Dear Family and Friends,
Well, I'm moving. This was harder than saying goodbye to my mission mom, at least then I got to keep all the people I have come to know and love. Now, I have to say goodbye to the people who have helped me become who I am. But it is really okay, they are awesome and will stay awesome long after I leave. It was actually a funny story, before transfer calls Hermana Klivans felt like she wasn't going to take over the area and I felt like I wasn't going to leave but then Elder Dickerson said she was staying and I was leaving. My heart broke. He asked if there was anywhere I would like to serve and I told him I would go anywhere the lord needed me, he said that was a great attitude to have, trying to build my spirits back up...well, what he said next actually did! I'm going to Joliet, and serving with HERMANA LEWIS! She served in the same ward as me last transfer and transfer before. I couldn't believe it and I kind of started to freak out with joy, elder Dickerson and Hermana Klivans got a good chuckle out of that. Then Sunday I had to say bye bye to all of my members, there are a ton of great people in the Bloomingdale 2 branch, let me tell you. Everyone has such a sweet spirit and has grown their testimony in the short 18 weeks I have had here. I'm really excited to hear all about their amazing missionary moments after I leave.
This week was pretty packed. Monday we played soccer and volleyball but we didn't have a ball...so we had to call a member to bring us one and then they saw that we weren't going to be eating dinner because we wanted to play and they brought us kfc go cups. Yum. After that Hermana Klivans and I got a referral, which happens to be e family member of someone she taught in Aurora...small world. And we had an awesome lesson with Alfina and the Avila family.
Tuesday we were in Wood Dale trying to find a few families. We never found those particular families but we found a new one! His name is Edgar and he has a wife(?) and one or two daughters and they are super cute. He says he is catholic and didn't know how to read so we scheduled a time when we could come share the Book of Mormon with him because he has a testimony of the bible. And then we had a cita with Rosa after and we invited her to baptism and she accepted! We hope we can help her keep her commitments. (Side note: Alfina fell off date because she didn't come to church :( ). Then to finish the day off we had MCM which basically was going over our goals and how baptisms go. Our branch has a goal of one baptism per month and one missionary activity per month. A lot of work but the activities will bring miracles.
Wednesday was New Year's Eve and so we did nothing. All of our appointments fell through and no one was opening their doors...it was a hectic day. We had a ton of things that we needed to do like going through the area book, making things for our investigators so they can remember what we have taught them, cleaning, and studying. And then we went to sleep. Talk about a day!
Thursday we were knocking doors and the strangest thing happened. We knocked at this guys door and he opened and yelled at us to get in his house. My thoughts were "whoa dude, I don't know you, why are you yelling at me and why are you yelling at me to get IN your house?" That was definitely the first time that has ever happened to me. So we go in and he sits us at the table and goes to get his brother who he says "needs God in his life". Truth be told, they both need a little more Jesus in their lives. Oh man. They were fighting like cats and dogs! It was interesting and un poco dificil. They were, like most others, shocked and stunned that we spoke Spanish and every time they talked to us in English we responded in Spanish. Anyway, one of the brothers was so against coming to church and changing because his brother was the one that needed to change and when I brought up the fact that they needed to change together, he just withdrew. But we got the phone number of the other brother and gave him a Book of Mormon and will go back and teach him soon.
Friday we taught Alfred and Neela and Neela had a friend over and still prayed! It was awesome. They have been reading in the Book of Mormon a lot and you can totally tell the difference. They are understanding so much more. We started to teach them the Ten Commandments and started off with ingredients to cake and made our way to Jesus. Neela was shocked that we were able to connect the two. But like we need instructions to know how to make a cake, we need the commandments to help us know how to live. And we saw a huge difference in one of our RCLA families! Hermana Mencia was positive! She wants her little boys to go on a mission and she wants to go through the temple and she has set aside time everyday to read the Book of Mormon.
Saturday we walked a thousand and one miles to Wood Dale! Ugh, took forever. Thankfully one of our members gave us a ride. It took ten minutes driving so I don't even want to imagine how long it would have taken to walk...but we followed up with the people there, didn't have any citas but then we went back to HNO Flores house to have dinner with his family and they gave us 5 referrals. #bendiciones
Sunday was good, I had to say bye to Hermana Sierra so it was hard and the familia Avila which was even harder but I'm looking forward to the new adventures ahead. I'm all packed and ready to go baptize in Joliet! And to work with Hermana Lewis for her last six weeks :)
I have been studying the Isaiah Chapters in the Book of Mormon this week and I wanted to share this with you. This is a quote from Bruce R. McConkie:
“The vision of the future is not all sweetness and light and peace. All that is yet to be shall go forward in the midst of greater evils and perils and desolations than have been known on earth at any time.
“As the Saints prepare to meet their God, so those who are carnal and sensual and devilish prepare to face their doom.
“As the meek among men make their calling and election sure, so those who worship the God of this world sink ever lower and lower into the depths of depravity and despair.
“Amid tears of sorrow--our hearts heavy with forebodings--we see evil and crime and carnality covering the earth. …
“We see evil forces everywhere uniting to destroy the family, to ridicule morality and decency, to glorify all that is lewd and base. … Satan reigns in the hearts of men; it is the great day of his power.
“But amid it all, the work of the Lord rolls on. …
“Amid it all, there are revelations and visions and prophecies. There are gifts and signs and miracles. There is a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God.
“Amid it all believing souls … prepare themselves to dwell with God and Christ and holy beings in the eternal kingdom.
“Is it any wonder that we both rejoice and tremble at what lies ahead?
“Truly the world is and will be in commotion, but the Zion of God will be unmoved. The wicked and ungodly shall be swept from the Church, and the little stone will continue to grow until it fills the whole earth” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 99; or Ensign, May 1980, 72–73).
The world is crazy. As we near the second coming, the divide between the righteous and the wicked will only increase. I love the Isaiah chapters (never thought I'd say that one) because they help me understand how central Christ is in everything and how merciful he is. I a, learning a lot about Christ and the plan that we have been blessed with. I am in no way an expert in the ways of Isaiah but I'm learning and I am learning a ton! As we start the new year, let's plan to come a little closer to Christ day by day. Everyday is a new start and we always have the atonement to help us start fresh.
I love you all and I hope you have a great week! Thank you for the continued support!
Hermana Rebekka Kunz
Illinois Chicago West Mission
July 2014 - January 2016
Well, I'm moving. This was harder than saying goodbye to my mission mom, at least then I got to keep all the people I have come to know and love. Now, I have to say goodbye to the people who have helped me become who I am. But it is really okay, they are awesome and will stay awesome long after I leave. It was actually a funny story, before transfer calls Hermana Klivans felt like she wasn't going to take over the area and I felt like I wasn't going to leave but then Elder Dickerson said she was staying and I was leaving. My heart broke. He asked if there was anywhere I would like to serve and I told him I would go anywhere the lord needed me, he said that was a great attitude to have, trying to build my spirits back up...well, what he said next actually did! I'm going to Joliet, and serving with HERMANA LEWIS! She served in the same ward as me last transfer and transfer before. I couldn't believe it and I kind of started to freak out with joy, elder Dickerson and Hermana Klivans got a good chuckle out of that. Then Sunday I had to say bye bye to all of my members, there are a ton of great people in the Bloomingdale 2 branch, let me tell you. Everyone has such a sweet spirit and has grown their testimony in the short 18 weeks I have had here. I'm really excited to hear all about their amazing missionary moments after I leave.
This week was pretty packed. Monday we played soccer and volleyball but we didn't have a ball...so we had to call a member to bring us one and then they saw that we weren't going to be eating dinner because we wanted to play and they brought us kfc go cups. Yum. After that Hermana Klivans and I got a referral, which happens to be e family member of someone she taught in Aurora...small world. And we had an awesome lesson with Alfina and the Avila family.
Tuesday we were in Wood Dale trying to find a few families. We never found those particular families but we found a new one! His name is Edgar and he has a wife(?) and one or two daughters and they are super cute. He says he is catholic and didn't know how to read so we scheduled a time when we could come share the Book of Mormon with him because he has a testimony of the bible. And then we had a cita with Rosa after and we invited her to baptism and she accepted! We hope we can help her keep her commitments. (Side note: Alfina fell off date because she didn't come to church :( ). Then to finish the day off we had MCM which basically was going over our goals and how baptisms go. Our branch has a goal of one baptism per month and one missionary activity per month. A lot of work but the activities will bring miracles.
Wednesday was New Year's Eve and so we did nothing. All of our appointments fell through and no one was opening their doors...it was a hectic day. We had a ton of things that we needed to do like going through the area book, making things for our investigators so they can remember what we have taught them, cleaning, and studying. And then we went to sleep. Talk about a day!
Thursday we were knocking doors and the strangest thing happened. We knocked at this guys door and he opened and yelled at us to get in his house. My thoughts were "whoa dude, I don't know you, why are you yelling at me and why are you yelling at me to get IN your house?" That was definitely the first time that has ever happened to me. So we go in and he sits us at the table and goes to get his brother who he says "needs God in his life". Truth be told, they both need a little more Jesus in their lives. Oh man. They were fighting like cats and dogs! It was interesting and un poco dificil. They were, like most others, shocked and stunned that we spoke Spanish and every time they talked to us in English we responded in Spanish. Anyway, one of the brothers was so against coming to church and changing because his brother was the one that needed to change and when I brought up the fact that they needed to change together, he just withdrew. But we got the phone number of the other brother and gave him a Book of Mormon and will go back and teach him soon.
Friday we taught Alfred and Neela and Neela had a friend over and still prayed! It was awesome. They have been reading in the Book of Mormon a lot and you can totally tell the difference. They are understanding so much more. We started to teach them the Ten Commandments and started off with ingredients to cake and made our way to Jesus. Neela was shocked that we were able to connect the two. But like we need instructions to know how to make a cake, we need the commandments to help us know how to live. And we saw a huge difference in one of our RCLA families! Hermana Mencia was positive! She wants her little boys to go on a mission and she wants to go through the temple and she has set aside time everyday to read the Book of Mormon.
Saturday we walked a thousand and one miles to Wood Dale! Ugh, took forever. Thankfully one of our members gave us a ride. It took ten minutes driving so I don't even want to imagine how long it would have taken to walk...but we followed up with the people there, didn't have any citas but then we went back to HNO Flores house to have dinner with his family and they gave us 5 referrals. #bendiciones
Sunday was good, I had to say bye to Hermana Sierra so it was hard and the familia Avila which was even harder but I'm looking forward to the new adventures ahead. I'm all packed and ready to go baptize in Joliet! And to work with Hermana Lewis for her last six weeks :)
I have been studying the Isaiah Chapters in the Book of Mormon this week and I wanted to share this with you. This is a quote from Bruce R. McConkie:
“The vision of the future is not all sweetness and light and peace. All that is yet to be shall go forward in the midst of greater evils and perils and desolations than have been known on earth at any time.
“As the Saints prepare to meet their God, so those who are carnal and sensual and devilish prepare to face their doom.
“As the meek among men make their calling and election sure, so those who worship the God of this world sink ever lower and lower into the depths of depravity and despair.
“Amid tears of sorrow--our hearts heavy with forebodings--we see evil and crime and carnality covering the earth. …
“We see evil forces everywhere uniting to destroy the family, to ridicule morality and decency, to glorify all that is lewd and base. … Satan reigns in the hearts of men; it is the great day of his power.
“But amid it all, the work of the Lord rolls on. …
“Amid it all, there are revelations and visions and prophecies. There are gifts and signs and miracles. There is a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God.
“Amid it all believing souls … prepare themselves to dwell with God and Christ and holy beings in the eternal kingdom.
“Is it any wonder that we both rejoice and tremble at what lies ahead?
“Truly the world is and will be in commotion, but the Zion of God will be unmoved. The wicked and ungodly shall be swept from the Church, and the little stone will continue to grow until it fills the whole earth” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 99; or Ensign, May 1980, 72–73).
The world is crazy. As we near the second coming, the divide between the righteous and the wicked will only increase. I love the Isaiah chapters (never thought I'd say that one) because they help me understand how central Christ is in everything and how merciful he is. I a, learning a lot about Christ and the plan that we have been blessed with. I am in no way an expert in the ways of Isaiah but I'm learning and I am learning a ton! As we start the new year, let's plan to come a little closer to Christ day by day. Everyday is a new start and we always have the atonement to help us start fresh.
I love you all and I hope you have a great week! Thank you for the continued support!
Hermana Rebekka Kunz
Illinois Chicago West Mission
July 2014 - January 2016