October 27, 2014

It's the Final Countdown

Dear Family,

Well here is it. My last week serving as a full time missionary. This past week I was talking to a Sister Missionary about...being a missionary and why missions are the greatest and the hardest. The conclusion that we came to is this. I thought my mission would be hard because of the millions of doors that I would have to knock on, crazy companions, or discouraging days. But what I have come to find is, that's not it at all. To me the real reason why missions are hard is because I myself have to change. Yet, that is also the greatest thing that you gain being a missionary. I will be forever grateful for the challenges that Heavenly Father has given me so that I could become better, more of what He wants me to be. And I am grateful for the miracles that I got to see in that journey.

This past month our Mission President challenged us to read the Book of Mormon in a little over a month- 12 pages a day (lucky I had an extra week because of Zone conference) and then pray and ask if it is true.

This morning I finished The Book of Mormon. Although I have long known that it is true this has been my favorite time reading it cover to cover. I got so much more out of it and so many experiences in a short amount of time. When I finished it this morning I did as Moroni asked and prayed to know it is true, as sincerely as I could. This big ole Sista Lassen started to cry. Man, The Book of Mormon IS TRUE! It just confirmed my testimony again that anyone who reads and prays will know for themselves that it is true.  

Alright enough of the serious spiritualness and time for the funny stories. We were in a lesson with our investigator J, and it was brought up that I am going home soon. She freaked out and said, "BUT WHO IS GOING TO LOVE ME?!" It was the saddest most hilarious cry I have ever heard.

Last week I was on an exchange with Sister Dixon in Lamoile, VT. We were in the library for Mormon.org time. (We have an hour each week to look at the church videos to use during lessons.) Before we got to the library Sister Dixon was just rubbing it in saying "This is your last Mormon.org time!" Then she went onto Mormon.org and search for Male. age 18-24. BYUI and said, "Let's look at your prospects!"

Missionaries....what are you going to do with them?

Last thing I want to say is that God Loves His missionaries. So many times this week there have been little tender mercies of people that we got to meet, cars that would have hit us, hugs, and the Spirit. Oh, the gospel. It changes lives, man.

Love you and pray for you everyday! 

Sista Lassen

October 20, 2014

Elders

Dear Family,

I can't believe that Lizzy is going into the MTC on Wednesday! It is just crazy! I will be freaking out all day! I told my mission president's wife that I should get permission to call Lizzy and talk to her. She just laughed and said she would tell president...we will see what happens. 

[Later Bethany emailed that she got permission from her mission president to call Lizzy and talk to her for 15 minutes!  This is at the Salt Lake Airport--Lizzy talking to Bethany!]

Today I am going to start with a funny story, a story about the Elders.

We had MLC this week which means a 3 hour drive to Manchester, NH. It is way fun to see all the other missionaries. On the way back we stopped at Five Guys. One of the Elders convinced 4 of the other Elders to each get a 6 patty burger. At Five Guys Sister Brown and I sat at a separate table and watched them hound down their burgers. It was so gross and I felt like I had eaten a 6 patty burger by the end of it. It looked like they were just eating a huge ball of meat. One of the Elders started sweating from eating so much meat. Eventually all but one had finished their burger. We were all waiting for him. When he finally got down to the last bite, EVERYTHING came back up meaning he barfed. It was hilarious. All I can say is that I am glad I have four older brothers that prepared me for a mission.  

On the missionary side of my week. It was a very rewarding week. The gospel, man, it just makes people happy. I just love the people that we get to teach. There are so many great people here in Vermont. Just to see the joy that comes into their lives, it's just amazing. When I get to hear them share their testimony about how much happier they are since they have been living the gospel, I think, "THIS IS WHY I AM HERE!" 

And do you what to know something else? God loves me. He really does. 

The other week we were teaching a recent convert couple the New Member lessons. They are a young couple and are preparing to be sealed in the temple in a few months. After that lesson it came to me how cool it is that we get to help our brothers and sisters prepare to make covenants. It is such an amazing trust that God gives His missionaries. 

On another side note do you know what I hate?! Excuses. They make me want to punch a wall. 

Love you all and pray for you everyday :)

Sista Lassen 

October 13, 2014

Joseph Smith Memorial

[This is a photograph that I took of the Joseph Smith Memorial when Andrew and I went biking through Vermont in September 2009.  Gorgeous!]

Dear Family,

Lizzy wrote me this week and told me that since I go by Sista Lassen she wants a cool name too. So what she came up with was Sister L. To that, I think she can think of something more creative. Such as Sister Lasso. Let me tell you the story of Sister Lasso.

Just as Auntie Doris warned me, no one here can say Lassen. They say Lassner, Larsen, Lastner, Lastiter. When in reality  if I just said my name was Larsen they would say it in a New England Accent making it sound like Lassen.  So to help people remember my name and say it right I say "Hi, I'm Sister Lassen." 

"Lassen?"

"Yeah like Lasso, like New England Lassoed my heart."

And the Sister Lasso was born.

We had a pretty sweet week, some super good powerful lessons. The coolest part of this week was I got to go on exchange to the JSM. And I got to help out with the tours! Well I don't know how much of a real help I was until some non-members came in and I could help answer their doctrinal questions. That was pretty sweet. The JSM is just awesome and I love it. 

Vermont is not like Maine. Here are the meanest of the mean, the nicest of the nice, the weirdest of the weird, and the coolest of the cool people here. You go from the Mormon/Wiccan  to the redneck/rich. I love it. Every day is an adventure. This week I had the most heavenly treat. A Maple Creamy. Which is simply maple flavored ice cream, with real maple syrup of course. They love their Maple Syrup. We were teaching Gospel Principles yesterday on the Word of Wisdom. We asked, "What are things that God wants us to put into our bodies?" They answered "Veggies, fruits, grains, and of course Maple Syrup!"

VERMONT -- IT'S WHAT YOU WANT!

I love and pray for you all!

Sista Lassen

October 6, 2014

Can Photos Make Up For a Lack of Words?

Dear Family,

How sweet was General Conference? I loved it and received so many answers to my questions. I hope you did as well. 

Besides General Conference this week was a typical one. I went on exchange to Newport,VT which is almost to that Canadian boarder. 

I also got to have dinner with the Smiths on Sunday. They are the family that their daughter is serving in the Ventura Mission and you had over for dinner over a year ago. [Bethany was about to go into the MTC when Sister Smith served in the Camarillo 3rd Ward, so I am sure she is about to go home, too!]

Because of the lack of words this week I hope the pictures make up for it. 

Me and Sister Brown

I love you all! 

Sista Lassen

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