Surprise. Surprise.

What a life I live. 

Seriously it's unlike any other. 

It started off with a REAL surprise. 

So we have this investigator named Jenny and my goodness I feel like every time I leave her house I leave my heart on the kitchen table because I literally just try with all my might to give everything I have to give to her. Anyway She's basically incredible but we've been teaching her for quite some time and she hasn't been able to come to church because her husband is jealous of the relationship she has with God. We went over there on Tuesday morning...knowing that the stakes were definitely pretty high at this appointment because if she didn't start coming to church we really couldn't keep teaching her. 

SO. 

last time we were there she said she was going to make a video to tell us where she was at spiritually. We walk into her house and she had these chairs and projector and laptop all set up. She showed us this picture slideshow bore her testimony, basically gave us a real big presentation. She told us that at one point in her life she really felt like she couldn't even move because of where she was at but with God as her medicine that's all changed.........and here is the real kicker, cherry on top, grand finale of the whole thing.....she asked us to turn her chair's around.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................AND SHE DID AN INTERPRETIVE DANCE. 

SERIOUSLY FOLKS. Literally this was so out of left field. Sister Kelly and I have taught some interesting people and therefore have experienced some interesting things together but we did not see this one coming. I think I was literally speechless the whole time. No worries the music wasn't apostate...it was some Spanish Christian music. but my oh my this was definitely an experience to remember. She also gave us this clay heart with a hole she had made in it to help us remember that Christ was the only one who could fill the whole in our hearts...also this part was cool...She gave us this plant that people are pretty sure is the plant that they made Christ's crown of thorns out of. NO WORRIES we definitely did some teaching but we are probably still going to have to drop her....

OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS. 

Sister Kelly discovered this week that at the ripe old age of 19 she has arthritis and degenerative disc disease. She's such a trooper though....I've never made so many ice packs for someone in my life and I've never been so willing to pick up anything she ever drops so she doesn't have to bend over but she's still going strong and teaching repentance and being the bold missionary she is. 

The cutest couple of my whole life got baptized into the king's canyon ward. Erica and Mucio who have been taught by the Elders were married on Monday and baptized on Saturday. 

PRECIOUS.

Susana and Zion are doing well we taught them with Sister Clark this week and they were at church again but we might have to give them to another set of missionaries to teach because they don't live in our area. Adrian wasn't at the appointment we had set up this week so we haven't been able to see him in awhile. 

Also an additional note on missionary work:

I love it. I try every day to put my whole heart into it and I don't want any part of my heart anywhere else...but the thing is I'm pretty imperfect at it. 

That's the bad news....

but the good news is...

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Jesus Christ has perfect grace and I know the only way that I'm making it back to a Father in Heaven is with a lot of grace applied. I know that's the same for each of us and that's why I'm here. 

So. Long story short. I have imperfections and although I'm going to work to rid myself of them I'm also going to take the time to glory in my infirmities because I'm sure that the power of Christ rests upon me. 

I couldn't be a missionary for one second of one day if I didn't have a Savior leading me, guiding me and walking beside me. I hope ya'll take the time everyday to see him in your lives too. 


Love, Sister Rendon

Yosemite

YO. -semite. 

Sorry the Sister Rendon show didn't come at the regularly scheduled viewing time last week....but if you're wondering how cool Yosemite is it is definitely a 10 out of 10. 

Somehow Sister Kelly and I ended up in a 12 passenger van with one of our member couples and eight Elders. 

Which is a great way to get spiritually hyped because the hymn, ''Let Zion in her beauty rise" sounds extra great when you add some beat boxing and a few other extra's. .....

Fresno, Fresno East, Fresno North

Back Row, Left to Right; Elders Witt, Byrd, Aguilar, Bagley, White, Lillywhite, Park, Smith, Stegelmeier, Fischer, Crosby, Tongish, Perez, Morales, Davis, Edwards, Noyes
Third Row, Left to Right; Elders LaMay, Rose, Mederos, Cummings, Ikimau, Garner, Biggs, Smith, Rushton, Rogers, Pettit, Sparks, King, Nesom
Second Row, Left to Right; Elders Lopez, Gumiran, Davis, Sisters Kelly, Rendon, Plummer, Sheffield, Elders Ellestad, Lopez, Yskes, Larson, Carnahan, Quinn
Front Row, Left to Right; Sister Neilson, Sister & Elder Gunderson, Sister & Elder Bradshaw, President and Sister Clark, Sisters Frazier, Padilla, Tompkins, Eastman, Miller, Baldwin

We had Zone Conference. 

oh my goodness, I love Zone Conference. 

Basically we got taught that the real way to BAPTIZE IN BULK is to work with part-member families. 

I got super hyped. 

So I set some goals. 

This week is going to have a super short visit but please send your prayers for:

-SUSANA TO RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT

-ADRIAN TO KEEP BEING AWESOME/PROGRESSING

-ME TO SURVIVE THE FRESNO HEAT. 

Love, Sister Rendon

               

   Well I was all sorts of excited to come share about what happened this week...thinking it was a pretty big week for me......

but goodness...hooper, utah was all sorts of poppin' this week. 

-everyone tell my sister CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING A MOTHER. Good timing, Sister. I get to meet a whole extra human *that's named after me* *cough *cough on the skype call. what what. I think all the missionaries in the zone are annoyed   about how dramatic I was opening all the emails with pictures....but literally I'm having a crisis because I don't even know when her birthday is. 

WELL I could talk about things going on at home, but your all at home and you know those things.....so I'll talk about FRESHNO CALIFORNIA. 

Sister Kelly really got it right this week when she said...

'You know being called to Fresno....half the time I feel like I'm in Utah....and the other half of the time I feel like I'm in Mexico.'

Which is almost the truest thing I've ever heard...but personally I would include the moment's I've felt like I was called to

-Cambodia

-Laos

-Compton

-the local Psych ward

-the homeless shelter......actually have been referred to a less active member there....ask me about her voicemail in 18 months
-sketchtown usa

-also hawaii once in a great while when you see the beautiful flowers...

FUN/CRAZY/DRAMATIC/SPIRITUAL EVENTS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK. 

(before you read this.....remember that I'm fine)

Wednesday night we were driving home, when we got a call from the Elders that live in the same complex as us that went like this....

Elders: 'Sister's are you ready for a fun night?'

Us:'What...why'

Elders: 'Well....our apartment complex is on fire."

Just a few minutes after that conversation we had a really good one...where we taught the Elders...that when you tell someone that their apartment complex is on fire....you should probably mention that it's not actually their building that is on fire. 

All is well our....apartment complex is huge and so it was literally like a half mile away because we lived on the exact opposite end...but we did end up staying out all the way till ten o'clock at night. (my goodness I don't know why I ever desired a later curfew....night time was made to be at home) They weren't letting us in the complex...but no worries good came out of it. The next day half the ward texted us making sure we were okay. How sweeeet. 

Also this really was a miracle...because in one complex there are three sets of missionaries and two member families in our ward....and all five of us are in different buildings...and we are all safe. 

Friday.....we went to the hospital because a potential investigator asked if we could go pray with her friend's dad. We of course said yes....and although both his brain and his body function are realllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy low...it was an incredible opportunity to feel the spirit. We also basically taught all of lesson one. Mee is amazing...she's already....listened to all of first Nephi....it did get a little interesting when she asked if she could pray.....and for a few long minutes I think we may have been witnessing an attempt of an exorcism. 

SATURDAY WAS LITERALLY EVERY MISSIONARIES DREAM. 

-You know how you come out on a mission and you think you just have set appointments all the day long and nobody mentions that the case is actually quite different than that...and your not just racing from appointment to appointment and it's not just all teaching and baptizing. 

Well if you were a new missionary on Saturday with Sister Kelly and I...absolutely no dreams would have been crushed. IT WAS LITERALLY RACING FROM APPOINTMENT TO APPOINTMENT...AND TEACHING AND SETTING BAPTISMAL DATES......

Our day was AMAZING. 

-Some Sisters surprised us so we ran with them....including a tour of the ash filled pool from the fire....had great super effective studies. 

Then we went and taught Chris...and also started teaching his little sister....and then we went and (only low part of the day) had a lesson fall through...but found two new investigators right outside of her house....and then had a super effective lesson with a less active family that we've seen progress sooooo much......then went and taught another lesson with SUSANA AND ZION in a members home...she's praying about baptism the 29thhhh!!!! Then we went and taught a lesson to Eugene....(the most fit 92 year old man you've ever seen) then we literally had ten minutes left for dinner......SO WE WERE RUNNING INTO THE APARTMENT....and as soon as we opened the door the Elders were stepping outside of our apartment....nobody had signed up for dinner but some members dropped it off...so the Elders knowing our situation had served food ready for us to scarf down....with only enough time to tell them how amazing our day was....before we were running off again....to go to a baptism with Susana and Zion....Susana was crying during the confirmation because she 'felt sooo much love' and NOW SHE IS GOING TO REFER HER BOYFRIEND IN FINLAND TO THE MISSIONARIES. Then we once again were off to go teach another lesson with Shy....our nine year old investigator.......and by teach a lesson....she really taught us a lesson because she's got the sweetest little testimony ever. Then we walked just a few doors down from Shy's apartment to her great Aunt's where we had shy come and teach with us. Literally having an investigator come teach and bear testimony with you. IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER. 

*ALSO THAT MORNING I FOUND OUT JACK'S MOM (remember Jack...my other favorite 9 year old investigator in my first area) IS GETTING BAPTIZED. 

-apparently the dad is okay with her getting baptized but is still a little hesitant for Jack.....

but ohhhhh my what a day. 

what a week. 

-I can't even tell ya'll how much I love being a missionary....

It's the happiest message of all....and I get to share it. 

-YOUR PRAYERS ARE BEING FELT. 

LOVE YOU ALL. 

Have a great week, tell everyone I love them...tell everyone Heavenly Father loves them. 

*Another note I was just reflecting on how important the gospel of Jesus Christ is and wanted to tell you all that....: 

God loves you, because you are His. He sent His Son for you.....and no matter who you are reading this...it is quite a long list..but wither you are my friend, family, someone I met a few times, who for some crazy reason wanted to keep in touch I know that God also sent you to your inbox today to be reminded that Jesus Christ is your Savior and what He taught is the MOST important thing. 

Love, Sister Rendon

       

I can believe a lot of things....

for example......

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to a 14 year old boy. 

That I can believe...and in fact I do believe that with my whole heart. 

Then there are things that I just can not believe....

for example.........

I've been out on a mission for a whole nine months.

WHAT. 

Things that are happening in the coolest area on this side of the Mississippi: 

-SHY. Oh goodness. We went to go visit her grandma.....She's a less active member of the church. She's been really sick and had a lot of health problems for the last few years of her life. This week she found out that she had cancer in two more parts of her body and her greatest wish before she gets too sick is to see Shy be baptized. The mom is still hesitant to let Shy get baptized at nine years old, but she is so ready and she truly has came sooo much closer to Jesus Christ since we have began teaching her. 

-Susana and Zion are a mother and son we FOUND THROUGH MEMBERS. HEAR THAT MEMBERS. 

They are amazing....and progressing so well. Pray for them. 

We had a lottttt of rejection this week and a lot of miracles..............! We were able to see Donio and Diamond...investigators...that we loveeeee and haven't been able to see in what feels like centuries....

SCRIPTURES THAT I LOVE: 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

I LOVE YOU.

Sister Rendon

THE LORD LOVES YOU. 

FRESNO CALIFORNIA IS THE BEST.