LETTER DATED SEPT.8,2010
{At first Sister Kimball was told she would remain in her 1st area and then President Wilson called and Lauren got transferred.} "I had very little time to say good-bye and pack because our night was already planned{with Sis. Dewitt} Crazy! Sister Dewitt & I cried! Anyways transfers were yesterday @3:00 p.m. and found out where I go. I'm in Duvall. It's a small area but lots of members!So no more 2 wards. I'm going to miss that area alot and Sister Dewitt. It was really,really hard for me. The first transfer is always the hardest. That is never easy (nor) does it get easier. Anyhow, my new companion is Sis.Chhean. She is from Cambodia. She speaks pretty good english, but its hard to understand. She didn't know anything coming to the States before the mission. She's so sweet and so amazing! I'm excited to be here in Duvall. It's going to be a definate change of pace, but as I went out to meet the people, the Spirit confirmed to me that this is where I'm suppose to be. The Lord needs me in Duvall. Not quite sure why but I'll find out soon! It's been really rainy the past few days in Washington.{ The rainfall in this new area gets as much rainfall in 1 month as Temecula ,Ca. gets in a year} I'm driving and I'm already the senior companion! That makes me nervous, but Sis. Chhean is so great that it's going to be a great transfer. This is going to be a short letter because I don't have lots of time. Lots of unpacking. I'll be living out of my suitcase for a few days. I love you guys and miss you so much! Sister Kimball
This is my new address: Sister Lauren Kimball
P.O. Box 1651
Duvall, Washington 98019
Don't want to miss the "FAV" mission posts
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SISTER KIMBALL WILL BE SAYING GOOD BYE TO THIS BEAUTIFUL PART OF OUR COUNTRY ON MONDAY DECEMBER 12,2011. Thank you all...
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
" I've never been happier."
The work is going forward remarkably! This area is a miracle land. People just come up to us wanting to be baptized without us doing a whole lot of work. It's through our faith and diligence that these miracles happen.
I had my first Bible bash. Well, we weren't part of the bashing,we just got bashed on. We picked up a former investigator that we had dropped about 3 weeks ago and set up an appointment to meet with him and we got another member to come with us. The whole time he was telling us who we are and that we don't know anything. It's all dogma...and we don't worship Jesus. He was so evil and mean. This was not normal for him. He just bashed us and so we just got up and bore our testimonies and left. We were all in tears. Not like our feelings were hurt but more like our spirits were hurt. My testimony and love for the Book of Mormon grew even more after that. I gained an even greater appreciation for the Gospel and the knowledge and testimony I have of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. We'll never see him again but other missionaries may meet with him another time. As I was walking away I wanted him to know even though he wasn't listening that God loves him. How important to know that. If we don't know that or understand that God knows and loves us,what is the motivation or desire to do anything or to have faith. Faith (in God) is trusting in the Lord and knowing that He is always there for me and that I can do all things with Him.
We picked up another investigator,Shana who finally got out of her 1 year abusive relationship and it's back to investigating the Church. I love her ! I will be sending pictures soon of some of my favorite people here. She is one. We love her. She is going to be baptized.
We have a 14 yr. old and an 11 yr. old on date to be baptized on Sept. 18,2010. We are so excited about that !The 14 yr. old knows alot and understands a lot of what we are teaching her. It's so cool!
Did I tell you that I gave a talk on Sunday. My 2nd one in the same ward in 2.5 months. a..crazy! I talked on conversion in our lives and how we can help others in their conversion.(used Alma the younger example) What I learned was that Conversion is a process not an event.
I had my first Bible bash. Well, we weren't part of the bashing,we just got bashed on. We picked up a former investigator that we had dropped about 3 weeks ago and set up an appointment to meet with him and we got another member to come with us. The whole time he was telling us who we are and that we don't know anything. It's all dogma...and we don't worship Jesus. He was so evil and mean. This was not normal for him. He just bashed us and so we just got up and bore our testimonies and left. We were all in tears. Not like our feelings were hurt but more like our spirits were hurt. My testimony and love for the Book of Mormon grew even more after that. I gained an even greater appreciation for the Gospel and the knowledge and testimony I have of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. We'll never see him again but other missionaries may meet with him another time. As I was walking away I wanted him to know even though he wasn't listening that God loves him. How important to know that. If we don't know that or understand that God knows and loves us,what is the motivation or desire to do anything or to have faith. Faith (in God) is trusting in the Lord and knowing that He is always there for me and that I can do all things with Him.
We picked up another investigator,Shana who finally got out of her 1 year abusive relationship and it's back to investigating the Church. I love her ! I will be sending pictures soon of some of my favorite people here. She is one. We love her. She is going to be baptized.
We have a 14 yr. old and an 11 yr. old on date to be baptized on Sept. 18,2010. We are so excited about that !The 14 yr. old knows alot and understands a lot of what we are teaching her. It's so cool!
Did I tell you that I gave a talk on Sunday. My 2nd one in the same ward in 2.5 months. a..crazy! I talked on conversion in our lives and how we can help others in their conversion.(used Alma the younger example) What I learned was that Conversion is a process not an event.
P day prepare and play
Some of the missionaries from Sister Kimballs district (missionaries assigned to a specific area) went to a park next to one of Washingtons many beautiful lakes. Looks like fun,huh?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Life is beautiful !
Lauren is going and doing good things. This is her letter dated Aug.23,2010
....." Life is beautiful. I can't complain at all. It's all about your attitude and the way you look at and take everything that happens to you. There are a lot of things that happen to us missionaries that aren't so great but if we don't focus on them and dwell upon it and focus on all the good things and the blessings that come will make life happier. Missionary work brings the greatest joy I've ever felt. We are protected day in and day out. No joke ! There is this shield that protects us and allows us to keep going.The things people say to us when tracting could really get to us,but we just shrug it off and keep going...I just have to keep remembering our Savior and how he taught and loves each and everyone of us. Even he was rejected and crucified and still he loved them. I'm trying to that, to love and see everyone as God sees each of his children. President Uchtdorf said," Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen."
Last Sunday I had a cool experience, I was sitting in Sacrament meeting. As Sacrament was being passed these words came into my mind as if I was thinking of it myself,"REMEMBER I HAVE CHANGED YOU. THEN KNOW I CAN CHANGE ANYONE FROM THEIR ADDICTIONS AND WEAKNESSES." I was humbled by what the Lord wanted me to learn.
Funny how Andy's lesson(from family home evening) was on diligence. We talk about that alot as missionaries. It's all about being diligent,enduring to the end,faithful and hard working. Look at 1Nephi8:30 (remember) how after they partook of the fruit,they fell down because they were the ones holding on desperately with all that I have,never letting go,continually holding fast and we're tired. Just last night Sister Dewitt and me were talking late about our assessment (personal) We just feel we have so much to work on,so much! But there are times where I feel that I've done all I can. I'm trying to do my best and I'm not perfect but I know that the Lord will make up the rest after all that I can do.
1Nephi 17:5 "All these things were prepared of the Lord...that we might not perish."It's up to us whether we are going to follow and keep the commandments so we can be provided for. He has it all prepared for us as long as we have faith and do all we can. He's ready to give us all that he has.
Crazy things are going on with our recent converts and our investigators. So many are going through a hard time right now. And it feels that we can only do so much. We want to fix everything but we can't. They have their agency to choose and it's our job to help them and invite them, but the rest is up to them.
So let me tell you about a cool thing that happened. So we had an appointment with a new investigator that fell through.We had two guys from the ward with us so we decided to see a few people in the area from the branch and no one was home. We tried to visit a referral and he wasn't home, but their was a group of guys outside talking so we approached them, all four of us!! Anyhow as we were talking a guy came to pick up his mail which we were standing right next to,I turned to look at him and said Hi to him. Amongst the whole crowd of us people...the spirit told me,"it's Jake." He's the referral we tried to visit but wasn't home. Apparently he is now.After we finished talking with the group of guys(old)we went back to Jake's apartment and set up an appointment to come and teach him. How cool is that? This has happened to me a couple of times where the Spirit tells me who the person is before I have even met the person. Its crazy!! If I hadn't had that prompting and listened to it we would not have gone back to his apartment again.
Remember the most important work you'll do is missionary work.
Love you always, Sister Kimball
....." Life is beautiful. I can't complain at all. It's all about your attitude and the way you look at and take everything that happens to you. There are a lot of things that happen to us missionaries that aren't so great but if we don't focus on them and dwell upon it and focus on all the good things and the blessings that come will make life happier. Missionary work brings the greatest joy I've ever felt. We are protected day in and day out. No joke ! There is this shield that protects us and allows us to keep going.The things people say to us when tracting could really get to us,but we just shrug it off and keep going...I just have to keep remembering our Savior and how he taught and loves each and everyone of us. Even he was rejected and crucified and still he loved them. I'm trying to that, to love and see everyone as God sees each of his children. President Uchtdorf said," Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen."
Last Sunday I had a cool experience, I was sitting in Sacrament meeting. As Sacrament was being passed these words came into my mind as if I was thinking of it myself,"REMEMBER I HAVE CHANGED YOU. THEN KNOW I CAN CHANGE ANYONE FROM THEIR ADDICTIONS AND WEAKNESSES." I was humbled by what the Lord wanted me to learn.
Funny how Andy's lesson(from family home evening) was on diligence. We talk about that alot as missionaries. It's all about being diligent,enduring to the end,faithful and hard working. Look at 1Nephi8:30 (remember) how after they partook of the fruit,they fell down because they were the ones holding on desperately with all that I have,never letting go,continually holding fast and we're tired. Just last night Sister Dewitt and me were talking late about our assessment (personal) We just feel we have so much to work on,so much! But there are times where I feel that I've done all I can. I'm trying to do my best and I'm not perfect but I know that the Lord will make up the rest after all that I can do.
1Nephi 17:5 "All these things were prepared of the Lord...that we might not perish."It's up to us whether we are going to follow and keep the commandments so we can be provided for. He has it all prepared for us as long as we have faith and do all we can. He's ready to give us all that he has.
Crazy things are going on with our recent converts and our investigators. So many are going through a hard time right now. And it feels that we can only do so much. We want to fix everything but we can't. They have their agency to choose and it's our job to help them and invite them, but the rest is up to them.
So let me tell you about a cool thing that happened. So we had an appointment with a new investigator that fell through.We had two guys from the ward with us so we decided to see a few people in the area from the branch and no one was home. We tried to visit a referral and he wasn't home, but their was a group of guys outside talking so we approached them, all four of us!! Anyhow as we were talking a guy came to pick up his mail which we were standing right next to,I turned to look at him and said Hi to him. Amongst the whole crowd of us people...the spirit told me,"it's Jake." He's the referral we tried to visit but wasn't home. Apparently he is now.After we finished talking with the group of guys(old)we went back to Jake's apartment and set up an appointment to come and teach him. How cool is that? This has happened to me a couple of times where the Spirit tells me who the person is before I have even met the person. Its crazy!! If I hadn't had that prompting and listened to it we would not have gone back to his apartment again.
Remember the most important work you'll do is missionary work.
Love you always, Sister Kimball
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