My Companion And I Are The YW 2nd Counselor And Secretary

The comments and translations in bold blue italics are from Lauren's mom.

We have been teaching a man, he is going through a divorce and has been having a very hard time. We got a text from him the other day about how he's doing a ton better and actually believes in God again. Progress! He works on Sunday, but really wants to come to church some time. We are excited to see him progressing. We have had some incredible members come out with us that have really helped him out as they've born testimonies of the blessings of the gospel in their lives.

We gave a church tour to woman (who is a member) and her husband. She was baptized a few years ago, but hasn't been active for awhile. They recently got married and she wants an eternal family. We started coming over to try to talk to him about it. He really hasn't been very interested, he's heard a ton of rumors about our church that I think freaked him out! We met with them a few times and have seen him warming up a ton to everything. So-o-o-o-o yeah! Isabelle is so funny, super sneaky. She's always telling us about how she's not pushing him too much, but leaves little things about the church and different things she's done to get him to talk to us or come to church (for the tour). A member was playing basketball there and they started shooting hoops. They had to wait on us for awhile because we got caught up at Salvador's house with some Jehovah witnesses, but yeah. I think little by little he'll keep gaining interest.

We taught the restoration to a less active family that went really well. Ha, we've wanted to use "role play" as a teaching tool with members and they were the first family we used it with. Hermano jokingly says, “You missionaries are clever, I bet that you attend meetings with the Branch President talking about how they can get our family to church.”..... YEP!

Excerpt from Lauren's wonderful companion Hermana Batchkoff:
"On Saturday we went with the Young Men and Women to go do service in this homeless shelter. We walked in and there was this woman who may have been a druggy who was making us all smile as we go in. We were there to serve them lunch and while we were doing it, I was looking around at these people who were braiding each other's hair and who were with their families (without a father). There were so many different circumstances, and it was so sad seeing them all like that…just living in a homeless shelter. I don't know how they can do it. I just wanted to know every story, and what happened exactly."

We’ve been made the 2nd counselor and secretary in the Young Women's presidency so that’s going to and has been adding quite a bit to our responsibilities. Hermana Batchkoff is going to be going to Coronado, New Mexico next transfer with Hermana Jardine. They’ll really do great together. Sister Furman will be coming down here with me so yeah. That’s the transfer news.

Dad~
Yeah dad I know! I felt way bad too that my companion bought me a new set of English scriptures. I was planning on waiting and getting new scriptures with my birthday money. In my mind it really didn't put me out to not have usable English scriptures. I just grabbed English scriptures from our supply box any time we went out. My companion is so charitable.

I know I’m going to be much more careful about the music I listen to. It’s funny. I really didn't put much thought into the music I listened to before I went on a mission. We got this "Consecrated Missionary Packet" from our Mission President.... probably in March, that he wants us to read every day. It talks about how bad music drives away the spirit, but good music invites the spirit. I’m like.... meh.... I’m not so sure about that. I know bad music drives away the spirit, but quite honestly, no offense to any fans out there, some "Especially For Youth" music and other church songs annoy me.... and when you're annoyed your not feeling the spirit. I understand what they're getting at, I still might not be in love with all church music by the time I come home, but I’ll be more careful about what I listen to for sure. It really influences what you do because it influences what you think.

Mom~
You will be happy to know that I’m making a bigger effort to cut slang out of my daily vocabulary. I have rubber band on my wrist that my companion snaps every time I use slang. We did that a few weeks ago too, if I spoke English she snapped my wrist... that lasted a day. I wanted to punch her every time she snapped me. So-o-o....yeah. She leaves tomorrow :( and I haven't used any slang today. I think I'm safe. No mom, I haven't punched anyone on my mission. As annoyed as I’ve been with Elders I have not punched any of them. In all honestly it hasn't even been a temptation to punch people. (Ha, ha, ha! Lauren had the bad habit, before she went on her mission, of occasionally punching a few of her guy friends or her brother in the arm when she was annoyed with them or when they were teasing her. I'm glad to hear that she is a changed woman.)

Brenden~

Congratulations Brenden for already memorizing all of this years seminary scriptures already! Way to be kid!!! I’m going to try to memorize all the New Testament scripture masteries this transfer is Spanish. That’ll be four scriptures per week.

Grandma Daily~ 

I'm doing great and I'm getting along really well with all the missionaries, thanks for asking. I’m so happy y'all enjoyed your trip to Montana and came home safe!

To those of you I haven't written back to~

I’m very sorry. I’m trying to get caught up. Writing has never been something that I loved to do. I still love you.

I love you all! Stay safe and keep doing good things!!!

Hermana Perez