Week 27 - March 30, 2020 - IT'S THE LAST!

Hello, family and friends!

Before I really begin my weekly letter, I want to share a spiritual experience I had when I opened my mission call. When my mom was reading where I was going to serve my mission...I had the strongest feeling that I would not serve 18 months.  I knew that the Lord needed me to serve for only a short amount of time.  I turned to my mom and told her what I was feeling.  I thought the only way this would happen is if they changed mission age.  But nope...CORONA!!!

 

My mission experience is coming to an end.  I got a call from my mission president Tuesday evening with the news that because of my asthma, they will be sending me home...I immediately burst into tears as I reflected back on the last six months, all the positive memories flowed through my mind. My mission has been a GIFT from God!  It has helped form and shape me into the Valiant Daughter of God I now am. 

I have learned so much during my missionary time.  The best lessons I have learned were not ones that came easy.  My time here in Florida I was given very little teaching opportunities...however, the people have taught me.  The people of taught me the importance of knowing who Jesus Christ is.  They have taught me the importance of family, repentance, sacrifice, unity, love, and so much more.  THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA WILL FOREVER BE IN MY HEART! They are GOLDEN💛

 Sister Copeland at the corner of Park and Copeland, named for some of her ancestors.  

 Behind her is the church that was formerly an LDS chapel where her Grandpa George was baptized.

This church is so true.  I have a testimony that God hears and answers all of our prayers.  He sees our full potential from where we are.  He knows each of us by name.  He is our loving Heavenly Father.  He loves us so much that he sent his only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to pay the price. Through Jesus Christ's atonement, we can return to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father!  God has laid out a perfect plan for each of us!  I am so grateful that God allowed Jacksonville, Florida, to be a part of my plan.  This experience has changed me forever. I am going to take what I've learned and make myself an even better disciple of Jesus Christ. 

JESUS CHRIST LIVES!  Never forget his AMAZING sacrifice...turn to him in sincere and sweet prayer!

Something that helped calm my nerves and frustrations. Was...last night I had my last interview with president...he looked me in the eyes and said, "Sister Copeland...you didn't need 18 months to be a life-long disciple of Jesus Christ."  I know this to be true.  I am now FULLY CONVERTED 

"My name-tags written on my heart forever"

CTR 

I LOVE YALL

<3 SISTER LAUREN COPELAND 

Week 26 - March 23, 2020

Hello, hello, outside world! 

I feel like the whole world has changed since we last spoke.  I am heartbroken for all the missionaries around the world who are being sent home.  But how cool...they get to serve in two polar opposite parts of the world. 

As of Wednesday, we have been quarantined to our apartments.  Not gonna lie...if you would've asked me on Monday if I wanted to be quarantined...I would've said yes without a doubt.  But...now that I am living it, I would do anything to live normal missionary life again.  As of the look of it...we could be locked up in here for 6 weeks #rip.  

Quarantine leaves a lot of time to crochet 

This has been probably the hardest week I have had since I have been a missionary.  I am one of the few missionaries that has asthma...I have been patiently waiting with my own thoughts to hear back if I will be sent home or not.  From the looks of it, I will most likely be staying.

Missionary work is sooo different...but the work still carries on!  We are only allowed two hours out of our apartment everyday.  During this time, my companion and I walk to our favorite garden and cherish all the beauty.  We are told to not interact with anyone . . .which is bizarre...because usually we are told to talk to everyone.  We are doing anything we possible can to stay busy.  We are working on cleaning out our area book right now.  We are calling all the people who have been taught by missionaries in the past.  As of right now, we have six people who have scheduled a time for us to call again.  God is so good. 

I think this week has been especially hard for me because since I've been quarantined, I have had a lot of time to think about myself.  Since I have been on my mission, I have had little to no time to think about myself...and it's been amazing. I have now recognized my weakness and I am going to work on looking outward this week.

My dad sent me this yesterday...it's from a missionary serving in Italy!  I have been using his tactic for the past couple of days and it has made me incredibly more happy...so I thought I would share. 

"If you focus on the virus, you will become discouraged and distracted.  You will lose motivation to fulfill your missionary purpose.

 

"If you focus on the work, you will find joy and purpose.  You will begin to see God's intricate and masterfully woven Plan.

When I focused on the virus, I searched for new news and updates and didn't truly focus on being a missionary.  When I focus on the work, coronavirus still exists, but it isn't important because I am a full-time missionary.

 

When I focused on the virus, I was bored.  There was nothing to do but wait and see if we were getting evacuated.  When I focus on the work, I am busy.  Abnormally busy.  We wish we had more hours in each day.

 

When I focused on the virus, I turned inward.  We were worried for ourselves and wondered what the future held. When I focus on the work, I turn outward and concentrate on spreading our message of hope.

 

So, FORGET the virus and FOCUS on the work.  Like President Nelson, 'I see evidence of His hand in this holy work in so many ways.'  God needs us to reach more people through technology and our talents'."

I have a huge testimony that this is ALL part of GOD'S PLAN. We were all saved to be on the earth at this time for a reason.  If we rely on the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ...we can find hope in these last days. We can have a peaceful feeling to carry us on through these next days. 

I love you all and I am so thankful for all the love and support!

Stay safe...and WASH YO HANDS 

CTR 

<3 Sister Lauren Copeland 

 Pics of the Week

1. Da capital

2.  Our favorite garden 

Week 25 - March 16, 2020

Good Morning and Happy Week to y'all!

I just can't believe it..another week just came and gone.  Soo apparently there is a worldwide plague right now.  It's so fun being a missionary at this time.  We are just so out of the loop it is hilarious.  But don't you even worry...with living in Tallahassee (the capital of Florida) we hear all the political stuff...AND WOW!  Anyways...

With this virus spreading, it has been a little difficult to do missionary work.  People won't let us into their homes, members cancel our dinners, we can't go do service at our favorite old folks homes for about a month, and people won't talk to us when we are on the street (even though there are still no cases in Tallahassee) ...but that is okay...life is still so grand!  GOD has given us this amazing technology where we can spread the Gospel at a click of a button.  If there is a WILL there is a WAY!

My heart is so full about the love I have for the Gospel. Yesterday we shared the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Bajgain family.  They are a family I have been teaching the whole time I have been in Tallahassee.  There is no better feeling than walking out of a lesson knowing that the people you are teaching felt the Spirit.  This has only happened a handful of times on my mission...but I cherish every moment I can. 

Through all of this madness in this world...I want to share some thoughts and feelings I have has this week. 

I want to invite all y'all to read, "The Greatest Leaders are the Greatest Followers," given by Stephen W. Owens...it's phenomenal!

“There will be times when the path ahead seems dark, but keep following the Savior.  He knows the way; in fact, He is the way.”

"“Who is the greatest leader who ever lived?”—what would you say?  The answer, of course, is Jesus Christ.  He sets the perfect example of every imaginable leadership quality."

"Who is the greatest follower who ever lived?”—wouldn’t the answer again be Jesus Christ?  He is the greatest leader because He is the greatest follower—He follows His Father perfectly, in all things."

Living a life of discipleship is living the way Christ did.  He was both a leader and a follower.  He was a leader in the way he lived...inviting all to come unto Him.  And he was a follower by always doing his father's will. 

"Leadership is an expression of discipleship—it is simply a matter of helping others come unto Christ, which is what true disciples do.  If you are striving to be a follower of Christ, then you can help others follow Him and you can be a leader."

Through all this chaos in the world...there is still peace that needs to be felt.  I have a firm testimony that people's hearts will be softened because of this virus.  People will start asking questions about who we are and what we believe. Live everyday as a leader...invite others to come closer to Christ through your thoughts and actions and be a follower by doing the Father's will. 

Life is so good in Florida.  It's beautiful 80 degree weather and I have a best friend as a companion. 

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of us.  Turn to them in prayer often.  Love you all.

<3 Sister Lauren Copeland

 

Pics of the Week

1. 1st world problems. TALLY 2 HAS YOU

2. Wedding we help set up for

 

3. Beautiful flowers

4. Crocheting all the toilet paper this world needs 

5. Service

Week 24 - March 9, 2020

Another week just came and is gone. 

We had a miracle filled week...that's for sure.  On Wednesday, we were asked to do service at the Ronald McDonald house.  Wow...the families that are there are so strong.  We had the most amazing opportunities there.  We were able to talk about the Gospel for an hour and a half (just so you know, this is not normal in Florida).  We gave this lady a Book of Mormon...she started to cry she said, "I left my Bible at home and I have been really missing it.  Thank you for giving me this book.  I have been praying for this for weeks."  This moment reassured me how important the books of scripture should be in our lives and most importantly the Book of Mormon.  We should be heartbroken when we are away from it.

 

I have had a question racing through my mind the last couple of weeks...."Why does Lauren Copeland need to be on a mission?"  If any of you know me, you know that I NEVER wanted to serve a mission.  I did everything in my will power to avoid the thought of a mission.  However, the second I received an email saying that the plans I had made fell through...I knew in that second that I needed to serve a mission.  I immediately burst into tears...not because I was sad about my plans falling through...but I was scared for the plans that were soon to come. 

I started my papers that next week.  The only person I told was my dad.  I wanted this decision to be between my Heavenly Father and me...with the support of my earthly father.  I finished my papers in three quick days...and submitted them that next Sunday.  After what seemed to be the slowest three weeks of waiting patiently to receive my call (btw I still kept my call in secret), I finally received my call.  As my mom and I sat in her car one Friday morning...I could not get myself to read my call so I made my mom read it first. As I watched my mom's eyes glow as she was reading my call...still not knowing where I was going...I knew from my mom's expression that wherever I was going was perfect for me.  After living in Florida for 6 months...I know this is where I need to be. 

However, just because I know this is where I am supposed to be...doesn't mean I know why I need to be here. 

Also...why is it that God send's 18-22 year old boys and girls to do his work here on earth?  Why doesn't he ask the scholars and those who have more life experiences? 

There was a talk given in October 2015 titled, "The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life."  Elder Richard J. Maynes begins the talk with a story. 

"Elder Taiichi Aoba of the Seventy, who resides in a small mountain village in Shikoku, Japan, was asked to teach a class at a youth conference.  “Stand Ye in Holy Places” was selected as the theme of the conference.  After considering the theme and what to teach, Elder Aoba decided to use his vocation as a teaching tool.  His work is making pottery.

Elder Aoba relates that his classroom of youth really sprang to life when they saw how he was able to almost magically transform the shape of the clay in his hands to plates, bowls, and cups.  After his demonstration, he asked them if any of them would like to give it a try.  They all raised their hands.

Elder Aoba had several of the youth come forward to try out their new interest.  They assumed, after watching him, that this would be quite simple.  However, none of them were successful in their attempts to make even a simple bowl. They proclaimed: “I can’t do this!” “Why is this so hard?” “This is so difficult.”  These comments took place as the clay flew all around the room.

He asked the youth why they were having such difficulty making pottery.  They responded with various answers: “I don’t have any experience,” “I have never been trained,” or “I have no talent.”  Based on the results, what they said was all true; however, the most important reason for their failure was due to the clay not being centered on the wheel.  The youth thought that they had placed the clay in the center, but from a professional’s perspective, it wasn’t in the exact center.  He then told them, “Let’s try this one more time.”

This time, Elder Aoba placed the clay in the exact center of the wheel and then started to turn the wheel, making a hole in the middle of the clay.  Several of the youth tried again. This time everyone started clapping when they said: “Wow, it’s not shaking,” “I can do this,” or “I did it!”  Of course, the shapes weren’t perfect, but the outcome was totally different from the first attempt.  The reason for their success was because the clay was perfectly centered on the wheel."

I was struck by this story. At many times all of us may feel like these youth...struggling to accomplish the thing we have been told to do or shown to do.  However, if we center our clay on the wheel and center our lives on Jesus Christ, we WILL accomplish the things we have been commanded. 

I took this question with me into my interview with President Wood.  I expressed my love for my mission...but frustrated as to why I did not understand the purpose of why I needed to go through it.  He told me, "Sister Copeland, you are worrying too much about it.  You will find your answer when you forget your question.  Lose yourself in the work and one day soon you will know why you are here."

Both this story and my advice from President Wood made all the difference for me.  My mind finally clicked together.  God needs me here so you can form and shape me into the most beautiful mold of clay he intended me to be.  My job is to center my life around Jesus Christ and fully immerse myself in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I invite y'all to do the same. 

I am happy as ever...thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. 

CTR

<3 Sister Lauren Copeland

Pic of the Week 

1. Florida Sunset

2. Expectation of last day being on the bike 

3.  Reality of last day being on bike

4. Yummy treats.