September 29, 2014

Colorful, Clouded, Heaven 

Dear family,

As you know I have been transferred. What you didn't know is that I would be transferred to the most beautiful place at the most beautiful time of the year! 

Montpelier, Vermont 

I finally made it to the other side of the mission. Fall is in full bloom, and you would not believe your eyes if you were here. The rolling hills of colorful blotches and rocky hillsides is breath taking. Everywhere we drive I tell my companion "It's so magical!" 

And... Thank you for you prayers for warmer weather. This week we had PERFECT weather. 

Before getting to transfer meeting I had to make the 4 hour trip to Manchester. It was a crazy transfer meeting -- 19 missionaries going home and 26 new missionaries. It was a long meeting, but a powerful one. When we were singing "Called to Serve," and "I'll go where you want me to go," it felt like we were in the presence of angels. One part that was not so spiritual was when a departing missionary was saying his parting words, bawling over his dog that died on while he was on his mission. I just couldn't take him seriously. 

Two super sweet connections in the Montpelier ward. Our Bishop served in NYC during 9/11. Might have been in the same mission as Jacob? He is looking into that for me. It is Bishop Norris. The other connection is the Smith Family. Their daughter is serving in the Ventura Mission. It is the Sister Missionary that was over at my home for dinner a long time ago! Now I get to go to her home for dinner next week! Her mom said she is serving in Santa Barbara right now. 

Oh! My new companion- Sister Brown - she is TIGHT and we know all the small jokes and references. It is good times. She's from Utah. We are having lots of fun, and "dropin' it low" all over Vermont. We also lead the zone with ITL's this week (inviting new people to learn) We felt totally boss. Anywho, we are super busy and having lots of fun. There is just so much to do! I am so excited for general conference! Wasn't the Women's Broadcast the best! I can't wait until I can apply it and go to the temple more. The temple really is the greatest thing in the whole world. 

Love you all! Pray for you everyday.... 

One more miracle this week. I was totally supposed to get a cold this week, but I had a some Wellness Formula that I got 17 months ago and haven't used once, until this week. That, and the grace of God, kept me from getting sick this week. 

Pray that I will complete everything that God needs me to do here. 

Sista Lassen

September 22, 2014

The Book of Mormon

Dear Family,

I am just going to tell you the sad news first and get it over with. I am getting transferred...for my last transfer. I knew it was going to happen because Sister Shipley and I go home together, but it is just as hard. My other areas that was at least one thing that I was relieved to not worry about...but not here. I have absolutely loved being with Sister Shipley, the ward, and the other missionaries I get to work with here. As Sister Shipley said, "I feel like this is what my whole mission is suppose to be like!"

I am praying, trying not to mess with "the plan," and singing my go-to song for times like this. The song is sung by Shirley Temple.  It goes:

 "Be optimistic, don't be grumpy.
When the road gets bumpy just smile!
Don't wear a long face, it's never in style,
 be optimistic and SMILE!"

I sing it to the other missionaries all the time.

Alright on to the good, which far outweighs the bad. This week we had Zone conference with Elder Wilson of the 2nd quorum of the 70. It was awesome. He literally spent the whole time talking to us about how to use the Book of Mormon more effectively in our teaching. Besides, it is our "most powerful resource." It was so inspired. He instructed us to read 1Nephi 1 with our investigators and re-teach the restoration as we read. It is amazing -- every point of the first lesson is in 1 Nephi 1. HOW NEAT IS THAT?! He also instructed us to get members to read the Book of Mormon with our Investigators instead of having them read it on their own. This makes so much more sense. I have always felt dumb about asking people to read the Book of Mormon, but not telling them how. This solves that problem. 

 

My love for the Book of Mormon has grown so much the past 17 months. Every morning as I read I feel a literal power (priesthood power) come over me, to protect and guide me for the rest of my day. 1 Nephi 15: 24 (Also a new favorite scripture)

"And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."

Sister Shipley and I haven been reading a chapter in the Book of Mormon together in companion study. It has been awesome and something I want to keep doing with my next companion. Today we read Alma 26 together. Seeing that we came out together, I changed the places and people to apply with us. My new favorite scripture is Alma 26:17 "Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state?" Not saying that I was a terrible sinner before my mission, but God has blessed me so much to tell me to go on a mission many months ago. He "snatched" me out of where I was, so that He could build me to reach close to what He sees in me.  I am forever grateful for the knowledge, testimony, and strength that He has given me. It has changed my life forever.

One last cool thing. Zone conference was in Augusta, ME. (One of my past areas) I was able to see some of the members I served with, some brought me to tears to see. I also got to talk to the Sisters that are serving there now about the people that I found when I was there. One of them is Elliot. I found out that he has a baptismal date and is getting baptized November 1 and has come to church 5 times. I also found out that a less active member that I found and started teaching has come back to church 4 times. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT PEACE THIS BROUGHT ME! It was a joyful day. I don't know if you could tell from my letters, but Augusta was my "refiners fire" and when I left Augusta I was not sure if I had made any difference. Now I know that every seed planted does matter.

I love you all and miss you dearly. I pray for you everyday. If you are going to pray for me, pray that I will accomplish everything that God wants me to do for my last transfer. Have a great week!

Sista Lassen 10.0

September 15, 23014

Pray

Dear Family,

First of all, did you know how much God loves us? He really really does. Second of all I need a specific prayer for me. I need you to "pray with all the energy of heart" that it does not snow until November 6th. The cold has already started.  Once you have pledged to do that you may read on.

I am going to be straight up honest. This week everything fell through. You want to know the best part about it? I don't feel the least bit discouraged! In fact I am just as happy, if not happier, than the weeks when everything went "perfectly." How great is that? We don't have to let other people's choices effect our happiness. And that is a beautiful thing. 

I feel like this week was a test, and I feel like I passed! The past transfer we have been having loads of success and finding super prepared people, and it has been great! It is easier to be happy when people are progressing. This week we have had 7 appointments with 7 different potential investigators fall through.  I know that I am doing what God wants me to do and he is happy with my efforts. We still saw miracles this week and met more people who are interested in learning.  

Another really cool thing has been working with the members. At a dinner appointment we asked a young family, "What can we do to help you with your missionary work?" They loved that question and really pondered it, and we were able to help them think of ways that they can do missionary work. I am so converted to asking members that question. Before we asked them, we pumped them up with missionary promises in the scriptures like D&C 33. It is way awesome. 

I am loving every minute I have to be a missionary. I think that I have grown the most in this transfer than I have any other transfer of my mission. I think is because I am no longer just doing missionary things, but I feel like I have become what Heavenly Father wants me to become. Looking back on my mission I can now see the "change of heart" within myself. I feel the love that Heavenly Father has for me so strong everyday. Because I feel his love for me I am able to reach out in love and charity to my brothers and sisters: Not out of recognition in numbers or from others, but solely in service to my Heavenly Father. 

I am also excited for this week because we have Zone Conference and Elder Wilson from the 2nd Quorum of the seventy is coming to address us. How neat is that?

Love you all! Also pray for L.

Sista Lassen

September 8, 2014

"The Way Life Should Be"

Dear Family,

I don't know what we did to deserve all of these blessings and success, but it is amazing. We got a new investigator who is super prepared, and 2 appointments set up for next week for potential investigators that we have already taught the restoration to. Heavenly Father is just placing people in our paths. I almost expect it now. Something that has really helped me is when I came to the realization that these people are being prepared, and God is doing it, not me. So all I have to do is offer it to people and if they are ready then they will accept it. I don't need to plan out this perfect door approach; if they are prepared they will listen. This really took the burden off of me. 

Life is good. Not much more to say about it. It is just great, spiritual, close to God, holiness, and joy. 

We have a meeting this week in Machester so I don't have much time to write. Love you all!

Sister Lassen

September 1, 2014

Life's Funny and then you Die

Dear Family,

I feel like everything that I have learned in the past 16 months of my mission was just preparing me for this week. If I would have known how awesome the last part of my mission would be, it would have made the hard parts not as bad. I truly believe that I had to go through all those crappy experiences and trials so that I could be shaped into what Heavenly Father needed me to become. Weeks like this one only happen in "The District."

 How amazing it is to see the changes that I have made in myself. I could not begin to start to tell you of all the miracles of this week. I feel like Heavenly Father is so close to the work that we do and that what we are doing is what He would have us do. I have felt this way especially as I have made a conscious effort to act on every single prompting that I receive. 

I feel like I have been able to take myself out of the work and to just think about others and what they need.

What I believe as a result of dropping the unprepared for the prepared we got a new investigator this week. Her name is K. YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE K. She has no religious background, knows nothing of Mormons, but felt that she needed to read the Book of Mormon and that it would help her. She requested a Book of Mormon on Mormon.org. While we were teaching the restoration she had the most amazing insights to the pictures that I have never heard. During the whole lesson I was just thinking "Don't mess this up; she is golden!" I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with this opportunity to teach K. After that lesson Sister Shipley and I freaked out. Later that day we went even more crazy because we were street contacting and talked to a family who is looking for a church and asked us to stop by their home to teach them. I feel like everywhere we go God is placing us where he wants us to be. I feel so blessed for the trust that Heavenly Father has put in me. We have had countless experiences this week. 

So in a nut shell this week has been "off the wall"

I was on exchange in  Dover ME this week. I was able to show the sister how to just go up to people and talk to them.  Even if you feel weird about it, just do it. She is way pumped now. It was really cool/weird to see the table turned because I remember when I was out for 3 months and went on exchange with a Sister and she showed me how to street contact and it changed everything for me. It's cool to be able to share the knowledge. I was worried about the exchange in the beginning because I didn't feel as spiritually prepared as I wanted to be. That night I prayed for the strength and that He would make up for my weakness. Heavenly Father did answer my prayers and made it a great exchange.

We received one of the weirdest promptings this week. My whole mission I have been preaching that going to other churches is a waste of time. But for some reason Sister Shipley and I really felt that we needed to go to a Catholic Mass this week. So we did. We both gained a better understanding of where other people are coming from and how to help our investigators come to church. The coolest past was we sat in the back and there is a part in the service where you shake the hands of the people around you. We ended up knowing the man who was sitting right in front of us. Right when I recognized him the thought "this is why you are here" came to my mind. The rest of his story will be continued....

So the lesson I learned from this is follow your promptings, even if they are really weird. 

Alright, last story. We were talking to this girl and she was going through something that I have been through and I was able to totally relate to her and help her. That's the end of that story, but the cool part was seeing why Heavenly Father has put me on a mission, why he has me in Bangor ME, and why he needed me with my flaws and experiences to help another of his loved daughters.

I love you all so much! The work is going great and I got no regrets!

Sista Lassen

August 25, 2014

Family

Dear Family,

I could not express my gratitude, frustrations, and love that I have felt this week.

First of all. I love the picture I got of Lucy with her poking herself in the eye balls. I love it so much that I stuck it on my planner with the caption "if it's awkward make it more awkward, then it's funny." And I am showing everyone. It comes in handy when I needed to make L. laugh.

So let me tell you about L. She is just a good soul and I love her to death. We have been teaching her for a month and a half and it is amazing to see the change that she is making. I remember the first time we taught her she told us that she wanted to get baptized, but she didn't think that she would be very active in the church. And now she has the mind set that Christ has done so much for her that she can do this for Him. When we taught her this week she told us how much happier she is and just can't believe it! Her testimony of the gospel brought tears to my eyes as she reminded me why I am serving a mission: To bring happiness into people's lives. Yesterday was the first time that she came to church since we have been teaching her. I was so happy i was going to explode! When I saw her outside I RAN to her, Sister Shipley (my companion) having to chase me. The best part about her at church was in Relief Society she introduced herself saying "I'm L. and I am getting baptized September 20th." I cannot tell you the joy that she is. She is a kindred spirit. To be able to teach her has made my life and mission complete. I love her so much.

Another miracle was that P. came to church today. Missionaries have been coming to her home weekly for dinner for the past 3 years. As far as I know she has come to church once, maybe twice. I think what it was to help her go to church was our consistent annoyance of telling her to come to church, and her granddaughter. Her Granddaughter is at BYU-I and she posted on Facebook how grateful she is for church and the Sabbath day. This really hit P. Social Media is for our benefit!

The most powerful testimony that I have ever heard was from a 12 year old boy. We went over to a less active family this week. The two 12 and 13 year old boys are the strongest members in the family. As we were teaching them we asked them why they were baptized. Austin told us that at first he want to be a part of this gospel, but then he was wondering if he even wanted to do this any more. So he told us that he "got down on my knees and prayed." After he prayed he realized the blessings that the gospel has brought to his family in the past and wanted it again. As we were leaving their home he came up to us privately and ask for some copies of The Book of Mormon so that he could write his testimony in each one of them to give to each member in his family.

Those are but a few of the experiences that I got to be a part of this week. I am loving my area, ward, mission, companion, and life. LOVE YOU ALL!

Sista Lassen