June 28,2010

Let's see, alot has happened...right now we have 3 investigators with baptismal dates in the month of July. We have only 2 progressing investigators which means they go to church and have been taught two or more lessons. It has been a great week. We are working very hard and have a lot of faith! With that faith, the Lord is blessing us to help and to find those who are ready and prepared to hear the gospel. We have met this one couple that is on meth, getting kicked out of their home, and the husband has just left out of their lives. One of our investigators, Shana, is not married but has been living with her boyfriend for 14 years. Her boyfriend is abusive, both physically and mentally. Shana wants to leave him, but he threatens her, and she is very scared. It is a horrible situation. He is very controlling. Anyway, she is an amazing woman who has been prepared to hear the gospel and join the church. However, Satan is working on her and everyone of our investigators like crazy.
It is very sad some of the situations I run into each and everyday. Most are depressed, no direction in life, and fearful. But, at the same time, they don't want to hear the gospel and learn how to better their lives. Another hard thing is to see recent converts fall away right away. They are baptized and then stop coming to church. The more awesome thing is to see those people who are trying to live the best life they can and pray to God for help even when they don't have the gospel. I love sitting and teaching them the joy and happiness that comes from doing God's will. What's even more amazing is these people willing to change all their old habits to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is pretty awesome.
We are teaching this nineteen year old named Shannon, and it is really hard for me to really love her. She is just weird, bipolar, and I've been struggling. I'm trying. The last lesson we taught her went Okay. The Spirit wasn't with me because she really bugs me. It is amazing what small things we do that offend the Spirit that disqualify us for His complete influence and direction.The Spirit is so strong as we are obedient and faithful, and we recognize His subtle promptings.
My companion and I are becoming such great friends. We are teaching so much more in unity as our friendship developed and as we exercised greater amounts of faith. We just have so much fun together. We laugh all the time. I love missionary work so much. It is truly such a blessing and privilege to be an instrument in the Lord's hand, that He trusts me enough to teach and help our Father's children come unto Him.
We get a new mission president Thursday. We will see what changes, hopefully email. Everyone hates not having it. The mail here takes forever too! They are some sketchy mailmen too. LOL
We move to our own little apartment on Wed. It is above a member's garage, supposedly it is really nice. :-) But, I really like living in a home because we can mooch off the members. :-) They don't care either. We have been having really good dinners lately. Last night, we had yummy soup and rolls. It reminds me of you, Mom. I love home cooked meals. It reminds me of home each and every time. It is crazy the things that remind me of home and family and friends. Did I tell you that everyone has dogs and cats? I mean like everyone. I come home from the day, and my skirt has literally a layer of dog fur on it. Gross! I like dogs but not when they smell, drool, and shed like crazy. HaHa, that's like every dog.
It is crazy the kind of excuses we get from people as to why they won't attend church or why they won't see us. It is annoying. Can't they just tell us they aren't interested and for us to leave them alone. Oh, another fav. is when we know people are home and they refuse to answer the door. Haha. Classic.
So, Mom and Dad(especially Dad) tell me about your conversion story. What did the sisters teach you? What did you have a hard time believing? Mom, what made you finally feel completely converted?
There are a lot of baptisms and very few conversions. They focus a lot on numbers(baptisms) here in Washington. We don't like it.
It is good to have goals and numbers, but it is very intense. I feel like maybe it is like that in other missions. I am not sure.
We have a goal as a mission to baptize 1000 people by the end of the year! Crazy,but definitely, hopefully, possible.
The problem is most new converts are falling away and aren't coming to church or aren't trying to meet with us. Satan is working on all of them and trying to distract them from what is really important.
Oh, I have been asked to give a talk on July 11, 2010, haha because I am new or something. But my companion has been out for nine months, and she has not given a talk yet! Grrrr.....Oh, well.
So, I'll be sending you my new address next monday so you don't have to keep mailing everything to the office even though it may be safer because I can be transferred at the end of July. So giving you my address and you send it there, and I'm not there will be no bueno.
So, I either lost or someone stole or I left my tape recorder at the MTC (which I doubt), but I can't find it anywhere. So, I will probably buy another one next week so that I can send another tape. I also printed out pictures today on a CD. I hope to be able to send those today or maybe tomorrow.
Mom, thanks for the notes on Sean's talk. That was way cool. I just got that this past week. I am glad he is doing well. Does he still seem like the old Sean? Does he still look skinny? Has he grown up a lot? More details, please. :-) Keep me updated with Amber. I am glad she is doing better.
Dad, write the date or type it, whatever, in the letter so I know when you wrote it.
Anyway, I'm loving Washington. The sun is out, and it has been warm, not hot. It is beautiful. The trees are huge, and there are forests or groves of trees everywhere. It is very peaceful and beautiful. The wards are great and very supportive of missionary work. I hope Lake Tahoe was fun. Jake said that it was. I got his letter the other day. I love you so much! Sister Kimball
P.S. What are your plans in July?
P.S.S. I have a challenge for you all---to pray for missionary eyes. Pray for a couple of individuals who may be interested in hearing the gospel. Now take the answer to your prayers and that faith and teach them/mention the church to them.
I promise you the Lord will bless you for your efforts and guide you to those He has prepared. I may be a full time missionary, but we all are missionaries!

Sister Kimball