For Thee Do I Ever Plead

Hello Everyone! 

Greetings from why-in-the-world-are-there-already-Thanksgiving-decorations-in-Walmart-don't-feel-good-about-it-Colorado! 

It just kills me because it reminds me how fast Thanksgiving is coming.  Bittersweet.

It was such an awesome week this week!!!  

We taught the Chinese exchange students on Friday. Brother Jardine from the ward came and they LOVED him! He was making jokes in mandarin and really helping them to understand what we had taught them about God and prayer. Sooooo cool.  There were a few new people there and one named Tim didn't even live at the house! He lives in Denver and had heard about the lessons and wanted to come.... WHAT???????????????? So amazing.  I feel so blessed.! There is a girl named Kay that I really love. She shared a testimony of God that was sooo beautiful. Man, I LOVE THIS!!!! 

We taught a new woman named Connie this week and she is soo prepared.  A few direct quotes from her are as follows: "Why do Mormons have such a bad rap? Don't you believe in Jesus too? I'm just seeking for truth.  I really want more light in my life right now, the world is weighing me down.  I love watching the Duggars on TV because they are moral and good people, it's refreshing. (lol)  I'm just really intrested in what you have to say! Oh, I already have a copy of the Book of Mormon!" etc etc... there obviously was dialouge in between those sentences, but you can catch the drift.  Amazing!  

I am soo happy.  Seriously this is soul burstin joy that simply comes from having the Lord play an active role in every day of my life.  Sharing the Gospel just brings so much happiness because we taste a portion of the joy that our Father feels when His children come closer to Him. He loves us soo much. His love is a real tangible thing that we can feel if we stop and look for it. 

My spiritual thought this week is on the importance of setting goals, and then prayerfully pleading with the Lord for help in accomplishing them.  Whether your goal is about missionary work, or increasing faith to live a certain commandment.  Talk with your Father about your goal... He often times has much input to give.  Then we resolve to do whatever we possibly can to accomplish the goal. Write down a few smaller steps you can take to accomplish the goal. Then we get some help from Heaven through PLEADING.  

What is the difference between praying and pleading?  I think the difference is how much desire and earnestness we show.  Where is the heart really at? In Enos 1:4 one could say that he plead with the Lord.  all day. and all night.  It says that his voice reaching high into the Heavens. God heard his prayer and answered.  (God hears and answers every prayer, but sometimes He just waits until He really feels the sincerity and real intent)  Even Jesus Christ pleads.  He pleads for us.  He earnestly, even desperately wants us to be able to be clean and live with our Father in Heaven again.  It is so humbling to know that the Lord pleads for me, and He pleads for you.  

I promise that if you will follow this pattern of prayerfully setting a righteous goal, and then pleading with the Lord for help in accomplishing it, that you will feel Heaven's help. You will be strengthened beyond your own means. You will see miracles. 

I love you so much.  I can't believe that it will be no time at all and I'll be back, crazy ol kinz.  I hope I'm different though, because I feel different.  I have been able to know the Lord because I've been working for Him, and I'm forever changed by that.  I pray for you, and sometimes I plead for you.  I love you all a lot.  

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Sister Kinzie Lou

sorry no pics this week.... but hey, I'm getting my hair cut today! should I chop it off?? hmmm tempted.... stay tuned!  

THEN SINGS MY SOUL...

Hello Everyone!

Greetings from the-trees-are-beginning-to-change-color-and-I-couldn't-be-more-giddy-Colorado!

 

Man, this world is beautiful! 'nuff said.

 

I have had the most amazing week!!! I keep saying that, and I keep wondering how Heavenly Father can just keep making my mission better and better. He is so good.

 

We had an incredible miracle last week and so I'll share.  We were in a haze and we weren't quite sure of where we were needing to be because nothing was working out.  We plead with the Lord to help us and to know what we needed to do.  I thought of 2 potentials from the area book and sister Elwell thought of a members face. She was like.... that was crazy. We looked up all of their addresses and they were on the SAME STREET! ok ok let's go.  So we drive there and as we pulled up to the first house there was an Asian couple walking by. We got out and talked to them. They were soo nice, and actually are pastors for a non-denominational Christian church in Denver. But they were interested in what we do as missionaries and she said "are you missionaries of Jesus Christ?"... she was very right about that. She wanted us to come teach her and so we were on top of the moon happy!  We both felt like this could potentially turn in to the biggest miracle of our missions so far. Like in church history, Wilford Woodruff converted a pastor and THE WHOLE CONGREGATION WAS CONVERTED TOO! So, I have faith that the Lord could work an incredible miracle today too. 

 

Anyways, we go and teach Alice, she was AMAZING! She loved the visit and wants us to come multiple times in a week.  She also said that she has 11 Chinese foreign exchange students living with her and she wanted us to teach them all!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT???????   So... we did a few days later. They all came running down the stairs when we arrived and we sat around the table teaching them all. It was insane.  And wonderful. 

 

I don't know why Heavenly Father has blessed me so greatly on my mission but I just feel overwhelmingly grateful.  God is so good. Words can't even describe!!! Please pray for me and Sister Elwell to be able to accomplish what God needs us to accomplish!  I so need your prayers!  Thank you!!

 

I am so happy.  Seriously, my soul just feels on the verge of exploding sometimes.  It sounds crazy, but it is true. Anything we invest to serve the Lord will absolutely come back to us and fill our souls.  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

 

The best part about this, is that these blessings aren't just reserved for those of us with a name tag on.  Last night I went to a cottage meeting in the Bishop's home with 8 families that had taken "member finding lessons" from us missionaries where they learned how to find people to teach by just being a good friend and neighbor and how to talk to people about the gospel. Every single family had had a miracle experience and had felt their family grow stronger from engaging in this work.  Amazing. 

 

My invitation to all of you is to pray to see miracles in your life. In my letters in the following weeks, I'm going to share with you what we are sharing with the members here and inviting you to do the same things.  I know if you have a desire to share the gospel and if you try to do these things, you will see absolute miracles!  Stay tuned!!!

 

I love you all so much! I want you to feel this same joy that I feel. I pray for you!

 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Sister Kinzie lou

 

pics: temple day happy day!

Light of the World

Hello everyone! 

Greetings from the-first-frost-and-bitter-cold-day-came-and-I-fear-that-it's-going-to-be-a-cold-winter-Colorado!  

It is my 16th month mission birthday! WHAAAAAT? yes.  So sad yet happy! 

What an amazing week it has been! Seriously!!!  This week a general authority came to tour our mission Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy.  I heard from him twice and it was incredible! His wife gave a 2 hour training on gathering Israel that was absolutely incredible!  She explained the Old Testament so simply and clearly and I see, now more than ever, that truth is eternal and that this work is so much bigger than me.  I'm a part of something that has been prophesied about forever!!!  So cool. When I have a spare few hours I'll fill you in on all the details. :) 

My spiritual thought today is on light.  In Alma 5:15 it asks the question "have you received His image in your countenance?"  Every time that our resurrected Lord has been described by prophets today a common word they use is describing His brightness and glory.  So to receive His image in our countenance we need to fill ourselves with light.  There is so much in the world today that is dark, and we need to avoid it like the plague, literally!  It is so easy to ask the question "Is this wrong?" when really the question we should ask is "Is this right?... Is this light and goodness I can add to my life?"... Maybe not a thought we have frequently as we go about the busyness of our lives, but that is the whole point of this life.  To do things that will make our light brighter, so when we stand before God we "shall see Him as He is, and we shall be like Him" (Moroni 7)  

How do we get more light?  Here is an acronym for you all: L.I.G.H.T.

L- love like Christ. Love everyone.

I-   invest time to study

G- go and do and keep the commandments. live it. 

H- hearken to the promptings of the Spirit

T- tell the Lord in prayer that you want more light, and He will give it to you.

I invite you all to do this. Sit down and think of what in your life brings you light, and what doesn't.  And then simply choose more light.  

I love the Savior.  I know that He really is the LIGHT and our perfect example and perfect Friend.  He will help us, He wants to help us.  

 I love you all! Please pray for me, I will pray for you!!!! 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Sister Kinzie Lou

Pics:  I just wanted to show off my companion. She is sooo beautiful! 

Reap what we Sow ---

Hello Everyone!!!

Greetings from the-fall-weather-is-starting-to-set-in-and-I-hope-all-the-mosquitoes-die-quickly-Colorado!

Sister Elwell & I

What a week it has been here in Parker with Sis Elwell.  It is soo fun being with her.  She is so kind and is teaching me a lot!

It was a week of miracles. We contacted a TON of people that had been taught by missionaries in the past, and we are just trying to find those people who are ready for the Gospel.  It is hard work, but if we want to reap miracles, we have to sow hard work, diligence, faith, prayer, and patience.  I'm really grateful that I grew up on a farm and that my family always had a garden because there are so many amazing principles learned from that kind of work.

 First off: 1:  work work work even when you don't feel like it.

2: the small things you do today make a difference later (till, plant seeds, pull weeds, water, fertilize, keep deer away etc etc)

3: tomatoes don't grow overnight.... patience... we have to wait until they are ripe.

4:  in the end we don't have control of the weather or the quality of the seed, so we just do the best we can with what we've got.

These things apply in missionary work too. I have to remind myself that even though I have righteous desires to make a difference, I have to sow... and THEN reap.

My Spiritual thought today is on helping each other down the path.  Each and every one of us go through different trials and experiences. Those are the growing points in our lives, and they often are designed to give us an opportunity to rely on the Lord and come closer to Him.  Sometimes we may not fully understand why we had to go through a certain trial but in time all things make sense.  As Sister Elwell and I have been able to get to know each other better and talk to each other, we have realized that certain experiences we've had in our lives or in our missions have allowed us to help each other.  Truths that a companion taught me 2 transfers ago are just what my companion now needs to know... and she has been able to strengthen me because she has had similar questions that I face right now.... It's just amazing that God is sooo involved in our lives.  He places people in our path and just the right time so that we can grow and eventually be one step closer back to Him.  We never know when our experiences or testimony will change someone else's life, but the Holy Ghost knows.  He can prompt us to know what to share, or when to share, and who to share it with. 

My invitation to you all is to pray to be an answer to someone's prayer this week.  I promise if you pray daily for that, God will help you make a difference for someone else... In the process you will learn on a new level how much God cares for each of His children, including you.

I love you all so much and I can't believe how fast time is going.  I love my mission. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! I love trying to make my mission personal and to just serve the Lord with my WHOLE heart.  He is so good.

Love you!!!

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Sister Kinzie Lou

pics:

been a while since I've sent a sunset...

Its. A. Small. World

Hello Everyone! 

Greetings from there-are-absolutely-no-such-things-as-coincidences-Colorado!

I got transferred,,,, again!  That was such a quick 6 weeks, but it was so wonderful!  I'm now serving in Parker with SISTER ELWELL from BEAVER UTAH!!! I played soccer against her in high school (and i loved her then. she was the sweetest girl on that team) and I loved her at Utah State too... we had a lot of common friends up there and when she got her call to go to the mission I was going to I thought "no way! I'll have to be her companion!"  Sure enough.... here we are.  It is soo crazy. Heavenly Father is soo in charge of this work (Pres Mendenhall has NO idea that we knew each other before!) She is seriously one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life and I'm so excited to learn from her and just have a wonderful transfer together! Can't wait!!! 

I just have to say that I'm grateful for the way Heavenly Father teaches us through nature... bear with me, I'll sound like a hippie for a bit.  Always after a storm, even if it is brutal with gray skies that may seem like they will never be blue again, they are. And then comes a rainbow and a crispness in the air that is so refreshing to take a deep breath of.  Anyways, what I'm getting at is that a new day will always come. The storms always will end. It can always be better. 

Now I've not been depressed or anything like that, but last week was a tough week for sure.  (You all know that I'm an open book)  One of the hardest of my mission, BUT I'm so grateful for it.  I felt so much love from Heavenly Father and learned a little more about His plan for me, and I learned about His expectations.  I also learned about how crucial it is to have wonderful people in my life that give me so much love and support. Sister Johnson was there for me, and on other days I had to be there for her, but that's the beauty of friendship.  In many times of my life, I have been able to know that God loves me because I've had great friends who love me.... so grateful. 

I love the words of the hymn Come Come Ye Saints. 

Come, come ye saints

no toil nor labor fear. 

But with joy, wend your way

Though hard to you

this journey may appear 

Grace shall be as your day

Tis better far for us to strive

our useless cares from us to drive

Do this and joy, your hearts will swell

All is well. All is well. 

I interpret that as: 

Because of Jesus Christ, we really have no reason to fear. If we trust in Him, and do our best, He will always make us ok. Even if the journey seems hard, His grace and strength is there just like a new day, IT ALWAYS COMES.  I'm grateful that I have chances to "strive" and struggle and little and pray a little bit harder because Heavenly Father is just helping me to eliminate some of those "useless cares" .... just a little more fine tuning.  If we trust in Christ, no matter what surrounds us our hearts can swell with His love and joy and truly all is well in Zion.   I soooo know that is true, because I've witnessed it firsthand this week.  He is alive and well and still saving.  I love my Savior.  

I love all of you and hope that you have a wonderful week!  My invitation to you is to identify your favorite hymn.  Write down or type up (hmmm never thought about those phrases before,,,, weird) the lyrics to it and read it just as words, without thinking of the tune.  It's amazing - the doctrine in the green hymn book. 

I pray for you and miss you, but know that really, all is well in Zion.  I wouldn't mind getting another letter from you all hearing how you are doing and how you have seen your testimonies grow over the past year or so. I love hearing from you. (did that sound desperate? sorry.... haha) 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Sister Kinzie Lou

 

pics:  

my fave family, the Distefanos.... both RMs. they taught me how I want my future family to be.... incredible. they just loooove the gospel and their little girls already are soo solid. amazing. 

spider. ok... i'm not afraid of spiders usually but this was the biggest spider I've ever seen with my own eyes.... in the window RIGHT NEXT TO MY BED... don't know how i feel about it.. yes I do.... NOT GOOD!