Oct 22nd

I always feel so rushed when we email on P-day, one hour goes by SO fast! It's so pretty here! When I got here I was so nervous. The mission President and his wife first took us to the Portland Temple...oh my beauTiful! Then we went to the mission home and ate sandwiches and grapes (I thought of the Scott children...miss them!) Then we drove an hour and a half to the beach....in the center of the beach (not where I live, in another city) there's a HUGE rock. The rock is our theme for the Salem Mission (D&C 6:34). Then President told each of us that if we build upon the rock we cannot fail, each one of us wrote our fears on a piece of paper and buried the paper in the sand is was really cool. I may do a lot of things on my mission but...I will NOT fail!
Tell Michelle Walton that I met Morgan Ellot, she's a trainer in my area but, not mine :(
How is everyone? How are my Sissys?
The days are long and fast, I need time to soak it all in...I need a nap...tell Aunt Cindee every day about 3pm I think of her!
Tell anyone who wants to write me that I love email but snail mail is the way to go! I have so little time on P-day to answer them all.

Love you with all that I am

Sister Z

Oct 21st

Hey !!!!

Its been so long since I've been able to email. I Miss Y'ALL!!!! I have been assigned to Rockaway Beach, OR... yep that's right my apartment is less than a mile from the beach its pretty sweet. Monday,Wednesday, and Friday my companion and I run on the beach. My trainer/companion is Sister Redd...she's awesome !!!! I love her! When I was first assigned to this area I had two companions.. Sister Redd and Sister Francis....but Sister Francis was waiting for her vista...she just left yesterday for Brazil (different mission then Nate). There's not a lot of members here...the branch consists of about 30 members all over the age of 40.... Sister Redd and I are determined to find families and make this branch a ward.... Yesterday at church, while having a conversation in my head.. I told myself I was bound and determined to pull a "Sister Bush on the neah-kah-nie branch"..... its going to be great... the people here are really nice... the people cant say Zubicki.... I know the refer to me as the "little black one"....hahahha

I'm a car rider no Sisters in the Salem mission ride bikes..... glory glory hallelujah...!

It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be leaving Sister White... she is serving in Bend with Sister Frampton.... I do miss her though....I know we'll serve together again.

 

From now on my P-day will be on Monday.

 

I forgot to tell you that I had to give a talk on the Book of Mormon when I was at the MTC... I used Dads story and my Bishop told me that It was the best talk his ever heard... I also forgot to tell you that I got to be a host for the new missionaries...which was really cool.

 

Did you mail me any prizes yet?

Are you still with child?

Do my sisters still remember me?

Did you mail the camera charger?

 

Things I need/want

 

-hair gel

-pens & pencils

-fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-make up bag/nail kit( I left it at home)

 

if anyone wants to send letters or packages the address is :

P.O. BOX 514 Rockaway Beach,OR 97136

 

if you want to send packages to the mission home they have to be mailed through USPS...

700 Deborah Rd Ste 260  Newberg,OR 97132

 

xoxo

Sister Z

Oct 16th

Kiarra flew out this morning from Utah to Oregon. She is officially on location! She got to call from the airport and in true "Hutchens" style we talked until the plane was boarding! She had so much to say....in just two weeks she had the air of an adult about her, she sounded so much more grown up than the girl we knew just a few weeks ago. She landed safely in Oregon and meet up with her Mission President and his wife. We are not sure yet when her P-day is but, I'm sure it won't be Friday any more, most likely Monday or Tuesday, have to wait till next week to see.

Kiarras new address is:

Sister Kiarra Tayva Zubicki
700 Deborah Road #260
Newberg, OR 97132

Oct 11th

Hey :)

This as been such a long and hard week! and the fact that I have been really tired and I have a cold isn't making it any better. Sister White and I have taught two investigators... which was really hard... yesterday we taught Alejandro. And hes hard to teach.. He likes Bible bashing which Sister White and I aren't really good at .... YET! Our teacher taught us a cool way to mark our Scriptures.. so Sister White and I will be going to get a new hard back copy of the Bible and BOM after emailing. Nothing about being a missionary is easy !! NOTHING! This is by far the hardest thing I've ever done.  But I reassure myself that If I couldn't do this I wouldn't have been called!

Today my zone did a session at the Provo Temple... It was really awesome.. I feel like I now have a spiritual boost that will get me through the next week :)
On Wednesday my District was asked to be Host for the new missionaries.. It was the coolest experience and such a honor... I got to show 3 new missionaries around the MTC :)

Okay now to say what I need/want :)

- warm socks
- another black skirt (the one I brought is to short)
- hot red candies...you know the ones I love!
- I cant find the camera charger.. did I leave it in dads car?
- The box that is on my floor with all the clothes in it. ( you should probably wait to send me this stuff until after I get to Oregon)

Things I'm dying without:)

- McDonald fries
- Taco Bell
- long hot baths
- my bed & closet
- cookies stinky blanket
- dads hugs
- moms voice
- scouts pictures and humor
- sissy's late night chats and dates

I'm really grateful for the emails, Dear Elders, letters, and packages... It keeps me going when I feel like I can't.

Miss yall and Love yall !!!!

XOXO Sister Z

Oct 7th

I should probably first say YES mom, I am getting my letters from dear elder...I'm very grateful for them! I also got the cinnamon rolls ----> my roommates and I are VERY grateful for them! Everyone in my zone was jealous I got a package...I felt so special!
Conference was amazing! Being at the MTC, as a missionary....watching conference was the greatest experience of my life thus far! (NO dad I did not get to meet Uchtdorf, no I did NOT ask, cause I'm not trying to be the weird kid in class!...sorry)
Yesterday the missionaries at the MTC got the honor of seeing a group of men from BYU who sang acapella (Pitch Perfect Style) it was awesome!
After that my zone and I went to watch a talk Elder Bednar gave on Christmas last year at the MTC. The talk was titled "The Character of Christ". In order to become like Christ we must put off the natural man. Bednar uses the example of Christ in Matthew 4......Christ fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, he was then tempted by Satan. In verse 11..."then the devil leaveth him and behold and angels came and ministered unto him" The footnote "angels" means and....now Jesus knew that John was cast into prison and he sent angels and behold, they came and ministered unto him. Christ didn't eat for 40 days and 40 nights...and HE SENT ANGELS TO MINISTER UNTO JOHN WHOM WAS IN PRISON! He wasn't worried about himself, he was worried about John and knew what he needed. The character of Christ is love, compassion and service unto others. As members of the church and sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven we should be on a pathway to Heaven! We have to be converted to him. If one of our Apostles were to fall away from the church, to teach false doctrine.....it should not affect us, if we are converted to Christ. Our testimony leads to conversion. But, testimony alone is not enough. A testimony is knowing but, true conversion is living what we know! When we apply the atonement of Christ the Lord, we can put off the natural man. Returning back to find everlasting joy and happiness. After that talk I am hoping, striving, and praying that the Greatest Convert On My Mission Is ME!
Love you like a Fat Kid loves cake!Sis Z

Oct 5th

Today is Oct 5th and it's really cold. Yesterday it was snowing, crazy huh?
We have an appointment on Monday to teach an investigator named Belinda, she was referred to us by a member. As a missionary, we rely a lot on the spirit; the spirit guides us on what to say, when and how we should say it. It's hard putting off the natural man and listening to the spirit....you know me being so natural and all :)
I find myself saying "what do I think they need" when in reality it has nothing to do with me. I'm just the voice, I listen to the spirit and then talk; I am just the messenger......it's hard but, I LOVE it!
I'm so happy I'm here! It's awesome!
I am very grateful for my letters and a family who loves me!
Sis White and I share a room with two other Sisters, it's true they pair you with who you need and who will strengthen you....I am SO paired with the right sister!
I feel like I've been here for months. The days are long and super rushed, it's crazy! Next week on P-day we get to go to through the Provo Temple and I'm all like Yee Haw, let's do it! (People here don't get Yee Haw so much, they'll learn)    ;)
I leave on the 16th for Oregon so, BE BY YOUR PHONE!
Yes I am the only "brownie" in my district....but there are other brownies at the MTC (only you mom!)

Love & miss you!

Sister Z

Oct 4th

Email received on Oct 4th........

HEYY!!!!

I'm alive and I'm happy to say that I have successfully completed my first 2 full days at the MTC. So many emotions !! It's hard... really hard.. I'm overwhelmed.. but I'm so HAPPY to be here. This place is amazing.. so amazing !!! My companion is Sister White, I love her. She gets me, she  gives me strength, she's exactly what I need. Even though its only been 2.5 days, I feel like I've known her forever!!! She's severing in Salem, she's 19 and from UT.

Later on today we are going to be giving our first discussion together, we will be teaching a man named Alejandro. He's 34 years old, two kids, married, a Catholic Priest, and he wants to know more about our church. We Sister White and I when given this assignment we were unsure of what to teach...what to say.. together we prayed... and for the first time in my whole life I received revelation... we both did.. we both looked at each other and said at the same time.. Book Of Mormon.. It was such an amazing experience. I'm having a hard time relying on the spirit...on recognizing it and listening to it.. But  I know I will get there. 

Be sure to tell Grandma that I'm not having a hard time with getting up at 630 and only having 30 mins to get ready.... and I also make my bed in the mornings.. She'll be so proud. :)

My P-day is on Friday while I'm at the MTC... I'm sure it will change when I get to OR. 

 

I just found out today that I'm the travel leader.. when we go to Salem... Travel leader means I have to make sure everyone gets to the airport, checks in, gets on the plane, and get's from the airport to the mission home... so pretty much I'm "Sister - Elder - Babysitter". I also found out today that Sister White and I are the only Sisters going to Salem on the 16th... everyone else is Elders.

 

Pray, pray often, Read the BOOK OF MORMON! My sisters need that! Teach them...teach them the fundamentals of our church.. show them... show them the importance of our gospel. Apply it... they need to know where to turn to when life is hard... and good... You have to teach them....They need this gospel just as much as they need food... this gospel is a NECESSITY...don't let them put you off or turn away...teach them, guide them, walk beside them....drag them kicking and screaming if you have it! :)

 

I miss you guys and I love you guys so much. Send me packages and prizes !!! I'm so happy to be a missionary. Give everyone a hug and kiss for me.

 

xoxo

Sister Z 

First Letter

WOW! The first day at the MTC has been REALLY overwhelming! My companion is Sis White, she's from Utah, and she's AWESOME! We are perfect for each other. When I walked through the MTC doors the spirit was radiating, it's amazing here! Love it <3!

Sis White and I are the only sisters in our district that are going to OR. There are two other sisters in our district, they are going to Las Vegas. Everyone here is really nice and super friendly, it's SO cool! There is a tree here that smells like cream soda -----> Yum!

Today after dinner (which is at 4pm...seriously!) we went into a room....there was myself, Sis White and about 60 other missionaries and we were to teach a man to "come unto Christ" it was....the biggest slice of humble pie I've ever had....but, it was tasty ;) Knowing that I don't have an answer for everything and learning to rely on the spirit is hard.

The days are so rushed and on top of that I forgot my shampoo and conditioner :(
My zone leaders are Sis Hyer and Sis Tate (they are leaving next week for Washington).
I miss you guys so much! Be stronger than ever, keep me in your prayers! Keep your relationship with the Christ strong, work on it everyday!

Love you Forever,

Sister Z

The Delivery

Dad and I drove from Arizona to Utah on Sept 30th. We meet up with Elders Wynn and Strong, they are Logan and Scott now but it's hard for us to call them that. It was dads first time to Temple Square so there was tons to see and we tried to do it all. It was a lot of fun and I so appreciated the one on one time with dad. Mom stayed home because she's nine months pregnant, Piper (my one year old sister) can only ride about 3 minutes in her car seat without coming unglued and Mikalla (the 15 year old) and Scout (the 10 year old) had end of quarter exams at school.
Dad delivered me to the MTC in Provo on October 2nd, it was extremely hard for him.....I seemed to handle it much better. Afterwards he said he has never been more grateful than he was when he found the "cry lot"....very similar to the cell phone lot at the airport but this is for departures rather than returning :)