And the Work Keeps going, going and going, going and... - May 20, 2013

So we had some tornado warnings yesterday. I guess one hit NE of Des Moines. Pretty bad rain and stuff. Some hail, sweet lightning bolts. Kinda crazy.

It has been a pretty ordinary missionary week. We were using the busses. The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority system of busses has gotten less consistent. When Elder Hess and I used the busses from the first of January to the end of March, they were always on time. Now they seem to always be running late. Go figure.

We have billions of referrals, which is great! The only problem is the missionaries we are receiving them from think it is adaquate to say "you know where these members live? It is the apartment on the far right next to them," or "it's the apartment next to the washer and dryer." We wasted a good chunk of proselyting time to try to find these people. It has been frustrating, but steps are being taken to no longer let it waste our time away.

Also, President Monson's announcement at last October's General Conference about the changing of missionary age is being seen in missions throughout the world! I have attached a table I made taking a look at the changes in the missionary force in the Des Moines area since I arrived on December 27, 2013. It's incredible!

The scriptures are great. We had a wonderful sacrament meeting with talks based on Studying the Scriptures. I want to invite you all to continually be consistent or to improve on your studies soon. 

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.
550 Souls to Christ

Mother's Day! - May 13, 2013

It's gonna be short! Running out of time, sorry!

 

This week was great. We found a new Burmese family, 2 investigators came to church, I went on exchanges with one of my Zone Leaders (I am in one of 2 zones in the mission who is led by Spanish-speaking missionaries), and had a trainer's meeting with President Jergensen.

 

Keep reading the scriptures! They are there for our help and comfort.

 

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.
Nothing Less than 550

Called and Ordained Servants of Christ - May 6, 2013

Can you believe it has been 9 months already? Because I sure can't!

This last Saturday we as a mission had the incredible opportunity to be taught by Elder Neil L. Andersen, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. We were also taught by Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Edward Dubea newly called member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and our Mission President Couple President and Sister Jergensen. Elder Michael J. Reall, our Area Seventy, was also in attendance. It was incredible!

Elder Andersen spoke on the merits, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ and how we can better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ and allow its enabling power to enter into our lives. Elder Clayton told us to “work hard and be good!” Be ‘whole’ saints, not just inbetweeners. Elder Dube spoke about love and the importance of members. Sister Jergensen spoke about the importance of love and how it should be the driving force behind everything we do. President Jergensen spoke on the importance of diligence.

Last week we found an investigator. She is a friend of Aung's family. Aung is awesome and he is always willing to help! He speaks Karen, English, and a little Burmese. We had initially taught her once. They way we met her is pretty funny! We were going to visit a potential investigator family with Aung on Elder Sierra's first day in the mission field.. When they weren't home, he opened the door of the next door neighbor, talked to them, then turned to us and said "Do you want to teach her?" We answered yes, and we proceeded to walk in and taught her about the Restoration. Aung was translating, and he doesn't speak a lot of burmese, but the Lord blessed him and he was able to help us communicate with her. She said she wanted to become a Christian and what does it take to be one. She told us something about being Hindu or speaking Hindu, but we were excited to help her come to the truth without having the concern "I've already been baptized." That is a concern that we have found with almost every Karen person we have met with.

We were meeting with her for the second time Saturday night when we found out she was Muslim. Our Mission President must interview the person and approve their being taught before we can teach a Muslim and prepare them for baptism. Thankfully we had stake conference yesterday that President Jergensen would be at. She came with Aung's family, and after the Conference was interviewed by President. President gave the ok, we met with her last night, and she is preparing to be baptized on May 25th! Please pray for her and that it will all work out with her, her daughter and that she will get a job that won't work on Sundays.

Things are going great! Thank you for your prayers and your love! A scripture that I found this week that is wonderful is Mosiah 4:5-13. It helped my understanding of the Atonement of Christ and what we can do to improve. I hope it helps you as well!

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.
Nothing Less than 550

Another week Another transfer - April 29, 2013

Salutations!

This was a crazy week out here in Des Moines. We had our promising investigator family from Africa drop us until their mother arrives from Nigeria in June. In spite of that, we found 4 new investigators this week. Bringing us to 7 current investigators.

 

The family of 3, Brian, Janelle, and Zachary, are still doing well. We have been told by the member family who referred them, that they are doing well and that Janelle is trying to convince her husband Brian to keep his heart open. Her mother was coming into town this weekend, and she didn't want her to know, in the words of the member friend "that I want to become a Mormon." So that is pretty awesome. She is also trying to transfer her 10-year-old son Zachary into the Cub Scouts the ward sponsors because the one he is currently in "doesn't do anything." So that looks great!

 

We picked up a new missionary at transfers on Thursday. His name is Elder Sierra and he is from Ocala, Florida. He is way awesome! He speaks Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese fluently and is learning Japanese! He is studious, smart, humble, stylish, and has a solid testimony. He is a great missionary already and it is a great opportunity to have him serving here with Elder Hess and I in Des Moines.

 

In Sacrament Meeting yesterday Elder Hess and Elder Sierra sang as I played piano to an arrangement of Come Thou Fount by Sally DeFord. It went pretty well. It was really neat to be able to share our musical abilities with the ward. It is something that I am expecially happy to do as I am finally developing my piano playing talent and the Lord is blessing me with ability beyond my understanding. My one or two hymns before the mission has turned into much better sightreading and one or two dozen hymns. It is amazing! Continue playing the piano, no matter what else you are doing. If you don't know how, what better time to start than now?

 

Keep reading the Book of Mormon. It brings power everyday into your life! Write in your journal everyday. If you don't have one, find a notebook or buy a journal and begin today. The Lord will bless us with more as we show him we can handle what he has given us now (see see Matthew 25).

 

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.
Nothing Less than 550

In Des Moines a little longer - April 22, 2013

Hello!

 

I was all super excited with a lot of things on mind to write about, then it all disappeared. Hope this letter is still good for you all to read it.

 

So we got transfer calls on Saturday. I am staying with Elder Hess for another six weeks. He goes home at the end of this transfer. Therefore I am "killing" him, as his mission life will end while I am his companion. Because of that, I will probably be in Des Moines for another 6 weeks after that, keeping me here until at least middle July. We'll see what happens for sure though.

 

Some more news. I'm pregnant! In mission terms of course. I was told by President Jergensen that I will be training this transfer. So I am prego until Thursday, until I find out who I will be training. You might be confused about why they are putting 3 missionaries together. It is because the missionary that I will be training is going to be a Visa-Waiter. A Visa-Waiter is kind of self explanatory, it is a missionary that is assigned to another mission, but their visa hasn't come to them yet, making it impossible for them to travel to their intended destination. There will be 10 elders coming to the IDMM en route to the Brazil Sao Paulo South Mission. They put us in a tripanionship because we don't know when the new missionary will receive his visa. I will be sure to keep you updated about who he is and where he's from and such as I have done with my other companions.

 

I have been recently, for our investigators that love and believe the Bible, studying how both books go hand in hand in testifying of Christ. Initially I was apprehensive because during my first 2 transfers, I was told "the Bible is the Battleground." So I have had that mentality since then. The two books work together in marvelous harmonies that I didn't see before. Like James 1:5 and Moroni 10:3-5. I am learning how to use the Bible, in the right time with the right people, alongside the Book of Mormon. It is really neat and after each study I have learned something new that I can use in my proselyting.

 

As I read the Book of Mormon in my daily study, (I read one or more chapters each day to begin my personal study) I have been looking to the cross references with my Bible and my Triple Combination as well (I read out of the Book of Mormon from a separate copy, so I have all the standard works available for flipping to different scriptures), while keeping notes in my study journal. It is a very cool, effective way to study. I encourage you to do the same or find something else that works for you!

 

I love you all! Keep on studying and acting on that faith you have! We met with a "grace junkie" on Saturday. They are those folks that believe that all you have to do is say "I believe you Jesus" or "Jesus save me" and that is all you have to do to be saved and go to heaven. It is kind of annoying. What you can do to come closer to Jesus Christ is follow His doctrine, given by Jesus Christ through God, Our Heavenly Father. Ultimately, we all have to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ and each and every one of our lives will be aligned with God's will for you as you accept and apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

 

It is great as I have begun to do this in my life! It is a lifelong process. In the words of Nephi "if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen" (1 Nephi 22:31). I add my testimony to his. It does work. Because I am changing. :)

 

Love,

Elder Zachary R McKenzie

Iowa Des Moines Mission

    D&C 6:34, 36

Doubt Not, Fear Not.
Nothing Less than 550