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."

Happy Dia de los Muertos!!!

November 2, 2015

And Happy Halloween!

In the California Riverside Mission, we can't go trick or treating. We do, however, go to the Stake Center, carve pumpkins, bring the comfy couches and chairs into the gym, and watch The Best Two Years! It was tons of fun! Kind of weird watching a movie, but it was approved!

Sister Turner went as Snow White and Sister

Cozzens went as Ana from Frozen

Sisters Turner, Cozzens, Ogden, and Roberts

Sister Missionaries with Brother and Sister 

Jones (Ward Mission Leader)

#CRM-California Riverside Mission

I got back on the bike life on Wednesday! I went on exchanges with a missionary who started her training. Her name is Sister Pielstick and she is an amazing missionary. She bikes fast. I'm just going to leave it at that, ha ha. It was hard. But she is so hard working, and it was fun to get to know her!

Sarah (our recent convert) bore her testimony in Relief Society yesterday. She was talking about how important the Gospel is in her life, and how she needed this in her life. We were able to take part in her conversion. We found her, because the Spirit guided us. We followed that prompting, and she can now take part in the blessings of the Gospel and receive eternal life as she continues to endure. I am so grateful that I am on my mission. How important it is to take part in a marvelous work.

A lesson that we had with a member this week, was so cool. It was so simple, but definitely guided by the Spirit. We had planned on reviewing the restoration with her, but when we got in there, I just knew that she needed to hear something else. She's struggling with her job and having enough money to pay her bills. A thought crossed my mind to pull a tithing pamphlet from my bag. On the first page of the pamphlet the scripture Malachi 3:10 is quoted. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,... and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." After she had read this scripture she said "I need to pay my tithing." What an enormous act of faith.

As I have been on my mission for a while now (it feels like it but then it also doesn't), I've recognized the blessings and skills that I have picked up and acquired. The biggest thing would be, seeing the importance of the Gospel. The Gospel and Christ are so important to our salvation here on earth. They are the most important things on the earth! Because as we live the gospel and repent and strive to be like Christ, we will make it back to live with our Father in Heaven. I needed to serve a mission to see that.

Even on missions, the natural man, challenges, trials, and Satan still get in the way. It can be very hard to push through it and be patient. There are times when I really want this to be easy (even this life, too). But when challenges are thrown my way, I really have to take a step back and think about what I am doing and how I can overcome this. I, even being set apart as a representative of Jesus Christ, need to continually remember my purpose here on earth. Remember what our Savior did for us so that we can make it back to Heavenly Father, IF we endure to the end.

Matthew 6:31-33. (I added sleep to those verses :)) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you." If we put the will of the Father first, the things we need (not necessarily want) will be added unto us. But putting the Lord first can be so hard!! The natural man is just annoying! BUT, it is a huge act of faith on our part, showing our Heavenly Father that we love Him, and need Him, to help us accomplish the tasks of life.

Set aside time to read your scriptures and do it. Prayer should be the first thing that comes to our minds whenever we have a need or a struggle. Attending church will supply us with energy and strength for the rest of the week and not only that, our covenants will also be renewed! :) Keeping the commandments (paying tithing, keeping the Law of Chastity, keeping ourselves surrounded by Christ-approved things)is also very important. Abraham 3:25.

I invite you to seek the Kingdom of God first, before everything else. I will accept my own invitation and TRY MY HARDEST AND DARNDEST to follow the will of the Father. I promise you that you will receive the things that you stand in need of and you will be at peace. :)

-Sister Cozzens

Sister Cozzens' wall of photos, inspirational quotes, etc.

Sister Cozzens receives a care package from home:

"Thank you!!!!!!!"