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"

September 1, 2013

"Aren't You a Little Old for SpongeBob?"

Dear Family,

This week was full of ups and downs. Well, the only down day was Saturday. No one was home and no one wanted to talk to us. And we had an appointment with a new investigator who I was so pumped to teach because when we met her I could just tell how much she needs the gospel. But sadly when we knocked on her door and told her who it was she said she "didn't want to be bothered." After we  left I thought, "what kind an answer is that? You don't want to be bothered with the best thing that could have ever happened in your life?"

It was hard because you just love the people you come in contact with on the first day, and you just want to help them and they won't let you!!! DDAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!  Life of a missionary

On the upside we had dinner with the Davis' this week, who I am in love with. During the dinner they were talking about how terrible the cartoons that their grandchildren watch, one of them being spongebob. And I, not thinking, said that I love that show. And Cheese and Crow. You should have seen the look on their faces!!!! They started yelling about how mean spongebob is poking people in the eyes and he only feeds his pet once a day! I was laughing so hard.

This week was also awesome with the members doing missionary work! We had a dinner with one of the members and we were going to commit them to invite someone to church. Before we got to the lesson they told us how they had already invited their friend to church and was coming!

I can't believe it but the leaves have been changing in the past few weeks. When I see them I think of in the movie Hercules when they are changing Hercules mortal with the formula and the Panic or Pain says, "It's changingggggggg!!!" It is really fun. I love this arear!! (that's right, "arear," they really say that here!)

Miracles are happening everyday and I love my companions! Can you believe that transfer calls are this Saturday?!

Love you all!

Sista Lassen