And That's the Gospel Truth!

Hello Everyone,

Greetings from I'm-so-sad-that-the-leaves-are-starting-to-fall Colorado!!! 

That's right... it is sooooo beautiful here, but soon enough it will be not as beautiful wintertime....

Man oh man,,,, what a week!  This transfer is going by WAY too fast!!! Sis Carps... she's a gem.  I have gained such a testimony of planning and setting goals. She has taught me so much, and we see miracles as we work our hardest every day to achieve our goals! 

AUNIKA GOT BAPTIZED! My sweet little 11 year old Aunika who was my first investigator I started teaching in this area!  She got baptized yesterday, and we've had to overcome a lot of family dynamics to get her to this point.... but she was sooo excited!  She went down into the font and looked like a sweet little angel, and when she came up out of the water - I have never seen anyone smile that big!  She was GLOWING!  wow!  Seeing her grow these past few months has been incredible.  We have taught her twice a week for a while now, and we went through all the lessons twice, so that she would REALLY understand, and hearing how her sweet prayers changed, and now I know that she is coming to know the Lord and that she loves Him! It's incredible.!  I love being a missionary!!! (are you all sick of me sayin that yet??? too bad,,, we still have a years worth of emails to go.... haha) 

I feel so strongly that Sister Carpenter and I are together in this area for many reasons and it has been incredible to witness miracles everyday!!!  This really is the Lord's work!

I just want to bear my testimony that the Atonement is real.  If it weren't I wouldn't be witnessing so many people (including myself)  changing.   That is what the Gospel is all about - using the Atonement to change into and become the people our Heavenly Father wants us to be.  People that will want to live in His presence forever.  It's never too late for the Atonement.  The Atonement is our Hope!  Hope that we can be made strong enough to get through and find joy in this life; and Hope that we can live in a state of NEVER-ENDING HAPPINESS. 

I love the Gospel, it is true and complete and blesses us more than anything else.  We have it because Joseph Smith "saw a pillar of light..."   How great it is to know we have a prophet on the Earth today, who just spoke to us and filled me with so much HOPE!  I love the Lord, and I love His work.

My invitation to you is think about your testimonies... go on, take a moment....  who would benefit from hearing a little part of that?  I invite you all to pray have an experience where you can share something you believe with someone! 

I love you all and miss miss miss you!  I still am finding moments that make these 18 months away from you all worth it.... I'm soo happy, and I'm grateful for your thoughts, prayers, and support!!!  (and letters... I love those too... hehehe)  

ps... Oh here's a pic of me and sis carpenter at a service 5k race we helped with.... we were so cold we just about died....  moment of melodrama for the day - check.

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

"Miracle Whip"

Hello Everyone!!! 

Greetings from the-leaves-are-changing-and-I-love-fall-so-much-it's-beautiful-boo-winter- Colorado!!! 

I have seen absolute miracles this week!!  Hence, the title of this is "miracle whip".... also because Sister Carpenter asked me what my guilty pleasure food is... and I'm not ashamed of anything except Miracle whip sandwiches I would have when I was little.  That's right...  bread and miracle whip. hahaha... So that's been our catch phrase all week!!  She is so funny.  And I am just crazy.... what a good match!  :) 

Tucker was baptized on Saturday and it was so special!!! I have loved teaching him!!!  He soaked it all right up, like a sponge!!  He reminds me of my great friend Chris... haha.  But the smile that was on Tucker's face after He was confirmed was priceless. He was BEAMING.  Another one of those "this is all worth it" moments.  I have those every day!  So truly, this is the most incredible things I have ever done in my life!!!  I will forever be grateful that the Lord inspired President Monson to change the age, making it possible for me to come right now.  So blessed! 

Funny stories that happened...  well we were pulling up across the street to our dinner appointment and there was a little boy (9-ish)  playing in the front yard.  As we parked our car he looked at us with shock.  20 seconds later that look transformed to pure terror!  We were getting out of the car and he starting pounding on the car in his driveway (his friend was inside) saying "let me in, let me in!"   We couldn't stop laughing... I had no idea I looked like such a kidnapping terror!  wow.... hahaha. 

Another terrible story... most of you know I'm afraid of birds.... especially chickens. (which is ironic that my nickname growing up was evil chicken.. anyways....)  Well we were doing service at the Plains Conservation center and they have like 20 chickens... we were sweeping out the buildings... we were walking from one to the other and the chickens all stopped and looked at us.  they started creeping towards us, making me VERY uncomfortable... they accelerated in pace and then the squealing and running ensued!  They chased us into a building we had already swept and then just hung out outside the door waiting for us to come out.  We were held hostage in the building for 5 minutes before they went about their business.... It was absolutely terrifying... I'll tell you that chickens look like mini tyrannosaurus rexes with feathers....  and they run like them too!  so scary! I don't know why animals love to attack me.... 

Like I said earlier, this has been a week of miracles and I want to share one that happened last night.  It was with a young part member family that I met and had tried to teach since I was with Sister Brown. They have been so busy and not able to meet with us. Out of the blue last week they called us and Mischa (the investigator) asked when church was and the address etc. WHAT???  They came! One of the speakers spoke on Hope through Jesus Christ and Mischa was so touched!! It was an answer to her prayers! When we sat down to teach her last night, she told us right off the bat, that being at church yesterday was the most peaceful feeling she has ever felt in her whole life! She started to cry as we taught the Restoration and especially the First Vision. She said that she previously had fears about joining because of her family was staunch in their religion, but she said she didn't care anymore. She knows that this is right for her and she is excited to be baptized! WOW!!!! Heavenly Father FILLED our hearts with His love for her, and it is just an honor to be an instrument in His hands. Sister Carpenter related to Mischa SOO well and I know without a doubt that the timing of us finally being able to teach her when Sister Carpenter was here was by divine design. Mischa needs Sister Carpenter and I'm just grateful to be a witness of that miracle of Heavenly Father crossing their paths. 

I have that reaffirmed to me again and again... everything happens for a reason.   Heavenly Father has this wonderful and great plan... and amazingly He allows us agency and free choice, but yet everyday little miracles happen that I know that the Lord is very involved in our lives.  He loves us so much and knows what we need and WHO we need.  So think about the people in your life.  Has Heavenly Father crossed your paths with someone for a reason?  My invitation to you is to pray to know if there is someone that the Lord has placed in your life that you can bless and help them to feel His love for them.  Missionary work is INVITING PEOPLE TO COME TO CHRIST.  If that is by inviting them to church, or to meet with missionaries, or if that simply is telling them that they have a Heavenly Father that loves them that they can pray to.   May we all pray more earnestly for those sweet experiences.  I know the Lord has placed us here on this earth at THIS time for a reason... He knew that we could help those around us make it home.   So let's do just that. 

I love you all so much and I miss you!  I can't believe I've already been out 5 months!  This time has flown by, and in one month I will have a little under a year left.  wow!  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Heavenly Father let's me feel a taste of His love for His children and it is amazing!  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! I LOVE THE GOSPEL! I LOVE THE SAVIOR! I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON!  This church is true.!  I know it with my WHOLE heart! 

 

Peace n blessins... peace n blessins.... 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

pictures: 

@ Tuckers baptism (that's his girlfriend too) 

 My MTC Sistas!!!!  We had a sister's conference!!  LOVE THEM!

We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet!

Hello Everyone!!! 

Greetings from Could-I-be-any-happier?-I-Submit-That-I-Could-Not!- Colorado!!!

Seriously, life with Sister Carpenter has been amazing!!!!  She is an incredible missionary, helping me to think outside of the box!!!  We just laugh all day, 'ere day!  haha.  We are trying to ever find JOY in the Lord's service and we find it in the little things every day! 

Tim was baptized on Saturday!!!  So happy!!!!!   Sister Mack with tears in her eyes came up to me and hugged me.  She said "12 months and counting"....  (12 months til they can be sealed in the temple together)   That moment right there is why I do what I do.  That is what this is all about.  I love you all and miss you so much, but yet that moment makes this all worth it.  I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!! 

Can I just say that General Conference was AMAZING!!! SERIOUSLY!!!  After every talk I did a victory fist pump because as was quoted in conference, "Righteousness is more powerful than wickedness" and that was a lot of truth and hope being shared with the world!  Winning Team!!!! 

I love that they were bold, but loving and hope-filled, but strong and resolute.  That is the Lord's way!  His ways don't change to appease man, but yet He ever stands beckoning for us to repent and return to His loving arms.  I especially loved President Uchtdorf's talk (I think of him as Deiter F. HOPEdorf these days).  "Come. Join With Us."  We are never too late, or too far gone when it comes to the Atonement!

I also really loved Elder Neilsen's talk about missionary work and exclamation points!  I always say that I could put down my skill for using exclamation points on my resume so I was LOVING IT! He was like a sports announcer (I'm pretty sure he really IS one)  and was sooo excited about missionary work! Well So AM I!  I'll quote President Monson "NOW is the time for members and missionaries to come together, work together, and labor in the Lord's vineyard to bring souls to Him."  .... That's what is on the prophet's mind.  NOW is the time!  LOVE IT!!! 

Some take aways that I heard reiterated multiple times that I loved were as follows:

·        Be not afraid, only believe.

·        The Lord's ways are not our ways. (make them our ways.)

·        Take His Yoke upon you, for His burden is light.

·        To spiritually ENDURE we have to be in spiritual shape.  Use the Gospel!

·        MISSIONARY WORK IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW!

·        Men and women are different, but both important.  We just need to understand our roles in the plan of salvation.

·        What was that fly trying during the austrailian seventy's talk?

·        I love music.  Mo tab nailed it again! Oh Divine Redeemer!! Stunning.

·        The prophet and apostles have trials too,,, they overcome them just like we do, through the Atonement. They are so hopeful, and cheerful.

·        The world is wicked... but we are FREE to choose for ourselves life or death.

I love you all! I love the Gospel! I love my Savior, and I know that He is leading this church through a Prophet and Apostles!!!   I love this work!  There is so much joy to be felt, even amidst craziness.... are we looking up? 

Here are a few pics for ya!

- True Love is Sister Carpenter peeling my oranges at lunch because she knows I hate peeling them myself.             

   

-  Tim Mack's Baptism!!!!  Such a happy day!

 I love you all!!!!! 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From Me to you, Kinzie Lou

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

Hello Everyone!!

Greetings from I'm-walkin-on-sunshine Colorado....

That's right!  It's a beautiful crisp fall day here and I'm loving life.

Transfer day:  I'm staying in Aurora (man I love this ward, and love these people!)  and I'm now companions with THE sister Carpenter!  She was in my MTC district so a "batch mate"  like a batch of cookies you could say.   I always just laugh my head off when I'm with her, and you all know how much I love to laugh.  I can't keep any laughter inside my head.... so I'm the girl always giggling under her breath... or more like laughing out loud... ok I'll be real.

And Sister Meteer got transferred to the neighboring ward, so I still will see her at district meetings and p days!  the best of both worlds... so we said goodbye today... but more like "check ya later" Life is Good. 

But the post office is not.... scam time...   So I had to mail a package home for sister brown (I know it has been 6 weeks guys... it's been crazy alright? Anyways... had to buy a box... didn't have tape... had to buy tape for 6 DOLLARS!  I KID YOU NOT.... WHAT A SCAM.... then had to pay for shipping.... missionary budget is tight so I was dying. hahah....  (she had left me with some money to send it home so no worries... just that dang tape... killed me!) this is coming from the girl who took the ACT math portion by hand because I didn't want to pay 12 dollars for a cheapo calculator in a vending machine... coulda saved thousands of dollars in a full ride scholarship that I could've got.... whatevs... not bitter at all.... hahah...  my cheapskate-ness / binge shopping sprees are such a contradiction... it's hard being me sometimes... :) 

So some miracles that happened this week...  We got a headquarters referral and we were so excited.  You get it and it's like a mission.. you have to visit within the next 24 hours... like james bond status... but we get there and they welcomed us right in... weird... but he signed to us that he was deaf.  I get looking around the house and there are all sorts of pictures and statues of joseph smith, and the Savior... getting even weirder... oh ok.. they are members and they didn't know the name of the referral... so it was a totally wrong address... but actually it was THE RIGHT one... She is also deaf, but is battling cancer.  We were able to pass notes back and forth to her and her husband and we shared a spiritual thought through having them read the hymn #227 "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today"  I had them read the 3rd verse... "... and Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing...."   Isn't that so true...  the songs we cannot sing He still hears.

 My Spiritual thought comes from Jeffrey R. Holland's talk "Laborers in the Vineyard"... I love it... The quote I love says "Surely the thing God loves about being God is the thrill of being merciful.  Especially when they don't feel that they deserve it." 

I have seen that with me being paired with Sister Carpenter.  I wasn't as good of a companion as I should've been to sweet Sister Meteer, and so I don't feel I deserve to be blessed to serve with one of my greatest friends out here... but God loves to be merciful.  He is SO good to us.  Sister Meteer will still be way close to me so that is also such a tender mercy.   

The past transfer was hard and I had to learn a lot about HOPE.  I felt at times very distanced from Heavenly Father, and I didn't feel the Spirit guiding me every step of the way... but now I see that that was Heavenly Father REALLY loving me.. by letting me realize how much I NEED Him and the Spirit.  I TRULY desire to have the Spirit in my life, all day.  And I kinda had to wrestle myself before the Lord again... just like Enos...   As I always say and am still trying to tell myself... "There is no growth in the comfort zone.  And it's not very comfortable in the growth zone."  Heavenly Father loved me enough to let me have a growing period, and trusted me enough to know that even when it was hard, I would try to stay faithful to Him.  Sometimes I don't know why I deserve the love He has shown me.  He is sooooo good. 

My invitation to all of you is to take a moment of reflection.  Think back on a period that was a growing period for you... in hindsight try to see how the Lord's hand was there, leading you along.  Always in the Book of Mormon, it councils us to Remember the captivity of our Fathers and how the Lord delivered them... so remember your own captivity at some point, and reflect on how the Lord delivered you. 

I love you all sooo much.  I miss you, but I LOVE THIS WORK!  I love being a missionary!!!  I can't believe that it's been 4 1/2 months... phew!!!  hahah...

If you want to know how many days I have left, ask my mom... she has an app for that. ;) 

Onward Christian Soldiers!!!

From Me to you, Kinzie Lou

ps pic of a fitting beautiful sunset the

last night of mine and sister meteers

companionship...

and me and sister carpenter... companions!!! 

eek. isn't she too cute.?