Christmas

From Elder Kennard:

"We went to the house of a member on Christmas eve and the Bishop showed up and cooked the dinner. He is a chef so it turned out incredibly delicious. Later that night we helped this member buy pinatas and candy and on the way back their wasn't enough space in his truck so the 4 missionaries from our ward sat in back stuffing the pinatas - and our mouths - with candy. As we drove through the streets we sang Christmas carols and Feliz Navidad. It has been actually pretty cold lately but that didn't stop the fun and joy we had that night.

Talking to the Family just filled my soul with light. It was not enough time but man it feels so good to have their support.

We found lots of new investigators this week and every one of them was by a spiritual prompting. One of my favorite experiences of the week was when we visited a menos activa familia [less active family] and we realized that their cousin that was visiting wasn't a member so we sat down right away and got to know her. then we taught her the restoration. we went from strangers to best friends in 40 minutes. I really hope her, Flor, and her Husband can find the missionaries where they live and progress. She was so excited to know that the Gospel had been restored.

As for spiritual experiences I have just been pounded with what I want to do better on this year that is coming up. I have grown so so much in the Gospel, in my testimony, the power of the spirit I teach, and the knowledge that God has granted me. ... We are surrounded by angels and the Holy Ghost that quite literally puts people in our path so that it is impossible to move on without bringing someone closer to our Father. This is my joy, this is my life's work, this is God's greatest gift and joy to live for the lives and hopes of others, letting them realize their potential and seeing them reach new goals and spiritual levels. It brings tears to my eyes to think that God has found me worthy of such a gift in my life.

Feliz Navidad, y prospero año nuevo."

Christmas Phone Call

We got to hear from Elder Kennard at Christmas. Here's a picture of us watching him on the laptop via Google Hangouts and talking to him on the phone at the same time.

From Luke Kennard's Mission

We started with just the computer but the connection was not good and the audio was very difficult to understand, so we just called him on the phone. It was great to hear from him. He seems to be doing so well.
Here are a couple of pictures of him with his district at Christmas.

From Luke Kennard's Mission

From Luke Kennard's Mission

Trip to the hospital

Elder Kennard's companion had some severe abdominal pains and they had to go to the emergency room. Diagnosis was a bacterial infection and he's fine now.

"While we were in the hospital we happened to talk to one of the nurses and committed him to go to church in his area and to contact the missionaries. The picture included is of my companion thinking of giving the nurse a pamphlet." - Elder Kennard

From Luke Kennard's Mission

Jeny and the miracle of the hot water

Okay the following is a continuation of the miracles that we are seeing in bario pensamiento, photos included...

Something amazing happened this week. Not only did we have the baptisms of Martha and Bryan (who are from the LDS church reformed, Martha having received her testimony through a revelation through a dream) but we had one of our investigators Jeny decide to be baptised immediately following the baptism.

The problem here is that on Saturday our boiler ran out of gas, thus the Baptisms of Martha and Bryan were... really cold. We checked and rechecked but the boiler simply would not light. There was absolutely no more gas. So they entered the waters of baptism to be washed of all their sins and be startling awakened into the life of a saint. Despite the cold water the baptisms went fine.

But then there´s Jeny (the investigator we have been working with for over a few weeks to have a real testimony of the church). Jeny told us after the baptism that she would like to be baptised ´´But only if the water is hot´´ the only problem here is that there was no more gas in the boiler....but we didn´t turn her down. We made all the arrangements to have the baptism after church the following day. We decided we would bring our tank of gas from the apartment and hook it up to the font so that there would be hot water.

When we woke up the next morning we found that our tank of gas at the apartment was chained to the wall and there would be no way to remove it in time. We also decided to fast. We left the apartment with a prayer that Jeny would be able to enter the warm waters of baptism.

We arrived at the church and tried the boiler, just for kicks.... It lit. We thought ´´oh surely this is only the gas that is left in the tubes from last night´´... it stayed lit and running for the 3 1/2 hours time between when we lit it and Jeny´s baptism. We were completely astounded! Not only did she enter the waters of baptism warm but the water was steaming hot, just the way she asked for.

The following quote is Nephi talking about how we can do anything if it is the will of the Lord..
1 Nephi 17: 50-51 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done. And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?

God can do anything. He can change air into gas in a boiler if it means that another one of his children will enter the path to return to his presence. I firmly believe that. Because 1) Jeny decided to be baptised with the condition of warm water, 2) that we did everything we cold to have that warm water for the baptism and 3) that God provided the way so that his daughter Jeny would enter into the gates of his kingdom. (just for kicks 4) that God has a pretty good sense of humor.... ´´but only if the water is hot´´)

New glasses, Marta

Luke got glasses:

From Luke Kennard's Mission

And he had a nice story about Marta:

Hey so something amazing happened this week! We went to the house of Marta one of our investigators (the one from the reformed church of LDS). We had a nice Family Home Evening with a demonstration that her two little boys loved! At the end we asked Martha if she would like to share anything. She began to tell us a story of her weekend. She had a dream... A revelation from God. It was that answer we had been praying for and fasting for and working for. We knew that she knew that her church was false but she just couldn´t give it up until last week Saturday. She had a dream that she was surrounded by her family and they were not letting her progress. Then ´´I stood up and told them that they were not going to stop my progression any more. I am going to move forward (sounds a lot like Lehi and his Tree of life dream) It was powerful and she shared her new found testimony in tears.... ´´Elderes yo quiero bautizarme´´ My heart and eyes immediately began to swell as the Spirit bore testimony to all of us that this was the right decision. I can´t wait to send you pictures of the baptism next week! Marta is the convert that has changed my mission.

Eder's baptism and money/heart stealer

From Luke Kennard's Mission	From Luke Kennard's Mission

Yesterday we had the baptism of Eder. It was really awesome because a lot of his family showed up. Some are not members and so we got 2 new investigators, one of which is Eder´s dad who came up to me after the service and said ´´Hey I am catholic but I want to be Mormon like the rest of my family. What does it take to get baptized?´´ It was really cool, because I knew that he had received that pounding impression of the Holy Ghost testifying that families should be together forever. 

Hey so something really funny happened today. We were riding in a combi (a van that serves as a bus) and I was reading my letters and stuff and this little girl sitting next to me reached over and held my thumb. I laughed and so did her mom. Then about 2 minutes later she did it again. But for longer. And then again! But this time she didn´t let go. So I just went with it. Her name is Kimberly she is 1.5 years old and she likes to hold the priesthood. ;)  When we were close I handed the money to Kimberly so she could pass it forward to the driver, but she stuck it in her pocket. I said to her in Spanish ´´Oh! so you just wanted to hold my hand so that you could get to my money, huh!?´´  We had the whole combi laughing by the end of the ride. Aw what a charmer. But I might have to go talk to President about this one.... 

Luke got to go to the temple

From Luke Kennard's Mission