March 24, 2014

Hi Everyone! Sorry for the sudden cut off last week! But just as promised, Part 2 of my little updates! :D

 

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Transfers just happened! And for the fourth Transfer in a row... I'm in Abbotsford... Maybe perhaps some of my associates are Psychic.... -_- But, what can you do?! I love this ward, and this city very much! I actually don't even really mind knocking the same doors anymore... but the WEATHER is starting to kill me. ENDLESS RAIN!! But at least its getting warmer :]

 

Last week was.. probably one of the most challenging times I've engaged on my mission. I'll tell you why:

 

Randy and Donna were two investigators that Sister Facer and I found around Christmas time, two transfers ago, and they were incredibly sweet! Donna has an extreme love for all things Christmas, and she turned her front yard into a light show full of Christmas Cut outs, lights, and music! On top of that, her house is nearly a hundred years old, making it look like a picture cut out from a child's A Christmas Tale! Inside was even more glorious that the outside! After we spoke with her a second time, she invited us inside to view her collection of light up Christmas Villages, but what she showed us last, stole our breath away. For nearly 20 years, she had collected the one hundred percent unique Swartsky Crystal Christmas ornaments, and cared for them like precious gems. She had spray painted an old tree branch with white and silver paint, and dotted the branches to look like a snow blanketed Oak Tree. She hung them proudly on her front window. She was incredibly sweet, and introduced us to her husband Randy! Turns out, he owns his own Photopgraphy Studio, and they had been to Utah countless times! They showed us pictures from one of their adventures down in Utah, and took a picture of the Oquierre Mountain Temple! We excitedly explained to them what it actually was! Their interest was peaked enough where they allowed us to set a return appointment to come back and teach them a little bit. When it came time see them, we received a text from Randy canceling our appointment. Disappointed, we didn't manage to set a Return appointment, and "reflected" them. It wasn't until early March that Sister Dexter and I went back to visit. Upon dropping by, we asked how Randy was doing seeing as how he was the one to answer the door.,"Well, not so good actually." Come to find out, Donna had developed lung Cancer, and was in the Late Stages. She had been admitted to the hospital, and was undergoing treatment. He invited us back after she was to come home just a few days later.

A few weeks later, after we figured she would have had time to settle in we dropped by again, and a less than happy Randy answered the door. We asked him if she was home.. and he told us that she had passed away just a few short days after we had stopped by the first time. Obviously still grieving, we left Randy with our condolences, and left with heavy hearts.

 

Distraught, sorrowful, and unable to pick myself back up, we called the Mission Nurse, who cried with us for awhile, and then calmly reminded us," Sometimes we forget the Plan of Salvation. And just how precious that Knowledge is. You sisters have planted a seed within the spirit of that woman, but simply allow her grieving widower time to heal."

 

 

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And here, Brother's and Sisters is where I would like to bear my testimony of the Plan of Salvation. EVERYONE, has lost someone that they love, and EVERYONE has questions about the deeper concepts of Human Existence. Who are we? Where are we going? What is the Purpose of this life? Will I die forever? Who is God? These are what we call questions of the Soul. The plan that our loving Father in Heaven has prepared for us, is the answer to all of these complicated enigmas.. and more! I testify, and as a representative of the Savior of the world, even Jesus Christ, that HE LIVES. That through his atoning blood, we can truly find the healing, peace, and happiness that each one of us is on a journey looking for! We lived with God before this life, and only through our older Brother's loving sacrifice, can we attain the glory and perfection that both our Father and our Savior enjoy. Through having faith in His Son, obeying God's commandments, and truly "hungering and thirsting after righteousness," can we find the greatest peace amd joy that leads to life ever lasting!

 

I love each of you so very much, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be here serving our Father in Heaven, in the most beautiful place on earth! I hope everyone has the very best week ever and that you're living well! :D

<3 Love Sister Kennedy

March 20, 2014

"If I could make a Church...

....then I would make the FIRST hour like those Black People churches you see on TV. Like, PRAISE THE LORD! And then I'd make the LAST two hours, like the ones at your church! "

(A quote from our 12 year old African investigator, expressing his boredom with Sacrament meeting.But hey! He loves scouts! )

Dear Loves ones

So I know, I'm THE WORST MISSIONARY EVER I...ts been almost a month since I've sent a decent update on how things are going, so I'm SORRRYYY!! The following are some things that have been happening around the area!

Nathan has been progressing quite well! He reads the Book of Mormon daily, and even says his prayers! He's been to scouts three times, and church three times as well! Twice on his OWN! He's not quite comfortable setting a baptisimal date yet, simply because he wants his Mom to be a little more on board with it all as well. We're hoping to help Hilde move to progression soon!

Our other investigator, Debbie, Has set a baptismal date for April 6th, and is doing remarkable! We met her ONLY A WEEK AGO, and she's already committed to live the word of Wisdom, and is reading daily from her scriptures! She's been to church once, and has already begun making friends with some of our strongest ward memebrs. If I have to leave abbotsford this week, I will be filled with sadness at not seeing the beginning of her beautiful journey as a diciple of the Lord! However, tracting three streets over does get a little old ;]

Sister Dexter and I also had an interesting exchange this past week. We had lunch with a potential investigator named Julie, which turned out to be a very engaging exchange of gospel questions, and support references using both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We met Julie the week before at her Friends door step, and the Conversation began with the usual ," You're not Christians.." The only difference was that Julie was endowed with a very healthy sense of curiousity. And she's quite likeable when she's not being condesending . ;] During our lunch exchange, she expressed MANY concerns with the Book of Mormon, from the false doctrine of Original sin ( See Ezekiel ch 18.) right down to the belief that Baptism is necessary for Salvation ( See Mark 16:16.) She's a very intelligent 22 year old, who is incredibly strong in her faith, but she insists that she doesn't see the logic, nor has the capacity to believe in what we say. After what proved to be a bible bashing session ( one which she seemed to remarkably disdain...mostly because of her lack of enthusiasm in remembering specific references ) , we, in the end, still ended up enjoying each other's company, and quite enjoyed the exchange! But my testimony was strengthened SIGNIFICANTLY of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. And a significant amount of respect and gratitude to a dear friend, Colton Gavin, who's expertise on the Bible has been an essential resource in assisting me here in Abbotsford!

I'm afraid I'm out of time... I promise a part two next week! I love you all!

Sister Kennedy

February 24th 2014

Dear .....Everyone, :]

 

I'll apologize now for my terrible, terrible lack of dedication to keeping you updated! But I have many stories to make up for it! Pictures will follow shortly. But the work here in Abbotsford has been going remarkably!

This has been one of our best weeks yet this transfer! We found 9 new investigators, taught five member present lessons, and had three investigators at church! It took quite a bit of stretching, and trudging through the rarity of a February snow, but we saw many miracles and blessings this week! I'll share my most favorite:

The work, though still always difficult in the "bible belt," is going quite well! To explain the email title, it comes courtesy of our 12 year old investigator named Nathan. Sister Facer and I had tracted into Hilde (Hill-dee) and Nathan two transfers ago, and it was always difficult to get a gold of her! Hilde is originally from Africa ( Somewhere near Congo), and works two jobs at around 80 hours a week! She was raised in Africa, and came to Canada in her 20's with her mother. She had expressed a desire for her son Nathan to learn more about God, and become interested in a church.  Her previous efforts to catch his interest with the Baptist church and the Catholic church failed. So you can imagine her surprise when he became interested in ours! It wasn't immediate by any means! In our lessons with Hilde, he had never been around, or was in and out of the room. Sister Dexter and I had tried once or twice to attempt to get a hold of Hilde, but succeeded until only last Sunday! We knocked on the door and Hilde let us in, expressing extreme frustration and sorrow over her relationship with Nathan. Apparently they had gotten into a rather bad fight, where Hilde was tired of asking him to do something, and overreacted. After a huge misunderstanding, they both were extremely upset. So we sat down to talk to them, and what,of all things was to be sitting on Nathan's lap? A neat little stack of Naruto Mangas. Talk about Heavenly Father using the talents and interests of his missionaries as the "bishop's store house". ;]

After helping them come to the understanding that they were both highly overreacting, we invited Nathan to come to church. This would be the condition that his Mother would lay off a little, and that he would do what she asked. He agreed! The following week, we drove to their house and managed to pull Nathan out of bed, and into the car of one of our wonderful members! During sacrament, he asked many incredibly insightful questions. We left him in the hands of our Young Men's president, and went to our Gospel Principals Class with our other investigators and less actives. After church, our member swooped him up before we could even see how it went! So we visited him not long after we were finished at church, and caught both his mother and him together! Hilde said," The first thing he said when he came home, was how good he felt there!" Nathan expressed to us how much he enjoyed being allowed to ask questions, and getting answers! He enjoyed the other kids his age, and is quite looking forward to coming back again, this time, in the company of his mother!

A little later, after answering some of his questions about the ten commandments, he paused for a moment. He said," So... I have a question. Is flirting a sin?" We chuckled and said  of course not! Though his mother appeared a little concerned and said," What kind of flirting? Like touching? You're awful young for that..." He raised eyebrows and scowled, and said," Touching?! No! That's not flirting, that's harassment!" I had to bite down a very loud laugh at this... well mostly bit it.

Nathan is a remarkable kid for his age. He's witty, and has a heart of gold! Heavenly Father has truly blessed us with this wonderful little family to teach! Hilde also has another daughter named Anastasia, who is non-verbal autistic. She's the most beautiful girl on the earth! She's 15, so not much older than Nathan,  but you just can't get any closer to the Celstial kingdom than she can!

I simply would like to bare you my testimony on the importance of two things. The first, would be missionary work. A quote from my favorite talk of all time:

After a joyful reunion with the resurrected Jesus, Peter had an exchange with the Savior that I consider the crucial turning point of the apostolic ministry generally and certainly for Peter personally, moving this great rock of a man to a majestic life of devoted service and leadership. Looking at their battered little boats, their frayed nets, and a stunning pile of 153 fish, Jesus said to His senior Apostle, “Peter, do you love me more than you love all this?” Peter said, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”¹⁰

The Savior responds to that reply but continues to look into the eyes of His disciple and says again, “Peter, do you love me?” Undoubtedly confused a bit by the repetition of the question, the great fisherman answers a second time, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”¹¹

The Savior again gives a brief response, but with relentless scrutiny He asks for the third time, “Peter, do you love me?” By now surely Peter is feeling truly uncomfortable. Perhaps there is in his heart the memory of only a few days earlier when he had been asked another question three times and he had answered equally emphatically—but in the negative. Or perhaps he began to wonder if he misunderstood the Master Teacher’s question. Or perhaps he was searching his heart, seeking honest confirmation of the answer he had given so readily, almost automatically. Whatever his feelings, Peter said for the third time, “Lord, … thou knowest that I love thee.”¹²

To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

Then, turning to all the Apostles, He might well have said something like: “Were you as foolhardy as the scribes and Pharisees? As Herod and Pilate? Did you, like they, think that this work could be killed simply by killing me? Did you, like they, think the cross and the nails and the tomb were the end of it all and each could blissfully go back to being whatever you were before? Children, did not my life and my love touch your hearts more deeply than this?”-Jeffery R. Holland

Each time these words enter my heart, I wonder, Am I working the way the Savior would have me work? I have to admit, I would most certainly be reconsidering some things I haven't been doing lately. If the savior were to come in two months, would there be something I would reconsider? Would there be something I would change? This question, though haunting, has been a massive call to repentence.

I simply want to share with you, Brothers and Sisters, this wonderful knowledge that I have acquired in my service as a missionary. And that's, that god LIVES. His son Jesus Christ rose from the tomb three days later after the wicked men of ancient Jerusalem gave him up; he was slain for the sins of the world. I can't tell you how much his love means to me; how much it has saved my life in the mission field! All I can do, is tell you how much I love YOU. And how the love he has for each of us, minuscules anything else we could ever comprehend.

I hope everything is going well at home! Save a spot for me! Only 209 more days left to go! I love each and every one of you! :]

<3 Sister  Kennedy 

February 17th 2014

The work is definitely harder, but we've managed to see some pretty cool miracles! There's this ADORABLE little boy named nathen, who's mother has been an investigator for awhile. We showed up to their door, and Hilde ushered us in and asked us to go talk to her 12 year old son "with behavior" problems. They had been fighting quite a bit. Hilde is from Congo, and had a very hard life growing up. When she moved to Candada, she was in her 20's. She has another autisic daughter who gives her quite a bit of trouble, and she works nearly 70 hours a week as a care aid. We sat down, and basically were told that because Nathan wasn't listening, that she wanted to give him up for adoption. Well you can imagine my horror... not only at the concept of a mother giving up a 12 year old boy who needed her, but the concept of going into a Canadian Foster Care... ( I've heard nothing but horror stories.) We listened to both sides of the story, and the only thing that we really honestly saw wrong with the WHOLE thing was the lack of focus on the LOVE they had for one another! Nathan didn't even have any behavior problems, he's simply 12! So, after quite a drawn out discussion, we helped them come to focus on themselves instead, and they agreed to try and communicate better. In addition, they both agreed to come to church on Sunday! Its amazing, the effect that the Spirit has on people! Anyways Momma, I've got to report to President here soon, but I sure love you, and I can't WAIT To see you!

 

Love you!

Sister Kennedy 

February 3rd 2014

Hi Everyone!! :D

 

So I'm going to apologize now.... its been MUCH too long since i've sent along an update with how things are going out here in the mission field! Things have been crazy lately! And we've been without our car for a number of weeks, so our time and plans have been extremely binding! But I suppose those are nothing but excuses....As a formal apology, I'll give you a list of extremely funny and very strange occurrences that have happened in the last little bit. Ones that could ONLY happen to me and Sister Facer, and ones that could ONLY happen in Abbotsford.. I swear.

 

The First- How I was asked to Perform a Marriage-( Almost)

 

Sister Facer and I have been walking around the city for nearly a week now, and you can imagine that walking 10k's a day isn't exactly the ideal  for me... great for proselyting on the street, not so good for tracting. After nearly every available street had been knocked ( I've knocked the city through at least twice since I've been here almost 5 months), we wandered to a VERY small street behind the mall that had a few houses left untouched. With relatively little enthusiasm, we walked over to this street, and passed a very finely dressed man. He was pacing back and forth, looking rather agitated, when we greeted him, and offered a mormon.org card. After a short conversation about his lack of spirituality, we introduced ourselves, and then bid him farewell. Less than half an hour later, we were walking back down the street when that same man came jogging down the street after us," SISTERS!" Obviously a little flustered, we went up to meet him."Hi Nills, everything okay?" The first thing out of his mouth was," Are you ordained ministers?!" My first reaction was one of defensiveness. Don't judge me too harshly. This town is full of bible-bashing preachers, and I'm never one to allow myself or my companion to be bullied. I fished for my ministerial certificate and boldly proclaimed," Yes, indeed we are!" And imagine my surprise when a huge smile emerged on his face and a cry of ," Great! Are you ordained to perform marriages??" Well, being dumb founded came pretty close to how I felt. After swallowing all of the bible arguements I had been formulating in my head, my companion stared at me, obviously expecting me to answer. "Er..well, not us, exactly. But we have a bishop, the congregation that we belong to has one that oversees us. We'll give him a call!" Nills had been waiting for his minister to show up to marry him for over an hour, she was late! The entire wedding party, including the bride, had been waiting for her! He had been standing outside waiting for her, when we first met him. After a few attempts, we were unable to get a hold of our bishop ( he was out of town). But we promised Nills that if he couldn't find anyone else to do it, we would give second ward's bishop a call. He thanked us for our efforts, gave us his phone number, and walked away. Sister Facer's response," Was it bad that I was praying the whole time that you would say yes?"

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Anti-Mormon Literature, rumors, and lies, unfortunately, are as common as the dead rats on the streets of old down-town abby. And its just as ridiculous as well. For all my time in serving in the Bible Belt of the Great white north, I've heard just about everything from people calling me a polygamist, to asking if I've ever heard of Jospeh Smith's brothel, to a straight faced middle age, educated woman asking me if I had horns hiding under my hair. Honestly! But last week, I heard the most entertaining one yet. We had been tracting in this tiny town home complex, and knocked into this rather strange woman. The first few words out of her mouth after we introduced ourselves were typical, botched bible quotes, along with philosiphies of men. After getting shot down several times, only by the simple flaws in her own logic and understanding of the gospel, she posed this aruguement," Well, you don't need a church to be spiritual! In the words of Dion-," ...Seriously? ,"- Don't need no memorized prayers, don't need no place for church, god is right there!" After realizing that intelligence, nor the spirit was getting us absolutely nowhere, the Lady's kind husband gently scooted her into the car and they drove away. So there you have it. Celine Dion's words have counfounded my testimony and made me question my faith or belief in God. Heavenly Father help me if I have to stay another transfer in this town LOL.

 

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So there you have it, so many strange things in this town. Including getting handed a Gideon bible, which is an even more botched version of the NIV translation, and Denzil Washington having written the Foreword.... Give me a break!

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And now to the absolutely GOOD part!

 

President asked us to read the following talk this past week, and I wanted to share a quote with you.

 

Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?
You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.
Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price.
For that reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul.
If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,” ¹⁶ then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.
The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life." - Jeffery R. Holland

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The last few weeks have been greatly diffifult, so this talk was a drink of cold water for me. But thanks to the endlessly kind heart of my companion, who is probably one of the best friends I've ever had, thanks to the the warmth, love and support of loved ones and a very awesome best friend, the experience and encouragement from an incredible friend who has already served the Lord, from the very best parents in the world, and from a Loving Father in Heaven and his Son, who have never ever left me alone. I bare my testimony, that angels walk every step of the way with each of us, and I'm SO grateful for the many blessings that I have in my life. As I relfect back upon the years that I've lived ( All two decades haha) I realize how lucky and loved I am. I'm SO grateful for the blessed life that I have, and the very best mission in the world. I love ALL of you! And thank you so much! :D
 Miracle of the week by Sister Facer:

Okay, now for the cool miracle of the week.....we've been able to find some really cool people this week....I know Heavenly Father is blessing us tremendously, and a lot of days I feel like we don't even deserve the blessings. This work is incredible, and I love being a part of it.

Last Sunday, this man walks into church and introduces himself...he said he'd been to Salt Lake and had been interested in the church for a while, but they gave him an address to the chapel when he visited this week. Turns out, he works with our assistant ward mission leader at the hospital, so they hit it off as he was teaching the lesson. The lesson was on what makes the Church different...and true! The organization, the principles...everything! We watched a short video on how Wilford Woodruff was looking for the true church his whole life and finally found it, and Roshan (the man) said at the end of the lesson,

"So...how many times do I need to come to church before I'm baptized into the church?"

All of the missionaries hold up three fingers, and Roshan goes,

"I'll have more questions next week. Sounds good to me."

Roshan is getting baptized in the 4th ward on Sunday, his third week at church. It is an absolute miracle to see someone change so fast. Apparently the elders were saying that he committed to live the Law of Chastity, WOW and Law of Tithing all at once...it was incredible! This work is hastening so much, and I know that the Lord is in every detail of this work!

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Individual responses are following shortly, be patient, and I love youuu! :D  OH and reason for the email title.. Don't have an icepack, and since we've been walking so much, my lower back has been giving me trouble. So I used frozen peaches for an ice pack.. Sue me!
 And picture explanation: The first... because I don't take attractive pics anymore. And the second is Sister Facer's interpretation of Sister Tilleman's rule of a professional edge... turned professional hedge, meaning always be professional with the elders!
<3 With Much Love,

Sister Kennedy