feel like she has ever felt or recognized the spirit before.  She always "kills" the moment when we try and point it out, and it is completely unintentional.  We really need to help her to recognize the importance of the gospel and how its not just some interesting topic that she gets to learn about but this is a lifestyle that truly will help her in many different ways. We are going to try to be more visual this week and change up some of our teaching techniques hopefully it will help.

The pretty sights on our way to find a map of the Twin Cities!

St. Paul side of the Mississippi 

     This week Sister Callister and I were able to go to many different college campuses.  We were able to meet lots of different people.  Earlier we went on a hunt for a map of the Twin Cities.  Maps are hard to find it really is a dying art!  After some searching we were able to find one.  This was really helpful because we were then able to circle where all of the close colleges were. 

What?  Auggies???

     Then we went to a couple colleges, one of them was Northwestern University.  This was actually a Christian college which we didn't find out until we started talking to a couple of people.  We were able to have a lot of great discussions with people.  It was very interesting because they knew a lot about the Bible because they are taking different Bible study classes. We were getting ready to go back to our car when all the sudden both Sister Callister and I felt like maybe we should stay a little longer.  We went back to where all the people where and there was one girl who kept standing out to us.  One girl in particular.  We went and approached her while she was sitting on a bench and we started talking to her.  We then asked her what her name was and guess what it was... Kendra!  Whoa!  My face was probably priceless.  I was completely caught off guard but I was able to recover.  We then were able to talk to her a little about the restoration and we don't know exactly what but she is really going through something hard right now.  We didn't talk long but hopefully we will get to see her next week.  I just thought it was amazing how both Sister Callister and I felt that we should go back and that she was the one that we needed to talk to.  The Lord knows what he is doing. 

Officer Bryan

     After that we had a really strange experience.  Long story short.  Sister Callister and I went to get a car wash but mostly to use the free vacuums.  Just as we were finishing up Sister Callister shut her doors and I went to go put something in the trash then a huge gust of wind came and slammed my door shut. .... We had locked our keys in the car.  We didn't have anything with us, our phone, our purses, our planner, nothing.  We had no idea what we should do.  I then remembered that just moments before I saw a cop go into the car wash.  We ran to the end of the car wash and stopped him to see if he could help us.  He then told us that he didn't have the tools to help us but he could get someone there who did. n He then looked at us and said, "Guess what I was reading about today?" He then whipped out The Articles of Faith by Bruce R. McConkie.  What?  He was a Mormon!  He then was able to call Pop-A-Lock for us.  While they were on their way he waited with us for about 35 minutes.  We got to know him a little and then we found out that he was a less active member and that he is really struggling with his faith.  He explained to us that a lot of his doubts come from the work that he does.  It has been really hard for him.  It was really cool because we were able to tell him how his main concern is whether or not the Book of Mormon is true.  Because if it is then everything else is true.  We had a really good discussion with him and we started basically teaching him the restoration.  It was going really well.  But then Officer Bryan had to get going and go do some more officer things, but he was very grateful for what we had shared with him.  We were then able to leave him with a chapter to read and we told him to get in contact with the missionaries where he lives.  He was a really awesome guy and it was cool to see how the Lord placed us in his path.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I personally didn't enjoy this way as much. 

     This week we had a Zone Conference.  We always learn so much, I love hearing from the mission president and the other missionaries.  What really stood out to me was the importance of the Book of Mormon.  They talked about how we need to use the Book of Mormon to address concerns that our investigators have.  It really does all come back to the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is the keystone to our religion.  Without it, we have no religion.  I know that all of this is true!  There is no way that Joseph Smith could have made it all up and then gone through all the terrible things that he did.  He was a prophet of God.  He did translated the book by the power of God. He did see God and Jesus Christ.  He did restore Jesus Christ's church back on the earth.  We know this because the Book of Mormon is true.  To me this shows how much Heavenly Father really does love us.  He wants us to know for ourselves of the truth and the Book of Mormon is the way we can do that!

     Yesterday we got to go to the Lamb of God!  It is an oratorio about the last part of Christ's life all the way up to the resurrection.  It was wonderful.  Ashley was able to come with us and she really loved it.  We have this really good choir called the Mormon Choral, they are amazing and there were a bunch of soloist who also sung in it.  Two of the soloist are in the YSA ward and some of them were in the choir as well.  I cannot explain to you how amazing it was.  The spirit was so strong and the singing was amazing.  Also it was another little reunion for me.  I saw so many people I knew from both my Shingle Creek and Hudson wards!  It reminds me of all the amazing people that I have been able to work with here on my mission.  I truly have made life long friends here!  I love Minnesota with all of my heart!

Sister Pead is such a sweetie.
I love getting Stillwater updates.

Brother Brueshaber was ushering!

     I just want to let you all know that I love you!  I love Minnesota!  I love the people I get to serve and are serving with.  I am reminded constantly that I am exactly where I need to be!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

It's Gnome Time!

"They had a testimony and it changed the world!"

Hello Family and Friends!

Hey guys!  I sure have missed you but like always weeks go by so fast.  I can't believe it is already Monday. Even weirder, I can't believe I have been on my mission for 8 months today!  Whoa! 

     I would like to start of by quoting Katy Perry. Minnesota! "You're HOT and you're COLD!" What the heck!  Minnesota is so frustrating.  It is always teasing us with the weather.  As you saw last week it was way warm.  Most of the snow had melted and you could even see the grass.  Then one morning we woke up and guess what we saw?  10 inches of snow!  What in the world!  It was back to being cold.  Then what do you know yesterday it was in the 50s and the snow melted again. I didn't even need a coat!  This land is so strange.  It’s a good thing I love the people so much or I probably wouldn't come back and visit!

Both of these pictures were taken the same week!

     Anyways, this week was a great week as always so I guess I better get started.

     Okay I have a funny story for you all.  This week Sister Callister and I have been doing more survey's. They have been a huge success and we have been able to talk to a lot of different people.  We were able to stop a guy named Kader.  He is an African from Togo. He looks like he might be on the football team.  We stopped him and we asked him if he would be able to take a survey.  He said yes.  We asked him the questions and he had a lot of similar beliefs.  We were even able to find out that at one point missionaries were coming to his house when he was 12 to meet with his sister.  So he has a pretty good understanding about us and the church.  It was very interesting talking to him.  He had a lot of great outlooks on life and he has a great faith.  I was super excited to find someone who really was interested.  He even gave us him number without us even asking for it!  He wanted to meet again.  We then asked him if we could say a prayer with him before he headed off.  He said yes then reached his hands out like he wanted to hold hands.  I thought nothing of it.  My mind went right back to Shingle Creek and how we would do this everyday.  So we held his hand in the middle of campus and then I started to say a prayer.  Then, all the sudden I peaked open my eyes and looked down at my hand and Kader was rubbing my hand with his thumb.  I then looked over at Sister Callister and he wasn't doing the same thing to her!  What the Heck!  I ended my prayer very abruptly and let go of his hand.  He then looked at us smiling and said, "I will see you ladies soon."  Then we walked away.  Sister Callister started laughing because she peaked as well and saw what had happened.  Oh man.  We already have a pass off lesson set up with the Elders.  I guess then we will see what he was really interested it.  

     Next crazy story!  This week Sister Callister and I had another opportunity to talk to a pastor.  Man!  I don't think I will have time to tell this story.  Ask me some time about the Rock pastor that Sister Callister and I did a survey with and how it was an awesome spiritual experience. 

     This week we got to meet with Ashley a couple of times and she came to General Conference.  We met her about 6 weeks ago.  She has been meeting with us for quite a while but won't commit to a baptismal date.  She loved General Conference.  She really loved hearing the prophet speak.  Earlier she was able to open up to us and tell us more of her concerns.  She said she lacks confidence and she feels that if she were to get a better relationship with Heavenly Father then she would be able to change that.  Conference was really helpful for her and she is starting to make small and simple changes.  Hey you have to start somewhere. 

     As I have mentioned in the my letter, we have lost contact with Chloe.  She was preparing for baptism but then she went on vacation with her family and she hasn't got back to us or any of the members that have been trying to contact her as well.  The other night we were thinking about how we needed to get in contact with her and nothing was working.  Then we had the idea to use the Institute's phone because she wouldn't recognize the number.  Guess what!  She answered.  We were then able to talk to her and find out what exactly was going on.  We weren't able to find out very much but we know that she is going through some really hard things with her family not supporting her and she is now starting to doubt some of the things that she has learned.  She just needs support.  We are so grateful that we were finally able to get a hold of her and hopefully we will be able to help her remember the feelings that she once felt.  But as of now she won't be getting baptized.  Keep her in your prayers.

     I am afraid we have some bad news with Eva as well.   She wasn't there for our appointment earlier in the week and we weren't able to get a hold of her either.  Thursday night Sister Shurtz one of our Sister Training Leaders was on an exchange with me and I all of the sudden felt like maybe we should go stop by her house and see if she was home.  We got there and she was.  She came out and told us that she doesn't want to get baptized and she doesn't want us to come over anymore.  She told us that she doesn't even know if she wants God in her life.  I looked at her and I knew this wasn't true.  We then asked some more questions and we were able to find out that her dad isn't supporting her and her friends aren't supporting her so at this point it is easier for her to not go to any church then to go to one and cause contention.  It is really just so sad to watch because you can see how she isn't happy.  She knows that this church is true.  She has told this too us and she has felt the spirit I know she has.  But she is forgetting all of the blessings God has given her.  It really is heartbreaking to watch these people I love and care about be in so much pain and confusion.  We have exactly what they need to be happy. AGGH! Sister Shurtz is an amazing missionary.  She is someone who I really respect and look up to.  She is amazing when she teaches and I love how confidently bold she is when she shares the gospel.  Before we left, she left Eva with a promise.  She said, "Eva I want you to know that one day you will be a member of this church.  It may not be this year or anytime before that.  But you will be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."  We then left her with a prayer and that is the last time that we will see Eva.  We have done everything we possibly can.  At this point she needs to want it for herself.  Keep her in your prayers as well.

     As for General Conference, it was so great right!? Aggh I wish I could just go through every single talk and mention everything that I loved about them but that would take up my whole 2 hours!  Since I have to, I will sum up my thoughts about general conference. The biggest thing that I took from it is how we all need to be "True to the Faith." In almost every talk they talked about how important it is for each and everyone of us to stand up of what we believe and to be true to our faith. 

"Increase your faith. Proclaim your faith.  Let your faith show." "Replace your fears with faith.”  “Don't take down your statement."  "Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion but Defend them."  " You will have to defend your faith because you are a member of the true church."  "Be thou and example of the believers."  "True to the faith which our parents have cherished."  "Nothing could keep them from fulfilling their mission. They had a TESTIMONY and it CHANGED THE WORLD!"

     These are just a few of the amazing statements that were given in General Conference.  The apostles know we are being tested.  They know we don't "fit in". They know others disagree with what we do and say. They know all of the hard things that we are experiencing.  They know that we need to stand firm and that is why they want us to build our foundation on the rock of our Redeemer.  This is something I have grown to understand on my mission. 

Minnesotta Skyline!!!

     This is a moment of honesty here.  When I was first called to serve in Minnesota Minneapolis I was a little disappointed.  I wanted to go out into the world, in a foreign country, where I could learn a language and be able to teach people outside of the United States.  I felt like the Lord didn't trust me somewhere else so he kept me here.  I have come to realize that no matter where you are sent you will experience hard things.  I may not have to eat gross food or bathe in a bucket but I have to talk to people who question my faith everyday.  In a foreign country you have the excuse of not knowing the language and not being able to express what you really feel.  But here if I am asked a hard question they expect me to answer!  I have no excuse not to.  I feel that in these moments I have strengthened my own faith.  There is no other option.  I have to know that what I am sharing is true or the people here will rip me apart.  I know without a doubt that the message I am sharing is true.  The best way that I am able to know that is through the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is the way to resolve all concerns because if the Book of Mormon isn't true then nothing else is.  Then Joseph Smith isn't a prophet and he didn't see God and he wasn't instructed by God to restore Jesus Christ's church once again on the earth.  Everything comes back to the Book of Mormon and the story of the restoration.  The message that we share with people everyday!  This is what will change peoples lives.  We just need to be brave enough to do it.  I want to share a little bit of what my mission president shared with us in his letter today.  He is talking about us doing mission work and how the Lord is by our side the whole way.

"This gives us enormous confidence -- in the Lord, not ourselves.  We don’t have to worry about messing up. We just give our all and He takes care of the rest.  We only have to worry if we’re not being diligent and giving our best effort.  But we don’t worry about mistakes, because we all make mistakes.  We’re weak and small. But the Lord makes us astonishing!" 

-President Clements

     Truly all we can do is our best.  The Lord will do the rest.  I know that as we all stand up for our beliefs and our testimonies that we will better be able to be an example to others.  We are all on a different mission. Do your best with no regrets!

"Nothing could keep them from fulfilling their mission. 
They had a TESTIMONY and it CHANGED THE WORLD!"

I love you all!

Love, Sister Kendra Curtis

Random box on Campus???

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