LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E

Hello Everyone!

Greetings from I'm-thankful-to-still-be-in-Tallyn's-Reach-for-thanksgiving-but-I-miss-you-all-a-lot- Colorado! 

Happy Thanksgiving week!!!!  Man, I have so many things to be thankful for!  My cup really is running over.  I couldn't even begin to say all the blessings I have received, but I'm so grateful to be living such an abundant life.  I know everything comes from my Father in Heaven and I'm so grateful! 

A funny story is that for some reason... sister Carpenter and I are substitute EVERYTHINGS.!  Primary presidency has to go to a meeting during junior primary? Ask the Sisters to teach sharing time!  Don't have enough people to help at your wedding reception?  Ask the Sisters to prepare and serve the food!  Is your early morning seminary teacher going to be gone one morning?  Ask the Sisters to step in - they are the only people in the whole ward who can't go home and take a nap... it's right back to work. Don't have a Sunday school teacher?  Ask the Sisters to take on over! Everyone is taking Russell M. Nelson's talk "Ask the Missionaries, They can help you!" talk way too seriously....  hahahaha kidding.... I love it so much!  I'm grateful for all of the experiences I'm gaining, and I'll be able to go home and just handle whatever calling is thrown at me!  I love it!  :) 

The work is going so well!  We have a new investigator, Kade! He is 11 and is sooo prepared, and so precious!  Such a good kid.  We taught him the Restoration, and as we shared the story of Joseph Smith's first vision, he was ENTHRALLED! I know he felt the Spirit testifying that it was true!  He then asked, has the true church been brought back then?  Can people attend it?  Lucky for you, Kade, yes.... and it is our job to tell you all about it!!!   He struggles a little bit with reading (especially scriptures cuz it's a whole other language...)  but his friend told us a few days after our appointment that he had already read 2 chapters from the Book of Mormon.  WOW!  He loves it!  I can't believe it! 

Thank you to all who took the time to email me this week..... I just cried and cried.  I have been feeling a little blue due to the holidays, and feeling so isolated from everyone (no letters besides from my mom in over 20 days)  and just feeling forgotten.... when lo and behold, I get on my email this morning and got 5 or 6 emails I wasn't expecting at all.  Everyone told me they loved me and had been thinking about me this week.... that was SUCH a tender mercy.  Heavenly Father, even though He has so many bigger fish to fry, took the time to prompt my friends to send me a little email.  I feel so loved, THANK YOU!  I truly have the best family and friends in the world! 

That leads me to my spiritual thought.  I wanted to speak about compassion... I was reading in the New Testament... and it is ALWAYS talking about how the Savior was going about doing something else, but then He sees the people who need His love and so He stops and has compassion on them and serves them.  It's incredible.  He never is too busy to stop and help the one.  I have seen that just today in having my pitiful prayer answered.  But love really is spelled T.I.M.E.  I know that if we will pray for the Lord to help us find time to show compassion or love on one who needs Him, He will make a way.  I have seen that again and again that if I pray for the Lord to make a way for me to be more obedient, or to do what He needs me to do, HE ALWAYS MAKES A WAY.  If He can lead His children through the red sea on dry ground, I know that He can lead you to someone who needs a little pick-me-up.  That's my invitation to you!  I know our Savior loves us sooo much, and ever is ready to have compassion on us. 

 

I'll be missing you all, but know that I'm so happy!  I love being a missionary, and I love being an instrument in the Lord's hands!  I also know we don't have to have a black name tag to do that, all of us can be.  I love you!!!!!

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

ps here is a pic of me and Sebastian!!  he is wearing my coat.... little buddy.

and also here is me and sister carpenter spending all last p day at a car dealership waiting for our car to be serviced.... "AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT!" hahaha. yup, still me.. loves!

ANOTHER WEEK!

Hello Everyone!

Greetings from people-are-starting-to-put-up-their-Christmas-lights-and-I-want-to-cry Colorado! 

It has been a week... good... but kinda a blur... kinda hard... but good.  haha. 

Things are great with Sister Carpenter... she may be getting sick of me, but I'll never get sick of her! We still are having the time of our lives.  She printed out a TERRIBLE picture of me that in behalf of Chelsey I lovingly entitled "the Schemer".... it was nast.  And she printed it and hides it all around the apartment... one day it was staring at me as I hopped into the shower... I died! haha...  One time on my cereal box... one time in my scripture case... it is so funny... we have to laugh and love every day !

The work is going well, and one of our investigators wasn't able to meet with us last week, but SURPRISE... shows up to church with her neighbor in the ward... This ward is so awesome! I love the people here! We are really trying to work hard and work smart, by helping the members to be good missionaries too.  So all of you reading this... can I just say.... M. Russell Ballard has invited every member to pray about one person they can introduce to the missionaries by Christmas time.  We just have to give em the choice... it's all about agency people... by not ever inviting them to learn more, we take away their agency. And don't ya think the best Christmas present you could give to them and the Savior, is an opportunity for them to feel the Savior's love more in their life?  That's all I'll say about that.

I love teaching our recent converts about the next steps they can take.... steps toward the temple! I get to go to the temple this week, and I just love the peace we feel in the Lord's house!  I love being a missionary! I love seeing me change, and I LOVE seeing these people change as I invite them to come to Christ. 

Shout out to mama Sheri for being so thoughtful and sending me letters and packages. She is the best.  Sometimes I feel like my life at home is a dream, and I feel pretty isolated and lonely at times.... So I'm grateful for a good mom and great friends that help me to feel loved.  Thank you! 

I love the Gospel! It is true!  I love the Savior!  He is so patient.  We as impatient and imperfect people can't understand the kind of patience that He has, but it is there. He loves us and is ever ready for us to turn to Him. It's never too late.   I love Him.

I love you all, and miss you!  Have a great week.... til we read again I suppose. 

Onward Christian Soldiers! 

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

PS here is a little snap shot of me at zone conference with my zone! and also a shot of me and Sis Burnett and Sis Carps and Sister Bleak all of us have been companions with each other except Sis Bleak and I... and Sister Openshaw joined for kicks and giggles... that didn't make sense... sorry... loves.

Life's a Test....But good thing we take it in PENCIL!

Hello Everyone!!! Greetings from I'm-staying-in-Aurora-and-I-couldn't-be-happier Colorado!That's right, Sister Carpenter and I are staying here in the Tallyn's Reach ward for another 5 weeks and we are sooo excited!!!!  Funny moment that happened this week... We are teaching some members the lessons and they invite non member friends to come, but after one lesson we were gathering our things to go.  I gave the mom and hug thanks and then stuck out my hand to shake their 13 year old sons hand cuz he was right there.... he said opening his arms wide "bring it in sister Hunter!" and stepped towards me... I just backed away slowly and he kept stepping forward and then his dad a RM said Cole, you can't hug sister missionaries! he stopped in his tracks and was SOO bright red!!! I felt sooo bad!  I felt really awkward too so I tried to recover with an awkward bust slash handshake I didn't know what I was doing thing....  so awkward.... It has been a great week for the work!!! On Sunday at church I was sooo happy!  I looked around and we had an investigator there who loved it, 3 less active sisters that we love were there, and our recent converts were there as well!  Heavenly Father is just sooo good to us!  One Less active sister we work with was the one introducing our investigator to all the relief society sisters... it was amazing!!!  And I know full well that that was definitely the Lord's hand at work,,,, nothing on our part! I wonder when I go home if I will ever be this excited to see people at church... seriously... rush of the week / or biggest let down of the week.... sacrament meeting start time is game time as a missionary. My spiritual thought this week is from President Uchtdorf's talk in the Priesthood Session of General Conference.  "You can do it now!"  I love how hopeful he is, and truly that is the Savior's way.... He said in effect, that our destiny is not determined by how many times we stumble, rather by how many times we get back up.   He taught the difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow... Godly sorrow is recognizing what we have done has moved us away from the Lord, and so it moves us to want to turn back to Him.  True repentance is not torment, but it is the promise of being able to turn back to God, no matter what.  I told a recent convert this morning that life is a test.  Our Heavenly Father has given us the answer key (the Gospel and the commandments) but still He knows we won't score 100% on our own.  I'm grateful to our Father that we don't have to take the test in pen.  We take it in pencil, and our Savior and His Atonement is the perfect eraser.  Wouldn't it be silly in this little analogy to make a mistake and then just give up?  Use that eraser, and try again... it's quite simple.  Our Savior loves us and gave His life so He could be that eraser in our lives.  I love Him. 

 I love you all and I know I will miss you during the holidays, but, I'm grateful to be out here sharing the good news.  Here are some pics of my zone, and also sis carps and I finding out we can stay together. wee! Onward Christian Soldiers!From me to you, Kinzie Lou

Pure Love OF Christ!

Hello Everyone!!! 

Greetings from why-do-I-keep-going-outside-without-my-coat-I-must-be-in-denial-that-its-winter Colorado! 

Wow,,, what a week it has been!!  We've had a week that is quite common for us mission folk to have, it's called.... everyone and their dog wanted to cancel their appointments with us... no big deal... :)  But we still were able to work hard and accomplish some good!  :) 

Some funny happenings... first... I love this ward, and I'm close with a lot of the families. There is one family that is so sweet, but the youngest child... let's just say his 7 dwarf is Grumpy. (his mom blames it on the curly hair)  Anyways I did a loving little head scratch as he walked by and he turned and with all sorts of rage, full out HISSED at me.  We died laughing!! soooo funny! 

On Halloween we had to go in by 6 o’clock so it was a fun little relaxing night for us!!!  My mom suggested that I should've dressed up as my favorite Book of Mormon character... but I don't know how that would've flown... me as Ammon with an bag full of fake arms or something... not sure how I feel about it... yes I do... not good.

My spiritual thought is on Charity.  I was reading Moroni 7 again, and I had a new insight.  Charity is the "pure love of Christ"... I have always thought of the pure love that Christ has for us that we should show to others.  While I still think that is accurate, I had the thought that Charity is the pure love OF Christ.  When we truly love our Savior it makes us want to treat others better.  It makes us want to feast on our scriptures.  It makes us want to use the Atonement every day, because we love him so completely and are so grateful for His sacrifice for us. 

I love my Savior.  I have felt His strength and His peace more than I feel I deserve throughout my life.  I love how forgiving He is.  He is Hope, He is Everything!  I'm so grateful for Him, and for His Atonement.  I have seen it change me, and I get to see it change others every day. 

My invitation is to think about how much you love the Savior.  Has that changed the way you live your life?  Elder Holland said, "the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty." 

I love being a missionary!!  I'm so happy, even though I miss you all a lot! 

Spread your love of the Savior to someone who needs it... which is just about everyone. The Master said, "Do ye love me? ... Feed my sheep."

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

pic... Halloween time... sporting earrings my mama made special... she is so festive!

TRICK OR TREAT... no candy ....... JUST THE GOSPEL!

Hello Everyone!

Greetings from why-does-everyone-love-having-creepy-Halloween-decorations- Colorado!

What a week it has been!!!

Sister Carpenter and I have been working soo hard, and loving every day we have together! 

We volunteered at the Southland's mall handing out Halloween candy and I was reminiscing about all my favorite Halloweens growing up... my favorite was when it was super foggy and we were waiting for the bus at the bus stop... usually we could see the bus a few blocks away... but this special Halloween morning, the bus came out of the fog suddenly like a ghost bus! wow!!!  and then the power was out at school so we got to go home... BEST HALLOWEEN EVER!

When we were at service, we heard the 90's song "it's electric" come on.... if you ever feel down, I will quote the inspiring tune.... It's electric! Boogie Woogie Woogie...

Last week we had a miracle happen!  A woman and her daughter that Sister Meteer and I had met doing the "prayer approach" was soooo friendly to us when we saw her again, so sis carps and I went back to set up a teaching appointment.  That first lesson was INCREDIBLE!  That little 9 year old girl Emmy was soooo prepared!  They were asking questions that we can't wait to answer with the Gospel, and they didn't want us to leave that night they had such a good experience!  Updates to follow!

I love these people here so much, and I adore the ward... I hope I can stay til Christmas but who knows!! :/ 

Bro and mama Jenkins were soooooo sweet and they surprised us yesterday with a gift. and wood encarved plan of Salvation diagram!!!! They know personally the guy who designs and makes them, and they aren't even on shelves yet.... It even has my name engraved on the back... I know it will be a family heirloom, and I can't wait to teach my kids using it.... just a way cool moment... I love the Jenkins! They are sooo good to me!!

 

My Spiritual thought is about Charity.   In Moroni 7:48 it tells us that Charity is the pure love of Christ and that we should "pray with all the energy of heart, that ye may be FILLED with this love."  I was thinking about the times in my life, and out here as I have asked the Lord to let me love them and see them like He does, and He Always lets me! It's amazing!!!!   In the New Testament, the Savior told us that the first great commandment in the law is to..." Love the Lord with all our heart, mind, might, and strength.  And the second is like unto it.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."  Why didn't He just say... and love thy neighbor?  .... hmm....?   So my thought is that sometimes it is hard for us to truly love ourselves and see ourselves the way the Savior does.  Every single person on the Earth, every single one of YOU He knelt in agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane for.  He LOVES us with His pure love..  as we pray for Charity with all energy of heart, any hole we may have can be filled!  We can be filled with His love He has for others, and we can be filled with the Love He has for us.  That is my invitation to you! 

I love you all!  I miss you... I can't believe that come November I will have just a year left!  what?  I know....  I am truly happy.  I love this work, and I love being a missionary! 

ps I know this is soo petty... but with Christmas time coming up I will just say, that I am not happy with how many chins I have these days... therefore... if you feel the need to send a goody package come Christmas (i'm not expecting anything... I'm the worst gifter of them all)  I would much love dried fruit over candy....  or you could send me just wrappers as a joke.  anyways.... just to throw that out there...

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

ps how many times do I say "soooooo" ??  my apologies.