Thursday, February 18, 2016

Touchdown-- Sept.13, 2015




We got the exciting phone call from Cody in LA before he connected his flight to Fiji and then back up to Tarawa.  These are the Elders from his "intake".  There was no hotel stay over that I know of just a lot of hours of traveling.  As you can see from the picture these Elders are allowed to wear Crocs because they will be traveling through a lot of wet swampy areas.  I could hear a lot of excited voices behind Cody as the other Elders were saying their goodbyes to their family as well.  Cody sounded like Cody and yet it was almost like he was trying to be his old self but realizing he is a new self.  Does that make any sense?  He had a deep calmness.  It was nice.




















Wow. What to even say sooo much has happened. First off the coolest thing ever was seeing this tiny little island pop up in the ocean from the plane. When we stepped off it was crazy!!! Huge heat wave and the fence was just lined with these kids. Kids are everywhere. So we got picked up and it was so fun because we literally pile into the back of the truck all the time and just drive through Kiribati. Kiribati is so crazy. I’ve never seen a more beautiful color of water in my life. IT’s insane for real though. Like we were driving through the island and like its just shacks made out of idk what everywhere and it’s so so so greeen. Palm trees and just the most tropical feel EVER. I would send pics but apparently like all computers are corrupted so if you plug in your stuff you risk losing all your pictures, which I’m not sure I’m willing to do. but at Moroni High School they are safe so after i get a bunch of pics before I go to an outer I will for sure put them on a flash drive and send it! If you get the chance could you send me a ton of flash drives/ a few SD cards for the Go Pro and camera. The camera is a standard and the Go Pro is a micro. Not too many but I heard its a super good idea to space out your pictures so you if you lose one flash drive it’s not all gone. Anyways. So my companion is Elder Miller he’s super cool. He has been out a year but he’s been on outers the whole time. Everyone just craves outers here. I seriously can’t wait to go out because that’s when it gets crazy.

Sitting cross legged is so painful sometimes. Like after sitting on hard ground cross legged it burns hardcore. Everyone is so friendly and no one ever turns you away. THE FISH IS SO GOOD. It doesn’t even taste like fish. The first night dinner was so good we had raw fish bathed in coconut juice, fried fish, tons of rice (always rice) and a ton of stuff. It was funny, they made us all get up and freestyle dance for the mat dinner. There is a funny video out there somewhere. The kids are always all over you. It’s so awkward when a nude child is trying to climb on you you’re just like what? 

The most awkward thing was during a lesson a lady just started breast feeding. IT has happened multiple times. 

The first real day with Elder Miller was actually so hard. I feel asleep in probably 10 seconds that night. IT wouldn’t be so bad if I actually felt productive but I don’t understand much so it’s hard to contribute. I usually bear my testimony and say as much as I can though every lesson. Yesterday I fasted and my understanding went wayyyy up. It’s so fun though. It’s just a process of getting used to missionary work but it’s super awesome. There is sooo much work to do here! WE have three people preparing for baptism and we have a few people we tracked that apparently seem really awesome (My companion always fills me in on what occurs after the lesson).


The food is unreal.... There is so much exotic seafoods IT’s crazy. Tell Peter he’s never had a real fish. American fish is gross. Fish is delicious. SOOOOO GOOD. WE had the fish caught from the ocean 30 minutes prior and fried and this leaf spice on it. WOW



I figure if I work hard and I’m obedient the language will come, that’s the promise!!! Until then I keep plodding along getting better everyday!!.... I hope!

OK GOTTA GO 40 SECONDS I LOVE YOU ALL I’M PARTYING HARD PRAY FOR ME SHARE THE GOSPEL IT IS TRUE AND SO WONDERFUL PEACE OUT. SEND AMERICAN SNACKS








* things to notice in these videos:  driving on left side,  the strong solid building I think is our church building and the Moroni High School.  The houses nearest the water on the right is on the lagoon side that is why you see people in the water.  The ocean side is probably too dangerous with rocks and sharks. (that's what I read in the book earlier this summer anyway)  Elder Kennedy sent me a flash drive at the end of January 2016 with all the pictures I have using for this blog.  The next week he mentioned that after looking at the pictures again he realized that he didn't take pictures that really show Kiribati.  These videos are on the strip from the airport which would be more industrialize if you can imagine that.  Most of Kiribati isn't like these videos.  In the post to come you will read how they flag down cars to drive them places....which sounds natural for Cody since he has always loved waving wildly to truckers to honk in the USA.

Elder Kennedy's last days of being spiritually and physically fed at the MTC

Good ole District 52C

Well,  I leave on Tuesday to the Islands!!!!!! I’M SO SO SO EXCITED NO JOKE!!!! It’s going to be so awesome.


The more I  hear about the people the more I love them and cannot wait. Like in one experience to describe the culture, a Kiribati family will kill a $300 prize pig they have been nuturing forever just to feed a stranger. $300 to a Kiribati person is like $10,000 for us. That’s what the culture is like. The Kiribati kids here are unrealistically nice they always come up and try to help us with our Kiribati and they are super funny folks too so thats nice as well!!! Its just gunna be wayyyyyyy to awesome to handle. Apparently one missionary only had to tract 4 times his whole mission. 4. They were so lined up for lessons all the time so that’s what it came down to.


So pumped!!!!!

Well what have I learned hmmmm?
For one I’ve been thinking about how an eternal perspective can really change your outlook on life. When you learn and understand the purpose of life, it all becomes so easy. Give your will to God and develop charity. Charity is something I really want to fully develop. Just the ability to love everyone no matter who they are fully and completely is the best thing I think you can offer the world. I have been trying to be better and turn outwards instead of inwards more lately and it is so much better. The second we forget about our own needs and sacrifice a little for someone, the reward is so much greater than the little we sacrifice. It’s going to be so sweet to try to forget myself and my needs for two years and just try to make others happy through the joy the gospel can bring into our lives.


Here’s a proverb I thought of the other day.

                                           "God created breeze that we might have joy"


Of course off of that you can insert anything into it. Trees. Soft grass. Dirt. Bugs. Birds. Clouds. I especially enjoy a little chilled soft grass (freshly cut of course). A beautiful shade of blue that makes up our sky.









The world in itself is a testimony to how God wants us to be happy and receive joy in this life. In the world it’s so easy to get caught up in me me me and get distracted by all the noise the world makes. But instead of trying to get more more more as you stop and appreciate what you have, you realize you already have everything you could ever want right in front of you. I also came to the conclusion that I want my mission to be unbearably hard. Of course in a way that everyone will take lessons and everything it will be nice in that way, but I want to feel the refiner’s fire. Jesus went below it all so he could rise above it all. I think in a way that can happen to us to. When we are broken down and completely just beat into the ground, that’s when we are humble enough for God to teach us a precious truth about life. Humility is everything I realized. Humility can make us happier because we start realizing how little others have and how much you have. I’m sure I’ll get a lot of that in Kiribati as I see people living in the dirt with absolutely nothing. A place where a baseball cap is the best gift someone could ever receive in their whole life. Life is a beautiful thing. We have so little time to decide who we are going to be. What it is we are going to stand for. Are we going to focus on ourselves, or follow the Savior and reach out and help others feel his love through you. The church is true. Anyone can find the truthfulness for themselves. The church accepts and love everyone and anyone no matter who you are, who you were, or what you have done. Eternal perspective makes everything easier. When they day comes when we will have to stand before God and be accountable for who we are and what our actions were, I want to live so I know exactly what I will feel on that day.
A awesome phrase in the scriptures is "Prepare for justice.”   "Awake my soul, no more droop in sin, rejoice my heart, and give no more place for the enemy of my soul" "arise from the dust and be a man" some of my favs from this week probably. The Atonement can change us and cleanse us of anything. God WANTS to forgive everyone and anyone and he WANTS you to find joy in him. This is my testimony. Peace out


A little back and forth extra comments for you to enjoy….

yeah!!!! It’s crazy to think I will only get AC for like 4 more days;/ i will miss it dearly:/
yeah it is!!! That letter isn’t totally accurate/clear in some parts because it’s Marshall Island Mission. Kiribati is way different in a lot of ways than the Marshals. Like not as many people speak English and it's way poorer therefore--- better in my opinion!!!


I might not even meet my mission president until after a couple of transfers. He is in Marshalls 50% and Kiribati 50% apparently sometimes he takes missionaries out deep sea fishing on his fishing boat hahahhahaa. that’s rare but he took one of my teachers out like that!
So there is no real toilets in Kiribati. Basically you just find a private little spot in the forest or wade into the ocean will do!!! One new teacher we have is deaf in one ear because of parasites so that’s cool!!!!
n....... no toilet paper...... sometimes people wipe with hands....... I’M SO PUMPED KIRIBATI ROCKS!


of course that’s the only time it’s ever happened, but everyone gets sick a little at first as their body adjusts

Cara's note: Thank you to all his Boy Scout leaders who encouraged Cody to do hard things.  Dirty things, uncomfortable things....obviously you did a good job since Cody is eager to enjoy physical discomfort for two wonderful years.  Can't wait to hear more 3rd world experiences!

September 4, 2015 : Last week in the MTC

I’M EXCITED TO CALL U GUYS ON THE 7/8!!! That’s when we are leaving!!1 WE are getting our flight plans later today. RM said that his group stayed overnight in a super ritzy hotel in fiji!


ps Marshallese is civilized in comparison.   in kiribati not marshalls. Kiribati completely different country
I  am going to travel everywhere when i get back! The world is too amazing and has too much to offer for me not to experience it!!!


Two years is definitely going to just fly by!!!! I blink and I’m back here talking to you!!! Crazy!!!
That would be epic! I’m so glad to be on a mission though. It will really set the tempo for the rest of my life, a tempo of joy and righteousness for sure!
I think I always really took the gospel for granted for sure in my life because we always had it. Once I developed my own testimony life just got better. I love the purpose of life and it’s amazing to think how short of a time we honestly even have on earth to live!
Believe me I’m going to be obedient!!! I want to experience miracles. I am developing my faith so I can.

                                         Me and my awesome companion...Elder Perry

Thursday, February 11, 2016

August 28, 2015

It's been a great week!!! My love for the gospel grows everyday for sure. I really am starting to understand the Spirit and its direction more in my own life. So we sing for each district when they leave and it's so crazy! Like we sing a song in each language and the tongan song is incredibly powerful it seriously is insane how awesome it is. I will record it and send it when we leave:) Then that night before we went to bed the whole zone did the haka (the island crazy dance thing) AND WOW it was also so powerful like it is a battle cry but it is a battle cry for good. A battle cry to stay strong to who you are. A battle cry to fight for what you believe in. IT was so awesome though hahahaha One super awesome principle that popped up is the 3 stages of happiness. There is pleasure, which we get from sin, there is happiness, which we can have without the gospel and live happily, and then there is joy. Joy is a fruit of the spirit and that is the only way we can feel true pure joy is through the Holy Ghost. I have been feeling joy a lot as I dive into the gospel, I can't imagine ever being without pure unfettered joy again. The gospel is so simple and pure. The Book of Mormon brings those pure simple doctrines that were changed when Jesus and the Apostles were killed to light, showing us joy. I think it's so awesome how the gospel is meant to build on faith that people already have. We don't strive to take away any faith someone may have, only to build, and to act as messengers and instruments for the Spirit to testify of truth with. It's comforting to be able to rely on the Spirit, because through my inadequacy if i am able to testify with the Spirit people will be able to feel truth. Everyone has heard the plan of salvation before in the pre-existence!!! We all accepted it and that's why we are here today!!! The Spirit just reminds us of what we once knew and testifies of its truthfulness. The biggest enemy to faith is pride. To think that you are right and there is no other way. I think that's a big part of why people don't accept the gospel as much in America, because everyone relies on themselves first, before they turn to God only when they are beaten down and broken. And after they get back on their feet, like Laman and Lemuel they forget the mercy and love God has for them. We show our faith through our actions. I know that this church is true and that the if we humbly go before God and ask, he will let us know of the truthfulness. I love how in the gospel we are supposed to question things in faith. Jesus taught through asking questions. He did this because people learn better when they think for themselves, rather someone just tells them something. That's why we are on the earth! To be able to experience life so we can truly know good from evil. God will buffer us up as we turn to him. The promise is that as you rely on Him and put Him first, you will be blessed!!!!



Ok well my companion is rushing me off!!!! I'm going to go eat lunch and ball and nap:) LOVE YOU MOM. THE CHURCH IS TRUE TELL EVERYONE I LOVE THEM! GOODBYE:)



Hey just hopped back on to let you know our flight plans!!! WE are leaving september 8th at 1:55 so i will probably call 3-4ish i bet! So we leave Salt lake city UT at 6:55 get to LAX 8ish, then we are flying from LAX to fiji at 11:30 and arriving in fiji 5:50 on September 10th! (international dateline change) then from Fiji to Tarawa I'll get to Tarawa 11ish! From there we get our assignment and depending if I go to an outer island then I'll email one last time pretty sure! idk we will see how it goes!!! Love you guys!!!! OH! also If you want to send 2-3 more short sleeve shirts you can and a few non silk ties, just in case that would be awesome!!! uhhhhhhhhh I think that's all I have!!!! love you guys hope you guys are partying hard!!!!


                                                                     Surprise surprise!!!



Elder Kennedy with Elder Maas from Newburgh ward serving in CA


Elder Kennedy with our very own Sister Cheven Congar!!!!!!! serving in CO

Aug 21, 2015

Yeah I'm great!! The MTC is awesome but I am for sure ready to get out the islands!!! I have a bunch of news!!!!!


So some news: My teacher talked to my mission president and the mission prez said that most of us are getting trained on outer islands!!!!! AHHHHHH THAT MEANS CUT OFF FROM THE WORLD ALMOST COMPLETELY IT'S KINDA AWESOME KINDA SAD!!!! So if you don't hear from me for like 4-6 months that's why.... idk though some outer islands have really expensive computers so I can use those every now and a again!! IT really just depends!! But good news!!! SO apparently i get to call home on September 8 I think!!!! Apparently it's a thing where while at the airport you get to call home?? I had no idea until I got here and everyone was talking about it!!!! so that's exciting!


Also, so lava lavas are allowed in my hut!!! I can't wear them proselyting but I can wear them when I'm chillin at night!! I just get one there though don't worry about sending one!! They make so much cool stuff!!! Like they weave mats and scripture cases and stuff like that all the time!!!!
Ok I'll write one big one now!!!!! It's so crazy how little time I feel like I have to write!!! It's ok though I suppose it keeps me focused!!! I'll for sure be sending home some stuff before I leave MTC like my suit and everything so it'll work out!! (He is referring to the weight limit on the airplanes.  Weight is restricted on the planes landing on the island.) It's been a good week!!! A member of the Seventy always comes and talks so that's super cool!! uhhhhh idk what we have done!!! Like the week just crushes together. I can't even remember what I did when I get in bed to write in my journal at night!!!! The language is really coming along!!! It's so cool too!! Like the awesome thing about it is the meanings of the words. Like you take a word and you break it down to smaller words to mean the meaning. Like Tera nannon is what is the meaning of? but nano is heart so its like saying whats at the heart of *whatever* or kororoi (perfect) which translates to "a well cut stick" so when they cut it super smooth its perfect!!! its just great!!! Im seriously bloating up on this MTC food!!! they try to make you fat I think. I don't remember the last time I was hungry, I kinda miss it!!! Hopefully dad's and kipp's birthdays were awesome!!! Tell dad I said super happy birthday and also to kipp!!!! There gift should come to the MTC any day now and i'll send it out. just wait until I send gifts home from the islands!!!! life is good!!! ITs hard to stay motivated every second but I'm getting on it!!!! I'm so pumped for the island life!!!! What's the name of my teacher?? Sister Seegmiller or sister clark or brother sherman or brother packer. those are the options!! Thats super cool though!! new fajian district got here!! I'm excited to host next week aka watch kids bawl as the leave their families and then show them around the MTC. I feel like I've been here forever!!! but also I feel like I just got here. ITs weird. Its really weird having fall weather and not doing fall things. I love the mountains a tooonn. Like that's the one thing Utah has on Indiana. That and dry heat. I love dry heat too.  I'm working hard to be really converted to Christ!!! there are a ton of Kiribati people in the MTC right now so it's super fun talking to them!!! of course they say things and we have no idea what they are saying but it's a good time!!!

Uhhhh what else! spiritually wise has been good too!!! This is the motto someone told me though that's basically inspiring: When you lose yourself in serving others, that's when you truly find yourself" Boom. So hype. I've been studying a lot about what faith is lately. It's actually an incredible principle. Like the fact of the matter is that if you have enough faith, and its God's will, anything is possible. We were talking about it with this with this guy who used to be a mission president in South America somewhere and he told us insane stories. Miracles  still exist. Like miracles that essentially are impossible. Miracles that can only occur through the power of God. And it all starts with faith, like it says in Alma 32 where it talks about faith is a seed, it starts off small and as you go forward with faith, not knowing really what's ahead or reasons why, that's when the blessings come. It's weird to think that someday we will all have to stand before God and be judged of our works. Kinda super intimidating really. But it's a huge motivator to imagine standing before him at that day, confident that you did the things he wanted you to do. It's becoming really clear to me the best way to be happy is by following God's desires. He wants us to be that good person because that's when we find true unmarred happiness I think. I can't wait to let people know that that happiness is available if they want it in their lives. The thought that I can be the very first step in allowing someone to develop that relationship and show them the way to feel God's true love. I'm sure I'm forgetting things to say so much happens yet it's all the same. Life is good!!! I have no idea what to do after mission either. Like I keep hearing or thinking IU and BYU one way or the other. both have pros and cons. big pro IU is I can come visit a lot so that would be sweet. that's later on though I'm not too worried. One of my teachers is from Indiana so thats cool!!! Well I gotta bounce!!! Love and miss you all!!! Team K 4ever!!!! Stay awesome mom I love you you're the best momma ever!!!

I look at these mountains everyday. The pictures do not do it justice!


One more from August 14, 2015

HEY MOMMA WHATS UP HOWS IT GOING!!! OK i have a lot to say so im just gunna say it as i think of it before i forget!! So The McHardys relative is super in my district we are real good friends he is super cool!! he is the blonde one. BUT YEAH THIS WEEK HAS BEEN GREAT!   









 PS THIS IS IMPORTANT I AM GOING TO KIRIBATI NOT THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

 There is a huge distinction like Kiribati is a totally different country and culture. so if people ask where i am its kiribati. ISLAND ZONE RULES HARDCORE LIKE NOT A LIE BEST ZONE IN THE MTC. So we have fiji Kiribati Tonga Samoa Marshallese and maybe one or two more but like everyone in our zone is super just friendly and easy going and we have  a ton of fun and everyone is SUPER spiritual like my district is so sick the guys are like my second brothers no joke. No where near as good as the first brothers for sure but I like them. 

Kiribati is currently at war with the Tongans (THIS IS DURING OUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE BED WHERE WE ARE ALLOWED TO JUST HANG SO DON'T WORRY MOM IT'S LEGAL HAHHAHA). hahahahhahaha last night Darm (A kiribati) sprayed a tongan and declared the war, and the tongans attacked. They came charging out of their rooms fully geared up in tribal attire like headbands and shirtless and lava lavas and everything and they went and attacked Darm and my other friend Dimsdel (he was pretending to be blind the whole night) yelled "fight for kiribati while he stood in the corner pretending to be blind. Whether we will retaliate or not is to be told but it was super funny and fun. 















Spiritual wise tons has happened.BUT FIRST BIG NEWS I AM OFFICIALLY A MAN. ON AUG 13 2015 AT APPROX 5:52 I WEIGHED EXACTLY 165.00 LBS. WHOOOOO MANHOOD IS SWEET. 

Its crazy though some of my friends have gained like 10-12 lbs.... crazy. Also thank you for the donuts from Buddy they were delicious!! So anyways spiritually wise we always have super great district meetings and we had the President of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles come and talk to us!!! it was super awesome it was a like a week ago so I cant remember too much what was said but it was super good! Also personal study is really nice i finished the B of M and starting it again. They talk a ton about exact obedience like.. a ton. It really keeps us in line though and we utilize every minute we have. The language is coming along I feel like I can understand a lot of what my teacher says already. we have to teach our first lesson without notes tonight so that'll be fun. Overall its just a great experience. I got thinking how beautiful the world is and all the opportunites there are to live and grow and find happiness. I love the Utah mountains they are awesome. The world is a manifestation of Gods love for us in itself. I know that this gospel is true and I can feel myself being more converted to Christ. Conversion is different than beliving because when you are converted your actions and desires change to that which is in line with what God wants for us. Anyways Life is good!!! I eat soooo much food its real nice. OK SO THINGS i NEED!!! About the go pro almost everyones camera including mine records things anyways so the only difference is the go pro is super quality yanno. I seriously cant wait to live the island life I seriously think like dang its gunna be awesome!!!! Island people are thebomb.com there are some Kiribati missionaries at the MTC who are SUPER awesome. Like super just fun and happy and really just im excited. I have the ULTIMATE MISSION CALL EVER HOW DID I GET SO LUCKY!! Ok gotta go change the laundry I love and miss you all very much. you guys are seriosuly the best family ever!!!! OK GOOTA GO ILL WRITE A LIL MORE AFTER LAUNDRY PEACE OUT

August 14, 2015

 I finished the Book of Mormon again and I know it's true. It's crazy how deep yet simple the wisdom it has is, insomuch that I know it cannot be anything other than a book of God. I cannot express the joy thinking about the knowledge the gospel brings. Like I was thinking about how awesome it is God gave us this beautiful planet AND our freedom. Freedom is so dope fr like idk if you read the B of M or anything but the part where Mosiah is rousing up the people to fight for their families and freedom and God gets me so hype. Like I'm so blessed to think that in a way I am doing the same thing , Fighting for my God. And the fact that i get to be a messenger to give the ppl of kiribati the comfort the gospel can bring into their lives. When we truey let God into our lives and align our will to his. Dude i had deep wisdom the other day ill drop on you bc i think you're interested! so like if you think about it the fact the we have our agency is basically the greatest gift God gave us to choose who we want to be and the fact we have to choose whether we follow him or not is deep. So if the greatest gift God gave to us, isn't the greatest gift we can give back to him our agency? I think of my life and good and bad decisions I've made. And i decided life is just better when we follow the example of Christ and give our will to God! 

 Im super glad to hear about kipp and his sacks in football!!! how are all the sports coming for them i want to hear about it!! 

also idk if i will follow through or not but I'm taking a selfie everyday and then when i get home in two years It'll be life a ultimate slideshow of how my face changes you know what I mean!!! Also more good/wild news!!! So because Kiribati people are super supersticious and spiritual, they have more encounters with spirits.. sometimes bad ones. so that'll be super awesome and super super super scary to encounter. It would be crazy huh. The more I hear about the culture the more I can't wait to be there! We sang this one song in Tongan as a zone the other night and it was insane powerful. Tongan is the most powerful language on the planet I promise. Like Tongans are just a powerful people. The song was soooooo sick though no joke. hmmmmm what else have I even done lately. Please send me bens email treys email and justins email and noahs when he leaves. OH SO THINGS I NEED OK IMPORTANT I REMEMBERED. So first I need a new watch. The one I have I love a ton because its simple and has a leather strap. I'm definitely a leather strap guy. The problem is that it just ticks super loud so when it's quiet I can always hear it ticking. Also please send me a casual lava lava I can wear around at night because they are awesome. Just one probably because I'll probably get a ton on the island... people weave stuff all the time there like one of my teachers has a woven scripture case so I'm sure to become an expert weaver for sure. ok also I need food probably. and uhhhhh OH YEAH I NEED HAIR CUTTING SUPPLIES!! I want to cut my own hair for the next two years for sure so I'll need some supplies please. battery operated of course. 

Aug. 14 again

Anyways basically it's all insane and super hype. The language is literally so beautiful to my ears mhmmmm. I will  share with you a few things that hit me like a ton of bricks this week! First, this is literally Christ's church, and in reality I'm not teaching The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints gospel, but it is really and truly Jesus Christ's gospel. It is not led by men , rather at its head is Christ. Also I am kinda starting to get super hype that I hold the priesthood. Like I've been hearing a lot of stories about the true power of it and it is seriously blowing my mind. The last thing that I'll say for now is that really, I am not going to convert anyone, it is the Spirit that converts. Like I've sat in on lessons with the spirit and It's so powerful. Like I'm so lucky to go to Kiribati because people feel with their hearts what they think is right or wrong, which allows them to be more receptive to what the Spirit is trying to teach them. I have seriously felt the spirit so much this past week it's amazing. I've come to the understanding that my role for the next two years is to be nothing more than an instrument for God. And that through me I'm reaching out to people to guide them to come back to him. I understand the purpose of life so much more too. The glory of God is eternal and this life is only a part of that glory. WE are here to find joy and happiness in this beautiful world he created for us. And the best way for us to have that pure undaunted joy and happiness is through us loving God.  I can't express my gratitude for my opportunity to be here. As I learn more and more I strive to be truly converted unto Christ, and I have faith that that attitude will bring me eternal happiness. I LOVE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST SO MUCH GAHHH like I'm not even out on the islands and I cannot wait to share this beautiful message that God loves his children and the pure gospel of Christ has been restored to the Earth. I'm learning so much and I love it all. I think I'll go to BYU I love dry heat and the mountains always in view. I was softcore thinking about maybe staying home for a semester when I  get home and work and hang out with the fam idk though what do you think. I do think that i am changing for the better already and I like it.  ok I really have to go unfortunatly bc there is work to do! I love and miss you all so much. I know that The work I am doing is of God and I love sharing that message. OK gotta run send me food please 

Reporting to the Mission Training Center MTC

Fortunately, for Cody he has two uncles living in Utah to help drive him to Missionary Training Center in Provo.




First Uncle Buddy picked him up from the airport in Salt Lake City and then met Uncle Mike.

Here's one quick stop to see cousin Kailee at work.


                                                     Here are the other Kennedy cousins:
                                        Joe, Johnny, May, Cody, Uncle Mike, Lily and Josh

Ella and I went to West Virginia to go  white water rafting with our church Young Women's group that weekend.  As I tried to go to sleep with a neighboring campsite bachelor party going on I finally gave up and checked my phone for something!!!! To my surprise I got a letter from Cody!!!!!!

I thought I wouldn't hear from him until Monday since that is a typical preparation day for missionaries.  I guess there are so many missionaries coming in that the preparation day is scheduled throughout the week.  I don't know.
What I do know is my boy wrote me!!!!!!!!!


Here is Elder Kennedy in front of the Provo Temple with his new companions all going to the Marshall Island Majuro Mission.

HI MOM ITS YO BOY HOWS IT GOING!!! It's my first P-Day (They are on Friday's) today and even though I've only been here for like 2 days it feels like I have been here forever. When I first got dropped off everyone here is almost unrealistically nice. Like if I didn't know any better everyone seems to be so happy and friendly I would think they were faking it. Its super awesome. So basically I realized quickly I have the ultimately best mission ever. The guys I'm with are all super top notch like spiritually and just fun guys. My companion's name is Elder Perry and he is great! He is super nice and super like he has the I'm a missionary attitude kinda. He is from Idaho I'll probably attach some images. So I have 3 other bunk mates and they are all awesome too they are just fun guys. Everyone is super dedicated and genuine in my group like we don't mess around... but we still have fun!  THE LANGUAGE IS SO AWESOME LIKE it's seriously the coolest sounding thing ever. I can almost say a whole prayer and bear my testimony. We are teaching our first lesson in Kiribati in a few hours wish us luck! Also I decided if i was going to be reincarnated I would want to be a polynesian. (CARA"s NOTE: just to clarify...we don't believe in reincarnation!) There are a ton of them going to Samoa and they are in our zone. Seriously they are so funny are loud and just great. Plus they are all like huge football player size like... HUGE. They are a ton of fun to hang out with though for sure! I'm seriously so lucky to be going to a place where people just feel things with their heart instead of their minds. The gospel reminds us of things we already knew in the preexistence so because they really feel I think they are more receptive to the gospel. We went to the temple today and it was awesome. Really reminded me that we are all brothers and sisters and God is our Father. The gospel is true and i can't wait to get out there and share the message of everlasting joy with the people of the Kiribati islands. It really can change lives for the better. Everyone is saying missionaries are generally close to fluent like 2 months after being in the field.... I can't wait to be able to speak it like it's seriously the best language my ears have ever heard.  WELL I love and miss you all. Especially you and dad and the kids. It'll be hard being away from you all for so long but I that it is worth it to share this message that we can return to live with God again and feel his love. It's so hype. Alright I'll send some pics if i can figure out how to get it downloaded.... wish me luck. Fortunately I'm not going to have to deal with computers ever again after this hahaha ok i tried to find it but I can't find the SD card slot so I guess you will have to wait another week to see me face via pics. I still look good. You know how I do.  ALRIGHT I LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL THE GOSPEL IS TRUE AND THE FULL AND RESTORED  GOSPEL HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE EARTH HOLLER BALLER PEACE OUT SWAG  OK SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY HOMIES

August 7, 2015

HEY MOMMA HOWDY HOW'S IT GOING!!! I'M ALIVE AND WELL AS AN OX!!!! For real though it's super ultra great here. The Spirit is so strong and all that jazz. The language is actually sort of intimidating... Like a whole new language is insane. The teacher almost never speaks English so it is tricky but I really am increasing my abilities because I can say and understand more every single day. The guys I'm with are all super fun and great. I have the ultimate mission in the world no joke. The more I find out the more excited I get. My companion already got a heads up he is getting trained on an outer island aka SUPER DUPER AWESOME SURVIVAL SKILLS YEAH so maybe I'll get lucky too! It's interesting with my companion he's a super nice guy and I like him just fine.. It's actually a great start as I try to develop charity to see people like God sees them. He is super great though and I like him! OK BEFORE I FORGET THIS IS IMPORTANT I NEED SOME STUFF KINDA!! I can have my go pro on the mission I saw a girl with one so I think that would be prime for pictures! also send me snacks please so I can snack sometimes because I get hungry. there was some other stuff I need...... can't remember now dang I'll just write them down for next week. But yeah life is good! I really miss our family it's hard missing on so much of your guys' life... I know it's worth it though. I'm on the Lord's errand. Its super awesome I think the mission will really make me the person I want to be, To be truly converted unto Christ. When you are converted your actions and desires change and that's what I strive for. It's hard work though I will admit. Like I always knew it would be but after sitting in a classroom for 12 hours for a week.... I'm lucky to have such a solid district. We have the ultimate district in the ultimate zone in the ultimate mission. Our zone here is made up of like all the pacific islands so like tonga Samoa Fiji all the above! I'm flying to Fiji than to the ISLANDS ALSO IMPORTANT INFO. SO IDK IF THIS IS REAL OR NOT BUT POTENTIALLY ON THE 11TH OF JULY I COME HOME AND NOT THE 29TH? It just says that on a card idk if its real. We are thinking that because of the way transfers work out maybe we will have to come home early.... I'm not sure I'll want to come home two weeks early I probably won't... it's just possible that's the way it will work out idk if its real or not but just with flights and transfers. It's just a rumor on the rumor mill. For the mass email you can just pick out parts of this email and send it out if you want! I honestly don't have time to write another email if i do I will though! For everyone if you just pick out parts that are not just me and you then that's fine. OH YEAH SO THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WILL LIKE apparently there is a facebook page for moms with sons in the kiribati islands I'm sure you would love to find it. A lot of my friends moms chat and I'm sure you would like that. ok i have to go switch landry reaally fast brb