Walking in the Light

Hello Everyone!!! 

Greetings from one-day-it-feels-like-summer-that-night-it-snows-Colorado!!! As they always say, "If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes" haha you clever Coloradans, you.... haha... 

What a week people!!!  I feel like I'm just a completely different person sitting here emailing you all!! Sorry I was a debbie downer...  But I learned sooo much this week and I gained a lot of perspective.. and I changed my attitude so that's really a better place to be.  Rome wasn't built in a day, so why would the Lord's kingdom be that way for me?  So I'm just going to do my best every day, and know that the Lord is pleased.  He won't expect impossible things out of me, great things - yes.  Stretching things - absolutely.  But not impossible... So I'm ready to rely on Him and thrust in that sickle.
 

Last week, right before getting off email I was prompted to read Josh's weekly email (sometimes I don't get time to) and he said in there "True character is accomplishing a challenging goal long after the initial enthusiasm has worn off".... WOW!   So yeah.... I'm ready to show that character on those hard days! 

The work is going pretty well... Claudia agreed to be baptized! Now I just really want to make sure she knows for herself that the Book of Mormon is true... I'm not here to see baptisms, I'm here to see conversion.  True conversion to the gospel, and a firm knowing that the Book of Mormon is true will ensure that she can endure to the end!  Woo hoo!!! 

My spiritual thought this week is the lesson I've learned about repentance.. Don't tune out people.. because we always think of negative or guilty feelings when we think of repentance.  Yes, we have to recognize a need to change and feel godly sorrow.. but that leads us to the point of repentance. Repent means "to turn"... so it is that great moment when we pray and say "ok... Christ, I'm ready for you to take this from me... I'm ready for you to root it out of me... I'm sorry..."  and INSTANTLY we will feel His love.  INSTANTLY we will feel that forgiveness come.  Repentance is simply letting it go.  And that weight and burden and frustration is gone, and what is replaced? Joy, happiness, understanding, peace, love and every other good thing!!  So when Christ tells us to repent, He is really saying "I love you.  My arms are open. Are you ready for me to take this pain from you?  Are you ready to let go?"  man.... repentance is sweet!! I want to invite you all to repent!  Seriously... I am... because I know that it is sooo good.  It is sooo happy.... I feel like I'm walking on air because I truly let it go.  And so can you.  Just turn to Him.  

I love you all!!!!  I miss you!! I'm soooo grateful for these incredible lessons I'm learning and for the relationship I'm building with Christ.  You simply cannot find a better Friend.  

Onward Christian Soldiers! 

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

 Pix :  exchanges with sis johnson.. my literal mission sister... (we were both trained by sis burnett)  I love her soo much! she taught me all this good stuff!!!

All we need is Love, Right?

Hello Everyone! 
Greetings from why-are-there-5-billion-geese-flying-around-all-the-time-Colorado!  
Another week come and gone... I can't believe how fast time has gone... guess what! HAPPY 9 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO ME! Sis Openshaw and I both hit our halfway mark this week and so we celebrated! With more desserts... oh goody... just what I need... not. haha. 

It's been a week!  Happy Valentine's day!  Probably the worst day for a heart locked missionary. haha.  Everyone all in love and stuff and I'm like... hey... so... the Gospel? haha.  But shout out to Mckenna Drew sending me a cat care package from her mission in Canada, she gets me.  :) 

So I'm just trying to plug along with the work... sometimes it's hard to see results. But just like when you are trying to push a car that won't start (obviously speaking from experience) you have to push and then let the car rock back towards ya... so some weeks here I feel the car is rocking back and it's frustrating for my little perfectionist self, but I know this week I'll keep pushing and hopefully see some good things happen this transfer.  

My spiritual thought comes from Enos.  I love that book in the Book of Mormon.  He tells it how it is.  Words he uses in the chapter are: wrestle, struggle, labor, pray unceasingly, and diligently seek. I feel like I've had those "Enos Experiences" and it may be time for another.  I need to up my faith and rely on the Lord because I know I can't do this by myself.  Missions are hard. Life is hard. There come times when we see that we have so much to do and don't even know where to begin! (Haden and cleaning his bathroom haha –kiddin Haden)  but I know that putting our trust in the Lord and REALLY praying with our whole souls can help us have the strength and the knowledge to accomplish the things that He wants us to.  

So if any of you are feeling overwhelmed and tired and exhausted and just at about your wits end with anything, I'm right there with you.  My invitation for all of us is to REALLY pray this week and have an "Enos Experience" is which the Lord can say to us "Go to, thy faith hath made thee whole"... 

I love my Savior.  I know He does make me whole and I don't want to think of the mess I would be without Him in my life. I love being a missionary, even when I don't like it.  I love the Gospel and I'm grateful that I can change and become better!  

I love you all and miss you so much... hey... we are halfway done folks!  See ya in no time!  But til then I'm excited to thrust in the sickle with ALL my might. :) 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

pics: happy 9 month b day... 

thanks for the v day present mom... choco covered strawberries! It was like I was at home with you!

Who is God?

Hello everyone!! 
Greetings from it-is-so-cold-and-frosty-that-all-the-trees-look-like-Albert-Einstein-hair-trees-Colorado! 

Another week has FLOWN by!  Sister Openshaw (Sis O from now on for laziness) saw many miracles and disappointments. The good and the bad, overwhelming sweet... and bitter.  So its good. 

First miracle... well... I don't know the area very well... and I was nervous about me being here still and trying to carry on.  First day out working, we were in an area and the Spirit prompted me to try to go see Desiree. She let us right in and we talked with her. She has had serious health issues and had gotten a Priesthood blessing from our ward a few weeks ago. The Spirit led us in the message we shared and she asked US if she could come to church with us. MIRACLE!! All day I couldn't believe that that had happened.  

Disappointment.. well... WHY IS IT SO HARD GETTING PEOPLE TO COME TO CHURCH! That's all... so I'll be praying and working and trying to get the members involved, cuz let's be real. Why would you go to a party if you didn't know anyone there? It would just be waaaaay awkward.. and no one likes awkward. Except Chelsey Vallace. ;) 

So I'm really trying to get the ward as PUMPED about missionary work as I am... Cuz it ROCKS!!! There is so much joy and love when we take someone figuratively by the hand and introduce them to Jesus Christ.  I love it! 

My Spiritual thought is simple.  It is something I take for granted because since I can remember I've been singing "I am a child of God"... but not everyone knows who God is, and who we are... 

So here are some things we learned about God because of the Restoration of the Gospel, and Joseph Smith's vision:

1 - God has a perfect and glorious body of flesh and bone.

2 - Jesus Christ is His Son. They are separate beings but one in purpose.

3 - He speaks to us today, and has spoken with prophets face to face... hence... it's good to listen to and follow the prophets.

4 - He answers our prayers, and cares about the little things.

5 - He is the same yesterday, today, and forever... why would He change?

6 - He cares about families.  We are His children, we are all a family, and He wants us to have our own eternal families.  He has restored the Priesthood power and permission to seal families together. Wow!

Things I've personally learned out here about God.  He is there. He loves me and knows me perfectly. He is soo patient with me. He is quick to forgive me.  He lets me struggle, cuz He knows what is best for me. He cares about all His children and allows me to answer others prayers. He is logic.  He is truth and light and peace.  He is MY Father.  Above all else, He is our Father.  

I know this is true through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I know this Gospel is true. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior.  I love being a missionary and being able to tell people everyday just who they are. 

My invitation to you is pray to know for yourselves who God is.  Is He there? Does He care about you?  Go ahead... ask... 

I love you and miss you all.  Keep up the good work, and talk to people! Keep those missionaries busy and happy! ;) 

Love you!!

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

pic... my investigator Shanaz and her dad wally made us Kurdish food from Iraq!  SOOOO GOOD!!! IT WAS A FEAST! I looooove diversity. 

NEED I SAY MORE???

Hello Everyone!!!

Greetings from everyone-is-mourning-the-loss-of-their-pride-because-of-the-superbowl-Colorado.  SOOOOO Glad the season is over... hahaha... I know... I'm annoying.. don't care.

What a week... I've been sick... and i hate not being able to sing.... but I still do.. and sound awful! Me and Sis Mak sing hymns at almost every lesson to invite the Spirit... haha.  I really have been reflecting on the progress of the area, and of myself... I know I have a long way to go, and so I'm grateful for the changes I can make this transfer... and as far as the work goes... wishy washy investigators...ain't nobody got time fo dat.  I love them, but I'm here to teach people who are ready to accept and act on the most important message they will ever hear in their life... that God speaks today, we have a prophet, and the priesthood authority has been restored so we can be baptized, be cleansed from sin, sealed with our families forever, and be able to return to live with God some day.  That's it.  If they aren't wanting those blessings... it's sad... but I can't force anyone... that's not Heavenly Father's way.  But I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! I love sharing this message, I love seeing it changed others, and myself. It's true.  It's simply true.

Me and Sis Openshaw

Transfer day::::: day of tears.. always... Sis Makasini left me... boo hoo... I love her soo much! we couldn't be more different, or be any more united. We had a lot of harmony and I loved it!  BUT my new companion is Sister Openshaw! We were "batchmates" and roommates in the MTC! WHHHAAAAA????  Yeah... I know... I've been soooo blessed with awesome companions! I already know her and love her soo much!

My Spiritual thought for the week is about what we need to know.  There is so much truth and knowledge that has been restored.  It is truth.  It is worldwide. It is universal.  I was singing Tongan hymns last night and I couldn't understand anything... but I was singing and loving the sweet Spirit that was there.  but a word stuck out to me and I asked sister mak if it meant Gethsemane and she said yes.  What else did I need to know about the hymn? Nothing.  I knew it was talking about Jesus Christ and what He did for us in Gethsemane... That's really what we need to know.  Life is hard and there are things that we don't understand, but cling to that universal truth.  Jesus Christ saved us in Gethsemane.  Saved us from sin, saved us from misery and pain, saved us FOR eternal life and happiness and joy and peace.  And He always invites: Come.  Follow me. 

Me and Sis Mak and our sweet investigator Shanaz!
 I LOVE HER!

My invitation to you all this week is to feel the Spirit more through music that makes us think of Jesus Christ... music is SOOO powerful! Either for good or bad.

I love my Savior, I love this Gospel, that tells us how we use the Savior's Atonement.  I know this Gospel is true, I know it because I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I love you all, and miss you!!!! 

Love you!!!!

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

Being Led Along...

Hello Everyone! 

Greetings from I-got-to-eat-mountain-lion-for-dinner-and-other-weird-tongan-dishes-Colorado!  

That's right, folks... I'm in Denver... but sometimes in the Polynesian homes, dinner is a whole other world! (almost said whole 'nother world like I would if I was talking... embarrassing.)  

Just another week in Green Valley!   I can't believe this is my last week of this transfer. Time has flown by!!! (Sister Makasini is like counting down the days til she doesn't have to put up with me... ;)   haha...)  

For some reason, not a lot of things that we planned worked out for us... like almost all of our investigator lessons fell through!  Y U NO SEE US!  haha.  But we were able to see miracles as we followed the Spirit leading us where to go.  I randomly thought of trying to go see Gabriel and Larissa (recent converts who haven't been coming to church... kinda fell off the face of the earth.)  So we headed over there... and WRONG ADDRESS.. whaa??? so we are walking to our car and someone says "hey are you sister missionaries?"  it was gabriel, across the street just walking out of his house!!! what??? We found him!!!  And had we gotten there 10 seconds earlier or later we would've missed him... He said that he had been confused at what to do and had prayed... 12 hours later... surprise ambush from the sisters.  Heavenly Father never gives up on us.  He will never stop trying to show us the way.... but sometimes we aren't ready to listen. 

Our sweet investigator Shanaz came to church!  She told me "I read the chapter from the Book of Mormon you left for me... I got a really warm and happy feeling."  We told her that was the Holy Ghost telling her it was true.  She was BEAMING.  She was soo happy!  Moroni's promise of reading with real intent and praying to know it is true works every time.  The Book of Mormon isn't just true for me... It's true for everyone!

So you all know I am obsessed with music.... I heard the coolest cd when I was on exchanges.  If any of you are weird like me and like folk music/ blue grass/ country... go to youtube and try to listen to "Lower Lights Hymn  Revival".... it rocks... it is soo good.  I love the song "for the beauty of the earth" gives me chills... check it out! 

My Spiritual thought for the day is just my testimony, and things I've come to know on my mission. 

I know that God is our Heavenly Father who loves us, and who really cares about our happiness.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that He is always standing with His arms open to us.  In almost every picture of the Savior, He is depicted with open arms, or He is reaching out.  I love that.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true.  I will shout it from the rooftops because I have seen the peace that has come into my life throughout my trials by reading the Book of Mormon.  I know that this church is Jesus Christ's true (whole and complete) church on the earth today... that only matters because in it lies the Priesthood authority for ordinances necessary for us to be cleansed from sin and to be able to live with God and with our families forever.  That's why it matters.  I know living the Gospel is happy.  That's why I smile, that's why I love life so much, because of these things I know. 

My invitation to you is to think about what you know.  Are you living your testimony out loud?  I'm trying to be better at that one. 

I love you all.  I love being a missionary.... even on the rough days... even when I get sick (last night.... thought my head was going to straight up explode. haha)  I love seeing other people taste the sweet fruit of the Atonement.  I love my Savior. 

Onward Christian Soldiers! 

From me to you, Kinzie Lou