3 Months!

Transfers are in one week! I am so grateful that Sister Lopez was my trainer though, she is one of the most Christ like people I have ever met! I feel God's love so much for me after we  run into someone who wants to try to tear down our testimonies, and then we leave and I have her to talk about the peace and strength God allowed us to feel, in what should have been a contentious moment. This week we met a man who was really just bashing and trying shake our faith, but with everything he said scripture verses came to my mind, that opposed every argument he tried to make. I wanted to share them but I knew they wouldn't help, he wasn't interested in hearing what we had to say. We simply told him how much we loved our Savior Jesus Christ, and how much we knew Christ loved him, and told him we had to leave. 

      We have seen so many miracles in our work this week! We met a man named David, who no longer believes in God. We bore simple testimony of experiences in our lives in which we have felt God the most, and he said in those circumstances we needed God, but his life is going good so he doesn't know why he needs God. He said that although he does not share the same belief, he knows a lot of people do, so we must know something he doesn't. He is open and willing to change, we are so excited to continue meeting with him. We also had a woman who hasn't been to church in years, come the past couple weeks. She told us that the first time we came to visit her we changed the spirit in her home, and she decided it was time to come back! 

      This week during personal study I opened up the paper back copy of the Book of Mormon that my first missionaries gave me. There is something about that particular copy that makes me feel the spirit so strongly. Those were the pages I turned as the spirit witnessed of its truth for the first time. Each time I open it I am filled with so much love for the Word, and a desire to keep reading and never put it down. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ lives and He loves us so much!! It is only because of Him that we can return to our Father in Heaven, and grow and feel joy in this life! We are unprofitable servants, verse 21 is my favorite!

Mosiah 2:20-25

20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another--

21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another--I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

25 And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.

We didn't take many pictures this week, but here are a few!

Update!

This week has been so good! I think I have grown more this
week than at any other point in my mission this far. I know Heavenly
Father loves me so much and is so aware of me!
      A miracle in our work this week was our lesson with Harry, he is
very knowledgeable about the bible, and has met with missionaries on
and off in the past. We invited Brother Masters to our lesson who was
a professor in Jerusalem, and is also very knowledgeable about the
scriptures. They went back and forth looking at scripture verses for a
little while before we finished our lesson. When we did share, it was
pure and simple testimony. When we finished Harry told us he has never
met anyone who had placed such an emphasis on Christ and His atonement
when sharing the gospel. We were sad to hear that, but grateful that
he knew now. Without Christ there would be no gospel, there would be
no scripture, and there would be no way back to our Father in Heaven.
I love my Savior Jesus Christ so so so much and am so thankful for
grace and mercy that can be applied because of Him. I have learned
that when God speaks truth to your heart though His spirit, you will
continue to find those same truths as you study the scriptures.
      Also, another guy we are teaching named Jose came to church with
his daughter for the first time this week! He has also met with
missionaries in the past, but says he wants to be baptized, and keep
his commitments, so we are excited! So many people came to welcome him
after church, it was so great!
      We also had two baptisms this weekend that were wonderful! I
will send pictures in a separate email because there are a lot 😊

Love,
Sister Kirkpatrick

Hiking Last P-day!

Happy Monday :)

Sorry for the abundance of pictures this week, but Angel was
baptized on Saturday!!! I love their family so much! They were the
first lesson I got to go to in the mission field! She has overcome so
much and grown tremendously! There is a new light in her eyes and it
is truly amazing! I saw God's hand so much in so many people's lives
at the baptism. Not only did Angel take a huge step of faith, but
others were touched by her decision as well! Her brother has been
there to support her son at his baptism, as well as Angel at hers.
This time he was so moved, and said that it has been a long time since
he's had religion in his life, and cried, it was so moving to see! It
was also so amazing to see Brother Labbee so emotional, performing his
first baptism. Someone joked that he was taking longer to get ready
afterwards than her, and another brother later told us that it was
because he was on his knees praying in the restroom! His wife also
told us that he had been praying and practicing so much for the
baptism! I couldn't think of anyone better to perform the baptism, he
is so close to God, and was so moved by the experience! It was such a
spiritual experience, and so great to see God working in the lives of
His children.

      This week has been so great! I am exhausted!! We had a lot of
first lessons with people and found those the Lord has been preparing!
😊 we also saw so many people grow as they shared their testimonies
this week! I have learned that it is so true that our testimonies grow
when we share them, "a testimony is found in the baring of it"! We
were sad because a lot of people didn't come to church, and really sad
when we thought Randy wasn't there. Then out of the blue we see him
walking up to the front of the chapel! Not only did he come to church
on his own, but he went up to share his testimony during fast and
testimony meeting!!! We were so happy and proud of him!!! 😊
      A wise return sister missionary 😉 just told me, "your mission
is not the best thing OF your life, it is the best thing FOR your
life!" I believe that whole heartedly. It's hard work, and you just
want to take a break sometimes, but I know this is where the Lord
wants me. It is such a short time in the big picture of eternity and
even this life. God has already given me 21 years, the least I can do
is devote one and a half to Him! I am learning and growing so much,
and trying to become the daughter of God He intended me to be!
      I love you all so much and am so grateful for your support!

Love,
Sister Kirkpatrick ❤️

More Miracles

We saw so many miracles in our week that it is hard to pick a
few! We had a few people come to church for the first time this Sunday with us! We have been meeting with a man named Randy (pictured in the
back), who has not been to church in 15 years, for about a month now.
We have invited him to church each week but he didn't come for one
reason or another. This Saturday we went to remind him but he wasn't
home, so we left a sticky note saying we would be back in the morning
to walk with him to church. He was surprised when we actually showed
up, but he got ready and came with us, and stayed the whole time!
Later that day when we had our lesson with him we asked him how it was
and he said that He saw God's hand so much in his life that day! He
said he went to sleep really late, but he set an alarm anyways,
thinking he might sleep through it; it never even went off but he said
he was wide awake before it was even supposed to. He said that even
then he thought that he might not go, but when we showed up he said he
couldn't say no. Then when we got to church he ran into the stake
president and was so warmly welcomed and made an instant connection!
The Sunday school teacher introduced himself to him after sacrament
meeting and led him to his class! Then in the next class, elders
quorum, he found out that the men had a special fast for that Sunday that more men would come into the ward, whether they would be new or
returning! He was overwhelmed by God's love! It was one miracle after
another! I have learned that a miracle is something that happens with
divine intervention that otherwise would not happen! God is so great!
     Also, Cassius and his mom came, they are pictured below! He
brought his Bible that we gave him with him and has been tabbing it!
He really like it and begged his mom to let him stay for Sunday school
even though they were only supposed to stay one hour, and she let him!
He is so sweet! When we met with him this week, we finished our lesson
and he said is it okay if I ask a question off topic? And we said
sure! And he said so what time do you wake up? What time do you go to
work? How much does a mission cost? We told him, and he said I wanna
go on a mission! Haha his mom told him to start saving! She is such a
good supportive mom!
     We are adjusting to life as a trio... Our new sister is really
nice! She's from Texas!
     I appreciate hearing from you all in your emails! I love and
miss you, time is flying though! 😊


Love,
Sister Kirkpatrick

Hello everyone!

     The greatest joy in my work this week came from seeing how God
provides opportunities for His children to grow! Angel was supposed to
be baptized this past Saturday, but moved it to next Saturday because
she wanted the bishop to be able to be there. She is still being so
strong in not smoking, we are so proud of her! Her social anxiety
seems to have gone away as well; when we invited her to an activity at
church about a month ago she didn't know if she could because there
would be a lot of people there. This week we went to the chapel and
found her and her husband helping clean up after an event and talking
to all sorts of new people. We have seen such a change in both of
them! The bishop was there as well, so we asked him if he could do the
baptism. He thought about it for a moment then asked another man who
was there helping as well if he would like to do it. It was so
perfect, the man he asked was recently baptized a few years ago
himself, and has never been able to perform a baptism! He looked
nervous but excited and said he couldn't wait to tell his wife! That
strengthened my testimony that we are here to learn and grow and God
gives us so many opportunities to do just that in His gospel! God
entrusts us with responsibility to serve each other for our benefit! I
have learned that as long as we are seeking to follow God, and are
willing to follow where He asks us to go, He will guide, and show us
the way!
      This mission truly is helping me to grow closer to Jesus Christ
in so many ways. I am learning more about Him and the things he taught
during His ministry, and the church He established, as well as His
characteristics. I realize that I do not naturally possess those
characteristics, such as charity, virtue, knowledge, patience, and
humility; but I can pray for them! And with Christ's help I can start
to develop them. I will never be perfect, but I can strive each day to
be the daughter of God He knows I can be. We are studying and working
on a different attribute each week, this week I am working on virtue!
I need it 😊


     Sister Lopez turned 21 on Tuesday! Her stake president from
Mexico had a cake sent to her! 😊 it was so sweet! Then we had non
alcoholic Pima coladas to celebrate!

    This weekend was a cold rainy one! We were happy to get into our
warm dry beds on Saturday night!

   Hope you are all doing well and feeling my prayers for you! ❤️

Love,
Sister Kirkpatrick

Crazy news!!!

      Sister Lopez and I just got some crazy news!!! It is transfers
week! So every 6 weeks we will get a phone call to tell us weather or
not one or both of us will be going to new areas. She is training me
for the first twelve weeks so we assumed and hoped with everything in
us that we would stay together! We just got a phone call saying that
we will both be staying, but we will be getting a new sister! So we
will be in a trio instead of a companionship for at least 6 weeks! So
sister Lopez will be training 2 people and I  guess I will be a
trainer and a trainee! This adds a whole new dimension. On the one
hand, idk where we are going to put all of our things, and someone
will be on an air mattress, but on the other hand we will be
invincible! Haha we will be able to go into any home even if there is
only a single man home because there will be three of us! The Lord
knows exactly what He is doing, so I know it will be great!! 🙈😀
     Sister Lopez and I have had another great week! We have had so
many great lessons centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ! We have
been teaching Angel for awhile now, who has been trying to stop
smoking. We have done our best to center every principle we teach on
Christ and His atonement, but having a lesson with her solely on the
Atonement impacted her so much! I was able to share a quote by
president Hinckley from the talk "The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope" by
James E. Faust, with her, and I think it really struck a cord and
helped her understand what Christ has done for us, by taking our place
and paying for our sins. The next day we went back to see how she was
doing with not smoking, and she told us she was drawing the line. She
was really going to stop this time because she really wanted to take
the sacrament and    show Christ how much she cared about what He did
for her and be baptized! I have always known that you must be built on
a firm foundation of Christ, and how powerful the atonement is, but I
am continuing to learn that more and more on my mission. It is so
amazing to see the atonement working in the lives of others! She was
absolutely glowing when she showed up to church and told us not only
had she not smoked, but she had been around someone smoking and not
asked for one, and even been offered a cigarette and declined! There
is so much strength in the atonement!
     We had our next lesson with Cassius, the boy that I wrote to
you about last week. We were so excited because his mom told us that
he cried after we left last time because he felt the spirit so
strongly when he prayed. When we sat down for the lesson however, his
father told us we could teach him but he did not want us to talk about
the Book of Mormon. We were able to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ
still, but it strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon as
another testament of Jesus Christ, because for the first time I wasn't
allowed to share verses from it to testify of Christ, or give him a
copy to help him draw nearer to Christ. I love the Bible with all of
my heart, but I am also so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the
further light it sheds on the Savior and all that He has done for us.
The two are one in God's hand!


                          Our terrible cake we made for my two year anniversary being baptized!

 

The amazing quote on the atonement I shared with Angel!

 

  Katie Stewart who has been awesome in coming to our lessons with us!



 

 

Porky pine!

 

 And I had dinner with Elder Bishops cousin!!! It was so neat running
into her!!!

Love you all!
Sister Kirkpatrick

Update through pictures :)

   Sister Lopez and I have had a wonderful week! We have been busy,
which is good. This week we asked a sister who just came back from her
mission to go to a lesson with us, and it ended up falling through. We
went to our back up plan, and she agreed to go with us to see if they
were home. We knocked on the door of a woman who was raised in the
gospel but no longer attends church, who is married to a Muslim man.
She said they have always given their children the choice of how they
want to worship God, and have just tried to teach them correct
principles. She has another son who is studying to be a Protestant
minister! It is amazing to see so much love, tolerance, and acceptance
in one family. She told us she would talk to her younger son and see
if he was interested in talking to us, so we went to follow up. She
said he was sick and wasn't sure he was ready to meet with us, but he
came to the door, and agreed to watch our Easter video! After showing
it, seeing what he thought about it, and sharing some of our own
thoughts, he said a closing prayer, and we asked him if we could come
back and meet with him again, or if he wanted more time to think about
it like his mom had mentioned. Without hesitation he said, "I want you
to come back!", it was so sweet! We are excited to meet with him next
week!
      This week I learned that we can develop faith in a particular
principle, by first believing in Christ strongly enough to obey His
commandments. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the
doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." -John
7:17.
      As President Uchtdorf said, "As we increase in faith, we must
also increase in faithfulness." We won't be perfect, but we must do
our best by choosing each day to follow our Savior.
      Today marks two years since I was baptized. It is one of the
best decisions I have ever made, because it has drawn me closer to my
Savior and allowed me to have the constant companionship of the Holy
Ghost, and learn so much more from God!




These are the Tippets! My dad sent a new bike for me and Brother
Tippets (one of the ward mission leaders) assembled it! I am blessed
beyond belief! They are such amazing people, it is truly a sign of
God's love that they are in my first area, they do so much for us! We
got to watch the second session of general conference with them, and
they made fruit and cracker trays for us to snack on! Also they make
amazing malts! 😊