New Companion

Sister Mom,
Bonjour from the magical land of snow! Ya, I believe it snowed for 3 days or so. It's snowing right now as I type so ya. You really get use to the cold though. I mean I still am cold, but not shivering
to death like I was before! Aw man I feel bad for Ryan all girls that's no fun! He'll just have to party even harder with Corey next year! :) Ryan is super awesome. One of the best! Ya, it's basically
an eternal winter here...it's pretty awesome! It doesn't leave until March ish! Crazy right? I always loved Thanksgiving. The feeling is just fun with family and football and Nanny Jo's food! I hope you
enjoyed it! Ya, I learned that with Elder Heder...he's so positive! It just makes everything feel like it's 'better' but it's the same you just noticed all the good things! Ok, I told Dad about my week so
I'll just answer your questions so I'm not repetitive because I know you read them together haha.


Question #1:New companion? What is his name, where is he from? How are you doing with the change up? How long has he been out?
My new companion is Elder Murphy. He's from California and has been out for about 1 1/2 now.
It's different but he is super awesome and it's fun to learn new things from each other! He gets things done!

Question #2: xmas package- sending it this week. I got the other package back, so I'll include that stuff too. When will you go to the mission office to get it? Any last requests?
I will go sometime this month I believe, so just send it there and I'll get it  sometime this month. No I bet everything Inside is great!

Question #3: I bought maple syrup for our waffles. Is it true they put it on everything?

They don't put it on everything, but they sure like it!

Question #4: Is it true that the sun sets before 4?

Yes, it sets super early and it messes with your body a bit at first because you think 'oh the day is ending' but it's really just beginning!

Question #5: What is a cool christmas tradition there?

Well, they have this dish called cipielle (or something like that...I don't know how to spell it) and it's SUPER good! I would recommend it. It takes a long time to make and it's really what's the word...dense? But well worth it! Other traditions...I can't remember other ones. If I do I will tell you!
Well, mom thanks for all you do! We shared the talk from Elder Christofferson about how mothers have the greatest influence on the world and I know that you have been the biggest influence in my life!
You have been amazing! I know I'm not a perfect child and nor will I ever be, but always know that I love you tons and know that your life has at least changed my life!

Well, have a great week!
Elder Kimzey III :)

I'm not cold!

Cher maman,
Salut! Winter has arrived here too! It hit the negatives the other day! That was exciting. But the cool thing was I wasn't cold! Thermals and good jackets help haha. Oh really it'll get as high as 9? haha Ya it's not that bad. I actually kind of like it. For now. Ask me in a couple of months what I think ha. I love carli's theme! It made me laugh out loud (LOL..? didn't know I'd actually use that in a sentence until now).

 I'm glad you did so many temple sealings! I was afraid
Carli was going to fill the whole house with temple work to do! OH YAA!!! Tell Chelsea happy birthday! I have lost track of what the days were so it's a late happy birthday but happy nonetheless! :) 

 I'm so glad carli did so well!...

Oh I love Elder Maynes talk it was awesome! Oh good I'm glad you're using running quotes. Running and life and pretty similar if I do say so myself. Don't get me started on all my running analogies:) 

 Umm at Christmas we can either call or skype but I'm not quite sure which one to do.   Skype would be cool but it'd be a lot harder! 

 Anyways, my week!! It's Elder Heder's last week with me and so today we go down to Quebec City and tomorrow

he leaves on a bus to go to Montreal and I stay with the Quebec Zone leader for Tuesday then my new companion (Elder Murphy) comes that night! It should be good stuff! I'm sad Elder Heder is leaving though. He really has changed my life. It's hard to really write it in words. You know how I'm really hard on myself? Thanks to him I'm not near as hard and my life just feels that much more positive! He
works hard like no one I've met. He is friendly and just has a way with people. He is just amazing. I hope you can meet him that would be a dream come true! I couldn't have asked for a better trainer!!
This week we had a baptism of S.!!! Oh man I'm so excited! We baptized him in the Cegep (like a college and a high school mixed together) pool which was funny but super cool. A member was going to do it (like it should happen) but cancelled two hours before so Elder Heder did it. That night we also had a Souper (dinner) with the Branch right after and right after that a fireside where President Fourtina talked about how the church works. Then, we had transfer
calls so that was an intense night. Sunday Steeve was confirmed and I had to do it...scary stuff. I did it well I thought. I just tried to follow the Spirit. So he's a member officially now!! He will get the Aaronic Priesthood soon which will be cool. He is an amazing Quebecois man. I hope someday you can meet him! Then most of the rest of our weekend was saying goodbye's for Elder Heder. It was sad,
but cool to see how much he has touched people's lives here. He truely is an amazing person and missionary! Well, let's see what else...I can't think of anything other than the baptism because it was just so great!

 I'm glad to be a missionary! Have a great week!
Elder Kimzey III



Dear father I,
My week was great! It's freezing and I love it! It snowed like crazy this weekend. 

 OHH outback the joys of bread and Aussies. That's too bad BYU lost. I'll have to break the news to Elder Heder. Oh, how's tithing settlement? Oh ya I forgot to say HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I forgot because we already past it here.

 I love those insights. It's true the last thing you said. President Hinckley once said that the best remedy for things is to turn to help others. It's true. It's funny how that work. God made us that way on purpose I think. That everytime we turn in-ward nothing is fixed and it get worse almost self-inflicted really. But when we turn outward things just seem to work out. I have really found that out on my
mission. Forget myself and go to work. Still a work in progress but it's the journey not the end that counts! We had around 21 people at church with a huge storm so that's really good! Sorry your letter is short but I said a lot more in Mom's letter and I'd figure you'd read it. Dad, thanks a lot.
Elder Heder asked me (in a long car ride back from Quebec City) things I've learned from you that make a good dad. It really opened my eyes and I'm sorry I'm not very grateful all the time for what you've done for me. Your example and  really saved me... You were always there for me and really a great father. Not perfect, but greatness isn't measured by perfection, but by effort and I can say that my dad gives more effort than he is ever given credit! So thanks!
Have a great week! Love you tons!
Elder Kimzey III

I love it here and never wanna leave!

Ma Maman Préférez,
Bonjour! Ya, the temperatures soared this weekend to like 50* F (Ya, that's funny to say haha). There's another Thor movie? Cool!

Well, I'm glad carli did so well! She sounds like a master-runner now. She learned from the best:) Nike is the best!! I can't wait for her to see the atmosphere there and just how fun it is! Tell her not to be a stick in the mud like me and just go crazy at the t-shirt exchange. Tell her also that she has to somehow get either the hat or bag for me from someone (not for coach holt) :)
I love the temple! I get to go to Montréal for that right before
Christmas!!! What a present to the dead souls in spirit prison!! Ok now to respond to your number bullets! 

 1. We got a letter from Elder Heder! You have to tell him how nice that was, and that I'm hoping to make it up for his homecoming...

 He wrote you? Man he pulled a fast one on me I didn't even know! Ya, that'd be really cool! I would love for you to meet him!!
2. I was thinking at the temple- do your youth ever get a chance to go or is it too far?

 Ummm we don't really have youth here. Our only youth are moving. About 70% of our members are 50 or older. But no one really goes a lot but we are making a trip next month which is really fun!!
3. Putting together a xmas package, any request? did you get my envelope?

 No, the address was wrong sorry my bad it's 365 pierre d'anjou number 6. So sorry about that! Ummm I enjoy food, letters, scarfs, warm things, ties, and the works, but most of all I just want to see you have a great time:) Well, I guess hear not really see haha.
4. Tell us about the best lesson you taught this week...

 Best lesson was yesterday with a less-active. We finally got a

member to come with us to go see her another day and then we went a second time with the same member. She really enjoys him being there.
It finally clicked for her that Satan was trying really hard to
confuse her and that when she stopped doing the right things that it was harder not to be confused. She said when she started reading again she just felt it was a lot easier. It was cool to see that finally click!
5. What are you personally studying?

 I'm personally studying PMG, Book of Mormon, and just certain subjects. Today I went through my patriarchal blessing and just sparked into another subject about just forgetting yourself and how when you do everything for others you see the most growth in your life. Also, thank dad for me. I read my setting apart blessing all the time and it really helps me out! So, if it wasn't for him I would have remembered all that and I wouldn't have that great blessing!

Well, that's about it. Sorry it's not WAY long but I wrote more to dad and I still have to write Carli. Time is flying too fast here!
In a couple days it'll be 4 months out. That's crazy talk! I just
realized that. Aw that's not fun to think about. I love it here and never wanna leave! Especially Rimouski! People here are great!
Well, have a great week! -Elder Kimzey

19 months to go!

Dear Awesome Mother,
Ya, weather here is getting cold fast! First bit of snow! Oh no
don't get sick! At least you learned well from whoever this wise one is :) Ya, I heard you made caramel apples and you and dad ate carli's haha. Italy?? Awe man I've always wanted to go there!
Italian is on my top 5 languages to learn! But that'll be fun! Ya, I'm sure you could pick up Corey, but wouldn't you want to go to Italy in the summer not March? Ya, missionary work is a hot topic! It's so cool to see how people are starting to work together more because of this hastening of the work! Well, question answer time! 

#1- did you get a package from the Hall's? they were pretty excited about it.

Yes!!!

Will you tell them thank you and to email me or give me their email so
I can write them all because I don't have their address anymore (I threw away the box before I thought this through). Thanks! 

#2- I sent a very small envelope directly to your apartment this week. Will you let me know if/when it gets there?

I didn't get an envelop...hopefully it gets here soon! Oh by the way use regular mail not FedEx...FedEx is so much more expensive to send here! (Wisdom of Elder Heder) 

 #3- Did you hear about the storm in Philippines? It was really bad, but Mike and Kole Wilstead are fine and Elder Wilstead said that his mission president told all the missionaries that for the remainder of his mission (so at least 7 months) that they were all changing to service missionaries.

Oh ya I saw that on a TV (I wasn't watching just saw a giant storm and caught my attention). What

happened? That's good that they are all ok and that'd be a cool experience to be a missionary there right now!

 #4- Are most of the citizens in Rimouski from Canada? Or are some immigrants?

Some students are immigrants but out here it's mostly Quebecois people. In big cities it's A LOT of immigrants. Elder Heder was saying that he's gotten to

know like 130 different nationalities of people while he served in Montreal area. 

 #5- So I just looked up when Canada's thanksgiving is- October???? What??? I missed it! Do they have Turkey? 

Ya, it's in October. Not really. They don't really even celebrate it. They do that sort of thing mostly for

Christmas! 

 #6- when is the season for Hockey there? Do people really play curling (please say yes!)

Every season is hockey season! Just kidding...sort of. I don't think in the summer, but the season started about when I got here I believe and it's still going so ya. I haven't heard a lot about curling, but I'm sure they play it I just don't hear about it.

#8-When does your companion come home? 

He goes home in the next couple weeks. Sad day! But we still have a while together luckily!

  #10- tell us your favorite story of the week-

well, yesterday we had mission conference and Elder Pieper of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy came to talk with our zone (like 30 missionaries about) and I got to have an interview with him! He was super cool! He answered my one

question I had before I even had a chance to ask! Also, it just
really clicked for me this week that I've been thinking too much about myself and not about others. I worry too much about what I'm going to do or what's going to happen to me instead of how I can help THEM and things like that it was just a cool experience. 

 #11- send mom some pictures? 

I'm going to send some of the snow, but all the cool pictures are on Elder Heder's camera so I will try to get them, but who knows! 

 #12- are you needing a warmer coat? boots? have you seen snow yet?

 No, we bought everything I need here at the Friperie (it's like the DI of Quebec).

And ya snow and it's falling as we speak! Aw man...it's
tuesday...well now this week tuesday is your favorite day! Love you tons,
Elder Kimzey du Quèbec

Out with October, In with November

Bonjour!

Just so you know Bonsoir is one word but that's alright it
sounds the same:) My week was great! Always a challenge but that's the fun of it right? If we didn't progress life would be flat! Yeah it's November!!! Crazy! It came too fast! Anyways, that's so exciting carli got that award! She looks different already! I saw that Halloween picture of her and was like wait..she is different and it's only been like 3 months!! But I know she is going to be like a Senior by the end...that's weird! What was skylers dinner that he had to attend? Outback's the best! She better have ate a ton of bread
for me!
Ramsey eh? Wow. Who knew. We will see if he keeps it up.
I'll answer your questions then throw in whatever other jazz that comes to mind!

1. What are you most thankful for (and I'll add it to the list) I am most thankful for...most thankful for? There are too many things!!! Let's see my companion, Rimouski, my family (hey that's you!), the Scriptures, food (who isn't?), etc. 

2. Do you have the same format for fast and testimony meeting? do a lot of members bear their testimonies? Ummm I can't remember what the format is là-bas mais I think it's the same. The majority of the people get up just because there's not hundreds of us.

So, that's kind of cool.

 3. How many people attend your branch now?Well, this week it was around 16 so that's pretty good considering so many people went to the hospital or are sick this week!

 4.  How long does it take to get to church?It only takes a couple minutes to get to our church. It's on the main road. The problem is parking. Every. Single. Parking Space is reserved parking! Frustrating but that's just how it is here. There are like exceptions to when you can park and stuff so you just have to be aware basically.

 5. Are you mostly in a car?Ya, our area is too big to not have a car. We would be late to everything! It's the big city places that don't really have cars because their area isn't

that big. Our area is huge though and we always use our mileage. 

6.gonna get cold here (like high of 55 degrees casey!) is it starting to get cold there? any snow?

It's 1* C right now but it's been -2* C at times which isn't like

freezing but it's cold! Just wait until it hits -40* F with wind!
But I heard after a while that becomes normal and like -10*C is like balmy haha the fun of Quebec! 

7.  DID YOU GET YOUR PACKAGES????

YES!! Thank you for the package it was super nice! I love the talk you sent. It's a video at the MTC that I loved a lot so that was cool to read again and compare my notes from then. Also, all the food! I may have ate it all too fast but it

was worth it! haha But thanks again! 

8. I heard you have thanksgiving there- is it the same as here?

Yes, it's in October too so it already passed and no it's more just like a day off not really anything special. It was kind of lame but hey I'm not in Kansas anymore...I'm in good ole RIMOUSKI! It's pretty amazing here. The people are interesting and really closed, but that's alright it makes

it that much more special! Let's see...ya that's about it. I may
have forgot something. We are still working with less actives and that has been fun. I have really got to know some of them and they are amazing people! Not a TON of new investigators but hey that's alright we just try our best! I have learned so much. If I could just express my week in words I would but a mission is meant to be lived really. It's an experience beyond words!

Well, I love you
tons!

 Have a good, fun week in good ole St. George!
Elder Kimzey III

Stake Conference

Bonjour!

Comment ça va? Oh vous étiez prôche!(oh you were close) c'est RUH-MOO-SKI alors c'est presque le même!(it's RUH-Moo-ski but the rest is the same!) Anyways, the rest I will do in English :) AWWW they took 3rd! That's the awkward one where they should get a reward but they don't! Well, c'est la vie. But tell Byron congrats and tell him to imagine me freaking out for him! Who did he loose to? Ya they won't win state 2 years in a row...they got too smashed in JV didn't they? Plus we probably won anyways because they just copy us haha. Anyways, none of this negative smack talking what am I doing! I'm sure they worked hard to win it.
Oh they fun of paving! You know my nickname here is the paver? haha It's a long story and really is a you-have-to-be-there moments. Ya, that's one thing you learn here is that every contact is just bringing people one step closer to Christ. They may not be joining the Church lickidy split but they are closer.
C'est sept, huit est 8. (I couldn't remember the word in french for seven- it's Casey's dad's seventh tithing settlement this year)
Questions:
1. When do you go into for packages? I get my packages Wednesday actually! We got a surprise text that we had Zone Conference this week! It is something we just laugh about now. Because we didn't plan for it mileage wise!
2.  What is your favorite new french word that you have learned? mmm...new French word. haha well say je doit admettre que a lot but that's a joke. Umm...Well I'll just say some phrases: Digadoo (I don't know how to spell it it's Quèbecois) is a response to how are you; Ça bouge? Means is it moving?; I don't know how to spell this so I'll give you the phonetics Poppi is like not bad so a response to how are you again. That's all I got off the top of my head.
3. Carli wants to know how you acheived your level of awesomeness (I had to laugh- is that not the best question from carli!) wesomeness...hmmm, constant inner peace, I drink the dew of a bamboo tree daily and laughing is vital to being awesome. haha Sorry I don't know how quite to respond to that!
4. What do you think is the biggest cultural change for you in the great north?well, everyone smokes! And people aren't openly friendly. That was the biggest thing. Saying hi to someone is pretty outrageous here. But that's alright it's the French culture coming out! I love it!
5. What do you love about the people there?  love how nice the members are! They are so awesome! I don't know specifics of why I love the people...I just do! And cool stories...well yesterday we had a fête for my companion and a less-active! That was really fun and we got a lot of teaching opportunities because it's a part-member family and the two sisters there were less-active so that was good! Oh and just relationships with people this week just clicked! That's always fun..people just trust you more and it's better for everyone. Well, I will try to bring one cool story next week because J'ai oublié toutes mes histoires de la semaine!(I forgot all my stories this week!) Bon, passez une très bonne semaine! (Have a good week!) Love you TONS!
Elder Kimzey



DAD,
Hello! Quèbec is great! The language is coming and really I can participate in conversations! I mean I can't do anything complex but I'm learning so many words! That's what I've learned this week. Because I'm like a high performance personality I set unrealistic expectations and just end up failing all the time and really don't feel much achievement. BUT I learned this week just to take baby-steps and really not be afraid to mess-up a little! I mean I don't have to be an expert right from the start! Anyways, that's my lesson for the week personally. We taught 17 lessons this week and before here missionaries were teaching only a couple lessons a week. I guess my setting apart blessing is already being manifested! Crazy! I'm thankful everyday for how busy we are. It's mostly with less-actives but it's still the work of salvation! They are great though! You know how I said I would gain hardly any weight well I lied! Actually I don't even know how much exactly but I've gained about 7 lds or so so far but really winter hasn't even begun and people are feeding us like crazy now! That's alright though because if I hadn't gained any weight thus far I would be freezing! Plus I was so skinny and in shape that it'd be impossible to maintain on my mission! It really doesn't matter just a random tangent I guess! So how are you?
Oh ya Halloween is big here! People are getting ramped up for it! OK it's not like crazy big but it's like home a bit!
I like the temple stories. Temple is such a great place. We are preparing a couple returning members to go to the temple this week so that's cool! We had Stake Conference and an Area Seventy came and he spoke French which was cool but it's been 40 years so he had the most American accent and it was hard for him but it was amazing how much the Spirit helped him to remember! It was cool!
Arsenal is rolling! Well, here is amazing! Weeks fly by like days and days like hours and months seem like a week! It's so true!
Well, have a great week! Love you tons!

Elder Casey Kimzey

Knocking on doors is like a white elephant gift...

Bonjour Bonjour! 

 Comment ça va? Je vais très bien! Well, I would write all in French but then what good would that do? You'd put it into Google Translate and who knows what words it'll put into my mouth! haha Well, it's been a good week. We are really blessed out here in Rimouski! So many amazing things are happening it's ridiculous! Hmmm...ridiculous, old slang phrases...home slice is a classic. Oh, Elder Yan taught me the term "that's fresh" it's like that's cool. That could be easy to use! Oh the useful things you learn on missions haha:) Oh ya they should come down more often because then they actually write me! haha Just kidding. It was nice hearing from them though. So, how are you? Oh, I understand completely. If they want Texas Roadhouse they gotta put their shoulders to the wheelbarrow! How did the varsity boys do? I'm guessing they didn't win considering you didn't mention it. I'm glad Jason did well! He will be really good in track I can feel it! Tell him hi for me and thanks for all the good laughs in the car! Oh well tell James hi too :) Ya missions are super fun! You just meet all sorts of people and you really just understand people better! The fun thing is when you knock a door it's like a white elephant gift...you don't know what to expect! I've had some doors that just made me laugh and others send me into shock. But mostly laugh. I haven't laughed this much in a long time! It's just...fun! I've learned to just be the happy me that doesn't worry as much about what people are going to think of me. Still working on it because it's a weakness but hey c'est la vie! En tout cas, I know Dallin. Great guy! He'll do great! He was good at basketball. He's in your ward? I like President Utchdorfs talks. I can't find one that I don't like! (Ok I like all of the Apostles talks) Ya, you can't ever force people to do anything. Sad but true. You put the food down but you can't force them to eat just have a face full of food. My clothes are great! Maybe another sweater probably black. I enjoy black. Ya, it's like America. We shop at this cheap food store. It's a good place to buy fruits and stuff because they are really cheap. But everything else here is more European based. Like the apartment style of houses. They aren't like what you think would be in Metropolitan areas like Paris but other parts. He has around 1 month left...AHH don't scare me! I don't know what I'm going to do without him! Ya he's going back and playing football for them. But don't tell him I told you that. He doesn't like to talk about it because he wants to focus on his mission. So we say he has two years left haha:)

 Crazy! Of course Arsenal is going to win the one year I don't watch in like 6 years...but good for them! Who scores the most for them? Anyways, back to the more important stuff in life. Speaking is going well. I can understand most of what people say (basically everything) but then responding is harder right now. I'm in that awkward phase of understanding but not being able to speak well. It comes and goes though. Some rendez-vous I just have it and others I just can't say "comment ça va?" But that's the mission for ya! I am less anxious to talk to people yes. I still fight the feeling of just wanting to talk to members or less-actives. En tout cas, hmmm no not any funny language stories...not yet. I probably will have one this week because I'm going to speak more so I'll tell you next week! Well, my learning experience has been...oh man I have a ton...I learned that renewing our testimonies is the most important thing we can do because that's how we strengthen them. If our bases our weak, the Lord won't give us more. So, it's praying to know the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. I think we often think that once we got one answer it stays with us, but oh how easily that fades in our minds (sadly). So ya that's what I've learned! Wow, that was a long letter. Have a good week.

 Love you tons mom!
Elder Kimzey (Quebecois version)

t's starting to get cold! Next month, November, I think it will really start to drop! It's only going to get as cold as 0* C but that isn't too bad. That's like 33* F so not too frigid but the high's are like in the 40's F soo ya not toasty but Bienvenue à Quebec! Is BYU doing pretty well? I feel as if I need to root for them more now because my companions plays for them haha. Man, you've been a Bishop forever! So much sacrifice, but also so much blessings! Only 3 more years to go :) just kidding. Ya, it's amazing what people will just tell you just because they feel that your representatives of Jesus Christ. Missions are just...everything! They are fun, hard, tiring, comical (some things are just too funny that I just have to laugh afterwards), and DEFINITELY spiritual! But you can go on a mission and not be a missionary. So, I think being a missionary is key to really making it a difference. People here are basically like anyone you would meet in France. When you say just a friendly 'Bonjour comment ça va?' they look at you funny, but hey I like it...it's them! That's one thing I've learned on my mission from Elder Heder. Somethings are just...you! So love you! Ya, change if you have to but don't freak out because it's just you! How's Uncle Kyle and hunter doing by the way? You mentioned Uncle Kyle and it just made me think of them! It's really just amazing here. If I could tell you all the things I felt and have seen it would be awesome! But it's true what they always say. You can't ever express what a mission has meant to you in words. If you try they seem a lot less...amazing than they were no matter how eloquent of language you use! Oh man. Quebec...Rimouski! Good stuff! Oh we had thanksgiving here last week. It's not as big of a deal here. Basically just a day off of school and work for some. Not as fun, but everyone is getting ready for Halloween which is fun! Well, hope you have an amazing week dad! You're the best!


Love, Elder Kimzey of Rimouski! (I wonder how all of you pronounce that sometimes...haha)