Week 29

This has been a crazy busy week this week.  On Tuesday we drove up to Cortez to go on 24 hour exchanges with Sister Brennon and sister Monson (Yes sister Monson is distantly related to the Prophet) it was fun teaching them on how to use Center of Strength in their area and on how to improve door-step approaches.  I called to check up on them recently and they are already finding new people to teach.  It makes me so happy!  I love those two Sisters so much!  They are so diligent and love any opportunity to laugh.  We got back to Blanding Wednesday night.  Then Thursday was district meeting. We also had interviews with President Adams. He is the best, he like my mission dad.  He is always worried about the Sister in the mission.  We all know he loves and cares for us dearly.  Later on that day I had another meeting but this time it was with the Assistants to the President and our zone leaders.  We talked about how we can make our upcoming Mission Leader Council even more effective.  So Thursday was super busy. 

 Friday our sister training leader came to Blanding for Exchanges. Sister Cardon and Sister Neilson are pretty great as well.  We were able to find a lot of potential investigators with their help. I also found out Sister Cardon used to work at Disney world as a make-up artist.  She is a certified cosmetologist. I thought that was pretty neat.  

                Sunday has been our only normal day of the week.  It truly was the day of rest. It felt good to partake of the Sacrament again.  To know that as I renew the promise I’ve made at baptism I can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in my life.  I could not teach without the help of the Holy Ghost.

That is what I am grateful for. I am also grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that he loves me and everyone.  He made it possible for me to be forgiven for my mistakes and be clean so I can live with Heavenly Father again.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 28

The highlight of this week has definitely been Sister K's Baptism! Sister Woods and I are blessed to stay in the small town of Blanding Utah to meet her, teach her and watch her progress all the way to Baptism AHHH!!! I love the feeling you feel when a new member is confirmed. The Spirit is so strong. After Sister K was baptized the Young Single Adults put together a glow in the dark volleyball party in celebration of her baptism. They are all so supportive and because of them she feels welcome in the church.

            For a service project we helped tie ribbons on a chain-link fence in the park that spells out “support our troops” It was a fun community project.

We were asked to speak in the Young Single Adult Sacrament meeting on missionary work. It went really well I guess because several members came up to us asking if they could come with us to teach people the Gospel. It’s been a blessing. The youth have such a fire to do missionary work. 

While knocking on some doors we ran into a wonderful family who has been prepared by the Lord to hear the Gospel. The children are so hungry for knowledge and told us they want to be baptized. Wow! Talk about a miracle. 

Heavenly Father has really been there for me. I know that he has answered my prayers in ways that help me the most. He has given me the words He would like me to say to people I talk to. For example while giving my talk I started saying it would be selfish to keep the joy the Gospel brings into our lives to ourselves. I did not plan on saying that and a lot of people sat up in their seats. I know that is what God needed to tell them and I was just the instrument for him. I’m learning that the Spirit can sometimes be a little spontaneous and I just have to go with it. It’s been a wonderful relying on the spirit and working Mighty miracles.

"Yea, I know that I am nothing: as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." Alma 26;12

Sister K got baptized!!

Week 27

                It snowed this week! Oh my goodness I love the snow! Poor Sister Woods had to put up with me singing about it snowing or saying "guess what it's snowing" Sadly it melted the next day but we had a good inch of it.

                One YSA that had signed up to feed us had asked what we wanted for dinner. I jokingly said we wanted rabbit. Little did I know he would actually shoot and cook rabbit.  It really does taste a lot like chicken. I would eat it again.

                We had eaten with the same family several weeks ago. We talked about conference and they told us that there are shirts that say “Pondercise, what’s your verse?” Sister Woods and I thought that was so neat. So when we came over this week they surprised us. They got each of us our own Pondercise shirt. Coolest P-day shirt ever! It was so nice of them to do that.

                The November Ensign finally came! I have been reading and highlighting all the wonderful talks from conference.

                There is an investigator named Sister K. we have been teaching. She was on date to be baptized on November 14^th. She was progressing so well but ran into a hiccup and thought we were going to have to change the date. We talked to her and explained that November 14^th was the date we were inspired to set for her baptism. We decided to kneel and pray for guidance on what we should do and if we should keep November 14^th or do it sometime in December. After the prayer we sat in silence listening closely. I asked her what she felt. She said November 14^th. The crazy thing was Sister Woods and I felt the same impression. I don’t know how we could live without the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

                We had to make some phone calls to continue on with the November 14^th date. One of the people we had to call was President Adams. I was also informed while talking to him that I will be the Cortez Colorado Sisters, Sister training leader; he also made a comment that he doesn’t’ foresee a lot of changes in the next upcoming transfer. It sounds like I might be staying here for Christmas!!  We got permission to keep the November 14^th as the date. Now Sister Woods and I are running around trying t put a baptism together last minute. I can’t wait for her to be baptized and feel the spirit even more in her life.

                We have been walking a lot and knocking on tons of doors. It’s been an adventure wondering who might open the door.  We found a couple of nee investigators. One of them wants to see what happens at a baptism so we will be inviting her to Sister K’s.

                Oh I almost forgot to tell you where Sister L was called to server. She has been called to serve in the Reno Nevada mission! She is so excited and so am I. She is going to do great I just know it. She has been coming with us almost daily. She always asks great questions about being a missionary and how to address certain things. Whoever gets to train her will be one very lucky Sister because she really will be prepared. 

We Love Packages!

Week 26

Sister Woods had a dream last week that I left her on her own to try and navigate Blanding and she was called to train. The elders were giving her a hard time telling her she probably will be training lol! President Adams called us Friday night when I announced that president was calling we both looked at each other and I could see Sister Woods die inside. But instead President Adams called for me. I have been called to be a Sister training leader!!! I am honored to have this calling and help some other Sisters find themselves.  Now Sister Woods can breathe again.

                We found a new investigator while using center of strength. She is so hungry for the Gospel. She is full of questions and is willing to meet with us every chance she gets. We plan on inviting her to be baptized.

                There is another investigator who is a Young Single Adult age that we are working with. After teaching her the Plan of Salvation we invited her to be baptized.  She said she didn’t know what to do or think. She was raised Traditional and her family is strictly Traditional (Native American) All that we taught her was new and contradicts what she has been taught her whole life. We asked her to pray about it. To ask God if what we are teaching is true and if she should be baptized. We all knelt in a circle and she prayed right there. She said a beautiful heartfelt prayer and a lot of silence. She said “I don’t want to do it but … I now I need to do it.” The she asked what you need to do to be baptized and other questions.  She would say to herself December 12^th (that’s the date we prayed for and asked if she would prepare to be baptized on) with a big grin. She said she was going to talk to her family about it. She said they are probably going to be mad at her. We got a text latter this week saying she talked to them and they think it is a good idea. WOW! The Spirit truly does soften hearts.

                In district meeting we were having a council about how we can improve as Missionaries. Somehow the topic of “how come the sisters get into more homes than we do?” came up. One Elder asked what our secret was.  Sister Woods and I just looked at each other and said “I don’t know” (we are the only sisters in the zone) they had a few theories. One Elder said it’s because we get to wear bright colors. Another Elder said it’s because we product certain hormones. LOL!

                For Halloween we had to be inside by 6 p.m. So we did our weekly planning. Afterwards we were going to celebrate Halloween by making a microwave cake but… we didn’t. We went to bed early instead.

                Sister L got her mission call this morning!!! She was the one we helped make the decision to serve. She came to our house dancing on the porch with excitement, waving her call packet around. She wants us to be there more than anyone else. She won’t be opening it until later tonight so I have to wait to tell you all where she is going until next week. I’m so excited for her. 

Sister L got her mission call.

Week 25

     This Week was very satisfying week. There is nothing like hitting the pillow exhausted and knowing you spent all your energy doing Gods will. Helping others come unto Christ. 

I trained on why and how missionaries can be converted themselves this week for our District meeting. I think I learned more than anyone else. I know I was called to train on that because I needed to more fully understand that for myself.

     We have been working alot on our "Center of Strength". It is when we tract the homes surrounding the church for about a mile or so and get to know the members and non members really well. They are the ones that will more likely stay active. The church was built there for a reason. those living near it are ready to receive or remember the Gospel of Christ. Our Mission President was the one to teach the center of strength to us. Elder Golden (one of the seventy) came to the Farmington New Mexico mission and told President Adams that the only way we will find success in this mission is using the Center of Strength. 

     Sister Woods and I have seen alot of blessings and success come form doing just that.

I was told that the only most obedient and hardworking missionaries are called to this mission because it is one of the hardest. I can see why. Alot of really small towns that already know or think they know about the church. We have to have patience, work can be slow at times. 

We had a neat experience of getting a referral from a member who said we could try knocking on this mans door but didnt think he would have his door opened to the missionaries. We gave it a shoot and guess what? He let us in! :D This Brother was a very kind and funny man. Quite the jokester. We will be meeting with him again next week.

Thank you for all your support and love.

I love you guys! -Sister Kimberling

PS: Happy Halloween!! 

It's finally fall.

Reading Sister Wood random animal facts

Week 24

     We had zone training this week.  Sister Woods was asked to teach.  She did great!! I tell her all the time she came pre-trained.

     The young sister who decided to committ to a mission last week already has her papers turned in.  That is crazy!!  She is so, so excited. She came knocking on our door just to inform us her papers are being submitted.  She then proceeded to do a happy dance. She says it feels right and that she has that warm feeling in her heart telling her this is good.  A lot of things in her life have prepared her for this and she never realized it until this last week.  We try to take her with us to lessons whenever possible to help her prepare. She says she wants Sister Woods and I to be there when she gets her mission call.

     Sister Adams our mission Presidents wife made a YouTube video of our mission. It's called "Farmington New Mexico Mission 2015" you get to see a small portion of my life in this mission. I'm in the video a couple of times. You should see if you can spot me.

Week 23

     This week we had zone conference in Cortez Colorado.  I love the Spirit that is felt at zone conference.  I learned that I should pray every day for my tongue to be loosed that I might let God speak through me.  I applied this challenge as soon as we got back in our area again.  After doing so my week went really really well. Sister Wood and I made a goal to talk to everyone we see.  I know the Spirit is helping us when we speak to people on the street, because I sat things that are so powerful that I didn't even mean to say.

     One night one of our appointments canceled and we saw a sister member we know working in her yard.  We jumped at the opportunity to help regardless of our skirts.  She wouldn't allow us to help her and get our clothes dirty.  At that moment her daughter came outside to talk, somehow the topic of serving a mission came up.  She said she didn't feel ready for a mission and she didn't know enough about the Gospel. I shared with her that that was exactly what I was worried about. I told her it was the best thing I've ever done in my life.  That the the Lord is there to help through the Spirit. He has helped me so much and he can help her too. She said ok see this line I am crossing it and at that moment decided to committ to going on a mission.  I was so honored to be there when she made this decision.

     Sister R's birthday was this week. She was the sister who showed up at 10 pm with a cake and sang happy birthday on my birthday.  So I had to help Her mom cover her car with sticky notes.  

     We helped make food for a paintball activity in th young single adult branch.  It was tempting to play but it's against the rules. Exact obedience brings miracles. It was still fun watching them play and our investigators who came had a blast. 

Sister R's sticky noted car

Week 22

This was the best conference ever! That might be because I am a missionary but it really was great. I highly suggest listening to it. I know that we have a living prophet today to guide us in these latter-days. 

Week 21

This was a great week! I love my new companion Sister Woods. I think she is the best and came pre-trained. She is so awesome now I cant wait to see how much greater she becomes. 

     I was able  to go to the Temple this past week. It was so amazing I love the spirit that you feel when your there. 

I know that Heavenly Father loves me and is with me every step of the way. I want to share this truth with everyone. And I love being a missionary and I love being a trainer. I love the spark new missionaries bring to the field.  

     We also saw the Eclipes. It was really neat. I love that God created such wonders for us to see.