May 27, 2013

She Isn't Kidding!

I don't have a lot of time!...

[I don't know if it was the Memorial Day Holiday or something else, but we only got one paragraph this week!]

Dear Family,

 So this week we got to teach the first lesson to a brand new investigator. He is so ready for the gospel. He says that he is drawn to how all of the Mormons have a "glow."  I just hope that I don't mess everything up! The last thing that I have time to tell you is the scariest movie would be about a fisher cat. They make the worst noise and will attack a full size dog.

Love you all!

Sister Lassen

Fisher Cat--not really a cat (or even feline)--a member of the weasel family

[And for your enlightenment click here to learn what a Fisher Cat is, and for nightmare inducement here is a YouTube video of the fisher cat sound.  Yes, it would make the scariest movie of all time.  The new things to which a mission can expose you!]

[P.S.  I updated the "She's Arrived" post of May 8--included the letter Bethany wrote when she arrived at the Mission Home in New Hampshire.  It is fun to read her first impressions!]

May 20, 2013

A Second Week in Maine 

Dear Family,

Happy Birthday Kandra!

Anyways, I have been so excited to write you this week. Yesterday at church was stake conference. It was amazing to me that it was exactly what this ward needed to hear, and what Sister Vanderhoef and I were planning to teach to the less active members this week. The best part about church was I got to meet Buffels.(her nickname) She is what the New Englanders call a "snow bird." They are people who live in Florida for the Winter and then live in Maine in the Summer. Oh and by the way Buffels is 104!! That is right One Hundred and Four years old! Get this, she was baptized at age 98, and went through the temple at age 99! It was an honor to meet her. She is so happy and cheerful. She wasn't using a walker, just holding onto the arm of her daughter, and she is always wearing a giant snow jacket--understandable! When I talked to her she started talking about how I got the last name Lassen and how it originated in Denmark. They invited us for dinner sometime, so hopefully I will get to talk to her more in the future.

Another person I love is Sister Brown. She is a black woman visiting from Alabama. We met her when we were giving the Elders back their vacuum and on the other side of a street a woman yells to us "Chuch of Jesus Christ Latter day Saints!" We walked over there and talked to her and then all of the sudden she puts her arms around Sister Vanderhoef and Elder Mitchelle and starts praying. It was a good prayer too.

One more person I love that I am going to tell you about. We went to visit an investigator that the Elders were having a hard time visiting. So we go and she lets us right in. She has the attitude of "NO one is goin' to mess with me." When we were talking to her, her friend called and she let it go to the answering machine. I couldn't understand what the friend was saying but our investiagtor answers the phone and says, "I got the Mormons over!" and hangs up. Then the friend calls back and it goes to the answering maching again and the friend says, "I am so sorry I am going to go wash my mouth out with soup" That was the best Saturday night of my life.

Last Thursday we had Zone conference. It was President Wilkey's last one :( I only got the have him for a little but I am sure going to miss him. I also found out that the in field training which is usually done in 12 weeks, I am now going to be doing it in 6 weeks. This means that we have to spend more time studying and less time with the people...and a high chance that I might be a trainer with the 19 sisters coming out next transfer. I don't think that will happen but it if does, it's all in the Lords hands.

One of the Miracles I had this week: We had a referral but we didn't know what exact house that he lived in just the direction. We prayed that we would be lead to his house. As we were walking over there a woman stopped us who is a less active member.  We talked to her for awhile and then asked her if she knew where this referral lived, and she told us the exact house. It was amazing! The referral wasn't home, but now we know where he lives.

I love you all so much!

Sista Lassen

May 13, 2013

A Phone Call Before a Letter! 

We hadn't heard anything from Bethany (except for the missed call from the airport--which she told me later was her plan--she just wanted to leave a message) since the MTC, so I was pretty excited when the phone rang yesterday (Mother's Day!) at 5:03.  She sounded so happy!

I just received her first email from the mission field, so I'll let her words do the talking!

[Victoria is our very enthusiastic and loud Manager in the Santa Barbara store, and she and Bethany have a great relationship.]

[Josh knows all about the snow birds, because he served his mission in Florida!]

Hello my happy people,

I am so happy to have talked to yesterday! Afterwards I was so pumped to make you all proud and to preach the gospel!

I am in Biddeford, Maine, which is an old mill town by the ocean. The other day we went to the ocean and saw all these vacant houses that people only live in the summer. They call them "snow birds" because they all go to Florida in the winter. It is pretty funny. Everyone here refers to themselves as "New Englanders" and I feel like Grandma Hattie on her mission. 

Fun facts about Maine

1. There is seriously a lobster place and dunkin doughnuts on every street.

2. blueberry milk...Best. thing. ever.

3. The apartments look like old, big houses.

4. When it rains it pours -- Sister Vanderhoef and I walked 10 feet in the rain with an umbrella and had to go home and change our clothes because we got so wet.

5. All of the members here are converts-- which is really cool and we are spending a lot of our time working with the less active members.

6. The stairs are so steep I feel like I am climbing up a ladder.

I am in love with the ward here. One family gives us fresh eggs, and they are amazing. I told Joshua yesterday that I went to their house and they had blue eggs and I said, "Are those Ameraucana eggs?" and of course I was right. They were so impressed.  Here is this other member in the ward and she is absolutely crazy, like crazier than Victoria... I absolutely love her.

My companion is Sister Vanderhoef. She is from Lehi, UT. She has only been out for 6 weeks, so we are learning a lot together. Thank goodness for the great Elders in our district. You will not believe it but my district leader is from Camarillo. I didn't believe him when he told me because I know everyone from Camarillo. His name is Elder Mitchell and he told me that he is in the Thousand Oaks stake and knows the Jimmy and Susan Lassen family!  Small small world.

I am going to have a great week of training and working! Love you all!

Sista Lassen

p.s. I saw President Bush's summer house... and it had a Texas Flag

May 8, 2013--She's Arrived!

Leaving (the MTC) on a Jet Plane!

Bethany left the MTC on Monday, May 6, at about 4:00 am to fly to New Hampshire!  She called us (my cell phone) at 5:15, which I didn't hear.  But she left a sweet message about how much she loved the MTC and how excited she was to be heading off to New Hampshire!

This is the official map of her Mission--you can see how it has five states!

I've been dying for two days without any word, but hallelujah, this morning there was news!

This morning I got an email from Bethany's mission President, President Wilkey.  She arrived safely on Monday afternoon.  She has been assigned to ... 

Biddeford, Maine!

Look How Beautiful!

President Wilkey said,

"It is a pleasure to report that your missionary daughter, Sister Bethany Hattie Lassen, has arrived safely in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission.  Although she was tired due to a full day of travel, she is in fine spirits.  I have interviewed her and found her ready and willing to serve the Lord."

Bethany's companion is Sister Jessica Gari Vanderfoef.  I'm anxious to learn more!  Luckily, we get a mother's day call this Sunday!

Later...

This is the letter that Bethany wrote when she first arrived in her Mission--we received this letter on Monday, May 13 after the wonderful Mother's Day phone call.

"Dear Family,

"This morning I got up at 3AM to leave for New Hampsha, baby!  There are 17 other Elders and Sisters that are with me.  Our 1st flight was to Michigan and that flight was delayed, but there were so many of us going to the connection to NH that the plane waited for us.  It is weird to be out of the MTC.  I keep thinking, 'Where is everyone's name tag?'  When we were walking to our gate we had to go through a tunnel that was the coolest thing ever because it was all lit up with green lights and was playing jungle music.  I thought I was in the Lion King or something!

"I met my mission president and his wife Sister Wilkey right when we landed.  They are the nicest people ever.  I asked President Wilkey if he knew Megan and he said he does remember her! [President Wilkey was Megan's Stake President at BYU!]  After we reported all of our missing luggage we drove to the mission home.  I am already in love with New Hampshire--it is so beautiful here, and all the houses are colonial looking.  Once we got to the mission home I had the best dinner since we had dinner at Terri's house.  What a joy a home-cooked meal is!  We met two more senior couples that will be over us--Bro/Sis Benjamin and Davis.  Sister B. Reminds me of Doris and Bro B. can do that thing that Bedstemor can where they make a joke but have a completely straight face.  

"At the mission home we learned about the driving rules, how to use mormon.org, and practiced with role playing.  I had my interview with President Wilkey and he is amazing.  He said, 'You just brighten up a room.'

"Tell you more when I call home on Sunday at 5:00 CA time and 8:00 my time!

"Sister Lassen

"P.S. I am in Maine by the coast!"

May 8, 2013--Just a couple of Pictures from the MTC

Aren't They Awesome?

Although Bethany was in the MTC for only 12 days, she was able to catch up with a couple of Camarillo kids--Trent Meline (who entered the MTC on the same day as Bethany), and Evan Benson (who entered one week before.)  

Trent's mom forwarded these pictures to me from Trent's email.

It's kind of funny to think that Bethany went to Mormon Prom with Evan her Senior year in high school!

I think they look cuter with missionary badges!

HA HA!  Here's one with Trent, too!  

(And Caitlin will be wearing a missionary badge pretty soon, as well!)

Bethany was so excited to go to the temple in Provo.  

We loved going together to the LA Temple every week before her mission!

Trent said this was an approved missionary hug!

Bethany and Evan Benson--Can't be close!

Her Group--the two sisters on the right are going to the Philadelphia, Pittsburg Mission, where Cody Platt is serving

Please Please Please Let me get to this beautiful Place (New Hampshire) soon!

Gotta pose this picture!  "I'm going right THERE!"

Studying like crazy!

Soon it will be off to New Hampshire ...  and then someplace in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusettes, or even New York!

May 2, 2013

A Second Email from the MTC

Dear Family

I leave for New Hampshire early Monday morning [May 6]... 4AM and I will get to New Hampshire around 4 in the afternoon. I found out today that I am expected to come home on November 4, 2014 so I get to be out in the field a little longer than 18 months! Today I am going to the temple, so I am super excited about that. It will be my last time for 18 months.

One of the elders told me that someone told him that in Maine they sell lobster rolls just on the harbor or street.  I am going to eat you! I am just so pumped to get out there! Imma be in New Hampsha in 3 days!

I feel like I am already done with the MTC because today is P-day and tomorrow we have in- field training, what ever that means. So Saturday is my last day of classes and I will be spending the other time packing and then Sunday is full of Devotional and Sacrament Meeting and personal study time.

At the begining of the MTC when ever someone asked me my name I always started to say Betha...Sister Lassen. And when I saw Elder Meline and Elder Benson I was like "Hey Trent... Elder?" And I just can´t call Evan "Elder" out loud. 

Just more random stuff about this week! Off to the Temple!

I love you and I am praying for you!

Sister Lassen

May 2, 2013

At the MTC! 

[I know this picture of the MTC has snow, and it probably doesn't, but, oh well!]

Hello Family!

I have been so excited to tell you everything that has happened! I am so grateful that my P-day is today and not sooner because if I were to write you at the beginning of the week I wouldn't have been able to express my love of the MTC. I will start from the beginning.

Wednesday-  

My thoughts, "What is going on!?" I was escorted to my residence hall and than ran to my classroom. I saw Elder Meline within the first few minutes and it really relaxed my nerves to see someone from home. We then met in a room where I met my companion Sister Smith and everyone in my district. Then we went to another room where we met with about 50 new missionaries and tried to answer an "investigator's" questions.  I just sat there thinking how I have no idea what I am doing and no one else in this room does either.

Thursday-

 That night I got very very sick. I have never been so sick in my life. I had a fever- body aches, chills, etc. and cold- congestion, throat that felt like sand paper, cough, etc. and I was nauseous and had stomach cramps. I went to the doctor and of course he didn't really do anything for me and then I went back to my room and went in and out of sleeping for 6 hours, missing all of my classes. Luckily the first few days there is a lot of personal study time that is less important when you don't have any investiagators to study for. Thursday night I met my branch president who I love and it is so nice to have their wives there to be a step-in mom to tell us to take our vitamins and go to bed on time. :)

  I am really glad I wasn't expecting it to be easy!

Friday- 

I was able to go to my classes- which are 3 hours each- and they are mind blowing. Everytime I go to class I learn a MIND BLOWING concept and then we have to put it into action with role-playing investigators. It is awesome. The funny thing about learning in the MTC is no one really teaches you the steps on how to teach an investiagtor.  You just do it and then they teach you what you are doing wrong. I love my district I mean, "District family, hey hey hey, I got all my elders with me!" [like "We are family! (hey hey hey)  I got all my sisters with me!"] Later that night an Elder in my district gave me a blessing.

Saturday- 

I have never been so tired in my life! Saturday I had to miss more so that I could sleep. It was funny because my teacher thought I was hiding something, and that something else was wrong with me.  I was thinking, "Little do they know, I speak my mind."

Sunday- 

I loved going to devotional. The speaker was the MTC Mission Manager--or something like that--and he really taught wtih humor. My favorite part of Sunday was our Suday walk to the temple. I was able to find Elder Meline and Elder Benson for us to take a picture at the temple to represent CAMARILLO! I will send pictures later.

Monday- 

It was so funny. Monday morning I blew my nose so much and hard that I got a nose bleed. I have never had a nose bleed in my life. Monday we had our own investigator and she was a diva that didn't want to be taught! This taught me that I can get discoraged when people are not ready to here our message.

Tuesday-Now- 

The days all run together. I feel like my days never end because I am always ODing on the Spirit... OH YEAH!

The coolest was at Tuesday Devotional we had a musical number "This is the Christ" and the man who wrote the accompiment for that song is in the MTC for a senior mission. They had him stand so that he could be recongnize.

My time is out to write! It is better to get letter because then I have more time to write, FYI. I might have more time later to send more. I LOVE YOU and PRAY for you all!

"I feel good, I feel great, I feel WONDERFUL"...but really,

Sister Lassen