Eternal Families

¡Hola a todos!

Wow, what an amazing last 6 weeks it has been. We just got our transfer news last night. I was very surprised, to say the least haha. I am going back to Paradise Valley to open up a new area, and I will be training a new Sister from the MTC. We will be serving in the Vía Verde and Shadow Mountain Wards. I served in the Vía Verde Ward about 6 months ago. I'm excited to go back and be able to serve in the Shadow Mountain Ward too. The people here in Mesa truly feel like family and I'm so sad to leave them. However, I know that God still has some work for me to do in Paradise Valley and I'm excited to see what this next transfer has in store! 

Elder Soares visited our mission last week! It was a very special experience to be able to shake his hand and listen to him talk to us about missionary work. He said "The mission is your time to learn how to focus on Jesus Christ so that when you go back home and life gets crazy, you know how to focus on Him." He then said that as missionaries, every contact or lesson we have with someone is an opportunity to help that person focus on Jesus Christ. Elder Soares promised that as we learn how to focus on Jesus Christ throughout our missions and continue to do so afterwards, the Lord will work miracles through us throughout our lives. This was an incredible promise to me because it has been such a privilege to see the Lord work miracles through me as a missionary. I am thankful that that won't end after the mission and that I can continue to be an instrument in His hands. 

Our friends Daniel and Marisol got married! We had a little marriage ceremony in President Valle's backyard and it was so sweet. They are getting baptized this Sunday and are so excited. I have been filled with so much joy to see these two wonderful people that I love take steps towards Christ. 

We started teaching a new family! The mom's name is Maria. We were about to get into our car after a lesson with another family when Maria walked up to us and asked if we could visit her and her family. We were like umm, yes! We set up a lesson the next day and it was amazing! We have now had two lessons with them. Maria's kids, Jonathan, Juan, Isabela, and Aaron, also joined us for the lessons. They are a very humble family and super eager to learn. 

We also started teaching a new friend named Yvan! On Saturday night, he filled out an online form to meet with missionaries. We called him Sunday morning, and he said that he had been looking for a church to attend when he saw our ad online. We told him what time church started and he came! He loved it and said that he will be back again next week! We also set up a lesson with him tomorrow.

During our lesson with the Romero family last night, Daniel told us that he and his kids are ready to be baptized. He said "you just tell me when." They have been taught for about 10 months now, so it was amazing to hear them say that they are finally ready to be baptized. The Lord truly is working miracles here. 

I feel like I say this every week, but WOW. My heart is so full. I didn't know that I could love so many people as much as I do right now. The Lord has blessed us with amazing friends to teach, and I'm so excited for them and the progress that they are making. Helping others come unto Christ really is the greatest work. 

Our friend Jalil was baptized on Sunday. We had a lesson with him on Saturday, and he bore his testimony to us. He said that he knows that God brought him to the U.S. to find the church. He has been a very religious person for all of his life and told us that he knew that he now needed to be baptized with the proper authority. During his baptismal service on Sunday, he bore his testimony about eternal families. He talked about how happy he is to know that he can be sealed to his family and live with them forever. Hearing Jalil speak about the sealing power and eternal families is something that I will never forget. His goal now is to be sealed to his family. President Henry B. Eyring said "There is nothing that has come or will come into your family as important as the sealing blessings." I testify that these words are true. I am so grateful that the sealing power has been restored to the earth and that because I have been sealed to my family, I can live with them forever. I testify that families are a central part of God's plan. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. He loves us. Of these things I testify in His name, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I love you all!

Con Amor,
Hermana Kendrick








































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