May 19, 2014

Instant Application Brings Miracles

Dear family,

What an absolutly amazing week it has been!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Boston Temple, Sister Lassen and Sister Magnusson

A sister couldn't ask for anything more. First of all the temple was amazing. We were there as long as we were allowed to be there. I didn't see Lori Bell, But I did see someone in her Mission Presidency. I asked if he knows Sister Bell and he said yes! She is in his ward. I told him to tell her that I said hi. Hopefully he will.

This week started off with us trying to contact all of the less active members. That day we did not meet a single one of them. Which is a miracle because it gave us an opportunity to follow the promptings of the Spirit and box them out (knock on the surrounding homes). Every time we did we found someone who was interested in learning more about the Church. One is a family who has been looking for a church and has had a loved one recently pass away and has lots of questions. We were acting on a prompting when we went to that door because we weren't even planning on going to that one! This week I have also been studying miracles. I love Mosiah 8:18. "Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." The greater faith we have the greater miracles and the greater we can help our brothers and sisters. Just think about it. Compare the miracles to the Nephites in comparison to the New Testament. The Nephites got to see Angels! If I were to pick I would rather be in the Americas when Christ came. And it says that Christ was able to do such great miracles because of their great faith. So everyone needs to have greater faith so we can have greater miracles in Missionary Work. That's what I have been praying for.

You know what the best part of Wednesday was? Seeing the S. family. We are teaching them. We stopped by and the Spirit was so strong that you could cut it with a knife. And it is amazing how Brother S. is able to recognize the Spirit without us even pointing it out to him. He is realizing the peace that he can't find anywhere else. It has been such a blessing to meet them. The best part about seeing them was the spirit totally prepared us for what we needed to teach them and say. And then when I prayed at the end the Spirit told me exactly what I needed to pray for them, which moved them to tears. #faith&spirit=miracles.

The end of the week we got to do some fun service. We helped the Library with their garden, and helped a member move into their new house. We had a conversation with the member we were helping about how serving others makes you feel so good. All I could think about was, "Try sharing the gospel with people 24/7 -- the awesome feeling doesn't even compare!"

This week was also our stake conference, and Elder Perkins was there. It was all on missionary work. How neat is that? And I am staying in Laconia another tranfer with sister Magnusson (I was praying for that.)

Love you all!

Sista Lassen

P.S. If Andrew read my letters he would know what I do all week and wouldn't have to ask a million times

May 13, 2014

Mother's Day Call and the Temple, all in One Week!

We talked to Bethany on Mother's Day, via Skype.  Our connection was not wonderful so we didn't take a picture.  But it was great to talk to her, and she is super happy!  She loves describing what it is like to live on a farm--she is in love with the baby calves.  

Then on Monday, May 12 she had a regular day; her P-Day was moved to Tuesday so that they could visit the Boston Temple!  She wrote a letter to me during her trip to Boston last week, and I received it today (Monday, May 19)  Here are some excerpts:

"Dearest Mom,

"I am on my way to the temple right now.  The trees are finally greening up.  I was looking at how vibrant the green leaves are; I would say they are your favorite color--LIME GREEN!  You would love it.

"I just got out of the temple.  We stayed there all day.  It was wonderful; Couldn't ask for a better P-Day.  I can't believe I haven't been here for a year--way too long.  I never want to go this long before going to the temple ever again.  It's so awesome how our 'thing' is going to the temple together.  Most mothers/daughters go shopping, get their nails done, or get facials.  Us?  Nope.  We go to the temple. You only have to go 25 more times without me.

"You know what I kept thinking when I was in the temple?  How much I just don't get or understand the potential within me, and all of us.  I mean if I really understood that, wow.  Think I am going to add that to the million other things I am going to study.

"Well, I feel as if at this point of my mission it is all or nothing.  Naturally I am putting my all in.  That's just how I roll.

"Love you!

"Sister Lassen

"aka Boopsie"

May 5, 2014

May, Already?

photo from http://www.free-picture.net/animals/cows-and-bulls/two-cute-calf.jpg.html

Dear Family,

I seriously cannot believe that it is May already, but then again I say that every month.

Mom asked me to talk more about what it is like in Laconia, New Hampshire, so to make it fun I will compare the difference between Maine and New Hampshire in my eyes.

1. Maine has a lot more dead people. What I mean by that is there are TONS of cemeteries in Maine. I mean in the middle of a busy intersection.

2. New Hampshire has a lot more hills/mountains

3. Maine has a lot more people that don't have teeth

4. Where I am living in Sanbornton is farm land, and I live on a farm. It is a lot easier to find service opportunities because everyone needs help on their farm.

5. There are a lot more lakes in New Hampshire

6. I feel like I am where they filmed Pride and Prejudice.

Hopefully that will satisfy your interest.

This week the most exciting lesson that we had was with C. She asks tons of great questions -- the ones that missionaries love to get! Such as How do you know truth? (Moroni 10:3-5)  Where do we go after this life? (Alma 40). We stopped by on Saturday to see how her reading was going and she informed us that she read the chapter we left her and all of 1 Nephi! She is loving it and thinks it is so interesting. She told us how bad she thought Laman and Lemuel were. It is a joy to see her excitement. We are teaching her the restoration tonight. It is amazing to see some of her questions and worries go away as we teach her, and are not an issue anymore.

One other person we taught was G. She's a less active member and going to another church, but she knows that she needs to go to the LDS church. When we were with her it was amazing to see the Spirit teach her. For example I asked, Do you think there is a difference between us and the church you are going to? At first she said no. And then as the Spirit directed me to what to say she told us that she does know the difference and she knows where she needs to be. Then she told us how she tells the pastor when he is wrong about doctrine and gets all mouthy when he tells lies about the Mormons. I just love her so much.

One thing that I figured out: I think that the best way to teach people is just like My Big Fat Greek Wedding. When the mom and aunt are trying to convince Gus to do something and make him think that it was his idea in the first place. I think it's the best because that way I let the Spirit teach them, not me.

One last tid-bit. I love baby cows; they are so cute. When you put your hand by them they start licking it and then sucking on your hand. It tickles! It is so funny!

Love you and can't wait to talk to you on Sunday!

Sista Lassen