February 17, 2014

Presidents' Day

[on Feb 17 Bethany said she couldn't email… so here is the traditional letter she sent that week!]

Dear family,

With it being Presidents' Day the libraries are closed to use the computers.  So an old fashioned letter will have to do this week.

It's so good to hear of all of the wonderful things happening at home with the missionaries leaving… and soon coming home!

Mom, I really like the insights you shared about Alma 50.  I like the war chapters too!  Well, all of Alma… and Mosiah… and 3 Nephi… alright, just the whole Book of Mormon.

The past week I have been really studying my patriarchal blessing.  As I read I made a list of what Heavenly Father sees in me, what I am preparing for, and what I can do to prepare now and become what He wants me to become.  After days of reflecting and pondering, what it all comes down to for me is: 

All the answers are in the scriptures!

How true and cool that is!  I can have answers my whole life of what to do as long as I search for it in the scriptures!

This week being missionary was fun!  We had a bunch of snow storms, but it looks absolutely beautiful.  Today we are going to the light house around here.  I hope it has snow on it!  Won't that be cool?  I'll get pictures.  

On Friday we stopped by a potential investigator.  We have been praying that she would take the lessons because she is so ready.  As we talked the Spirit reminded me of something I read that day, "She knows what we have in common with beliefs: she needs to know the differences."  I testified of the Restoration and gave her a pamphlet.  We have appointment with her on Friday!

We also had FHE with a very dysfunctional family last Monday.  It went really well, once we broke a plate (as part of our visual.) We are doing FHE with them today too.

I don't remember if I told you, but a girl Eliza that I taught in Saco was baptized!  I'm so happy for her!  And Rae (in Saco) is doing great as well.  I love them so much!

I'm working, and having fun with my wonderful companion Sister Wray… Maybe too much fun!

Love ya,

Sista Lassen

February 10, 2014

Where Has This Week Gone?

Dear Family,

This week was just insane in the membrane! Part of the reason was we didn't have a normal day until....wait there wasn't one normal day.

Monday and Tuesday we had an extra companion because her companion had to go to a meeting. 

Wednesday I was in Damariscotta on an exchange and it snowed all day. But it was fun because we weren't able to use the car so we helped paint a member's home!

Thursday was Zone Conference- which was amazing! I felt I needed a whole day just to sit and process and think about everything that was said!! A lot was talked about how we need to give it all to the Lord, submit to His will and give it all to Him. In the end that is the only way that we are going to be happy. And I got to see my past favorite companions Sister Cowley and Escobar! Tri-fecta was back! 

Friday- because we hadn't been able to get much done for the week we were catching up with appointments

Saturday- we were catching up with the things that we usually do on Friday.

Sunday- I gave a talk in church and we met with the bishop for a long time after church and talked about the people in the ward and how we can better help them. My talk went pretty well. I got to pick my topic and I talked about how we need to prepare each week for taking the sacrament. I learned way more than what I was able to talk about. I didn't realize how much studying I could do on just preparing for the sacrament. I don't think I have ever really done that until the last few months. I am getting better and better each time. The more that I prepare the more meaning that it has to me. It is such a blessing that we get to remember the what the Savior did for us each week and promise to have a deep commitment to Heavenly Father. 

I got most of my information for my talk from a talk giving by L Tom Perry "Now we take the Sacrament"...or something like that. and True to the Faith- Sacrament and reverence and the bible dictionary on Sacrifices. 

It was actually really cool after preparing all week for this talk, while preparing to take the sacrament. Before I gave my talk and took the sacrament I couldn't help but cry right when the sacrament hymn started. One of the quotes that I liked was "we can have a spiritual experience each time we take the sacrament in a holy place" that made me realize that when I am prepared to take the sacrament the chapel has the same feeling as the temple. WHICH REMINDS ME OF THE GREATEST NEWS EVER!!!

If we are serving in an area 2 hours away from the temple we can go every 6 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am too far away to go in this area, but there is hope! I can't wait! I just want to go now and see the new temple video! And I want to go on the same day as Lori, wouldn't that be crazy! 

I love you all! 

Sista Lassen

February 3, 2014

All a Blur

[By the way, it was one week ago yesterday--on Fast Sunday--when Bethany came home from church and announced that she had decided to go on a mission.  What a whirlwind year it has been!]

image from http://www.aqnb.com

Dear family,

This week I am telling you was all a blur. I never knew what day it was, forgot what happened the day after, and had no idea what we were doing the day of. It was just crazy and it went by really fast. All I can say is if this is how the rest of my mission is going to be I am screwed because it will be over like yesterday.

I am going to be super missionary and sum up my week in a scripture -- "He gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ." (Alma 31:38)

My companion and I had this conversation of frustration because no one ever says how hard being on a mission is and how sometimes it just plain sucks, but after this week I understand more why. 

On Tuesday we had a very disappointing day. It was going to be a great day, we were super prepared...but everything fell through. I was kind upset like, "Come on Heavenly Father!  I prayed with such faith that this would work! We are trying really hard! Why disappoint me? Why aren't I like Alma where my afflictions are swallowed up with joy?" Then the Spirit keep trying to cheer me up or something and quotes that I love popped into my head, but I was too grumpy to take them that day. 

Two days later I was talking to my companion and she asked me, "What even happened this week?" It wasn't until then that I remembered what happened on Tuesday. All the bitterness had been forgotten and swallowed up in joy! Even greater joy than I had before! That is how awesome Heavenly Father is, he must love us or something. 

Like I said I don't remember what happened this week, but I am Happy! so what else matters?! Love you all! 

Sista Lassen

January 27, 2014

It's All Downhill From Here 

Subtitle: I've Been On My Mission for Nine Months…

Dear Family,

First of all I AM SO TIRED. This week was one of the busiest and I fall asleep writing in my journal every night. The Spirit just really takes it out of you! 

This week just seemed like MIRACLE after MIRACLE. So this letter won't be boring…hopefully!

At the beginning of this week I went on an exchange to Damariscotta [A small town about 35 miles south-east of Augusta]. The first thing we did was we had a lesson with two of their investigators, A and L. A is a little short-tempered and has just quit smoking so it just magnified it. We only got to the "How have you been?" part of the lesson when A started yelling at L for leaving her stained glass craft on the table. So I'm not going to lie this isn't the first time that there has been lots of yelling in a lesson so it didn't really scare me or make me nervous. What comes to my mind is a quote by Elder Christofferson, "It is the Holy Ghost that will tell you what to say in hostile venues." Even though the Spirit wasn't there for them, it was extremely strong for my companion and me. We were able to simply say that how they were acting wasn't conducive to the Spirit, and we left. That is my favorite part of teaching. How the Spirit tells you exactly what to say so that the "Babes will confound the wise." Because of the Spirit I feel unstoppable! 

This week I have been praying and praying that we would be placed in the path of someone... ANYONE who is ready to hear the message of the restored gospel. Then this happened…

We were tracting and we came up to a woman and her phone was going off. I decided that I was going to talk to her anyways even though I had a million excuses in my head not to. I told her that family is so important to us and she full heartily agreed. She was on her way to pick up her daughter so should couldn't talk but she asked if we could stop by her house the next day. That night when I was thinking about it I kept thinking that she couldn't be legit. But the next day we stop by and she is legit! She has been searching for a family church! It increased my testimony in faith and prayer that Heavenly Father is preparing people and they will be placed in our paths. 

Another miracle is the Preach My Gospel class that we are teaching to help the members be missionaries  The Relief Society President shared her experience this past week when she gave some church material to a worker at Dunkin' Donuts that she felt prompted to give it to. Then the Elders' investigator Tim came to the class and shared how he gave a co-worker the Family Proclamation and Articles of Faith! The lesson to be learned from that is not just that Tim is the man, but that if our investigator can do it so can you! 

This week I made it to my half way mark...can you believe it! Marci! Megan! Denae! Kandra! You can get prego now! You have the missionary's blessing :)

The past 9 months... I tell you what, wow. The thing that I have learned most is how much our Heavenly Father truly does love us. As a missionary I feel like I am his on-call full-time servant. I don't really feel like I do anything as a missionary. I am just the mouth piece to help others with their conversion. The conversion that I have done any work on is on myself...and even then! This is all a test and there is a plan... and don't mess with the plan! I sure to do miss you all, but I am eternally grateful for the prompting that I received a year ago to go on a mission. 

Love ya! 

Sista Lassen

P.S. I am craving lobsta so bad right now. I'm turning into a Main-E- ac! 

January 20, 2014

Two Stories

Dear Family,

This week has been a good one!

Saturday was something that would only happen to me and strengthen my testimony that Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. SO... Story.

Saturday our ward had a talent show to invite their non-member friends too. The missionaries were in charge of setting up and one of the missionaries tells the worst jokes to the point of annoyance. Therefore, my companion and I started charging him a quarter every time he said a bad joke....and it hasn't stopped. The talent show was about to start and the person who was going to be the MC couldn't do it anymore. They asked me if I could. I said I would, no big deal I did it in high school! Then the person in charge says to me, "You need to tell jokes." I realized that I don't know that many jokes. Then the Elder (who has been annoying me all day with jokes) says  "that will be a quarter a piece!" It was pretty funny. A story that I will have to tell in person to get the full effect.

All in all the talent show was a success and we were able to make contact with some less actives and non members!

One more story for today because I am doing this (emailing) at Best Buy.

There is this less active member that we have stopped by with no answer 500 times. Last night we decided that we should try yet again. We pulled up to her house and questioned whether we should knock on her door because it was 8 at night. We decided to pray about it and the moment that we said Heavenly Father I heard, "You should go." Of course we did it! And of course she was home! and answered the door!  She let us in and we shared a message with her. We especially expressed the love the Heavenly Father has for her. I just know that Heavenly Father loves all of His children and sends us to His children in need. I understand Alma a little more when he says that he wishes that he were an angel so he could preach repentance to all! Because it is Wicked AWESOME!

I love Heavenly Father and I am grateful for the refiners fire that a mission is! Even if I put all the spectacular experiences that I have aside, the greatest miracle is the change within me!

Love you all!

Sista Lassen

January 13, 2014

Tender Mercy Today

Dear Family,

Today has truly been a tender mercy. It is like 50 degrees outside! It's like a nice spring day! Well, to me it is :)

This week was crazy -- it was pretty much Ice Storm part 2. On Saturday it rained and froze.  It was not as bad as it was at Christmas, but still bad. Cars were sliding down hills side ways, and my companion and I had quite the adventure going up a hill. That is a story in and of itself.

So we were walking and we came to this hill. Clear ice. So naturally we slid down it like we were riding a snow board! We were going down smiling and laughing. And then we got to the bottom and realized that we had to go back up the hill to get home.... We would take a step forward and just slide backwards. I tried getting on my hands and knees but that was no good; I would just slide back even more. We finally got to the side of the road where some snow was piled up and made it almost to the top of the hill (after falling a few times ) There was a lot of other drama getting up that hill, but words cannot describe it. To sum it all up, I am sore from falling so much. 

Image from International Business Times website, Jan 13, 2014

Back to missionary stuff that happened this week! This week we got to teach some more of the members how to do missionary work! It is so much fun and the spirit is always so strong. We also got to teach one of our less active members this week for the first time. It really was a miracle how we were able to teach her (from one of the members). We are going to be teaching her again this week! 

This week I have tried/started to write down all the promptings that I get. It was most amazing. In church I got about 5 million. I never realize how much Heavenly Father was trying to talk to me! I guess I just wasn't listening hard enough! 

Hope all it well and I love you! I can't wait to meet Mia! 

Sista Lassen

January 6, 2014

New Year 

[This is Bethany's new little neice, Mia Helene Lassen, born New Year's Day, 2014!
I sent Bethany this picture today]

Dear Family,

First of all Mia is Beautiful! I love her already! It was so hard to do! (wink, wink!) What an exciting way to start the new year -- congrats!

So my week wasn't as exciting as having a new baby, but it was still a good one. It is all kind of blurred together in one big mesh of a day. This week was exciting because we were able to see a few less active members and we will hopefully start to teach them weekly. One of them we met at the Christmas party. She came with her sister. Then we were able to get her updated address and stop by. It was such a miracle. Members are so important to missionary work. We would not have been able to do anything if it weren't for the help of the members! 

Just so you know my New Year's went like any other day really. But we did get a pizza for dinner and got to reflect on the goals we want to make for this year. It was really weird to make goals for the up coming year because I am not going to be a missionary for all of next year :( WHAT WHAT?!

The most exciting thing that is going down in Augusta ME is our Preach My Gospel (PMG) class that we are teaching on Sundays. It is really exciting to teach, practice, and help the members. Some are more excited than others, but we just keep loving them whether they like it or not! Sometimes my companion and I just want to tell them that we are just trying to help them you know...FOLLOW THE PROPHET... but that probably wouldn't be the best idea. 

The more and more I am a missionary the more and more I love Fathers perfect placement and timing. For example, on Friday the roads were very slick and our car was having a hard time getting up all the hills here. We were on our way to a dinner appointment and we had to get up a hill to get to the house. We tried and the car slowly stopped and would not go any farther. I don't know why I was so calm (probably because I was praying that we would make it there safely) but the thought came to me (the spirit)  to turn around and have the GPS reroute us a different way, one with hopefully no hills. As we follow the GPS we come to once again another hill. We try to go up and I see two people walking in the distance. In my mind I think, "Great, I am going to look like an idiot to these people" The car tries to go up and no luck -- it comes to a stop. Sister Wray gets out of the car to back the car up and lo and behold the two people walking were the ELDERS in our ward! We laugh and the elders helped us get the car up with no problem by telling me to put it into 2 gear. Don't make fun that I didn't know that -- I'm from CA!  I keep saying it but, Heavenly Father must love me or something.

Last story. So I keep having these little sparks of insights and then later on I tell them to someone and it is exactly what they need to hear. It is so cool! I really feel like everything I say is not of my knowledge or wisdom. We were teaching this one family and they haven't been members for a very long time. They are having struggles, as everyone does. As we were teaching them the spirit directed me testify of the Book of Mormon and have him study on his own the question of the soul in PMG. It really was what he needed to hear and gave him the tools that he needed to receive revelation for himself. 

I love you all! 

Sista Lassen