Hi President Murphy,
We saw a lot of miracles this week here in Otavalo. Alejandro passed his baptismal interview, so he will be getting baptized this Saturday. We are telling the members it begins at 5:30 p.m. so that they arrive n time for it to actually begin at 6:00 :-). Alejandro and his mom are both super excited, and they've invited their family in Yaruqui to come, and they confirmed, so it's going to be really special. Alejandro is such a great kid, and he has such hope that his baptism will help his dad as well have a desire to listen to us because he wants an eternal family. We are all thankful for his mom's support, but even more that of the ward. They are already telling us all what they would like to do for him for his baptism. We really the Latino ward because they are always so excited for baptisms and are asking us to please focus a little more on them, which is kind of sad, but also okay, because we understand, and we want to help them a lot.
We also talked yesterday with Maria Yaselga. She is Milton's mom, and we have had a little bit of a hard time with her, because she worries about baptizing Milton, and then him going inactive like some of his siblings, but we spoke about free agency, and she agreed this week to a baptismal date for the 7th of July, because she understand the doctrine behind Milton being baptized, and she wants him to be baptized. However, we were concerned, because the past bishop is now trying to convince members to leave Latino ward and come to his new ward in Centenario, and she really liked him as a bishop, but yesterday she explained to us that he has been visiting them, but that she knows that Milton will be baptized in the Latino ward. She knows that that is her ward, and that is where she wants him baptized, so we were really happy about that.
And we talked to Diana and José this week, and we were going to be straight with them, because the last lesson we had with Joe, he seemed like he wasn't really taking what we said seriously, and so we were going to be really direct with him. But before we could do anything, they told us that they planned the civity to earn money to get married for the 9th of June. And that José wants to be baptized on the 23rd of June since they are planning on getting married on the 18th. Oh, and they have started reading the Book of Mormon every day as a family, and José is starting to get up early each morning to read on his own. And they passed by us yesterday on our way out of stake conference, and José told us that he felt something he hasn't ever felt before, and he is taking that as his answer. He knows it's true, and he's doing his part to strengthen his testimony. It was amazing.
I love the people here. Otavalo is amazing, and I just love this place. I love the hermanas here a lot too, and I worry a lot about them. They had a hard week with illnesses and investigators leaving them and everything, but they are amazing. They all have such desires to work hard and do great things. Thank you for allowing me to work with them because it's such an honor.
Thank you for your work and your example. Have a great week,
Hermana Kennedy
Also, I weighed myself this week at an hermana's house, and I'm at 186! (That's right world--you all know my weight now. And let's remember that I'm 5'10" tall, shall we, before we judge me toooooo harshly?) That means that I'm five pounds lighter (maybe more) than when I came on my mission! And that's also after an entire week of not running since we had meetings every morning! And after an entire week of eating bread.
That's right, BREAD!
I'm dealing with a bit of stress right now, and so last Monday night, we passed a bread vendor and she yelled out, "12 panes, 1 dolar!" I was like, 12 BREAD, ONLY 1 DOLLAR????!!!!! And my resolve crumbled! I've really been trying to limit the amount of carbs I eat on my own since we receive so much rice and bread and potatoes, but I couldn't help it. So I bought it. And I ate like two breads each day. I'm so ashamed, but it's okay. I won't do it again, and next time I go to their house in three weeks, I can weigh myself again. I'm hoping to be down a little more. You know, the bread here is just so good. Every person knows it. Every missionary says it...even those with gluten intolerance! ;-). But I have to get back in the saddle this week and be a little stricter, because I would love to come home a little thinner :-)
Also, we headed to an investigator's house yesterday, and they have a kitten (like a teenager cat really), and it was so cute to see him doing a little butt wiggle every time he would jump from one bed to the next. I miss cats. Like, a lot. Dogs just don't do it for me.
So, you know, things aren't always perfect on a mission. There are different trials, but our family knows what the biggest trial has been for all of us as missionaries, right? Well, that trial is upon me now as you all know. Yesterday, my companion and I saw Hermana Murphy [the mission president's wife], and she came up to me and told me to wait for a minute because she wanted to talk to me. I thought maybe something was wrong, but she just asked how we were doing, and then she looked at me and said, "You're doing a great job, and I am so grateful for you." Well, I just stated crying and told her that I'm so stressed, and she said that she could see it in my face, and then she just gave me a big hug. I think I haven't realized how stressed I've been for the past two weeks, but it's been really hard, and I'm sorry, Mama, but my fingernails are non-existent, and my Tourette's is out of control, and I feel like a loser of a missionary. Sorry, that's a big downer for my email.
But then today, I got this email from Hermana Murphy. Would you please include it on the blog so that I can make sure and keep it forever?
Beautiful Hermana Kennedy,
I was so happy to see you and your companion and all of the other missionaries yesterday at stake conference. I am so sad though to hear and see that you are feeling exhausted and worn out...all normal by the way, especially for an especially hard-working, deeply-caring hermana. You hermanas are my heroes with all you do, all you walk, all you care about others, and keep getting up and doing it all day after day. Please know that the Murphys, but more importantly the Lord, is so pleased with you and so incredibly grateful for your love and care of the people here in Ecuador. He is aware of every ache, every tear, every sorrow, and every joy we feel.
It is a rough principle, and I do remember learning it on my mission, that without all the struggles, we truly cannot become who the Lord would have us become. He is molding us into the thing he needs us to be...kind of like the C.S. Lewis quote about building a home. It is in the struggle that we get to know him and also get to know ourselves. You re so incredibly loved and so incredibly wonderful.
A few words of advice:
1. A good missionary is one who cares and desires to bring the gospel to others, not someone who is better at numbers, etc. This is you. You desire with all your heart to do those things to bring the joy and peace of the gospel to more people. If you only knew my numbers from my mission, you might not think I was a success, but I was so glad to have the assurances that I was doing all that I could. That is all the Lord expects. Remember D&C 123 tells us that "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." You only can do what you can do...do it cheerfully, and do it well, and the Lord will step in.
2. Remember D&C 82:10. The Lord is bound when you do what he says. You are doing what he says, and he will bless you...whether it is now or when you go home, we don't know. But I KNOW this is true.
3. Remember, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I don't know all the ways to come unto him, but I do know what it means to be tired, and heavy laden and to labor. The Lord can pick up the slack. Just do what you can do, and don't stress about the things you can't.
We love you so much! You are a miracle and a joy to have. If we could clone you, we would. But then President Murphy wouldn't have anything to do and we don't want that :-)
Know that you are in my prayers.
Love,
Hna. Murphy
So yes, I cried a little more.
And sorry, Mama, about Interlochen, but what good news about your new, fun calling! Know that I am so excited to play viola with you for the few days I'll be home. I'm seriously so excited for good music again. Really, people here are so tone deaf, and sometimes I just miss being able to sit in a sacrament meeting and hear everybody singing different parts and a strong melody. And to play good music with you. I know it's sad that all those years of practice and lessons sometimes seem like they add up to nothing since we don't have music careers, but I will be forever grateful for the skill of being able to play viola and play it pretty dang well.
I'm so happy that the house sold finally.
And yes, I would love to go back to State College and say goodbye one last time and have Jess do my hair.
And I always knew my purple room was a winner. Glad the new owners are going to keep it that color :-)
I love you guys a lot. I miss you all so much, and I pray for you all every day. Sometimes I forget specific things and then I feel bad, but I know that you all don't mind. But I love you all so much, and I can't wait too see you in only ten weeks! Yes, I will admit, I am very, VERY excited to see you all!
Thanks to everyone who writes me. Everything and anything you write means something to me, because it means that someone back home loves me. That's all I need.
Okay, I love you. Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Hermana Kennedy
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