August 12, 2013

"It's Amazing What a Name Tag Will Do!"

Dear Family,

 

I loved getting all your letters about Carpenteria! I am afriad that I don't have enough wall space for all of the pictures!

 

This week was just awesome! The Spirit is where it is at! All of our investigators fell off the face of the Earth so we get to start fresh! I think this is the one thing that I don't what to start fresh will, but hey this just means I get to put my all in it!

This week we have really been focusing on helping the ward. We have been going around trying to contact all of the less active that no one knows anything about and get them back to church. I know that this is what we needed to do this week because everything was Divine timing. There was one Less active and she never answers the door. But when we got there she had her door opened and she was vaccuming by the door. She looked at us we said hi. We just kind of stood their for awhile as she ignored us, but her daughter came right up to us. Then she had to let us it!

 

Earlier this week we went to a Book of Mormon study class that we are doing with our ward, and right when we got there all three of us knew that we needed to be somewhere else. We quickly left and prayer where we needed to be. We all felt that we needed to go see a less active that we have been working with ever since I got here. When we got to her house she was sitting in her car. We talked to her and uplifted her.  I wish I could say what was said to her, but it was 100% the Spirit and not us talking. Later that night I was thinking about that experience and that thought came to my head. I thought Wow our Heavenly Father really does love her. He promped 3 people to completely stop what they were doing to go see her, just her, no one else. It is amazing be apart of the Lord's work.

 

It seems to me that everything happens at the library. We were in the library watching mormon.org videos and I was waiting for my turn. As I was sitting there I had the thought that someone needed to talk to me. I looked around at each person and no one that I looked at seemed like that one that I needed to talk to. I sat there and looked down at my scriptures. About 10 seconds later a woman went up to me and said, "Excuss me are you a JW?" I said no and told her who I was and then she said, "oh yeah I don't know why I said that" She expressed to me how much she wants a relationship with God and wish for it. I explained what I am doing on a mission is helping others come unto Christ. I shared a verse with her and expressed the love that God has for her. The whole time that she was talking to me she had tears in her eyes. I am so glad that I have a name tag on so that people know and see that I am reprecenting Christ.

 

I love you guys!

 

Sista Lassen

August 5, 2013

Trifecta is A.Maz.Ing

Dear Family,

I am lovin' this 3 Nephite, Tri-fecta thing going on in Saco, ME! My New companion is Sister Cowley. And of course I am still with Sister Escobar. I AM SO PUMPED! It's going to be a great transfer with lots of learning and growing for Sister Lassen. 

It was a great week of lots good ole' tracting. I found a really good strategy with tracting. 

Step 1- Embarrassed yourself (This is the most important step)

Step 2- Make them laugh

Step 3- Read a Scripture

Step 4- TESTIFY!

It has been pretty sweet. My favorite story of the week was on Tuesday.  It was our first outing with Sister Cowley tracting. We were knocking on doors and here some of the apartment buildings look like one big house, but you have to walk in the front door to knock on the persons actual door. We walked up to one house and we thought that it was one where we had to walk into the front door...we were very, very wrong. So Sister Cowley opens the door. Now she didn't just open the door. She threw herself into this persons house because the door was jammed. Then we realized that we were in someone's house ran, and slammed the door shut. And then we RAN away. Luckily the owners did not see us...that would have been bad. I could just see the headline "Mormon Missionaries Breaking Into People's Homes! Who will be Next?!"

That was pretty classic and sums up what this past week has been like. 

My favorite part of the week?! Placing me some Book of Mormons! 

I hope everyone's summer is Super! 

Sista Lassen

July 29, 2013

She's Staying Put in Biddeford!

[By the way, if you emailed me for her address, the apartment # is incorrect.  Please email me for the correct address--gslassen@gmail.com]

Dear Family,

 

I am staying in good ole' Saco Maine! Which is good because I have to much stuff to do here! But I am getting a new companion tomorrow (in place of Sister V), but Sister Escobar is staying, so I still get to learn more Portuguese!

This week was full of tracting! We have a few cities in our area that are far away and hard to get out to because the houses are far apart from each other, or they are tourist towns. In our minds we think it is a gold mine for missionary work because missionaries haven't been there very much. But because missionaries haven't been there we don't really have a direction. We will keep working on it!

 

A fear that came into my head when I was thinking of the spirit world the other day. So New Englanders have this saying, "I'm all set." We will knock on a door and before we say anything they say, "I'm all set" In my mind I want to say,"Your salvation isn't all set!!!" or "You're all set for what? You're life is so good it can't get any better?" This leads me to think about the spirit world where we will be teaching everyone. Will people still say "I'm all set" "I'm already dead"?!?! I sure hope not.

 

The beginning of the week was hard because we got dropped or dropped most of our investigators. But that's okay, their time will come, and we are still meeting people who may be more ready and prepared for the gospel...Like G!

 

 We started a Book of Mormon study class in our ward, and one of the members invited their friend G to the class. G felt the spirt so strong when he was their with the members discussing the scriptures. After the scripture class he re-read what was read and the 5 chapters before. He decided that this is the path that he needs to go down and is taking the lessons from us. It was a strong testimony builder to me of the power of the members. G was prepared by the members, and is progressing because he sees the expamles of the members.

 

Love you a million lobsta tails!

 

Sista Lassen

July 22, 2013

Her Brother Hasn't Written

But she hasn't mentioned it...  at all...

"Dear Family and Friends, (except Joel who hasn't writen me yet)*

"One of the many miracles that we had this week was with Ghanabu. We were going to an appointment to an investigator and we rang the door and waited and waited and waited. We figured that she wasn't there so we went to try to contact a referral instead. On our way back home we decided that we would try one more time. We rang the door bell and she wasn't there again. I saw a man sitting a few feet away and I decided that we should ask him if he knew where our investiagtor was. This man was Ghanabu. He knocked on her door and called her name and she wasn't there. Ghanabu then asked us, "Are you with the LDS?" We told him we were and he told us that in the past he called the church hotline to find a church building to go to church when he lived in Portland, but was never able to get a ride to church. He told us that he likes how Mormons are so genuine and that Mormons watch their health and he is ready to take that step. We gave him a Book of Mormon and set up and appointment to see him on Wednesday. MIND BLOWING MIRACLE! The Lord put us in his path, and then made us talk to him. The work is moving in Saco!

"So I have found this new love of talking to people on the street and door knocking this week.

We were walking to the library and we met a man and woman who were sitting on their front steps. They gave us their WHOLE life story, which isn't new to me. We were able to turn the conversation to how the Lord has a plan for all of us, and then we gave them both a Book of Mormon and a Plan of Salvation Pamplet, and set up a return appointment. I found that they key in talking to people is to just ask like they are my long lost cousins. It's working pretty well.

"Later that day when we made it to the Library Sister Escobar and I were on the computer and Sister Vanderhoef was waiting for us. Some guy started talking to her, and then all of the sudden asked her on a date. She tried to tell him that we could teach him lessons, and that everywhere she goes her companions have to go to... he wasn't all for that.

"My Second favorite part of this week was right before we had an appointment with a family in our ward we knocked on their neighbor's door. When the older lady opened the door she was not interested in us at all. So we started asking her about her beliefs and what role God has in her life. Once we did that she talked about how the love of God shines in her and it is shining in us. She told us how God has helped her through the hardest times in her life and she feels so close to him. Then I asked if I could share a verse with her, so I shared 3 Nephi 4:33. When I read "gushing out of tears" in that verse she nodded her head up and down and she started to cry. I testified of Jesus Christ, and told her that the Book of Mormon is not to take away from anything that she already has, but to add to the truths that she already knows. She gladly accepted the Book Of Mormon.

When we went over to our appointment we were so PUMPED and told the family about it. They were surprised that she accepted the Book of Mormon. It is amazing what the Spirit will do.

"My favorite part of the week was Saturday.  That day we had a Bapism for 2 girls that we have been teaching who are 11 and 8. It was so amazing. Enough said.

"Something funny about New England. They don't know anything about real Mexican food.

"Anyways, Transfer calls are Saturday! I am loving every minute, I love you a million cans of Moxie!

"Sista Lassen"

* A little while ago Deane posted a photo on Facebook which was a letter to them from Bethany, but Joel's name was violently crossed out:  "Dear Joel and Denae."  Denae's comment:  "This is what happens when you don't write to your sister on her mission."

*In Joel's defense, he says he HAS written to her, but somehow they haven't reached her yet.

The next day I received this photo from Tim Smith, Bethany's Ward Mission Leader.  Apparently the sisters decided to teach those New Englanders about real Mexican Food!  Making Salsa!

July 15, 2013

Mosquitoes Are Of the Devil

Dear Family,

I this week has been like any other missionary week... Fluffer- Nutter- Tastic!!

We had a ward picnic, lessons with our investigators, and helped our less active families. We are really working on helping the ward to help the people we are teaching because we are replaceable, and the ward members stay. 

Like I said we had a ward picnic on Saturday which was a great opportunity to invite less actives and nonmembers. We stopped by a less active member at night and as we knocked the door we were just getting ATTACKED by mosquitoes. He answered the door and was surprised to see Sister Missionaries at his door. He was very nice and felt comfortable enough that he told us a long story about why he isn't coming to church. He was so nice I wanted to keep talking to him, so I did. But we were getting eaten so badly that we couldn't hold back our arms flailing and scratching our legs. It was actually pretty hilarious  I wish I could have picture of me and my two companions DYING of bug bites, but still looking like nothing and smiling like we could talk to him for forever.  

One more story. There is a member in the ward who I like to tease...shocker. And so now she has started to really mother me. Every time I see her she always tells me, "Now you better be good." "Stay out of trouble" and then she tells my companions to keep me in line. I asked her why she was nagging me and she said "You act like my children!" Then I said, "Do you love me like your children?" of course she said yes. And then I told her that we had to go home and get to bed then out of no where she says, "Now you go to bed, don't be gettin' up in the middle of the night and roam around!!"

In my head I am thinking- I' m the one who said we are going to bed! 

She is just hilarious. 

I also got to have interviews with President Stoker. It was great. He is really awesome and he served his Mission in LA! I am excited to see what changes will happen! 

Love you a million cans of Moxie!! 

Sista Lassen

ADDITIONAL NOTE:  We got a really nice card from a family in Bethany's Ward:

"We wanted to write and express to you as parents how amazing your daughter is and how blessed we have been to have her in our lives.  As members of the Saco Maine Ward we are truly edified each week with the Spirit, enthusiasm, kindness, courage and love that radiates from her.  As sister missionaries, they work so hard to reach out to everyone and truly bless our ward.

"Our daughter just left for the MTC and had the privilege to go out on visits, etc with your daughter and companions--what a bond and a strength these sisters have to reach people with such love and kindness.

"Thank you for sharing her and her truly raising such a special daughter of God.  She is doing a fantastic job and we just love her.

"Sincerely, Cami, Hal, & Madi Tippetts."

July 8, 2013

Finally, Lots of Pictures!

"What a Week!

"Story numero 1

"We are teaching S (who I think I already told you about) about the first vision. I had the opportunity to recite it to her. After I said it I paused for a long time, when I saw her eyes watering up I asked her what thoughts or feelings that she was having. She said, 'I don't know why but when you were saying that I just wanted to smile the whole time.'  To me it is a witness that Joseph Smith's prayer was answered. Just saying a true story can have such power and make her have such strong feelings is a witness that it is true. It was wicked powerful.

Oh How Lovely Was the Morning!

"Story 2

"We have been teaching this less active member, who wants to go to church and knows strongly that she needs to go, but just isn't going. Last night we talked to her about the importance of going to church and we still weren't getting a strong commitment to go to church this Sunday.  I kept thinking, 'What question do I need to ask to get through to her?'  Then Sister Vanderhoef asked an inspired question. It was simply, 'What can we do to help you go to church?'  Then the member who we brought with us offered to go with her so she didn't have to go alone. And then she got pumped to go to church this Sunday!  All it took was a friend to go with her. Funny how something so simple can change everything, even your salvation! 

Part of the Appalachian Trail--Yes, it starts in Maine!

"Story 3- and the best one!

"This amazing miracle was truly provided by the grace of God. I was praying to Heavenly Father that I have the faith that he will put people in our paths that are ready to hear the gospel. On Tuesday we were trying to contact former investigators and we did all of them sooner that we thought so at the last second we decided to go to the Library to do our Mormon.org hour (we have an hour every week to watch videos that we can use when teaching) sooner than planned for. As we were walking into the Library Sister Vanderhoef and I weren't paying attention, but Sister Escobar smiled at a woman on the side walk. Then this woman yelled out to us, 'Hey I want to talk to you when you get out of the Library!' Then we said 'We can talk now!'  So as we were walking over to her the bus came, and she said, 'Here's my bus, I got to go.'  As she was flagging down the bus we are yelling to her for her number and name which she yells back to us as we scramble to write it down as she was running onto the bus. Later that day we called her and left a message. Then she called us back, and we set up an appointment with G.  When we met with G. she told us how her mother was a member and she wants to be like her and start taking the lessons right away. Oh Yeah! The field is white already to harvest. And be careful what you pray for!

Sisters Lassen, Vanderhoef, and Escobar

"This week we also got a flower bouquet from a member's neighbor and she asked us if we would return her jar if she let us borrow it. We said that we would and she said, 'Good, because it you don't I am going to call that Thomas Monson!'  We'd better watch out with this one!

Notice how much BUTTER! (Oda would approve!)

"I also got to have LOBSTA! I hope you got the pictures from Brother Smith. It was the bomb.com. And we got to play with them when they were alive so we started teaching them the lessons and putting our name tags on them. I felt so legit cracking the baby apart. I will have to show you how it is done one of these days. 

"Dear Mother,

"Do not complain about the heat and humidity in Camarillo because unless you are sleeping with a blanket of humility and waking up dripping in sweat I know that it is not what it is here. [I had just made a comment about the unusual humidity in Camarillo.  That girl loves to scold her mom!]

Bethany studying with the sweet gift Marci made for her!

"I can tell that the only thing I have been doing is studying the gospel for the past 2 months because when I was still waking up this morning there was huge clap of thunder that shook the apartment and I literally thought the world was ending. 

"Anyways... I hope these brought you some joy! Have a great week, and of course I love you!

Lobster Trap

"Sista Lassen"

[From a different letter]

"For my fourth of July I weeded an old lady's garden and taught about the importance of prophets! Oh and I got to meet our new Mission president.  Well President Stoker is really nice and he is going to be great. His wife seemed like the most stressed-out woman I have ever met, but who can blame her?!  They have to met something like 150 missionaries.

"I'm from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints"

"... too bad they're dead now; they would have converted the whole sea!"

July 1, 2013

Another Week!  Eating Lobster Soon!

Alright another week gone by!

I love being in a trifecta! It's like a missionary party! Like I said Sister Escobar is a visa waiter for Brazil, so we get to learn some Portuguese!

 

This week was amazing...of course. I just love the Saco Ward more and more every week. Some of the people here I feel like I have known my whole life. I promised my ward mission leader that I would stay until my birthday...I hope my mission president doesn't make a lier of me! Just kidding. We are really trying to work with the ward and help them to share the gospel with everyone, so we are doing some role playing with the members to help them practice and on Sunday our ward mission leader taught the 3rd hour all about how to share. It is sweet to see the excitement of missionaries spread to the excitement of the ward.

 

So on Friday I am trying lobsta!! Our amazing ward mission leader is making them for us. He says that he will send pictures, so get pumped! I think I am just going to smash it open with my finger...Like I did with the can :).

 

We were able to teach S this week. She is amazing, her faith is already so strong and we love teaching her. It is so amazing to me how teaching is the greatest thing in the world. It is hard sometimes because we regularly have appointments fall through. We always have other things that need to be done, but in my mind I think "NOOOoooo, I just want to teach you so you can know for yourself and have a better life, and have God in your life, and rid yourself of pain and guilt! BLAST YOU SATAN!"

 

That reminded me of one Marge, who was baptized in January. We ment with her and she was talking about some things that she was working on and she said, "I hate Satan. If I had a gun I would shoot him!"

I feel ya Marge!

 

I got a letter from Aunt Bee and she had my friend Sister Rachel Chapman over for dinner! She sent me the activity that they did with little Ben. It is always fun to get new ideas to help us teach.

 

Going offf of what Kyle said in his letter. Miracles do happen everyday. Whether it is that I am able to keep my patience, or the miracle of true conversion in the people we teach. 

 

It is going to be another fabulous week! We are meeting President Stoker on Thursday, lobster on Friday, people to teach, and people to find! Oh and hey, I love you!

 

 

Sista Lassen

 

 You won't be moving for long because I am going to eat you lobsta!