Gathering of ol Isreal!

Hello Everyone!!!!   maybe literally hello the only one... Greetings from everyone-here-is-obsessed-with-dogs Colorado!   ugh... I hate dogs in the house. I always have. always will. sadly only 4 people in this area that I've met have cats....  so sad.  ahahah.  nothing has changed. My best friend Briana is probably rolling her eyes right now. She hates cats.

 

So this week has been rough, I'll be right honest with ya.  But I'm still happy.   I miss sister brown in Brazil, sooo much.  How amazing that I got to serve with a great friend.  But Sister Meteer is wonderful!  It always takes time to gel together and to get that teaching flow,.... and then as soon as you do it's transfer time all over again. haha. I love change....  says the girl who lived in the same room in the same house for 18 years. haha.  (am I losing my mind or have I said that before...  haha my roommates last year can testify I'm soooo good at saying something or telling a story to them multiple times.... haha poor "kappa chew"...) 

 

Sister Meteer and I got to go to the temple this week!  AMAZING!! I love it so much!!! I got to see some great friends there too cuz all the missionaries go on the same day so it's so fun!  I ran into sis Burnett... she kinda freaked out. What a blessing to have temples on the earth today!!!  Wow!!! How many people throughout history have never been able to go to the temple, and we have them just a short drive away.... I think we (got that, me included)  live way below our privileges of having temples so close to us. Just food for thought.  

 

Another funny story... we were tracting and we knocked on the door and we hear the scuttle of little dog feet on the hard wood,,, and then the owner walked to the door... told the dogs "attack" and then opened the door.  I KID YOU NOT! HE SICKED HIS LITTLE 2 YORKIE DOGS ON US..... oh please... oh no.... you yipped me to death you little annoying dogs... punt. what? hahah I didn't say that (or do that.) I am not a dog hater... but anyways... I had to laugh... people are so ridiculous!  I hope I get to see that moment at judgment day... hilarious.

 

So funny story.... my mom... that's all....   well actually there is a little bit more to the story.  She sent me a package of homemade fruity rice krispies (which I love sooo much cuz I helped her make them when I was little) but she didn't say ANYTHING.... no little note.  no "Hi makinzie... mama loves you"... nope.  But krispies speak a thousand words. So in reply, I love you too, mom. I'm thinking about you all the time too, mom.  I can't wait til we are baking goods on Sunday afternoons together too, mom.  .... there's a pic to show my happiness. 

 

Well this week I have learned a lot about the organization of the Church, and how amazing it is.  Anyone with a logical mind would agree that Christ's Church today should be set up the same way that He set it up on the earth.  With Apostles, Prophets, (He was the Prophet)  Seventy (luke 10:1 I believe.... hope I'm not wrong... so embarrassing)  missionaries, temple worship, Priesthood authority by the laying on of hands, and baptism by emersion, tithing, the list goes on.... well hey, I don't know if you all noticed but how amazing that we have all those things too!    The organization of this Church is not man's way.  Why would millions of members volunteer countless hours of service to help maintain the church for no pay, if it wasn't God's church?  I'll tell ya... they wouldn't.  Why would we missionaries leave everything and everyone we love for 18-24 months to talk about something that isn't of God? WE WOULDN'T.   I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church.  First, I had faith in my heart, and then I was able to know clearer and clearer in my head.  It makes sense.  God's ways are Eternal and logical because He is a God of order and perfection.  His ways are also miraculous and spectacular because He is a God of power and miracles. 

 

I love being a missionary!!!  The time I have to serve and to wear this name badge and to be a Representative of Jesus Christ, it is just a moment in the scheme of things.  But I'm so glad the Lord provided a way for me to come and to have this wonderful experience!  Cuz I needed it for me, and for my future family, and my current family.  But I didn't come out here for me. I tried to just give back a little of that joy that I have felt, and He has turned around and given me a fullness of it.  God already has everything.  The only thing we can give Him is our obedience, choosing His ways over our ways... And then still He turns around and blesses us more, so we aren't really giving, we are getting.  Man....  Our Heavenly Father is so good.

 

It's an amazing time to be on the earth!  The only thing holding us back from the Second Coming is the gathering of Israel...  Well.... let's get gatherin' folks!

 

Enough of my preaching for the day. haha.  I love the Gospel.  I love you all.  I love the support I get from you, and I'm really thankful for it. 

 

Onward Christian Soldiers!!! 

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

......JUST ASK!

Hello everyone!!!
Greetings from every-cloud-has-a-silver-lining-or-is-on-fire-sky Colorado!!!! another lovely week has come and gone, and I can't believe how fast time goes!!! Sister Brown left for Brazil this morning and that was way way way sad.  :(  I love her so much!  My new companion is sister Meteer, and she is a sweetheart ! I can't wait to get to know her better throughout the next six weeks.... but I can wait til she finds out that I’m completely crazy... poor thing.. haha.  She didn't know what hit her.  haha. maybe I'll let her know gradually.

Man, it has been a great week!  Last night was the Missionary Musical Fireside that I have been planning for 6 weeks, and it was flawless! I couldn't believe it.  I thought it was a dream that it went so well, and that non-members came, and that there was desserts and mingling for 30 minutes afterwards, and that the Spirit was there so strong, and that the musical numbers were all beautiful.... and that we had to open up the overflow because a lot of people actually came... I couldn't believe it... but it was such a blessing. Heavenly Father is so good to me.  And I sang a number, and that was probably the strongest I've ever sang in front of anyone,,,, I very literally felt like the Lord magnified whatever small talent I had, and let me be an instrument in His hands.  I had a cellist and pianist accompanying me that were so amazing and it was one of my favorite musical moments I've ever had yet!  Tender mercy.

I volunteer for "Just Serve" at a Plains Conservation Center... so pretty much a place that loves the Plains, and the history of it... and prairie dogs... they love them there. haha it is hilarious... I had to sign a paper to volunteer there that if guests come to visit and talk to me that I have to say things that are in line with the center's views... so I will hold my tongue on my famer's daughter opinion of prairie dogs and the waste of farm land ... what? did I say that out loud?  haha but I do like the center, and in all actuality I admire what they do, and how passionate about it they are. Go team.

So my spiritual thought for the week is the importance of asking.  In the Bible, we read countless of stories of people who were healed by the Savior, but single one of them had to ask, and to ask in faith.  Sometimes the Savior would make them ask for what they needed multiple times (but He knew the WHOLE time what they were in need of... He just wants us to have faith)  Because He says, "Go, Thy FAITH hath made thee whole."  The miracle doesn't make us whole.  Our Faith in Him makes us whole.  But we have to ASK.  Heavenly Father's plan for us is centered on the gift of agency, and so He won't heal us against our will, and won't make us clean against our will.  We have to turn to Him in Faith, and ASK.  It's amazing.  I have seen that in my life before I got on my mission, and I see it out here.  Heavenly Father WANTS TO BLESS US!  He glories in seeing us living righteously and happily... but He can't pour out as much blessings as He would if we don't ask.  So my invitation to you all this week, is to ASK. I don't know what you need to ask for, but do it in faith.

This week, I have been reading in the Book of Mormon war chapters and I love it!  I love putting on certain lenses and making them apply to me, because let's be real, every day is a war against Satan and sin.  Anyways, I read about the Stripling Warriors yesterday and LOVED it.  haha years ago in the margins of 53:20-21 I had written "the perfect man" haha.  anyways... If I want that I need to be that... so I loved in Alma 57:21 how it talks about exact obedience.  That is something I strive for as a missionary, because I need the miracles that come from it... but I make mistakes... I hate it, but I do.... So notice the verse doesn't say "they were perfectly obedient all the time"... no, it says they observed to obey every command with exactness....  So Heavenly Father knew the desires of their hearts was to be exactly obedient, but they weren't perfectly obedient all the time.... good thing....

Heavenly Father loves us, and is SO patient with us, but wants to give us the blessings that can only come when we are obedient.  I love the Atonement, and I LOVE  the Savior's forgiveness.  I love being a missionary.  I love the Gospel.  I love the Lord.  I love the Book of Mormon.  I love you all.

Onward Christian Soldiers!!!!

sister Meteer

sister brown

 From me to you, Kinzie Lou 

ps the pictures... the fire mountains... so weird. the sun was in another spot in the sky, yet the mountains were on fire or something. cray cray Colorado.picture of the tipis at the plains conservation center. picture with sister brown and the sadr family.
picture with new companion sister meteer

ITS A TWISTER!

Greetings from I-swear-every-other-day-is-a-freak-storm Colorado!!!!   I experienced my first Tornado Siren warning... So that was super exciting!  

 

First off, I just have to say I have the best friends and family!!!  I have been getting some letters and packages that just make me cry and laugh and love my life as I remember the Makinzie side of me.  It's so easy to think all day every day about the area and missionary work, but at night when I open up the letters it's nice to remember why I am the way I am... because of all of you wonderful people....  Shoutout to my mom sending me remains (obliterated by the US postal system) of a few grasshoppers... aka my arch enemies. I was so flattered and repulsed at the same time.... weird state to be in I assure you.  And also kinda funny, Chelsey sent some awesome pictures but included a handful of pink glitter which exploded everywhere... and might have even left a trail for all the lucky post people....  I love my life. :)   I kinda love to have a moment of melodrama when there isn't any mail too.... (mental image of me throwing myself on the floor, "my mom hates me"... hahaha.  totally kidding mom !!!!  hahahha......  certified drama queen. nuff said.

 

This week was so crazy busy!!!  It was wonderful! Our investigators are really progressing! And we have 2 with baptism dates! It's super exciting that they are so excited about taking this next step!!!!  I just LOVE the people here!!!!  Not as many cooky commerce city type folk which I kinda miss... but everyone has great weird quirks that I love. 

 

We were at a lesson with a family that the parents were recently baptized and now we are teachin the kids, and so we were reading the Book of Mormon together and they were mispronouncing "ye" and "yea"... and so we were all kind of snickerin and I felt bad, but read one chapter and you will realize how many times "ye" and "yea" are in there.... so imagine trying not to laugh at every single one of those.... and then someone said "yea" like "yeah" and then the brothers were saying "Donald we aren't in the hood.... YEAH" all ghetto like... and you all know how much I find ghetto fabulous humor hilarious.... so I had to let myself laugh for a minute and enjoy the moment.  But the "ye" and "yea"s aside, it was a great lesson, and one of the kids I think is ready for baptism... so I just love being a missionary!!! Seein the Gospel change people's lives, and my life... I have never felt so much joy in my life!!!!   Seeing people progress and get excited about this message is the BEST!!!!

 

My spiritual thought of the week is something that hit me after a terrible lesson we had.  One of our investigators takes pride (and I mean PRIDE) in being intellectual and intelligent.. So we didn't want to do a 50 minute discourse on Kolob, we thought we would bring it back to the basics and talk about Faith in Jesus Christ and why it is so essential.  We watched a clip and he went on to tell us that it wasn't intellectually stimulating enough for him... and so on....  But one thing I have come to love and know about the Gospel is that if at first we have faith, THEN Heavenly Father can open up to our minds the "mysteries of the kingdom"....  The Gospel makes sense and it all is beautifully interconnected.  Of course it would be because God is a God of order, and logic, and law, and knowledge.   But we are here to walk and learn by faith until we are ready to receive all that knowledge.... So life is a test right?  We hear that often.  I know when I am taking a test at college if I don't know the answer to something, I skip that question for the time being and move on to other questions in the test.  And usually, I will learn while takin the test, and become more wise and will be able to go back and answer that question.  Don't get stuck on that one question you might have.  It is GOOD to have questions, because then we are learning, but ask those questions in faith, not in doubt, and then God (the source of ALL wisdom) can someday help you find the answer.  That someday might not be right now, but like Elder Holland said last General Conference, "Hold fast to the faith you do have, and the ground you have already won."   Have faith, and trust God.  He is SO GOOD.  He can make our lives so much better than what our minds can imagine. 

 

I love you all.  I love the Lord.  I love this Gospel.  I love this work!!!! 

Please, smile, and look at the Utah mountains for me. 

Peace n blessins...

Onward Christian Soldiers!!!! 

From me to you, Kinzie Lou 

WE ARE ALL ENLISTED!

Greetings everyone from oh so liberal Colorado!!!
I have just had an amazing week here. I love my life. I will just say that Colorado has some of the craziest storms around... We got caught in storm that made me wonder where Noah's Ark was at. Running to the door to someone's house and back to the car made a drenched missionary out of me.  It was great! Until I was driving and had my wipers going triple speed and still couldn't see. No big deal, people. Thank you for your prayers for the missionaries.
I have found out that I'm living in such a strange paradox as a missionary.  I have some amazing spiritual experiences and am at the highlight of my spiritual life (so far haha), and yet I have never been around so much strange and wicked things of the world.  I'm definitely on the front lines some days.  But good will win, eventually.  And I just have to keep looking for those who are ready for the beautiful gift that is the Gospel.  Heavenly Father doesn't want to force it upon us... why force blessings and happiness upon us? That defeats the purpose. 
Sister Brown got her Visa!!! She will be leaving for Brazil on the 19th! which is crazy, most "visa-waiters" get their visa and are gone in days... but she is leaving the DAY AFTER the musical fireside we have been planning.  What a tender Mercy!!!!  He is So Good!!! and So in control!!!

Ok, brace yourselves for another musical moment people.  I LOVE MUSIC SO MUCH! there. anyways, Sister Brown's sister sent her the "Lamb of God" album from Rob Gardner.... and I have been in Heaven. Seriously, I think Heaven will have Rob Gardner/ Handel on repeat. I encourage and invite everyone to check it out. It is on Spotify, so totally free on there! But listen to it in order or it won't make sense.  It quotes scripture and narrates events from the Savior's life and is set to BEAUTIFUL music.   It just brings so much hope!!! Oh and here is an insider's scoop, the cello throughout the program is representation of Christ speaking.  My personal favorites are "Make Me Whole, Gethsemane, Gloria, Here is Hope, I Am the Resurrection, This is He... man they are all favorites. Go listen! It would be a great Sunday activity! or any day activity! I am so pumped about it.

So as missionaries we have what we call "commissary" which includes pamphlets and pass-along cards, and Book of Mormons, and DVD's that we have to give to people... well there were a few neither of us had seen and we weren't sure about handing them out for people to watch until we witnessed them for ourselves....  ok....  I don't get it.  The church has come out with AMAZING Mormon messages that are powerful and applicable... some of the DVD's we have to hand out to people are NO LIE straight from the vortex of entertainment that is the 1980's.  WHAAAAAAAA? I just don't get it.  hopefully our mission will be getting ipads soon so that we can utilize more of the amazing resources that LDS.org has to offer... til then, sweaters and huge bangs and cheesy synthesizer music it is.  haha.  kidding guys, I feel that would do more bad than good. I'm sure in it's time it was a great tool... it's just amazing how the church has evolved as far as powerful videos and clips.

My spiritual thought today is about member missionary work! (what? a missionary talking about missionary work. faints.)   This week, we had so many awesome ward members coming out with us to our teaching appointments and it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING the difference it made.  Seeing someone not weird like me in a skirt all the time, bearing testimony of how the Gospel has blessed their normal life.. it's genius!  And also, my area is so small, if we set out to knock every door, we would be done in a month.  And how easy is it to say no to someone at your door? Let's be real, especially summer sales time, we find out just how easy it is to say no to someone knocking on your door.  But as we have got the ward involved and excited about missionary work, they have worked WITH us in sharing the Gospel to their friends.  It is so great to give out referrals of who of our friends the missionaries can try to see... that's a great start.... but if we members are the ones with the missionaries every step of the way, there will be much more likeliness that our friends will open up their hearts to the Gospel.  And don't be scared everyone, (even though I know it IS scary).... when Love is the motivating factor it won't come off as offensive or pushy... and if they aren't ready, that's quite alright! Keep loving them and you can test the waters later.  WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO CONVERT EVERYONE. That's a ridiculous expectation we could have when we think about missionary work. However, WE are expected to INVITE everyone.   that's all we can do.  Lovingly invite.  So that is my challenge for all of you.  Join in the ranks!  Don't add another thing to your to do list, because I know life is busy.  Simply change your thinking, and try to have the Lord's help in finding out how you can share the Gospel and live the Gospel out loud while doing the things you already are doing.   Everyone always talks about missionary blessings that come to families who have missionaries out... my family tells me about it too.  Everyone can have those same missionary blessings.

I love you all, sorry I got on a soapbox, I'm just SO excited!  Jesus Christ loves us so much and has paid the price. For each and every one of us.  Think of it, if you had been the only person on Earth, Jesus Christ still would have gone to Gethsemane for you, so you could return to God someday.  Wow. He is so good, and I love Him so much.  I'm grateful to be out here trying INVITE others to taste that sweet goodness that FILLS us right up.

I was so blessed and got to go to the temple today.... WOW!!!! I LOVE THE TEMPLE SO MUCH! There is so much peace.!!!! What a blessing.

Please know that this missionary loves you all so much!!!!!  Thanks for all the love, and support, and prayers!!!!   I swear I have the best family and friends in the world!

Onward Christian Soldiers!!!!
From me to you, Sister Kinzie Lou