Aloha!
This has been a magical week full of miracles. I feel like I haven't talked about how the work is going in awhile. You might be wondering who are they working with? In all honesty we hadn't been having a lot of success and there wasn't a lot to report but this week it is quite the opposite. It was the busy week we had been praying and waiting for!
The work in San Clemente YSA is exploding. We picked up two new solid elect investigators this week. One was a referral from a girl in Northern California (Natalie) and the second was a referral from a local girl (Nikki). They are both amazing, open, and ready to come closer to Christ by following His gospel. It is so exciting. I can't stop smiling as I write this email.
Natalie is 27ish and just hit her 3 years sober mark this week. She is a student at CalState Long Beach but lives in Aliso Viejo. She wants to go into fundraising work to promote people to love themselves and the skin they are in. She has made a lot of changes in her life lately and is in a really good place. She grew up catholic. Her friend Candace who referred her to us grew up catholic as well but converted about 3 years ago. She has been married in the temple and found the joys that comes from the gospel. Natalie had the opportunity to visit Candace and picked on the fact that something seemed different. She recognized the Spirit in their home, at the temple grounds (Candace took her to the Sacramento temple when she was there visiting), when she was with other members, when she was with the missionaries, when she was with us. She had the fist lesson in NorCal and liked it a lot. She then met with the missionaries again in Costa Mesa when she was at her member friends house. Then this week were able to get in touch with her and meet up. She said that all growing up that all the mormons she knew seemed different. They had a glow about them. She has felt that difference with every memeber she has been around. She is eager to learn more. She is coming to fhe tonight and institute on Wednesday. We are meeting for a quick lesson before fhe. She will also be at church this Sunday, which is a miracle since she works on Sundays. SHe was able to get Easter off. She is so prepared. And I think she is going to be an example to all of us, especially my companions of strength and the power of self worth.
Natalie is 27ish and just hit her 3 years sober mark this week. She is a student at CalState Long Beach but lives in Aliso Viejo. She wants to go into fundraising work to promote people to love themselves and the skin they are in. She has made a lot of changes in her life lately and is in a really good place. She grew up catholic. Her friend Candace who referred her to us grew up catholic as well but converted about 3 years ago. She has been married in the temple and found the joys that comes from the gospel. Natalie had the opportunity to visit Candace and picked on the fact that something seemed different. She recognized the Spirit in their home, at the temple grounds (Candace took her to the Sacramento temple when she was there visiting), when she was with other members, when she was with the missionaries, when she was with us. She had the fist lesson in NorCal and liked it a lot. She then met with the missionaries again in Costa Mesa when she was at her member friends house. Then this week were able to get in touch with her and meet up. She said that all growing up that all the mormons she knew seemed different. They had a glow about them. She has felt that difference with every memeber she has been around. She is eager to learn more. She is coming to fhe tonight and institute on Wednesday. We are meeting for a quick lesson before fhe. She will also be at church this Sunday, which is a miracle since she works on Sundays. SHe was able to get Easter off. She is so prepared. And I think she is going to be an example to all of us, especially my companions of strength and the power of self worth.
Nikki is the friend of a married girl in the area. She just recently got back from a study abroad to China. When she signed up to go she had no idea she was joing a group that was offered through BYU until she realized she would have to go to Utah to meet up the group and have a orientation. Well on that 5 month trip she hit it off with a guy who is a member of the church and now they are dating. He is at UVU so it is long distance. He took her to church a few times and now she is determined to go on her own (we met her at church with her married friend). We asked if we could teach her and she accepted. We have a time set up with her right before institute this Wednesday. The member friend that is coming to that lesson (not the married one) said that she sees a lot of potential. She is shy but awesome. We can't wait to get to know her better. And our Relief Society lesson was all about Joseph Smith so it layed a great foundation for our first lesson with her.
They are both amazing and I look forward to working with them more. The Lord is providing us with amazing opportunities. It has been an awesome week!
I know the work that I am doing is real. It is not just changing peoples lives here on earth but in the eternities as well. It is the best and most gratifying work. I couldn't be happier.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love,
Sister Kimball
