Letters from Lauren

 I Maybe this is a little bit Nerdy, but I make lists of what to write about each week. Actually they're more like sentences that I write at the end of each day capstoning all I want to tell you. First things first, this kid got approval to drive! Texas roads are a little bit psycho they curve completely, break off into one way streets then come back together again, it's a little bit loco driving. Think the Roger Rabbit ride in toon town mixed with Mr. Toad's wild ride. (Can you tell that I'm having Disneyland withdrawals?) Speaking of Disneyland, the best way for me to describe the weather right now is, think of the coldest night you've ever spent at Disneyland, now add some hefty gusts of cold wet air to that and you have my night bike rides in Texas. Oh, but actually subtract the happy music, churro stands, and mouse ears. :]

   We had zone conference this week. Translation: We had a big four hour meeting with all the missionaries in the Pasadena, Broadway, and Baytown areas with President Crawford. There was a huge push this zone conference, as there as been recently in the mission, for member involvement. Sis. Crawford presented us with a new way to go about missionary work with the ward. *Papa, maybe you can even bring this idea to our ward council? Sis. Crawford told us to select strong, solid families in the ward and invite them to think about two families they would love to join the church or be blessed by the message of the restoration. We then as missionaries are to encourage those member families to fellowship the families they've selected. Fellowshiping can be anything from inviting that family over to dinner, making them a plate of cookies, striking up a conversation while watering the plants, you name it. Sometimes sharing the gospel with people can be intimidating, there's all these thoughts of, "what do I say?" "How do I begin?" "What if they're offended?" Balderdash. Being a friend is how it begins. If we just start forming a friendship, conversations about the gospel will flow naturally. & usually, you won't even have to be the one to bring it up.

   This week was a little rough. Found out this week, that the area I'm in is one of the hardest in the mission, but since I'm new here, I don't know any different. I love it so much though I can just feel the possibilities all around me. Well, we had miracles this week. Mini miracles, but marvelous nonetheless.

   The best miracle happened this Friday-Saturday. Friday, we were on exchanges, Hermana Maughan left Hermana Canova and I, and Sister Wenzel came over from LaPorte. So, three newbies only 1.5 Spanish speaking. :) We got dropped by one of our investigators on Friday so just as we were entering the home of a less active member I felt our cell phone buzz. I looked down and saw that an (801) number was calling us. 801 as in a Utah area code. My first thought was it's probably a returned missionary who's trying to get in contact with someone in the area. So I answered it, and a man said, "Bueno. I'm calling from Salt Lake. I'm looking for a Sis. Harry and a sister from Hawaii. They might not be serving there anymore. Well, I was in Pasadena last week, and my cousin and I were talking about the church and she told me she had met with the missionaries before. I told her I was a member of the church, and I bore my testimony to her, and she's eager to meet with the missionaries again." MIRACLE. MIRACLE. MIRACLE. Yes, that's three times. Does that ever happen? Probably not. He said he would call us back with her information later.

   Fast forward to Saturday when things were getting frusturating, tears were shed (not on my part), and as we were sitting in the car the thought came, "Call the 801 number back. So I did, I called the man back got his cousin's address and we drove off to see her. The address was on a street Hermana Maughan had knocked before but on the East side of the street. We weren't initially welcomed in, but when I mentioned that we had been contacted by the woman's cousin, we were let in right away. We met Josefina (aforementioned cousin). She's going through a rough patch right now, her father has been diagnosed with cancer, and she has a brand new baby. She said she was looking for some spiritual guidance in her life, and was willing to listen to what we had to say. She talked about how much of a sweetheart her cousin was, how he was such a really good guy. He had flown all the way from Salt Lake just to be with the family and see his uncle (her father) in the hospital. We're so excited to teach her, she really was such a blessing.

   If I could tell you all the miracles that have happened this week, this letter would be triple the size it is now. I love how much the mission has helped me to see our Heavenly Father's involvement in every aspect of our lives. He loves us unconditionally with an eternal perspective in mind. He's the best ever.

I love you all!

Con todo mi amor,

La Hermanita Flores

p.p.s. Litle burst of happiness for the week

I never expect mail. Mail's just not that big of a deal for me. Not so for Hermana Maughan, she's a big mail lover. My philosophy is, "if you don't expect it, the mail will come." & It's kind of true, I think I get the most mail in our companionship (p.s. thanks for that!) Well, I explained this philosophy to Hermana Maughan, she has kind of semi tried it. Last Pday we went to Panda Express for lunch, and I was blessed with the following fortune cookie: "A Letter of great importance may reach you any day now."

I laughed so hard.

Hermana Maughan, not so much. :)

Ironic, but SO funny.