June 27 Snail Mail

Hi Family,

Sorry about the problems with the emails.  This week feels so long! We had transfers.  Hermana Romero went to Paso Robles.  Our district isn't as close as last transfer was.  It definitely got a lot stricter.  For example, I can't park the way I want to so that my companion doesn't have to stand behind the car and back me out.  The zone leaders don't want us to take pictures of anything weird.  (?)  But, I think maybe there is something I need to learn from this district.

My companion, Hermana Taylor is from Georgia.  She has been going to BYU.  She is a newbie and only 19!  We have a golden investigator named Daniel.  The only problem is that he hasn't come to church because he works on Sunday.  He is going to try to see what he can do to change that.

We really did a lot of knocking and street contacting.  It's hard to fill out our planner this transfer.  Miles aren't going so well because we travel to Moorpark almost every day which is about 20 miles round trip.  We just wish we had more fellowshipping in the ward and had more members helping us with referrals!!

My Spanish is better.  Especially now because I have to carry and talk to the investigator in this companionship.  But, I am excited to learn and teach people!! It's getting easier to knock on doors even though it's not my favorite thing to do.  I'd rather talk to people on the street.

I miss you all a lot and think about you often.  It's weird that I have been out 4 months!  :)  It has gone by really fast!!  I can't wait to hear from you next week!

Love,
Hermana Fitzpatrick
Kenzer Lou

June 26, The Best Kind of Mail...

So happy for our girl!  What a great missionary she is!  

She's so excited to be part of a great Army of Missionaries!!

Week #9 I Survived My First Transfer!!

Hola Familia,

Lo siento por no escribe su cartas y email pero muy preocupado con transfers y aprendiendo! (For those lacking in their Spanish skills, ..."Sorry for not writing letters or emails, but I'm very concerned with transfers and learning!!")  There was something wrong with the email that I sent last week so you will get two from me this week!  Yay!!!  I wish the mission office could have transferred your call to the cell phone that we have so I could have heard your voice. No worries mom, everything is fine and I am doing HIS work. 

It was hard to say Goodbye to Hermana Romero pero I will see her otra vez y ella goes a la escuela en Utah (...but I will see her again when she goes to school in Utah).   

When I saw Hermana Rubow at transfers I was really excited because that means we have a chance to be companions in this mission or even in the same district. 

Piano playing is OK.  I unexpectedly played two songs for the Primary.  Then I had to play in RS which was a little difficult because it was one of those songs that isn't in the English hymnbook only in the Spanish.

I loved the broadcast!!  It will be really great but it will also be a huge temptation to have access to the internet I think, because we have all the apps from itunes and different things that we could go on.   IDK about sisters being alone at buildings.   They haven't really discussed it yet.  President Castro didn't even know what the broadcast was about.  I think with the buildings being open now that more people will be willing to come a visit.  One of the people that we ran into thought it would be cool if we could display the pictures in the building as the life of Christ and end at the baptismal font.

Our dinner appointments are ok. We are just taking care of the branch now so we only have a couple appointments a week.  Our ward mission leader said he would like to feed us when we don't have meals but we can't go over to his house four times a week.  Our dinner appointments should get better next month. 

The funniest thing that happened this week... was probably just seeing different peoples houses.  We knocked on a Buddhist door(no one answered).  One LA member en English ward (had a couple of wierd pictures) but other than that, nothing too exciting except knocking my head against the car door. Can you say BLONDE moment!!!!  

The most spiritual experience was the broadcast! President Monson looks a lot older now!! 

I am still the DD (designated driver) of the car. 

When you go to Utah, please eat a cafe Rio salad for me.   If it will make it, you can even send me one because the Cafe Rio in Oxnard closed and is no longer in business.  So no Cafe Rio for me for awhile. 

I don't think i need anything else except a long maxi slip for skirts and anything else your heart desires :) 

I am using my blender every morning. I can fit all the stuff when I get transferred. 

I can't believe that the Rousseau's gave in and got a dog!!   I bet the little boys are in heaven!!  Speaking of dogs how is my little girl?  How are her legs? 

It's weird to think about that I have been out almost four months on the mission.  I feel like I just got here!  When they say time flies by, it really does!   Even with fun and working!!! 

How is Planet Fitness going? Work out a little for me! I love y'all so much and can't wait to see y'all again!!

P.S. Tell Sydnie and Blake I want them to write me. They have no excuses now they are off school!

Luv ya,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Kenzer Lou

A piece of cheesecake to celebrate our first transfer.

I'm going to miss Hermana Romero!

This is Sandy.  She has a baptismal date and will

one day be baptized!!

An amazing Member Missionary!

Me and Sister Zella.

Sister Cook has a passion for jewelry and babies.

My new companion, Hermana Taylor.

She's awesome!

Sister Kelly is a recent convert.  She loves having us over

and giving us Otter Pops.  She always does her reading.

Brother and Sister Bird.  He is the Ward Mission Leader in our English ward.

Always willing to help in any way.

Week #8 Better Late Than Never...

(This week's email was sent last week, but never received here at home.  Computer glitches, maybe?  Glad to receive this email a week late. Here's what happened in Ventura CA, last week....)

Hola Familia,

I loved playing the piano for the Spanish Branch!!  We had time to practice each week and it went very well. We even had matching scarves which were really cute. The English piano playing was, in my opinion, a train wreck, because they were some of the hardest hymns that I needed to learn it like three days. The hymns were How Great Though Art, We'll Sing Alll Hail to Jesus' Name, and Our Father By Whose Name (never heard of this one before). NO ONE in the English ward was even grateful that I stepped in. So I am more partial to my Spanish branch. 

Okay Drum roll please about what mission I am going to be in? Any Guesses? 

I am staying in the VENTURA CALIFORNIA MISSION. It gets even better, this upcoming transfer I will be... TRAINING!!! My companion Hermana Romero is leaving, I will be the Senior Companion and designated driver also. So this transfer will be trying but it will also help me grow because I still don't really know the language, I'm going to be training another Hermana that probably doesn't know the language and so it will be a lot of time on my knees. So, keep praying because i know i will definitely need it. Also, we are not taking care of the English ward anymore.  We will only be taking care of the Branch, which I love because they need our help. SO, in fact I don't have to pack anything up!  

I could use some more food staples. We usually get our packages the day after they get to the mission home. They do send the packages from the mission home to the apartment. The weather is nice, a little hot in the daytime but not that much.   The best part is we have the wind. 

Our investigators are muy bien. We have another meeting with Daniel tonight, he is so ready and willing to make the necessary changes to come closer to Christ. He even shared with us an experience... He works at a car wash and one of his coworkers was always getting in his face and asking him if he wanted to fight because of something that he said Daniel did.   But Daniel said he didn't do anything.  So one day, Daniel had enough.  Daniel has a temper when it comes to guys like that. So he went up to the guy and apologized for something that he didn't do but from then on the guy called Daniel over to help with the cars. 

We had dinner with the Hernandez family from the English ward and the Garcia Family from the Spanish Branch on Sunday. Also, the Wautkee Family who are in the Spanish ward last week. 

Something funny this week, is that no matter when we get dinner appointments with the members, we always end up catching investigators eating too.  So they invite us for dinner. Yesterday, we had two dinners and kinda a snack/dinner with another investigator.  No wonder the missionaries gain weight!!  Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worst though.  I heard of one Elder who had 4 dinner appointments on Thanksgiving!!

One thing I learned from my scriptures this week is found in Matthew 7: 7-11,   "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. I love it!!!

The best thing that happened this week is doing service for others when they need it or when it is unexpected. So Family, will you find opportunities to serve others? I promise you, that as you look for those opportunities you will be blessed and be able to see how just on act of kindness can change a person day.

I love y'all very much!!!

amor,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Kenzer Lou

June 13th - Snail Mail

Hi Family!

This week was amazing!  Last Thursday, we had exchanges.  Sister Romero went to Ventura and I stayed here.  We had district meeting and lunch.  Then we went to a new investigator's house.  While there, we were teaching people.  I didn't know what to say.  Then, all of a sudden the words just came out, which was such a huge blessing.  We visited a couple other people and then it was time for choir practice in the Spanish branch.  We went back to Camarillo and talked about our day.  Hermana Palafox told me I am a natural born leader and am not afraid to speak when she gave me my turn to teach the lesson.  I loved exchanges, but I did miss Hermana Romero.  I wasn't completely myself without her there.

The next day we had weekly planning.  Then we went to go visit some of our investigators.  No one wanted to let us in.  But, the next day, was Miracle Day!  Just like I shared in my email, we contacted a referral who is very interested in the Church.  She is dating an active member of the Church.  As we were talking to her on the phone, a man came up to our car window and asked what church we go to.  He wanted to find the true church of Jesus Christ.  And later that same day, in a different place, another man approached us and wanted to come closer to Christ.  The only thing that is stopping him is his addiction to alcohol.  But it definitely was a Miracle Day!  Nothing too exciting happened the rest of the week, but it was a really great week!

I got a letter from Elder Larsen.  He is doing really well.  He has been out almost a whole year...Crazy! He has ten people scheduled for baptism, which is awesome!

Some of the things we have eaten at member's homes are puposas, fried bananas, and mole.  Our Spanish branch feeds us really well.  It's the English ward that is hard to get dinner appointments with.

Thank you for the package.  I love everything in it!!

I can't believe that one transfer is over already.  This upcoming Monday, we will know if I get transferred or not.  Hopefully, my companion doesn't get transferred or I get another native speaker because I am still learning the culture and the language.

Tell my siblings to write me more often!!  It's so weird Sydnie is dating!

This past Sunday, one of our bishopric members spoke.  He said a couple of great things.  1) If you can't get into God's presence here on earth (temple), what makes you think you can enter God's presence after this life?  2) Duty to God, Personal Progress and For the Strength of Youth pamphlets help every single youth focus on the temple.

I'm glad Blake is still into technology.  Tell him I am getting better in my Spanish.  If Kellie needs any help with Spanish, I can email her on Mondays.

The house looks like a home.  It is coming together nicely.

Tell Grandma 'Hi'.  I will write her soon.

Some of the funny things I remember were when I was at the MTC, an older sister who had served a mission told us to not 'touch the Elders', but keep track of the one you do want to hug after your mission!  Too funny!!

Thank you for all that you do to support me.  Tell Dad maybe we could go to Spain.  But I'm not so sure Spaniards like Americans...

I hope everything is going well.  Tell Dad Happy Father's Day for me on Sunday!!

I love y'all!!

Love,
Hermana Fitzpatrick
(Kenzer Lou)

Week #6 Now Is The Time To Do Missionary Work

Hola Familia,

Thank you for the wonderful packages this week and all the support that y'all have given me. This week has been busy. We had another baptism on Sunday. His name is Efrain he is about 70 years old and he has been investigating the church for about two years.   He finally took the big step to be baptized.  He is doing great!  We have a couple of people who do have baptism dates but they aren't progressing.  The hardest things for the missionaries and for the investigators is coming to church. 

We had a miracle day this week. So we got a referral from the elders in our district.   We called her to see what we can do to help her because she just moved in. Charlotte is dating an active member and wants to know more about what he believes in. She is about 60 years old.  We asked if she wanted to take the lessons from the missionaries.  She accepted so we will start teaching her.  While my companion was on the phone, a man approached our car and wanted to know what church we go to.  I started speaking to him and we taught him the Restoration.  He wanted to come to church on Sunday. He told us that he really just wants to know the truth and the true church of Jesus Christ.  He has been going to other churches and he feels that the other churches are just lying and don't have the fullness of the gospel. Then we went to Moorpark which is our Spanish area to see a new investigator.  While we were there, another man approached us.   He told us that he wants to know more about our church and wants to get over his addiction to alcohol.  It truly was miracle day!!   President Castro told us that the people who are ready for the gospel will find you.

This week we also had exchanges which was really good too because I was with another Hermana. She helped me know how to share with people and to not be afraid to approach them and share the gospel.  It is true what the scripture in D&C says about how if we open our mouths, Heavenly Father will fill them. So we were teaching the Restoration and this Hermana told me that I was going to teach Joseph Smith's first vision. Sounds simple you, would think. I had no idea what I was going to say.  I could say it in English, but we were in a Spanish area.   As soon as I opened my mouth the words just came.  I couldn't believe it!!

One of the scriptures that has truly struck me this week is in D&C 88:81 "Behold, I sent you out to ^atestify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to ^bwarn his neighbor."  This reminds us about how we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are commanded to warn the people or share the gospel with other that are in our path. These are some of the major events that happened this week. 

We are also working with some people who are scared to make the big step to baptism.  They haven't told their family about taking lessons from us.  

Being on a mission and seeing people without the gospel and part member families has made me realize how important it is to marry someone who has the gospel.   So many problems arise from less actives, part-member and others.   They don't know or understand the purpose the purpose of life or don't think or understand that families can be together forever. 

I love being on a mission and sharing the gospel with others to bring them closer to Christ.  I know that I am making a difference in their lives right now and in the life to come for them. I miss y'all a lot.  But think about the families that I am helping to have what we have!! 

I am playing the piano for a special musical number for the branch on Father's Day.   Our English speaking ward has asked me to play for sacrament meeting on the same day.  Can you say no pressure!!  I have realized that piano players are a dying breed.  I am for sure teaching my kids how to play piano!!   I also want to thank Beth Ann for her help in helping me learn the hymns and progressing my piano talent. 

I did get Carley's address I will write her sometime this week. I'm so glad Jenna made her flight.  No hints about the broadcast on the 23rd.  And yes, I would love to go to Paris when I get back but I will definitely be hitting the gym hard and going back to my vegan ways. 

Any Pencil skirts from the Sister Mish mall would be greatly appreciated because it is so hot here.   I find that the pencil skirts are my favorite things to wear. 

One of the funniest things that happened this week is our branch president calling us Parra's Angels instead of Charlie's Angels!

I will snail mail ya again this week to give you a full accounting of the week. But everything is going forward and now is the time to do Missionary work. Without the members, we wouldn't be able to do anything.

Hugs and kisses to everyone,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Kenzer Lou

June 7th, 2013 Snail Mail

Dear Mom,

I miss you tons!  I'm so glad that you finally moved into a 'real' house!

We went 'pickin' today.  I picked my own strawberries.  We ate a ton while we were looking for them.  They also had carrots, potatoes, avocados, celery and squash.  At the farm we saw a bunch of animals, but no Texas Longhorns.

Things are going great here.  I especially love the weather.  But, you know, as missionaries, we can't go to the beach!

I got a sweet email from Christine.  She said they have sister missionaries in Keller 2nd ward now.  Christine told Owie that the sister missionaries live with the Todd family.  Owie said, "Mikenzie?" Too funny!!

We are teaching a lot of people.  We have another person getting a baptismal interview this Thursday.  I love teaching!!  Even, if I don't know the language.  We are visiting a lot of our less-active members in our English ward.  And we even have some investigators.  I think the hardest part of the mission so far, is meeting people on the street and teaching them in less than a minute.

We found out that this week in the MTC more Sisters than Elders arrived.  353 Sisters and 325 Elders.  We are getting 19 new sisters in the next transfer.  I have a high chance of training and I'm still training myself!  They also said that 90 or so missionaries are getting transferred to the Bakersfield mission.  So, I am doing lots of hard work.  I can't believe how time has flown!!  I feel like I just got out here and already a transfer meeting is here in the next couple of weeks!!

Send me some pictures of the house.  The missionary apartments aren't any better.  I still have to sleep on the floor.  But, at least I have a mattress.

Thank you for the package!  You really are the best mom in the world!!  Did you get an email from Hermana Romero?

Christine was so sad that she missed my phone call from the airport.  But she was happy that I tried to say 'See Ya'll Later' in person.  She said that Owie insists that he say the prayer at dinner.  She said that I'm always included in their prayers.  (What a sweet boy!!)

I got fed twice in one day, which was actually awful.  But, it's not the worst that I've heard of.  Some of the missionaries in our district have been fed 3-4 times in one day (like Thanksgiving and Christmas).  They said that some of them just throw up and go back to eating.  Yuck!!  Way disgusting!!

(In a different color pen, so I'm assuming she took a break before completing her letter.)

Just like I said in my email, I had another baptism.  It was great!  We feel like we are are helping our branch so much!!  We will get better with our English ward.

I am loving the mission so much!!  I can't wait to tell you more stories!!

Love,
Hermana (Kenzer Lou) Fitzpatrick

Week #5 Life on a Mish...Is GREAT!!

Hola Familia,

Thank you for the packages.  I am so grateful for them and the wonderful support you have given me so far.

I am so great and wonderful!!  We have been quite busy here and have had a lot to do.  When I was sick, the medicine box we packed helped so much.  It was so good to have on hand.

My Spanish is coming along.  I understand what the people are saying, but speaking will just come in time. Hermana Romero and I speak in English sometimes and other times in Spanish. Whenever I do get transferred, I think it will be sad to leave Hermana Romero.  But we will always have mission reunions.   She goes to LDSBC in Salt Lake City, so we will not be the far away from each other.

I don't know if I told you, but we will have 19 new sisters coming to this mission.   So, I have a high likelyhood of training. 

My piano playing is going great. Our Spanish branch choir has asked me to play for their Father's Day special musical number. The song is Where Love Is, in Spanish.  I practice it quite frequently.  It is so necessary to have a musical talent especially with the piano because not a lot of people are taking up musical talents anymore.

That's so funny that all our stuff doesn't fit in our new house!  As far as all my books and Twilight stuff,  just keep them for now.   I will figure out what to do with them when I get back. Tell Littles to keep the room clean.  It can't look like a tornado went through it!!

I really don't need anything special.  But since you asked, something easy are gift cards to the Whole Foods nearby, Jamba Juice, Target, and any other stores. 

My clothes are great, I really don't need anything but maybe some long pencil skirts (like the red and navy from Sis Mish Mall) if you can find them. 

Picking was really fun!!   Only the strawberries, potatoes, and avocados were ready so we will have to go back.  I really like choosing my own food instead of going to the store.  I will be making more smoothies with our fresh fruit.   I'm enjoying all the dried fruit you sent me, too.   I should just become a fruitarian, but it's way too unhealthy to only eat fruit.  

This week we had another baptism in the Spanish branch. His name is Efrain.  He is from Peru and has been investigating for about two years.    Now he was finally ready to be baptized. We had his baptism on Sunday.  We helped all that we could. I played the piano and we did a special activity. 

We have an Investigator named Sandy who was supposed to come to church yesterday but didn't.   We will have to meet with her again and see where we can help her. She works Sundays at the swap meet.  She mostly does it for the social aspect. 

We are working with a lot of less actives and helping bring them back into the fold. Yesterday, one of our recent converts named Pablo (my first baptism, my first Sunday) bore his testimony. It was short and sweet but you could tell that he really is embracing this gospel head on. 

Most of the problems that we see in the church are from part member families, going inactive very young, etc.  This is the first place where we have heard of people asking to get their name removed from the church records.   Some who still have their records in the church are a DNC- Do Not Contact.  We have so many situations that we as missionaries deal with. When people think of missionaries they think of them as teaching the gospel.  But we are not able to go to some people's homes because of hostility or violent behavior toward the church.  These  are just some of the unique circumstances that we have heard of. Some of the other things that we are dealing with are the Branch not keeping their temple covenants.  It is our job as missionaries to help them, but we can't do it alone.  We need the help of the members help too. 

We have been struggling in our English speaking ward because they don't want to put in the effort or the energy in helping further the missionary work. We have been doing our part.  They just aren't doing theirs. It's totally different from the wards we have lived in.  The ward isn't united at all, and the RS has cliques.   We send our dinner calendar around each week and no one even signs up.  It's like we are a burden to the ward.  We are having a meeting with the bishop tonight.  I might share what Elder Bowen of the Seventy said in our stake conference before I left;  we are the part time missionaries, serving for only 18 months.   The members of the ward and stake are the REAL full time missionaries. 

The other issue is that the Bishop and WML told my companion and I that they are jealous that the Spanish branch has had two baptisms and they have had none.   We are working our hardest with people but the members are not pulling their weight.   But things will get better. 

I miss y'all so much and can't believe how time has flown. Send me some pics of the house . I don't care if they are full of boxes and papers or not. I especially want to see how the pool looks. 

Love always,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Kenzer Lou   

Hermana Romero with her 'Pickins'.  

Here's my 'Pickins'.  Don't they look delicious!!

I could get used to this!!