Hello, Family and Friends.
I just want you to know that I miss all of you so so much. But, just know that I am happy, healthy, and well.
This week was one of my favorite weeks. We did a lot of service. There is NOTHING I love more than service. We went to The Grove (the Starling Assisted Living Home) and we helped them with their family and friends event. You would not believe how many people came up to us and thanked us for our service. And none of these people were members of the church..however, they knew who we represented: Jesus Christ! Not gonna lie...I have never felt so loved or complimented in my whole life.
Visiting Edna in the hospital;(
We have been on bikes all week. You don't realize how hilly Tallahassee is until you are biking all of it. We averaged 15 miles a day..RIP! My legs are absolutely dead. But, we had so many little miracles come from it. So many people stopped us throughout the week and said they saw us biking. They were curious as to what we were doing on our bikes. We had so many perfect opportunities to share our purpose...it was AMAZING!
Biking in the dark, cold rain
My spiritual thought for the week comes from 2 verses in the Book of Mormon...
1 Nephi 11:16-17
In these chapters, Nephi sees the Spirit of the Lord and is being shown the vision of the Tree of Life. This spirit asks Nephi a tough question:
"Knowest though the condescension of God?"
(1 Nephi 11:16)
Nephi responds with:
"I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things"
(1 Nephi 11:17)
We do not know the meaning of all things; however, we know we have a loving Heavenly Father who does know the meaning of all things.
We physically can't comprehend why bad things happen to us. Sometimes we think our trials are because we did something wrong. However, that is not always the case. Adversity is part of our life here on earth. From our trials, we can choose to grow and progress if we choose to.
In the scriptures, we learn of righteous people who suffered: Abraham, Abinadi, Joseph of Egypt, Nephi, Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. WHY did the Lord put Abraham through the experience of being asked to sacrifice his own son? God knew that Abraham would be willing to do what God commanded of him. Why did the Lord put him through such a test?
"Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham" - President Hugh B. Brown
Why did God put his own Son through all the trials he went through?
God already knows what we are made of...he already knows our potential. Perhaps He wants us to learn what we are made of. God loved us so much that we are given trials so we can see who we are in God's eyes.
Throughout my mission, I have a better understanding of who I am in God's eyes. I know that he loves me and wants me to return into his presence. He has given me this amazing gift of time to be His missionary so I can teach others about HOW LOVING HE REALLY IS!
I love you all...thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. Know that GOD loves and trusts you more than you think.
CTR
<3 Sister Lauren Copeland
Pics of the Week
1. Snow cones
2. MASONS baptisms (we are not teaching him lol)
3. More snow cones
4. More more snow cones
5. Literally covered in cotton candy
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