My first full week in Kendallville, Indiana! Can I get a woot woot?
Let me start by telling you a bit about Kendallville. It is a perfectly charming little town. About 10,000 people, but it seems smaller. There are train tracks EVERYWHERE. We're talking running through neighborhoods. Yikes. The nephews would love it! We're constantly being stopped at train crossings and we hear train horns (whistles?) at least 30 times a day. There is also an abundance of corn fields. Shocker right? Yes, I definitely live in Indiana. One of my favorite things, though, is the windmills! There are decorative windmills all over the place and Kendallville is actually the home of the Mid-America windmill museum. Yes, I've been dying to go. Yes, Sister Fox thinks I'm crazy.
Anyway, we live on Main Street--which is exactly how you're probably wanting to picture it. I love the houses in K-Ville! They are all old and have a ton of character. It makes tracting a lot more exciting.
All in all, Kendallville is a great place to live. Even if it's lovingly referred to as Kendalltucky. As my branch mission leader puts it, there are 4 great things about Kendallville:
1. Our churchhouse (it's phase 2!)
2. The Library (it's seriously huge)
3. The Compost (they pick up your leaves for you and turn them into mulch)
4. And, the Mayor. She's great.
Who wouldn't want to live here, really?
So anyway, let's talk about missionary work. The important stuff, right? Oh wait I have to tell you about Sister Fox! She is fantastic. The fantastic Mrs. Fox if you will. She grew up in Vegas (crazy!) but moved to Oregon for high school. She's the middle child of 7--some on her moms side, some on her dads. She went to BYU-I. AND I LOVE HER!! Oh, she's also 19. We got along from the moment they put us in a brand new car and sent us on our way to Indiana. Sometimes I think we have too much fun together! Our people here really expect a lot of us--as they should. We are, after all, the first sister missionaries here in 20 years! Last night our branch mission leader told us he wasn't too sure about our branch getting another set of missionaries. Then, last Sunday, we had a meeting with him and the elders and he said he felt the spirit stronger than he has in a long time and he just knew that Sister Fox and I were specifically chosen to come here. He is very confident that we will perform miracles for this branch! As is everyone else. We definitely feel the weight of our calling being here.
The Kendallville branch is great but they are kind of stuck at a stand still. There branch has been getting smaller, actually. Even though they have enough members in the area to be a good sized ward-- no one comes! We're working on that, though. I really feel like this branch is on the verge of something great, I just don't know how to get there. I know that with the Lord anything is possible and I know that he has something big in store for this branch. I'm just trying to remind myself that we are His representatives--we're here to accomplish that purpose and He will provide a way for us to do it. There's a quote in Preach My Gospel by President Hinckley that says
"Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people... Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Chirst."
Don't you love that? I do. I wrote it on a sticky note and hung it on my study desk. I read it every day. You could say it's become by mantra. Just kidding, but that is what I'm really trying to focus on. Forget yourself and go to work, right? Easier said than done, but through the atonement I know that I can change every day and work toward becoming the missionary that God knows I can be. I know that he knows me and I know that I am in Kendallville right now for a reason. I'll let you know when I figure out what that reason is :)
In festive news, this week has been filled with Halloween celebrations! Our branch trunk or treat was Wednesday. My favorite part was a game they had set up-- a bucket with a toliet seat on top that you tossed toilet paper rolls into. Haha. We also made apple cider this week! We went through the whole process from picking the apples to putting them through the press. We made 27 and a half gallons! YUM! Saturday morning the kids paraded down main street in their costumes and we sat our front of our apartment and handed out candy and pass along cards :) That night we stopped by a Halloween party a family in our ward was having. They have a lot of property and set up a spooky trail through the woods. It was so fun! I love the people here. I seriously feel like I've been here forever!
Funny story of the week-- we went to dinner at a family's house last night. Their 2 year old boy was so excited for the "missionmaries" to come over. When he saw us he said "You're not missionmaries!!" Apparently missionaries here means guys in black suits :) He did warm up to us after I gave him a few (dozen) Halloween stickers. Thanks again Ken and fam :)
Well, there is so much more to say, but this is all you're getting for now. I would love to tell you anything you want to hear if you email and ask though! :)
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| A boy in our ward dressed up as a missionary for Halloween :) |
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| Making apple cider! |
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| Our cute home on Main Street! (just the top) |
I LOVE YOU!
xoxo
Sister Kayla Rolfe'
