Praying for Patience!

Sister M & I are still keepin in real together, 6 months...we MUST be the dynamic duo! :)
Don't be a hater! :)~

Christmas was amazing! The member families took care of us and we could NOT be more grateful! 

So, 3 weeks ago we were out visiting some inactive members, we went to a members home that has been inactive for many many years. We said a prayer that we could bring the right message into her home, to bless us with the words that would open her heart to the church again. After knocking A--- opened the door and we asked if we could come in and share a message with her, she said no not right now. We asked if we could come later that evening or perhaps the following day, again she said no. So, I asked when would be a good time for us to come by, she said "Never, NEVER come back again!" And slammed the door.....quite a bit harder than was actually needed to close it! ;)

Then.....this past Sunday guess who we see at church?! Yep, there A--- is, live in living color! After sacrament meeting we make our way toward her, ready to wrap her up in the love of our Savior and shower her with any service we can provide, I literally was brought to tears just to see her there! As we got close enough to be able to speak before I could open my mouth, she said "Never, its still NEVER okay to come by!" There was no door to slam so, she walked off very forcefully! I don't know if our very existence was enough to stir up enough anger in her that she felt compelled to come to church just to tell us to stay the heck away but, my motto....whatever gets em' there! I'm counting her as a win! HA!!!!

So many things have happened and I have learned more than I ever thought possible while serving. Most recently I have been touched by prayer, the power of prayer. So many, a virtual army really, prayed for my baby sister Mattilee to be healed, to return safely home to my family and their...our prayers, were heard and answered......Many years ago I met a missionary serving in my grandmothers ward, she had such a strong presence, her words held power like I had never known. I remember looking at her and thinking I hope to have her strength one day, I hope to have her testimony. When I was contemplating going on a mission my thoughts often turned to her and the impact she had on my life, I went into this hoping that I could touch just one life the way she had touched mine. My mother had her write me about her mission, she gave me some advice and bore her testimony to me, my mother gave the note to me in a book with many others on the day I entered the MTC. I have looked at her words many times and found strength in them, and have been so grateful for the change she caused in my life. I was sadden to hear that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is fighting a battle that has shown itself to be extremely powerful. Sister Patience Bush (now Patience Boehme), I have prayed so deeply and so fervently for your recovery, for your family, for your husband, for your sweet daughter....I know that prayers are heard and answered, I know that the Lord hears our words and I ask that all who read mine, please keep her and her family in your prayers. 

I love you all!

XOXO

Sis Z

Sister Zubicki would love to hear from all of her friends & family

Sister Kiarra Zubicki

3463 Northwest Knollwood Dr

Albany, OR

97321

I was born to Stand OUT!

Transfers have come and gone and Sis M and I are still down like four flat tires! (We are staying together!) I have thought a lot this week about me, who I am and how I fit into this world.....too much thought on a subject like that can drive a sista to eating her own hair! :)

I didn't find "the" answer...maybe I didn't find an answer at all because maybe there isn't an answer....it's all a work in progress, line upon line, precept upon precept, building and forming who we are and how we fit and then comes the next step, the next layer and we begin to build again....maybe we wonder or maybe it's just me and I wonder...constantly, who I am and how I find my place in this new adventure because "it's" not supposed to be comfortable, "it's" not supposed to be easy....we have to continue to push forward, to search inside ourselves, to find our strength, to find our purpose, to find our inner us and when we do, when we fit in and sit comfortably down in our "place".....it is time to grow and change again. Life is not A lesson, there is not one learning, we will not succeed in this "thing" we are currently battling and find ourselves atop it, victors, and reign in complete bliss and happiness after. HA! Our time here on earth is the trial, it is the lesson, constantly changing as we change, constantly growing as we grow....as we overcome, the trials will grow and change with us....this week I have searched, pondered, and prayed about who I am and how I fit into this world and my finding is that I am a Child of God, a daughter of my Father in Heaven and in that there is comfort and in that there is peace. I am not here to find my place, or to silently fall into line, I am not here to fit in; I was born to stand up, to rise up, to teach and preach, to search out and build up, I was born to the stand out! :)

XOXO

Sis Z

Cat on my Back!

We teach once every six weeks at our Zone meeting (approximately 30 missionaries are there) it's extremely stressful and I about go into full on DT's every time it's our turn to teach! But.....everyone seems to love it when we teach so....before the meeting I prayed soooooooo hard about what we needed to teach....and I was prompted to start off our teaching a little differently than we normally do.... so we went up to the front of the room and asked all the Elders and Sisters to move their belongings to behind their chairs.... we asked one of the Sisters to come to the front and sing "Abide with me"....and Sister M and I got down on our hands and knees and wiped off the shoes of each elder and sister.... the spirit was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo strong .... everyone was balling like a baby (especially me!). It was a very humbling experience for Sister M and I but also for those that were in attendance.

We were having dinner the other night with one of our Favorite families and their son said that he could put 35 grapes in his mouth....um, well I bet you can't put 40 in there! (My response) And the bet was on! Below is a picture of the outcome, 40 grapes! ;)

Sis M & I took some us time and made shirts last week, below is mine....Every time I see it...it makes me giggle! Oh the little joys we can find in the world!

We have a new investigator and he LOVES hunting and outdoors and bows and guns and all that junk daddy loves! So, I have tried to talk my best "hunting, bullets and guns" lingo....I'm not sure if I sound like I know what I'm talking about or just a raving lunatic! Either way he thinks we're pretty funny and he let me wear one of his animals :)

I miss you guys SO much that sometimes it literally hurts! Sis M thinks Scout is the funniest person in the world...and we laughed until we cried at Mik's "walk of shame" pictures! Daddy your letter made me cry....twice and mommy, I love you...seriously LOVE you! 

Pipes & Sayler, you two make my heart smile! I cannot wait to kiss your cheeks!

Stay True!

Sis Z's latest and greatest weekly happenings:

My Young Peeps:

We have a baptism this Saturday. We are so excited! Her name is E---... she has been friends with a member of our ward for many years. She's 20 years old and she's awesome! She has been prepared by the LORD. WE ARE SOOOO EXCITED!

We have another investigator on date for Oct 30th. Her name is V---... she is also friends with the same family in our ward... the M---. They are the BEST member missionaries I have EVER come across.

My Elderly Peeps:

We've been going to see some less active sisters who live in retirement homes. We freakin love them!!!! H--- is 89 an she is a HOOT!!!!! Yesterday I said "H--- tell us a funny story." She said "Well sometimes late at night someone will try to come into my room..." And I said..." What do you do...!?" She said " I run things around here! I tell them to get the He** out of here!!!!" 

We about died laughing !!!!!!!

D--- is 94 and she is hilarious!!! The other day we were in the middle of a conversation and she looked down at the floor and said ..." Was that you making that noise ?" It took us a minute to realize she was thought my black bag was a small puppy!!!! Not her puppy...our puppy! The entire time we were there, she thought we had a small puppy that was whining and she talked to him more than she talked to us, we HAD to play along...she said "I can't believe they let you take a dog with you, is it a new missionary outreach program?" HA! I'm gong to pitch that idea at our next zone conference!

The rainy seasons here in OR just started... I'm so happy I love the winter weather here. I saw Sis E on Tuesday, she got transferred to Wood Burn and she is serving with Sister Thelin....(Sister Mathenys former companion). I loved seeing her! She has grown up so much! We just cried and cried! We are starting to bike this week (prayers SERIOUSLY)... I'm pumped! I love being a STL it is hard but I love working with other sisters!

The best part of being a missionary is watching that change that takes place in someone's life. That as we give people the tools which they have been searching for in their life and help them apply the basic principles of the gospel into their lives; they finally come to know that they are literally a son or daughter of God the Father. Because of that knowledge, they want to align their lives with his will. Knowing that a loving Father in Heaven, will take the best care of them as they hand their lives and desires over to him. I love this area and these people !!!! Whether I have 100 investigators or 1000 Book of Mormon haters....the church is true !!!!!!!! Stay true and faithful to your testimony's. Don't let anyone or anything keep you from progressing in this great gospel. You will find no greater happiness or joy than being a part of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love you ALL!

XOXO

Sis Z

Tender Mercies

 This past week has been filled with tender mercies.... Seriously it's been amazing! We taught a family.... They are from Nigeria... V--- is a doctor and M--- is a Pharmacist, they have 3 children. We met them a few weeks ago.... hahahah funny story: We were doing some night tracting and we saw them walking down the road. We waved and exchanged a quick "Hello" and continued walking. Pretty soon we realized that we should have talked to them about the gospel. So picture this 2 sister missionaries on the hunt for a couple, we were literally running up and down streets looking for them. We decided to say a prayer. I offered the prayer...I asked for forgiveness and for another opportunity to talk to this couple, and I told Father that if we saw them again no matter what we would talk to them.... after I finished the prayer we walked out to the busy road and they were walking about a mile away from us. So we ran back to our car ... and starting driving towards their direction. We pull over on a street, because yelling out the window is creepy and tacky :) ..... so we get out of the car and start walking towards them.... by this time we are both completely out of breathe... we meet with them briefly and they are SO nice and agreed to let us come teach them. We taught them yesterday it was an amazing lesson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They also made us a Nigerian meal.... it was so awesome! They asked so many great thought provoking questions! They accepted the Book of Mormon and invited us back to teach them again. We also invited them to church this Sunday. Please keep them in your prayers. We love them! Last week. Sister Matheny and I were doing our morning studies and she was reading a scripture to me and all of a sudden there was a loud bang on our sliding glass door..... we were so scared! We tip toed over to the door and guess what........... there was a bird gasping for air....... then it died.... I literally felt like I was on a Windex commercial.......the bird flew into the glass window it was sad yet......a little funny at the same time.... One thing I absolutely love love love about Oregon... is the berry bushes.... they are EVERYWHERE.... we stop so many times throughout the day to eat berries...Every once in a while I think "what if I eat the wrong kind of berry and turn into Violet from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory!" But....they are SO yummy, I'm willing to risk it! :) 
I have been blessed by the opportunity to serve a mission. I have learned so much about the character of Christ and the nature of God. I am blessed to be able to share my testimony of the tender mercies which I have seen in my life, and to be able to help others recognize the tender mercies which they have received. I love you all! Don't forget about a Sista! Keep that snail mail coming! 

XOXO

Sis Z

NEVER Ask a Woman When She's Due!

Hahahah okay seriously you guys have wayyyyy to much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahahah I literally just died laughing! The description of Scouts birthday party and ALL that happened....SO funny, you should quit your job and tell stories for a living!

This past week was really long. It has finally started cooling off... I love it! It has been 75 the past few days... Our area is really slow but we saw a really cool miracle last week. Here's what happened:

Sister Matheny and I were saying a prayer before we left our apartment to go to work... and right after we got done saying the prayer I had the strongest impression to talk to EVERYONE who was pregnant.... So I told Sister Matheny and she said .... hahah okay... we get in the car and start driving... she's driving... about 2 mins later... I yell " STOP THE CAR NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" After slamming on the brakes and both of us coming up close and personal with our seat belts,  she's like what what what's going on.... I say there is a pregnant woman back there and we NEED to talk to her. So we pull the car over.. say a prayer and get out.... we are walking up North Albany road, which is a huge super busy road, and has the biggest hill ever! So we are literally speed walking up this hill trying to catch this couple.... they are way ahead of us so I say a prayer out loud and ask Heavenly Father to slow them down so we can talk to them... and of course he does..... so, picture this.... a man and woman sitting down... 2 sister missionaries hiking up the road toward them...oh yeah and people that are driving down the road yelling " HEY SISTERS".... so the couple sees us coming and gets up and starts walking off and I'm like " HEY! How are you?!" They stop and we start talking to them and I wanted so badly to ask her when she was due but I didn't.... thank goodness! Cause moments later we find out she's NOT PREGNANT she is having stomach problems and had just left the hospital.... so I teach her about the priesthood and ask her if she would like a blessing from the elders and she said sure... (she doesn't live in our area).... so we exchanged info and we decided to say a prayer with her..... we all hold hands and say a prayer... and when we get done praying she said through tear filled eyes,  I know God is aware of me because he just spoke through the two of you. It was the coolest thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We spoke yesterday in sacrament meeting. Afterwards so many people told me how amazing my talk was and how much they cried. While getting ready to leave, I saw a couple in the back that I have not seen before so we went to talk to them... It turns out that she's a member of only 2 years and the guy she was with isn't.. He said to me "Sister thank you so much for your talk and testimony ..... I will be attending church every Sunday "... then he said "For some reason I felt like your talk was only for me.. like you were talking directly to me".... it was so cool.. the elders are working with them now...oh yeah I don't think I told you that we share a ward with elders.

Sister Mathenys brother is leaving for his mission next month, her family told her they saw Grandma at the temple.... Sister Mathenys mom told her that she just cried when she saw " Sweet little Sister Hutchens".... so cool! I LOVE Grandma and her sweet spirit!

This week has been filled with blessings and as you can see, a lot of praying! Don't have much time today so I have to cut this letter short.

I love you ALL! Tell Granny I'm glad her party was bomb.com and I can't wait to be there next year! You are SO seriously the most amazing mom ever and I am crazy lucky to have you! Love you more than a fat kid loves cake!

Sis Z

#1 in "Mission Love"

So much has happened this past week, where to begin....when we got to Albany we didn't have a place to live. So we've been leaving with some sisters in our mission. We finally got moved in on Saturday and we big fat LOVE our apartment! It's so HUGE! (Remember I spent the last 6 weeks in a shoe box) We live with a member, in her basement. It is so nice!

We are sharing a ward with a companionship of elders.... the ward is pretty small just a little bigger than a branch. My companion is Sister Matheny, grandma knows her mom. We are STL's together and we are having a BLAST! We decided as a companionship that we would get bikes???? I know RIGHT?! I was recently almost killed on a bike :) hahahahahahahahhahahaha Never did I ever think that would come out of my mouth. This mission is all about facing fears, doing what I haven't done, throwing myself into the uncomfortable, doing what scares me and...yes riding a bike....in a skirt....in the 100 degree (EXTRA Humid) heat! Fairly sure I Won't put the big blue "Let the Holy Spirit Guide" sticker on my helmet.....but, I'll keep you posted ;) We are really excited! So this week we are looking for bikes.

We taught this past week at zone training meeting....the spirit was so strong! We are not really sure what everyone else thought about it... but we feel like we were Rock Stars! We are speaking in sacrament meeting not this Sunday but the following Sunday..... we are talking about missionary work, I'm centering my talk around the quote... "Preach the gospel, and when necessary uses words."

Oh, maybe I should have started off by saying; we are serving in Albany, OR in the Takena Ward. We taught relief society yesterday on eternal marriage. I talked about thinking and accepting that I would never be sealed to my family and shared dads conversation story everyone was crying it was great! (Is it a little strange that I think everyone crying is great?!) We have a new investigator named K--- she came to church yesterday and we are teaching her this Thursday, we are really excited!!!!!!!!!!! Pray for us and for her.

Sis Z Follies:

~ Almost stepped on 3 snakes this week! How can I keep my eye on the goal when I have to constantly stare at the ground for fear of losing a foot to a snake bite! :/

~Got chased down the road by a man yelling "Your church is a cult!" Yes chasing implies running cause I'm not sure what was going to happen if he caught us but, the large stick did not imply we would be getting warm hugs and ice cream! Sis Z was gettin it! ;)

~I have had FIVE meetings this week! Someone decided being on a mission is like having a job....the nerve of some people ;)

Did I mention I LOVE my companion? Cause I do, I really really do! And did I mention that I'm not keeping score or anything but when it comes to families and the "mission love" mine is Far & Away #1!

My message to y'all this week is hold tight! Hold tight to each other, hold tight to those you love and hold tight to those who love you. Never let go of the teachings of the Church. Hold tight to your testimony....it is true that if you don't use something you will lose it.....it may be sacred and one of your most truest possessions but, it's not a secret; SHARE it and watch it Grow! Hold tight to your standards, never bend....bending leads to breaking. There will always be something to test us, to try to measure our strength...our commitment, how easy is it to be valiant when the storms rage and we cry out for the Lords help and guidance....in calm waters we must always show our gratitude and hold tight to the ordinances we have made with our Father in Heaven. Hold tight to the scriptures; feast upon their words, for all that you seek is held within them.

I love you ALL! Mom & Granny Happy Birthday this week! Next year I will be there to help y'all get your party on! Daddy...I am SO lucky I get to call you dad! Mik you are absolutely beautiful! I love getting your letters, you make me laugh out loud, you are almost as funny as me! Pipe and Stella, big sissy loves you to the moon and back!

AND WHAT ARE WE NAMING MY NEW SISTER?????

XOXO

Sis Z

Sister Zubickis new address is:

3463 North West Knollwood Dr

Albany, OR

97321

The Wreck!

ATTENTION PEEPS: I'm getting transferred, going out on my own

as a Sister Training Leader! There has been a change in

transfers which means we get transferred on Tuesdays instead of

Mondays. We will also be taking a 6 week break from iPads which means

I will not have my iPad for a while. We feel it's what the

missionaries in our mission need to regain their focus and dedication

to serving The Lord.

This past week has LITERALLY been one heck of a ride ! This past week

I went on an exchange with sister Williams... It was so great but

that's beside the point. When I get to her area she says "Sister Z

how do you feel about riding bikes ?" I said " that's totally fine...

Who wouldn't want to ride bikes in 100 degree weather ?" Hahahahahha

so we get to their apartment and get the bikes. The bike I'm riding

belongs to a sister who is a good foot an a half taller than

me...which means the seat of the bike was at my arm pit when I was

standing next to it... So picture this. Me, trying to get on a freakin

horse with a skirt on... 100 degrees outside... With a big blue helmet

that has a sticker on it that says "let the Holy Spirit guide" . I

have no idea how to ride a bike in a skirt so, to everyone who

says "it's just like riding a bike".....obviously is under the impression

that one has previously conquered the whole bike riding "thing....in a skirt!"

It is indeed a challenge. Soooooo, we are riding along for what feels like

10 miles :) and Sister Williams says "I'm going on the road, Sis Z you

go on the sidewalk."

Whoa wait WHAT!? Aren't we supposed to stay together?!

I'm a big girl and on the sidewalk I go...Everything is fine and all of a

sudden BAM I'M ON THE GROUND... IN THE MIDDLE OF ON

COMING TRAFFIC. I literally felt like I was in a movie!!!!!

Everything was in slow motion... I just stopped and looked around *****

It was so funny and so intense! I took my minor brush with death

as the Lord impressing upon me that he had made me a "car-riding" missionary

for a reason! So we went back to the house and got the car.... I'm not trying

to stereotype but.....brown people in skirts should not ride bikes!

Brother S--- (our investigator) got baptized on Saturday! Seriously

the S--- family is so amazing! They have changed by life! Seeing him be

baptized by his son and exit the water, shining with the light of the Lord,

filled me with such joy!

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER !

(The Wreckage)

Please send mail to:

Sister Kiarra Zubicki

Salem Oregon Mission

700 Deborah Rd # 260

Newberg, OR

97132

Aunt Jemima Lite!

Hey, hey now..... This is what dreams are made of :)

 It's so hot! This past week has been long, hot, yet faith building.

The members of the Newberg 1st Ward are on fire. They are anxiously

engaged in the Lords work! It is amazing!

D--- (our investigator) was going to be baptized this coming week but, sadly we had to push it back because of some personal reasons. It was heartbreaking but, it was needed. We will be teaching him on Wednesday with our Mission President....can we say stressful!

We sang in church yesterday and I sang part of the hymn solo....that's right insert left leg, right leg...big girl pants are on! We sang Joseph Smiths First Prayer to the Come Thy Fount tune, it was AWESOME! I think I did Grandma proud :) Two of our investigators were there to see us and I could feel the spirit as the words so sound and true came forth.

Funny moment of the week:

We had dinner with Sister M--- on Wednesday, she is this little bitsy tiny thing. We get there and she has a friend there whom she introduced us to, he's so stinky cute and old and wrinkly and has more southern twag than Aunt Cindee :) So right before dinner we were doing some service and he comes walking outside and says to me "ma'am' you look like the woman on the syrup bottle....anyone e'er told you dat?" I said ummm, no I don't think I've ever heard that before. He said "Oh my, well you are so are beautiful!" So, the night goes on and during dinner out of the corner of my eye I see him drooling, yes drooling, I'm talking about he is watching me eat and there is literally water running from the side of his mouth onto the table...DROOLING! So Sister C slaps the table and yells "Y--- Get it together ain't NO body got time for that!" She scared him half to death and I fell slap out of my chair laughing! It was SO funny! And apparently I'm Aunt Jemima...I really hope I'm the lite version ;)

I'm over the half way mark and as much as I want time to hurry so I can get home to my family, I wish it would slow down so I could catch more, see more, do more, be more in the moment of this mission rather than pushing through. Sometimes I feel like the work is so "upon" us that there is never enough time to just "be." Don't get me wrong, it is glorious to see so many coming to feast upon the word of The Lord and I am blessed to have more lessons than I can handle and more investigators than I've ever had....yet, I know this is a time in my life I can never recapture, a time I can never relive, a time that will be over before I know it and already I find myself wishing of all things I had more time!

My words of "wisdom" this week are....find your place inside your life and live it. Don't lose the days, weeks, years - to having, getting, making, doing...make sure to take the small moments to smell the flowers, to walk in the tall grass, to look up at the stars, to ponder a yearning question, to close your eyes and take in the vastness of our Fathers love and the wondrous blessings we have been given to be born in this dispensation. Uchtdorf may have said it best...." Wherever you live on this earth and whatever your life’s situation may be, I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the divine power to lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness. The Lord knows your circumstances and your challenges. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we may claim the blessings promised in the covenants and the ordinances we received when we accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My dear brothers and sisters, there will be days and nights when you feel overwhelmed, when your hearts are heavy and your heads hang down. Then, please remember, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, is the Head of this Church. It is His gospel. He wants you to succeed. He gave His life for just this purpose. He is the Son of the living God." 

Find the time, to find your place inside your life and don't miss a moment of it, it is spectacular!

Thank you for the gifts and letters and love, I am SO excited for Daniel and I wish I could have been there with him as he moves ever closer to beginning his mission. I love you all and can't wait to see your faces, and sleep till noon, and go to the pool and watch Walking Dead with daddy and drink a big fat Dr Pepper and leave my clothes laying on the bathroom floor and to wear shorts....but, NOT YET! I have much work left to do!

XOXO

Sister Z

Bomb.com!

Bula vinka (hello in Fujian)

Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday Cookie girl,  Happy birthday

daddy, and Happy anniversary mommy & daddy!

My week has been filled with making sushi, interviews with President

Samuelian, catering to the needs of sisters, and learning lessons.

Seriously where do I start....

I feel like a new missionary. The amount of stress I currently have is

out of control ! I'm in a trio with two Hawaiian sisters

#getdownwithdabrown.

I had an interview with President this past week. The following is an

account of our conversation....

President : Sister Zubicki would you offer the opening prayer?

Me : sure, I would love to.

Me : Our Dear Father In Heaven.... In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

President : (immediately stares into my eyes) Sister Zubicki (in his

sacrament voice)... Are you tired of being asked if your Polynesian?

Me : hahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahahah actually yes

because I'm Fijian.

- Sister Purcell and Agader are from Hawaii and they told me I needed

to pick a island to say I'm from so I picked Fuji... They taught me

some words... I feel super cool. I can't tell you how many people

think I'm actually from Fuji :)

Sister Agader really likes to cook so we made sushi with a less active

couple this week. It was seriously so much fun****  We shared a

message about eternal marriage at the end of our lesson. It was so great!

We are also helping them build their house. They are doing the habit for

humanity program so, every Saturday we help them for a few hours.

It's super hard but really rewarding.

We had a baptism this week... Which was awesome!!! We live in

a house that is literally the size of a shoe box. I'm currently

living out of my suitcase. The ward is on fire! They've have 7

baptisms this month. <~ super exciting. We are working with a family.

The mom was baptized a few months ago as well as the daughter and the

son. We are currently working with the dad. His name is D---. He's

awesome ! I invited him to be baptized on July 12.

Keep him in your prayers...We will be teaching him on

Wednesday.  I feel like daddy needs to send D--- a letter about his

experience in joining the church.

I found out that Eggie and her baby (new companion) scheduled someone

for a baptism! I'm SO excited for them both!

We are going on an exchange on Saturday in Rockaway Beach!

I'm so pumped to see all of my peeps!

I also bucketed 1 ton of hay this weekend. It was bomb.com!

Please keep me and all of the missionaries around the world in your prayers,

we need them, some more than others but, we ALL need them!

I love you all more than I can put into words!

XOXO
Sis Z

Forgive!

TRANSFERRED!!!! OH ME OH MY! Due to said transfer I was asked

to give a talk on forgiveness and my....the soul searching and personal

struggles I had to go through to write those words...my lesson this week

is forgiveness...here are some portions of my talk:

Good morning brothers and sisters, I have three goals with my talk today…

#1 to make sure no one falls asleep,

#2 that someone other than the person who assigned me this talk, will

walk away knowing what I spoke about today

#3 to ensure before I leave the “Bend Ward” that everyone is clear on

exactly how fantastically awesome Sis Z is! :)

In life things happen to us, as children we often think bad things

only happen to us or that we are the only ones that make wrong

choices….it’s easy to look at someone and think their load is lighter

than ours or no true trial can ever have touched their perfected

world….my mom use to always tell me that no one’s life is easy, that

if everyone in the world put their shoes in a pile and all the hurt,

all the worry, the pain, the loss, the despair, that each trial faced

in life were attached to each persons shoes, that we would always chose

our own….no one can live the life you live for it is yours alone…

..................

In each of our lives there are times when we will seek forgiveness or

extend forgiveness. What is it to forgive? Why must we forgive hurt

done unto us?

D&C 64:9-10 says...

9. Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for

he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned

before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

10. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is

required to forgive all men.

In all our forgiving and seeking forgiveness, we must recognize that,

despite whatever restitution we may be capable of providing or

receiving, our efforts and those of others are woefully insufficient

to meet the demands of eternal justice. How, then, is true forgiveness

possible? Paul, in speaking to the Ephesians, wrote that it is in

Christ that “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of

sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).

The blessings that flow from the gift of forgiveness are many. Chief

among them is peace. It is the Savior’s desire that we each feel His

peace. He said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. …

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John

14:27). The forgiveness we offer to others and the forgiveness we

receive from Jesus Christ lead us to Him and along the path to eternal

life.

Because of the Savior’s perfect love for us, He willingly forgives us

if we truly repent. In return, He has asked us to be like Him and

forgive one another. It is through the Saviors infinite sacrifice that

enables you and I to forgive those who "trespass against us...

I knew once a young girl...a child of 8 years old, she was her mother’s

pride, her first born and all the family adored her. She saw life

through the eyes of a child, her imagination was unending, she brought

laughter where ever she went, and she lived life to the fullest every

minute of every day. She decided to be baptized, and her mother’s

husband, not her father by blood but, the man who had raised her and

had recently been baptized himself would perform the ordinance. What a

blessing, she glowed with anticipation and joy; family flew in from

across the country to be present for her day! She was filled with the

love of our Heavenly Father as she exited the waters and she wept as

her grandfather laid his hands upon her head confirming her as a

member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Eight years

old and her life was like a dream….the next week after family flew

home and she sat watching a movie, with only the cares of if would mom

order pizza tonight or not….there was this happening….at 8 she learned

that others can be in charge of her happiness, the agency of others

can dictate who we are….on a still night, while in the safety of her home,

she was broken…never to be “just a child” again….what had she done to

cause this…did her mother know….why didn't the Lord protect her…for

years she suffered in anguish, she questioned her worth, she feared the

night….there was no escape the life surrounding her and she

crumbled….to see this girl let go, was heartbreaking, what had

happened they wondered?!….her mother begged…..her bishop asked what

can we do? And still she fell….deeper and further…trying to escape the

tragedy of life awaiting her inside the walls of her home, holding

ever tighter to the secrets she kept within..…7 years she languished,

trying to hold on to who she was, who she used to be, who everyone else

thought she was….until finally the truth saw the light and her mother

took her siblings and she to safety….all pieces of shattered and

broken…there she was, and she raged with fury – she lashed out at her

mother, at her Father in Heaven, and at her family, she tore and

ripped at all these pictures of perfect and happy…she was spiraling out

of control and SO WHAT she thought?! She looked into the mirror

one day and thought "to all who know me….I am lost….I am empty...

I am broken."

It was there on the edge of giving up and giving  in, that through the

power and the blessing of the atonement that she found her way back to

the Lord and back to church, it was through the power of forgiveness

and healing that….. I, that 8 year old girl, I used to know and can never be

again, was able to forgive those who have forever changed the course of

both my life and theirs ….applying the atonement in my life is what

changed me from being the girl who felt utterly alone...  into the

servant of Lord that stands before you now.

I am here today as a living witness to the power of forgiveness through

the blessing of the atonement. My parting words to you my beloved

brothers and sisters is this: Forgive! Being unable to forgive

either ourselves or others is a small darkness inside us, although

unseen, even unfelt…over time the dark takes over unintended light,

slow and ever changing, ever growing…as the shadows of swallowed anger

or shame filled pride will turn you...will turn us bitter. It’s hard and requires

strength but, you must practice the miracle of forgiveness as it is the only

way to truly be free!

May we always remember what our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson

taught us at this last general conference..."Blame keeps wounds open.

Only forgiveness heals." The overwhelming message of the Atonement is

the perfect love the Savior has for each and all of us. His love is

full of mercy, patience, grace, long-suffering, forgiveness and, above

all, healing.

I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Please send all mail to:

Sister Kiarra Zubicki

700 Deborah Road Suite 260

Newberg Oregon, 97132 

STAY TOGETHER!

We were supposed to go on exchanges with the 2 Sister Training Leaders that are over the sisters in our area. The exchange was scheduled for Friday night through Saturday morning. All day Friday Sis E and I felt like we shouldn't be going on this exchange. I honestly felt sick to my stomach about it. We finally called the STL's (sister training leaders) on the way to meet them and asked if the spirit had told them they needed to go on this exchange. The Sister we were speaking to paused and said "ummmmm, well why?" When we told them we both felt that this exchange was not an event that we should take part in, they asked us to meet them at the church. The STL's told us that they too had awaken that morning not feeling "good or right" about the exchange but, had chalked it up to "nothing" and decided to go forward with it. We all knelt and prayed and the four of us together felt confirmation from the spirit that we should not go. Nothing happened to any of us, we are all safe and healthy....as I write this to you today I say without a shadow of a doubt I am certain that would not have been the case had we ignored the promptings and did our "duty" rather than follow the spirit saying unto us "Sisters, stay together, stay home and no harm nor danger shall come to you."

Listen! Put down the phone, turn off the television, tune into your Father in Heaven and LISTEN! He speaks to us, even when we have asked no questions....there is the voice, the guidance, the spirit that is with us, that has the power to lead and direct us. Never have I been so certain that the course of our lives were destine to change had we not heeded to the prompting we were given.

#thestruggleisreal

(yes as a missionary I can still hash tag!)

~Our toilet seat broke (Eggie)

~Humongous fire is 2 miles from our home & we are preparing to be evacuated

~Went caving almost broke my ankle!

~Pretty sure we almost ended up in a well in the basement (flash back to "it puts the lotion on its skin!") <---- different extremely freaky/scary story, maybe next time :)

I love the pictures of my sissys, seriously mom tell dad he HAS to fix Cookies hair in the morning! Mick you are SO beautiful and your letters make me laugh out loud, I can't wait till we get to have sister days again! Granny (not her real Granny, that's a nickname for Scout her sister) you make my heart happy, Sis E and I love getting all your letters and pictures, they make me shig! :)

Kiss Pippee and Say-Say and tell them big Sis loves them!

Mommy and daddy I could not do this without the love and support and food and money and cards and toys and letters and emails and cookies and pictures and snacks and poems and treats and stories and all the other 1000 things you send me every day....you are THE BEST!

XOXO

Sis Z

Come on Sistas we GOT this!

Hey Guys!

It's been a really long blazing hot week. Bend is really starting to

look a lot like AZ... Hot, dry, and deserted.  It's sad, yet familiar

:)

Apparently I have allergies... I literally have ALL the symptoms

described on the Claritin commercials! It's out of control! This past

week has been really slow. We haven't had a ton of success but we have

been working really hard. Our days have been filled with service and

trying to find those wanting to be "found." We had a mission wide conference

on Wednesday... With our mission president and Elder Martino (member of

the 70). I had to give the opening prayer and I was so nervous but I

survived :) BARELY!!!! President Samuelian told Eggie and I that this

will definitely be our last transfer together, we cried, he did too.

As summer has blossomed here in Bend, no one is EVER home!

Even our bishop is leaving this Friday for a 3 week vacation!

We have 2 investigators that are progressing  really well right now.

We will be setting E--- on date for baptism this week so pray

that things go well!

Had a lesson with a 20 yr told kid named N---. We were talking about

how Christ was the perfect example for all mankind and he goes, "well

some would say he was a perfect example, I would disagree." Yep

definitely thought lightning was gonna strike us all at that moment haha!

On Saturday we had the chance to go with the Spanish missionaries to

one of the investigators they are working with for dinner. They live

in Tumalo which is about 20 min from where we are in Bend. We had a

barbecue, and roasted s'mores over the fire they had in their back

yard. The family is from Paraguay. The mom speaks very little English

so she couldn't understand us that well but they thought Eggie and I

were hilarious, well Duh! :)

This week my lesson is on self reliance....as women, as daughters of our Father in Heaven we have been given all the strength, all the power, all the endurance that we need, to do....whatever it is that we have the desire to do. So much of my life I spent questioning if I could, there were things I would want to do, things I thought I should do but myself doubt, my un-assuredness in myself would keep me on the side lines.

In D&C 26-28 it says:

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

We should be doing all that we must, serving in our church callings, acting as member missionaries, caring for our families, paying our debts, obeying the commandments...there is NO reason, save self doubt that we cannot do what we must! Sisters of Zion I say stand up! You are a mighty force to be reckoned with, do not stand by meekly declaring yourself as the "weaker," we are the mothers, the wives, the children of our Heavenly Father and there is NOTHING we cannot accomplish! Find what it is that makes you wonder, search for the questions that make you doubt, look inside yourself and find the scary place and then do it! Run the marathon, start school, cut your hair, volunteer, join a club, say no, say yes...do what it is that you have thought you couldn't and then don't stop, press forward! We as daughters, and mothers, and future mothers must never give in to the darkness of doubt....my mothers favorite quote from her father has always been "You have two feet, no one is going to follow you around holding you up. Use what you have been blessed with and stand up!"

For fast Sunday we fasted for a good week and success in trying to

find people to teach! I'm praying that The Lord will answer our

prayers!

Hope everything is going great back home!

Love you all!

Send me lots of LOVE!!!

XOXO

Sis Z

(Felt like sending a picture of us in the snow would somehow diminish the over powering heat....I don't think it's working)