The Prodigal Son

Hola hola!

I hope that you are all doing well and having a great holiday season! We had our Chaparral Ward Christmas party last week, and we have been helping some of the ward members decorate their Christmas trees and wrap presents. This is such a wonderful time of year and its amazing to be a missionary during it! 

We had two exchanges last week. For the first one, I went with Sister Loertscher and Sister Reck to their area in the Maricopa Indian Community. The houses are pretty spread out and there aren't many people that live there. We had a few visits with members of the ward and it was so fun to meet them. The people in that area have a pretty different lifestyle from the people in my area in Scottsdale, and it was cool to experience it. For our second exchange, I went with Sister Allred to her area in Glendale. Her area is the young single adult ward. It overlaps with Solano, the spanish ward. Solano is the first area that I served in, and it was so fun to be back there. Sister Allred is an amazing missionary! I have known her since the beginning of my mission but had never really served around her, so it was super fun to finally serve together for a day! 

Last week, we received a social media referral named Jefferson. He requested a visit from missionaries. He didn't answer our call or text, so we decided to stop by. A woman answered the door and we told her that we are missionaries and that we were looking for Jefferson. She looked really surprised and asked us again who we are and what we do as missionaries. We explained that we teach people about Jesus Christ and help them to come unto Him. She then asked "And you're here for Jefferson?" We said yes and she still looked confused. We asked a little bit about her religious background and she said that she believes in God and goes to church. She then told us how surprised she was that we were there for Jefferson. Her name is Blanca and Jefferson is her son. She explained that he has been really difficult lately and hasn't been making the best decisions. She got emotional as she told us that she has been praying so hard for something to happen to help him change. Her prayers were finally being answered. It was incredible to see the love that Blanca has for her son and how happy she was that he was finally trying to change his life for the better. 

As I thought about this sweet experience with Blanca, I thought of the story of the prodigal son. After seeing Blanca's joy when she found out that her son was making steps to follow Christ, I could only imagine how Heavenly Father must feel when we decide to repent and return to Him. I then thought about Jefferson and what an amazing but difficult decision he had made to change. I was reminded of the General Conference talk by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home. In this talk, Elder Uchtdorf said "No matter what may have happened in your life, I echo and proclaim the words of my beloved friend and fellow Apostle Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: 'It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s [atoning sacrifice] shines.' Though choices may have taken you far away from the Savior and His Church, the Master Healer stands at the road that leads home, welcoming you... I do not pretend that coming back is an easy thing to do. I can testify of that. It may, in fact, be the toughest choice you will ever make. But I bear witness that the moment you decide to return and walk in the way of our Savior and Redeemer, His power will enter your life and transform it. Angels in heaven will rejoice. And so will we, your family in Christ. After all, we know what it’s like to be a prodigal. We all rely daily on the same atoning power of Christ. We know this path, and we will walk with you." We are all imperfect, and we all need Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for our Savior and for His Atonement. He suffered so that we don't have to if we will repent. I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, there is no point of no return. No matter what we do, He will be there to welcome us back with outstretched arms. Of these things I testify in His name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love you all!

Con Amor,
Hermana Kendrick

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