JAMES IS HOME "The kingdom of God or nothing"

Home had multiple meanings this week. First it meant Utah-being home in a place that I love, and second it meant that for the first time in 2 years my family was all together in one home. It was magical.

My brother James returned from a 2 year mission to Seattle Washington on August 24th. The wait at the airport was worse than a 4 year old waiting for Christmas morning. We arrived at the airport at 6:40 but his plane wasn't supposed to land until 7:30. And so.. we waited.. and waited.. and waited some more. We were tracking his flight on some app on my Dad's phone and it seemed like he was never going to make it across Idaho to get here. 7:30 came and went and then 8 came and went. I think my heart had transformed into a giant drum in my chest.

And then.. he came. Down the escalators came a group of young boys and honestly as my eyes quickly searched and found his face, I am not sure what else happened. We all started bouncing up and down and screaming and yelling and crying..



Coming from a house full of women, I am not sure what James was thinking as a welcome for when he arrived home-but I doubt we surprised him with all our tears.

He walked into a cloud of estrogen and tears-with 4 crying sisters+a weepy mom and dad. There was so much love, I wish I could have just gathered it all up in a bottle and held it forever.

It has been amazing to see the change in James in the past 2 years. He left an 18 year old crazy kid and came back a selfless and humble spiritual giant.

                    

I think James's last email home sums up how this kid has changed. It's amazing, he's amazing.

This is it.
My heart is full, but no words are coming to mind. There isn't a letter I could write, or a speech I could give, that would properly convey the feelings I have toward my mission and my Heavenly Father.
That's okay though; I believe the greatest sermon one can give is the way they live their life. I hope that when I come home, you will see the impact that my mission has had on me and who it has helped me to become.
It's hard to see changes in yourself, because change happens incrementally. One change I do see and feel is the presence of the Spirit. I have become well acquainted with Him and know why He is essential in this spiritual battle we are engaged in. I don't believe there is anything more important than keeping the Spirit close and learning to recognize His call.

I will forever be grateful for my mission. I wasn't a foreign speaking missionary, but I did learn the language of the Lord. I'm grateful for that.

The lessons learned, the friendships made, and the experience's the mission has given me mean everything to me and I wouldn't trade them for the world.
I love my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior. I love serving God's children.
I feel I have always known the church was true but serving a mission has helped me become true to the church.
The motto, "The Kingdom of God or nothing." has rooted itself deep in my heart.

I will always be a missionary for the Lord and have handed my life over to Him.
"I'll do what you want me to do and I'll be who you want me to be, dear Lord. If you ever need an errand run, James Kendell will run it for you."

I testify this is the work of Almighty God. He is real. This work is real. There is nothing more real! For real.;)

"You find yourself when you lose yourself" (David W. Hart) That is true.

I hope my offering is acceptable to the Lord.

I love you all! I'll see you real soon.

-Elder Kendell