Another week at the MTC

Hello friends and family!

 

It is the second week that I have been in the MTC, and I am loving it. It is so wonderful to be a part of this great work, at such a historic time. I was just transferred to the new West Campus this week, and it is incredible. I liked the main campus, and both definitely had strengths and weaknesses, but I am just glad to be here, glad to be serving, glad to be learning, teaching, growing, and coming closer to my Father in Heaven. He is truly looking out for me, I can feel it every day. One way that he has done that is through humbling experiences. We are teaching an investigator who is a diplomat from Haiti, and is well versed in the bible, but rejects christianity. With that comes the idea that the atonement isn't real, that it was fabricated by the Catholic church. Teaching someone who is so intelligent and wise is something I have never faced before, and so my approach cannot be to convince, but to witness. I struggle with recognizing the spiritual needs of others, and it has affected my teaching, and has humbled me to desire to be empowered by the spirit, and to be endowed with spiritual gifts, so that I can more fully access the spirit and bless those that I teach.

 

As for life here, it is going well. My companion is having a really hard time, he feels homesick, and worthless, as though he has nothing to offer on this mission. Through that, I was able to have a one on one lesson with him regarding what it means to be an instrument in the hands of God. His concern was that he "couldn't do it", and I answered him by saying, "you're right, you can't. None of us can on our own. But if we allow ourselves to be an instrument in The Lord's hands, he will empower us and bless others if we will study diligently, so that we may qualify for the spirit." It certainly helped him to come to terms with some things, and I think he recognizes that through The Lord, We cannot fail.

 

My spiritual though is related to qualifying for the spirit. We teach multiple role play investigators, and some of them are going really well. Because of that, it has become easy to forget who teaches during those meetings. Our role as missionaries is to point the investigators in the right direction. It is not necessarily to baptize, but to invite them to make commitments that will help them live the doctrine of Christ. In order to do that, we need to do our part to know the material, and to not just teach it, but to testify of it. I know that as we search for that qualification and study diligently, and ask, that we can be empowered by the spirit, for the benefit of all we come in contact with.

 

My time is short, we are very busy, but I want you all to know that I love you, that I pray for each of you every morning and night, and that I can feel your prayers in return. I love being a missionary, I am so happy to be here and I know that through My Savior, I cannot fail, that he will direct my path for good, and that I can be endowed with the power of God.

 

With Love,

Elder Kendall

Carsen's 1st Letter from the MTC

Hello everyone!

I have been in the MTC for my third day now, and I am loving it. I felt as though I entered in with a solid testimony, but even in these past few days my faith in the gospel and doctrine of Jesus Christ has gone through the roof. I am so happy here, it is hard to put into words, but I just feel so good, I know my Heavenly Father is looking out for me and is comforting me through the Holy Ghost. I love being in class and learning, the spirit is so strong and I can tell that my teachers are inspired people, and that there is a reason I called to serve at this time. We have already begun to teach investigators, and I love studying for that and preparing for that most of all. My companion, Elder Lott, is a really goofy kid, he just graduated from high school but he towers over me. I know, imagine that. I have certainly had to learn patience, he likes to joke around a lot, and most of the time I don't think he's very funny, but I try to laugh and love him anyway. He is a good kid, I love the companionship and the growth that comes with it. I am certainly enjoying my district, everyone is so different, but we all bring certain strengths and experiences that have helped us grow as a whole. Yesterday (Thursday) was my first full day, and at the end of it, I was called to be a District Leader! I am so excited for that opportunity to serve, I know it will be extra work, but I know I can do all things through Christ. I am easily the most talkative kid in class, but don't worry mom, this time it's a good thing. I love to share ideas and discuss, and it is so much fun to learn here, to learn how the Holy Ghost works through us in the conversion process for others. There is so much to learn but I am enjoying every last second of it. I have been leaving on the main campus, but our district was just called to transfer to the new campus. I am excited, because this is so historic for the church, and to see the rapid growth and the strength of the current missionary force is incredibly overwhelming, and I am so happy to be a part of this great cause.

My first spiritual thought is on obedience. As a district, we talked about how we would be the missionaries who followed with exactness, and it has paid off. I feel a greater sense of awareness while I learn, and having the Holy Ghost be so prominent is incredible, I have never had such a powerful connection with him before. Obedience has made me happy, I am so happy to be here, it really is incredible and inexpressible how happy this feels, and I know that it is through obedience with exactness that we are blessed.  

My second spiritual thought that I would like to touch on is the Holy Ghost. I have developed a great testimony of the Holy Ghost as the true teacher and converter. As for myself, I am an awful teacher. But that is just it, none of us in the MTC are great teachers, but the Holy Ghost is, and I have seen that as I rely on him completely, that I am filled with his strength and can teach with great knowledge and conviction. It is important, as we teach and follow the spirit, not to ask ourselves, "What does the spirit want me to say?" but rather"What does the spirit need them to hear?" This has already changed my mission, and that knowledge will continue to be a strength to me.

It is a wonderful work, it is moving foward, and I am so happy to be a part of it. Thank you all for your encouraging thoughts and words of comfort, I love you all so much and am excited to share some more experiences with you next Friday!

Godspeed,

Elder Kendall (Carsen)

Changing of the Guard

On Wednesday, June 7, 2013, Elder Chandler Kendall came home from an AWESOME mission to Nebraska and a slice of Iowa.  We were grateful to have him home and be a family for less than a week.  Cassandra was in New York until Saturday.  The boys did their combined Homecoming and Farwell on Sunday.  They both gave fantastic talks on the Book of Mormon.  The next Wednesday, June 12, Carsen left for the MTC.  The other exciting news is that Chandler got a job at the Provo MTC.  We don't know if they will run into each other or not.  It was a short time together as a family- but luckily we got those few short days that will always be remembered.  

The End

 Well hello friends and family one last time from the beautiful Spencer, Iowa.  Wow, I cannot believe that this is my last email.  Yesterday I got up to bear my testimony, and I started to say, "Well this is my last Sunday as a missionary..."  and out of nowhere I got really emotional.  It has been an amazing two years, and I am eternally grateful for the many opportunities that I have had to learn and to grow.  After sacrament meeting yesterday we had my last baptism.  It was fun because the kid that was being baptized is named Chandler.  I had the opportunity to confirm him, and it was a great experience to end the mission.  It has been a crazy last week.  Everything is slowly starting to hit me, and I can feel the mantle slowly leaving.  It has been hard, but it will be an exciting change to make in my life.  

      So for my spiritual thought I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my mission.  Everyone has been very encouraging and has given me a lot of strength, not only from your messages to me, which I love, but also for all of your prayers in my behalf.  I have felt strength from them as I do the Lord's work each day, and it has brought more of the Spirit as I go about preaching the Gospel.  I can't even begin to say the words to show my appreciation, or what my mission has meant to me, so I will keep this short.  I love you all very much, and I am excited to see you soon. 

Godspeed,

Elder Chandler Kendall 

Last Letter

Hey Chandler- Just a few more days...HOURS....So I will make this short and sweet- What would you like for dinner??

Love-Mom

Chicken Puffs or Chicken Cordon Blue... yeah.  Can't wait to see you!!!!!!  

Love, Chandler 

Miracles

 Hello friends and family from the misty Spencer, Iowa.  I hope you all had an amazing Memorial Day and are enjoying summer.  Well this last week was an amazing week for me to be a missionary.  We had five people baptized this weekend.  The first was on Saturday and his name is Ron Thompson.  Ron is awesome.  He is the husband of a member, and they have four kids together.  He has always wanted to join the Church, at least to a point, but he had a Word of Wisdom problem that he has been trying to overcome for 15 years.  Well we worked with Ron a lot, and it was amazing to see the progress he made in his life.  Even though he can't read super well, we gave him a few verses to read everyday, and he started praying with his wife as well.  As he did this and came to church, Heavenly Father gave him the strength to change his life, and he became a lot happier.  Saturday was amazing.  He asked me to baptize him, and I was very honored to do so.  Ron is truly a witness in my life that the Atonement is real and that the Gospel is for everyone.  The next day his father-in-law confirmed him, who is actually the stake patriarch.  It was an amazing confirmation and blessing, and I am excited to eventually see their family be sealed in the temple.  After church on Sunday we had four kids from a family get baptized.  Their names are Tiffany, Colten, Jasmine, and Chance, and they are ages 14 to 8.  Their mom and grandma are members, but are less active, so we've been working with them for a while.  They started coming to church regularly, and have really been preparing as a family for this to happen.  They've had a ton of challenges in their family, including lots of medical problems, but they have been able to make it through with amazing faith.  It was awesome to see them all in white, and to see a family come together unto Christ.  Truly an amazing weekend, and a great experience to have near the end of my mission. 

     So my spiritual thought this week is about miracles.  I echo the words in the Book of Mormon and ask, "Have miracles ceased?"  I testify that they have not.  I see miracles everyday on my mission.  It is a miracle that people can and do change their lives through the Atonement.  It's a miracle that we can find these people.  It is a miracle that despite challenges and trials and weaknesses that somehow we are still given grace so that we can continue to press forward in our lives.  The Restoration and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a miracle.  It is a miracle that the Church is still here, and that it continues to grow.  It is a miracle that Heavenly Father sends out young men and women to preach His Gospel, and that it actually works.  Our families are miracles.  Happiness and goodness despite the woes of the world are miracles.  Christ Atonement and Resurrection are miracles.  There are miracles all around us.  If we are truly to have the faith to continue to spread this Gospel across the earth we must believe in miracles, and have the faith that miracles will attend us as we press forward in the work of the Lord.  I hope we can all have the faith to seek miracles in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  I love you all so much, and hope you have an amazing week.

Godspeed, 

Elder Chandler Kendall 

Small and Simple Things

Hello friends and family from the great Spencer, Iowa.  I hope you are enjoying the spring/summer weather and that everyone is excited for this summer.  I hope as well that all of your prayers are going out to President Monson and his family with the loss of his wife.  He is such a great example of how much he loved his wife and his dedication to her, and I know that this will be a hard time for him.  So things in this area are going great!  We had four of them get interviewed for baptism this past week, and they will all be baptized this weekend.  One of them is Ron Thompson.  Ron is the husband of a member and has been wanting to join the Church for a long time.  But he did have a Word of Wisdom issue that he had to overcome.  Well, he has been working really hard to overcome it, and has been doing amazing.  You can see in his countenance and brighter and lighter change.  He is happier, and so is his family.  It is one of the greatest miracles that I've seen on my mission.  I am very excited for this weekend, and to feel of the spiritual outpouring that will occur.  

        So my spiritual thought this week is about small and simple things.  I love the scripture and Alma 37 that talks about "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass."  I testify that this is one of the most true statements in the Book of Mormon.  Becoming like Christ is only accomplished by small and simple means.  Similarly, sharing the Gospel is the same.  By doing the small things: smiling at people, sharing our testimony, seeking to serve, praying to have our mouths filled, and many other things, we can bring others to Christ, a truly great thing.  Sometimes we think we need to have big experiences with sharing the gospel.  We look forward to the baptism, without realizing all of the steps that it takes to get there.  I hope that we can identify some small habits that we can start in our lives so that we can be tools to help share the gospel to the world.  I love you all so much, and hope you have an amazing week.

Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall 

Happiness is Contagious

Hello friends and family!  Happy May.  Hope you are all enjoying spring weather and getting ready for all the fun changes as summer approaches.  Well, this last week was pretty awesome as always.  Found out that Elder Elison and I will be staying together for my last transfer (no surprise there) so we are super stoked about that.  We've been getting along great, and really putting in our effort in the area.  So we had a really fun experience this past week.  We were walking by some apartments to try an old investigator.  While we were going there, we saw a group of kids outside.  One of them yelled out to us and asked what we were doing.  We told her that we were going around and talking to people about Jesus.  She said, "No way, you have to come talk to my mom."  So we followed her inside to meet her mom.  She said hi, and asked us a couple of questions about who we were.  We told her about what we talked about, and she said she was just recently getting into church, and has been trying to make changes in her life.  We told her that the message that we have can help her to make those changes.  While we were talking her daughter came back in and said, "Are you guys missionaries?"  We informed her that we were.  She said, "Wow!" and looked at us like she had just seen the Easter Bunny, haha.  It was super awesome.  Our branch also played all the YSA's that attend here in a soccer match.  Most of them are on scholarship to play soccer, and most of them are leaving this week because their semester is over.  We got creamed, but it was still fun.  At the very beginning I got hit in the face super hard by a kick from about 4 feet away.  It felt like getting punched in the face by Mike Tyson, haha.  Luckily it left no lasting damage.  It good to hear them all bear their testimonies yesterday and see how coming out to Iowa has really helped them grow in the Gospel.  

      So my spiritual thought this week is on happiness. I know that I've talked about this before, but I feel impressed to speak about it again.  I think that it is important to choose to be happy.  We need to learn (especially myself) not to take so many things in life so seriously.  I think that being happy and having a good sense of humor is a Christlike attribute that we often overlook.  I think of President Hinckley and President Monson.  They always seemed so happy, and always brought a bright spirit with their humor.  I think that when we seek to be like this, it will spread.  People will want to be around us, and ultimately to find out what makes us so happy.  So choose to be happy, it's the best decision you'll ever make.  It's Heavenly Father's purpose for us.  I love you all so much, and hope you have a very happy week.  

Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall 

Vision

 Hello friends and family from the now spring-like Spencer, Iowa.  Sounds like spring is springing up everywhere, haha.  This past week was a great week.  It was pretty crazy.  On Monday night we drove down to Council Bluffs in a huge snow storm.  We couldn't believe it, in the middle of April.  By the time we came back the next day, it was all melted, and now it is really warm.  It seems like the weather is following the shifting morals of the world, it just can't decide what it wants to do.  So we had a really awesome experience, at least I thought it was, this past week.  So we were out talking with people and trying to find someone to teach.  We were walking downtown and these two ladies were walking behind us.  I was debating whether or not I would talk to them, because it was a bit awkward to just turn around and talk with them all of the sudden, but I did it anyways.  I offered them cards for mormon.org and explained that it was a website dedicated to Jesus Christ.  They said they were just talking about Jesus Christ, and how he had blessed those around them.  I told them about the videos on there, and how people shared how Christ had blessed their lives.  They said thank you, and kept on walking.  Well, we were walking back by that area, when all of the sudden a lady yelled to us across the street to come on over.  She was working in a salon, and it was the same lady we talked with earlier.  She said she wanted to ask us a few questions.  She said she didn't know a lot about Mormons, and was surprised to hear us talking about Jesus Christ.  She asked if we believed He was the Son of God.  We said of course.  She asked if we believed in the Holy Spirit.  We said of course.  She asked if we believed that Jesus Christ was the only way to heaven.  We said of course.  Then she asked what made us different.  So we started to explain the Restoration and tell about the Gospel being brought back to the earth.  As we were getting done explaining, someone walked into the salon and she had to go.  Unfortunately she declined our invitation to come back, but it was a testimony to me of making sure we talk with everyone and testify of our love for the Savior, and our testimony that the Gospel that allows us to follow Him has been restored to the earth.  

      So my spiritual thought this week is about vision.  The kind of vision I am talking about is being able to see and envision what our goals and plans are for life as we live the gospel.  Having a vision is vital to increasing our faith and hope.  For instance, when we practice and instrument, we have a vision of one day being able to play a wonderful piece of music.  We go to school with the vision that we can use the knowledge and skills we acquire to have a meaningful career.  Our vision of the Gospel should include first and foremost a belief and desire to become like Christ, through the it's principles and ordinances.  Not only should we have this vision for ourselves, but for those around us as well.  This starts first and foremost for our families.  After that it extends to our friends and acquaintances.  Eventually when we truly become like Christ, this vision will extend to the whole human family, even those we consider our enemies.  When we have this vision, we want to share the Gospel with people.  We catch a glimpse of the Celestial Kingdom, and desire all around us to join us there.  So, I hope that we can all have a vision of ourselves and those around us, and help them to live up to it.  I love you all so much, and hope you have an amazing week. 

Godspeed, 

Elder Chandler Kendall   

Desire

Hello friends and family from the STILL wintery Spencer, Iowa.  Sounds like things are still that way back home as well, so we can all enjoy this long winter together.  Well this past week was a pretty great week.  Being a missionary definitely has it's set of challenges, but the blessings and miracles that occur far outweigh any trial that I face.  As Paul said, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  I know that this applies not only to our eventual resurrection and eternal life, but also to the mission and the trials that turn into blessings.  Not that I've been having tons of trials lately, but just a thought as I look back evaluate the present.  One man we've been working with and praying a lot for is Ron Thompson.  He is the husband of a member, and he is a really sincere guy.  He knows that the Church is good and that the Gospel is true, and he wants to be a good example for his kids.  He's been taught many times before, and the biggest struggle he has is giving up alcohol.  So, we've been making a plan to help him quit, while at the same time replacing that habit with a gospel lifestyle.  He is coming along slowly but surely.  But yesterday was a miracle, he came to church!  It was really exciting, because he has a hard time coming and sitting still.  He said he really liked it, and he is still trying hard to do his best to live the Gospel.  One thing that I love about the Gospel is that Heavenly Father is always willing to give us a chance to follow Him, even when we've forsaken Him in the past.  I know that even though Ron has had chances in the past that haven't been as successful as him or his family would like, that it doesn't mean this time will be the same.  People can change, and when they can catch the vision of who they can be, the Atonement will work wonders in their life. 

    So my spiritual thought this week is on desire.  Desire is one of the most important principles of the Gospel.  In fact Elder Maxwell said that the most important education and training we can have in the education of our desires.  Why is that?  Well what we consistently and most desire, eventually, will be what we become.  If I want to be a happy person, I need to want to be happy more than I want to be sad.  If I want to be a good musician, I need to want to practice more than I want to watch TV.  If I want to be like the Savior, I need to want to do Christlike works more than I want to give in to the natural man.  Alma 29:4 states that God grants unto us "according to our desires..." and in fact "decreeth unto us decrees which are unalterable, according to our wills..."  That is an amazing thing to realize.  It also applies to being a missionary.  We need to desire to help people receive the Gospel more than we desire to just keep to ourselves.  If we don't have a desire, that is alright.  We can have a desire to have a desire.  We do this through prayer.  As we express to our Heavenly Father this desire and pray to be given a desire, He will give us things we can do, and as we act upon them our desire will increase.  I've had this happen many times as a missionary, where I really just don't want to work or talk to someone, but as I pray for it and act, the desire always comes.  I hope we can all have a desire to follow the Gospel and to share it with everyone.  I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week.

Godspeed,
Elder Chandler Kendall

Powerful Prayer for Others

 Hello friends and family from the still cold Spencer, Iowa.  It sounds like it is still pretty cold back home as well, so I guess we're all in the long winter together.  Oh well, it just means God loves us and wants us to have more trials to help us grow our patience so that we can be more Christlike, haha.  So this past week was pretty great.  We had a fun meeting with our zone.  Apparently there are a lot of missionaries in the mission that are getting pretty discouraged, so one of the things we were trained on was being happy.  It was super fun, because at the end we did a little activity to help us to be happier.  If you've ever watched the show "Who's Line is it Anyway" there is a game called the "Irish Drinking Song".  Well, we did that, except it was to the hymn "Scatter Sunshine"  but basically we went up and on the spot made up songs about different commandments that we teach investigators.  It was a lot of fun, and I think it lifted a lot of missionaries spirits.  It's been amazing to see how much the Spirit has helped us manage all of the work that we have here.  I never thought that that would be a problem that I would have on my mission, having too much work, but the Lord has blessed us abundantly.  One of the days this week in the evening we had several appointments, and they were in different towns in the area.  Unexpectedly we had an investigator call to give her baby a blessing, and also another lady call who was in a group home and really wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon.  At first we were pretty stressed about how we were going to be able to handle of that.  But as we took a few breaths and looked at our planners, the Spirit showed us where we needed to be and at what times we needed to be there.  It required us to skip our dinner, and miraculously one of the appointments that we went to cooked dinner for us.  It was a super awesome experience, and showed that if we are willing to work and sacrifice, the Lord will put us to work.  Not only that, but He will provide a way through the Spirit for us to do much good, and will bless us with the things that we need. 

      So my spiritual thought this week is on prayer.  Meaningful prayer requires both holy communication and consecrated work.  Blessings require some effort on our part before we can obtain them and prayer, as a form of work, is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.  We press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of prayer, after we say "amen", by acting upon the things we have expressed to Heavenly Father.  With this in mind, one of the greatest ways that we can show Christlike love for others is for praying for them.  Some of the most intimate expressions of love found in the scriptures is when Christ prays for His people, and others of His servants praying for their brothers and sisters.  Think of yourself, if a child came to you and requested that you help them to do something that would bless someone around them, wouldn't you want to help them?  This is Heavenly Father's attitude towards us as we plead for blessings on behalf of others.  As we listen to the Spirit, He will prompt us about how we can help those we pray for, or Heavenly Father will provide a way to bless that person in another manner, according to His will and mercy.  As we pray for others, we are more aware of those around us and their needs, and we can find true happiness that comes from fulfilling our baptismal covenant to lift one another burdens that they may be light.  Then, day by day, we become as Christ is, and can fill the joy that He has in our lives as we receive a greater portion of the Spirit.  So, this week, in all of your prayers, seek out those who need your prayers, follow the Spirit in praying for their needs, and anxiously seek to be guided on how you can bless them.  I love you all very much and hope that you have an amazing week. 

Godspeed,

Elder Chandler Kendall     

Conference!!

 Well, well, well!  Hello everyone from Spencer!  I hope you all had an amazing conference weekend and received much inspiration, revelation, and an increased testimony of the truthfulness of the Church and the Gospel.  It truly is a miracle to be able to have modern day prophets and apostles who can give us truth that they have received from Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost.  And it's an even greater miracle that we also can receive personal messages from the same Spirit as we listen to their messages.  Alright, so cool experience from this past week.  So there is a girl here named Ashley.  She is one of the YSA's and comes to church every week.  Ashley is not a member of the Church, and just this year has been introduced to the Gospel.  When I first arrived here in Spencer I was amazed that she wasn't meeting with us or baptized.  So one day we got her number and asked her if she would be willing to meet with us.  She politely declined.  I was a little confused actually, because she is so active in church.  Well we talked with some of the people that know her well, and she talked to her mom and grandma about being baptized and they were not too happy.  So, we just decided to at least be good friends with her.  Then, over spring break she went with one of the YSA's to Utah to visit.  While there she was able to go to temple square and experience life with an LDS family.  After coming back, she told us all about how much she loved Utah.  Well, she still hadn't agreed to meet with us.  I was pondering it the other day after we had been back from institute and the Spirit prompted me that it was time again to invite her to meet with us.  So we texted her again to ask if she'd be willing to meet.  Well, she didn't respond that whole night, and the next day while we were in a lesson, she responded that she would be willing to meet.  We were super excited.  We set up an appointment that night to go and teach her.  She expressed how she had never been active in a church in her life.  Although she still had many questions, she said she is pretty sure that the church is true, and one day wants to be baptized, but right now it's hard with her family.  We accepted that, but invited her to start praying about it.  It was an awesome lesson, and I learned two things.  One, that just because someone doesn't initially accept the gospel doesn't mean they won't accept an invitation later.  And two, follow promptings immediately.  That is one thing I'm bad at, but striving to be better. 

      Well, all I can say for a spiritual thought is review conference and make a plan to implement what the Spirit testified that you need to in your life.  You know, and He knows, what you need to improve on.  And He also knows how to help you.  I know as we do this we will know what we need to know, do what we need to do, and become what we know we can become.  I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week.

Godspeed, 

Elder Chandler Kendall