Merry Christmas 2015

December 21, 2015

Hi to all!!

I had a crazy week! Three 24 hour exchanges! It was good though, I was able to be busy, work hard, and spend time with other missionaries!

On exchange with Sister Rasmussen's 

companion

Sister Rasmussen and companion

One of our investigators came to church! Her name is Christina! She is the cutest girl. She's in her twenties, so we relate very well, and we get along great. She was saying in our Gospel Principles class that her mom had asked her that morning why she kept going to church if her boyfriend (who is in the YSA ward, she has a daughter) was in a different ward. She told her mom that she liked the people in our ward, and she likes what is being taught! Our ward is pretty great! GO CANYON CREST!!

On one of my exchanges, with Hermana Visick, we were having a really slow day. We hadn't gotten in with anyone until 4:30. I had been thinking about why we weren't getting in with anyone, and I recognized that my attitude towards the work wasn't where is should have been. I should have been excited and had faith that we were going to find people to teach! I said a prayer and told Heavenly Father that I knew that there were people out there and that we were going to pick up new investigators. The next door we knocked on, there was a woman cooking dinner. I said to her "We just wanted to drop by and share a short message with you," and then she let us in!

Sister Visick and Sister Cozzens

What are our attitudes towards the situations in life? Are we being positive and looking to follow the Spirit continually? Are we exercising our faith continually?

Now it is Christmas! Our Father in Heaven gave His son to us. Jesus Christ is our Lord and our Savior. A Savior was born, and He is the Gift. I love Christmastime, to think of and feel the joy of Christmas and of Christ's birth.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!


-Sister Cozzens

Sister Cozzens with her district

Christmas Nativity from Sister Cozzens' family

The Sisters' mini Christmas tree

The mission home is STUFFED full of Christmas

packages for the Elders and Sisters!

Elder Just with more packages

Half of the Zones from the California Riverside Mission 

got together at the Grand Building to eat and receive

their Christmas packages. Can you find Sister Cozzens?

There she is again...far right

Sister Cozzens, far left, waiting for her packages

Sister Cozzens with her Zone

What lack I yet?

December 13, 2015

Hi there!

Another week went by so fast! It doesn't even feel like Monday! So weird! We worked hard this week! We've been pondering what we can work on so that we can see even more success! We have decided that we are going to work with the ward even more. I'm sure that there is other stuff that we can work on, and the only way to find that out is through prayer!

It reminds me of the talk given at the last General Conference-"What Lack I Yet?" As we read the scriptures, ponder, and pray, the Spirit will give us inspiration that will benefit and guide us on our journeys.

We had an appointment this week with our investigator, Adam! He is Jewish and he is very interested in learning about the gospel. He's slowly reading the Book of Mormon and has a lot of questions. The last few lessons have been him asking questions and now his questions are starting to die down, so we are going to jump in with the Spirit and teach him about the Plan of Salvation. We asked him what he is wanting to get from the meetings that we are having with him, and he said that he wants to know that this church is true. He also accepted baptism, when he came to know that it is true! We are really wanting to strengthen and help him develop a relationship and testimony of Jesus Christ: How He is our Lord and our Savior, and through Him we can receive strength in ever aspect of our lives. I am so grateful for Him. We need His light in our lives.

I went to the temple this week! I love the temple! How often are you going???? Going to the temple is the best place to find refuge, inspiration and comfort! There are so many people that need their work done! I know that the temple is the Lord's house and that we need to do work there. We can and will receive revelation for ourselves, as we ponder and embrace the Spirit there.


-Sister Cozzens

Sisters Garlitz and Cozzens at the Redlands Temple

A cat that kept following the Sisters

Sister Cozzens on an exchange with Sister Buhler

On an exchange with another sister--

"I love the Sisters here!"

Great scriptures to study during the Holiday

Season that testify of the birth of our Savior 

I Like Christmas Music!

December 7, 2015

Hi!

I only have one Christmas song..... OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL, by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and I listen to it every morning! Yay, Christmas! Also, there is a new video that the church came out with, and I failed to mention it last week! Go to christmas.mormon.org, it's nice!

Okay, while we were walking this week, there was this man in his garage. I was a little scared to talk to him (he was hiding behind his computer) but we need to TALK WITH EVERYONE! I noticed he had a bike by his porch, so I told him that he had a cool bike! He then leaned over to see us, put his arm in the air and said "I do not want to talk to you! Go away!" It was quite funny. I walked away laughing pretty hard. He'll learn about the gospel one day. ;)

The church has been sending us referrals to contact, that have been referred for the last 3 years! We went to contact one, Maureen, and they got home right when we pulled up! We went to introduce ourselves, and she looked really confused, but let us into her home right away. She said to us, "So how does all of this work?" We explained our purpose, what we do, and how much this will bless her family. She is really interested, but she is going to be in the Philippines for the next month, which is okay. She told us that she's seen missionaries there before, but she's always been too scared to go say hi to them and ask them questions. :) But she met us! She was a blessing and an answer to our prayers!

We had MLC this week and a big focus was on loving the Lord. Here are some scripture references that you can study! It was great training: Mark 12:28-33, Matt 22:37-40, D&C 20:31, and John 14:15. When we put the Lord first and love Him, the rest of the commandments will fall into place. Love the Lord with all of your heart, might, mind, and strength. D&C 59:5

I have come to love the Lord. I love Jesus Christ so much. He is our Savior. Feeling His love is amazing. I want to have that feeling with me always. The only way to have it is to be obedient to what He has commanded us to do. 1 Nephi 3:7

Have a great week! and love the Lord!

-Sister Cozzens

Sisters Cozzens with Sister Rasmussen, her

STL companion

Sister Young and Sister Cozzens on 

exchanges- "I love her."

Photo taken by Debbie Palmer, a home-share 

parent for missionaries. Sister Cozzens was on 

exchanges with Sister Buhler, who lives in their home.

Canyon Crest Ward Christmas party

Riverside Zone

Sister Training Leaders at a MLC at the Mission Office

Found on the Riverside California Mission Friends and 

Family Facebook page. Posted by Debbie Giles Palmer

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Last Week

November 30, 2015

Hi there! 

We had a slow week, since we weren't supposed to proselyte on Thanksgiving, and we had to make walking a big priority, to make up for what we didn't walk on Thanksgiving! We walk 1.5 hours/5 days a week. 

On Thanksgiving Day, we ate dinner with the ward mission leader and his family. I am grateful for the meal that they prepared! It was delicious! But, I definitely wasn't with my family, so that part was a little tough. In the morning, we played football with the missionaries! I suck, but it was fun nonetheless! Then from 6:30-9 pm, we played dodge-ball and other games with some missionaries in the mission! It was quite fun! That was my favorite part! :) It has been hard getting to know all the missionaries up here, because the missionaries down in Hemet are my best friends, but it is okay. I'll make friends here!

Sisters Cozzens and Garlitz on 

Thanksgiving Day

I love Sister Garlitz! We laugh all the time. She is an awesome missionary, and I am so glad that we were doubled in together! <--- that sounds super cheesy, but she is great, haha. :)

  

So update on that guy from UPS! We met with him on Saturday, and though he is only 19, and we need to pass him over to YSA, we taught him the Restoration! He accepted our invitation to read the Book of Mormon, pray about it, and be baptized! A miracle and a testimony to me that we need to talk with literally EVERYONE. We don't know who the Lord is preparing! All we need to do is invite, even if that means giving them a card with our number on it!

I literally love my ward. Dinner every night is a blast. This ward is just so much fun, and I love them! The Canyon Crest Ward! WOOT WOOT! 

Miracle: An investigator that we've never met, Christina, but talked to on the phone last week, told us that she would be too busy to meet or come to church this month. Then, she called us this morning and set up an appointment for Friday!! 

I was reading in the New Testament yesterday about Jesus (of course) and I was reading about the morning that He appeared to Mary Magdalene after He was resurrected. She came to the sepulcher and saw that the stone was not covering the opening. She ran to the disciples and told them that they had taken His body, and they all ran back to the sepulcher. I would be running too. They were so distraught. They walked with the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. I am excited to walk with Him during the millennium. I just want to see Him! I know that He lives! He loves us! He is our Lord, our elder brother, and the Messiah. We need to live the gospel and come unto Christ, always. I love Jesus Christ so much. He is coming! And I am super excited!!

-Sister Cozzens

Sisters Garlitz and Cozzens fed ducks on p-day

Sisters from the Riverside Zone

Elder Leininger, Sister Cozzens DL. "He is 

deaf and such a cool guy!"

The Sisters found Olaf..."Merry Christmas 

from California!"

SERVING IN RIVERSIDE IN THE CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE MISSION <----- best mission ever

November 23, 2015


Hey all y'all!!

Sister Garlitz and I had an awesome week! We are on FIRE! I am back in rich country, Woot Woot! No need to worry about my safety. ;) No more wee Hemet. :( It is still hard not being around the missionaries in Hemet. Hemet is heaven. I saw Sister Da Silva today, and she told me that it was really hard for her to, when she left. Hemet is just so much fun, and it is really hard to leave. It'll take time to get used to it. I miss it, but I am excited to be here! We have an awesome ward. They are so cool and so fun, and I am super excited to continue to get to know them better. We had a great week last week!

The apartment was clean and so was the car. Just not organized...I was more stressed about cleaning the apartment than the work. The work wasn't very stressful at all. The apartment is in order now, though, so it's all good.

We were walking this week, and we didn't bring the map with us, and so we got lost... a couple of times.

Being with Sister Garlitz is an answer to my prayers. We are working so hard together, and we just want to keep working harder. She is an awesome missionary, and I am excited to see where this transfer goes! Woot woot!

We picked up 4 new investigators. One of them is Jewish, and he has a lot of questions, but he agreed to read The Book of Mormon! I know that the Book of Mormon can help him resolve his concerns.

When we were walking this week, we stopped and talked to this UPS driver. We gave him our card with our number not really expecting anything, and the next day, he called us and told us that he wanted to learn more!

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Give thanks continually to our Father in Heaven! He has given us everything. When we are grateful and recognize the blessings that the Lord has blessed us with, it really is humbling. We also strengthen our relationship with Him.

Have a great week!

-Sister Cozzens

Sister Cozzens and her STL companion, 

Hermana Rasmussen, decided to dress alike for 

their meeting!

Transfers are on Fire!!!

November 16, 2015

Hey!

Sister Turner is training!!! So she is getting her own daughter and I am getting a grand-daughter! She is an amazing missionary, and I am so proud of her. She is going to do so good. She is so obedient, and I am so grateful for her example to me.

The Sisters found a giant Christmas tree in the closet

and were excited to put it up and decorate it!

So I am being transferred... :(  I am leaving Hemet, which I don't want to, but I am also excited to serve in RIVERSIDE (the Canyon Crest Ward)!!!!!! So on my mission, in the California Riverside Mission, I am going to be serving in Riverside!! My companion's name is Sister Garlitz, and we went on exchanges with one another a few months ago.  I'll send a picture from the past to you guys.

I know that we are being put together for a reason. It is inspired. I'm a little nervous for that, but it'll be fun.We are being doubled in, or being whitewashed. Neither of us know the area.... and we are replacing Elders. We are moving into their apartment and their car...so I hope that they've cleaned. I haven't seen it yet, and guess whose area I am being doubled into??? Elder Michael Thompson!!! But we are going to be the first Sisters in the ward, I think, and Sisters are the best! I was actually praying to be doubled in for the challenge and fun!!

I am super sad that I am leaving Hemet and the Valle Vista Ward. I love this ward and city so much, and I never wanted to leave. I was laying on the floor next to Sisters Turner, Roberts, and Ogden just crying last night. I really love this area and I have enjoyed my time here. I am also sad that I won't be with Sister Roberts (MTC companion) for Christmas. We wanted to introduce each other to our parents. I also love the missionaries here. So sad...:( I'll be okay eventually. :) When I was crying last night, I was thinking of how much worse it is going to be when I have to go home. I don't ever want to leave. I want to see my family, but I never want to stop being a missionary!

There were a few days this week where I was just happy, at peace and just happy. I was trying my hardest to be on fire!! I love having the Spirit with me always. The gift of the Holy Ghost literally is the best gift that our Father in Heaven has given us. All we have to do is be obedient.

We were actually teaching about the Holy Ghost to a family in our ward at dinner this last week. The mom said that having the Spirit is the best thing to have with you, and I agree!

Here are a few of my favorite people in Hemet. I love a lot more, this is just a few!

-Sister Cozzens
"Adventure is out there!!" -UP

Sisters Kieselburg and Foutz

Side note: These two photos were sent with a text on Sunday, November 15, from a Sister in the Valle Vista Ward, where Sister Cozzens has been serving. The text said: "That is your daughter who we love so much. She is incredible, she's being transferred, so we are going to miss her. Thank you for sharing her with us in the Riverside Mission! She's so amazing, and Sister Turner whom she trained is now going to train a new Sister. You have a lot to be proud of, and I mean that in a good way, not prideful. She really is awesome."

Hemet Zone

The Johnson Family

The Van Jindelt Family

The Wuehler Family

Brother and Sister Jones, Ward Mission Leader

Sisters Turner, Cozzens, Roberts, and Ogden, with 

Sister Jones (Valle Vista Ward Mission Leader's wife)

It's all about happiness and tired feet! :)

Phone call from a member living in Riverside

November 16, 2015

This is a call from a member in Riverside, received by Sister Cozzens family, the night she was transferred:

"Sister Cozzens, my name is Jobe Jones. I am a member of the Canyon Crest Ward in Riverside, California. Your daughter was just transferred into our ward this evening , and we had the privilege of having her in our home.

I just wanted to call and give a report to you of what a wonderful sister missionary she is. We are so grateful for the Spirit she brought into our home and for the powerful testimony that she bore.

We also wanted you to know that if there was anything you need at all, if there are any messages you need delivered, let us know, we'd be happy to help. If she has a birthday coming up and needs a birthday cake, we'd be happy to have her over and sing happy birthday to her and give her a cake. We're just reaching out, kind of as a  lifeline per say. If there is anything you need to get to your daughter, just let us know.

Thank you so much for making the sacrifice of sending her out. Feel free to give me a call, thank you."

Note: We are so grateful for the love and care that has been shown to Sister Cozzens from the people in the California Riverside Mission!

It's Cold in California

November 9, 2015

Hi all!

So, when California gets cold, like 50s-60s, this is what happens.

I am stealing something from Sister Turner's group email: We ate an entire loaf of French bread one day this week for dinner. We also had some good soup. I know my mom is going to chastise me for doing that.

A peacock got into our apartment complex. I went on exchanges with Sister Ogden--->great missionary that one.  

We taught an investigator, Mandy, and we were following up on how her prayers were going. She told us that when she does pray, she can see  her day a whole lot better. Like the glass half full rather than half empty. She said that the situations don't change, she still has challenges, but she is just happier and more laid back.

Janet came to church! We are seeing progress in her! She accepted a baptismal date for January 17th! We need to help her reach that day, but it is up to her as well.

Our mission president is working on getting the missionaries to be ON FIRE. That is something that was discussed at MLC this last week. We (as the leadership in the mission) are trying to help our missionaries be enthusiastic about missionary work and to help them do all they can to achieve and fulfill their purpose.

I hope that we all can think about our purpose on earth. What is most important? Are we excited to go out in the world and be disciples of Jesus Christ?

He is our example and our Savior!

-Sister Cozzens

From Sister Turner's Blog: "We did a few hours of service this week. There's a park in the middle of Hemet that they cover in flags for Veteran's Day. We set up the flags alongside a JROTC group, a biker gang, and people from the city government. Every flag we set up represented a fallen soldier. There were over 2,000 flags. It was kind of hallowing, and the bikers reminded the group every so often that each flag we handled represented a life,and that we needed to be treating them with nothing but respect."