Hey there everyone! Hope you all really enjoyed General Conference and received answers to questions that you have in life. I know I did. I received so many great revelations I can't even begin to write about them all. So last week was a really good week. On Monday we had a Zone Activity and I had the great idea of playing the newly-comp. game, a spin off of the newly-wed game. It was really fun. We also enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee and it was really great to get to know my zone. Well the work continues to move forward. Since my area is pretty poor and the weather is getting better, actually is really hot which I hate, but anyways, we meet a lot of people on the streets or out on their front porch. People are pretty easy to set for baptism here. You pretty much just tell them that you'll be having a baptism on a certain date and they agree to work towards that. It's almost impossible to get them to progress though, or even make a return appointment. But the O'Conners are amazing! Brother O'Conner came to the Priesthood Session Saturday night and really enjoyed it, and their family came the next day to the Trail Center to watch a session of conference. They are just golden. We just barely taught them the Word of Wisdom a week ago and they are living it! We asked Sister O'Conner how she was doing in one of our visits and she replied, "I wish I had a cup of coffee." Haha, we were thinking, "Sweet! You're living it!" So they are getting baptized on Saturday and I'm super excited since this will be the first full family that I'll baptize. Other than that, we meet great people here and there. They are all super nice, but it's hard to motivate them to learn, and when they do learn, to actually live it. But like Elder Holland has said, "Salvation is never easy." So we just keep moving forward and strive to find those who are preparred. Elders Carrier and Bittner and I are still getting along really well. It's nice because if we get a member to go out with us in the evenings we can split up and have basically two sets of missionaries working out area. I'm still trying to learn how to balence my zone duties with my area duties, but all in all I think if I just focus on my area, the zone will see the example and take care of itself, and we can take care of any problems when they arise. Missionary work is the best and I love it.
Well there were just so many good thoughts and talks that were given this weekend. It seemed a bit of a strange conference. No temples announced, and not one mention of pornography. But it was really good, especailly all the messages about families. It seems like they are getting more urgent for us to increase our personal righteousness, with the end drawing near. But one theme stood out to me was by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I really enjoyed President Eryings talk about overcoming mountains and enduring trials. We all have the potential to do great things. Think about it, we are all children of Heavenly Father, and because of that we have the abillity to become like He is. But it doesn't happen all at once. We can make a huge difference in people's lives, but it doens't come all at once. Our Branch President told us this week, "Anything that is worth it is hard. That's how you can tell it's worth it." So, life is hard, and it is hard to do great things. But hard things become a lot easier when we do the little things and take baby steps. If we try to take on life all at once, we will fail. But when we relly on the Spirit to guide us each hour, we will be able to overcome any trial or problem that besets us. So, let's start small and develope good habbits. If you have a problem, that's great! It will help you grow. But it can tear you down if you try to climb the mountain in a single leap. If we faithfully and relentlessly press forward, we may face setbacks, but ultimately we will reach the top. And then we'll see a higher peak and get to overcome that as well. The view from the top is worth it, so let us strive with all of our might, mind, and strength to get there. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week and strive to implement what you have learned from Conference into your being and into your life.
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Enabling Power of Grace
Hello friends and family! It is great to be able to write you all. So I'm a bit pressed for time this week because we are in charge of coordinating our Zone activity today, so sorry if this is a bit brief. So a couple more cool things about the area that I serve in. So Creighton University is actually right accross the street from where we live, and we go running there in the mornings. It's pretty cool. So the Conestoga branch was actually created for welfare purposes. They decided to make a branch where people who are poorer can get help and come to church and not feel judged because they don't have nice clothes. So they specifically drew the boundaries to include the poorest parts of Omaha. It's actually the smallest area in the whole mission, but we do a ton of work! We found 14 new investigators this week and are just teaching a ton of lessons. We have 10 people set for baptism next month, the most excitting and promising being the O'Conners. They are so awesome! They came to church yesterday and we went and visited them last night, and they were talking about how they've been to a lot of churches, and this is the one they feel that is the best, haha. They told us a ton of cool experiences that they've had while comming to church and reading from the Book of Mormon, and we're really excited for them to be baptized on the 7th of April. We're teaching them the Word of Wisdom today, so fingers crossed. Well, I see miracles everyday. It's definitely not easy, especially having to worry about a whole Zone as well, but it is worth it to wear away our lives in the service of God.
So Spiritual thought of the week is about Grace. Sometimes I think we are really confused about Grace, and how much effort we have to put forth for Christ's grace to be sufficient for us. All He asks of us is that we do our best. He doesn't only make up the rest, He makes everything. It is by His grace that we are able to be good and to change. It's not some sort of back up generator that kicks in when we've exhausted all of our efforts , it is the entire power system. We don't have to try to become like Christ on our own, He is always there to help us out, in the bad times, but also in the good as well. We may feel His presence more when we are tried, but He is alwayws there to lift us higher. Through Christ we can do all things, and so let us remember that, as we strive to be better, that we can tap into the unlimited power that Christ provides to us through His atonement. Love you all and hope you have an amazing week leading up to General Conference!
Godspeed,
Elder Kendall
So Spiritual thought of the week is about Grace. Sometimes I think we are really confused about Grace, and how much effort we have to put forth for Christ's grace to be sufficient for us. All He asks of us is that we do our best. He doesn't only make up the rest, He makes everything. It is by His grace that we are able to be good and to change. It's not some sort of back up generator that kicks in when we've exhausted all of our efforts , it is the entire power system. We don't have to try to become like Christ on our own, He is always there to help us out, in the bad times, but also in the good as well. We may feel His presence more when we are tried, but He is alwayws there to lift us higher. Through Christ we can do all things, and so let us remember that, as we strive to be better, that we can tap into the unlimited power that Christ provides to us through His atonement. Love you all and hope you have an amazing week leading up to General Conference!
Godspeed,
Elder Kendall
What is on the Inside
Greetings friends and family from the hood, haha. Well I am now in my new area of Conestoga, which is a branch in Nebraska. It is a awesome area, and there is a lot of diversity here, as opposed to all white Beatrice. So my area is actually the smallest area in the mission, but we get a ton of work. They actually made the branch the way they did to include the poorest parts of Omaha for welfare purposses, so there are some very humble people here. Fun fact, Malcom X was actually born in my area. So my companion for anyone who went to Lone Peak is Bryson Carrier, or Elder Carrier, and I also have another companion named Elder Bittner. They are both super awesome, and Elder Carrier and I had a fun time talking about all the people we know from back home. So I got here Thursday, and we've just been working our tails off since then. So we're teaching this new family, the O'Conners, they are the coolest family ever. They have 4 kids, and 2 above baptismal age, and they came to church yesterday. We just barely met them last week, so it was super awesome. The dad reminds me of Tom Hanks, haha. But the classes yeterday were all about the life of the Savior, and sacrament meeting was about the temple and eternal families, so it was super awesome. They really enjoyed it, and we set them for baptism on the 7th of April, so that is super excitting. We also met a younger couple yesterday named Aja and Chris who we also set for baptism later in April, so we are stoked! It's really weird to be by the mission office, especially being a zone leader. We cover the largest zone in the mission, with 14 areas. It's weird to have people call you and expect you to know things and ask you for advice. I certaintly don't feel ready for that, but Elder Carrier is there to help, and it will be a great learning experience. We also got to do a session in the Winter Quarters Temple on Friday, and it was my first time going in there, so that was really awesome. It was a great week, and I'm really looking forward to this transfer.
So since the temple has been the theme this week, I thought I'd give a Spiritual thought about it. So I was thinking about the temple, and how it's the great symbol for our lives. As we all know, we are also temples, and I was thinking, "Why is the Temple so holy?" The answer is because of the things that go on inside there. The Temple itself is just a building, but inside it is a pure and holy place where we perform ordinances to our Father in Heaven. Our own lives should function in a similar matter. On the outside we are just people, but we can also become holy and sactified by the thoughts and feelings we have on the inside. As we seek to be worthy to have the Holy Ghost, He can dwell in us, and we also become the Temple. There are so many wonderful symbols that the temple gives us, and I would exort everyone who hasn't been to prepare to go by contiually being worthy to have the Holy Ghost, and for those who can, strive always to keep the sacred covenants you have made in there, and as we do this, we can all become the Temples to our Father in Heaven. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
So since the temple has been the theme this week, I thought I'd give a Spiritual thought about it. So I was thinking about the temple, and how it's the great symbol for our lives. As we all know, we are also temples, and I was thinking, "Why is the Temple so holy?" The answer is because of the things that go on inside there. The Temple itself is just a building, but inside it is a pure and holy place where we perform ordinances to our Father in Heaven. Our own lives should function in a similar matter. On the outside we are just people, but we can also become holy and sactified by the thoughts and feelings we have on the inside. As we seek to be worthy to have the Holy Ghost, He can dwell in us, and we also become the Temple. There are so many wonderful symbols that the temple gives us, and I would exort everyone who hasn't been to prepare to go by contiually being worthy to have the Holy Ghost, and for those who can, strive always to keep the sacred covenants you have made in there, and as we do this, we can all become the Temples to our Father in Heaven. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
Good Bye to Beatrice
Greeting friends and family. First of all, I want to wish a very
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST MOM IN THE UNIVERSE! My mother is the
greatest, and I'm glad that she was born on this day! Also, almost as
important, happy St. Patrick's Day, haha. So I learned this morning
that I will be transferred tomorrow to a branch up in Omaha called
Conastoga. My companion will be Elder Carrier, who I actually went to
school with at Lone Peak, so that is really exciting for me. It will
be very sad to leave Beatrice though, I have loved it here. I have
learned so many things, especially from the branch, most importantly
how to love others. Everyone in this branch is so loving, I my
greatest desire every week is to get our investigators to church so
that they can feel the love that this branch has. I have made so many
eternal friends, and it's just been an all around great experience.
It has also been great to train Elder Gonzales. Although at first I
did not feel adequate to train, or that we would get along, we have
really grown close, and have had so many good times. This past week
was especially good, we had six people with a baptismal date, and I'm
glad I can leave the area on a good note and in good hands.
So Spiritual thought of the week. I've been thinking a lot
about potential lately. I heard a quote that says, "Our deepest fear
is not that we are inadaquate. Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond meassure." It is so true, especially with me. I
think we see that it would be easier to not live up to our potential,
that people will have low expectations of us, and that means that we,
in turn, have less responsibility. But our potential is to become
like our Heavenly Father. That's A LOT of potential! That's probably
why it's so hard to live the Gospel sometimes, because the Gospel
makes us give our all to see what we can become. And of course, we
can't do it all on our own. The Savior is there to help us. Because
of the Atonement that He made, He can bring out the very best in us.
Although we may feel like we're not "up to the task", He will provide
a way for us to accomplish great things. So let us think about what
we have the potential to do, and then accept that, although there will
be trials, we will be able to do great things in our lives, which will
prepare us for the infinite wonderful things we will do in the life to
come. I love you all and once again Happy Birthday Mom!
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST MOM IN THE UNIVERSE! My mother is the
greatest, and I'm glad that she was born on this day! Also, almost as
important, happy St. Patrick's Day, haha. So I learned this morning
that I will be transferred tomorrow to a branch up in Omaha called
Conastoga. My companion will be Elder Carrier, who I actually went to
school with at Lone Peak, so that is really exciting for me. It will
be very sad to leave Beatrice though, I have loved it here. I have
learned so many things, especially from the branch, most importantly
how to love others. Everyone in this branch is so loving, I my
greatest desire every week is to get our investigators to church so
that they can feel the love that this branch has. I have made so many
eternal friends, and it's just been an all around great experience.
It has also been great to train Elder Gonzales. Although at first I
did not feel adequate to train, or that we would get along, we have
really grown close, and have had so many good times. This past week
was especially good, we had six people with a baptismal date, and I'm
glad I can leave the area on a good note and in good hands.
So Spiritual thought of the week. I've been thinking a lot
about potential lately. I heard a quote that says, "Our deepest fear
is not that we are inadaquate. Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond meassure." It is so true, especially with me. I
think we see that it would be easier to not live up to our potential,
that people will have low expectations of us, and that means that we,
in turn, have less responsibility. But our potential is to become
like our Heavenly Father. That's A LOT of potential! That's probably
why it's so hard to live the Gospel sometimes, because the Gospel
makes us give our all to see what we can become. And of course, we
can't do it all on our own. The Savior is there to help us. Because
of the Atonement that He made, He can bring out the very best in us.
Although we may feel like we're not "up to the task", He will provide
a way for us to accomplish great things. So let us think about what
we have the potential to do, and then accept that, although there will
be trials, we will be able to do great things in our lives, which will
prepare us for the infinite wonderful things we will do in the life to
come. I love you all and once again Happy Birthday Mom!
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
Desire
Hello everyone! Happy March/ month of the Irish. Hope things
are starting to warm up where you are and that spring is starting to
bloom. Well, last week was a really good week. As always we see
miracles everyday. I can't even begin to write all of the things that
happen here, I guess that's why I keep a daily journal, something I've
been trying to improve on writting in. So, Thursday and Friday I had
the opportunity to go up to Omaha for a two day leadership training.
It was amazing. By the time the two days were over I was exhausted by
the Spirit that I had felt as the leaders of our mission trained us on
how we can be better missionaries and leaders in the mission.
President and Sister Kunz were amazing as well. I don't know if I say
this enough in my letters but President and Sister Kunz are two of the
most amazing, loving, Christ-like people I know and I cherish any time
that I get to spend with them. It will be really sad to see them
leave at the end of June. On Thursday night they sent us out after
the meeting to do some work. Our Zone Leader and fellow Knight
challenged us to skip dinner so that we could find someone to set for
baptism. Well, I went out with another district leader named Elder
Stauffer who was actually in my ward at Utah St. The first door we
knocked that people were home was a family, so we taught them the
first lesson, and asked them to be baptized on April 14. They said
yes, and it was a great faith building experience for us. Saturday
night we took our Elder's quorum president out to teach a hispanic
family we found through some members. They are the best family, and
although I couldn't understand much as he taught the lesson, I felt
the Spirit very strong, and I knew that they were feeling it as well.
We were also able to find two new family to teach, very humble people
that are ready and willing to learn, so that was a huge blessing as
well. Even though we weren't in our area for two days, the Lord
blessed us with much success.
So Spiritual thought of the week actually comes from a
training that a ward mission leader from Omaha gave. In it he talked
about desires. Basically the message is that whatever we desire, as
long as it is good, and we are worthy the Lord will grant unto us.
There are a few instances where things are not in line with His will,
but as long as the desire is good and it doesn't infringe on others
agency, He will grant it unto us. We started talking about this with
baptisms and he said something really important, that as a missionary
we don't have a predetermined number of baptisms we can get on our
mission. It is up to us to desire those things, and then to do
everything in our power to go about doing good, and find those who are
ready to be baptized. Bruce R. McConkie said, (paraphrasing) "By far
Latter-day Saints are elligable for far more blessings than they
receive becuase they don't have the desire to receive them." Think
about the three Nephites. There desire was to live until the second
coming so that they could preach the Gospel to all the earth. They
didn't even know they could have that desire, but Christ perceived
their thoughts, and granted unto them what they desired. Martin
Harris desired to be a witness to the plates, and because he desired
it, it was granted unto him. So what do we desire. The Lord will
grant unto us according to our desires as long as we are doing our
part. (Alma 29:4) So, let us ponder what our desires our, and really
with all the energy of our heart, be worthy of and desire miracles to
happen in our lives as we strive with President Monson to go about
doing good. I love you all and my greatest desire is that you are all
happy and well in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
are starting to warm up where you are and that spring is starting to
bloom. Well, last week was a really good week. As always we see
miracles everyday. I can't even begin to write all of the things that
happen here, I guess that's why I keep a daily journal, something I've
been trying to improve on writting in. So, Thursday and Friday I had
the opportunity to go up to Omaha for a two day leadership training.
It was amazing. By the time the two days were over I was exhausted by
the Spirit that I had felt as the leaders of our mission trained us on
how we can be better missionaries and leaders in the mission.
President and Sister Kunz were amazing as well. I don't know if I say
this enough in my letters but President and Sister Kunz are two of the
most amazing, loving, Christ-like people I know and I cherish any time
that I get to spend with them. It will be really sad to see them
leave at the end of June. On Thursday night they sent us out after
the meeting to do some work. Our Zone Leader and fellow Knight
challenged us to skip dinner so that we could find someone to set for
baptism. Well, I went out with another district leader named Elder
Stauffer who was actually in my ward at Utah St. The first door we
knocked that people were home was a family, so we taught them the
first lesson, and asked them to be baptized on April 14. They said
yes, and it was a great faith building experience for us. Saturday
night we took our Elder's quorum president out to teach a hispanic
family we found through some members. They are the best family, and
although I couldn't understand much as he taught the lesson, I felt
the Spirit very strong, and I knew that they were feeling it as well.
We were also able to find two new family to teach, very humble people
that are ready and willing to learn, so that was a huge blessing as
well. Even though we weren't in our area for two days, the Lord
blessed us with much success.
So Spiritual thought of the week actually comes from a
training that a ward mission leader from Omaha gave. In it he talked
about desires. Basically the message is that whatever we desire, as
long as it is good, and we are worthy the Lord will grant unto us.
There are a few instances where things are not in line with His will,
but as long as the desire is good and it doesn't infringe on others
agency, He will grant it unto us. We started talking about this with
baptisms and he said something really important, that as a missionary
we don't have a predetermined number of baptisms we can get on our
mission. It is up to us to desire those things, and then to do
everything in our power to go about doing good, and find those who are
ready to be baptized. Bruce R. McConkie said, (paraphrasing) "By far
Latter-day Saints are elligable for far more blessings than they
receive becuase they don't have the desire to receive them." Think
about the three Nephites. There desire was to live until the second
coming so that they could preach the Gospel to all the earth. They
didn't even know they could have that desire, but Christ perceived
their thoughts, and granted unto them what they desired. Martin
Harris desired to be a witness to the plates, and because he desired
it, it was granted unto him. So what do we desire. The Lord will
grant unto us according to our desires as long as we are doing our
part. (Alma 29:4) So, let us ponder what our desires our, and really
with all the energy of our heart, be worthy of and desire miracles to
happen in our lives as we strive with President Monson to go about
doing good. I love you all and my greatest desire is that you are all
happy and well in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall
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