"Content" is the word of the week.

January 4, 2015

Sister Kennedy NZWM 2013-2015

Well my lovely family and friends. This is the grand finale of my mission!!! Like my email title says, "content" is the word of the week. I have so many emotions, thoughts, and feelings going through my head every day. Ha I've had a bit of a sore stomach the past week just realizing that my time as a missionary really will end one day. I guess a part of me felt like this part of my life would never end. Although, somedays it felt like my life had really only began as a missionary. That's probably how I'll feel after this life, realizing mortality is just a small glimpse of the eternal scheme of things. This too is like my mission. It has gone by so quickly!! but I feel confident God has tested me, and proved me enough to help guide me throughout the rest of my life.

This past week, on December 30th, I finished the Book of Mormon. yay!! Just like every book, I find that the end gets so intense and exciting. I just love finishing it, because it makes me feel accomplished but also reconfirms that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and the most correct book of the earth. That makes it the 4th time I've finished it on my mission, and 5th time in 2 years. :)

Palmerston North windmill farm.

I had a very exciting new year here in New Zealand!! We were on exchanges so I went to Palmerston North to be with Sister Gilmour (it felt just like old times! It was actually a good way to remember where we both were back in last January serving together). As a mission we had to be inside by 7pm, just for safety purposes, and so our Mission President and wife had a trivia night via text. They would send out a riddle that we'd have to text back the answer from the scriptures. It was so fun!! They asked us, "What ward is Sister Hudson from in Canada?" We replied, "Canada First Ward" haha because we had absolutely no idea what it was from. We got a reply from our mission president saying "Canada 1st Ward haha". That's right. We made our mission president laugh. We were happy about that!

Pizza for lunch on exchanges with Sister Gilmour :)

Right before midnight Sister Gilmour and I said the best things we accomplished in 2014 (we've both been on our missions for the whole of 2014 so it's been the best year ever!!) and then we opened our sparking juice! So fun.

Needless to say, this week we are going to be flat out seeing members, investigators, finding miracle new investigators, and trying to have the best week I've ever had on my mission. I want to go home with no regrets and feel like I have accomplishd everything Heavenly Father sent me to do.

Taking off my badge will be terribly hard to do, but I am doing my best to engrave the name of Christ on my heart so that I will forever have His name with me. President George Albert Smith had a dream once where one of his ancestors visited him and asked him, " I would like to know what you have done with my name." I wear two names on my badge- Kennedy and Jesus Christ. I pray that I have done the best I could wearing my family name and also the name of Christ. I hope my family and Jesus Christ are proud for the way I wore their name.

I've converted my companion:) GO UTES!

We had 2 awesome new investigators this week! We hope to find more so that as I go, this area may continue to be blessed with miracles. Sister Turvey will be joining up with the Sisters in Palmerston for the last 2 weeks of this transfer. They will be going between the 2 areas, so they will be kept very busy!!

I know without a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Kingdom on the earth today. These have been the best 18 months for the rest of my life. No other form of schooling or education could have given me the knowledge I have gained here in New Zealand studying from the word of God and teaching His children. I LOVE NEW ZEALAND!!! I keep having deja vu moments (where I remember a scene that I've already dreamed about) and it's times like that I realize God already knew of the experiences I'd have and where I needed to be this entire time. God is in control, I know it!! I should never doubt the plan that He has, because He is my Father and has my best interest at heart.

I don't know what else to say other than these have been days never to be forgotten!!! Who knows what I'll be like when I get home.. ha if I'm weird, fair warning. I won't try to be "normal" when I come home because if I do I will be turning away from all that I have changed and learned on my mission. "Behold, I am Sister Kennedy, a disciple of Jesus Christ. I have been called of Him to declare His word, among His people, that they might have everlasting life." 3 Nephi 5:13

Love, Sister Kennedy
NZWM July 2013-January2015
Kia Kaha- Forever Strong

I only ate 5 Christmas meals...

December 28, 2014

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, because we sure did here in Levin! Christmas morning was actually a lot of fun because we had heaps of presents to open. The members here were so good to drop off boxes of food, gifts, lollies, and mum's package had the best gifts!

Christmas morning!! 

I forgot to mention it, but I actually finished Jesus the Christ last week. It was AMAZING! I had to work hard to read it, but the more I read it the more I came to love and understand my Saviour. Mum told me it would make the most sense on my mission, and she's right. It was a great experience that pretty much took the whole year to find time to read it.

Pday at the adventure park wearing the shirts
Shaqaila gave us for Christmas.

I had a great week. Monday night we had a big family home evening at a park next to the lake and I played cricket for the first time. On Tuesday we doorknocked and found a great Samoan family we'll be teaching this week. On Wednesday we had District Meeting in Palmerston North and we had a Secret Santa exchange which was fun. As a District we then went Christmas Caroling at 3 rest homes and it was so much fun! Sister Anderson, from Tremonton, and myself sang a duet on Silent Night. That was fun :) We were sitting in our car when Karen and Sister Waterson scared us to death and surprised us with a Christmas box for each of us! Then Christmas morning we had so much to be thankful for. My companion bought me Maori poi which I am super excited about. Her parents always fill a pillow case and put it at the end of her bed at night, so I woke up and did that for her Christmas eve. On Christmas day we had about 5 feeds, we received a lot of chocolate, and got to spend time with a lot of member families. It was the best!

One of our many family visits and meals on Christmas.

I loved Skyping home on Monday, but I was just so grateful to be in New Zealand for a second Christmas. Ha it's still weird to be hot and having outdoor barbecues celebrating Christmas. But I love it!

Reading my scriptures with a cracker crown
and sparkling juice.

Oddly enough, yesterday I gave my farewell talk in the Levin Ward. I got a call from our Bishop that morning and he asked me to speak. I will be in the Foxton Branch this Sunday, and then on the 11th we actually have Ward Conference so I won't be able to speak then. I was so grateful the Bishop asked me to do it, it was just so strange to do it early! I was pretty emotional and started my talk by quoting D&C 4 and it was hard to even get through that. Being a missionary just means so much to me.

Mum and Dad, Happy Anniversary!!! So grateful you got married and decided to keep having kids until #5 ha. You're both my heroes!!

I hope you all have a Happy New Year this week. Set some new goals and resolutions. Last week will be my last email, pretty weird! Be good. God loves you. Read your scriptures!!

Love, Sister Kennedy

P.S. sorry these are so random. And yes, we do much more missionary work than these emails makes it seem ha. I just figure I'll tell everyone about them in person one day and they'll make much more sense.

Merry Christmas from New Zealand!

Merry Christmas!! 

Love, Sister Kennedy and Sister Turvey

I won't be home for Christmas.. but I'm happy!

December 21, 2014

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." 2 Nephi 10:6

The family Christmas surprise.

This week put me in the true Christmas mood! On Tuesday night a family had told us that they didn't think they'd have any Christmas for their 3 children because money was so tight. With an 8 year old, an 11 year old, and 14 year old we couldn't let this happen! We asked some of our ward members and they were amazing to put together some gifts and tree with decorations. We had an investigator donate some gifts and an Elder even put a lot towards it. We wrapped everything up and delivered it to them on Saturday. We brought in the tree and decorations which made them really happy and excited, but then we told them we'd forgotten something in the car. We came in with a big bag of presents and the 8 year old boy just started going nuts! Ha it was so awesome. We could really feel the Spirit of Christ and we knew how grateful they were. Isn't it awesome how many people came together so quickly to help this family? It was so touching!

Saturday morning Shaqaila came through Levin so we made the Elders meet us at the library so we could sing Christmas carols (Yes it's a library, but this one isn't quiet ha. We just sang around the piano in the main foyer). Quite a few people came though taking photos, or sitting and listening to us. It was really fun:) For the first time. I actually played a song and Shaqaila sang. Ha it was fun to switch roles.

This Sunday we attended the Foxton Branch and it was their primary program. I played the piano and there was a whopping 5 children who participated. My companion and some other family members joined the kids when they sang. It was really cute because the congregation would join in usually to help them. After church we had a lunch, so good!, and then we all went to 2 rest homes to sing Christmas carols. I played the piano, and at the last home there was this lady named Elsa, who came out with her violin. She used to play with the national orchestra and so she'd just start playing along with us impromptu and it was so good!

Caroling with the Foxton Branch and Else, a resident, came out and played her violin. I'm on the piano ha.

Friday night, the Samoans in our ward put on a ward dance. It was so fun. Everyone was dancing, and we were sitting trying not to dance haha, since it's a rule. They played musical chairs and I volunteered since it wasn't dancing. I was in the final with this kid named To'o and the music stopped and I was totally gonna get the chair, and then he grabbed it and pulled it from underneath me. ha Sister Kennedy was then sitting on the ground laughing. I did win, but it was pretty funny. They had heaps of the best Samoan food so that was nice.

Well whanau and friends, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!! Each day I'm just so grateful I am still a full time missionary this Christmas. There's so much I would have missed out on if I'd already gone home. This truly is a magical season because the people in New Zealand are more focused on Christ than at any other time! He is the Gift and the reason for the season.

Love, Sister Kennedy

Hey, I can't wait to Skype you in like 20 minutes!!!!

P.S. There's a new Sister in our mission, Sister Anderson, and she's from Bear River. She's actually serving in Palmerston North with Sister Gilmour so that will be fun to officially meet her! We served on the seminary council together in 2011 but at different high schools so we've met once before.

#Sharethegift with Carols

December 14, 2014

Hey family and loved one! Jokes about the trio.. haha we just got our transfer list and we're actually not going to be in a trio. It will just be Sister Turvey and I in Levin, so we'll see what ends up happening when I head out!

Our Samoan choir singing Christmas Carols :)

This week has been great. On Saturday we had 2 Christmas parties! First was the Foxton Branch Christmas party and it was a barbecue at the swimming pool. It's still so funny to be celebrating Christmas with swimming and outdoor barbecues. As I was eating outside I got a surprise bomb on my leg from a bird up above. Ha, luckily it was just on my leg. Then that night we had the Christmas celebration with the Levin Ward. Our Bishop had set up risers and brought the piano outside, so after our potluck dinner, the Samoan choir sang heaps of Christmas hymns and carols. I was playing the piano and it was so fun to see people driving by slowly with their windows down, we had residents from the next door rest home who came to watch, and many friends and neighbors of members came to enjoy the night. As missionaries we'd set up a special table for He Is the Gift, and after our singing we watched a Tabernacle Choir concert on a projector. It was so much fun! The whole day filled us with Christmas cheer and it was great to see many less actives come out. Activity really is the genius of the church.

#SharetheGift

Our cute recent convert, Kirstin, has just moved into her own little flat so we helped her with that. We cleaned walls and carpets, planted a little flower garden in front, and helped her put up her picture of the Hamilton Temple front and center in her living room. She's doing great!

On Wednesday we had a baptism in Levin!! Technically she's a convert.. but really they'd just lost her records in Samoa. It was beautiful, simple, and reminded me how necessary baptism is. Even though she'd been baptised before, the Lord needs us to take good record on earth so we can ensure all members are taken care of and make it to the temple. God is so merciful!

I have to give a shout out to Suzanna Muir who's been baptised for 6 months now!! Woohoo. She just went to the temple and did baptisms:) I'm so proud of her!!!

Plus, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!! I hope you have the best day on the 16th. You're the greatest mum I could ever ask for!

I love you all. Christmas is in the hot and rainy air here in Levin!! Be good.


Alofa atu, Sister Kennedy

He is the Gift.

December 8, 2014

Must be Zone Conference with all the cars!

So I realize that this is a day late.. but yesterday we had ZONE CONFERENCE! It was just the best. We got to combine with the Hawke's Bay Zone and met in Palmerston North. Elder and Sister Pearson, a member of the 70 and our Area President, came to speak to us. We were nervous mainly because he's a General Authority, but he was inspirational, serious, and funny all in one! He spoke to us about how we can change the vision we have for our missions and change ourselves by truly coming to learn of our divine identity. Everything about us can change when we come to truly know our relationship with Heavenly Father. Powerful! He was speaking a lot about what to do post mission to stay on the path, and that was timely information. He told us it is a myth that spirituality decreases after the mission. He said we can maintain the same level of spirituality if we decide to make it that way. So yes, I've already decided to keep it ha.

WOWington, a change from Wellington.

We had a really busy week, which was great! On Friday we got to go to Wellington so my companion could see a doctor. I just LOVE being in Wellington! It makes me so so happy. The Doctor, who's a reumotologist, was awesome. He spent over an hour with her and we had Sister McGregor, who works in the office come with us and she took heaps of notes. So that was a success. Then after the appointment we had lunch in the mission office and I was lucky enough to be able to go visit a family I worked with.

The Ikitogia Family, love them!

I had told the Sister in Wellington to let Leighya Ikitogia know that I was going to be coming through. So Leighya had all the kids at home and didn't tell them, so when I knocked on the door and walked in, all 3 kids were so surprised! It was so sweet. I just started to cry when they all yelled "Sister Kennedy!!" It was so sweet. Leighya was adorable. She hugged me and said she didn't want to let go. The cuties had made my Christmas cards, hard a box of chocolates, and even gave me a ponamu. AHH!!! They are honestly the best. It just filled me up to see them. They are going to church every week and I can really feel the Spirit in their home. I'm a part of their family:)

The view from the drive from Wellington.

On Saturday we got to join Sister Gilmour and Breshears to attend a stake prospective missionary camp. It was neat because they held it on a marae and it was really inspirational. After that we got to be with the Feidling Sisters to see their baptism. It was a 10 year old girl and she was just so bubbly about her baptism. After traveling all Friday and Saturday I was pooped! Ha I enjoy driving but so much of it tires me out. After Zone Conference yesterday we got a new car:) Ha it was brought up from the South Island for us and it's a new Toyota Corolla. We are pretty lucky sisters.

We are so pumped about the church's Christmas Initiative: He is the Gift. It's amazing!!! We've been sharing our pass along cards and showing everyone we can the video on christmas.mormon.org. Has everyone seen this??! If not, that is your homework for the week.

District Pday of bowling and pizza in the park.

Random bits: Last pday we got to go to Palmerston and go bowling with our District, then eat pizza in the park. It was a skate park and these kids were doing backflips and frontflips on scooters. It was so cool!! Being released as STL has been a change, but it made Zone Conference more fun because I wasn't really worried about anything ha. Shaqaila was so sweet and came to our Zone Conference so she could play "Angels We Have Heard on High" with us for a musical number. We have our ward Christmas celebrating this Saturday and the Samoan choir will be singing. Fun! If the weather is nice we'll do an outdoor concert and hopefully people from the street will come join us.

I love you all heaps and heaps!! Start feeling the real Christmas Spirit- the Spirit of Christ.

Love, Sister Kennedy

All good things come to an end.

November 30, 2014

This week was really great and looking back, I'm so glad! Last night I got a call from my mission president and he told me that he's grateful for all my service as a Sister Training Leader, but it comes to an end on Wednesday. We had a mini transfer for the Sisters and so I am staying in Levin, but my baby girl Sister Gilmour will be coming to the Zone to be Sister Training Leader. Ha I guess if I can't be STL anymore, I will definitely let the Sister I trained to be! Plus, Sister Leausa was just made STL in Christchurch, so I'm feeling like a proud mama (trainer) today.

Thanksgiving 2014 at Carl's Jr.

On Thursday, we had to celebrate Thanksgiving because it was Sister Turvey's first time to celebrate. We ate dinner at Carl's Jr. because it;s an American restaurant. I got the western burger which was nice ha. We sat there and told each other what we're grateful for. I said that I'm so grateful for my Mission President and his wife!

Tuesday we were able to have the first Palmerston North Zone Forum where all the missionaries met together and the Zone Leaders and myself and my companion presented the training we received from our Mission Leader Council. It was really neat and made me feel all adult like running a meeting and presenting all the information. It went really well and helped all the missionaries to feel like they were really valued to council together instead of just getting watered-down information at District Meeting. Hopefully we'll get to continue these kind of zone meetings!

This Sunday was our Primary Program which is of course, the best Sunday of the year:) A couple kids were missing so we got to set on the stand, sing with the kids, and read their parts. There's not a pianist in Primary so they just sang everything acapella. So cute!! We had a lot of less active members who came this week so that is always great!

Our convert, Ruta coming out with us! We had to stop at the Lake for a photo :)

Random thoughts. Last P day we went bowling, had fish and chips in a park and looked at an aviary with some members. Fun! I went on exchanges with Sister Vautier which was fun because we served together in Wellington and then she just served in Blenheim so we talked heaps about that. We got to attend a Stake training meeting for Ward Mission Leaders on Thursday which was really fun and I got to help present. We went mufty finding (doorknocking in service clothes) and it was so fun! We got to clean heaps of windows, hang some washing, vacuum, and help some members as well.

Learning to make Samoan biscuits. 

The weeks keep going by faster and faster, it's unreal. President told me I'll be staying in Levin until the end so that means I can buckle down, work hard, and change the world!! But that means, you can keep sending mail to 5 Churchill St, Levin 5510 NZ. ;) wink wink.. Christmas is coming so send me all your love!

Love, Sister Rachel Kennedy