Pre-Mission Pictures

Pre-Mission Pictures

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Journals - Sept. 2 to Sept. 12














Sept. 11, 2016 - Week 15 in Ica



Sept. 11, 2016 – Maya’s Birthday                       Week 15 in Ica, Peru

This week has been a hard one! We didn´t have much success here in Ica! We lost some investigadores, some menos activos, but found some pretty good people! It is definitely a time of change here in Ica as well. The closer we get to the end of the transfer the more I feel the change coming, I don´t think I am going to be in Ica much longer. And it hurts my heart! I love the people here with all my heart! And oh how awful is the time. Time will be the death of me. I promise. I hate how fast the mission goes. I try to suck in everyday and absorb the people and the time and it just goes so darn fast! It is horrible! Well I will be completing 5 months here in the mission soon and it does not feel like it! I do feel like I know what I am doing now and the language comes a whole lot easier. I feel like a missionary of the Lord and I do not ever want that to change. 

Our investigadora Jenny we finally found this week. I want her to be baptized so bad before I leave Ica. She has a baptismal date of the 23 of September. She is so ready for her baptism. She is humble, she has a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon and even if I am not here to see her baptized, she is still my convert. I have seen her testimony of the Savior grow and we have grown together. I love her so much! 

This week I was also in Pisco with 2 hermanas there and it just made me even more grateful for the companion that I do have. OBEDIENT. Goodness obedience is so important. It is the key!! It is the price that we pay as missionaries and as general human beings! This life was GIVEN to us, we have to be obedient to the commandments or we are going to die! Spiritually of course, but maybe physically too. 

But yes this week has been a good learning week for me. Breaking down a lot of pride and being built up spiritually. I realized that no matter how hard I try I cant handle my health without my Father and His will, so I took my problems to him and they are so much better now. I feel much better. But not only breaking down pride in my health, in general too. I have tried really hard this week to focus in and control my thoughts. And wow is it hard! And even though I am still working on that, a lot, I feel as though I can hear so much more clearly the Holy Ghost. Pride is the worst and it is so general. And it is the worst sin! Because the natural man just is prideful. Bottom line. It´s hard but it is not impossible with the help of Jesus Christ. So that is what I have been working on this week. 

So you are going to get a picture of me and my companion and a girl named Jazmin! She accompanies us all the time and is the best! She just got back from her mision in Guatemala and is so awesome. I love her to death! She´s the best!

But that is about all that has happened this week. Just some breaking down and rebuilding with the Savior. It´s been a pretty good week here in the life of Hermana Lawrence(: I cant complain about a single thing(: I love you to the moon and back mammi!! Blessings are everywhere. I love my Savior. I love you and the family so much!!!!! I love you!!!! Love you to the moon and back!!! Love, Hermana Lawrence

Pictures:
My companion and I and our best hermana Jazmin! She just finished her misison in Guatemala in Abril! And we sanded walls for service this week! We were really dirty!!!! But it was fun(:






Sept. 5, 2016 - Week 14 in Ica



Sept. 5, 2016    Week 14 in Ica, Peru

Well I have been doing okay down here in Ica but I was sick this past week. I was sick with some good stomach pains but I ate bread and it took care of that problem mostly. But it is true, the pains of the stomach have returned with the food. I don´t know why or how but they have. 

Do you know how frustrating it is to have a body that does not cooperate with your head or heart? It is so frustrating. But I know that that is not how Heavenly Father wants me. I know that He wants me to be happy. Sometimes we just get trials that help us develop our faith even more. Some people have mental problems and some people have physical. My trial is my body. But it´s okay because after this life I wont have any more pains or sicknesses and my body will be okay. And for now all I can do is be obedient to the commandments and keep a positive attitude no matter what my little body wants to do(; 

I hope that the family is all doing well and that the first week of school went well! You look like you are having the best time down in Oklahoma and I am so glad that Bree and Nick came home! Now Nick just needs to stay(; But soon enough(: I love you very much and am very grateful that you are my momma! I love you to eternity and beyond!!!

Love, your little girl, Hermana Lawrence


I know that no matter what the Lord is looking out for me as long as I am being obedient! And I am! He is always there and He is always so loving and merciful. Sometimes we dont understand our trials but He knows better than we do! Love you and michelle to the eternities and beyond!!! Love, your favorite niece and daughter(; Hermana Lawrence



Aug. 29 - Week 13 in Ica



Aug. 29, 2016                Week 13 in Ica, Peru:


I am sorry to tell you that I don´t really have much news!! I have had a good week but have definitely felt Satan trying to bring me down! But we are always stronger! The family sounds like everyone is doing really well! I am so happy about that!!

This week we have left a few investigadores behind but we are setting our sights onto more that want to progress in the gospel! I really hope that I am here for the baptism of my investigadora Jenny who is the best! And Fernanda too! It would be the best to see them baptized while here in Ica, they are progressing so well and are feeling the presence of Jesucristo in their lives.

Personally I am doing well! I am exercising thanks to Hna Mostert! We run monday, tuesday, thursday, friday and then I stretch and dance the other two days(: She wants to run more but I like to dance so we make it even more or less(; But even though we are having a hard time in the area we are doing really well as a companionship! We work very well together and we thankfully haven´t had any disscussions we get along really well! Its the best! The mission is the best! Goodness I cannot believe that almost 5 months has passed since I´ve been in the states or speaking english and I can feel myself starting to struggle to find words in english and spelling is the worst, I think Ive spelt a few things wrong and I try to change it but it all looks wrong so I just leave it. 

Well today we will be traveling back to Lima. Hna Mostert has a capacitacion this time and I will be working in Bolognesi with the Hnas or in another place in Lima where I went last time. The mission life is the best and I don´t want to picture my life without it! I can´t imagine where I would be without the mission!

The story of the week! We were contacting in the street and we contacted a lady named Primitiva! She was really catholic but told us she had a box of Books of Mormon that we could come pick up! We were stoked we always need more Books of Mormon! So we went to her house and we picked up not just a box of like 10 books, but 40 Books of Mormon!!!!! We picked up a box that they sent in 2003 and we now have 40 Books of Mormon in our house! That´s the best!! We are contacting for a reason and the Lord always blesses us when we are obedient to His commandments!! I think that that is something I didn´t know when I was home, that blessing really always come when we are obedient. Would have saved me some hard times, but it´s the best now that I´ve learned it here in the mission! 

Well life is good and I love being a missionary!

Love, Hermana Lawrence


These are the books found in the house of a sister who is not a member! Woohoo! 40 Books of Mormon!! And our area this change happened here in Ica! We now have 2 new ones that do not speak any Spanish and have like 2 weeks in the mission! I remember my first week and I'm already finished agradacida (; I love them a lot !!! With love, 
Sister Lawrence