A Balmy 32*!

Bonjour! Ca va tres bien! Premierement(first), I probably won't comment on everything that happened...because it was a lot! Anyways, I'm sorry to hear that Bishop Walker died. I didn't know him personally way well, but all I heard about him and saw him do was a real good example for me of not letting your circumstances decide who you will be. So, send my deepest gratitude to his family. 

 On a happier note, CARLI RUNNING MASTER!! 5th that's so legit! And Skyler won his election thing SWEET! Corey's report sounds SUPER early! Wait, do the parents go to that? Anyways, your week sounds full of anything and
everything! Maybe it just sounds like that because it's all jammed into one email...but to me it sounds like a lot haha. Question answer!
1. Do you quebecois (notice I said you, because you are quebecois for the next 1 year and 4 months!) having daylight savings? Yes, we do have daylight savings and my companion and I forgot to reset our alarm so we accidentally slept in...oops haha. 

2.I'm trying to find a couple of things to represent canada, I'm sorry to represent quebec in the family room. Something to put on a shelf- any ideas?
A quebec flag. Anything that has to do with the Canadiens (hockey).
Maple syrup. Other than that...I can't think of anything.
3. How long has your companion been out? What do you have in common? 

My companion has been out for just over a year now. We both like soccer which is fun because we have a mini-soccer ball in our apartment!

My week:cold and it's march! Kind of crazy but true. It was a balmy 32*F saturday. That was super warm. I almost didn't wear my huge jacket, but luckily I did because the temperature dropped at night.
My week was really good. I gave a talk in Church about missionary work and that was good. Other than that...I can't think of something that pops out of my mind. The town is tiny so we sometimes go to other cities to work. It's fun. I really like it here! 

 Well, love you tons!!
Elder Kimzey

Onto Victoriaville!

Dear Mom,
Wow, I'm glad you listened to my advice to sleep. I was trying to yell loud enough for you to hear;) Well, I'm glad your trip went so well. Sounds like fun. Well I will answer your questions then add whatever I want at the end:)
1. How is you new area? what is different? what do you like about it? 

 My new companion is great! He works like a horse! He is super honest and open which is really nice. We talk things out which is good. The town is super small but the branch is bigger than before. About 60 people go to church weekly! I really like it here. I like how we actually have investigators. That's fun. We also knock more. I have grown a lot in 2 days. It's nice to have a fresh start! I like the Branch. They are really nice. A lot of real French people so they are easier to understand. I like the cathedral here. It's really cool.
2. who is you new companion? what is great about him? 

 My new companion is Elder Hurtado. He is from Idaho. He is hispanic and super cool. I explained a little bit before. I really like that he is here for the right reasons. He wants to be as obedient as possible which is great!
3. do you have a ward or a branch? tell us about it...
We have a branch of about 60 regulars. The branch president is President Furlano. He is younger and super nice. His wife is super pregnant and about to have a baby. There are a lot of French people.
We have a like a miniture building which is super cool!
Ummmm...that's all I know so far! A lot of young families.
4. going to send a box this week, any requests? Ummmmmm....I don't know...this has nothing to do with the box but I need to know some workouts I can do. I am trying to get back into shape again but I don't know what to do. Any suggestions? I have some dumbells and that's about it.
5. do you get to work with inactives in you new area? Not a lot of inactive work. A little. A lot more investigators which is cool. A lot of spanish speakers too.
6. I saw lots of snow when we flew in, is it the same where you are? Is the weather similar to rimouski?

 There is snow. A lot compared to St. George. Most of it is melting. Not as much as before. I have gotten use to it. Rimouski was more but here at Victoriaville it's not too bad. Right before I left Rimouski there was a huge storm.
7. Casey's choice- tell us anything you want! 

 Ummm...I am going to testify:) I don't do that a lot on here so might as well you know!
Well, really I have learned something really important on my mission.
That we should spend a lot less time trying to figure out the
complexities of the Gospel and more of the basics because we don't even understand that. I learned that I didn't understand things like faith, repentance, ect. as much as I thought. I knew them but I have so much more to learn! I can testify that the Gospel is simplicity.
Deep doctrine is only as deep as the simplicity of the basics let it. The Gospel IS faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by Immersion, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I just have learned a lot about that recently. That if we want to understand the Gospel we have to live that. I know that ALL is centered on the
Atonement of Christ. Without that, we are helpless. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. He is my savior and yours. The powers of the Atonement are real. Christ lives and we are God's children. 

well,
I hope you have a great week!
Elder Kimzey

Last week in Rimouski

MOM!

 I feel so accomplished being senior elder kimzey now! Wow, I can't believe you lost your clothes!!! Church was super crazy here. We had a big storm so 4 people plus us were there...I got to give my last talk here!! I probably won't have to talk as much in Victoriaville haha. It was kind of weird to think that I'll be in a real building next week. But I felt the Spirit really strong even though there wasn't a lot of us. My week was good. Cold but good. 55 cm of snow fell within 3 days. And there was 100 kph winds! But don't worry I didn't really even go outside. QUESTIONS!!

 1. Did you get transfered?  A new companion?Yes:( I'm going to Victoriaville. My new companion is Elder Hurtado. I haven't met him yet but I'm sure he is great! 

2. We were talking a church last week.  I keep forgetting to ask you about money.  How are you doing budget wise?  Do you have to eat out a lot?

I am doing really well budget wise. I don't even use all the money in the month. Members give you a lot of food so I never buy a whole lot of food. I have only eaten out twice. So not a whole lot! At Thai Express and Tim Hortons. Tim Hortons is a big deal in Canada and Quebec..they're everywhere! 

3. Funny story of the week?

Funny story...OH I HAVE ONE! So we were digging out these windows of a man who lives out in the woods. 2 feet of snow was around them. I was standing with my companion on the back porch. We couldn't reach far enough to shovel the window so I decided to walk out on the snow to get to it. Bad idea. The first 2 steps were fine but the 3rd one my whole leg was consumed by the snow! I couldn't get out because everytime I tried to push up my hand just sunk in the snow. So, Elder Murphy had to pull me out with a shovel..it was hilarious. 

4.  How are you doing with your inactives?

They are doing great! Unfortunately I have to say my goodbyes. They are all so cool! I love inactives. Not the fact that they are inactive but really I just understand them way better than I have before in my life! 

Well, I hope Africa treats you well! 

Elder Kimzey

Advice

Dear Mom,
I will write for you and dad in this letter because I don't have much time. Ya, everyone gives their testimony on fast sunday. It's pretty awesome because I get to bear my testimony every month! I speak a lot...it's really a joke now because I'm told to speak always on Saturday...the day before church! I'm so excited to hear where hunter is going!!! Oh it's so much warmer this weekend! Transfers are in less than 2 weeks. The week after you get Corey. A lot of people do
winter sports and eat/drink hot stuff. I don't know if there's a
famous festival here. I don't think so. My Branch is awesome!
Peoples testimonies are growing so much!! Hmmm, advice. I would say love the Lord. Everyone says that you just need to love the people but it will be impossible if you don't love the Lord first. So, improve his prayers and scripture study. Pray a little harder. Read a little longer. Listen all the time for his messages. That's my advice. My mission president didn't come up this week but he will be here next week!:) We don't really have any investigators if you looked at our numbers it's a TON of less-actives. That's what this area needs now. So that's what we will do. Sorry it was so short!!
I feel so bad...tons of people wrote today..I will forget them next week and just write you:) Have a great week!!!
Elder Kimzey

I've learned I love the heat!

Dear mom,
Lesson time:) You don't say I am good in French. It's I go good.
It's weird that way. And also instead of saying that works they say
that walks. haha French. It's great! Yesterday the wind was killer,
but we were busy so that was good! Really I have gotten more use to
the cold. It's more bearable. But it's like the heat. You never
love it...unless you're me I love the heat! haha.

 Ya...six months lame sauce! I feel really like some of it was wasted in just trying to figure things out, but I know it was necessary to learn...but still lame. I feel
like this is my second home really but that time goes by quick but
that I've been here forever. I never thought that I'd be 6 months in
one area with only 2 companions. Oh man great analogy!  haha(kim here- I try to use as many running/mission analogies as possible- told him that six months is just the start of the race, getting your breath worked out after that sprint at the beginning)

No we just have Relief Society. We have one young woman and I don't know
why but she hasn't come in like 2 months. She lives 1 and 1/2 hours
away so that's hard I guess. Oh wow. I'd never thought about that
before. In the snow...I haven't done a lot in the snow like snowmen
but I just like looking at it it's sooo pretty!!!

 Ok, this week I got to give a last minute talk on sunday for the second time (both times
I've been told by President Fourtina that I will be giving it saturday
night). Also, we got to see one less-active a lot and she is starting
to do missionary work! She is inviting people to FHE. It's a really
cool idea that I never thought of during my mission. 

 But other than that really nothing stands out. Apparently the wind chill jump the
temp. down 20 more degrees either today or last night I can't
remember. Luckily we weren't outside! Really time flies here, but I
just feel at home. Like if you and the family were here it would be
home! I just love all the members here! They are so awesome. I have
transfers just after corey comes home so I won't here about your
adventure until just after the transfer calls. But I hope that your
trip will go well in a couple of weeks. I still can't wrap my mind
around that he has been gone for 2 years! Well, have a great week!
Elder Kimzey III

O' Canada

Hello! I'm doing great! Wow, that's cool that someone from Montréal is doing well! (Australian open tennis...)I think I heard a member talking about her the other day. What?!! 1-0 to the Arsenal! I can't believe Manchester united is  so bad. Makes sense though because they don't have the same coach as before. Oh yes African tie would be pretty sweet! 

 Oh guess what? Corey's new mission president is my stake president here haha. Crazy right? His name is President Morrin and he is one of the coolest people ever! He lives in Québec i believe. Too bad Corey won't be able to meet him because he doesn't go to Benin until july.
So close! Oh, I love the video of the woman touching Jesus' robe. It was really interesting, President Fourtina made an analogy with that to home teaching/visiting teacing. He said that if we don't get a visit that we should call our home teachers up and ask if they can come pay a visit or ask why they can't. He said that the woman on the street had to touch the Saviors coat, Jesus didn't stop, but as soon
as she did so she was healed. It was interesting. I'd never thought about doing that before my mission but it makes sense. 

 That's cool that Megan is going to Toronto! She will be great. That's crazy that is so crazy that Hunter will have his call in like 3 weeks. In fact I was talking about how weird it was that all my younger friends in high school were going to get their calls soon just before we got here.
That would be so awesome if Hunter came here! I'd be a good trainer;)  He could come up to Rimouski with me!!! Highlights...one less-active is doing really well. She really has gained a testimony and you can see how much happier she is. The interesting thing is that she has got a lot of weird medical things that have happened ever since she has decided to try to gain a testimony. She was basically confined to
her house at one point. But she said never has she been more happier, even though she has been in so much pain. Then, we went to find this less-active that we found online and when we called him he said he wasn't interested, but then when we got there his girlfriend was really excited to see us. She was super interested and wants to read the book of mormon. We get to go back sometime this week. 

 Really, that was our week and it has been super fun! I love it here! Life is amazing. Not always easy, but anything worthwhile isn't easy anyways.  Like Eternal Life. Anyways, I better start writing the others, but I hope you have a great week!
Elder Kimzey III

Testimony

haha Bonjour. Nothing much. Quoi de neuf? Oh Il y a un app pour le
français que tu aime?What's new? Oh There is an app for French you like? (See what I did there...I used Il y a haha).Dad's talk sounded super good! I love the difference between
conversion and just going through the motions. It sounds like Skyler
and Chelsea come down a lot more than when I was there. You should
tell them to write me :) Oh really! That's cool. Does she have like
a super thick quebecois accent? Oh man that would be super sweet! Oh
question answer time!! 

 1. do you eat out a lot? where is your favorite place to eat there?

 No we mostly eat at our apartment. People

keep giving us junk food. We finally ate most of it luckily, but
there was some ramifications...A.K.A. my belly. I like the Catine de
la Gare. It's like a tiny shack but it makes the best poutine! Elder
Murphy got a gift card for Tim Hortons so we might go there. Oh Tim
Hortons is like super popular in Canada (as well as Quebec). They are
everywhere! People go there mostly for Coffee and such but they have
like good donuts and sandwiches too.
2.how is the weather? is it warming up after the polar freeze? 

Il fait beau ici (The weather is nice)! Il fait 0*C maintenant.

So, ya it's really nice. A lot of ice in the parking lots so it's
fun, because it's like you're skating to the car. Ya, I'm so happy
that it's warmer! But everyone tells us that January and February are
le pire (worst). So, ya we will see.
3. how is your new companion? were you surprised that you didn't get transfered?

 Elder Murphy? He is good. We have been together for a transfer

and a quarter now so it's going well! Nah, I wasn't surprised. I
thought it could go either way, because I have been here long enough,
but also not super long. I know an Elder who has been in an area in
our district for six transfers (each transfer is 6 weeks so...that's a
long time)!
4. the new mission president for benin is from quebec- I wonder if you know him?

 What's the mission president's name? I probably don't know him,
but I'm sure someone here does. What city is he from?
5.  tell us about a great experience this week.

 A great experience was when we explained what a testimony really

means to a less-active. She had been wondering a really long time
what that really meant, because in the Church we use that term a lot.
We directed her to Le Guide des Écritures (It's like a mix of the
index and bible dictionary because it has the scriptures and the
definition) and it clicked for her which was really cool! She
understands so much more now and she is one of the nicest ladies
you'll ever meet! Silly too which makes the visits that much better!
I can't wait for you to meet these amazing people.
6. how is your french, I mean quebecois, coming?

 My French is good. We are spending this whole transfer only

speaking French. Which right now is a little difficult, but later it
will really pay off. Quebecois isn't WAY different...ok it's pretty
different. It's accent is like old french. Like how the King use to
speak...so they tell me:)
7. what is something fun you did with your companion this week? I was thinking of you, when CJ said that he stole his companions badge at night and put it in jello. haha Something fun...To be honest I can't think of something right

away, but I'll do something super fun for you this week so I can tell
you next week, qu'est-ce que tu en pense? (what do you think about
that?)
Well, hope you have a great week! Learn lots of French for me!
Elder Kimzey III