VISA

May 18, 2015

Hi there!

I am learning Portuguese! I can start a prayer and end a prayer and say: "We are grateful for," and that is about it! Legal! ---- that is a Portuguese word. You wouldn't read it in an American way. More like half Spanish and half American. Laygal! Gal as in apple a.

So Sister Roberts (my companion in the MTC) is in a trio with the STL's. When the STL's go on exchanges, Sister Roberts comes and hangs out with us! She was with us twice for two whole days this week, and we'll have her on Wednesday as well.

We biked in the rain---saving miles. We cannot lose the car. It was tons of fun!!!

Sister Anderson got her visa!!! She is shipping out on May 25th at 6 a.m. I am really sad that she is leaving. She is a great componera and she will be missed! But she needs to serve the people of Brazil!

On Saturday, we were bike contacting, and we stopped this guy. His name is Junior! He lives in Paris, California. He told us that he had told his dad that he was turning his life over to God, and then we showed up! He said that we were a blessing. He started crying as he told us some of his background. He wants to change his life so badly. We told him: "This is the direction that you need to go. Our purpose is to help you come closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father." We got his information and gave it to the Elders in the Paris area. He went to church on Sunday, and he is now on date for June 14th!

He was a miracle. I know that God puts people in our paths, who are ready to hear the gospel, who are white and ready to harvest. Talking with him really showed me how important it is to talk to everyone we see (it's not weird! okay, sometimes it can be.), because we pray for Heavenly Father to put people in our path. We need to talk to everyone, so that we can find those that are ready! If they are not ready, planting seeds!

Heavenly Father loves all of his children. He needs us to share the gospel with everyone. #planfindteachbaptize. In our mission, we baptize. The way we get people into the waters of baptism is by being obedient, listening to our mission president, following his counsel, praying with intent, and so many other things. But if you do all that you can to get people baptized, you will be blessed.

I love serving a mission. It is going by way too fast. Missions are awesome. It was the best decision that I could have ever made in my life, especially at this point. Sometimes I think: "Holy cow, I am so young!" I have learned so much. It is worth it.

Have a great week!

-Sister Cozzens

Sister Cozzens with Sister Anderson and Sister Roberts

Cockroaches, Chinese & DUI checkpoints...Oh my!

Hi guys!

I never know what to title my emails.... I don't want to write like "Week 16" because then it looks like I am counting and wanting it to end. That is not the case at all! Missions are great!!! Yes, they are hard....mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and whatever ...all you can list. They are worth it in the long run! You work hard through the hard times and even harder during the harder times. I know that I am preparing myself for my future, whether it be here in this life or in the next. We'll see!

The Hermanas gave us 13 referrals this last week! And we picked up 3 new investigators from those 13! Tonight we are meeting with a family who have 6 kids!!! Thank you hermanas!

It was awesome to talk to my family. I love them so much! Families are forever! According to the choices you make here of course. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms! You deserve that day! Kids are crazy, and you are amazing.

The church is true! Do all that you can to be obedient! If you don't see the blessings from obedient, keep being obedient! Obedience is a test of faith! Faith builds testimonies. Strengthen your faith by action! 1 Nephi 15:24.

Have a great week! God loves you! Jesus is our Savior! Don't forget it.

-Sister Cozzens

Cockroaches in our backyard and sometimes 

in our house............... they are disgusting.

Sister Anderson (Visa-waiter to Brazil) & Sister Cozzens

These are our Chinese students. We are teaching them to speak English,

along with my companion, and the mandrin speaking elders.

We teach on Wednesday's and Fridays!

There was a DUI checkpoint... good thing I passed!

A Letter From a Missionary in California....

Hey there!

It is so hot, by the way. It has been in the 100's all week, and it's not even summer yet! I love my new companion, Sister Anderson! She and I get along really well! She is teaching me a little Portuguese! Just random words though. She was in the Provo MTC for 6 weeks, and her whole district didn't get any of their Visas.

I love study time in the mornings! I get grumpy, when I don't get my full time.... because I love to study from the scriptures! There is so much knowledge to be gained, by studying the scriptures. I also want to be ready, when someone asks me a question, so I can answer it.

We had exchanges this week! My Sister Training Leaders are Spanish speaking! Hermana Nelson came to Eastvale Friday, and I learned a lot from her! She is so hard working! I need to practice talking to people and navigating normal conversations to church conversations.... She also taught me how to drop people... to their faces. It is an important thing to learn!

We helped paint Yvonne's house this week! Her husband loves Nascar, so we painted the wall black and white, like a checkerboard.

I know that this church is true! Christ lives! Rely on  his Atonement and repent everyday! Prepare to meet God. He wants all of us to stand blameless at the judgment seat. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance!

-Sister Cozzens

Katy with her companion, Sister Anderson, at their adult

session of Stake Conference. 5/2/2015

 

Katy with her MTC companion, Sister Roberts, who:

"Literally is so amazing! I am so glad I get to see her often.

 She is an awesome example and missionary!"

Sister Roberts with her companions

The Waters of Baptism and Training!

April 27, 2015

Hola!!!

Mi new companera's nombre es Sister Anderson! She is a visa waiter, going to Brazil! She is from Cedar City, Utah! She is adorable!

Holy cow, it is difficult to train, especially a stripling warrior (greenie) like myself! I had to take over the area (Eastvale), and I get to drive the fancy 2014 Ford Fusion! We are so blessed to have cars.. But I am so grateful for them! It rained over the weekend! We piled up the miles!

And, we had a baptism, so I was planning that while trying to figure out what to do. I felt like a crazy person the first couple of days. I am beginning to love it though! I am grateful for the opportunity to be an example to a new missionary. Trainees watch your every move! I can't really complain in the mornings (waking up is hard). But it is okay! I am building good habits!

I love my mission! I can't imagine going home! I don't want to go home, no offense! Teaching people about the gospel is the happiest thing to do!

I love the gospel. I love the Plan of Salvation. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the trials that I have in my life. It gives me the opportunity to turn to the Lord! He will help!

Have a great week!

-Sister Cozzens

                                                                          

The day I picked up my new trainee, Sister Anderson, from

the mission office. April 21, 2015

                                                                                       

                                            

Sister Anderson and Sister Cozzens

12 year old, Mathew Yribe, with Sister Anderson, Sister Cozzens,

and Sister Olsen. April 25, 2015

                             

                           

New Assignment!

20 April 2015

I am emailing a short email today! I have limited time, because I have to go to Corona to spend the day and night, and then I get my trainee tomorrow. I can't believe that I am training!!! It is crazy! I am nervous! But excited! There was no baptism on Saturday... but it is for sure happening this Saturday, April 25th at 5:30 pm!!! Exciting!

Obedience brings blessings! Remember that!

LOVE YOU TONS, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING

-Sister Cozzens

______________________________________________________

Dear Brother & Sister Cozzens,


Your daughter, Sister Katelyn Cozzens, has been given the new assignment to serve as Trainer of a newly arrived missionary. She has received this assignment because of her dedication and unselfish service and because of the confidence the Lord has in her. She is a fine missionary.


The position of Trainer is considered the most important assignment in the mission, for it is the Trainer who establishes the foundation for her companion's success and the ultimate success of the mission. We appreciate her willingness to be an exemplary missionary.


We thank you for your continued support and prayers for your missionary and the work in the California Riverside Mission.


Sincerely,


John H. Mullen, President
California Riverside Mission

Remember!

April 13, 2015

Hi there, :)

There is another cold going around, and Sister Olsen and I both caught it! It's okay, it's not affecting our work! No worries!

Matthew, the twelve year old is still working towards getting baptized on the 19th! He is so cool. His reading comprehension is amazing. He is so ready to get baptized, and I am excited for Sunday!

This amazing experience just happened, here at the library. Right now actually. This lady we've seen before here, who is excommunicated I think, just had a break down. She doesn't have any money and she needed to ride the bus. The bus driver called the man in charge, and the guy said that she couldn't have a ride, so she got off. He drove a few feet and then stopped, opened the doors and said "Get on, don't tell anyone." He then bore his testimony of faith and how you need to keep working at it. She said that it was an answer to her prayers and that she really needed to hear that. God answers our prayers! I testify to you that he answers prayers as long as you are living worthily and are praying with real intent. (intent: willing to act on the answer that you receive).

Read the Book of Mormon! I was reading in Ether 3 yesterday, and it is amazing how Christ showed himself to the brother of Jared. In verse 20, "Having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him." How would someone obtain that perfect knowledge? Isn't that just amazing! I love the teachings from the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for Joseph Smith.

Our lesson in relief society was on Joseph Smith. The teacher said that the thing that she learned from studying the lesson was to remember. Remember that Joseph Smith REALLY did restore Christ's church to the earth. The priesthood authority has been restored. Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet. He translated the Book of Mormon. If we remember these things, what should we do about it? Our whole purpose on earth (the plan of salvation) is to return to God. And everything that he has given us is to help us get there. There are millions who don't even have the knowledge that we have. Christ's church has been restored. They need to come into the fold. #spreadthetruth #ChristLives

And I promise you that if you spread this message, you will have the spirit in your life. You will be happy. #everymemberamissionary

-Sister Cozzens

Mucking Horse Stalls

Hey y'all!

This is week 11 of 12 of my training! Crazy!! Last week we were blessed to have a mini missionary come out with us on a mini mission! She is from Riverside and she hung out with us for a week! She taught with us and ate with us! We called her our child... Because she is 17.... It's weird. Don't ask. Her name is Sister Meza! She is so cute! We loved having her and it was fun "training" her.

We also got 3 new investigators! We have soooo many! We are being blessed! One of them, Matthew, is 12 years old. He came to ALL 4 sessions of general conference at the church. He listened and didn't do anything else! And we put him on a date for baptism! April 18th! I am excited to keep teaching him and help him progress towards his baptism!

General Conference was amazing! I would share something, but I left my notes at home... I'll try to remember to share something next week. But it was so good and fun! We went to the church and watched with the other missionaries in the Stake. I am so grateful for the general authorities. I know that the gospel has been restored. I am so grateful for the priesthood.

Yesterday, we went to an investigator's home. She has cancer and went in today to get surgery. We offered to have the elders give her a blessing, and she said yes. She was surprised that they would come over so fast and that they would be willing to give someone a blessing, who isn't a member of the church. Every soul is great in the sight of God! I am beyond grateful to be a part of this church. The elders came over and they gave her a blessing. As they started, the whole room was filled with the Spirit. I had faith that she could be healed, and she did too. Though she wasn't healed (it is also according to God's will) she was at peace. She said that she could just go to sleep which is weird, because she normally couldn't sleep. She was comforted.

I know that the priesthood has been restored. I know that Christ lives, and that he is our Savior and Redeemer. I love this gospel wholeheartedly and being a part of spreading it is amazing. I know that the Book of Mormon is proof that there is a living prophet on the earth today. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet, and that he leads and guides this church. The church is true! I invite you to find this out.

I love my family. They are all such wonderful examples to me. Thanks for everything that you have done! I know that God has given me my family and that families are given to us to learn and grow together. Families can be together, forever, in Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family, and the Lord has shown me how I can. Christ has set the example and given us everything that we need to do, to live with our families forever. It is our choice now, the choices we make, the way we react to situations, whether we keep the commandments or not, it is all our choice. I want to live with my family forever. We can't force our siblings, cousins, parents, grandparents, etc. to live the teachings of the gospel, but it is our choice, what we choose to do in this life. Love your families. They are the only thing that we can keep forever.

-Sister Cozzens

Editor's Note--Sister Cozzens and Sister Olsen (trainer) are helping their home share Momma save money by shoveling horse manure and picking up dog poop! To quote Sister Cozzens: "I'm developing another weird skill, that I don't know if it is useful or not. I live in Norco, otherwise known as Horse Town, USA. The lady we live with has two horses and three dogs and several chickens. She just fired the girl that mucks the horse stalls and picks up dog poop. Sister Olsen and I are now in charge...I'll send pictures! It is fantastic, let me tell you!"

Sister Olsen, Sister Meza (serving a week long mini-mission)

Hiking with Yvonne (recent convert) and granddaughter Ali

Mucking horse stalls