The sisters got to go in a corn maze! Fun!

October 13, 2010

So, let me tell you about my last week--oh so crazy! Lots of funny little stories I'm excited to share. It's hard, but it's getting a lot better for me and Sister Chhoeun. I love her so much.
General Conference was amazing! We went to the stake center for all sessions with our zone. The stake center is 30 minutes away. It's crazy and our church building is 15 to 20 minutes away.
So, let me tell you life as a missionary has its ups and downs--a roller coaster. Half the day can be horrible, and a moment of the day was a fantastic miracle. We just feast upon that miracle. We have to here. It's like fasting all day and then having a delicious meal at the end of the fast.
Okay, another exciting thing happened this week (Monday). For P-day, we had a sister luncheon with all the sisters in the mission with our mission president's wife at their home. It was so much fun. We had lunch and a lesson by Sister Wilson (mission president's wife). Next week are transfers and two sisters are going home and one is coming in. So, we had a sister lunch on request of one of the sisters leaving for home. I'm excited to show you guys the pictures.
After the luncheon, we all decided with permission of the mission president to go to a corn maze which was of Washington. It was so cool. Very muddy! I have pictures of what me and Sister Dewitt and another sister did along with a video to explain our actions. We had tons of fun. It was so great to see Sister Dewitt again. When we first saw each other we looked at each other and hugged, pulled away and noticed that we were matching exactly--both wearing a purple cardigan, grey skirt and white undershirt. Oh, I love her so much. We just laughed and hugged for the longest time. Happy day!
In two days, Monday and Tuesday of this week, everything went wrong. I had the worst luck.
I realized it's okay to have some off days. It's okay not to be perfect. Life is great and beautiful as a missionary. It's never boring. It's an adventure, for sure. I love the work. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the restored gospel. I love my family, and I love the temple!!!

We can grow and be edified when we have an open heart...

and ready to learn by the Spirit. I'm certainly not perfect at it but I'm sure trying!

What does the Lord require? Our very best- which in no way will be perfect but- our all!

We just started teaching a 16 yr. old girl. She is so sweet,Haileel. People at this age are searching and looking for truth,trying to find the way. Haileel is going against her family who are Catholic to find what she has been missing in her life.

I mentioned Juan. Oh how I love Juan. He has a great spirit searching for truth and peace. However, he is moving back to Oregon and we are really sad. He really enjoyed meeting with us. He told me that he has never met anyone like me and that when I speak he feels comforted and peaceful and he learned so much from me. The Spirit was teaching him,not me. But how sweet! I needed to hear that.

Didn't you guys just love General Conference? I sure did. We went to the Stake Center for each session with our zone. It was so cool! The Spirit was so strong! I think one of my all time favorite talks was Elder Hollands. I was just crying through the whole thing.

I thought about my parents (mom & Dad). I look back and recall I was given so much so that I can have all my dreams, ambitions and desires come true...Thank you! Thank you! I can't do justice to how grateful I am.I am so blessed and so humbled because I know if it wasn't for your faithfulness, love, charity, sacrifice and obedience to the Gospel I would not be here today. Thank you!! Thank you!! { Hee Hee! just wanted everyone to read the personal note to us (mom & dad) just because I feel like being a show off!!

We're going to see GREAT THINGS here in Duvall!

{There are } churches here that actually preach hardcore against us and one church here in a small, very rich town that actually train (their people) to deal with Mormons and how to avoid us. How sad is that ? Satan is working amongst the other churches,it's sad because they are still good people. Anyway...

I ask (the Lord) for help in being more patient--the Lord sends me to Duvall with Sister Chhoeun! In this area you really need to have lots and lots of patience. He definitely knows my needs and where I need to be and with whom to help me to be a more effective missionary.

You know one thing that is really hard (as a missionary) is to not compare yourself to other missionaries. How often do we compare ourselves with others? What good comrs out of it? When we compare ourselves we allow Satan in to put thoughts of failure and doubt in ourselves and God which pulls us away from Our Savior and the need for the Atonement. We must hold on to what we know and look at our strengths and what we are becoming.

We should evaluate ourselves based on standards and principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ok enough about that.So lately we have been learning about how we can better teach to our investigators needs by asking inspiring questions and teaching with love! Like in Moroni 7 where it says 'if you don't have charity you are nothing'. Isn't that so true! If we don't have love or serve one another, are we following our Savior's example? Are we truly disciples of Jesus Christ? Are we really effective teachers if we don't show love for each one of our investigators.Missionary work could not go forward without charity and love!

When we have charity, we are humble and we serve with the Spirit and the Spirit will work through us and will help us know their needs and how best to teach and help them come unto Christ. When we are obedient, humble and charitable we can have that sure promise that we will always have the Spirit to be with us! President Monson said about charity in the Relief Society Broadcast," True charity is love in action".

I'm so grateful to be out here!!! I don't know if I can say that enough!

Sister Lauren's letter dated Sept. 27,2010

Life as a missionary is going great!

According to the desires of your heart. He puts you where you need to be and in the area where you will learn and carry out his work and with the companion who will help you grow.

I'm learning more and more about our Savior,Jesus Christ and his perfect example of being compassionate, loving, and kind. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to learn and to have trials that really test me to help me to be humble and to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

My greastest fear {in coming out here on my mission} was that I would come home not changed. I would be my old self, not having my Savior written in my heart forever. I just saw so many missionaries returning home and returning to their old ways. I'm determined not to do that ! This time is short,very short,only a small wonderful moment compared to the rest of my life.

He hears us. He hears our cries,our pleas and he answers us but not necessarily when we want it but when we need the answer. The spirit is the key to everything. The Spirit testifies of the truth and of our Savior and Father in Heaven to receive answers,to be uplifted,enlightened,comforted, protected and to feel peace. Tobring all thto our remembrance,to make our weaknesses into strengths,to become aware...etc . Just want to share this: 'OBEDIENCE IS THE PRICE. FAITH IS THE POWER. LOVE IS THE MOTIVE. THE SPIRIT IS THE KEY. CHRIST IS THE REASON."

A cool experiance I'm excited to share with you guys..

We had an appointment with an investigator named Scott. He's not progressing much but he is a wonderful old man who loves to learn and study, but he has no intention of joining our Church,but he loves meeting with us and loves the Book opf Mormon and the Gospel Principle Book.He just doesn't want to say good-by to his church and denouncing his beliefs he has learned all his life, being a Baptist. He's a stubborn one!

We had a convert member who is preparing to go to the temple with her husband and children, come with us to help teach ( speaking of the temple) Scott asked why he couldn't go in and why would he want to be apart of a church that excldues others from going into the temple.The sister that came with us talked about the importance of the temple.Then the Spirit filled my heart telling me to testify of the temple.Then the words just fell out of my mouth so smoothly. I can't remember what I said. I just remember the enormous feeling that came into the room. I could feel angels among us. I felt the Savior's love so strongly. I bore testimony of temples. Tears just fillrd my eyes. The power of heaven was upon us.Scotts heart was really softened and he understood, I think what happened had abigger affect on the recent convert then it did on Scott. It was not me! It was the Spirit and the power of God that touched our hearts,not the words that came out of my mouth. It was a really neat experiance!

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.