Midsummer Marigolds️

Hey everyone! Do you wanna hear something crazy?? I've been a missionary for 6 months now! I'm 1/3 of the way through my mission!! Some days go by slower than others but overall it's gone by so fast, I can't believe it! I'm so grateful for the time that I've been able to serve despite the many challenges. I've learned so much about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and also about God's love for all of His children. I'm excited to see what else the Lord has in store for me to learn in this next year of missionary work! 

I actually had a chance to really reflect on my missionary work this Sunday. We were asked to be on a panel along with other current and recently returned missionaries to answer the youths' questions about missionary work! It was very cool to be able to share my mission experiences and insights with them. We were able to do this for both Hillsborough and Mebane ward as well as having a part in the adult 5th Sunday class so it was a busy day but so cool to be a part of! Being on the panel for the youth classes was especially cool because I remember when they did the same thing in our ward back home and now this time the roles are reversed. Who would've thought?

What was also cool is that we had several visitors from an Evangelical church come to sacrament meeting and the missionary panel! They are actually taking a class on our religion and part of the class includes attending a service. It was actually a really good one for them to attend because we had several converts speak. They shared amazing testimonies of The Book of Mormon and plan of salvation, so I hope the visitors enjoyed it and learned something new about our faith! 

Now for the rest of the week! This week was a good one! Not too eventful, just another good week of talking about Jesus! So let's get into it! 

SERVICE PARTY!! We were able to do a lot of service again this week! It's been so awesome to be in an area with so many opportunities to serve individuals and the community! We were able to go to Open Table (clothing the homeless) service again, help our member friend Lee build a chicken coop, fold Martha's laundry (and cut her dogs claws), and help at LifePoint Food Bank again! I love doing service, it's the best!

We were also able to finally do some good finding this week! It's been hard to fit it in our schedules so we've been trying to prioritize it more because it's such an important part of missionary work. We didn't have a ton of success but we did meet Nancy and Mauricio who we're excited to teach more about the gospel!

We also met a guy named Todd while we were knocking. He was sitting on his screened porch smoking something. He invited us on to his porch to talk and we had a good chat about God. He's definitely a hippie haha. He was telling us all about his organic garden and his Buddhist beliefs. He also gave us some organic gatorade which was sweet of him! Then he showed us his garden.  I said Marigolds are one of my favorite flowers so he cut us each one to put in our hair. That was just one of those interactions where you meet someone who's not interested but you still feel better after having talked with them. Missionary work would be much more enjoyable if all people were just nice. I had a lady at a grocery store parking lot tell me not to walk any closer to her, I didn't know I was that scary!?



Highlights:
   –Missionary work is GOLDEN
   –Spiritual lesson with Diana! We actually invited her to be baptized! She isn't ready at this time because she isn't sure how her mom will react and wants to please her, so keep Diana in your prayers for me!
   –Yummy food at member meals!
   –Church!
   –NC really is pretty in the summer!

Lowlights: 
    –There's this one member who's on the spectrum that has been making my companion uncomfortable at church. He even asked her if she's engaged! I think he might have a little bit of a crush lol.

Spiritual thought:

Church this week was really focused on missionary work which is amazing! There is definitely a greater joy which comes from serving the Lord and this rejoicing in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ is what I'm wanting to focus on as I continue my missionary service. I know that the gospel can bring us so much joy, so why would we not want to share that with others?!

I love this example in The Book of Mormon of Ammon finding joy through Christ in hard times. The people at this time have just lost many of their loved ones to war. But despite this Ammon finds joy in knowing that eternal life comes through Jesus Christ and true joy comes through sharing this light and knowledge with others! 

Alma 28:12-14, Alma 29:9-10

"While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness.

And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.

And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.

I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

Lots of love to ya'll and have a super fun 4th of July!  And this is my last Monday P-day before transfers (which is crazy) so I'll catch you next Wednesday with transfer news! 

Also make sure to keep Ahtsham (my Pakistani friend) and his family in your prayers this week! His sister has kidney stones and will probably need surgery so pray for her health.

 –Peace & Love,

Sister Kendrick

Pics:
Yummy food
Energy drinks to keep a missionary going
Midsummer Marigolds
One of my favorite flowers
My comp locked me out of the car Messenger creation
Missing Welcome Mat
Sister Kendrick






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