Monday, May 12, 2014

Mother's Day= I get to see your sweet mug!! YAY!!

Kenyon getting to see his big sis after a while.  This made my Mother's Day the happiest ever!!





Brother Brigham ;),  (****She called Blaine this after seeing how impossibly long his beard had gotten**)

My heart is so full today! All night I was just reflecting the whole conversation we had. I never knew how beautiful it could be just to hear y'alls voices again, to see your faces and to know you're all still there and doing well. Its amazing the little things you miss. My heart just leaped out of my chest when I saw Kenyon's face! I don't know if it was divine inspiration or what but I needed to see him and just hear his voice and just have that time with him to reconnect. On the really hard days where I just feel like I need to talk to someone he's the one I think of, sometimes I'll just talk to him in my head and think of what he might say to me. On the mission sometimes its hard to remember that you're still you, that you have a family and that you're more than just a missionary to someone. Being able to talk to y'all yesterday made me realize that I am still an individual and that I'm so loved and cared for. Its so easy to fall into the routine of the mission and a couple months pass and you feel like you don't really know who you are anymore but there's nothing better than having your family to help you understand who you are to them and to our Heavenly Father. It really was just what I needed. Something else that also really helped me was when you told me a couple weeks ago about my plaque and how it was different from all the others. Its nice to be reminded that I'm still unique and individual. I love you all so much and I'm glad you hung up first because I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Sister Pitts was right there for me when I said bye she hugged me and told me it was all going to be okay. Something she said that I really thought was true was she said, "One day you'll marry someone just like your dad." Ya know dad, its true. I look up to you so much and hope that one day my own family will be blessed to have someone just like you leading us. I am so lucky to have a family who loves me so much and even with all the miles in between I still feel that love every day. It was such a blessing to be able to have you all in one place and not have to be worried about not seeing one of you. You are all so individually important to me. Even in your hello's they were all uniquely YOU! Kenyon was as mellow as ever, in his true surfer dude form but filled with so much love. Calvin, even though toothless, was still as sweet as ever! Hailey, still shy and quiet but becoming more confident. Shelby, still SO spunky and funny :) and then you and mom, together! Mom talking and you tearing up in the corner ;) just kidding. I just felt so whole. And was thankful for the reminder that I have an eternal family who will love me no matter where I am or where we all end up. I AM SO THANKFUL!

 So I didn't get to talk to you about my week so here it goes. We had a really great zone meeting this past week. We were taught how to extend powerful invitations, the importance of follow up, how to utilize members more fully and in order to not be discouraged don't allow yourself to tune into "K-Crap Radio" -Sister Toombs After that meeting we went to teach the Olsons, members in our ward, she is a brilliant single mother of three of the most beautiful daughters ever! We taught them about the priesthood and it was amazing the spirit I felt when I was able to testify of the divinity and power of the priesthood. I was able to show them a picture of you and kenyon and calvin (one of the family pictures taken by mindy). When I was done we were all in tears and how I felt was so much bigger than I was, it couldn't all fit inside. Another thing I've learned about myself is how much I love setting goals. We also had district meeting this week so we could set some goals for our district. I'm convinced that goal setting is one of the best parts of missionary work. "A goal not written down is just a wish." We were able to set goals and we decided our district motto would be "Faster, Higher, Stronger." We have set some pretty high standards but we also decided that there is no reason why we can't strive to be the best missionaries we can be. Our goals cover every aspect of ourselves, including emotionally, physically and spiritually. Every time we set goals I always think to myself that I chose the right major, business has a lot to do with goal setting. Missions teach you life skills ;). 

We have started teaching the sweetest lady ever! She is an excommunicated member but at this point in her life she is so ready and willing to give up everything to have the gospel back in her life. She is inspiring! We also had dinner this week with a nonmember family that was a referral from the Pitts! After we left Sister Pitts talked to Mrs. Martin and invited them to hear a message from us, and they accepted! SO COOL! This happened RIGHT after we had dropped someone... It was the coolest thing ever! This week we taught Carissa about the temple and she is currently preparing to go to the temple! :D She also signed up for LDS Singles today ;) #DOUBLESCORE So we had several funny experiences this week as well... here it goes... We did the prayer approach with someone and they asked us to pray for their bottom healed, never had that one happen before... luckily sister g was asked to say that prayer and it was so hard not to laugh through it... second one was also while praying.. We were saying the closing prayer at an active members house, we were all kneeling and they have this brown lab. So sister g is praying... again and the dog comes up and licks my forehead then goes over to her and licks the side of her face and she stops her prayer and says "EXCUSE ME!" oh my heck none of us could keep it together... SO FUNNY! The last one was pretty awkward. We went over to talk to one of our investigators parents about teaching them and about baptism and so we go to the door and the dad answers and tells us to go talk to his wife and daughter out back so we go around to the fence and open the fence and they're in the hot tub and it was one of those moments where we weren't sure if we should just turn around and not say anything or if we should talk to them. So all four of us just stop in our tracks for what felt like forever and then sister g says, "well uh...is this a bad time?" BAHAHAHAHAHA So anyways, those were some adventures from this week! I love you so much dad! And I loved your attachment too. THATS SO LEGIT! I can't believe you trained that many times... what a killer missionary you were/are! :) I am so thankful for your prayers and your support dad, sometimes its what really carries me through! I LOVE YOU! 

1 comment:

  1. Mckenzie this is your popie I just read your last post and was inspired by the missionary work your doing, keep it up and as you do the lord will lead you to people that need your message. I,m still working in the snowflake temple as coordinator and love the people who come to enjoy the house of the lord and partake of the wonderful ordinaces that the lord has given us. remember who you are and the Lord will bless you I promise.

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