December 30, 2013

Happy New Year!

Dear Family,

It was so wonderful to talk to you! I am so grateful for such a wonderful family who supports and loves me so much! You are like the greatest thing ever! After I talked to you we went to a dinner with a member and played games -- Phase 10! I wish I knew how many times I have played that game in my life I bet it would be like 10,000 times.

Missionary-wise this was a slow week, just because of the holiday and all. I am really excited for it all to be over and we can get back to regular missionary awesomeness.  

As a result of the snow storm last Sunday we had the Christmas Program at church this Sunday. It was really cool.  In one of the talks the speaker made an analogy of the gifts that Heavenly Father gave to us, our life, agency and body. And then the gift that Christ gave to us. His life. On Sunday we also started our Missionary Class. It went really well and the spirit was really strong. We talked about our conversion story and how the gospel has blessed our own lives. Then we talked about the fears that we have with sharing the gospel. We addressed the the different fears and we read from the bible dictionary that says "fear is something unworthy of a child of God and perfect love casteth out"...or something like that. It is so true. God doesn't want us to fear, he wants us to be confident before him. And that we do not fear when we do what He wants us to do.  I love the members here and I am excited to help them progress in missionary work.

Last night there was a snow storm and it looked like Heavenly Father was shaking out a comforter on us! It was crazy how big the snow was that was falling! I better get used to it! They say that January is the coldest month! Here it comes! 

I love you! 

Sister Lassen

December 23, 2013

Ice Skating 101

Dear Family,

I would have to say that this week has been my favorite week in Augusta, ME!! Christmas really is a season to be a missionary. We were able to go tracting a few times this week and it was actually successful! And when in doubt we just sang a Christmas song to them! This week I focused more on talking about the atonement and the plan of Salvation with everyone we talked to. It was amazing to see how we were able to have a more focused conversation on the gospel and how we could help them in some way. Such as sharing a scripture with them or telling them about where their grandparents are. It is amazing to be able to testify to everyone that we talk to -- I mean when is that ever going to happen again in my life? 

When planned out properly a missionary's day is remarkable. We go from place to place, not knowing who is going to talk to us or what is going to take the longest amount of time. I feel like I am on a cloud and Heavenly Father is just guiding us to where we really need to be and who we really need to see. 

That happened on Saturday. In the morning we had a few member stop-bys that we were doing and they all fell through. Then we decided to knock on a former investigators door (we weren't planning to do this).  We have tried to meet this person many times but he was never home. We knocked on his door and he answered! We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into when we did. Nothing like this will ever happen to me again. His name is D. He told us that he wrote a book about his experience with the Elders called Who's At The Door (you can go buy it now!) and he gave both of us a copy. And then he took us out to lunch at Panera! IT. WAS. AWESOME! We had a nice lunch talking about the differences of Mormons and Catholics and telling him some of our funny mission stories. It was quite delightful. There was a point where he started talking about polygamy, and I just testified of a prophet and that put the conversation to bed immediately. 

So the lovely Ice Storm. So imagine your drive way or small parking lot being a complete ice skating rink. Then imagine your car completely covered in a quarter of an inch of ice. Now imagine getting that ice off by smashing your scraper into the windows, But wait! The door is frozen shut to get to the scraper! So you first have to use your key to break the ice around the car door. Now think about walking up a slope of a hill that is completely covered in ice. It is literally impossible to walk uphill because you are just sliding backwards. 

[This is just a picture I uploaded from the internet, but it gives you an idea of how pretty the trees are!]

That is what the past few days have been like. It is really super fun! Seriously! The trees look completely beautiful all covered in ice. And it is actually really fun to smash all the ice off the car. And don't worry the drive-ways are ice but the roads are completely fine. 

Can't wait to talk to you on Wednesday! Love you!

Sister Lassen     

December 16, 2013

Fifteen Inches of Snow Later…

Dear Family,

I feel got the "welcome to Maine winter" this week. On Tuesday we were walking down some steps and I totally fell and landed on my arm and lower back. I got the BIGGEST bruise on my forearm. It is healing up now, which is sad because it is pretty hard core. As long as I make up a different story to how I got it like I saved someone from getting hit by a car and then we started teaching them and they got baptized. The second welcome I got was on Sunday there was a HUGE snow storm and church was cancelled. So my companion and I got out the snow shovels and started digging away. The third welcome was today -- my arms are sore from snow shoveling. I guess I prayed a little to hard for a "White Christmas" this year! Careful what you pray for! My last "welcome" to the snow this week was on Saturday we were going door to door and a woman answer the door and gave had the biggest shock on her face. She look at us and said, "Girls, it is way too cold to do this today, don't come back!"  To her credit it was 7 degrees outside. But to our credit, 7 degrees wouldn't stop Jesus! 

Christmas is seriously the best time to be a missionary. I was so happy that I was only going to have one Christmas in the field, but now I think it would be cool to have two of my mission months be December. We get to sing to people, and nothing softens a lobsta shell like Christmas cheer. 

The most fun I had this week was when we volunteered at the soup kitchen. We do it every week and I just love the people that work there. They are so funny and we like to tease each other. There is an older guy, Ken, that works there and for some reason he really likes me.   One of the girls, Carla, doesn't understand why. She kept asking me, "Why doesn't Ken like me and only you?" And then she figured out why- "He just wants to get into heaven."  That must be it! 

Another funny thing that happened this week was that with our ward we are delivering Christmas baskets and we put a copy of the Book of Mormon in it with the member's testimony. So we were delivering to Frank and Ramona from Brother S. When we got there Brother S. was there. That wasn't really awkward, but the funny part was Ramona had us stand in front of the fire place and holding the basket while we sang to them, oh yeah and she recorded the whole thing. It was like I was on one of our family vacations again. 

One thing I learned in my studies this week was Moroni 8:25-26. I just love how every action we do has a set blessing and every step we take leads us closer to the greatest blessing of living with Father again. 

I hope this letter makes up for the last one being so short, and I hope it is not totally boring! Love you Lots! 

Sista Lassen

[This was the weather this morning for Augusta, Maine!  I check it every day.  I'm glad she's learned how to bundle up!]

[This was at almost 8:00 in the morning, Maine time!]

December 9, 2013

Dear family,

What an amazing week. 

Love,

Sister Lassen

[to which I replied… "Wha?!?!?!??!  This will NOT do!"  Thankfully, she instantly continued...]

Just Kidding, but it was amazing

So this week I feel like after all the work that we have put in the past 7 weeks we are finally making progress! Our mission president focus is on helping every member have a significant missionary experience in a year. So that is what we have been working on. Not just because of our mission president, but because we love them to death and want to help them, you know, follow the prophet! No big deal. 

It has been so much fun because we get to carol to so many people. And the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear... and talking about Christ.

Man, I really need to write down what I was going to tell you all because I really don't know what to tell you. It was a fun week.  I got to sing, meet with a lot of less active members, tract, help members with missionary work, and contact referrals. All that good stuff and more, like petting a pony, yelling at dogs, eating good food, and pretending to laugh at the Elder's jokes. 

Love you all!

Sista Lassen

December 2, 2013

An Amazing Week

Dear Family,

It was actually an amazing week. I don't have any amazing stories or experiences. I just really enjoyed being a missionary this week. 

Thanksgiving was wonderful.  We spent the day at district meeting, eating, and playing games with the members. It was really nice to get to know them better. Actually, I do have a funny story from Thanksgiving. We were at a members home and played Phase 10 with them (too much like home!) and their grandpa was there. In the middle of the game he got a bad Charlie horse and said, "I'm going to the other side!" It was so funny I thought I was going to die!!!

[This was a hand from one of the last games of Phase 10 that we played with Bethany before she went on her mission.  If my memory serves me right, I think it was her hand!]

This week we did the usual missionary things like tracting, trying to meet less active members, and helping the members in any way that we can. I guess what made the week so good was we did all that we could to help those around us, just focused on what their needs are. I love being a missionary and it is going to suck when I am not one anymore. I am just trying to enjoy it while it lasts! 

Today and yesterday it has been snowing/ raining and the snow is sticking. It is so beautiful! It is a true winter wonderland! And we sang Christmas songs to people already! Tis the season!...no Andrew, not that kind of Season. 

I love you all!

Sister Lassen

November 25, 2013

We Came Back During the Day…

Dear Family,

Alright this week we have been able to put everything together. We are getting better and better! I started to be more grateful for the challenges of this area because it has really helped me to grow and to be a better missionary! 

So the fun story of the week. Remember in my last letter when I told you about the man who told us to come back during the day? Well we did, and you know what?! My mind was blown! He is so open and has unanswered questions about life, and of course we have the answers. We taught him the restoration and he cried! I love when the Spirit is so strong they cry! We have a return appointment for him and I can't wait to go and teach him again. He is searching for God and knows he needs to go back to church. 

This week we were able to see a bunch of less active members. I love working with less actives. It is so touching to see these people who (sometimes) want to come back, just don't know how. It is so amazing to be their "cheerleader," helping and guiding them to apply the atonement. I love being a missionary! I get to cheer people to there salVAtion! It's pretty sweet. 

This week I got the real "welcome" to Maine. It has officially started to get bitter cold with high winds. Our apartment doesn't have a full length mirror, and for that I am grateful because I don't have to see how 3 layers of leggings, boots, cardigan, sweater, snow jacket, skirt, scarf, and gloves looks on me. It really is a tender mercy. 

I love you all! Happy Thanksgiving! 

Sista Lassen

November 18, 2013

[I realized that I didn't post the three pictures that Bethany sent recently, and that we received on her 21st birthday!  She timed it well--  So here they are!  These are all from her previous area, the Saco Ward.]

Yes, she's 21!!

Now she knows the secret of amazing refried beans… lard!  Sister Escobar taught her everything!

The famous Buffels, age 104, and her daughter Sally.  She joined the church at age 98 and went to the temple at 99!

Not Quite Winter Yet…

Dear family,

IT IS 65 degrees outside! IT IS SO WARM! It's a great way start the week! 

It was a wonderful week to be companions with Sister Wray because she loves tracting and we did a lot of that this week. It was surprisingly rewarding to me. It was really fun to talk to a lot of people and some were really nice! We got to talk to a minister and share our favorite bible verse, we got to encourage a stay at home mom who felt that people were looking down on her for not having a job, we got to talk to some funny old lady! Oh, and this is a good story- 

So we knocked on this one door and a man in his 50/60s answered the door. It looked like he had just gotten out of bed with his hair sticking straight up. He looked so confused when he answered the door. His wife had just gotten home and told him to tell us it was a bad time because she just got back from work, so we asked when we could come back latter. The man says asked his wife. The wife says "I'm really not interested" then as the man is shutting the door he whispers "come back in the day" because his wife wouldn't be home. hahahaha oh some people. That reminds me! We were also talking to this old man who was raking his leaves and we told him that he could be with his wife for eternity. He just looked at us and says "I don't know about that, that's a really long time. I mean, I love my daughter." 

This week we had some some service opportunities like socializing cats at the pound and helping at the food bank. Augusta is really growing on me the harder I work at it! I just love it for different reasons, just like they told me would happen! 

So I think I am totally going to get into wrestling when I get home. Do you want to know why? Because we stopped by a member's house this week and she is obsessed with it. She is so hard core, I want to be just like her :)

Well, life is good, the gospel is true and we shouldn't have anything to really cry about! We know what we can do to be happy and be with Heavenly Father again! Don't mess with His plan! It's all a test! Love you!

Sista Lassen   

November 12, 2013

Exclamation Point!

Dear Family,

I tell you what WOW!!! That is how I would explain the last week. This week we were able to teach some of the members the missionary lessons and it was really awesome. The spirit was so strong as we were able to testify. Hopefully it helped the members see and understand that we mean Missionary Business!  

Thank you so much for all of the Birthday Wishes! My 21st birthday was awesome! None of the members knew it was my birthday. It was SWEET! We had a dinner appointment and she made an amazing meal and we had Reese's Cake for dessert. And y'all know that Reese's are my drug, and she didn't know it was my b-day! All I could think was Wow, Heavenly Father must love me or something! That weekend my companion and I had fried sea food to celebrate. I was doing 21 the Maine way! Lobsta and clams! 

Saturday was an exciting day of a ton of tracting! The most I have done in one day my whole mission! We went to Windsor which is outside of Augusta to tract. I felt like I was in another country because people were so much nicer there! We knocked at one house and a man answers the door and says,"Oh, my mom would love to meet you, she's upstairs" This was the first time that anyone has ever let me in the door so I really didn't know what to do. Then we walked in and the man's dad says, "she up the stairs and she's a good looking one!"  It was funny. They had old black and white movies playing and pictures of the last supper on the wall. She was a cute old lady and we enjoyed talking with her. Later that day we met a guy who was in his mid 20s and we told him who we were and asked him about his with relationship with God. He told us that he didn't feel he always got answers to his prayers. So I shared 3 Nephi 14:7-11 and bore testimony. It was really cool to answer his "question of the soul" and see the light bulb go off in his head.

[I told Bethany I am glad she is a short little girl so she is on the front row!
I'd hate it if my missionary was one of those foreheads in the back!]  

Sunday was awesome because Elder Gifford Nielsen had a meeting with the leaders of the stake and the missionaries were invited to come. He is awesome and said a lot of what my ward need to hear. And the second best part was guess who was there? The SACO WARD!!!! When I walked in and saw them my face was the grossest, most excited face ever! The first thought I had was, "My family is here!" It was really good to see all of them. I have this thing now that instead of giving my home coming talk in Camarillo I think I am just going to do it in Saco. How about that idea, mom?

[These pictures came from Brother Tim Smith, who is the Ward Mission leader in the Saco Ward.  Awesome!]

Lastly, Monday! Was! Amazing! (I have to do all the ! for Elder Nielsen!) I can't even express how amazing it was and everything that I needed to hear. Maine better watch out because here comes Sister Lassen on spiritual steroids! You guys, Heavenly Father loves me so much! He just knows everything that I need! And he knows everything you need!  He is the most awesome Heavenly Father! 

Sorry this letter is forever long and boring! Love you all!!

Sista Lassen!

November 4, 2013

Getting Used to a New Area

But first, a couple of pictures from her old area!  Hollis, ME with her previous companion, Sister Cowley.

[I asked Bethany about her new area and companion, and this is what she replied today]:

Not in a trio this time. My companion is Sister Wray -- she is from American Fork UT. I don't know how big the ward is, probably the same as my last. About 90 at sacrament meeting but 110 less actives. The buliding is really big! And two wards meet there. It is the same building that my friend Rachel Lafamme from byui goes to! Too bad she is at school!

Do you know what I have been obsessed with?

The Book of John.  How can we be like Christ if we don't know Him! So I have been getting to know Him better :) and it has made all the difference. 

[Now today's letter to all]:

Dear Family,

Thank you so much for the wonderful Birthday Gifts! Don't worry I have only opened one, because I really needed it asap (hymn book :)) It is so crazy to me that I drive 2 hours north to my new area and it is completely different! So something interesting that happened to me this week that only happens on a mission. Is I got to read the Book of Mormon with someone in the Riverview Psycriatic hospital. It was a media referal and missionaries have met with her before. So we went and had to be escorted by security in and out of the building and we had to take the staples out of the pamplet. We really like the guards and they always have cool questions for us.

 

Alright so you know what I am totally pumped for? Live Christmas Cards from the missionaries! Some of the ward members are going to be writing their testimony in a Book of Mormon and we are going to put it in a gift basket and deliever it to their friend and sing a Christmas song! It is going to be sweet! And I am already singing Christmas songs...no judging. This week we got to help a man rake his leaves. It was kind of a miracle that he even let us because we just knocked on his door and asked if we could do service. Most people don't accept service. It was only the second time that I have ever raked leaves! It was really fun and we got to talk to him for awhile.

 

Another thing that I am supper excited for is Elder Nielsen of the 70 is coming a week from today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [This is Gifford Nielsen, who spoke at General Conference about the exclamation point!  I guess Bethany got his "point!"]  That means that I am going to have P-day on Tuesday instead of Monday. FYI. It is going to be amazing! And I talked to one of the office workers and they said that he is packing in information! He is giving the office workers little time to talk so he can talk more (and about more important things) It is going to be a spiritual feast! And I will get to see my old companions in Saco and they can tell me all that is going on with Saco. I am going so excited I AM GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!!

 

I am starting to love this area and the people here! Oh yeah and I love you too!

 

Sister Lassen

October 28, 2013

And..... She's still in Maine!

[If you would like her new address, please email or message me in the comment line!]

New Area

Dear Family,

 

Well I was really sad to leave my loved Saco, ME. Being in a different ward makes it ever harder! But that's okay I can't mess with Heavenly Fathers plan! So I am still in Maine...bonus! I am in the capital...Augusta! But the only way you would know it was the capital of Maine is the capital building. One of the members told me that the population here is only 18,000. Isn't that crazy? And even though I am only 2 hours north of Saco I feel like I am in a totally different world. People here are way different and the ward is even more different! But hey! It sure is beautiful here! All of the leaves are just breath taking. 

 

Due to the lack of miles that we can use on our car we have been doing a lot of walking which is good because it has allowed me to get to know the area a lot better. Right now our focus is on the members and working with them to help this area. I have a really sweet Bishop and ward mission leader and I am excited to be working with them. I am just trying my best to know all the members by name and remember what everyone looks like. Thankfully we have a good number of dinner appointments! 

 

Yeah this letter is really boring. Not much to say! We have just been knocking on doors, meeting people, and figuring out what will be best for this area! I guess the coolest part of this week has been seeing how I have changed and improved from when I first came out on a mission!

 

Love you lots!

 

Sister Lassen 

October 21, 2013

Beans + Lard = :)

Photo courtesy of Brother Tim Smith, the Saco Ward Mission Leader

Hello Family,

 

I had a wonderful, but last week in my very loved Biddeford, ME. Oh, and by the way I am in New Hampshire right now at the mission office...Yeah it has been absolutely crazy. So don't send anything to my old area because I won't get it for another 2 weeks. I will start with the crazies from the begining. Monday Sister Escobar taught me how to make real refried beans! I will never ever never buy them from a can again! It was so nice to have real mexican food, because there is no where to get that in Maine. The rest of the week we taught some amazing lessons to our investiagtors. I feel we finally got down how to teach with 3 people! It was so cool to be in full unity with my two amazing companions.

 

Then of course my favorite part of the week was Saturday because Rae got baptized! The Spirit was so strong and I got to give the talk on baptism. She was so excited! Right when she got out of the water she said, "that was it!" and then when we met her back in the bathroom she looks at me and says "I bent my knees just like you told me to!" She was a true Rae of Sunshine! It was awesome because we taught her on the first day of the transfer and she was baptized on the last. That almost never happens here. She was just really prepared! I will send you pictures next week!

 

Saturday night I got the call that I was being transfered I am trying to stay positive about it, but I feel like I left home again! At the end of sacrament meeting they had me go up and bear my testimony. I felt like all I could say was how much I love them! People came up to me crying, which was awful because then I had to be the strong one and not cry! 99.9% of the time we are transferred on Tuesday so that you have p-day to pack, but this .1% was told at church that I was leaving that day. After church I called the people who were picking me up and they told me that they would be there in 2 hours. We rushed home and I packed...good thing I don't have that much stuff! I was picked up early because a missionary got her visa to Brazil and is leaving today, so my ride had to get me early. So last night I had dinner at President and Sister Stoker's house and I am staying with the sisters here until Tuesday when I get my relocation. So yeah, it has been a little crazy.

 

I am really going to miss my Biddeford Maine and all of the crazy people who I know by name and say hi to everyday. I will miss the two chain smokers across the street who sound like a dying animal when they cough, I will miss all of the amazing ward members who are an amazing example to me. I still can't wait until we all die and I don't have to say goodbye anymore.

 

Any guess where I am going to get moved to!?

 

Love you all!

 

Sista Las'n

 

P.S. Can you believe that I have been out for 6 months! A third of my mission gone! IT IS GOING BY WAY TOO FAST!!!

October 7, 2013

"Dude!"

Dear Family,

Dude! Wasn't conference amazing! I am so excited because Elder Nielsen who talked in the Saturday session about ! [exclamation point!] is coming next month to our mission! The elders and I were doing some fist pumps when he talked about missionary work. I can't wait! 

Not much to report on this week! Just talking to people, teaching, and staying safe. The usually awesome missionary stuff. 

I figured out what the secret to life is this week, so that was cool. 

I taught a sweet lesson this week. I talked to some sweet people, I also learned some sweet stuff.

Sorry it's so short this week! I love you!

Sista Lassen

[I sure wish she'd share the secret to life with me--I could use it!]

September 30, 2013

We Are Going to Eat Before Our Lesson!

Well well well, This week was just, you know AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man where to begin!

First of all, this is not at all my work, but the Lord's. I think I am just going to tell you what happened every day this week because it was so good!

 

Tuesday- We were walking and about to cross the street. There was a girl that was coming from the opposite side and I realized that she was the same girl that came to church with her friend, but we didn't get a chance to talk to her because we were talking to our investigator R. When I saw her I told my companions, and we decided that we were going to pretend we were crossing the other side of the street so we could talk to her. When she walked over to us we told her who we were, and she told us she wants to get baptized....OH YEAH. We are meeting with her tommorow. Then we had an awesome lesson with the one of the high council member's nonmember brother in law. It was a great lesson and the spirit was really strong, and then he gave us amazing sandwiches = 

 

Wednesday- We helped out at the soup kitchen and when we were serving, we found out that one of them is a less active member. He gave us his number and address because he and his family want to meet with us! Miracle? I think yes!

 

Thursday- We talked to lots of people who are interested, yeah...we gave out those copies of the Book of Mormon! And we had a great lesson with a less active member.

 

Friday-We had a lesson with R!!! She is getting baptized October 19th! We taught her the first lesson on the first day of the transfer and she is getting baptized the last day of the transfer. I don't know if I will ever meet anyone more prepared! She is already keeping all of the commandments. She is so funny. Then we had a dinner with the Davis family -- I have talked about them a lot. We purposely had our appointment at 4 so that Sister Davis wouldn't feel obligated to make us dinner. And then when we got there, the first thing she said was, "Now before we begin we are going to eat!" I couldn't argue with that...and she made GRAVY!

 

Saturday- WHAT A DAY! M. ... always good, and C. Then we met a less-active member who just got out of the hospital and we helped her wash her dishes. She is from Tampa, Florida and was baptized 10 years ago. I asked if she know an Elder Lassen [Bethany's brother Josh served his mission in Tampa, Florida about 10 years ago] but she didn't. Then we taught R. and B. -- CHEESE AND CROWS, THAT WAS AWESOME. We taught her the restoration and at the end of the lesson we asked her to pray and ask a specific question. We all knelt to pray and then she asked if this was what Heavenly Father wanted for her. She immediatly started crying. After her prayer she said she felt she got her answer. Mmmmm, the Spirit much?! Then we went to the RS broadcast. Wasn't it amazing?! It was really cool beacause I studied the purpose of prophets a little more this week and learned that one of the purposes of a prophet is to let us know the true nature of God. When President Monson spoke I could feel the truth of what he was speaking, and that it was from God.

 

Sunday- Church was so fun because we got to teach primary, and y'all know how much I love messing with kids. And I just love this ward so much. My companions let out to our bishop that sometimes I like to rap songs. My bishop just can't get over how funny he thinks that is. So pretty much the whole ward just teases and messes with me. I can't say I blame them because, I mean...  I guess I do the same thing to them. Later that day we taught another lesson.

 

So yeah, this e-mail is forever long and there were still many other miracles this week. Pretty much I feel like this is my home, and I would be on top of the world if I could stay here for the whole 18 months. I even asked my mission president if I could...  I hope that doesn't back fire on me. No joke. I will just be walking down the street and I will have the same feelings as when I am home. I pretty much love it here and wave hi to all the people we know when we are walking down the streets. So yeah, I just love all the people here. I love the people. Oh yeah?! did I tell you that I really, really, really love the people here in Biddeford, ME aka "little Mexico"?!

Anywho... I am pretty much super PUMPED how about you?!

 

I love you all! But not as much as I am in  love Biddeford Maine right now!!...Not really...but really...sorry

 

Sista Lassen

September 23, 2013

What Do You Mean, "That Long?"

Dear Family,

I had an awesome week, do you know why?! Because I got to teach the Plan of Salvation like 3 times! It is seriously the best lesson ever! And our investigator R came to church!!! She is doing so awesome! It is really funny because there is a lady in the ward and she is famous for her hugs. She will even go up behind the Elders and hug them when they least expect it! IT IS HILARIOUS! We assigned her to be the investigator hugger to everyone we have that comes to church. This ward is really good at making people feel welcomed! 

Yesterday was the best day ever. It was a day that only happens on "The District" Videos. We had 4 lessons with investigators 3/4 of them were AMAZING and NONE of them fell through! I thought it would never happen. 

One of the coolest things about teaching people is changing what we are going to teach to fit the needs of the person. For example, when we were teaching our investigator C we planned on teaching the Plan of Salvation. Which we did, but when we taught the atonement the spirit prompted me to ask her if she knew how to repent. When I did I realized that she had no idea how to repent. I pulled out the Gospel of Christ pamphlet and did an overview of how to repent. Here we are trying to help her change and have the atonement in her life, and had one idea what we were talking about. The spirit is just awesome.

One other lesson was with our investigator M. She is a former investigator, but her teaching record is nowhere to be found. She recently went through a tragedy where she, her boyfriend, and son were hit riding their bikes by a drunk driver. Her boyfriend passed away, it is a miracle that her 3 year old son is still here, and she is doing tons of therapy for her broken leg and hurt arm. Every time we went over to help her, her friend L was there and L would keep taking over, and not letting M talk, and just try to "challenge us." When we went over on Sunday it was just her and her son. M's whole attitude was totally different. We were able to teach her the Plan of Salvation and talk to her about where her boyfriend is and gave her peace to what will happen when she dies. It was amazing to answer some of her deepest questions. It was our "trifecta" at its best because one companion would play with her son and two would teach and we just kept switching off who was playing with him. The two teaching were able to put our full attention on her and she was able to put her full attention on us teaching her. And she accepted a baptismal date! Good things happening in Saco!

I'm not telling you about the not so good one...you don't want to know. 

On Friday we had interviews with the President, which are always good. President Stoker is awesome and has a great desire to do what ever he can to help us. The only bad thing that happened was he asked me how long I have been out and I told him 5 month (Can you believe it!?) and he said, "Oh really, that long?"... what does he mean "that long!?" Am I supposed to know what I am doing or something!? And then her told me to be prepare for leadership. All I could think was, "crap, I am screwed." I sure hope he means not for awhile!...or ever! I thought that was one of the perks of being a sista! Anyways I'll think about that tomorrow. 

[Sorry, Bethany.  I couldn't resist the quote!]

Another funny thing that happened at interviews is when our Zone leader was giving the lesson he started blacking out and getting sick...that part wasn't funny. The funny thing was after he got some water and sat down he asked some Elder for Advil. None of them had some but they directly looked to us. Of course we had some. I thought to myself, "You know, you may have been out for almost two years and know way more stuff than I do, but hey, I've got Advil!"

Oh yeah, another sweet thing that happened when we were teaching R was she kept having the question, "Why did God pick Joseph Smith to be a prophet?" It is a good question and the answers we had weren't really doing it for her. Throughout the lesson and talking to her she got an answer that was right for her. It was totally the Spirit. It just shows that when the Spirit is there I don't really have to worry about giving the perfect answer -- the spirit will tell them all things. By the way, her answer was kind of cute/funny she said, "Well, he was the only one that would step up and do something about it!" I guess so, R!

Alright I am all out of stories that you want to hear. I love you all! Good things are happening in Maine! I feel like I am home here!

Sista Lassen

September 16, 2013

Another Week Gone By

Dear Family,

Thanks to Denae's letter that I got on Friday, I found out that Kandra is having a girl!...How long have you all been keeping this from me?! Well Congrats Kandra and Jakie!

This week went by really fast, and we have been having lots of appointments and lessons! We have 2 investigators that are only 2 blocks away from our apartment, so that has been really nice to have them so close and we are able to see them more often. One of our lesson was with R. this week. IT WAS AMAZING! We taught her the Plan of Salvation. It was amazing to see the peace that she felt when we taught her about where she came from and that she can be with her family forever. It was funny because I think the thing that she got most excited about was that fact that we are still going to be working after this life. That's R! 

It is amazing to me that people will just break down crying when they talk to us, even if we are on the street and have been talking to them for the first time for 5 min. It is amazing how much people really just need to be listened to. One person who broke down crying (who we have talked to before) just told us everything that she is feeling and the questions she has. By the end of our conversations she told us how the number 11-11 kept coming to her head, and she thinks it is a sign, but she doesn't know for what. Which is crazy because we had planned to give her 3 Nephi 11 to read that day, and 3 Nephi is the 11th book in the Book of Mormon! She then gave us her word that she would read it. We will see what happens! 

The work is going and I am loving every minute! 

Sista Lassen

September 9, 2013

"These Sistas in the House, Wear Name Tags on Our Blouse!"

[Bethany finally sent some pictures, so enjoy!]

Dear Family,

I have never felt so heart broken and happy on my mission than I did in this past week.

One thing that I did not prepare for is how much it breaks your heart when the people you love don't make the right choice and their is nothing that you can do about it, but love them of course. It is the worst thing ever and it gave me nightmares that night of just that event happening over and over again in my mind. I don't know how Heavenly Father does it. 

M and R

On other hand we had one amazing miracle this week with R. She is a neighbor to a member, M. who was recently baptized. When M. was baptized R came and met the Campbells, the senior couple in Portland. They gave her a Book of Mormon and left a huge impression on her. R has been reading the Book of Mormon ever since but every time we saw her and asked if she wanted to learn more she said she was too busy. On Friday, we went to teach M and on our way R opened her door right as we walked by. (Divine placement? I think, yes!) We talked to her and she said she had some questions about the Book of Mormon. We answered her questions and set up an appointment to teach her on Sunday. When we taught her the spirit was so strong. It was a true testimony builder to me that the spirit is the real teacher. As we explained the priesthood and baptism it all made perfect sense to her. She was baptized before with water being sprinkled on her head and she told us that it doesn't make sense that they would do that because it doesn't change you. She also told us that she knows that this is Christ's Church because of the example of the Campbells and us. R. accepted a baptismal date with tears in her eyes. It was the most amazing thing!! I mean all I can say is IT. WAS. AWESOME. 

[This picture was sent by their Ward Mission Leader, Tim Smith, with the subject line, "Yes, they are HAPPY!"]

One fun thing that we did this week was make a rap for a young couple that we met on our way to a lesson with an investigator. They are super funny. They made my ghetto voice come out. Alright, are you ready for this epic rap?

If you only knew

what we got to do

It's more important

than tying a shoe

we sisters in the house

wear name tags on our blouse

the gospel of our Lord 

is mightier than a sword 

won't you take a look

what's inside this book?

we're here to save some lives

so give me some high fives!

Oh yeah I went there. Love you!

Sista Lassen

[And a few more pictures from Bethany]

"There are beautiful cemeteries everywhere" 

"Absolutely beautiful Maine"

"Maine Lighthouse"