Gladys Knight Anyone???

Greetings from coloRADo.  yep... it is RAD. 

Hello Everyone!!!!!  Pday - yay day is here again!!! It came SO fast, seriously.  Sorry last week if I was a Debbie Downer, I'm back to my positive Polly self so all is well in Zion!

Well if you are wondering about the above mention to Gladys Knight I just have to preface it with I meet so many AWESOME people here on my mission!!!  So one day we just "happened" to walk by this lady walking her mop of a dog and so we talked to her and she was like a stand-up comedian I swear!!!  We set up an appointment to teach her on the 24th of July (along with a few other appointments so it was going to be a great day! 

interjection with my 24th of july happenings.... 

I'm pretty sure I shared last week that the 24th of July is my favorite holiday! So I was super stoked for it out here... (or more like trying not to miss the scones come that morning) But a lady we are teaching let us borrow a Nauvoo pageant soundtrack so it was pioneer music for pioneer day! yay! I was loving my life as we set out!  and then our first appointment canceled... then our second appointment wasn't home... and then one after another 6 for 6 appointments canceled on us.  Including a service project!  wha???? so by the 3rd or 4th we were just laughing at how hilarious and terrible this was.  HAPPY 24TH OF JULY! haha.  but I gave them all the benefit of the doubt, I mean, they were probably out celebrating the Utah holiday or something... I mean come on,,,, it's the 24th of july people. who would be home wanting to learn about the Gospel? come on! haha. well the dog walking lady "C" was one of those people not home, so yesterday I had the thought to call her and try again... so we did and she let us come over. 

We sat and talked and laughed and got to know her and established what we do as missionaries and whatnot... as we were talking about our church she asked if there are any black Mormons (oh yeah she is African American and so full of sass I just love her)  and so she said she went online and found out that Gladys Knight is LDS... and she thought that was hilarious because her mother in love with Gladys... but not so much in love with Mormons... so she was like.. yeah I'm not going to tell her... don't want to ruin a good thing.  haha. it was hilarious.  I'm excited to teach her this week. 

So I continue to just be in awe by the goodness of God. For every bad thing or hard thing, there are 20 tender mercies and 2 flat out miracles... or so I am just guesstimating.  But Heavenly Father's main objective in life is for us to be happy, and be able to return to Him again someday (which includes eternal happiness.....)  Even though He is the creator and ruler of the Universe and is so powerful, He takes the time to continue to show us that He loves us and is aware of us.  He has everything, and yet He wants to give us all He has.  He did give us something so precious. His Son. His only perfect Son.  I can't imagine how hard it was as a parent to watch His perfectly kind and compassionate Son suffer so much, but He did.  Because He loves us so much. He wants us to be able to be happy now, and forever.  That doesn't mean hard things don't come and that the storms don't rage, because they do. But in those very moments, if we will reach out to the source of light and life, even Jesus Christ, we can be happy and find peace.  It's amazing.  I love my Savior so much and am so so so grateful for Him.  A few of His attributes I'm most grateful that He has is patience, kindness, and forgiveness. He is so patient with us.  Just as when a young child makes mistakes we know that they are just learning and they need love and support and teaching, Heavenly Father is the same times a million. Our Father and Elder Brother are so patient and forgiving, but we just have to use what They have so kindly given us... The Atonement. 

My invitation this week is to find and identify a favorite Atonement scripture.  I will too and report back to you.  Memorize the scripture and let it be a source of light in a storm. 

I love you all so much.  I hope you know how much I appreciate the love and support you have given me. there's a picture of me so happy at email time.  email time is sacred time. laughing and crying time.

 I hope you all go do a Utah thing... like look at the mountains, or smell some sage brush... or eat fry sauce... just fry sauce. Or how about you go driving and don't get lost because you have a wonderful grid system. Thanks Brigham Young.... Colorado roads... ain't nobody got time fo that.... 

Onward Christian soldiers!!!! 

Peace n blessins. Peace n blessins.

Auvoir!

Any other departings I can include?

From me to you, Kinzie Lou