Kendrick, Jessica

This week we had interviews. It was a moment where I realized how missionaries formed such a strong relationship with their mission presidents. I had been feeling a little emotional and even before I talked with the president I had cried a little- I was feeling inadequate and behind. I felt like I already should be this amazing missionary missionary. I talked with my mission president about how I felt like I wasn't making a difference here. We have been calling people a lot, and I for some reason felt like I was supposed to have this great experience after 4 weeks in the mission field... He gave me a little explanation- he said something along the lines of: each contact you make is preparing them for the next one, some people need to be contacted in this many different ways before they decide that they need to come unto christ. You just checked off one way, and made it possible for the next way to happen. This is the analagy that I made: Missions are a huge set of dominoes that God...

This week was super fun! I have made tons of new friends here! There is a grocery store type place that we go to study, and there is this security guy that has become our best friend! He is the only person in his family here, and he came here for work. He came and showed us his family one day, and explained everything about them to us! He is such a happy guy! Also at the michoacana (the grocery store) I met a friend, I wish I could say that I opened my mouth to talk to him, but he started the conversation! My companion was in the bathroom, so I had to rely on my self! But I learned all about him, and his life! He asked me about the church, and I invited him, and asked him if he wanted to learn more about it! The gift of tongues is real because I definitely had help understanding him!  I have another family that we have been teaching that is so cute! They have 4 kids... and 3 are old enough to be baptized! Those three kids have a little bit of a rough family life, but their parents ...

This week we had zone conference, and Elder Nash of the quorum of the seventy came and talked with us. We had a Q/A session with him, and the question was something like how do we show others the importance of the atonement in their lives? He was going through and answering the question by reading in 3 Nephi 27, and even though it had nothing to do with that topic, as I was sitting in that pew, I felt an overwhelming Love for and desire to know everything that was inside the pages of the Book of Mormon.  If you know me, you know that I can quote some movies super well, and everyone knows that I love those movies. But I know that I love the Book of Mormon more than those movies. I challenge you all to recognize the things or people that you love in your life, and give them the time that they should have in your life as a priority.  Another thing that Elder Nash said was that Opposition is an Opportunity. Using 2 Nephi 2:11 he explained how opposition is necessary, and it remind...

This week started out with me flying to Dallas, Texas! We got there and we just got a little orientation and slept at the mission home. When I woke up tuesday morning and got ready for the day, all was well. It was when I was going to put my bag into the trunk of the presidents car when... I didn't see a little 1 inch lip in the cement of the garage and I messed up my ankle. I don't really know what its called that I did, but this week I have been walking around with a swollen, bruised ankle! Lovely start to my mission! I guess this is karma for asking for challenges in my life to overcome... My ankle is feeling a little better now, but it is still swollen, and hurts from time to time. I think I really stressed my new trainer out too... her name is Hermana Hollberg!  I am in the Garland area right now doing something called pink- washing. There were elders here before us, and we have been calling a lot of people because we know nobody here. But the people here are super nice, t...

I'm finally going to the field, as crazy as that is. I am extremely nervous, but I am even more excited. I don't know what the field will hold for me, or how difficult or new it will be, but I know that the exoeriences that I have are meant for me! The challenges will be difficult- but they will help me grow closer to the Lord. The people may not accept the message yet, but I am there to set the example. The mornings will be early, but they will help me get everything done. I know that my mission will be difficult for me, but it will prepare me for my future. One day I will look at the challenges I've faced and will be able to recognize that I am worthy of my future family.  This week during our last day of class, we wrote a letter to our future missionary. Inside this letter were the words of our soul and the words of our testimony. I know the person that I am, and the weaknesses that are a part of me- and that is what I addressed- I wrote my future self the reminders that...