"Let us not be weary in well doing."

September 24, 2013

Wow, I am seriously overwhelmed!! This has by far been the best week for mail. Seriously, it's so wonderful to hear from loving family and friends to give me the boost that I need. I love you all much more than you know! Thank you to everyone who wrote. Every word keeps me enthused and happy.

What a weekend. I was exhausted after such a long weekend with the Open Home and Special Sunday service. The day of the event, Saturday, it was pouring rain outside. The Branch President called asking what we thought we should do. Of course we just wanted to go ahead, but he seemed doubtful. Miraculously, at 12:45pm it just stopped raining. We were able to wash cars, give chapel tours and invite others to see our church.

The cute kids in the branch on the street to get cars 

to our free car wash Open Home!

One of the biggest successes from the event was the support of the branch. We had members there to wash cars with the youth, the Primary President and Relief Society had beautiful displays and were welcoming when visitors came, and the Family History Specialists were busy all day because that’s where most people were interested. We had children holding signs on the curb inviting the cars to the car wash and youth and adults were willingly washing the cars. We had a less active member, who loves to grill sausages, out back grilling our sausage sizzle. Overall, we felt like it was a successful day. We felt it was such a miracle that it stopped raining so we could have our car wash. We had members who didn’t come or who came late because they assumed we would cancel the event. We probably should have impressed on them that we had no intentions of cancelling or postponing due to weather. Us missionaries never cancel what we plan!

The Kivalu family is the BEST! 

We played the fruit game where you can't show your teeth, 

and we all laughed heaps.

We had a pretty successful Special Sunday service. We had an investigator come with her husband for the first time and they both enjoyed sacrament and Sunday school. All the missionaries in the District sang “I Feel My Savior’s Love” and that was really special to have everyone sing together.

We are teaching the cutest lady name Pra. She's from Thailand and she moved to New Zealand when she met her partner on the internet. When we door knocked into her she thought that we were there to teach her english, which we just rolled with! We've been meeting with her for the past couple of weeks. It's definintely a new experience to be teaching english, especially from someone who speaks Thai. She has decent english skills, we work hard to say things simply and help her understand. We are teaching her to read, spell words, and we always try to teach a gospel principle from the english lessons we teach her. We were thrilled when she and her partner came to church on Sunday for the Special service!! My companion has this gift where she says someones name and they appear. She looked at me and said, "I hope Pra comes," then she walked in the door ha. She didn't understand a whole lot but she loved the music and we helped by moving our finger along the words of the hymns.

Speaking of my companion's gift for seeing people she talks about... We were on the road driving when she told me, "Pull over! It's that girl I was talking about." One of the ladies she had been teaching in Wellington was walking the streets in Blenheim and she was so happy to see Sister Taleni. We were able to go to her motel and catch up with her. She told me that she hopes I serve in her city so that I can continue to teach her:) Then we were in our companion study when she looked out the window and ran to the door saying "Will you follow me outside?" She then yelled after a Stephanie and we ended up running down the street after this lady. She was a recent convert from Wellington area and she was in Blenheim visiting family. What are the chances that we have run into these ladies?? Seriousy a blessing and it's been so fun to see the Lord's hand in Blenheim.

I'm 2 months old now! Cool. Go Utes! I'm so excited to hear that they beat BYU. Elder and Sister Edward's are the Senior Couple here and they are die-hard BYU fans. It was quite fun to call them after hearing the results of the game and get to rub in a little bit that we won. All in good fun though because football scores don't really compare to the work of the Lord in New Zealand:)

This transfer we set a theme: Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." The Lord knows our abilities and our weaknesses. He wants us to make weaknesses strengths by working hard and relying on the Lord. We can all do what is asked of us because Heavenly Father knows we can do it.

Much love!!
Sister Kennedy