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
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