Monday, March 24, 2014

Things starting to get rolling!‏

Hey Everybody,

The past couple weeks have been kinda rough. We haven't been able to teach that many people, havent been able to get members to lessons with us a whole lot, but during the last couple days things have been changing around alot. Veronica someone who was taught by other missionaries is finally being taught by us. When we went over she said she had been really sad and just not feeling very good. She said that when ever missionaries come over she feels really happy and peaceful. Also another potential investigator of ours Eugene "who is a really big black dude but is really nice and loves the gospel" said he wanted to come over when we taught veronica so he could learn with someone else. So we have 2 new investigators this week.

Another amazing blessing that came into our lives is Brother Snyder. We had been searching and praying for someone who would be able to go out to lessons with us more. Right as we were getting kinda mad Brother and Sister Snyder move in. They are the most awesome most missionary oriented people I know. They like the Dallas Cowboys alot so we are best friends. Brother Snyder said that if we ever need anyone to go with us to a lesson he would be there for us. Hopefully he becomes the new ward mission leader cause our one now is moving to the bahamas soon. 

Another Cool thing that happen this week is we were able to give a blessing to a professional baseball player. He played for the giants for like 6 years. His name is ryan cabins. He is a non member and he wanted a blessing. He is super spiritual and super prepared for the gospel. He said he would come to churhc but unfortunately didnt. He was let go from the giants like a month ago and is looking for a new team to play for. This is why he wanted a blessing to help give him comfort and peace as he tried to do what is best for his family. 

The Lord is blessing us for our dilligence in finding and teaching these people. The work is definately moving forward at a quicker pace. 

Love you all so much,
Elder Kennedy

Monday, March 17, 2014

Slow Week

Hey everybody,

This was a pretty slow week. We finished up the lessons with Kathy and now she is officially going to be baptized March 29th. Really exciting.

My companion and I did some rock climbing this week! We acidentally went climbing where you needed to be hooked up.We didnt know so we just climbed to the top. It was way dangerous cause if we slipped we would fall like 200 feet. It was fun though and definately a good experience.

Not much happened this week but we are hopefully going to get the members more involved in missionary work. 

We were invited to a High Priest Group Social last week! It was so fun! They had this meat that one of the ward members cooks in a pit or something. It was so good! They had a program which included 60+ year old people singing, dancing, and reading poetry! It was way cute! 

The Ward members are starting to get more comfortable around us and hopefully starting to trust us more! This sunday was a really cool experience because as we start to get to know the ward better they are starting to actually talk to us more! 

One of our recent converts "Joe Tambe" just got the Aaronic Priestood Sunday. We were suppose to be in the circle but we accidently forgot about it and was off doing something else. Whoops but as soon as we remembered we ran over and heard the last part of the ordination! It was really cool! We are trying to get him another recent convert "Ricky Leyva" more involved in family history so they can prepare a name to go to the temple with! That is one thing that is big now is getting the Recent Converts involved in family history so they can see the importance of the temple.

Luckily I was able to be involved alot in family history back home with the Stake Presidents Challenge and also involved with it at college to! Family History is so fun! 

Keep praying for missionary work in your own lives and keep doing family history!

Well I love you all,
Elder Kennedy

Monday, March 10, 2014

Starting to love the members down here!‏


Hey everybody,

One big thing I am starting to realize is that the members down here start to become your extended family! These are the people who show you the most love down here because they know us. They are the only ones who actually love us, while everyone else here either try to avoid us or aren't nice to us. When we visit with members we really feel that love and learn to appreciate them more because they are all we got down here!

Now i wish they would do a little more missionary work down here, but i had a revelation during sacrament meeting this week to have a sort of how to begin doing missionary work workshop for them members. Show them how they can incorporate missionary work into their everyday lives. The members are the ones who have friends and family down here who they can introduce to the gospel! It can come from just saying I know you can be with your family again to those who have family members that have just died. Any number of ways that members can be apart of sharing the gospel. It shouldn't be a scary thing but should just be apart of our everyday life. We are just sharing what makes us happy and what brings us the most joy in this life. Like we have always said in this family it is just showing people where we get our happiness from. 
I have found a huge love for the Book of Mormon while on my mission! It has been a huge source of comfort on my mission! I love to read it and feel that peace from it!

I love how spunky the white head women are down here! They just say things how they are, but also make you feel special! They cook so good down here! Old people are they best because they can just say whatever they like and nobody can tell them differently! They are so awesome! 

Well like I said before members are the key to missionary work! The lord is hastening his work which now includes members and missionaries working together! Members are key because they are the ones their for the convert after we missionaries are gone. They are the ones who give us the people to go see. When we get referrals from members we take it seriously but also we know that with members referrals the investigators have an instant in with the church. They have someone who they can hang on to when things get rough and someone to ask questions to when they have one! 

Well I love you guys. Keep doing missionary work and keep feeding missionaries! We don't get fed that often so we really appreciate it when people feed us! Be nice to missionaries to! They face hardships all day long and yet still have a smile on their face! Keep praying for missionary opportunities and service! 

Love you all!
Elder Kennedy

Monday, March 3, 2014

Another week gone by! - God has a plan for us!

Hey everybody,

This week was a little difficult just because it was easy to get discouraged because of some people! This week as we were making our rounds and visiting members when we came up on a family whose dad wasnt to nice! We were walking up to the door when he opens it and says what are you guys doing here. He then went on to yell at us and told us to never come back... I dont say this to have you guys feel sorry for me but to let you know that god has a plan for us. So I was thinking alot about this man and why he had so much anger towards the church and especially towards missionaries. I was praying alot and wondering why we had to meet this man. Well he has been on my mind so I told the sister missionaries about him and i found out that they know him really well. So I found out that he just completely hates the church and especially Elder missionaries. Not sure why but that is what I know... then i learn that his son actually wants to serve a mission for the church. So he is trying to keep the missionaries away from his son so that we dont "persuade him to go on a mission." I feel like the reason that this family was on my mind so much is so that i can help this mans son be able to serve a mission. The father lets the sister missionaries in from time to time and even feeds them but he never lets the elder missionaries in. So the sister missionaries are going to try and work with them right now and see if the son will come to church. If he comes to church then maybe we can talk to him and see what is up.  I dont know but i will see if I am able to help this son with Gods help. 

Well on a brighter note I got to see the Gilbert Temple Dedication... That was really neat to watch. It was cool because before it began they should on the projector pictures of it and of the inside of it. As i was watching it I felt the peace that i feel in the temple. It was really nice because just the day before i was feeling really discouraged from the father of that family. As I was watching it I had a huge yearning to go to the temple. And guess what We are going this week on my birthday! I am looking forward to it so much!

Something cool that happen was yesterday we got to listen to stephanie meyers speak... the author of twilight.. I guess she lives in the city right next to scottsdale! It was really cool to hear what the gospel meant to hear and how it has blessed her life. There was alot of non member there which was cool to see. 

Elder Jackson and I have two scheduled baptisms coming up.. One for Jan Agardy and one for Kathy Ainsworth! 

Jan is an amazing person. As we were teaching her she told us about how she came to know god exists by telling us about a time when she almost killed herself but was caught up in a light and saw jesus and sat on his lap! She said she felt so much peace and comfort that is indescribable. She then said that God speaked to her and told her she needs to be a person that talks to people who are about to die about jesus and his gospel. She was really prepared to meet us and join the church. 

Kathy has been attending church for 1 year now with her husband who is a member. She finally now has the desire to get baptized! This is way cool because she called us! We had been trying to get in contact with her since we got there and finally she called us and said she was ready. She will be baptized within two to three weeks!

Well i hope everything is going well for you guys! God does have a plan for us! I found a scripture that really gives me comfort as i am serving a mission. It is D&C 6:29-37 and also D&C 84:85-88. Read them and tell me what you think!
Love you guys so much, I am praying for you guys! Keep me posted on everyone! How is Cal, Grant, Sarah, and Anna doing... Lindsey said they were sick a couple weeks ago... are they doing better?
Love you guys!

Elder Kennedy