Zooming Into The New Year

Thanks y’all for being here! I hope you had a good start to 2025! Welcome to email numero #1. Yesterday I finally finished home MTC, yay! (Solid 8/10 week) As much as I disliked having zoom classes for 7+ hours a day it was very cool to see how the spirit was able to reach each of us missionaries in our diverse locations around the country and even the world. The group I’m in is district 27-C and they are all amazing. I have learned so much from them, especially my sweet companion Sister Moon (also going to NC) who also just completed a semester at USU and wants to go into English education so we’re basically the same person haha. I also love my teachers, especially Brother Reid and I can’t wait to have in person classes with him. One of the Elders in our district, Elder Holen, is a convert and he has such a powerful testimony that he loves sharing and which has inspired us all. I can tell he is just so ready to go and serve. (Cool fact: he is a lover of “fragrances and girly ties”- quote from him) And then there’s Elder Sprick who is the writer among us. This is an email he sent to our district: 

“Good evening Elders and Sisters, this district wide email is sent in an attempt to figure out a good time and venue for everyone to conduct our devotional review for the 31 of December 2024. If you have preferred times or preferences in regards to this activity please make it known at your earliest convenience. I apologise for being so late to draft this message as we were supposed to meet directly after and alas I'm sending it almost 20 minutes late. I thank you all for your continued cooperation and service to the Lord.”

I swear he’s either gonna be a 1900s detective writer or the head of HR at some major company idk. I thought this was just a funny joke but he even talks like this sometimes so I’m not sure anymore but I love it.

Anyways, I’m excited for the adventures that await me at the Provo MTC tomorrow through the 22nd with my district. The highlights of home MTC were definitely getting to know the Sisters and Elders and feeling the spirit so strong throughout all the classes, workshops, and devotionals. The lowlights were spending several hours in front of a screen and role playing teaching lessons because it’s just awkward haha. 

I hope you all had a happy new year! Tis the season of New Year’s resolutions, am I right? Sometimes it can be hard to think of good New Year’s resolutions. I struggled to set mine this year (my “blackout” year of missionary service), mostly since my life is about to change and I’m not sure exactly what to expect. Thankfully, our Prophet Russell M. Nelson has some good suggestions: 

“First,” he wrote on Facebook and Instagram, “Resolve to strengthen your spiritual foundation. This may involve setting a specific time and place to study the scriptures, praying more often, making temple worship a bigger priority, and letting God prevail in all aspects of your life."

“Second, resolve to be kind to others. When the Savior Jesus Christ visited the Americas, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, one of the first things He taught was the need to eliminate contention in our lives. So, please be compassionate, be understanding, be slow to judge, and be quick to forgive."

“Third, resolve to be resolute. The Lord loves effort. The Lord loves consistency. The Lord loves steadfastness. While we surely will come up short from time to time, our persistent efforts to hear Him and follow the inspiration He gives us will help us to 'wax strong in the Spirit' (Mosiah 18:26).”

As you make New Year’s resolutions this year don’t forget to make Christ the center of your goals. 

And always remember: 

Matthew 6:33

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

-Sister Kendrick 

My District

I'ts getting real

Home MTC starts today!

Here goes