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) 

I'm Still Here!

Howdy ALL! 

I know I have been missing in action....important life changing work is going on here :)

The past few days, weeks, months have been so packed with learning and growing that I'm not sure how to put it all into words. 

Things I've learned that warmed my heart:

No love is deeper than that of a mothers love

The power of Prayer is as powerful a force as any I have ever known

Member missionaries are truly angels among us, returning souls to their Father in Heaven

Sister E is the truest friend I have known thus far in life

Our Mission President knows and loves each of us, as if we were his own <----- He's a rock star!

The words from our Prophet hold all the answers we seek, we need only to listen and follow 

It easier to stand and defend while placing blame than it is to kneel and ask for forgiveness and guidance - never let your prayin' knees get lazy!

Things I've learned that hurt my soul:

Racism still exists - there are far more simple minds in the world than I thought prior to leaving the safety of my parents home...ignorance knows no color nor religion...truly a sad sight

Having a child does not make one a parent, just as going to church does not make one a Christian....seeing people for who they "are" is often a truth I wish I could unlearn <-----some see us as confession takers, that is a hard burden to bear

When we (missionaries) go out into the world (the field/our mission) many find themselves without the fellowship and much needed love and attention from family, friends, ward members....it can be a loneliness that some cannot withstand

Things I've learned about Sis Z:

I should work in Fashion!

When on lunch break from my fashion job, I should be a Stand-Up Comedian!

I have NO clue what I want to be when I grow up!

Serving a mission has NOT diminished my love of shopping - I miss it like a true addict! :(

Being able to quote a scripture to any question someone has about our Church or the Lord....is INVIGORATING!

I am NEVER going to be a size 4!

I question myself too much and need to learn to just shut it and follow the Lords plan...how vain of me to think I know my course better than my Savior

We have had three baptisms, cause well we are the rock stars of Bend, OR! :)

Members, brothers, sisters, friends, family...don't forget it is your task to find investigators for the missionaries to teach....someone told us recently I'm a great member missionary, I feed the missionaries every week and they love hanging out at my house....that's NOT being a member missionary, that's being a great friend! We SO love our super cool families that let us play at their homes and can never thank them enough for the love and support they give us...however, don't mistake that for doing what the prophets have asked you as member missionaries to do...ask a missionary if you are unsure what that is, we'll be happy to elaborate!! :)~

Mommy and Daddy the love you send Sis E and I is just....amazing and we are eternally grateful! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Mick your last letter made me laugh out loud, I miss your face! Cup your a too stinking funny, I can't believe how long your hair is and I LOVE the pictures! 

Kiss those babies and tell them to STOP growing! 

ALL MY LOVE!

XOXO

Sis Z

Anyone wanting to write Sis Z can write her at:

Sister Kiarra Zubicki 

1761 NE Witchita Way #2

Bend, OR 

97701