August 13, 2012

Hello Family!

I hope you have all had a fantastic week. I cannot believe it is time for lexie to leave on her mission. Time just flies by out here. At first I never thought my mission was going to end. Now it seems like I am swimming against the current trying to make my time last longer. I just want to thank all of you for your love and support while I have been out here. I feel like one of the most blessed missionaries in the world to have such an amazing family behind me.

 

This week has been great. Sister Hoffman reminds me so much of Cassidy. Its probably one of the sweetest tender mercies of the lord I have recieved on my mission. The first day she got here she quoted the Ellen Here and Now movie and I almost died. I have been crackin those jokes since I came out here and no one gets them. Needless to say it makes tracting a lot more entertaining. Its so fun to be around her cause She really just reminds me of cassi, But it makes me miss her so so much more.

 

So In the Ensign this last month there was a talk about always being in the middle. Thats how I am looking at my mission. No Need to talk about me coming home :)

 

So Sister Hoffman came and we got to work. It was hard at first being the leader/ strong pull of the companionship cause Read was that for me. We set some awesome companionship goals and got to work. We met with Buddy and Claudia and a few things are holding them back from being baptized. So we are continuing to work with them to help them build a strong foundation of faith. Please keep them in your prayers.

 

We are also working with 3 other people and preparing them for baptism in the next few weeks- months. Its interesting how some people are so ready adn some need time.

 

Its been a blessing to be back here in Medford. My testimony that the Lord knows each of us and know specifically what we need has been stregnthened. There is no way this is just by chance.

 

I cannot believe summer is always over. I dont like the end of summer because a lot less people are outside and not as many people to talk to. I wont mind the heat leaving. It was 105 this past week with a lot of Humidity. I felt like I had been in a sauna all day. I dont know how Whitney is doing the New Mexico Heat, and Good Luck Lexie!! You go girls.

 

Well This stinks, I just tried to hook my camera up cause I had great pictures, but the camera is dead. Next week will be a picture letter.

 

I hope things are going well and I love you all. I pray for you daily and hope you will continue to be blessed.

 

Love Sister Rose

August 6, 2012

So this week has been fantastic. I have felt the spirit so strongly all week. It was Sister Reed's last week in the mission and we worked our guts out. She has been such an amazing companion and I truly feel so blessed to have been companions with her. I have learned so much and I feel she helped me be the missionary I could be.

 

 

We Did a lot of finding this week, and we are continuing to teach our investigators. Buddy and Claudia are doing soooo Good! We are working on marriage and then Baptism for them :)

 

President asked me and Sister Reed to do exchanges with another set of sisters. They are Covering Central Point and the area is struggling alot. I was assigned to go to Central point which was awesome to go back to my first area. We had a blast and found some new investigators so that was nice.

 

I really suck at remembering my Camera Cord, but I will next week. I have some pictures of the goodbyes and other random things.

 

I love you all and hope things are going smoothly.

 

Peace and Blessings

 

Love Sister Rose

July 30, 2012

And Were gonna Baptize!!

 

This week has been absolutely splendid. Last week After Buddy and Claudia came to church a member invited them to FHE and it went fantastic. We met with them again Wednesday and answered more questions. On Sunday we went over and buddy told us how he had quit smoking. Our First lesson where we answered questions we taught them the ten commandments and Word of wisdom and Law of chastity. Its amazing they didnt get overwhelmed. Buddy said his grandma would be shocked to hear that he is going to the mormon church because she "used to be a mormon" my response was "Well you can invite her to your baptism" mind you this is four days after we had met. And He went right along with it, he said it would be hard to get her here cause she is old and in southern california. So after this smooth conversation me and my companion felt they were ready to commit to baptism. So on sunday after church we went to see them. we taught about the plan of salvation and invited them to be baptized. Buddy was so excited, claudia was a little hesitant but Buddy showed his support and they both commited. We are so excited to see them make this big step.

 

Our new apartment is sooo nice and clean. The spirit is a lot stronger in this new place then it was in the old apartment.

 

This week President came down and did a specialized training. I feel really blessed to have such a loving mission president who really loves each one of us. The next day the mission presidents wife came and did studies with us. We were sure that starting our day off with that would make for  a splendid day. As we drove home that night me and Sister Reed decided that it had been the worst proselyting day we had had together. I am sure Satan was trying to discourage us because he knew sunday would be amazing.

 

I feel so blessed to be a missionary. We are seeing so many miracles. This is Sister Reeds last week and I am sure she is going to blow it out of the water. It is always nerve racking getting a new companion but I know that whoever comes here will be perfect for the area.

 

I love you all, I am grateful for all you do.

 

Love Kenzie

July 23, 2012

Well I wont lie, This week has been awesomely Terrific. I just love my Companion Sister Reed. She helps me to be the best missionary possible, I see daily the many reasons for being here and being with her. One Example: Saturday we were tracting so we could make our goal of our tracting time. We had 50 minutes left and were finding a new street. We Picked a little dead end street and went for it. The 3rd Door we knocked on was Buddy and Claudia's. Claudia answered the door, and he has a thick accent from Switzerland. We talked for a few minutes and Buddy came to the door trying to shew us away, he is antagonistic so not interested. Well I was very blunt and said "you don't believe in a God, are you crazy" We all laughed and after about 25 minutes we finally got him to take a book of mormon and invited them to church. Walking away I made a mental not of their address because I was going to go back, they are soo nice. Well the next day  we went to our early morning meetings Sunday then Ran over to Norma's and Octavio's to wake them up for church. We got back and were greating people and then we see one of the members talking to Claudia and Buddy! We were shocked to see them there. We probably invite close to 100 people to church every week, and I have never had anyone come just because of an invite, Its usually pulling teeth. It was such a miracle, and we are meeting again with them tonight. The spirit really does work when were there and lingers when we leave if they allow it.

 

Last Monday we contacted a referal from the Zone Leaders. Her name is Joanie. A member had put on a medical form that she was LDS and Joanie talked to her about it and wanted to meet with missionaries. We had our first lesson last monday and Joanie is so ready!! She is praying about her baptismal date of August 11th, we are meeting with her again tonight, she has already read 2/3 of the Book of Mormon and loves it. Every minute of every day is full of gratitude here as a missionary. I seriously am shocked at the many miracles we see.

 

We also went to a Luau this last weekend and that was a blast. I wish I had pictures. I forgot my camera to that. We also just moved appartments this morning so everything is packed in suitcases or boxes and I have no idea where things are. We are in a much nicer place in town and the appartment is super clean. We had about 10 Missionaries helping us this morning and they were jealous of our new place. Its just amazing to see the blessings we are recieving. We have amazing people to teach the gospel to who are ready to accept baptism. But we are also being blessed temporally with a new apartment and a new car, Which has been such a blessing.

 

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week.

 

Peace and blessings

Love Sister Rose

July 16, 2012

So this week has been exceptionally amazing. It was Hot, and we walked a lot. We picked up some awesome new investigators and set our first baptismal date for this area. I can truly see the Lords hand in our work. Its tough to go a few weeks without anyone progressing and setting baptismal dates, but I have been humbled and have been able to really focus on the people and just love them and what I am so blessed to be able to come out and do.

 

we set a date With Bethany. Her mom and sister are members and its about time she became one. She has two kinda half sisters that are leaning towards yes but want to pray about it. We wouldnt have it any other way.

 

Medford is so fantastic. Sister Reed is the hardest working companion I have ever worked with. Its her last six weeks and she wants to make sure she doesnt regret a second of it. It has been such a blessing to be with her and feel her great energy pushing the work. I love her so much!!.

 

Well I hope things are going well there, It really is amazing here and I am grateful for all your love and prayers.

 

Peace and Blessings.

 

Love Kenzie

 

District Parade

A note an investigator Left us

Peace Sign Painted on sidewalk

Nate! a recent convert from my first area!

July 9, 2012

So We started off this week with Miracle Monday. We saw a lot of miracles and were blessed in having 10 lessons that day. The goal is 20 lessons in a week so that was a miracle in itself. We found 4 new investigators and really had our testimony of faith and obedience built.

 

Since we came into the area we have had a lot of hard work. Its tough going into an area that has not much going on, and no connection with the ward. We have been very blessed by amazing Members, and many new investigators. But sometimes those fall through and as a missionary it can get a little discouraging. I had many moments this week where I felt tender mercies from the Lord.

 

After 5 hours of tracting one day we were waiting for a ride and decided to eliminate numbers in our phone we didn't know of. So we called the first number that was under TAPS.... They picked up and we said were missionaries and we want to know why your in our phone. . . Turns out it was another set of elders, again the name makes no sense. But It was cool cause I got to talk to an Elder I was in the MTC with. It was fun to talk to him for just a minute cause we havent served around eachother since.

 

Sunday in Relief Society I was able to hear the Testimony of one of my Recent Converts and how I played a key role in her conversion, and reactivation of her Husband and Daughter. The spirit was so strong and being able to feel the Love from her and knowing there is a reason I have been called her at this time. (D&C 100)

 

There is Also a man I worked with in Gold Hill when I was there a year ago that is now moved into the This ward. He is now ready to be baptized and I am so excited to be able to be a part of it. The Lord truly is blessing us, we just dont see it all right away.

 

Obedience is key to recieving the blessings of heaven.

 

Love Sister Rose

July 3, 2012

Hey Mom-

Today we dont have a lot of time to write. President is calling it "Miracle Monday" We started our day off with a mission wide conference call. Close to 200 people on the same call. It truly was so spiritual. We all prayed together and dedicated our day to finding. We have already seen amazing miracles.

 

Hearing about Kari makes me sick. I will keep her in my prayers, I will add her to the next fast we do also. What a miracle she is alive. Please hug Kristie for me.

 

I love seeing people come full circle! That is cool you got to see that man bless his son. I know I am supposed to be here in Medford 2nd ward. The day I arrived I found out Linda And Gary were in our ward. They moved over from gold hill, my first area. Linda was one of my first baptisms and is just solid. I will be in the area when she is ready to go through the temple. I am praying I will be able to attend.

 

This area is amazing! Its like the celestial kingdom. THe leadership here gets it and is ready to baptize!!

 

I love you guys and home you enjoy vacation!!

 

Love Kenzie