Monday, October 20, 2014

Weekly Update - 10/20/2014

Hey Everybody,

This week again was full of miracles. We had an amazing lesson with Nancy this week. During planning for the lesson we were just going to go over repentance, but Elder Carr had the impression to also teach baptism and the holy ghost. So we followed that prompting and prepared to teach all three principles and ordinances. That night we had the lesson with her and the spirit was so strong. We had our WML with us. We stuck to our plans that the spirit directed and she kept opening up to us more and more. Our WML shared a story from his mission about a guy who had never felt the spirit before, but when the missionaries came over he could feel the spirit and knew that they were representatives of Jesus Christ. He asked Nancy if she believed that we were representatives of Jesus Christ. She said absolutely. At that point we started talking about when she has felt that we were representatives. She recalled a time when we gave her a blessing because she was going to go to the hospital. She said that she felt the spirit so strong and that when she went to the hospital everything turned out alright and the doctors were able to heal her. She attributes it to the blessing. After she shared her experience the spirit was so strong and I felt this huge impression to invite her to be baptized. I asked her if she believed that the priesthood authority was again on the earth. She said she did. Then I asked that since she knows that it has been restored would she be baptized. She said that she has already been baptized in the baptist church, but said that at the beginning of the year she would get baptized and join the LDS church. I don't think she truly understands the difference yet, but this was a huge step for her. She also came to church this Sunday which is the first time she has come in the many months we have been working with her. I think one of the biggest things I have noticed when teaching investigators is that you have to love them and truly desire their salvation. That is one thing that I have noticed when planning that as you love them the spirit will be there and share with you what you should teach. She is definitely progressing so much as we continue to teach her by the spirit and following spiritual promptings. 

So many good things happening here. At the end of this transfer I will have been in Round Valley for about 6 months and President Sweeney said I will most likely be here for a little longer. 

Awesome life being a missionary. 

Love yall.
Love Elder Kennedy

Monday, October 13, 2014

Weekly Update - Oct 13, 2014

Hey Everybody,

This week was full of miracles. We were on exchanges twice this week. On Tuesday, with Elder Murray, during companionship study we were preparing for a lesson with one of our investigators that we were teaching that day. We were planning on teaching the whole lesson of Gospel of Jesus Christ, but then we had the impression to just teach one point of it. Faith. As we were studying faith and thinking about some of the setbacks that she was dealing with, which include the fact that she hasn't prayed about the book of mormon, we had the impression to teach from the book of mormon about faith and how we don't receive a witness until after the trial of our faith. Well revelation kept coming throughout that companionship study and we really felt that the spirit was directing our thoughts and ideas to the needs of our investigator. We really felt prepared for our lesson with her.

When we went to the lesson we knew exactly what we were going to do and teach because we had heavens help. The lesson went amazing and the spirit definitely testified to her. Every point that we felt impressed to share from our companion study fit perfectly in the lesson. She committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. She was hesitant before because she is baptist and that is all she has ever known. She also gave the closing prayer and gave such a beautiful prayer. That was the first time she has prayed out loud in a very long time. She didn't accept a baptismal date yet, but since that lesson I can definitely see her progressing and coming closer to gaining a knowledge of the gospel. That thursday she also was able to attend a FHE at our WML's home. They had a testimony meeting and the spirit was so strong there as well. Everyone was crying.

Another miracle that happened this week was on thursday on exchanges. I was at the FHE with nancy and elder hernandez and Josh (a priest) went on splits in amity ward. They were able to stop by a person that we have been trying to work with for a couple months now. They were able to get in. Just that morning in companion study we were able to practice inviting someone back to the temple. They were able to do that for this person and he accepted. That person was on church sunday and that is the first time we have seen him at church in about 4 months.

Well I hope all is going well. Love yall.
Love,
Elder Kennedy

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Weekly update - Oct 6, 2014

Hey Everybody, 

We have had a pretty good week. One of our investigators came with us to General Conference this weekend and really had an enjoyable time. He really enjoyed Elder Christofferson talk. Hopefully we can build off the spirit that he has felt as he listened to General Conference. Another one of our investigators was planning on coming to watch General Conference with us. We had a member that was going to pick her up and take her to their house, but Nancy gave the excuse of she had to clean her house. I was kind of sad that she wasn't able to make it because I know that session was meant just for her. As we watched the session there were things that were said that I know would have touched her. Things that she is struggling with and questions she has.

One thing I got personally from General Conference and the message I heard over and over again in the Saturday session is that we need to convert and prepare ourselves so we can be ready to help others when they start to struggle. This really struck me because as a missionary we need to become converted ourselves to the Gospel. We need to truly gain a testimony before we can help others gain one. 

The world is definitely going the wrong direction and we need to be truly converted so that we can be a help to others. We need to immerse ourselves in the scriptures, General Conference Talks and prayer each day. Once we become converted then we can help others come back to the boat (gospel) again. 

Well as some of you may have seen I got on Facebook this week. We have been approved to go on and clean out our Facebooks in prep for us getting Ipads soon. We cant chat or anything though. 

Well hope all is going well.
Love yall,

Elder Kennedy