i love and miss you all! thanks for
being such a support to me as i serve the Lord. Being a missionary is
such a wonderful experience. I am growing spiritually as I study
scriptures and learn to look for God's hand in my life. It's great to be
around so many missionaries. We all have the same purpose (to invite
others to come unto Christ) and learn so much from each other.
the typical schedule is: rise and shine at 6:30, breakfast at 6:45, personal scripture study for about an hour, class for like 3 hours, lunch at 11:10,
learning on the computer lab or study the preach my gospel manual, more
class for 3 hours, teaching a progressing investigator (every day- we
get two new ones next week! they are pretend but it feels real as we
really learn to care about them as individuals). it's wonderful practice
to try speaking the feelings of our hearts in Japanese and teach about
Jesus. It's amazing how I am constantly thinking about these people that
we teach and thinking about what they need to hear as i study. we have
dinner at 4:10...
super early. and more class and language study. devotionals, gym time,
companion study... just a lot of class and study. we are so ready to
sleep by the end of the day!! but i love the sisters i room with and i
love all the elders and sisters in my district. it's so great!
we got to walk to the temple on sunday and take pictures on the temple grounds. it's so beautiful and snowy here. and it was nice to leave campus for a bit.
i
am learning so much japanese. not as fast as i want to, but it's coming
and it will come as i try to continue to be diligent. the Lord's work
will go forth. God wants his children to hear the word. I have to remind
myself of this as I feel discouraged in my studying. I have a desire to
share this glad message... this great news... that Jesus paid the price
for our sins and we can repent and return to live with God. God knows
Japanese and he will teach his children by the Spirit in the way that
they need to learn... and he will have to speak through my poor
Japanese, but miracles will happen as we have faith! I'm so excited to
meet friends in Japan and share the happiness that I feel because I know
that Jesus lives.
This week the BYU men's chorus came a performed
their Christmas concert for us. We also got to hear from Elder Rasband
and his wife this week. He spoke a lot about spiritual gifts and had us
think about the gifts that we have and the gifts that we want to
develop. I feel like I have recently been blessed with the gift of
faith. I have been able to gain my own testimony of the truth by acting
on principles that I have learned. Principles of obedience... as i obey
the commandments, i am so happy. the Spirit testifies to me that this
feeling of happiness is evidence of the truth of Christ's gospel. He is
my Savior and Redeemer. He loves all of us and will forgive us as we
come to him. I want to develop the gift of Humility. As I pray in faith
and gratitude and ask for this gift, continually remember the Savior and
His sacrifice, acknowledging that I need him, and looking for his hand
in my life, I will be blessed with more humility. Christmas is the time
for lots of love and gifts and family... What gift do you want to
receive as a follower of Christ, as you strive to follow his example and
become more like him?
I love you all and think about and pray for you
often. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. We haven't heard about our
Christmas schedule yet, but I imagine it will be just awesome! We
should be hearing from apostles (leaders of the church) and having
opportunities to study and write our families.
Oh and... I can't call home on Christmas, but,... I
can buy a phone card to call the family before heading to the airport
and JAPAN. So... be thinking about what number I should call... So that I
don't have to spend all the money on the card just connecting!! Can't
wait to talk to you in FEBRUARY.
Be happy and safe this Christmas and remember our Savior and His love.
~Sister McKenzie Reeves
*YAAAAY! Pictures!!!!!*
*YAAAAY! Pictures!!!!!*
Kami, Mary, and Brooke
Before going to the MTC
Hailey & Danielle
Me and Sis Maloy (companion)
nametag
Me & Sis Maloy at the Temple
Me & Sis Foutz at the Temple
district at the temple
i found yurika (piano teacher) in the japanese pamphlets!!
rusty tubular outfit. i look like ketchup
Sis Maloy, Me, and our fake investigator
me and elder strain. he doesn't like pictures. and he looks like the guy on despicable me (Gru)
Sister Maloy, Sister Foutz, (Elder Lobacarro in the back), ME, Elder Bynum
me and elder tipene from new zealand with GRU before we walked to the temple and escaped the gates of the MTC
Sis Maloy, Me, and our fake investigator
me and elder strain. he doesn't like pictures. and he looks like the guy on despicable me (Gru)
Sister Maloy, Sister Foutz, (Elder Lobacarro in the back), ME, Elder Bynum
Awesome! Kinz, you look so happy! You sure do have a lot of people who love you.
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