Just to remember my 1st area-transfer day

TIME IS FLYING. i FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN OUT FOREVER...I DON'T WANT IT TO END!

One day we had a few minutes before an appointment and I really wanted to find a scripture that I didn't already know and that I could relate to someone. I felt like on the the days prior that I hadn't yet found a scripture that people needed to hear. So I had a prayer asking for help to find a scripture that someone needs,so I picked up my Book of Mormon. I just flipped it open a couple of times and one scripture I turned to was in Mosiah. I felt impressed to write them down. Anyways our appointment canceled so we decided to go see a member and introduce myself to her and to offer service to her family {they have 8 kids}. We dropped by her house and she invited us in and as we were talking (and shared the scriptures) she broke down and asked,"How did you know to come visit me of all days, today?" I just wanted to give up. Those scriptures were for her-they talked about TRUSTING IN THE LORD. He's right there for us,encircling His arms around us. It was really cool,she needed that. Then we helped get her house in order. She said," I really needed that spiritual uplift we were her angels."
It's really cool how the Lord works in answering our prayers. He sends people to us, through a scripture or a prompting whatever it maybe, we must always be searching for it and be prepared to be that instrument in his hands to help bring about His great work here.
The Lord is truly blessing me so much! I was so nervous to be transferred and to not have my senior companion with me to help me. I was afraid that I wouldn't know anything. Of course it isn't like that because the Lord does not set us up to fail but to grow and learn, to stretch a little more. It's amazing how much the Spirit has been directing me and giving me the words (I need to say) 'in the very hour' given to me! ( D&C 84:85)

So I have a funny story to share...

One day last week I locked us out of our apartment OPPS! Just as we are leaving our District leader showed up to give us something so perfect timing, however, all the windows were locked. We even tried the balcony which are two sliding glass doors,I was hoping I had kept one unlocked. But I am pretty good at locking up before I leave. Thanks to Dad's example of always locking the doors even when we were home. So there were these ladders{4 of them} below our balcony but they were locked up together. We were hoping to get at least one of them straight so that I could climb up. Well we kind of did and we had the Elders and my companion hold all the ladders while I climbed up to the balcony, but all the doors were locked. All that work for nothing.The only spare key was in the mission office and the APS (assistants to the president)

would have to drive it out to us. We did not want that!! I was freaking out. They'll never let me drive again! Anyhow, one of the elders decided to use the card trick on the door and guess what,it worked! Yeah! I was happy! You know whats funny is that I hah had that impression to do that at the beginning but so much was going on that it had slipped my mind.Ahhhh it's so frustrating for me when I get promptings and don't act upon them. We receive little promptings all the time. I know and I'm recognizing them more and more. The spirit has been telling me more and more what to do what to do and what to teach. Sometimes they are so simple and small that it's easy to let it go. It's been happening to me a lot this week and I learned after the fact that I received a prompting and didn't act upon it. It could be the smallest thing to the very big thing! Grrr! I'm glad the spirit has been working more and more in me. I'm grateful to notice when I have received a prompting. Its been helping me to recognize the way the Spirit speaks to me in the smallest ways.

September 14,2010

Sister Kimball with her new companion Sister Chhoeun...

Right now I may pull my hair out.{ LoL}

My new companion is singing to primary songs. She's trying to learn all of them in English before she returns home in January. She is a convert of 5 yrs. which is way cool! However, she is still learning English and learn the song so please just imagine it for me. I'm trying to cocentrate but

struggling!

Sept.13,2010 A quick review of the surprise transfer

SO SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN A WEEK! So last week we were waiting and waiting for a phone call { transfers} to see if Sister Dewitt was going to be transferred . So we finally got the call and our DL said we were both staying. So we were a bit shocked that we were both staying but very excited to still be companions! Everyone tells us," we are the 'dream team' . We got along so well and miracles happened everyday,almost. So we figured that's why they kept us together. So we just continued through the rest of the day{the usual Pday}. We got our haircut from an investigator of ours at her house. { Then } we got a call from our Mission President...Sis.Dewitt would be training again and I was being transferred {he said that I should have already been told} There was some miscommunication.
I began to cry and she started to cry. The investigator, Shana, came to me and gave me a big hug and told me that it would be okay and not to cry. She told me how awesome it is for me to be dedicating my time to serving the Lord. { and she told me} that she is going to miss me. It was super rainy outside. Let's say it was a very gloomy day. We helped each other {to get through the rest of the day.} ...as the night went on and I trusted in the Lord,that this is what He has planned for me. My mind began to be at ease and it was a great night.
I was able to get done all that I needed to get done. I said my goodbyes to people {and} I was able to focus {again}.It was a late night as Sis. Dewitt stayed up {with me} packing and talking. I love her so much! I got my transfer slip {and} when I found out that my companion is Sister Chhoeun and I would be serving in Duvall,the spirit filled my heart and I felt a confirmation that is where I was supposed to be! It just felt right!

Smiling in the rain...

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Can I say that enough times.

I've been transferred !

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

" 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.

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?

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