A Week Of Miracles

Hola hola!

I hope that you all had an amazing week! We saw so many miracles last week and there are so many good things happening here. 

At the start of the week, we got a referral named Velita. She had filled out a form online to meet with missionaries. We reached out to her and were able to set up a visit. When we went into her apartment for the visit, we noticed a picture of Jesus on her wall. It was a picture that we had only ever seen in church buildings of our faith so we thought it was interesting that she had it. We started getting to know Velita a little bit and she told us that she is a member of our church! She recently moved here from Mesa and has been an inactive member for a little while. She said that she wants to come back to church and have weekly visits with us to discuss what she is reading in the Book of Mormon. We gave her all of the information for church and she came yesterday along with some of her family! 

We also received a referral named Keinis and set up a visit with her. Before the visit, we ate dinner with the Jensen family and talked to them about our friends that we are teaching right now. We told them that we had a lesson that night with a new friend named Keinis. They asked if we wanted them to join us for the visit and we said of course! We all got to Keinis' house and started getting to know her. She asked Brother Jensen what he does for work and he told her that he buys and sells old coins. She was so excited because her dad is really interested in old coins and has lots of them! They talked about it for a minute and it was so cool to see them connect. Keinis only speaks Spanish and is trying to learn English. Sister Jensen only speaks English and is trying to learn Spanish. However, they were both able to string some words together and have a little conversation. Although neither of them spoke the other one's primary language, they immediately connected and became friends. It was amazing to see how God's hand was in every detail of our visit. Keinis loved meeting the Jensen family, and we were able to start teaching her a little bit about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is so excited to continue learning and come to church. 

We received a third referral named Yrianna. She just moved here from Colorado and has been meeting with missionaries for about a year. She knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. On Saturday, we went over to her apartment to meet her and help her unpack. She is so sweet and excited to continue learning! 

Elder John Pingree, one of the General Authority Seventy, came to our mission last week and we had a couple of meetings with him. He is amazing! In one of the meetings, he talked about miracles and the importance of recognizing and writing down the ones that we see each day. One of my favorite things that he said was that "God does the miracle, but you can be the vehicle." We all have the opportunity to be instruments in His hands and help others feel of His love. It amazes me that He allows us to take part in His great work. 

We also had a Why I Believe event and Elder Pingree spoke there. We were able to go to the event with a lady named Socorro, her kids, and Hermano Cannon who is over missionary work in the Vía Linda Branch. Socorro lives in our area and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but attends another ward. She loved walking around the temple grounds. She told us that she wants to prepare to enter the temple and receive her endowments! We were so happy to hear that, and we are excited to start helping her prepare. 

I had the opportunity to talk in both the Chaparral Ward and Vía Linda branch yesterday. I was able to share one of my favorite stories from President Hinckley. Years ago, he told a parable about a one room school house in the Virginia where the boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them. President Hinckley said “A young, inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked: ‘Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.’ “‘I will risk it,’ he replied. “The first day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom whispered: ‘I won’t need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.’ “The teacher said, ‘Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.’ They yelled and made fun at the top of their voices. ‘Now, I want a good school, but I confess that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.’ “One fellow yelled, ‘No stealing!’ Another yelled, ‘On time.’ Finally, ten rules appeared on the blackboard. “‘Now,’ said the teacher, ‘a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’ “‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response from the class. “‘That is pretty severe, boys. Are you sure that you are ready to stand by it?’ Another yelled, ‘I second the motion,’ and the teacher said, ‘All right, we will live by them! Class, come to order!’ “In a day or so, ‘Big Tom’ found that his lunch had been stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old. ‘We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule—ten stripes across the back. Jim, come up here!’ the teacher said. “The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and pleaded, ‘Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please, don’t take my coat off!’ “‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’ “‘Oh, teacher, don’t make me!’ He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The boy had no shirt on, and revealed a bony little crippled body. “‘How can I whip this child?’ he thought. ‘But I must, I must do something if I am to keep this school.’ Everything was quiet as death. “‘How come you aren’t wearing a shirt, Jim?’ “He replied, ‘My father died and my mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is washing it today, and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep me warm.’ “The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then ‘Big Tom’ jumped to his feet and said, ‘Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.’ “‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ “Off came Tom’s coat, and after five strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, ‘How can I finish this awful task?’ Then he heard the class sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’” 

I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite. There is nothing that you can do to separate yourself from His love. I pray that we may always remember Him and strive to become more like Him each day. I know that it is through His Atonement that we can have joy now and forever. Of these things I testify in His name, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I love you all!

Con Amor,

Hermana Kendrick