You look like you need a hug.

May 11, 2014

This week has been so fulfilling! First of all, Happy Mother's Day:) I had such a special Mother's Day here but you'll have to read the full letter to get the good news! It's great to hear about the Kennedy trip to see Derek Jeter, more good news about the wedding plans, and also that school is almost out! 

Miracle investigator: We met this girl named Suzanna. She was a referral and she seemed mildly interested in learning more. We met with her at the mission office and she spoke about a friend of hers on a mission who kept inviting her to learn more and how she really admired him. She's looking for a church to attend and wants to really follow Christ. Good right? She says that she can see herself in the future getting baptised. Really good now right? We see her two days later and she agrees to be baptised in June. Great! She's probably the coolest 18 year old ginger I know. She's so pretty and we are so excited for her:) Miracle!

Earlier in the week we were walking the streets of downtown Wellington and at a corner this crazy man looked at me and said, " you look like you need a hug", so he hugged me. Ha I didn't know what to do and then just luckily crossed the road. I turned around and there was a business with big windows and one of the workers gave me a thumbs up and laughed.

Paekaraeki lookout point on my exchange,
where I met the Hungarian woman:)

I went to Paraparaumu this week on exchanges and it was the best!! It's a small town about an hour north of Wellington and it reminded me heaps of Blenheim. The church there is adorable. It's really small and the chapel is the same room as the primary room and multipurpose room ha. They have one of the only Wendy's in the mission so that bacon cheeseburger tasted really good:) It helped me remember the fun of missionary work while I was there. There's this beautiful lookout we went to and I met this Hungarian woman! She's from Budapest and said that "of course" she's met missionaries before. I wonder if one of them was Kennedy nover.

On Saturday we were so privileged to attend a baptism in Porirua. We took the Office Sisters with us and we got to see Diana, the mum, and Serenity, the daughter be baptised. On exchanges I got to teach them the Restoration so it was really neat to see them:) Plus, no one played the piano so I played all the prelude, interlude while they were changing and even accompanied for the songs. I'm so grateful for the little time I practiced before my mission and now that Heavenly Father is helping my fingers so I can play a bit more now ha. Last week the entire Bishopric was missing (I can't remember if I told this story), I've never seen that happen! So the Elders Quorum President conducted the meeting and I played the prelude music for sacrament because it sounded so empty. It feels nice to be able to give my little talent to invite the Spirit.

Diana and Serenity who were baptised on Saturday.

I was asked to give a talk on Sunday, and I remember my Mum explicitly telling me I must prepare my talks and never wing it. Ha so I did, and I even typed it which seemed weird at the time. In my talk I spoke about my Mum because of course no one would know her, right? Wrong. Elder and Sister Cannon came with Steve and Cassie to church on Sunday. BEST MOTHER'S DAY PRESENT. I had Mother's Day lunch with Nancy.. Cannon ha. They had called the night before telling us they were coming but it was so exciting to finally see them! For being in the same mission, it's been over a year since I've seen the Cannon's. I thought it was strange I had printed out my talk, but then the YW president asked if she could use it in her lesson so it was neat I could just hand her my talk.

The Samoan ward meets after us; we start at 9am and they're at 11. Anyway, one of the famous All Blacks players was in church in the Samoan ward so I was like.. really close to him ha. I also finished the Book of Mormon on Mother's Day so it was my little tribute to you Mum. One of my favourite scriptures I found was right at the end. Moroni 9:25. Be faithful in Christ, and don't be burdened down but be lifted up in Christ.

I hope you each have a beautiful week in all the adventures you are a part of! Time is flying by, can you believe it's already May? I mean halfway through May now ha. Transfers are next week and who knows how long I'll stay in Wellington, it's already been 4 1/2 months but I am loving my time here serving in windy Wellington.

Love you heaps!
Sister Kennedy

Oh! I forgot. This weekend New Zealand is having a nation wide Stake Conference broadcast from Utah. And you know who is speaking to us? President Monson and Elder Oaks! Bringing in the big guns. Needless to say, we are so excited to hear from the prophet again:)

To my mother, who knows.

May 5, 2014

This coming week is Mother's Day! And although it will be Mother's day next week when I email, it will have already passed for me, so I wanted to send this letter in dedication of my mama and all the women who have taken part in shaping who I am. This is from Julie B. Beck's talk in 2007, "Mother's Who Know" and I'll try tying each of the subjects into our adventures this week.

Mothers Who Know Bear Children 

We had a great service opportunity this Saturday in helping our investigator move to a new flat. She has this little boy named Robert and he's hilarious. They are from Russia and their English is pretty limited, but this little boy just makes me laugh. Children are great, as my mother should know, because I am her daughter:) Plus, it always feel good to get the chance to give meaningful service.. in my Utes shirt:)

Mothers Who Know Honor Sacred Ordinances and Covenants 

Alma 56: 47 "They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." The Wellington Stake had their big trip up to the Hamilton Temple this week and I was so jealous that I couldn't go! The YSA loaded up 2 big passenger vans and I was pretty tempted to just jump on myself. I've never been away from the temple for so long. The testimony meeting after the temple was so spiritual. I love hearing about the feelings that people have after attending the temple. It will be such a sweet reunion to get to attend the temple again! A recent convert got to attend and do baptisms for the first time which was awesome, and my convert Elizabeth received her temple recommend so she can go soon!

Mothers Who Know Are Nurturers 

My companion got sick, and I got resick. So I guess in line with being nurturers, we helped each other by passing each other tissues and such ha.

Mothers Who Know Are Leaders 

I really enjoy being a Sister Training Leader. I don't know how long I will continue to serve. Our mission is going through massive changes before our new mission president arrives in July, and with that a lot of leaders will change. That way, President Hudson will have a mission full of missionaries who have had time serving as leaders. Seems smart to me! I had an exchange with Sister Russell, from Idaho Falls, and she's the cutest. While we were on exchange we set two baptismal dates, which was such a miracle! It was funny- it was a pampering exchanges. I plucked her eyebrows, she curled my hair, we painted our nails and even gave each other back massages. We sound like such girls.. but sometimes these things much be done ha.

Mothers Who Know Are Teachers 

We have this Uni student we are teaching named Hayley. She's like the best! Sometimes investigators surprise me, and she has definitely surprised me! She didn't seem that she was actually very interested, but this week she committed to a baptismal date in June, she came to church for all 3 hours, and she attended the YSA break-the-fast and like loved it all. So neat!! Good things are happening. Mainly all our progressing investigators live in Karori, which takes like 20 minutes to travel to. But oddly enough, the first branch in New Zealand was in Karori so that is some rich Mormon heritage.

Mothers Who Know Do Less 

Not really an option as a missionary.. but taking time to enjoy the beauty really helps me appreciate all that God has given to me. I really do live in the most beautiful place in the world.

Mothers Who Know Stand Strong and Immovable 

My companion and I, Sister Hann, outside our cute church. We are pretty immovable in the picture. We had this intense lesson with an inactive woman on the subject of the Spirit World and baptisms for the dead. She had invited her flat mate to join us, and so it was a pretty intense first lesson for this Chinese girl ha. Anyway, we were speaking about the Spirit World and she believes that we are just asleep in our bodies until the resurrection. I was speaking to her about when I saw Grandma Kennedy die and how as soon as she was gone, it just wasn't her anymore because her spirit wasn't there. This woman told us that we each only have one angel to be with us. I got so emotional as I spoke to her about the many ancestors that I could feel with me at that moment helping me. It was such an amazing experience feeling especially Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy and my Grandpa Stratford. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that our spirits rise to the spirit world and that we have such unseen helpers in this life. I know my family who have passed are helping me heaps out here in New Zealand. I know our families can be together forever.

I hope everyone has a beautiful week! I love being a missionary and the work here is slow, but so fulfilling. This gospel is true!

Love, Sister Kennedy

New Zealand Patriots.

April 27, 2014

On the 25th of April every year they celebrate ANZAC Day. It's to commemorate Australia and New Zealand's contributions in 1915 to World War I. Many soldiers died that day as they went into battle. (Next year is the 100th Anniversary and apparently the Queen herself will be coming to Wellington.) They hold a dawn service every year, so it was the one day of our mission we are allowed to leave early. We woke up at 4:30am, left at 5, walked the streets of Wellington and arrived to see the soldiers marching and hear the bag pipes playing in a parade. They then had a service with taps, a band playing hymns, and a man speaking about the event. It was really neat! It was still dark while we were there at 5:30am but the sun came up around 6:15 after the service and it was really cool. I thought a lot about my Grandpa's and those who have served and are serving in the military now. I feel so patriotic to this country in where I live, and am so grateful for those who have served worldwide.

The Elders, a recent convert, investigator, and our senior Sisters at the ANZAC Day dawn service.

I had a wretched cold this week and am still fully recovering. My colds always come at the worst times ha. But luckily I have the sweetest leaders. Sister Kezerian, our mission president's wife, had a full container of Benadryl from America. AHH! She lives a bit away but found a way to deliver the medicine through a member and it just showed me how much love our leaders have for us and all that they will do to help. I love the Kezerian's so much and it will be really sad to see them leave in July. My mission and everyone in it is so special to me:)

Look how cool- you can see the plane coming it about to land!! I love living near the airport ha.

On Saturday we got to stack heaps of wood for this woman and it was really fun. It reminded me of working at the cabin and the Saturday mornings we'd spend cleaning the yard. The next door neighbour had an old radio playing out of his garage with the same kind of music dad would play and it reminded me of home. Plus it felt good to do service! I forget that it's fall because I have always associated the seasons with the months. Luckily I am seeing the trees on the streets that remind me it is fall. It is getting pretty nippy here, but I think my body is also getting used to the weather.

This is a peg leg seagull I met the other day. Ha I couldn't stop laughing,
but he was still really good at jumping and flying.

We have these two girls from Samoa, 19 and 21, who are the best! We've been teaching them with their friend who is a recent convert and they both have such righteous desires to follow Christ. We've invited them to be baptised many times but they've always had reservations and things holding them back. We were so blessed this week to see their hearts softened. The only thing that is now holding them both back is their parents, who are both staunch catholics. One named Roylina is all pumped to be a Mormon and we've only taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and follow the prophet ha. Leilani had started this 21 day fast and prayer program which we didn't know about. We taught her about the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity and she told us that it was a direct answer to her prayers. The words that came out of my mouth seemed so normal, but she told me they were just what she had been yearning to hear. I love getting the chance to speak the words Heavenly Father needs to give to His children.

There are old army barracks on this lookout in Wellington and we went there with one of our beautiful YSA. 

I'll leave you with a great quote that was sent to me by Brother Montgomery this week: "Whether or not the invitation is accepted as you invite other to "come and see", you will feel the approval of the Lord and, with that approval, an added measure of faith to share your beliefs again and again." Neil L. Anderson

I hope you all have a beautiful week! This Gospel is true and I love having the opportunity to share it with the people of New Zealand because it truly makes me happy! We gain our testimony as we share it.

Love, Sister Kennedy

P.S. Frederick's family in Heber, and Katie Vincent. Elder Pelo knows you both and says hello:) He's the tall one who played basketball at Snow. Ha small world.

Easter in the fall?

April 20, 2014

Happy Easter weekend! Here, New Zealanders like holidays but they just don't celebrate them like Americans do. I realize now that we get super into holidays in the States, and I love it! We made some paper Easter eggs, because I just couldn't go one year without decorating some eggs, and we wrote on it Matthew 28:5-6. Christ is not here, for He is risen. We had so much fun delivering them by door bell ditching and visiting members and investigators. I was a bit sad thinking that the Easter bunny wouldn't find me in New Zealand, but he totally did. Our Relief Society President had wrapped us each some eggs on Sunday which was the sweetest. I'd received a package from home with candy and chalk. Yay! So on Saturday we took 2 girls who are preparing for missions and on the wharf we wrote out in chalk, What is Easter? We got to speak to heaps of people, and I feel that they were a bit more receptive to speak about Christ near Easter. Then, on Sunday we had a beautiful sacrament meeting and luckily 2 investigators came to hear the wonderful talks about the Atonement. I just LOVE the Atonement of Christ. The more I learn about it, the more I realize I don't know ha. It's a lifelong pursuit to try to understand the immense magnitude and gift of it all. And it's so weird because there were no cute Easter dresses because the weather is changing and getting colder. Instead of Easter being filled with tulips it was filled with rain and wind.


I got to work with heaps of Sisters this week, which was great. On Tuesday we had Mission Leader Council and we got to pick up Sister Watene from the airport and take her into the meeting. Then after the meeting Sister Morris's flight didn't leave until that evening so she stayed and worked in a trio with us. She was in my intake so it was really fun:) On Wednesday I went on exchanges with Sister Boehmer from Canada. It was our 4th exchange and we're pretty much best friends so it was great. We work really well together and we committed someone to be baptised while we were teaching so that is always great! We had Nofo and Merry come with us for almost a full day for preparations for their missions. It's awesome to serve with so many Sisters. It also seemed like everything kept happening with the sisters in the Zone so I made many phone calls and had to fix many issues. When it rains it pours and sadly that meant I had to address hard issues, offer corrections, and deal with disobedience. That is something I won't miss after this calling of STL ha.

Whelp, this week it happened. I hit my 9 month hump and it terrified me. Ah! It was Good Friday, which was funny. Oddly enough, Good Friday is a big public holiday here. Everything was shut down and the Easter weekend had started. I've never eaten so many hot cross buns in my life, but they love them here. It reminded me of the Kennedy's. I remember Aunt Helen giving me homemade buns a couple years before she passed away. New Zealand isn't the biggest Christian country, but for a public holiday they all act it. Today, Monday, is also a public holiday but luckily this sketchy internet shop is open. Ha it's the missionaries and the kids who are playing their hard core video games.

This is Sister Hann and myself, Bryn- who is a ballerina here with the Wellington Ballet, and Abigail who is from Malaysia and working on her PhD. Her Dad was one of the first native Malaysian missionaries to serve. We have great YSA who come out and door knock with us:) P.S. this night we went door knocking we got a big hug with this Greek Orthodox woman who said she knew we loved Jesus, and it also POURED rain and we were soaked. So to celebrate my 9 months we had ice cream!

We have a member we visit in the hospital who is going through chemotherapy currently for cancer. She told us how she has come closer to the Saviour during this time of suffering and agony. She realizes so much better the pain that Christ suffered for each one of us and His perfect gift He's given so that we don't have to endure our trials and burdens alone. During Easter I've had much time to reflect on the death but more importantly the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the days of Christ, when a master would be finished eating he would wad up his napkin and throw it on the table to signal to the servant that he was finished. But if the master folded his napkin before leaving it meant that he had not finished his meal and would return. When Jesus Christ was layed in the tomb they wrapped him in linens with a napkin over his head. When Mary found the empty tomb the linens and napkin was folded. Christ is coming back!! I love being a part of the gathering in preparation for Christ's second coming. I know He will return to rule and reign. I know He lives, that God loves us, and has provided a way for us to return to Him.

I hope you each have a beautiful week. I love you heaps!!

Love, Sister Kennedy

This is our 4 minute performance.

April 13, 2014

Good thing I brought some tape with me
so I could tape a member's ankle! 

This week has been crazy busy, but also crazy great. On Tuesday we had the new intake of missionaries come in from the Auckland MTC. It began raining on Monday and rained non stop until today, 7 days later. Anyway, so we took 4 new Sisters out in the pouring rain for their first experience of street contacting in Wellington. Needless to say it was cold, wet, and we met some really mean people. But, I started talking to this blind man and he was so nice. He's quite spiritual and just told the new Sisters that they were doing a really great work. He then said, "Oh, you're from America so you might know my brother. His name is Al Yankovich." WHAT?! Yes, his brother is Weird Al and he does that backup music for his brother. That was cool.

Saying goodbye to Sister Gilmour at the bus stop.

Then Wednesday we had to wake up early after a long night of packing to get Sister Gilmour on her bus to Hastings. A member took us and after dropping her off we heard from the District Leader, who had her bike and bags in his trailer, that the bike didn't make it on the bus. Poor sister, all her shoes were in the box and it's a biking only area ha. Hopefully she got it relatively quickly. Then we picked up my new companion, Sister Hann. She's very sweet, quiet spoken and a hard worker. The missionaries who were going home all left on Wednesday, but the missionaries who are flying to Tahiti had to wait until Thursday so we got to have Sister White with us the day! Whoo, my old companion from Blenheim. It was really fun to be with her for the day and we ran around teaching and getting things done for her. We had splits that night and so Sister White and I went to teach a lesson and it was really neat to be able to teach together and it just felt so normal again.

Sister White, Hann and Kennedy in Wellington.

We were blessed so much this week in our lessons. Eleala is a recent convert in November and she just carries the missionary spirit with her. When we've gone to her flat to teach her the follow up lessons she invites her flat mates to join. One of her flat mates, Roylina has shown great interest and this week as we taught her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ she committed to be baptised May 10th. Recent converts are so powerful in sharing their new found belief, she'll be the means of bringing many of her friends with her. We went crazy inviting people to General Conference. We had 600 invitations that we needed to pass out and so we were talking to everyone. We had attended 3 of the sessions and Jenny and Adam still hadn't come, and they said they would. They're a mum and son who we've been teaching for about a month. We were so excited to pull in for the last conference and see them there:) I know that they felt the Spirit, so pray for them this week!

The 3 troll sisters.

Now it's time for my General Conference favourites:)

-Elder Holland: Be strong. Live the Gospel. Defend your Beliefs. Is there a tornado or natural disaster coming?! Because I felt that way with all the talks about the disasters ha.
-Elder Anderson: I loved his digital media with the tree. The church is definitely using technology to help us all learn and understand better.
-President Eyring: Will someone send me my roots to the gospel through my ancestors? I loved how he spoke of his ancestor being his hero for accepting the gospel and accepting every call to serve.
-Elder Cook: Family History work being part of the Hastening the Work of Salvation. The My Family booklet has been really fulfilling for me to fill out so I hope you all can get a copy and record your family history. Also, he spoke about technology helping the hastening and I found that especially true thinking of our convert Elizabeth who found the gospel through LDS.org. The Saturday afternoon sesson had an opening prayer by a 70 who's from Hamilton New Zealand. Sweet as.
I LOVED all the music for Conference. I think I saw Shane Donavon in the Orem choir, so shout out if it was really him! I thought both choirs also looked soo nice.
-President Uchtdorf: As humans we don't like endings because we are children of the eternities. Whoa, I loved this!!
-Elder Ballard: His story about follow up and persistence to get his wife as hilarious. Also, a shout out to the U of U whoot.
-Elder Aidukaitis: "One should not roam through garbage."
-President Monson: The best opportunities to share love is within the walls of our own homes.

Mainly I just felt so happy after Conference. It was the first time I brought actual questions that needed to be answered, and you know what? They were all answered, because God loves me and knows me. I hope you all have a beautiful Easter and that you get to focus on the Resurrection and all the beauty that the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings. So many amazing testimonies were born of Christ and I know that He is at the head of this Church and that He lives. Just like Bishop Stevenson said, this life is our 4 minute performance, the time for us to prepare to meet God and do our best. Just do it!

Love, Sister Rahera Kennedy
(Rachel in Maori:))

Be the means of saving some.

April 6, 2014

My goodness, this has been a crazy week! Most pressing on my mind, today we received the transfer list. My companion has been transferred up North which we are so sad to part from each other. She's just the cutest. There are 2 Scottish sisters in the entire mission, and I can now say I'll be companions with both! I'll be serving with Sister Hann, who is also Scottish. I think she's been out a couple transfers longer than me. I'll still be STL which is cool. Every missionary companionship in our District is changing and we even have a new Assistant this transfer. So much change!

This is me being smashed by one of the Trolls from Lord of the Rings. We went to Weta caves in Miramar which is where they make props for movies and they have a cool little museum.

Starting from the beginning. Last P-day we had so much fun site seeing the world of Lord of the Ring and Peter Jackson- cool story, the Elders knocked into him just this week, so that is neat. Weta caves is where they build sets, props, have the digital media to edit and create amazing movies. We got to see the big trolls, Gandolf the grey and disgusting orcs and creatures. It was pretty neat!

I then went on an exchange in Porirua which was really cool, and timely. Often, these exchanges happen exactly when they need to even though I just plan them at the beginning of the transfer. I think it really helped this companionship which was cool. We had some powerful lessons, we biked through the wap waps or incredible thick bush, and biked home in the dark through this creepy forest. Sister Boehmer and I just spoke all about the gospel so we wouldn't get freaked out in the woods.

During our exchange, this is me fighting my way through the wap waps.

Saturday was so beautiful. We had a baptism!! By we, I mean the Elders in the District so we were all into it because we're in the same ward. Baptisms are so scarce here that we really get stoked for one:) Robin is a funny one. He cut off half of his dreads for the baptism which we thought was a big thing for him. Sister Gilmour, AJ from the ward and I sang "I Need Thee Every Hour" for the baptism. We did it a cappella and with a trio harmony which was pretty neat:) We again sang it on Sunday for the prelude music because Bishop liked it so much so that was fun! I get waay more nervous singing on my mission than back at home. Maybe it's because I was more used to it back at home.. who knows.

Robin's baptism with the gigantic group of full time missionaries.

Robin's baptism! We didn't quite know what to do when he put his arms around us.. but it's all good :)

I heard how amazing the Women's Broadcast was, so of course I was way excited to see it for myself. As soon as I walked in I saw the prophet and squealed, quietly of course because we were in the chapel. Every companionship in the mission printed off 600 invitations to General Conference and almost every time we speak to someone we testify of a living prophet. So when I saw President Monson my heart was just filled with joy. I love our living prophet and apostles! Mum said that she cried through the whole meeting, and I am my mother's daughter. Before people even spoke I was crying. Just little tears really but I was all choked up. To see so many faithful, beautiful daughters of God made me feel so much the love the Heavenly Father has for His precious daughters. Sister Wixom from the Primary spoke and I just wanted to remind everyone: I went to the temple alone only my second time and she was in that session. I just came to love her so much through that, so it was exciting to hear from her. 

Basically, I just love this church so much. I am STOKED to see General Conference this weekend. What an amazing month. We get to celebrate the Easter season with the glorious resurrection of our Saviour, we get to hear from the living prophets and sustain them, and I get to stay in Wellington:) 

"And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some." Alma 26:30. This has become my new mission motto. I want to be the means of saving souls and that is why I am serving a mission. What an amazing thing to see investigators progress and come closer to Jesus Christ. I love this gospel and know it is true!!

Love from the other side of the world, with the most amazing stars to see at night,
Sister Rachel Kennedy

P.S. Did anyone notice that the Sister who conducted the music in the Women's meeting is the actor who receives the beef jerky for the angel in 17 Miracles?? I did, and it made me happy ha.

Rookie in MLC

March 30, 2014

To my beautiful family and friends,

Last P-day we had a super "Wellington" day. One of the office Sisters (Sister Eames, who is my Stratford cousin) took us on the famous Wellington Cable Car. I was so excited, we're in a red car going up the hills of Wellington. Well, it turns out it was super short, like 4 minutes maybe? But it dropped us off at the top of the Botanical Garden so we had a great little hike and mosey through the beautiful gardens. With the change of season there weren't the best looking flowers, but it still looked great.

I know that this a blurry picture of me riding my bike.. but I bought this adorable reddish raincoat. It took me weeks to buy.. mainly because I'm cheap and I had to finally give in to buying it ha. I love it.

I will now tell you all a bit about the exciting Mission Leader Council. I was so confused when I got there.. my companion got to spend the morning with another Scottish missionary so they really loved it. We all had assigned seats and I walked in and there were so many missionaries there.. I didn't know where to sit so I just turned around and walked out haha. I found another Sister and she showed me where to sit so that was nice. Out of 23 missionaries, myself and one of our Zone Leaders were the only new missionaries in attendance so I was quite the rookie. But seriously, it was so great! As leaders we just got to hear really uplifting things, real motivational stuff. We also just had a big Q and A so we could clear up any concerns or misunderstandings. Our mission president is returning home in July so he's being very diligent to ensure the mission is left with no problems or miscommunications. We got lunch, which makes any meeting great. My favourite part was when all the STL's got to meet with Sister Kezerian in another room. I love being with just Sisters:)

I just love my companion!

I just want to give a shout out to like the best member in the world. She feeds us quite often, and this week when we were over she gave us a super healthy meal which was delicious. Before we left she loaded us up with toilet paper, fabric softenor, and a heating blanket. Then the next day on Sunday she dropped off a second heating blanket and washing powder. This same woman bought up these awesome wool socks, she gave us outdoor lights to put in our lawn, and she's super supportive. I just wanted to let you know that there are amazing people, especially this woman, taking care of the Lord's servants. She literally the best. Last night she dropped off homemade mousse. YUM!

I just thought this ship looked really cool.

I absolutely cannot wait for General Conference:) It'll be the best! It's right after transfers, but I'm pretty sure I'll be staying. But who knows! We'll get to watch the General Woman's meeting April 5th, the stake is putting on a supper before so I'm stoked. We'll then watch the sessions on April 12th and 13th. Don't give away all the good talks because I want it to be a surprise for me! I just really love the General Authorities. Almost all our messages we've been giving to members and those we meet is about a living prophet and giving them invitations to give to friends and family. We have the same organization that Christ established while He was on the earth. That's just the best news I could give.

I hope my Dad has a very Happy Birthday! Sunday is the church's anniversary, so that is really cool. Easter is coming, yay!! I would really encourage each of you to search for wonderful talk son the Atonement. Look up The Atonement and Missionary Work by Elder Holland, it's amazing. Have a great week!!

I have a riddle. How many Mormons were there in 1830? How many Mormons are there in Mosiah 18:30? Hint: it's the same.

I love you all heaps!
 Sister Kennedy

Days of our lives.

March 23, 2014

6/8 Sisters in the Zone.

This week has been pretty busy, but busy is best:) We had Zone Conference on Wednesday which is always great! Unfortunately the topic was entirely on obedience because our Zone is maybe not the best ha. Even if we feel rebuked for a couple hours, it always leaves us with a greater desire to show our love to the Lord and get to work. We will only be deserving of His miracles once we show our love by the work and service we render. Then Heavenly Father can bless us with His prepared children and miracles. The Samoan ward put on our lunch at the Zone Conference so it was so good!! Sister Schaumkel from Blenheim, who now lives in Porirua, even came by so she could see me. Love her! 

On Thursday our ward put on the Relief Society Birthday party- it's the best when you are so far away from home and the church still has the March Birthday party. Kim, who's in YSA, and I sang "Lord I Would Follow Thee" a capella which was really fun. I don't think many people know about us missionaries and the things we can do, so it was fun to share a bit of singing with them. All the new sister in the ward introduced themselves with 3 things and Elizabeth got up and shared great things so everyone could relate to her, and even one of our investigators came and brought things to share! It was like fellowshipping to the max after because all the Sisters now knew who everyone was and could get to know them and offer to help them.

Sister Olamaleva and I on exchange in windy Wellington:)

I wanted to tell you all more about my calling as Sister Training Leader. My understanding is that each mission does it a bit different depending on the needs and circumstances of the mission. Here in the NZWM we have one Sister Training Leader in each Zone and she looks after all the sisters. That means they call in each night before 9:30pm to report that they are safe and home, it means I give them a PPI (Powerful personal interview) (A PPI with other missionaries in Personal Priesthood Interview so of course ours is a little different.) once a transfer, I attend the monthly Mission Leaader Council with the AP's and Zone Leaders (which is this Tuesday and I'm excited because it is my first time:) It's like the Temple.. you hear bits and bobs about it but you just don't know what it is until you go) and I go on regular exchanges with the Sisters. This transfer I've worked with a Tongan Sister and Samoan Sister. That's pretty much my responsibilities. I really enjoy the calling and the main thing is that I get a lot of phone calls.. ha so that's about it!

Miracle story: There's a beautiful sister here who was just baptized in November and she was a miracle convert. She's studying Uni here and we were over one day to teach her again the Restoration as part of her follow up lessons. As we had just began one of her friends walked in. She asked if she could join in our discussion, sat down, pulled out a pad of paper and took notes during our entire lesson. We were just so shocked we didn't really know what to do. Ha she just walked in and jumped right into the first lesson. She really wanted to learn more, coming from a staunch catholic background in Samoa. So we made a return date and we returned on Thursday. Sister Olamaleva and I taught about the Plan of Salvation(my favourite lesson to teach) and we committed her to be baptized! It was so beautiful. Sister Olamaleva is a convert and so she was able to give such powerful testimony and they could relate being from the same island. It's amazing the different ways that the Lord puts people into our path. So unknowingly we do things in the day and end up meeting the most interesting people and sometimes we get the chance to teach them. I'll keep you posted more on her progress, but keep Leilani in your prayers:)

I love you all heaps and pray that this week will bring many missionary opportunities into your lives! Thank you for all your love, support, and encouraging words. I am one happy missionary, and so grateful to be serving here in Wellington.

Cheers!
Sister Kennedy

Cyclone in the air.

March 16, 2014

To my beautiful family and friends all over the world, Happy St. Patrick's Day!! My companion and I are both decked out in green. Naturally.

I found Kennedy Street :) Still loving my Utes.

We haven't had any real progressing investigators for a couple of weeks and it has felt hard to get people moving this time of year. But luckily, that drought is now over. We had a referral from the Elders about a month ago and usually with our referrals, we try them again and again until we just figure we've done all we've could to contact them. Sefina was one of them. We'd called her, set up appointments she wasn't home for, and knocked on her door probably 5 times. Ha we said "we'll give her one last try". Luckily this day she was in! We sat down and had a great discussion about religion and what she was looking for in life and how we could help her. We came back a week later and taught the Restoration. Usually we break the lesson up into 2 parts because it's quite a lot of information, but with Sefina she was all goods for all the material. It was so great. She is so in touch with the Spirit and just knew what we were telling her was true. She said, "To be honest, I haven't read much of the Book of Mormon (she'd read 3 paragraphs on the introduction..), but I already know it's true". Ha, amazing. 

I had my first exchange as Sister Training Leader and it was pretty cool. I got to work with a Tongan sister from Auckland and she's full of life. It turns out that two of the YSA in our ward are from her home ward, so those little connections are always the best.

You can tell I'm not too sure about this kina...

I'll just tell you about all the weird and great things I'm eating here. Passion fruit just grows here. Yum, it is so good! Chicken flavoured crisps, or potato chips are really good here. I'm not crazy about all the seafood here. I like most of it but the weirdest have been oysters and also kinas, which is this little seafood people dive for here. It comes in this black spiky shell. There's a chocolate brand Whitaker's. I can't remember if it's in the States but it's so good! They have noodles here that are a lot like ramen, but better sauces!! We also bought mangos this week. I love living in the Pacific!

This weekend there was a cyclone that was forecast to hit New Zealand. We were counselled to all go the supermarket and buy any food we needed for the weekend and even have a member's home available for us to stay if it got crazy. Cheehoo I was excited!! It definitely hit the north of the north island and some of the other islands in the Pacific, but it didn't quite reach Wellington. Let's be honest, I totally wanted to be in a cyclone!! But we did get a read good amount of rain last night with some crazy winds, so I'm counting it as a cyclone that we worked through. ( I kept forgetting what a cyclone was called and kept saying a Cyclops was coming. Ha, much cooler sounding.) Every drop of rain on our badge means our eternal companion is getting better looking;)

It loves to rain..only when we are on our bikes ha.

I just want you to all know that our beautiful and humble members and investigators often pray "that the missionaries may be blessed as well as their family and friends who are back home". Isn't it amazing to know that people in New Zealand are praying for you in Utah?? I just love it:) Thank you for all of your prayers for me in New Zealand. We are a gospel that can call on angels to help in our work and ministry and I know angels are about my companion and I to help prepare the hearts of those that we teach. I can think of countless ancestors who are serving with me with the same title as Elder or Sister Kennedy, they're just without a body ha. I love you all heaps!! Call upon angels to help you this week.

Love, Sister Kennedy

P.S. Sometimes I feel like these letters don't even tell you much about how I am doing. Ha sorry. I'm doing really well. I don't remember doing anything before I was a missionary. I've just always been a missionary. Sometimes I find it hard to obey every little rule of our mission, but I have found such miracles in being obedient to the absolute extent we can be. I am getting more used to driving here in Wellington. Being Sister Training Leader just means I get heaps and heaps of phone calls at night. Ha this week I had to help one of the companions who'd been locked out of their flat. My companion and I get along so well, I just love her! The members here are awesome, but there's just so many more people to meet since it's a ward. Last week a lady in our ward did our nails with this gel that so nice, and today I'm getting my hair cut by this amazing member who cuts All-Blacks hair. Neato:) The weather is turning colder, and it's the rainy season. I get a letter from Elder and Sister Cannon which was so great. I really want to serve by them one day... But yup, I'm doing really well!!

Not up or down, but Forward.

March 9, 2014

Wow, what an exciting day to hear Caroline is engaged! I guess it wasn't how I imaged hearing the news when I was younger, but it's where the Lord needs us to be now. Congratulations to the whole family! I also got a Valentine's package from Andrew and Chels which was the cutest. Thanks heaps:)

Something that was exciting in my week was a Leaders Conference on Wednesday. I got to travel up the North Island to Palmerston North for a meeting with the AP's, Zone Leaders, Sister Training Leaders, and District Leaders serving on the north island in my mission. It was really fun, but also the weirdest being the only sister with 3 elders for 5 hours of driving. BUT, we got Wendy's on the way back which was fantastic. The first time in New Zealand. We got to listen for 5 hours to our Mission President and his wife. I love them! They are just heaven sent. Strangely I love meetings like that. Maybe it's because I miss Uni lectures.. but I did really enjoy it!

Yay for the Noye's being in Wellington!!

At church I have the terrible habit of always looking back when I hear the doors open, just hoping it's an investigator or less-active walking in. I always try to recognize the people walking in because I still feel new. But this Sunday, I looked back and realized I didn't recognize this couple walking in, but I knew them!! John and Nan Noyes from Corinne walked in and I was absolutely ahh struck. I got up and hugged them and had them sit right next to us. Seriously, what are the chances?? They are going down to Christchurch to see the Cannon's which is the coolest. John served his mission in Auckland many years ago and he told me that I will continue to think of New Zealand every day of my life because he has. They kept calling me by my first name and it was so weird. Ha I forget I have a past life with a first name. But little miracle to be sitting in Wellington with a couple from home:)

Miracle of the week: My companion and I were trying a potential investigator.. who wasn't home.. again. As we were leaving the apartment complex we met this guy, and we could tell he knew we were missionaries. He said, "Hey Sisters. I'm inactive, but my family is here. Want to meet them?" Uhh, yeah!! We walked into this little flat and met a big Maori family. They had all flown in from Aus and from New Zealand for their dad's funeral. They had seen us walk past the window and sent the son out to get us. The Mum is active up north but all of her children are inactive. We got to sing for them Nearer My God to Thee, then they got our their guitar and sang for us a song called Faith and then we all sang Families Can Be Together Forever. WHOA!! The Spirit was present more than I can ever remember on my mission. 17 family members all smashed in one little room, singing about forever families, with the ashes of their grandpa in the middle. It was seriously amazing. Then, almost all of them came to church on Sunday and it was the first time back in years for most of them. We just kept saying how this wasn't a coincidence that we tried this potential investigator and met this family. God knows each of us and will send us the answers we need.

This week we put all our time and effort into a Stop Smoking program developed by the church. It is a program to help smokers completely quit in 7 days. We spent study time to create her program, we bought all the needed resources for her, we cleaned her disgusting flat, and we moved heaven and earth to get a member present at her lesson so she could use the 15 steps to stop smoking. We did everything in our power to help this poor women quit smoking. We were saddened to find out she had lied to us by going and buying a packet of cigarettes right before we cleaned her flat and that she had already given up the first day. It was so hard for me to be patient with her knowing we had given her everything we could. Then I remembered the Saviour. He gave us everything He could, even His life. Yet we continue to make the same mistakes and not live up to our full potential. I just pray that I can live up to more of my potential and use the Atonement that He has provided. As a missionary, I know that no effort is wasted, but I am saddened to see the adversary have so much control.

I just wanted to remind everyone that I'm serving in 

Wellington City and sometimes we see crazy things..

I know this church is true. I love bearing Jesus Christ's name, talking to complete strangers, and teaching about the Plan of Salvation. A recent survey found that 40% of New Zealanders don't believe in God. Crazy. We continue to work hard every day so that people can know they are sons and daughters of God and that there is a plan and way provided to return home. Our mission president spoke about people feeling like they aren't a good missionary until they become a Zone Leader or something of a "title". The Lord doesn't care about up and down movement. He cares about forward movement. I pray we may all move forward this week!!

Love you all heaps!
Sister Kennedy

Growing heaps.

March 3, 2014

I think this has been the hardest and most rewarding week of my mission. Not physically, not emotionally, but spiritually. I've gained more this week than I have in a long time!

I love our lessons on the Armour of God

 and Carlos looked especially ready for battle!!

All week we'd been preparing for our beautiful baptism by inviting members, having Family Home Evening with she and her daughter at the Bishop's home, coordinating all her baptismal clothes, speaking in Ward Council about ways they could support and help, printing off the program, and having final lessons with her to make sure she was prepared. It was all going so well, at least on her part. It's always been that way. She's never raised any concerns because she's had such a solid testimony from the beginning.

On Friday, as we were running between the Ward Mission Leader's home and the Mission Office printed the programs,we were a little stressed. Then we decided to go downtown to a jewelry shop that Bishop's wife works at to get her a nice present. While parking the car, our bike hitch swung and dented a car. Ha, just adding to a nice day. As we started in the shop a member told us some church news that shocked up. Members have been leaving the church from the news in new essays and it left us with a dark cloud. Not that it shook our faith, it just surprised us and shocked us to hear these things. Better yet, was that we realized we had forgotten a little girl on the program who would be singing. So it was 4pm, we'd printed programs without a little girl in it, and we had all these trials building up. We hurried to edit the programs and reprint them all. I can't tell you the peace that came as I looked at these printed programs with a picture of Jesus Christ being baptized. It was amazing! Just an amazing calm. We drove back to our area and I filled up the gas and went to pay.. when I realized I was at the wrong gas station and our mission doesn't cover it. So I paid for the gas from cash at the ATM. Boo, I knew it was Satan who was giving us all these trials because we had a baptism the next day and that he was doing all he could to stop it. We got a text from a member in our ward inviting to stop by for a bit. It was surprising because she had just had us over for dinner the night before, but I was hoping she'd have something sweet because she's a baker. We knocked on her door and she opened up holding two red velvet cupcakes in her hand. Now, I don't know how many people know this, but red velvet in my favourite!! It was like Heavenly Father had opened the door and said, "I love you, know you, and care about what you're going through right now." She said she had been thinking about us all day and had been prompted to invite us over for these extras. I'm so grateful she listened to the Spirit because it was the answer that I needed to strengthen my testimony.

So much love and support from her family on her baptism.

Elizabeth's baptism on Saturday was just so beautiful! Her daughter, dad, sister, fiancé and his mum all came to support her. We also had a primary room full of members who had come to be there and support. Sister Gilmour and I sang "When I am Baptized" with Amearah, her daughter, and Leilia, who's Bishop's daughter. (They're so blessed because they are in the same primary school class and will now grow up in church together.) They stole the show with their singing and it was just the sweetest thing. We walked back to the font with Elizabeth and stood there watching. As she entered the water I started to cry feeling the Spirit so strong. We've known Elizabeth for 35 days and she has an amazing testimony. What a beautiful day!!

She was confirmed yesterday in church and she stood so confident for a vote of welcoming into the ward. Heavenly Father allows us to go through hard things and be tempted so that He can bless us later showing His love, timing, and His way. All this news has only deepened my testimony of the Book of Mormon. If we know the Book of Mormon is true, it doesn't matter all the other fine details. It's another testimony of Jesus Christ and He is the way and the center of this gospel. Everything else on top of His atonement is just appendages. As we come to know the Book of Mormon is true it confirms that the Priesthood has been restored, that Joseph Smith was called to restore the gospel, that Jesus is the Christ, and that this church is true. I love being a missionary and I love Wellington. Every day is an adventure and every day I grow.

I hope you all have a beautiful week!! Don't forget to write me, I love mail;) But seriously, ha.

Love you all heaps!
Sister Kennedy

I can think of no cool titles..

February 24, 2014

Soo the big news of the day. I am staying in Wellington with Sister Gilmour, but I'm now the Sister Training Leader for the Zone. Whoot, exciting slash nervous because we now have 8 sisters in the zone, which is more than ever and the largest in the mission. It's always exciting to learn something new and try a new adventure, so that will be me!

The ZOO! Blue Penguins, the cutest.

Last week for P-day we had real fun and went to the Wellington Zoo. We went with most of our District and saw heaps of monkeys, lions, apes, penguins, and dingoes. Days as a missionary are really long, but the half day we have for fun on P-day goes by soo fast. We tried to make the most of it running around to catch all the big animals before it closed. Ha, our District is really fun.

On Saturday we were involved in a big Mormon Helping Hands service project. I think it was a worldwide day of service, so hopefully back home there were some wonderful projects going on. We got to wear the yellow bibs (first time which was reeal exciting) and we worked at the Karori cemetery to clean paths and plots. Fun fact: the first branch of New Zealand was established in Karori around 1850. At this time, most of the saints were moving to Utah so the branch was closed because all the members were going to Zion. Now the Wellington ward covers Wellington, but a pretty cool connection. Also fun fact, the Robert's are our senior couple and they are from Preston Idaho. Preston is where Matthew Cowley was born. Fun facts bringing the world all together. Anyway, it was really fun to give service along side our stake. Plus, our investigator Elizabeth works at the cemetery so she got to see how involved our church is in helping others.

Speaking of Elizabeth.. she's going to be baptized Saturday. Whee!! Pray for her:) We're going to sing "When I am Baptized" with her little daughter at the program which will be so fun. We don't know what time it will be at because the other ward has a scheduled Birthday party.. so that will be fun to work around. But seriously, we are so excited for her. She rocks.

Wellington at its finest.

I had another little accident in Wellington. Driving on the roads downtown is just so tight. We were driving down a one way when we had to merge and the delivery truck in front of us just pulled over and started backing up in the road to an alley way. they didn't indicate and we were stuck between a car and them so they scratched our bumper. Big yellow mark. I'm just grateful that Brigham Young established big city blocks with wide roads. Wellington did not have the planning of wide streets in mind ha.

Okay, for the spiritual side of things. (By the way, if my emails aren't super spiritual, which I know they aren't, it isn't because I'm not always studying and love the scriptures. I just forget when I'm emailing about all the good stuff I've read. Seriously, I LOVE the Book of Mormon. It's the BOM.) I always get to the small books in the Book of Mormon and get all excited about how fast I can read them, but just this week I realized how precious these little books of Enos, Omni, Jarom and Words of Mormon are. Enos is made whole through his pleading to the Lord. Many people are healed in the Book of Mormon, but not many are "made whole". Big difference. The people in Zarahemla were sent to the promised land at a different time than Lehi and his family. What?! And, Coriantum (I think that's his name..) was the last surviving Jaredite. Crazy! I had no idea these things were even going on. But with my study including looking up in the index every time a new person is introduced, I have come to see the precious details that have been saved for us. So, my request for the week is that everyone reads these little books and looks for the treasures. They're short and they will blow your mind, as they did mine.

I love you all heaps and I'm becoming a city girl. I thought I was a city girl in Salt Lake, but now it's on a whole new level. We ride buses sometimes and I love it, reminding me of my UTA days:) If days ever seem hard and like they won't end, just remember, it's already tomorrow in New Zealand.

Sister Kennedy

A glassy dinner.

February 17, 2014

So.. let me just tell you about the most epic meal appointment of my life!! This beautiful family in the ward invited us for Sunday dinner. They have 5 boys, they met serving missions together in Auckland, and they are just delightful. It's been a bit cold here in Wellington, but this day was gorgeous. The Brother wanted to eat outside on the deck, the Sister wasn't so sure. There was a broken umbrella to shade the table and so the Brother was out using his power tools to jimmy rig it enough to give us shade. It look a long time. Finally, the table was set, the food was ready- a beautiful meal with enchiladas, rice, salad, corn and all the topping- and the umbrella was in. Just 2 bites in we hear this incredible rumble and the entire glass topped table crashes to the ground!!! We are all in immediate shock as we see everything laying in bits on the ground below us. I immediately say, "Grab a camera and take a picture!!" (You can see where my priorities are.)

We had the initial shock of the event, my want of taking pictures, then the realization that people were actually hurt. The boys had just been wearing shorts and they all have pieces of glass that had dug into their thighs. One of the boys did the typical start screaming out of fear, then the others boys were calm, and luckily the mom and dad were problem solvers. Ha the Dad luckily wasn't at the table and so he helped everyone. We had piles of glass on our skirts, but luckily, due to modesty we weren't injured. Let's be real- this family handled the situation perfectly. No one was upset about what caused it or what was broken, but they focused on helping each other and cleaning up the mess. It was the cutest thing, and just so memorable!! When things go bad, all you can do is laugh and clean it up. No use in getting upset because we can't change the past. All we can do it change our attitude about the situation.

We had a suuper fun Valentine's this year. My companion didn't realize that Valentine's isn't about being in love, it's about LOVING! The senior sisters live in the mission office and so we snuck up to their door and "Heart Attacked" them. It was the best. We then spent all day driving to members home and delivering their Heart Attacks. We'd written heaps of scriptures about love on the back and also delivered a thank you note. It was fun to run around and doorbell ditch our members. It also proved beneficial to the trust and love the members have for us. I hope everyone at home had a beautiful Valentine's Day as well. Luckily, I had heaps of American candy from Mum to fill my day:)

I was on exchanges for like 3 days, which is really long, but it was the best. One of the members from Blenheim was moving up here, but I couldn't remember when. We got a call from a private number and I finally figured out it was the Schaumkel's! We got to visit their new home and seeing them was just the sweetest thing. I'm making lifelong friends and family here. That's the beauty of the gospel. I may return home one day, but I know I will see these people again. Our Mission President and wife were in our District Meeting this week, and they are just the sweetest. They go home in July and you can see how sad they are to see it come to an end. Time goes by incredibly fast, but I know we are each called to not only the mission but also to the Mission President. This gospel is true and it makes me so happy:)

Love you all heaps!
Sister Kennedy

Pictures

February 16, 2014

Here are a couple of pictures that Sister Kennedy sent this week:

Okay, aren't these the cutest girls you've ever seen??

Our Plan of Salvation chalk talk.