Become as a little child.

December 10, 2013

Beautiful family and friends, Sorry if this letter is scattered, it just feels like so much has happened, yet nothing at all!

Last Preparation Day we had a very exciting day in Nelson. We were there to finish our trio with Sister Haacke and so we got to spend the day in Nelson . There's a hill/mountain there where they say the very centre of New Zealand is. Very exciting!! There's a little monument and a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, the city of Nelson and the hills that continue on. We just went on our little hike and to our great surprise the Motueka Elders and Zone Leaders were already up on top. So we took a fun little group picture.

I've really enjoyed taking the D&C challenge alongside Caroline. The Doctrine and Covenants really do have special gems in them. I especially love at the end in D&C 135 and the testimony that John Taylor gives of his friend and prophet Joseph Smith. We taught the lesson in Relief Society this week and it was great because it was also on the prophet Joseph Smith. The ladies in the branch concluded that Joseph was called at the age of 14 because he was teachable and willing to do whatever needed to be done. Sometimes when we get older we get set in our ways, we aren't very teachable, and we don't like change. But Joseph was willing to change everything about his comfortable life to ensure the gospel was restored. He's the MAN! I love Joseph- Praise to the man.

This Sunday was our Primary Program- the best Sunday of the year!! Truly. These kids in Blenheim are the cutest things. I think it's an Island tradition for the kids to wear all white, so most of them looked so radiant in their white dresses and clothes. They all spoke on the plan that Heavenly Father has for them. Many of them talked about the plan to serve a mission and I could feel so much power from even the 4 year olds telling everyone that they wanted to "be a good boy and serve a mission". I've been reading in 3 Nephi this week-- which is so great!-- and I love how Jesus Christ took so much time to gather all the children together. He spoke to each one and prayed for each one as well. I believe Christ still prays for us all and beckons us to become as little children: to be loving, teachable, and happy with the small things.

I got a very exciting package in the mail. It read: Missent to Thailand. Haha so funny.

My two favorite things!!

The package from Mum took almost a month to get to New Zealand and when it did it had this pretty big nibble mark in the package. Some animal loves the U more than I do because it started to eat the U of U drum and feather off my stocking!!

Someone's been nibbling on my package...

We've tried to get into the Christmas season with our own little Christmas tree in the flat, (it now smells much better because Mum sent a pine scented ornament), we listen to Christmas Hymns in the car, and I'm drinking hot chocolate from the States every day now! It feels really weird to be caroling in the heat, but I think I won't mind a Christmas barbecue on the beach.

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful snow, because I do really miss it!

Much love from New Zealand,
Sister Kennedy

Let Christmas begin!!

December 3, 2013

We've already begun singing Christmas hymns to people and it's wonderful. It's warm, dry and feels nothing like the Christmases I've known before, but I think I will like it!

The big news: I'm staying in Blenheim:) I'm so happy because I will get to continue to work with our progressing investigators and see the beautiful wedding and baptism in the branch. Transfers are pretty nerve racking, but luckily President had called me last week and he told me I was staying so I was pretty happy!

My Thanksgiving was quite memorable. We were working in Nelson so it was a pretty new day for us, driving around as told and meeting new people. (I love that though, getting to meet investigators, members, and less actives from other areas. I love learning about their life stories and how they are progressing in the gospel. You can never meet too many people!!) Just before heading back to Blenheim we picked up dinner.. Fish n Chips!! Yes, quite a kiwi Thanksgiving. I ate my kumura chips and fish and enjoyed a beautiful park. I hope everyone at home filled up on turkey because it is waaay expensive here.

The senior couple reminded us all to clean out the lint in our dryers after we dry things. Of course I have no idea where our lint is. I have looked before, but couldn't find anything so I pretended lint didn't exist. I finally found it!! You have to pretty much rip off the front of the machine and inside this grill I found a beautiful piece of lint art. Haha I've never seen prettier lint. It's not hanging up to ensure it is commemorated for it's beauty.

These are 3 of the Elders in my District and they are a riot. Notice how they look like they are in a bridal party?? Over time here in Blenheim they have all found the exact same gray striped tie. They all wore them to District Meeting and I couldn't get over it. Haha too funny.

One of the members of our branch had a 16th Birthday on Friday and we were invited to the party. It was so fun to be with all the young girls playing games, singing Happy Birthday and remembering the fun of Birthdays. She won't be dating or driving so it's not quite the momentous Birthday that it is in Utah, but still great fun!

Miracle for the week: We were driving to an appointment when the police were doing a stop. They do it pretty often here where they pick a road and on both sides the cars are stopped. Today the policeman asked for my license. "Yup, let me grab it in the back." I'm searching through my bag and I don't have my wallet!! Ahh. Keep calm, keep calm. I told him I couldn't find it and he just said, "check it and make sure it's not expired. Have a good day." Whoa, what a miracle. Sister White told me he didn't ticket us because of the angels with us.

I love you all heaps. I'll be honest, I don't want Kennedy nover to come home. I like having a sister to serve alongside. I am happy that she'll get to be with family and all that..but I just want her for myself!! I'm doing that thing again where all I do is talk about her. Ha before she left she told me I needed a boyfriend so I wouldn't have to only talk about her. Ha but sisters are cooler anyway.

Have a great week!! Love you all so much.

Sister Kennedy

Cause worth fighting for.

November 25, 2013

Hello my beautiful family and friends!!

It is getting hot, hot, hot, in Blenheim. All the Tongans had their beautiful hand made fans in church to keep cool. We had such a fun branch activity on Friday. It was a Sports Night that was put together at the last minute. We had 3 investigators who came and then heaps of Vanuatu people came. We had soccer, rugby, volleyball, basketball and pizza and drinks to finish the night. All the islander people LOVE sports and it brings people together in ways that nothing else can. I love playing sports in skirts, ha I don't know, I just think it is fun. It was also fun to play volleyball again. Islanders play way different than I do, but it's all good.

My companion and I are the sick taking care of the sick. She got hay fever and a cold last week, and now I have her cold and we are both sick together. Everyone thinks I'm crying, and I guess sometimes that's okay. But mostly it's just awkward in lessons when I'm tearing and blowing my nose. Being sick is the worst!

Each of the cars in the mission had a set number of K's they can travel. We have 2,000 which is probably one of the highest limits in the mission. I'm not sure why because we don't travel too much.. but we don't complain! It's coming to the end of the month and we still had so many K's so we ended up going to Picton a couple times which was such a blessing. We got to see people who we hadn't seen in ages. On the way home I thought of this lady and the Spirit told me to go there NOW. She's always busy but this night we caught her and it was perfect. We sang with her Love at Home and she told us it feels so right to learn about the church now. Her mum is a member and she's been to church before, but I think it's her time now:)

Tomorrow we will go to Nelson and be in a trio for the last week of the transfer. One of the Sisters has been so so sick which is sad, so she's back home getting all the medical help she needs. We'll be in both Blenheim and Nelson with Sister Haacke and it should be crazy busy and fun to get work done in both areas. It's nervous waiting to hear about transfers but I'm confident that the Lord will place me where He needs me so there's no need to fear.

I once thought that the war chapters in Alma of the Book of Mormon were boring, but I was so wrong!! I've been reading this past week in Alma and it is actually so exciting to follow the Nephites and Lamanites as they continue to fight, defend, and claim cities. The Lamanites fought because they delighted in war, but the Nephites fought because they had a cause worth fighting for. The had their faith, families, children, liberties and church to defend. They had a much greater cause than the Lamanites did and the had the help of the Lord to help them. What cause do we have worth fighting for??

I've wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving now for 3 weeks, but this week I mean it. Ha all the American missionaries were convinced it was last week.. but I guess you can get things wrong when you're half way around the world.

Thank you for everyone's love and support in prayers and letters written. I love you all heaps! As missionaries we are the ones who always ask the questions. I love asking questions though and really getting to know people. I can tell you family history and details about people that I just met a couple weeks ago but now I feel so connected to them. We don't often get those same questions asked to us, but when investigators or members ask us questions it's really fun. I love telling everyone about my family, my home town, my university, and the things of my past life. It doesn't happen much, but when it does, it's so sweet to tell them about all you at home:)

Have a great week!! Share a happy message with someone you love. Serve others, it changes people's hearts.

Love,
Sister Kennedy