Reverently and Meekly Now

Hello Everyone! 

Greetings from out-of-nowhere-an-arctic-wind-straight-from-Canada-arrived-to-usher-in-winter-Colorado! 

Our warm and sunny parade just got rained on... sadly.  But I can't complain, I've been so spoiled! 

It has been a great week! I can't believe how fast it has been going!!!   Next week will be my last email home.... hmmm I had better think of something profound to say...

This week I've been able to have great conversations with people and we've been able to clear up A LOT of misconceptions... and just bear testimony of the Book of Mormon. I'm trying really hard to make that my legacy that I leave. I want everyone in Parker that I talk to know that I love the Book of Mormon and know that it is from God.  My testimony of it is etched into my soul.... when everything gets hard I will always refer back to that testimony. I'm grateful for that gift God has given me... I realize that a testimony is a gift from God.  We have to work for it... study, pray, apply, live, experiment, talk about it, and pray some more.... but that is a gift that God is very eager to give us. He just wants to make sure we truly desire it because He won't give us something we aren't ready for that we are then held accountable. He is very merciful that way... but when we show real intent then He is ready to give. 

I'm so grateful for reasonable people in my life.  My companion has been so great at helping me see the good and positive and to not listen to the voices of doubt and worry and regret that Satan is trying to plant in my head to make me sad.  I know that I'm not perfect. I have a pretty perfect knowledge of that fact.  But I'm so grateful that because of Christ's love, I can change. 

I've been studying about meekness as of late.  Jesus Christ is the epitome of meekness... as with every other good attribute.  In Moroni 7 it teaches us that faith and hope and charity come from having a meek and lowly heart.  Well what is meekness? I often just interchanged it with humility, but that's not entirely accurate.  Meekness is being teachable, patient in suffering, good, kind, submissive, and humble.  More important question is HOW do we become meek?  Many of you would probably agree that submissive is NOT one of the words that would be in my dictionary entry.  In Ulysses S. Soares talk "Meek and Lowly of Heart" he teaches us how. 

1st) pray for the gift of meekness. 

2nd) control our temper.... how do we react when we don't get our way? 

3rd) take it one day at a time... it is a process. Be a little better each day

4th) be humble... seek God's will and recognize His hand.. trust Him

5th) always look to the example of the Savior.  How could he possibly forgive and treat with kindness those who scourged Him and crucified Him? He was Meekness personified... Pure love. 

Why is meekness so important?  Because after the Savior's Atonement fulfilled the law of sacrifice (yes folks, we don't sacrifice lambs anymore... thankfully) Christ taught us that now what we are to sacrifice is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.... that is synonymous for being meek and lowly of heart.  Be kind. Be good. Trust God. Be patient. Love others. That is what I will be striving to do a better job at. 

I invite you all to reflect and think about the state of your heart. Are you meek? Are you full of love? Are you quick to anger? Are you quick to be proud and defensive?  We can all change.. together. 

I love my Savior.  He is so patient with us. He helps us become more like Him. If we didn't help us with His grace, there would be NO way we could do it.  He is pulling with us. 

I love you all!!! Thank you for all your love and support. You are the best. 

Onward Christian Soldiers!

From me to you, Sister Kinzie Lou

ridiculous picture:

they made me sit in a chair, and they pretended to "kill" me.... oh the weirdness of missionaries.