I'm Feeling 22.

October 20, 2014

This is Kirstin!! We got to see a bit of rugby with her on Saturday:)

So.. it's my 22nd Birthday. Neat! I'm sure it will turn out to be the best 22nd Birthday I've ever had:) 

I'm so grateful for all of your prayers in my behalf this week in preparation for Stake Conference! I could definitely feel your prayers and mine being answered as each practice got better and better. It really was a miracle! On Sunday morning we all met at the chapel and loaded onto a chartered bus to go to Stake Conference. One of our members drives for the company so he drove us. We'd all dressed in white tops, black skirts, and a red tie for the guys and a red ribbon for the women. As we were traveling the bus started to slow down, getting slower and slower until he pulled off to the side of the road. *insert confused looks for the next 30 minutes* Haha no one really moved and the driver just kept trying different things to get the bus to go. Haha we jokingly asked the Elders to bless the bus, but time slipped by and suddenly the conference was about to start and the whole choir was on the side of the road on the way to Palmerston hahah. At first I was nervous to play the piano, then I was a bit relieved, and then I was super bummed because we've practiced  hours on hours to perform 12 numbers. Haha Id'd been praying all week to be able to play well for Stake Conference, so I guess the way it was answered was to not play at all ha. A member with a van came and took us, the elders, and a few members so we actually made it to the conference. It was a great conference but I reckon it would have sounded lots better with us. There was another bus that came to pick up the group, but it was too late for the Conference. All in all, I have increased my talent to play the piano, and hopefully we'll be able to sing our songs in the ward in the upcoming weeks.

There's this cute little town called Shannon in our new area, and this week Sister Turvey and I had a special dedicatory prayer to start our work there. Missionaries haven't been working there for quite some time and we feel really excited about the future there!

We had an awesome exchange with Sister Hann and Sister Shaw.
Sister Shaw is the granddaughter of Grandma Stratford's friends.

Today was transfers, it was a short 4 week transfer. I'm staying, my companion is staying, and I'm still an STL. Ha at the end of this 8 week transfer I'll have been an STL for 10 months. Hmm... haha at least I am still loving it!

We were so excited because both Wednesday and Thursday night we had first lessons with guys (so weird to teach guys now! but also good), and with both of them we set baptismal dates. I just love extending the baptismal invitation! The Spirit is always just so strong.

President Eyring spoke in General Conference about how his mother had taught him principles that he's lived by ever since. He said something that I desire as well. I desire to make my parents "exceedingly glad". No one back home knows the 21 year old Rachel.. that whole year has been just to New Zealand :) Like Alma 50:23 "But behold, there never was a happier time among Rachel's life, than in the twenty and first year." I'm looking forward to being 22, but so many things have happened in my 21st year that just wouldn't have happened unless I had decided to serve a mission! For that I will be eternally grateful. Dad always reminds me that I can either look back and be happy I did things, and look back and wish I would have done things. I hope I can live the rest of my mission with no regrets! I hope you all have a beautiful Fall week while I enjoy the beautiful Spring of New Zealand!

Love, Sister Kennedy

Christ is no stranger to His Servants.

October 12, 2014

Kia Ora! WOW! General Conference was so great, I loved it! I realize I'm a bit behind the band wagon, but it was so awesome to be able to finally see Conference. I asked the Lord many questions, and because He loves me, He answered them! I hope you all found answers to your questions as well.

This is me pretending to be good on the piano with the Samoan choir.

The thing that has kept us the busiest this week is the Samoan Choir in Levin. They've been asked to sing at Stake Conference next weekend, and they asked if I could play the piano for them. There's not many options here and I said yes without realizing just how many songs they would sing and the difficulty of the pieces ha. I've never played for many flats in my life and they're whipping out Samoan hymns I don't know and asking me to play. Anyway.. they're super committed and we'll spend easily 2 or 3 hours almost every night practicing ha. It's been quite the adventure! I actually really need all of you to pray for me this week. I am quite nervous to play for the whole Stake.. so I'm sure your prayers put up to Heaven will help me play a bit better. Mum, can you believe it? My piano teachers will never believe they're trusting me to play at Stake Conference ha. This is proof that members really do put missionaries on a higher level.

Cute Foxton

We work in Foxton, which is this little town that reminds me of Randolph. We were looking for this less active couple and couldn't remember what house number the Branch President had told us but we guessed number 5. It wasn't them, but we met Nicole who was out mowing her lawn and working on the garden. We asked if she needed help, and she told us she needed help yesterday ha. But we rolled up our sleeves and started weeding her yard because she had a flat inspection in just a few hours. She didn't tell us much, but she just got through a messy relationship and she said that she knew God had brought us to her today. My companion cut her thumb on glass, but we still could help out. We're going back on Tuesday and we hope that she turns into an investigator!

Our baptism with Kirstin has been moved to October 25th because of General Conference and Stake Conference, but we are so excited for her! She came to 3 of the 4 sessions of General Conference and was there for Elder Bednar's talk, which rocked. This week we watched the full version of The Restoration and she was so cute and had prepared movie snacks for us ha. I have seen her change so drastically since being in Levin so it's so fun to see her continually be happier and more optimistic.

I'll leave you with my favourite quote from Conference from President Packer: "Christ is no stranger to His servants." I love being a missionary during conference because every prayer, and every talk seems to speak to missionaries and give love and encouragement. It's my last time being a missionary during conference so it's sad.. but I loved how Elder Bednar told us that we continue to be missionaries when we truly love and believe our message. I love you all and hope you have a beautiful week!!

Love, Sister Kennedy

Meetings every day.. :)

October 5, 2014

This week we had an awesome Mission Leader Council meeting on Tuesday, I attended the District Leader Council on Wednesday to train the missionaries, on Thursday we had District Meeting, and Sunday we had Stake Correlation Meeting. I have never been this busy with leadership meetings and training, but I love it! It has really given me the opportunity to stretch and grow myself. Plus it's awesome training for the future.

At our Mission Leader Council it was a beautiful, sunny day in Wellington and so we got to eat our lunch on the roof of the building, SO neat! It's 4 stories high so I could just look out at my beloved city. It made me miss street contacting in the capitol city, but I'm so lucky that I get to go back there every month.

On Sunday we had our Stake Correlation meeting where the Stake Presidency meets with the Zone Leaders to correlate efforts and plans. This time, the Sister Training Leaders have been invited, so it was neat! I got to counsel with 5 wonderful Priesthood Leaders and speak about concerns. My companion went with other sisters and so it was kind of weird to be a solo Sister, but I really enjoyed it. We're going to have it every month now which will definitely hasten the work in the Palmerston North Zone. Unfortunately the meeting happens during our sacrament meeting and it's 40 minutes away, so from now on we'll get to attend 3 sacraments each month: Levin Ward, Foxton Branch (which are both our assignments) and now the Summerhill Ward so we can have the sacrament after Stake Correlation ha.

In our mission, we could only listen to hymns. But this week we just got approved to listen to all the EFY songs and music on lds.org so we have been loving listening to all the music. It is so inspiring! I was home sick for most of the day on Friday and Saturday (I had to leave the flat in the evening because I've never had to stay in for a full day on my mission, and couldn't let it happen now!) with a bad cold, but luckily my companion was so cute to be my nurse. I got Caroline's package with all her wedding photos so I could properly look at those in bed ha, while listening to EFY music.

On Sunday, Kirstin had her baptismal interview and she's all good to get baptised! Yay! I get to play the piano for the Samoan choir for the Stake Conference coming up which is exciting. I'm also on exchanges right now in Palmy which is so fun.

President Benson said, "It is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent." I love it! I cannot wait for General Conference. Of course, you're all lucky enough to have seen it. We'll get the feed this coming weekend, and I can't wait! I hope you all have a beautiful week. I love New Zealand and everything that is happening. Life is the best!

Love, Sister Kennedy

Feeling excited for the Future

September 28, 2014

My companion, Sister Turvey with the firehose. 

This week was really busy with our transfers and everything going on! Sister Martin was really awesome at packing and we were in bed by 11pm Tuesday night which is a record! Usually we're up all night packing ha but she was good. She took a double decker bus to Hastings and then we ran to the airport to pick up my new companion, Sister Turvey. She's so cute!! She's from England and just came from her first area in Christchurch. She's ready to work hard and we can already see the potential for this area. Check out Mike Turvey's Mormon Message because she's in the video.

We are teaching this awesome girl named Kirsten. We share the same Birthday and she's just one year older than me. This week we taught her the Word of Wisdom and when we came back a few days later her little sister asked if they could drink at a party on the weekend and Kirsten said "oh, we're not gonna do that anymore". It was really cool! Every time we see her she looks happier and happier. She's on date to be baptised October 18th:)

Cute Foxton Branch!

Last Saturday we went to visit this older woman in the ward and then on Tuesday we got news that she's actually passed away on Monday. The ward had her funeral on Friday and it was kind of out of it that I'd just met her. It was a good opportunity to really think about the plan of salvation and realise that there's no sting in death because Christ has overcome that for us.

On Saturday we went into town and stumbled upon an event to gain awareness of the emergency services. We got to talk to people while learning about ambulances and firetrucks. I was super stoked about it when we got the chance to put on a fireman's hat and spray water at some targets. ha I was all about it!! I thought it was so fun.

I tried my hand at firefighting this weekend. ha:)

Right after we were able to go to Palmerston to support the Sisters in their baptism. I got to help teach Paula on exchanges and her story is so cool! Not only was she baptised, but she's now engaged to a member she met at church so that is neat.

As the STL I get to support the Sisters in the Zone so
we got to go see beautiful Paula be baptised.

I'm most excited this week because I get a call from the office with my new release date. I was supposed to come home in December because my visa expired, but that was just too early for my liking. I put my petition to the Mission President and he's letting me stay until January 12th and then I'll just have a special outtake for myself ha. I'm so stoked on life!! I can't wait to spend a second Christmas and New Year's in New Zealand and be able to serve the Lord for a bit longer than expected!

I love you heaps!! I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Love, Sister Kennedy

Pictures

September 21, 2014

There are 4 more emails that will be coming and they just have pictures and short descriptions under them. It's been a really busy week, but so great! The biggest news is that our transfers are on Wednesday and I'll be staying in Levin with a new companion named Sister Turvey. She's from England and I met her on her first day on the mission and she was so cute!

I got to go wedding dress shopping with Ruta and we found this beauty of a dress! Only $17, so not bad:) We went to all the Op Shops and we were lucky to find her wedding dress, shoes, and reception dress all for $50. ​

This is what you call a successful shopping day a the Op Shop:) 

The Beautiful Bride and Groom:) Ruta and Michael Gase. My companion and I did all the setting up with the tapa cloth, flowers, chairs, and setting up the hall. 

He put a ring on it! (they were short on money, so I pitched in money and helped get it:) 

Right after her wedding, which was performed by the Bishop, we went into the baptismal program. Her sister-in-laws spoke, there were a few musical numbers of family members, and then she was baptised. She wanted to be baptised in her wedding dress, which was neat! she had to be basptised twice because the first time her dress floated up ha. But the second time it was all under.

Cutting the cake as a couple. 

We had missionary unity all dressing Samoan for the baptism and wedding ha. 

All in all, it was an awesome day! she turned 20, was married, and baptised. It was Sister Martin's first baptism which is cool because she's leaving on Wednesday. Elder Davis, the blonde Elder, got to baptised her and it was his first one. I may have been gone for my sisters wedding, but Ruta's wedding made up for it a bit:)

Last Monday we got to have a Zone P-day and so we met up at the chapel in Palmy and did a bunch of games. We had a 3 legged race and although we weren't very good, at least our picture was nice.

 This is our District Unity is our tug of war competition. 

I love you all so much! The Lord has been so good to me and He just needed me to be patient enough to receive my blessings. I hope you have an amazing week! I love you heaps!

Love, Sister Kennedy ​

Things are looking up up up.

September 14, 2014

This email will probably be short because we are heading out to Palmerston for a Zone Pday. Yay! it's our first one, so hopefully it goes well ha. We're playing human fusball so that's cool. Last Pday was really cool. We got to play laser tag, mini golf, and laser maze which is where you pretend like you're a secret agent and have to climb over and under laser beams. It was fun.

This week was pretty full on. We had Zone Conference on Thursday and for the first time, the Sister Training Leader conducted the meeting, ran the Sisters lunch, and then I got to do some training during the conference. It was cool to feel so involved and be able to use my skills to help the zone. It was really cool. We made a big announcement that some of our mission policy changed. In the past, we as sisters only taught women and so we would cover all the Elders areas and then try to cover our own. It was really hectic and we'd be going all over. Now the rule has changed back to the white handbook where the missionaries will find, teach, baptise, retain, and reactive in their assigned areas. Pretty neat! I don't really know how to teach single guys so that'll be a fun transition ha and it'll make the members really step up because we'll always needs a member present to teach now. This also changed our area quite a bit. We used to rotate with the Elders in the area covering the Foxton Branch, but now we'll be the only missionaries covering that and we'll go every other week to Levin and then Foxton.

The Talent Night

Friday night we had a big Talent Show at the chapel which was awesome! We had two investigators come, and some less actives. There were lots of Samoan dances, singing, primary numbers, and I even sang "Be Still My Soul". Ward activities really help bring the ward closer together so we were excited that it happened.

This week I found out that 2 of our investigators have the same Birthday as me (October 20th for anyone who's forgotten;)) and so we've made plans to party.. or get them baptised haha.

This Saturday is Ruta's Birthday.. and her wedding and her baptism! What a better 20th Birthday right?? She's the one who a member had been fasting and gave us her family's name. Ever since we've been teaching her she just recognizes the Spirit so easily and has gained a firm testimony. Bishop will marry them, right after she'll be baptised, and then we'll have a Samoan party. Can't wait:)

Samoan dance number

This Sunday we attended the Foxton Branch and we had a meeting with the branch presidency before, we gave the 2 talks for Sacrament, and then I played all the hymns for the meeting. Ha it was full on, but I really love branches. Branches really need missionaries, which I love!

Things are looking up up up here in Levin, especially as we're able to really focus on our own area and help the Foxton branch now. I have come to learn that the Lord truly knows what's best for us. This morning I was reading Alma 4:2-5 and it reminded me how important trials are to build us. The Nephites had experienced great afflictions but it was at this time that they remembered God and built up the church. 3.500 souls were baptised after this renewed testimony of faith. All things are possible with Christ! I hope you all have a beautiful week:)

Love, Sister Kennedy

Happy Father's Day!

September 7, 2014

Yesterday was Father's Day here on the bottom of the world, so Happy Father's Day!

Our Father's Day gifts.

This Friday there was a kapa haka festival with all the kids in the region (kapa haka are the dance groups that perform Maori songs and dances). We had a couple of the ward members performing so we went to support them and it was awesome! The group did their thing and then the boys would come to the front and do the haka and I just loved it! Ha it was so cool. They did some great poi and dances with sticks. Things like that really make me appreciate how much New Zealand preserves their culture.

Kapa haka

On Saturday night we had an area 70 come to the stake and give a Women's Devotional. It was very inspiring and just helped me remember how much worth I have as a daughter of God.

My companion and I at our chapel :)

I know this letter is awfully short! I went on a great exchange in Palmerston, we taught many great lessons, I fell off my bike and cut up my leg, I'm the pianist for the Samoan choir and don't really know what's going on, we will hopefully have a wedding this week! Grandma sent me a great little package, and a member from Wellington sent me a package as well. So cute!! Time keeps going by incredibly fast.. scary!

we helped set up a primary activity which was fun haha.

Your homework. Read D&C 35:13 and then tell me your interpretation next week. Ha I loved reading that verse this week. I hope you all have a beautiful week! I love you all heaps and heaps and am grateful to be far from you so I can gain a greater appreciation for you.

Love, Sister Kennedy