Sister Kaia Kennedy: ONE LAST TIME || SWEET HOME ALABAMA || HOME SWEET HOME ||

hey yall!

well my heart is breaking in half. alabama has truly become home to me and so it's been tough thinking that ill have to say goodbye in 2 days. wow. im actually crying in the library just writing that. this smelly old weird library. so lame. get it together sister kenendy.

before i get too sappy just wanted to share a fun tidbits from the week. what would a sister kennedy email be without dramatic little stories here and there.

we tracted SO much this week and who would've guessed that the only door approach that actually worked was, "hi were missionaries and normally we talk about Jesus Christ and His gospel, but we really have to pee. could we use your bathroom?" yall out of all the doors, the only one that worked. should've used it more. what have i been doing these past 18 months??

tried to have a photo shoot in front a cute freedom sign but a wasp attacked me. hence picture on the bottom.

so we challenged a member to hand out a book of mormon to someone and so she went straight to the religious section in books a million. well no one came to the aisle and she had to get going so she started to head out but the next thing she knows she's being stopped by this worker accusing her of stealing the book. after like 20 min of trying to explain that she had actually brought the book with her, the manager was called. they werent buying it, and so finally she agreed to just pay for the book. but when they tried to ring it up so she could just pay for the thing of course it didn't come up in their system. so then they were debating if they should call the cops because she "was so back and forth" saying "fine just keep it. like have it. i dont want to buy it. its yours." yall she was kept there for an hour trying to convince these people that she wasnt stealing the book. and after all the hassle, they didnt even take it. hahah missionary work at it's finest

well here we go with all the sappy stuff

i have loved my mission. i try to think of words that describe the feelings in my heart and that's all that seems to come out. i love my mission. every aspect of it. the ups and the downs. even though the downs were pretty brutal at times, i am grateful for them. i feel as if i have learned so much these past 18 months, that to narrow it down to 3 things is difficult. but i've managed and here is what i've come up with.

this gospel is not a fleeting past time that just fills our sundays. this gospel pushes and refines us into the person Heavenly Father knows we can become. this gospel fills our souls with light and stretches them to share that light with others around us. this gospel does not confine us, but rather sets us free. free to find joy that is lasting. free to grow and to move forward. free to be as close to the Savior as we would like to be.

light chases away the dark. Christ is the "Light and the Life of the world... a Light that is endless". i have seen that Light as we have gone around sharing His gospel. it fills people's soul and i believe this is what takes place when there is a "change of heart". i have witnessed it. not only in others around me, but in myself as well. as i read the book of mormon, i feel as if light is being poured into my soul. that's the only way i can describe it. and i know that it's not the words on the pages, but what the words contain. His gospel. His Light.

Heaven is kind. so very kind. this mission has not been mine, but His. i came here to serve and in reality should not have expected anything in return. He didn't owe me anything for serving Him. this was a sacrifice for Him. not a sacrifice so in return i can receive blessings, but a sacrifice to serve the One who has given me everything. so to look back over these past 18 months and see all the wonderful and truly merciful blessings He has placed in my life, i cannot deny that Heaven is so very kind. tender and loving and merciful. i know that because i have felt it. throughout all the tender mercies that took place each and everyday. i saw them. i experienced them. and i am forever grateful for them.

Ether 6:12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.

Alabama has become my promised land. i love it here. i love the people with my whole heart. i love the family that i have here, for they really have become my family. i love the missionaries around me. i love my mission president. i love this gospel. every aspect of it. i love the book of mormon. i love my Savior. He has walked every step with me these past 18 months and i will forever remember the time i spent here.

i feel like ammon when he says,"Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

well this was a long email, but that's okay. i hope yall have a blessed week! thank you for everything.

love always one last time,

sister kennedy