Never Say Never when the Lord is Involved!

Hello Everyone!

Greetings from march-madness-has-always-annoyed-the-livin-daylights-out-of-me-Colorado!!!  I know I'm going to get rotten tomatoes thrown at me through the computer screen as I send that, but it's always how I've felt. Everyone is talking about it and I know nothing... it's ok... I won't player hate.

What a week it has been!!! I'm so grateful! I have had some tough experiences, but A LOT of miracles!!!  Heavenly Father is so good and He is really allowing me to grow and become through the goods and the bads. 

The missionaries in the Aurora Stake were asked to sing in  for stake conference on Saturday  so that was really fun.  We sang "We'll Bring the World His Truth" with the youth of the stake.  The girls sang the 2nd verse by ourselves and it was soo powerful. We sang so loud: "We have been saved for these latter-days, to build the kingdom in righteous ways..."  I was so overcome I was crying... I know I know shocker.  But really... if I had been born 2 or 3 years before I was, who knows if I would've gone on a mission, with the timing of being 21.?  When President Monson changed the age to 19, I was 19 and it felt like in that moment he looked me straight in the eye and said "Makinzie, you can serve now."  I felt the Spirit confirm that the Lord really had saved me for this day and that He has a specific plan for me and things He wants me to become and accomplish.  It was incredible!!! And honestly, you have been saved for these days too... you may not be on a mission right now, but Heavenly Father saved you for these days because He knew you would be able to handle this hard world we live in and be able to rely on Him to make it back home.  He trusts you and loves you... so don't let Satan tell you that you don't matter because that is a lie.

 

Yesterday we had 6 or 7 moments when we were in the right place at JUST the right time... like pulling up to a 4 way stop at THE SAME MOMENT a member did. She flagged us down and we went over to her house and shared a message with her & her husband who has strayed a little who was surprisingly home! It was incredible. There are NO coincidences in the work of the Lord.

I wanted to tell you all that it is NEVER too late to gain a testimony, and to be converted to the Savior.  There was a less active woman in Tallyn's Reach that everyone in the ward LOVED. We went over to see her and she said that she loved the church but that she couldn't believe that the Book of Mormon was true.  She had been given some anti-Mormon literature and "arguments" against the Book of Mormon and she could not get those doubts out of her mind.  - Is it good to ask questions and have doubts?  YES! God wants us to struggle and study and pray and fast and LEARN.  Have you ever obtained something after WORKING your tail off for it? You appreciate it a lot more than things just given, right? Same goes for our testimony of Christ, and of His restored Gospel. But ask in faith, not in fear.  Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. 

Sis Carps and I worked with that sweet lady week after week and had incredible spiritual experiences with her. (they were some of my favorite lessons I've taught)  And months after fasting and praying and studying the Book of Mormon she GAINED a testimony.  She knows it is true. She told Sis Carps she wants to get up first thing in church and bear her testimony that she FINALLY KNOWS that this is true.  It is never too late for you to have that sweet experience too. I invite everyone to come closer to Heavenly Father this week by really ASKING Him questions.  Come closer to Christ. It is NEVER too late, and His arms are ALWAYS outstretched to us. 

I love you and miss the daylights out of you... but all is well in Zion. ;)

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

All Things Bright and Beautiful!

Hello Everyone!!!

Greetings from I-think-its-about-time-I-get-to-put-away-my-winter-boots-Colorado!!! Wee woo it is supposed to be 75 degrees today.... yay. Happy St. Patrick's day!!!  my favorite time celebrating this was in 2nd grade... gold glitter from the "leprechauns" EVERYWHERE and my fellow classmate Nick swearing to me up and down that he was a leprechaun.... and I believed him.  Some people say I'm gullible... I say I just trust people... whoops.

So I'm staying here in Green Valley for another transfer with Sister Openshaw.  I really feel like good things are starting to happen here... And I hope and pray that the Lord will lead me to those who are elect!!!!

Janet came to church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is like the biggest deal on a mission!!!! I also sang in Sacrament meeting.  It was fun.  I love singing in church (I have loved it my whole life) BECAUSE people always smile up at ya and they always come complement you after you are done... even if they didn't like it - IT'S CHURCH PEOPLE... YA HAVE TO BE NICE! WOO. haha... same thing at retirement centers... but one time in the middle of my song an old lady yelled "WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!" That was embarrassing...

For some reason I was pondering about my childhood and thinking about the trampoline game "Dead man."  I remembered the chant and proceeded to march around sis O saying "dead man dead man come alive, right before I count to Five. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! Come Alive!"  I did that for a good 2 minutes and I was laughing so hard I was crying.... she thinks I'm insane. 

I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Helaman 5 this week - wow I love that chapter!! Nephi and Lehi were incredible missionaries who spoke with such power and authority that 8000 people were truly converted to the Lord. I want to be like that.. (I'm not expecting 8000 people to join the church because of me - hello montbello here I come!)  They taught with power and authority because they knew that the Gospel allows us access to Jesus Christ's Atonement - which is THE ONLY WAY to be cleansed from sin, blessed with the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives, and to be able to qualify for Eternal Life with our Heavenly Father and with our families.  Well, I know that too.  I testify that this is the ONLY way.  It is through Christ.  The Gospel is to have faith in Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.  That's it. It's simple, and it is true.  I know that the Priesthood authority necessary for us to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Heavenly Father is hastening the work and sending missionaries like me out because there is SIMPLY NO OTHER WAY BACK.  That doesn't mean those of us who have the Gospel are better than others.  It means God trusted us with it because He wants us to share it.  Because we have been so blessed God is counting on us to help Him bring His children back home. 

I invite you all to keep doing those Primary answers:  read your scriptures, pray, go to church.  We say primary and think of little primary kids, right?  No, they are the primary answers just like red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors.. the foundation for every other color.  Build your foundations people. 

I love you all so much!!!  thank you for the love and support you give me.... you will never know how much it means to me.  Especially on the days when I just feel sooo alone and hated from everyone out in the world, thank you for your love. 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

The Sun Will Rise!

Hello Everyone!!!

Greetings from it-was-finally-warm-enough-that-we-weekly-planned-outside-and-I-almost-cried-tears-of-warm-joy-Colorado! 

 

What a week it has been!!!  So many incredible things I learned about myself, and about my Heavenly Father!

 

I was out contacting yesterday and went up to a guy who had come roaring in on his Harley trike.  I talked to him all about Sturgis (the mecca of all bikers) and other rides he has been on (oh yeah, and I invited him to learn about the Gospel too) but shout out to my dad... thanks for being a biker man and giving me opportunity to relate to your "brothers" as you call them. haha.

 

SHOUT OUT TO MY GIRL CHELS! I received a package this week that made my month!  She took the time to gather letters and funny little nick nacks from a lot of my Logan friends.  I felt soo loved and thought of.  Chelsey is such an angel in my life. So thoughtful, and always turned outward looking for someone to serve!  I love her! Thank you CHELSEY!

 

RANDY GOT BAPTIZED!!! Remember oh like 7 months ago when I (by miraculous means) found Randy and Jacqueline?  I knew that Heavenly Father had led us to them, and I LOOOOOVED them from the first 20 seconds of meeting them.  Well, after a few more miracles Randy was converted to the Lord, and was baptized on Friday.  It was suuuuch a happy baptism with a lot of the ward family support.  I was smiling so big I was starting to look INSANE.  (Not to mention a huge cherry on that sweet cake was being back at home in Tallyn's Reach with my ward family and with sis carpenter.)  Sis McNeil (one of my faves) told me that I needed to know that I would always be beloved in the Tallyn's Reach ward. That made me cry cuz there are some days when Satan wants me to think I'm not making ANY difference... I love that ward sooo much.  And I'm trying to weasel my way into the Green Valley ward's hearts too!  I'm singing in church this sunday... mwa ha ha my game plan is in motion.  ;) 

 

My Spiritual thought today is again about God's love for us.  He created us.  He loves every single bit of us because we are his children.  He has given us the means to overcome our weaknesses and become more like Him - the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  But the minute we think we have too many weaknesses to be of worth we are waaaaay wrong.  He just gives us those weaknesses so that we can be humble and realize that we ABSOLUTELY NEED HIM AND HIS GRACE. (Ether 12:27)  So this week, I'm going to look in the mirror and say something good about myself, because then I'm praising God.  I know that the good I am is not because of me, it is because of Him.  So that's my invitiation to you all.  Look in the mirror. Like, REALLY look deep.  Tell yourself that you are a child of God - the most powerful being in the universe who will do WHATEVER He can to help you come home to Him.  Tell yourself that you are amazing and good.  Then get back to work coming closer to Christ and becoming more like Him.  Perfection is a journey and a process, not an event. 

 

I love you all so much!  Thank you so much for the love and the support you give me!  I'm so sorry if any of your letters or packages have been sent back to you.. the mission office had a wrong address for a little bit but hopefully it's cleared up.  Thank you for your prayers. I have really felt them these past few weeks amidst my own struggles.  I pray for you and thank my Heavenly Father for you every day.  I love you!

 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou  

 

pictures:

Randy's baptism

 

reunited and it feels so good..  

Work is Hastening!

Hello Everyone!!

Greetings from why-is-marijuana-legal-here-so-annoying-Colorado!!! 

What a week we had in Green Valley!!! Here are some miracles for ye:

*We found 7 new investigators... usually it is like 0 or 1 or 2....

*Claudia came to church for the first time and knew A TON of the ward members and everyone was sooooo sweet to her and the lesson in Sunday school was on baptism... Come on Claudia!!

*The ward fasted for missionary work!!!  I finally am starting to feel like they care!

*We had THE coolest lesson with Essie and Olac and their 3 kids.... like seriously the kids were asking questions that lets me know they are really seeking truth and one daughter who is in college said "I wish we could talk about these things every day.!" Well Sarah... we can definitely make that happen for you! wowza!  Heavenly Father has been soo good to us! 

A funny moment came from a letter from a friend this week.  He said, "There is an old adage: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink..... FALSE! You feed the horse the most salty savory treat and then he would be crazy not to drink!"  So yeah, I'm looking for those salty savory gospel treats I can share with people so they will want to drink the Living Water!!!

Man, life is funny... when the scriptures say opposition in all things, they really mean opposition in all things... so I feel like I am on a spiritual and emotional rollercoaster ride but all is well. 

I am learning again and again that it's not about me.  I'm here to serve others... including my companion and so I'll be happiest when I'm not thinking of myself.  But there is something to say about feeling loved and cared about...  But I know that as I have to be a rock for people, I just turned it over to the Lord and I know that He is MY rock. He is the best One to lean on and the best shoulder to cry on.  With trials and hard days come the bittersweet opportunities to know Christ better.  I know that I am standing with the best life the world has ever known.  I know that He will love and support me, just as He has done in other times in my life. 

The Character of Christ is turned outward.  Even in His hardest moments He was always turned outward and loving and serving other people.  ****BUT**** We are human.  We aren't perfect. We are weak.  And so we need to allow others to love us and serve us.  Sometimes that is hard!!! It's tough for some us to be humble enough to accept help from the Lord or from those people who would answer our prayers if we would allow them to. But hey, we are all a work in progress, right?  I'm sending mixed signals, aren't I.... Ultimately Christ is the true source of peace, but as we reach out to love and serve others ALL of our needs will be met.  We help others, and help ourselves. 

I know that Jesus Christ is my best Friend. He is yours too. But He isn't pushy... He only will be in our lives if we invite Him to be. 

 

I love you all and am grateful for the love and support you show me.  Today I was just really needing some love, and so I'm grateful to feel I haven't been forgotten by some of you. Thank you so much!  I will keep praying for you!!! Much loooooove!

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Kinzie Lou

picture.... refer a friend, people!!! $500 bonus in Heaven! haha just teasin... but like seriously... share the Gospel.  It's the best thing we could ever share with someone!

sorry guys... most confusing and worst weekly email ever. sorry!!!