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