Joy

Hola hola!

I hope that you are all doing well!

Last week, towards the end of P-Day, Hermana Cruz and I went to eat dinner with the Bustillos family at their house for my birthday. Little did we know, they had planned a whole party and invited some people from the ward. They all surprised us as we walked in. It was so sweet! I absolutely love the Bustillos family and everyone here in La Joya. They are truly like family. That night, we also had a visit with Carlos. After the visit, he came with us to knock a few doors in his apartment complex. He asked us how we decide which doors to knock. We told him that we are guided by the Holy Ghost. He then asked if that was how we found him, and we said yes. It was a neat moment when he realized that we didn't just randomly decide to walk up to him and ask if he wanted to learn more. It was amazing to have him come with us and be a part of missionary work.

We had Zone Conference last week. It was inspiring as ever. After the in-person session of Zone Conference, Hermana Cruz and I were asked if another missionary named Hermana Black could come with us for a few hours. Hermana Black came to Phoenix from the MTC to get her Visa but left her passport in the Uber that picked her up from the airport, so she ended up having to stay a little longer to get everything sorted out. She came with us for a couple of hours before her flight back to the MTC. She was so sweet. It was super fun to have another missionary with us for a little while! Hermana Black will be serving in Ecuador after she finishes the MTC. 

The main topic of Zone Conference was 'Joy.' It is also the doctrinal focus for this transfer. One of the speakers talked a little bit about President Nelson's General Conference talk that was given in October 2016 titled Joy and Spiritual Survival. In his talk, President Nelson says "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation... and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy." President Nelson then goes on to say that "Anything that opposes Christ or His doctrine will interrupt our joy... If we look to the world and follow its formulas for happiness, we will never know joy. The unrighteous may experience any number of emotions and sensations, but they will never experience joy! Joy is a gift for the faithful. It is the gift that comes from intentionally trying to live a righteous life, as taught by Jesus Christ." I know that what President Nelson said is true. I would like to invite you all to read or listen to this talk then plan one way that you will more intentially focus on Jesus Christ this week. I know that as you act on this thing, you will feel joy. I testify that joy comes through Him. There are a number of things in this life that may bring us happiness, but only Jesus Christ and His gospel will bring us joy. I testify that we are here on earth to have joy. As we remember Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we can experience this joy every day of our lives. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I love you all!

Con Amor,
Hermana Kendrick













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