Week #23

HEY FAMILY & FRIENDS!


This has been an awesome week! That's probably because we started it off so awesome! Last Tuesday we went to the temple and did two session in a row! I had never done that before. It was three zones that went, and President and Sister Ellsworth too! So that was super cool to be in the temple with that many missionaries and President. And then to do two sessions on top of it was awesome! One of the Elders that was there was an ASL Elder and is actually deaf... so they had the sign language going at the same time. Which again was something that I had never seen before. It was a little bit distracting.. but also really cool at the same time. Afterwards we went to a church building across the street from the temple, had a delicious lunch, and then a meeting where president talked to us all. And there was something that he said that super stuck out to me and I loved. He said that we all have a plan for a future. Things that we expect will happen and what we want to have happen. He said that he is certain that this future that we have planned is better than the one that Satan has planned. Better than Satan wants us to have. (I had never thought about Satan having a plan for us... but he does!) BUT. He is also certain that the plan we have for ourselves is no where near as good as the plan that God has for our future. So are we willing to give up the future that we have planned, the things that we expect and want to have happen... for something better?   It's scary because we don't know what it is... but  God has a lot in store for us. But we have to give up our will to him. So that he can give us that super awesome future! I have thought a lot about what he said. And it's so awesome to realize that we can have better than we even imagine for ourselves!


It's been a good and bad week with our investigators. We only found one new investigator, but he is awesome. His name is Jorge--we found him sitting outside of his apartment; smoking. But he talked to us about how he wants to stop, and wants to have God in his life more. We had a really awesome lesson with him. He lives by himself, but has a 5 year-old daughter in the area. He did come to church, but not until the very end of Sacrament meeting. And he never came in because he had texted us and we didn't answer because our phone was on silent :[   So we were super bummed that he wasn't able to go to the rest of church and meet any of the members, but I'm pretty positive that he will come next week.


The Vega Family is still progressing a lot. I feel like they are the closest to being ready for their date of July 7th. I really hope that they are praying together as a family. I know that they are reading, and coming to church. I just feel really good about them and are really excited for them to continue and to find the happiness this gospel has to offer them!


We had a lesson with the Baez Family on Saturday night. I know that teaching families is what we want and that if an entire family is in on this together it's most likely to stick... but it is tough stuff! Because there are so many of them and so many different concerns and it is really hard to teach them together. There are two teenagers, 14 and 15 that are nice to us for the most part, but we know they don't have testimonies. And I don't want them to get baptized because they feel like their parents are forcing them to! Every time we would ask them a question their parents would give them this look of--you better answer them... and give them the answer they want to hear! So it was tough. So we are really going to try to have a lesson with each of them alone this week. It's hard though because we can't go in the house when the parents aren't there, and it's blazing hot outside. So we are trying to come up with some alternative options!


I'm loving working with these people. We haven't been having a ton of success in finding, but the people that we have, and the people that we find, they are so good. While I was in the Visitors' Center I got on the computer and realized that I had a new voice mail. It was from Geoff.... I don't know if you all remember him, but he is the one that had driven three hours to come to the Visitors' Center to learn about the Mormons. We had had a super awesome lesson and I have been teaching him here and there on the phone. Well, he had called to invite me to his baptism! I wasn't able to go because it was so far away, but he was baptized this past Saturday! I am so excited for him. It's so awesome to be able to keep in contact with the people that come to the Visitors' Center!


Well it's been a good week and I wish that I had the time to tell you about everything that has happened... but I need to get going because I have to go to the eye doctor! Woo hoo! haha. Love you all so much!!


Love,
Hermana Larson

Reply to:

Week #22

Dear Family & Friends!

  It has been a great week in Mesa Grande! We've seen a lot of success... but there are also some things that we are wanting to work on and improve this next week. We have two families (The Baez and The Tanori) that both have baptismal dates for this Saturday, but we know that neither will be ready. So this week we are really going to work on setting a new date with them, and really helping them realize the importance of it. They just don't have that fire yet, so we've been studying a lot for them and trying to figure out what we can do to help them. The parents of the Baez Family (Kim and Ines) are actually fasting today for their children, so that their children will have a greater desire to learn more. And also so that Kim can stop smoking. They've been talking about doing a fast for the past two or so weeks and just haven't. But I'm so excited for them that they are doing it today.  I think it shows a lot about their desires that they are doing it, and I also know that there is a lot of power that comes from fasting. I've been studying fasting a lot lately to try and help them in their desire to fast and I've really gained a testimony of it for myself. In Alma 5:46, Alma says "Behold I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself." It's just helped me realized that a lot of times answers don't come easy. We really have to work for them and show God our willingness to be obedient. 

     We've also been working with another family, the Vega Family, that has progressed immensely this week. I'm stoked for them :] They've been investigating the church for a while, and have come to activities or church occasionally. But I feel like they really didn't have a desire to know what is true. But this past week Hermana Falcon and I made a reading chart for them, with their names, and spots for the 22 chapters in 1 Nephi. So that when they read a chapter they can put a sticker on the chart. And I don't know, it sparked something in them. We told them that we're going to have a party whenever all three of them finish it together, and Hermana Falcon and I will bring the food! And just in the past week they have already read 12 chapters. They really have just started doing stuff and being involved in the Branch, they're coming to all the activities, they came to church on Sunday and stayed all three hours. I'm really excited for them because I know that if they keep doing all of this they are going to receive an answer to their prayers, and they're going to want to be baptized. We haven't set a date with them because we've asked them numerous times and they always say no, that they don't think they are ready. But once they have finished reading 1 Nephi we are going to set a date with them. It's been awesome to see them progress this week.

    We have another investigator, Ruperto, that came to the visitors' center last night. And we had an awesome lesson. We watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration and afterwards he told us that he knows it is true. We set a baptismal date for July 7th. A lot of the time he is just like oh yeah, I know, I know, I know. And sometimes we feel like he doesn't want to listen. I don't know how to say this in better words, we just feel a lot of pride in him. But it's been a neat experience to see him change. He still has a ways to go, but we know that if he keeps reading and praying, he'll be ready to be baptized July 7th. 

    I've seen my studies improve a lot in the past transfer. I can just see a difference. I'm trying harder to really focus on my investigators. I used to have this mentality that my personal study can also be just for myself, for my personal knowledge. And I'm not saying that that is necessarily bad. But I've realized that my testimony can grow WHILE I am studying for my investigators. And I'm trying to just always be thinking about them anytime I am reading or studying, and seeing how what I am studying can help them and be applied to them.

    Friday night we had a ward activity for Father's Day. It was all good fun. It was a carne asada... meaning delicious meat. So I wasn't complaining.. even though we had it outside and it was pretty hot! haha the Vega family came and we didn't really do a ton, but we had fun. It was good for them to meet more people in the ward. And to eat some good food! Oh and Saturday I saw my first dust storm. They've been happening a lot the past couple of days. I have some pictures from both.. but am not sure if I can get my camera to load onto this computer.. we'll sees!

    Okay embarrassing story time... Wednesday morning we went out for exercise. Hermana Falcon doesn't really like to run... and I do. So usually she just is in the middle of the street stretching and exercising while I run up and down the street. So I'm running... and I don't even know how this happened. But I tripped. And it's not super uncommon for me to trip, but I  am always  able to catch myself. But no. Not this time. I just remember thinking "AHH I'm falling and can't stop." haha. So I just stuck my hands out. Hermana Falcon heard me and turned and looked and she told me later that her first thought was "why is she doing push ups in the middle of the street?" And then realized I had fallen when I was brushing myself off. I don't know how this happened either.. but my palms had like gravel under the skin. Like splinters... except gravel. And when we got home I tried using tweezers... but it hurt too bad! So later in the day when we were at the visitors' center, Sister Beckstrand (our VC director's wife--she's seriously the best. she does so much for us.) performed surgery on my hands and fixed me up. And it's all healing pretty well. haha. My life is awesome!

    Today we are having a zone activity at a member's house where we are going to make quesadillas and watch the Best Two Years. It's funny to have Hermana Falcon as my companion because I had to clarify that we will be having American quesadillas. They are very different. But I still like them!

    I hope everyone had an awesome Father's Day! Especially you DAD! He got to spend his in Europe! Lucky guy, right??? haha.

 

Miss you all and hope everything is going well!

   

Love, Holly

Reply to:

Week #21

Well, let's start with the miracle of the week. Saturday our Branch President, President Azua, called us and asked if Hermana Falcon and I would be willing to speak in sacrament meeting. We were each assigned to talk for 15 minutes on the topic of Studying the Scriptures. I of course said "Yes"  because I've been taught that you don't say no to your church leaders... but I was secretly freaking out inside. Fifteen minutes!??! That's a long time to talk in front of people in English, let alone in a foreign language. And especially because we had lessons planned all day and things to do! So, I really only had the hour of personal study the next morning to prepare. I spent as much time as I could preparing and making sure that I had enough material to fill up all of the time. I had a quotes and scriptures picked out, but I wasn't sure how I was going to make everything flow (especially with my Spanish!) haha We had 12 investigators at sacrament meeting (another miracle!) and I really wanted to share something for each one personally that would help them. And I don't even know how, but it went really well. I'm sure that my Spanish wasn't perfect, but I really wasn't struggling for words. I filled the time up easily and didn't even get to everything I had wanted to say. I know it was God helping me out... because I don't even know what happened once I got up there. I just started talking and then looked over at the clock and realized that it was time to close. It was a really neat experience.

I got a sore throat at the beginning of last week and was really worried that I was getting sick. It's been a little bit of a tough week because I haven't felt completely at the top of my game, but at the same time I wasn't ever sick enough that I couldn't go out and do everything I was supposed to. And now I'm feeling better. But we worked really hard this week (and the heat is definitely taking a toll on me!); so I'm definitely looking forward to a nap later today :] 

While we were in the VC on Saturday morning two men walked in. I said, "Hi" and introduced myself to them, and asked what had brought them to the Visitors' Center. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have had thus far there at the VC. One of the men was a recent convert of 18 months. He's really embraced the gospel and told me all the changes that he made in his life once he found the church. He is a cab driver here in Mesa. He usually doesn't work on Saturdays but felt like he should. So he went and the first call he got was from someone named Lamar. When he got to the house, a large, African American man came out and told him "You can't take him." He said that he would usually just leave and pick up the next call that came in, but something told him that he needed to stay and that someone needed his help. So he stayed and he saw Lamar walk out. He asked him how old he was. Lamar's uncle (the man standing outside of the house) said that it didn't matter how old he was, he couldn't take him. Lamar answered and said that he was 23. So the cab driver said that he is older than 18, he can chose for himself what he wanted to do. So Lamar left his uncle's house, taking all of his things with him. I don't know how exactly, but apparently his uncle has been holding him hostage. The cab driver talked to him for a while and then they came straight over to the Visitors' Center. I was able to talk to him a lot about our Savior, Jesus Christ, and it was such a sweet experience. We got a new art exhibit in about two weeks ago called Witnesses of Christ by Liz Lemon Swindle and at the very end there is a picture of Jesus Christ holding an African baby. (The artist was in Africa when she painted the picture.) The picture is really unique and honestly doesn't really flow with all of the other pictures. But when Lamar saw it he just started crying. And felt that that picture was there to help him. It was awesome. He gave me his phone number and I'm going to continue teaching him until he is settled somewhere where the missionaries in his area can come teach him.

We had two new investigators this week, a 60-year old man, Lupe and his 11-year old daughter, Dulce. He's had a lot of contact with the church (family members and friends) and they've even been to church numerous times. It's just the two of them living together. All of Dulce's siblings (well half siblings--different dads) are in foster care. (I'm not sure what exactly happened with the mom). Lupe talked to us about how he has brought many, many young girlfriends here to the apartment. He just talked about a lot of things that I can't believe anyone would say in front of their 11 year-old daughter. It was just breaking my heart. But Dulce is the sweetest little girl ever. She said a prayer at the end of our lesson yesterday that completely melted my heart. She thanked God for bringing these "wonderful Hermanas to her house." She is adorable and I really hope that her dad embraces this... for her sake. They both have a baptismal date for July 7th. I just want to help her so much.

Last night we had a noche de hogar with a family that we've been teaching for a while. They all have a baptismal date for next Saturday (the 23nd) but at this point only the dad is really ready. They have two teenagers, that are usually pretty nice to us... but really haven't shown too much interest. But the family home evening was like better than I ever would have expected it would go. At first when we started they were grudgingly coming and outwardly expressing their disinterest in listening to us talk about the importance of families. (aren't teenagers lovely :] Mom and Dad-- I'm sorry. haha.) They wouldn't answer any of the questions we were asking. It was pretty obvious they would rather be doing anything else. But we talked about showing love for those in our family. And had each of them write things that they liked about every person in the family and then stick it in an envelope for that person (if that makes sense). And even though they pretended like they didn't care, they all did it and all had a good time with it. And I know they'll look at them later and it will mean a lot. I know that it is hard for people to show their feeling to people sometimes--but it is important. Then we played a game where you pick a sheet of paper that has the name of an animal on it and you have to act like that animal out without sounds and everyone else guesses it. It was a blast. Everyone loved it; and I would bet that family has never had fun together like that before. I wanted to cry just watching them. It was awesome. Then of course we topped it off with some cookies :]

It's been a wonderful, successful week. I'm loving being here (even though each day when I think it can't get hotter... it does!). I'm loving being  Hermana Falcon's companion. I'm learning a lot. She, like Hermana McKee was, is a trainer in the Visitor's Center (there's only two... but somehow both of my companions have been! haha) It's like a Zone Leader for the Sisters in the VC. It takes time away from our area on top of the time we already spend in the VC. But I got an email from President Ellsworth at the beginning of this transfer. All it said was that as I support her in her calling, Hermana Falcon and I will see miracles this transfer together. And I'm already seeing that happen. 

Love you all,
Hermana Larson

Week #20

Hello,


Soooo, this week has been the week of changes. And I have the most insane story! I hope I can do it justice and that everyone can understand! haha. So the members that the Mesa Grande Sisters were living with, opted not to have sisters anymore. So me and my companion moved in with different members. So we both moved in on Wednesday. The family that we moved in with was on vacation when we got there. So we were sitting eating lunch at the kitchen table and I was looking at all the family pictures on the wall. They looked kind of familiar but I could not quite figure out where from. Then they had a big picture of the US with arrows, and tons of pictures of missionaries. And as I was looking at the pictures I recognized some of the missionaries. Some of them were in the MTC at the same time as me. There were pictures of Steven Cummock. I was just super confused. I was like who is this family! They know people that I know! So we went about doing our thing, and the next day when the family came home, I realized how I knew them. During Easter Pageant they had come into the visitors' center and we had discovered that their daughter was serving in the Texas Houston East mission. I had taken a picture with their 10 year old daughter, and Sister Jackson, the mom had texted the picture to my mom! It was so insane. I couldn't believe that that was the family that I am now living with!! They have 3 children on missions. One of which is in Mississippi and served with Steven Cummock. So funny. Well then last night we were all in the kitchen talking and Brother Jackson was writing all the kids on his computer. I asked how their daughter in Houston was doing. And we talked a little and then I asked which area she was in and he said that last week she was just transferred to the Humble Ward. I was like whattt?!? hahah. So now Sister Jackson is serving in my parents' ward, and I'm living in her house! Small world right? haha. I'm loving it though. They are a really sweet family. They have three daughters still at home, so it's been fun.

Besides all of that I've just been getting settled into a new area. I'm in the Mesa Grande Branch. I just came from the Liahona 4th Ward which is a really big ward. And the Mesa Grande Branch is tiny. Tiny. Tiny. There were 47 people in sacrament meeting yesterday, and 12 people in relief society (including us). But we have some really awesome people that we are teaching. Two families that have baptism dates for this month. In both families there are teenage age children that are not open and just not interested. So we have been working really hard at trying to find ways that we can help them to have a desire to learn more about their Heavenly Father. It would be so awesome to be able to have the entire family baptized together, but the parents have told us that they would like to go on without the teenagers if they aren't ready. Which I think is a good idea, because then, hopefully, the children will be able to see the difference in their family and want it for themselves. We'll see though. 

I'm learning so much from Sister Falcon, not only in the language, but in teaching as well. She loves these investigators so much. And she's awesome at being extremely focused and using our time effectively. Which is really good for me to have that experience. We work really hard, and every night when we get home we are completely exhausted. I think that might have something to do with how hot is it getting! But we've decided that it's also a sign that we are working hard. Which I love. Sister Falcon is from Mexico City and was assigned to be Spanish speaking here, but also had to learn English because she is assigned to work in the Visitors' Center. So it's been a good experience to help her improve her English, and she helps me with Spanish. I would still not say that I am fluent. But I am progressing each day. And I feel like in the past week I've progressed so much with Sister Falcon. I may only have one transfer with her, so I'm trying to take advantage of the time I do have!

I love you all!!

Love,
Holly