I Love Jesus

Hi everyone! Y'all are probably wondering why the heck I'm sending my email today, haha! Well, we have transfers this week, and so the president wanted to try a split P-day, so the other half of my P-day is today! Let me just first start by giving a little shoutout to my dad! Obviously, it was Father's Day on Sunday, and if you know me, you know how much I love my dad and how much he means to me!!! And if you know my dad, you know that 1. he cannot get enough of sports, 2. he cannot get enough of fishing and golf, 3. he's horrible at Call of Duty but thinks he's super super good! Hehe, 4. is the most selfless person, 5. has our fridge full of every kind of Mtn. Dew, you name it, and gives it out like it's candy :)

I would not be on my mission today if it wasn't for him, and I am eternally grateful for him and his selfless example! Happy Father's Day LeadHead007! I love you so much, and I hope you play good in COD.

This week was good! Got me thinking a lot, and it's been a very spiritually uplifting week! Let's run it upppp!!!

We visited multiple people this week who are just going through it. We've been trying to rely more on the Lord and the Spirit and know where we should be this week, and He guided us there. This week I was reminded that it's not always about finding a certain amount of people; it's about HELPING God's children, those who need to feel His love in times where they feel like they can't keep going. We were there to deliver that message.

We stopped by a less active member who almost had her kids taken away from her, whose mom just died not too long ago, who almost got evicted from her house, who doesn't want to be here anymore but keeps pushing through for her kids.

We stopped by another less active member who we haven't been able to get into contact with. She let us in and shared with us all the terrible things that happened to her and said, "Why would a loving God put me through all of this?" and told us that she just doesn't believe.

There was a terrible hit and run here last week. Two people on mopeds were hit by a stolen car and killed this past week. All of Pekin is devastated. We felt prompted to stop by a less active member who I've taught his girlfriend and him one other time. Turns out it was one of his best friends who was killed. We hugged and comforted his girlfriend and called him the next day and had the most spiritual conversation.

What do you tell these people?

How do you explain that it's not okay that they were abused or sexually assaulted?

How do you help people to understand that they will see their loved ones again even though it's so painful?

How do you explain that GOD LOVES US EVEN WHEN WE GO THROUGH HARD THINGS or that without bad we don't see the good!?

Well, I learned this week that "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son" Heavenly Father watched His ONLY begotten son SUFFER for the sins of the world!

Jesus Christ suffered in a way that the sins of the world were so painfully crushing down on Him that He bled from every pore. He suffered in a way that we can't even fully comprehend.

"And He said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.'"

And then he says:

42 He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

Even Jesus Christ pleaded with His Father in heaven for help. Sometimes we don't feel like we can ask for help, but we always can and we always should.

My heart literally aches for these people. I feel like I am learning to "mourn with those mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" while testifying that their Savior has already paid the price of sin, has already experienced the pain that they feel and even more, in an excruciating way.

I get asked all the time, "Why is this happening to me? Why would a loving God put me through this?" So I've been studying hard to know how to better answer this question. It's a question I've always wondered. It's a question I'm still learning the answer to, but here's what I know:

"God rarely infringes on the agency of any of His children by intervening against some for the relief of others. But He does ease the burdens of our afflictions and strengthen us to bear them. … He does not prevent all disasters, but He does answer our prayers to turn them aside. …

If He forced us to make the right decisions, it would be impossible for us to grow and reach our divine potential. It would be impossible to live by faith in Him and His plan for our happiness."

"Maybe one reason for the tragedies and difficulties in our lives is so we can use our agency and faith to rely on and see the infinite power of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Doing so allows us to better understand Him. To build our relationship with Him. To become more like Him. To fully comprehend that He truly did sacrifice everything He had for all of us."

When we don't rely on Jesus Christ for the help and strength to overcome our trials and difficulties, we are going against our Heavenly Father's plan for us. We don't truly comprehend why our Savior suffered for us if we don't rely on Him. We aren't asked to bear anything alone, and it's promised to us that if we rely on our Savior Jesus Christ, we can do ALL THINGS! No trial is too big that Jesus Christ cannot help us bear.

I know this is true. I have seen it in my own life as I have relied on my Savior for strength during difficult times.

I know without Him, I cannot do anything. It's through Him that I am led to His precious people. It's through Him that I can keep going when things are hard. It's through Him that I can do all things!

I am nothing without Jesus Christ!

I know and can promise you that God loves you enough to cut you down.

It's through Jesus Christ that you will be brought back up! Rely on Him. He loves you.

Transfer news: I am staying, and I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER! I love Pekin with my whole heart, and I cannot wait to spend six more weeks with my bestie Sister Colson, teaching my favorite people on earth!

Life is so good serving the Lord. It's so worth it!

I love you all! Email me!! I would love to hear from you!

Love, Kimberz

Here are some quotes:

In district council, talking about the CAT museum, like the tractor things.

Sis Colson: "Wait, so like, are there gonna be actual cats there?!"

Elder Weber: "I was calling to see what tanning lotion to buy."

Bro Mouck: "You smell gooood!"

Elder Jessen: kisses Sis Jessen on the cheek "...Hah, what a district council."

Sis Stoddart: "Sis Liljenquist, you could be a Kardashian!"

Sister Warner: "She makes me so trunky. Like every time I go over to her house, I want to go home," talking about a 20-year-old girl with two babies.

Brian (part-member family, who's a little sus): reaches out arms for a hug "Do you want love?"