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

Tokyo Drift!

This past week has been the most eventful, life threatening,

emotional, spiritual week of my entire mission... Matter of fact my

ENTIRE life. I would like to say Sister Eggleston and I are indeed

grateful for ward members and their willingness to always serve us.

Before I word vomit the last 168 hours of my life I would like to pose

2 questions.... Did you know Sister Zubicki is a living testimony of

the power of prayer? Did you know Flintstone cars still exist today???

 

If I'm going to be riding in said car could someone give me a heads

 

up that I should probably wear a helmet because there's no seat belts

 

... Something?!

 

Anyway....sit back, relax, and enjoy the chaos :)

 

 

On Thursday we had the chance to go do a session in the Portland

temple! Apparently they changed the rules to where missionaries can go

to the temple twice a year, basically when general conference happens.

Hard part about it is, that we have to find members to drive us if we

wanna go!

Well Eggie and I are a glutton for punishment and decided for some

"reason", that we would let our district leader help us out with

finding a ride.  Mistake number one.... Sure enough the elders found

us one! But boy did we put too much trust into the hands of these

Elders.

The Elders informed us that we would be riding with the wife and

that they would be riding with the husband in  a different car.

Well on Thursday we all met up at 7 am, at the Elders apartment

complex. We soon come to find out that the wife is from the

Philippines. Oh and NEW to driving in the Ole USA!

Bless her sweet soul, but I kid you not I almost died 15 times!

I have never prayed so hard for my life to be spared by Heavenly Father!

Not to mention we rode in a car they had just bought for $600 dollars,

while the Elders are crusin in what seems like a BMW compared to our

ride. This car was covered in dents and holes, and smells that I didn't

even know existed. Yes I know you're thinking, "it could NOT have been

that bad, stop being dramatic Sister Z." Well ladies and gentlemen

I'm a missionary and I would never lie to you!

Oh I need to mention some of the experiences we faced while on the road:

We swerved into and out of lanes like we owned the road; literally made a SEMI TRUCK

pull off to the emergency right hand lane because we almost got into a

wreck with each other, we missed all our exits, and you guessed it!

Missed our session with the rest of our zone.... And we, I kid you

not, full on Tokyo Drifted into the temple parking lot! I

seriously thought I was in the movie Fast n Furious...oh yeah and that's

not even the best part - not only did we Roll a big whoppin 20 mph up

each hill because the car wouldn't shift passed 2nd gear on more than

one occasion we started rolling downhill!!! Yup!!!! Downhill!

Backwards! No Brothers and Sisters this is not a joke. I didn't know

you could have so much anxiety about driving until this day. NEVER

AGAIN WILL I LET ELDERS BE IN CHARGE OF FINDING ME A RIDE.

 

The total round trip consisted of 14 hours! The blessings that

came from this ride was a spectacular scenic drive of what felt

like the entire state of Oregon, and some really really hard laughs.

Mostly for my life, but hey I'm alive!

Sister Zubicki is a living testimony of the power of prayer!

 

A  more grateful heart I had indeed after this day for the 2 following reasons:

1 - the deepest appreciation for Heavenly Father not sending me to a

foreign country...I would not have survived.

2 -  the act of service this loving couple performed for us, even though

they will probably never be called again ha!

 

 

On another note. L-- our investigator was baptized on Saturday.

Sister E and I wept as we looked at each other and said "it was all

worth it!" It has been such an amazing blessing seeing this young man,

enter into a covenant with His Father in Heaven. He is incredible and

such an example to those around him. His family are not members. He

was introduced to the church by one of the youth in our ward. I stand

truly amazed at the youth in our ward! Lately I've reflected on not

only why they are so eager to bring others to the gospel but how they

do it. I think WE, as fellow Brothers and Sisters, and members of the

only true and living church need to realize what we have! You want to

know why I think the youth in the Bend Oregon Stake are openly and

willingly bringing others unto Christ?....because they GET IT. They

may not understand the deep doctrine. They may not know all the

"reasoning" behind the commandments we follow. But what they do

understand is this is the true church of the true and living son of

God. They understand that families are eternal. They understand that

the blessings this gospel brings into our lives trumps all the times

they get rejected, mocked, teased, and questioned! They understand

that it is ALL worth it.... Because in some way or another they

understand Him! Missionary work is not easy! Salvation isn't cheap! It

wasn't easy for Him thus it will not be easy for us. May each of you

remember these words from L-- to his friend days before his baptism...

"Thank you so much for bringing the gospel into my life, I'm finally

home.."

HAPPY EASTER!

 

...Never can I repay thee, Lord,

 

But I can love thee. Thy pure word,

 

Hath it not been my one delight,

 

My joy by day, my dream by night?

 

Then let my lips proclaim it still,

 

And all my life reflect thy will....

(Savior, Redeemer of My Soul)

  

Whew...  Missionary life is so exhausting yet so rewarding! I love it,

I love it more and more each day! I hope you have an amazing week

filled with missionary opportunities !

 

Muah

 

Sister Zubicki

 

Till We Meet Again

Signed, sealed, delivered......Sis E & I are homies for at least 6 more weeks! We were both a little sad, as we are ready to spread our wings and grow in different areas with different companions but, our love for each other may be so strong that our bond just wasn't ready to be broken yet ;)

 

It's SUPER cold and I miss the AZ sun like mad! We go weekly to lay in the tanning bed....a brownie tanning, crazy right?! We need the vitamin D it gives us.....I'm sure this is a touchy subject with some - slow your roll....it's not very often and this chicken little ain't seen NO real sun in a while! Sis E makes Casper look tan!

 

I had this whole "thing" typed up to send....maybe another day - after getting the video of Piper trying to sing "Till We Meet Again" I thought about the words of that hymn, sang them, thought about the many times they've touched my life.....

 

God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you.
God be with you till we meet again

 

God be with you till we meet again;
When life's perils thick confound you,
Put his arms unfailing round you.
God be with you till we meet again

 

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love's banner floating o'er you;
Smite death's threat'ning wave before you.
God be with you till we meet again.

 

[Chorus]
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus' feet,
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again

 

Sometimes words are just words, we sing them, say them, recite them and leave them there hanging in the air as a faceless, lifeless form to be picked up and reused when next we need them.

These words....Till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus' feet, God be with you till we meet again....they are so much more than just words...

 

When is again, after breakfast? After school? After vacation? After my mission? After this life?  Till we meet again....at first they brought me sorrow as I thought of my grandfather and then I was instantly filled with joy, as I thought of him...it's not goodbye, it really is until we meet again...the unending blessing of knowing that no matter the context as long as I live as my Father has asked me to.....it will always be "Till we meet again!"  I am so grateful for Eternal Families! My lesson this week is, live like there's no tomorrow so when we are at our judgment day we can receive the many blessings we have been promised, if we have followed our Heavenly Fathers plan. Do not put off repentance, do not put off church attendance, do not postpone scripture study, do not hold out forgiveness - do today what you have left undone, we are not promised tomorrow to set our course straight....

 

Family and Friends I love you all and pray for you daily. Don't forget about me, Till we meet again!

 

XOXO

 Sis Z