End of the World, May 21st 2011! What will you be doing?

   According to many people around the world, the End is coming on May 21st, 2011.  But good news to everyone, according to some recent articles God will not COMPLETELY destroy the Earth until October 31st, 2011. 
 As I have reflected on this matter the last few weeks, I've thought to myself,
1-"how do they know?"
2- "what brought them to this conclusion?" There are a lot of people out there that got this from doing math from the Bible and other resources, but as I have studied about this and pondered about it, a scripture kept coming to mind, the scripture is found in D&C 49:7 

"I, the Lord God, have spoken it; but the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes."

Also in Matthew 24:36  

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

 Only God knows when Jesus Christ will come! and that is what I rely on! I have faith in my God and know that He is preparing His people for that time,which no man knoweth. 
 

  I know that we have a prophet! His name is Thomas S. Monson (check out the link to find out more about him!) and I also know that as it states in Amos 3:7:"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
 I know that as we continue to listen to the Prophet and follow his counsel, we need not be afraid! He will prepare us for what will happen. Trust in him. He cannot lead us astray!

I've Been There Before

  What I wanted to share with everyone today was a Poem given to my by my dear companion Sister Fulton when we were companions in Santa Rosa a few months ago.  I has really touched my heart and I know that it will touch the hearts of all those who read it.

"I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE."
The alarm rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet.
I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheet
A groan fills the room, is it really time to arise?
It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes.

The Morning activites follow- study, prayer and such.
When it's time to elave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much
"We have a super day planned." My comp says with a grin.
I lowly utter a faithless breath. "yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the Word of God and my faithful schwinn, we ride off in the street.
Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat.
It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through.
My companion and I riding home, not accomplishing what we thought to do.

We run up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot.
Only to look inside, and hear my echo reverberate, "air box"
We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete.
The only thing to show for your work is a case of blistered feet.

Its Past 10:30p.m. My companion is fast asleep.
Silence engulfs yet all about and I begin to weep.
In the midst of sadness I kneel down to pray.
I need to talk to father, but I'm not sure what to say.

"Oh Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?"
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands-worn, hurt and beet.
If our area was any smaller we'd have knocked every street"

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat on my bike.
Will you send me some cooler weather? The heat is killing me.
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see."

Sister Gorder & Sister T.

Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff.
Please send us investigators so I may tell them what they lack
I want to give them Book of Mormons, the weight of them hurts my back."

"And what about my family? They don't have much to say.
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day.
Oh Father why am i here? Am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home. I'm sorry but that's on my mind."

My Companion, Heavenly Father, What are you giving me?
The way he rides his bike, I don't think he can see.
Now you have it I can't go on, I don't know what to do.
That, my Father in heaven is the prayer i have for you."

My prayer was finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed.
I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead.
Sleep start to overcome me, I seem to drift away.
Taken it seems, a vision, takes me to another time, another day.

I'm standing alone on high, the view is very nice.
A man walks toward me, and Say's, "My name is Jesus Christ."
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down at his feet.
"Arise," he states, "follow me to the shade, you and I need to speak."

My attention towards my Savior total and complete.
He says,"Your mission is similar of what happened to me,
I understand how you feel.  I know what you are going through.
In fact, It would be fair to say, I've felt the same as you."

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you.
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do.
I know you don't like to ride a bike; for you a car would be sweet.
Just remember the Donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds."

I understand you don't like sweating, In fact It's something you hate.
I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, oh the agony was great.
I see you don't like your companion-you'd rather have someone else.
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth.

It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you."
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me "king of the Jews"
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack.
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed in on my back."

Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day.
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way.
It's hard not to hear from home, When your family's not there to see
I lost communication on the cross. And cried, "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?"

We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between you see.
I endured my mission, so follow and do like me."
He embraced me with his arms, his light filled me with his love.
With tears in my eyes I watched as he went back to the father above.

I stood with awe and wonder, When a beep rang in my head.
I listened and heard the alarm, than realized I was in bed.
My companion let out a groan, "6:00 already, NO WAY?"
I sat up and said, "Come on I'll even carry your scriptures today."

No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take any more.
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ-he's been there before.

I leave you this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Baptism & Temple trip in 1 week!



Celeste's baptism!

   What an eventful week this has been and the week isn't even over yet! I'm whiped out!   We started out this week with a baptism of Celeste, she told us last Friday that she wanted to be baptized on Monday, its kinda hard when someone only gives you 2 days to prepare for a baptism! but it all worked about just fine! it was awesome to have a baptism with just the young woman in our church, they gave talks, played the piano and where just all very welcoming to her.  It was a great way to spend out Monday!


L-R Elder McBride, Elder Bohnet,
Sister Kenemore & Sister Beefelt

    Next up we had our temple trip which we just had today! We rode up with Elder Bohnet & Elder McBride and of course our lovely Driver Brother Thomas! We had such a great time with them, feeling the spirit and talking about the gospel and how much it blesses our lives! Oh how I love to go to the house of the Lord to do his work! the temple is a place where we can do work for our ancestors, and also feel of Heavenly Father's love. The Temple to me is where Heaven and Earth meet. 
   I'm so happy to be a missionary and to share the gospel truths that I know with all the people here in Santa Rosa and the online world! I'm grateful for the knowledge I have that my redeemer lives and loves me!  I know that all people can feel this way too, if they will but open their hearts and let the Holy Spirit help them have a mighty change of heart.
                                                                    Always,
                                                                                                                   Sister Kenemore

"I AM" Statements

   On December 17th 2010, I was having a very hard time falling asleep... i had a lot going on in my mind and it wouldn't turn off.. we all know how that goes! I knew that something was coming and the Lord was preparing me for it.  I had been asking the Lord to help me be more Obedient and to rely on him more, so i knew that my answer was coming soon and i could feel it! at around 1:30am i finally got out of bed and went to my desk and started reading the scriptures... I'm sure you are all thinking that i am going to say something profound, but I'm not.  i read for awhile and than felt like i just needed to write my feelings down.  i started by writing what i was thinking about, which at the time was transfers... the dreaded transfers! eventually my fear turned to me writing my testimony! I wrote how much I Love this gospel, my companion (sister Fulton) and how grateful I am for this Gospel and all that it does for me.  I  wrote about how grateful i was for my family and the support and love that they give to me! and last but not least how I was grateful for the Scriptures!
   I'll get back to my story but I have to give a brief history on something from my life that I've learned.  For about 5-6 years now I have been doing the photography for a convention called SendOutCards. the owner Cody Bateman based his company off of following promptings and creating what he call's "I AM" statements, so most of my goals are in the form of I AM statements.
 

 So as the minutes kept passing I started my list of "I AM" statements. I wanted to share them with the World of Blogging!
I AM: Obeying with exactness.
I AM: Giving all my might, mind and strength to this work!
I AM: A leader
I AM: Healthy
I AM: Beautiful
I AM: A disciple of Jesus Christ
I AM: A successful Missionary.
I AM: Precious to my heavenly Father.
   I know that as I remember these things that i will become them, and believe them full hardedly! I love creating I AM statements! they help to keep me thinking positive! and stay strong in my faith.  So here comest he challenge! I would like everyone that reads this blog to create new "I AM" statements for the new year.  Let it be your theme for this next year.  Become what you want!
 I LOVE YOU ALL! May the Lord bless you in all the things that you do!

Christ is our Light

 In the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi 17:13 Nephi is commanded to build a ship that will take them to the promised land.  Nephi doesnt question the Lord, he just ask's where he should go to find the tools he need's to build this ship.  He gets started right away.  How often do we ask questions before doing what the Lord tell's us to do? I know that I am guilty of this... but I am repenting and striving to become more like Nephi and Moroni and more importantly my Savior Jesus Christ.  just doing what I need to do.  Christ tell's us that he will be our light.
13And I will also be your ^alight in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the ^bpromised land; and ye shall ^cknow that it is by me that ye are led.
    After they built the ship and they start on there journey to the promised land, Nephi's brethern start sing and dance in much rudeness and Nephi is bold with them and telling them to stop... Nephi's older brothers dont like this so they tie him up and he is bound for 4 days while this very bad storm is upon them.
Later on in 1 Nephi 18:15-16 Nephi says:
15"And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to ^asee that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.   

 16Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did ^apraise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."

what I love about this is that no matter what happened to Nephi, he was always quick to remember his Lord.  He knew that Christ would deliver him if he was faithful, and Christ did. 
  I know that if i am faithful and follow the commandments, Christ will be my light, he will guide me to where i need to be.  I love this gospel, and I am so excited to be a missionary! I love being able to help people see Christ hand's in there life!
LET US ALL LET CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT.

TOUGH TIMES

"Let the Tough times DEFINE you, not DEFEAT you."
i was first introduced to this by a former missionary Elder Korey Fras.  he was my district leader and always had good quotes to start out district coucil.  I often think of this quote, being a missionary we go through very tough times, but more than just us, our people! the People of the California Santa Rosa mission go through tough times and its our job to lead them to Christ, who suffered for all our sins, weaknesses, failures, everything! Elder Fras also said that adversity is a gift from God, this is how we experiance joy, love, peace, happiness.  we cant experiance any of these things without feeling the opposite.  in Mosiah 23:20-21 the people are prospering and they had built a city and everythings, sometimes the Lord see's fit to chasten us, he chasten them.  he tried there patience to help them in all things.  In Mosiah 23:22 it says that whosever puteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day.
   We all have trials, how we deal with them is what the Lord is looking at.  Do we always wonder "why me?" or "couldnt this happen to anyone else but me?" or do we think: "what can i learn from this?" "what is the Lord trying to teach me?" this is how we learn to bare our trials.  God promises that if we endure all things well, we shall be lifted up! that's a great promise.  I know that this church is true, i know that God is loving and will never give us anything we cant handle.  May God bless us in all that we do, and may we all rely fully on Jesus Christ.

The Climb

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

Zig Ziglar"

   I love this quote, its great what we become in the end of our trials or on the road to reaching our goals, but whats most important is the journey we take to get there. Our life here on this Earth is a trail of our faith, its a probationary time, A time for us to grow, a time for us to experience life.  no one ever said this life would be easy, they only said it would be worth it! i have found what makes this life "worth it!" its family, love, Jesus Christ, knowing that i will live again after this life, and more importantly knowing that one day i will return to live with my Father in Heaven! that's what make's it worth it!!

 

there is a song by a famous artist that pop's into my head as i think about life, as i think about the journey that I'm on to eternal life!

"I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah)
There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb (yeah yeah ea ea)
Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith"

Miley Cyrus
 Life is a climb, its about moving and about faith. we are either progressing or digressing.  I love my life, i love everything about it, including my trails.  our trials, our infirmities,(personal failings) are not in vain... Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, suffered for our infirmities so that he may know how to succor(run to the aid of) his people.  I love this gospel, I love the Book of Mormon and all that it teaches me. 

GOD BLESS EVERYONE!

Prayer

This picture brings such a smile to my heart!! If you couldn't tell by the picture, today i wanted to write about prayer, and how powerful it is.  today, 2nd day in my new area, went to the cutest ladies house to talk with her, her name is Michele and she has had a lot of challenges in her life.  She was in a car accident when she was 3 and was thrown out the window of the car and was in a coma for 4 1/2 months... the doctor's told her mom that she wouldn't survive, but she did, she obviously has some side effects from it, she has a great memory, she is a little slower than most people and her speech isn't all that great, but she is truly AMAZING!
  As we talked with her we asked her how the Lord has blessed her in her life,  the first thing she said is that she is alive! that's so true, we should all be grateful to be alive! to live and have more opportunities to follow Jesus Christ, and more opportunities to live the commandments and receive blessings. 
  When she was praying she TALKED to God, not at him, or as if he is a million miles away, but to him as if he was in the room! it was such a beautiful prayer! at the end of her prayer she said: " thank you very  much, i love you and I cant wait to meet you."
  It's truly amazing how much she loves God, and was made evident to me that i need to do better in my prayers and to think of God as being in the room with me, to talk with him and converse with him as if we are face to face!
  if you have the chance go to lds.org and find the bible dictionary and look up PRAYER.  the definition is amazing!!

SMILING!

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."
— Mother Teresa



A long time ago when i was in young woman's, a group for girls 12-18 to help them be better woman of society, and help us to be strong and have good moral values, we were having a lesson and the only thing that I got from it is that we should smile at people because we never know who's watching.  so that next week was semester finals and no one ever likes to take a test... but I went to school thinking about the lesson we had just had and wanted to share my love with everyone.  so as I walked the hallways to my classes, I smiled! and our principle who was out in the hall way's saw this and asked me why i was smiling... I told him because its a great day to be alive, and that I was just in a good mood.  He watched me interact with other people and smile at them and the smile became contagious and soon other people were smiling! it was a great thing for me to witness and for other people to feel that love that I had for them, even if i didnt know them. 
CHALLENGE: smile! no matter where you are or what is going on in your life! see how it changes not only your attitude but the people around you as well! i've tested this theory and now challenge you to do the same!

TRANSFERS!

 So every 6 weeks we have the opportunity to be transferred to a new area of not.  what happens is we spend anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months in one area teaching the gospel and helping people draw closer to Jesus Christ, than at the end of that 6 week period, our mission president (President Bunker) prays and seeks to find out whether we should be transferred to a new area or stay in the same area.  every 6th Sunday of the transfer we got a call from our Zone Leaders telling us if we are staying or going.  we got our call this morning and i was told that I am transferring to Santa Rosa in the Peterson Lane ward.  I am super excited to meet the people in Santa Rosa, but also super sad to be leaving Fortuna.  I've spent the last 4 1/2 months here serving the people and loving them!  I am so grateful for the people that i was able to meet here.  they have each taught me so much and helped me to gain a greater love for my savior.  I'm ready to embark on a new part of the California Santa Rosa Mission (CASRM) its going to be a rollercoaster of fun the next few days!!

Our True Identity

I love this message! we are all beautiful in the eyes of God. If we know and truly understand that we are son's and daughter's of the most high God, we will know that we are beautiful and see Christ in our reflection. "WE ARE GLORIOUS SON'S AND DAUGHTERS OF A MIGHTY GOD" President Uchtdorf.

FAVORITE SCRIPTURE!

  11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

  12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

  13 Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

 

 

 This is my favorite scripture!! the first time actually read and understood it was with my companion Sister Darley.  She was studying  and shared this scripture with me and she told me what the definition of infirmities, infirmities are our personal failings...so every time we fail, Christ as felt it...every time we are sad, Christ has felt it, EVERY TIME we sin, Christ has felt it.  This scripture makes me think of all the sin's I've committed in my life, a song that i love says "which drop of blood did i make him shed? did i put the thorns onto his head?" I think of that often... the best thing about it is he did this to "blot" out our sins, and to know how to "succor" his people.  To succor is to run to the aid of.  Christ suffered all things so he would know how to help us, he is the only person who has felt everything we have felt, so we never have to be alone in this world.

   I am truly grateful for this gospel, for the knowledge of knowing that my savior Jesus Christ has suffered all things that he me be able to help me. as long as i follow him, have Faith in him, repent of my sins, renew my covenant with him weekly after i was baptized, i rely on the Holy Ghost constantly, and Endure To The End!!

 

for more information on this scripture please go to http://www.new.lds.org/ or you can chat with me on facebook www.facebook.com/sisterbrookkenemore.com

 

SPAGHETTI

So today while pondering during lunch time, i knew that we were having spaghetti for dinner.  so I am a big fan of relating ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING to the gospel. so i thought and thought and thought some more.  This is what i came up with.... first we have the water (us in our spirit form) than you add the noodles (physical bodies) and we have to cook for awhile (our lives) while in the life we have certain things we have to do! such as have faith in Jesus Christ, Repent of our sins, be Baptized by the proper priesthood authority, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, and keep the commandments to the best of our ability till the end of our lives. while all these things are necessary there is something missing...the sauce (Jesus Christ) it is only through him that the spaghetti is complete!