Pictures. So many Pictures.

Pictures from Holly's Mission - 2013. 

Post #61

Hello!!!

This week has been great. Especially this past weekend :]  I loved conference so much. It lifts me spiritually and strengthens my testimony so much. There were so many scriptures that I had just read, and just been pondering when they were used in conference. One in particular was Helaman 5:12,

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the ^arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your ^bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty ^cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I had read that in my personal study this week and was thinking about its promise. If we really have Jesus Christ as our foundation, we will never fall. I really did a self-analysis. Is Jesus Christ my foundation? Is there a possibility that I might fall? Because if there is... my foundation is completely centered on Him, and there are some things we need to do to strengthen that foundation! I invite each of you to do that same self-analysis.

Of course there were many many talks that I loved and that meant so much to me. I could write all day but I'll just mention a couple. I loved Sister Dalton's talk! The world needs virtue! And it starts with parents living virtuous lives and giving that example. So much filth in the media today. We cannot have that in our homes. I go into so many homes where the television is always on. Parents expose their young, innocent children to immorality and filth as something glamorous and desirable. Return to virtue :] It goes right along with Elder Bednar's talk on the law of chastity.

I also loved Elder Perry's talk on obedience. There was something different about the way he spoke in this conference, so bold and with so much power. He means business. And of course, Elder Holland's on faith. I loved how he invited us to lean on his faith we were are in lack.

With the combination of meetings, conference and our VC schedule we had very little time in our area, but the Lord blessed us to really help us use that time effectively.

We had a miracle on Sunday morning! We had three investigators committed to come to conference. We are so excited about the new investigators that we have found. We are having a lot of success by working with less-active members--they generally have family/friends that are not members; This is how we have found most of our new investigators. The Sunday Morning Session began and none of them showed up :[ We were pretty bummed and I remember just praying about what we need to do different. I know that people have their free agency... but I want to do everything that lies in my power to help them progress. We got up about 40 minutes through the conference and saw Sister Tolman in the hallway that had told us earlier in the week that she was going to visit one of our investigators, Lupita, on Saturday at the hospital (to visit her 2 week old baby that was born 4 months early). We asked her if she had been able to visit Lupita and the baby. She had, and had done se with her husband (a counselor in the bishopric) and were able to meet Oscar, Lupita's husband! We haven't even gotten to meet him yet because they've been so busy with the baby. They all got along so great, and they even invited Lupita to come to general conference--and she came!! We didn't even have the opportunity to commit her to it and she came! It was such a blessing. I know that even thought we didn't plan on her coming, the Lord did; because every single one of the talks on Sunday morning were perfect for her. Exactly what she needed to hear in this time! We are so blessed to have such great members! And we love Lupita!

We found two new investigators on Sunday night by passing by the house of 2 less active members that we had never met before. We found Marcos (15 years old) and Janet (17 years old). The two of them live with their older sister that is around 22 years old, her husband, and the husband's kids. Their mom lives in Mexico, and their dad in Chandler. These kids are so precious to Heavenly Father and I know he wants us to help them. They practically have no adult supervision. And both of them have a lot of anger and sadness towards the things that have happened in their lives. They were so open with us telling us how unhappy they are in life. I love them already and want to help them. The situation is so hard, but I know the gospel of Jesus Christ will bless their lives!

This morning we woke up at 4:45am to go hiking!! We hadn't done it in a long time but the weather is getting to be perfect for it. It was an activity that we did with the whole zone. It was a hiked called "flatiron" that I did my second transfer with Sister McKee. But it had been over a year and I forgot how hard of a hike it is! It's super intense and a little scary. Not to mention that I've gotten out of shape in the past year haha. Sister Aquino and Sister Weber (Sister Cottrell's companion) don't like exercising and don't really like the outdoors... but they came and we all survived. Barely. haha. I'll send a couple pictures from the hike!

It's been a busy week--but I like it that way!!

I love having prophets on the earth that lead us and guide us in righteousness.

May we build our foundation on Jesus Christ and never fall.

I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Larson

Post #60

I braced myself reading my emails today... thinking that lots would try and pull April Fool's Day jokes on me. The only one I got was from Jake... telling me that he wants to postpone the wedding. haha. I didn't believe it :]

This week has been fabulous having the Easter Pageant! We love it so much. We're exhausted. But we love it and all the miracles that come along with it! I wish I had all the time in the world to be able to share the many miracles we saw.

This week we were really pushed for time in our area. But the Lord blessed us. We really focused on finding new investigators. We set a goal of finding 6 and again last night with half an hour to spare the Lord led us to a family and we completed our goals. I know this is the Lord's word and I love being a part of it. We are still working with Deysi (a less active from El Salvador) and her husband! She was baptized when she was 8 but has been inactive since she came to El Salvador. They are such a wonderful family and I can just imagine them active members of the church and sealed in the temple! We are also working with Deysi's best friend, Lupita! They all live right next to each other and we love working with them. Lupita was 5 months pregnant... and had her baby this week. We have been praying so hard and fasting that the baby will be okay. I think everything will be fine. It's so interesting to me. Having these experiences in my mission I really have been able to see how the Lord prepares people, and that everything happens for a reason. This has been such a hard trial for Lupita, but it is humbling her and helping her realize that she needs God in her life. And she is not going to be working so much (she was working 2 jobs) so she's going to actually have time to do the things that she needs to, to know that this message we share is true. Everything happens for a reason. As we realize that we are happier through our trials.

Our Easter was so wonderful. There are so many incredible members that help us and help us to feel at home during holidays. We ate breakfast with the family that lives in the house right in front of us. A super sweet member, Sister Rachel Tyler made us dinner. We were in the visitors' center from 4-7pm. So we didn't really have dinner. But she made a plate for us!

Another Easter surprise was that we were locked out of our house! haha. There were some sisters that had asked to study in the house (because we live RIGHT by the temple and VC) before the VC opened. And we only lock the actual door... not the screen door. Well it's like bigger than a little screen door. Anyways. They locked both from the inside and we couldn't get in. But we have an awesomeee vehicle coordinator that helps us with everything and came down from Scottsdale to break us in :]

Wow this week has been so long. I almost forgot about the super awesome training that we had by Steven B. Allen from the Missionary Department. It was super cool and he talked a lot about the vision that the department and the prophet/apostles have for missionary work. He talked about how all missionaries soon will be using the internet as a proselyting tool. It's so useful. I love having that as part of my call. Speaking of which... Robert is doing so awesome. He has progressed so much in just the past 3 weeks. He's ready to tell his family of his faith in Jesus Christ to be able to start practicing what he believes.

I was also able to talk to Haley this week on the phone!! (does anyone remember her?? I taught her with Sister Valladares when she was in the hospital!) She went to a rehab center in Chandler and is now living in a half-way house kind of thing. But I loved talking to her again. It was like talking to a best friend after so long. I know that God has just given me so much love for her.

There is so much more that has happened... but I'm out of time. One day you will all hear it all :]

Love you so much.

Happy Easter

Have a great week :]

Post #59

Hello all! 

Well this morning we all discovered that yesterday was St. Patrick's Day! And everyone here at the Visitors' Center TOTALLY forgot. I guess we have much better things to worry about. But. We were still kind of bummed. We figured it out this morning at a service project we did here at the Visitors' Center. We came and DEEP cleaned! We have a company that comes and cleans... but there were a lot of things that needed to be cleaned... especially getting ready for the pageant! The walls were so dirty and the glass everywhere. Anyways it was fun to be able to come help out... where we spend like ALL our time :] And we're really getting ready for the Easter Pageant... starting tomorrow! They've been out practicing every night! It's so fun because we live SO close that at night 9:00-10:30 each night we live our doors open and can hear it. I love it. On Saturday morning they set up the 10,000 chairs! It's such a sight out there! Sister Aquino and I are passing out invitation every chance we can get--I know that we'll get referrals in our area as a result!

This week has been great. I just want to do what the Lord wants from me. I know that he can work miracles in our area. So we are exercising all the faith we have to really be able to find new investigators and to help the ones that we already have to progress. We found an investigator this week named Guadalupe and she's SO prepared. She works a ton so that makes it a little harder. But seriously we knocked on her door and she just looked at us and said "do you want to come in?" She was so receiving... like she was waiting for us or something. She's five months pregnant... so hopefully she'll start working a little less and be able to have more time. 

We have an investigator named Carlos. He has met with missionaries for a while now, but just recently we've seen him a lot more serious and he's started to progress. He says that he wants to get baptized but just doesn't feel that he has received his answer.  We taught him the word of wisdom this week--he has problems with smoking so we are helping him rely on the Lord to help him stop. We are going to set a baptismal date with him this week. He wasn't able to go to church yesterday because he was in Mexico, but has been coming regularly when he is in town.

This area has so many people in it. We find a lot of investigators but they they just don't progress... but like a week and a half ago we found a lady named Erlinda, who is super interested. She has always believed in God but never really been super religious because she didn't know which church was true. So we are helping her understand that she can receive answers from God and know for herself! She was going to go to church but her daughter is in the hospital and wasn't able to.

This week I've really been focusing on following the guidance of the spirit... I know that I can't do this alone... but for some reason it's like I just forget that--and get stuck in a rut. Being exactly obedient and doing everything I am supposed to, but not seeking the Lord's help in everything I do. And we've totally seen miracles this week and I changed how I worked. I can feel a difference in our companionship and in the way I view people in the streets. This is the Lord's work.

We have an investigator in the Visitors' Center (like on the phones) that is SO awesome. He's 19 years old and lives in Washington state. He called in wanted to learn about Jesus Christ. He has grown up devout Jew and has always heard about Jesus Christ but honestly has no idea who he is. We've been teaching him for two weeks and the spirit is so strong every time we teach him. When we explained to him that Jesus Christ is the Jehovah that is testified of in the Old Testament he just started crying, telling us that no one had ever told him that before. He has tons of questions and really is progressing. He told us about his experience at Sinogoge this past Saturday. He was there with his family... but he could stop thinking about all the new words we have taught him, like Jesus Christ, Savior, Redeemer, Heavenly Father. He has a lot of fear of his family rejecting him, and talks about how guilty he feels talking to us. I can't imagine how hard it is going against everything he's been taught growing up, but I know he's doing it because he's felt the spirit so strong. The Lord is guiding him to the trust. We are just working on increasing his faith in Jesus Christ because we know that he feels the spirit. It's so awesome teaching him. It increasing my faith doing so! 

I'm doing so well!! I can't WAIT for the Easter Pageant! It is such a blessing this city has to have incredible missionary experiences. 

Love,

Sister Larson





Post #58

Hey everyone!!!

Well. First thing--we got a voicemail from the zone leaders last night telling us that we could plan to have and hour and a half on emails for today. So we were like uhh. weird but okay. We figured there was like a survey or something that president wanted us to do. But then when we got here there was an emailing telling us that the missionary department of the church has changed the policy and we are now given an hour and a half every week and have permission to email family, friends, converts and priesthood leaders. So that's exciting--for Julie :] haha she doesn't have to forward my emails every week to Laura!

This week has been great. We recieved transfer news on Saturday night and Sister Aquino and I will be staying together--in the visitors' center. I really thought that we would go full-field because Sister Aquino has been out 10 months and has never been full-field. But in the VC we only have 9 Spanish sisters--just not enough and so no one can be full-field. Transfers were insane--recieving 15 new sisters. None of them were Spanish VC. But a ton of the Sisters (like 6) are going full-field English training. Sister Valladares (my old companion) is going to train, white washing, ENGLISH, with only 2 YSA wards. She's really nervous about it, but she'll be so awesome. With all the changes coming in our mission I can feel how everything is directing by the Lord. So many things that just don't make sense, President would never come up with these things. I know this is the Lord's work. Sister Cottrell has been transferred to Liahona 3rd as well :] So although we are not companions we are serving in the same ward and are going to be living together. Which will be fun. But we'll be sure to not make our companions feel unloved because we get along so well. It'll be good.

The weather this week has been crazy as usual. You never know what to expect here in Mesa. It rained like crazy (SUPER UNUSUAL) and hailed. So that was a crazy day. The easter pageant starts in a week and so things are in full-swing getting ready for it. We are having trainings, the cast is outside practicing every night, we invite everyone on the streets. I'm so ready--miracles are all over the place during the pageant. I can't wait. We always have general authorities that come down for it. I love the pageant.

This week was full of miracles in our area. It's been pretty dead, but we are doing everything that we can to get the work to pick up. This past week we set a goal of finding 8 new investigators. Sister Aquino and I were so excited each day as we were about to go into our area. We could feel the difference as we talked to every single person. We always "talk to everyone." But something was different. We invited everyone. Just talked to everyone. And the Lord blessed us! So much. We didn't have a ton of time with all the time in the VC, trainings for the pageant, we went to the temple, zone conference. But we met our goal. I'm so excited to have another transfer with Sister Aquino in this area. I know we'll see even more miracles.

I love you all so much! I hope everyone has a great week and spring break (to whom it applies :] )

Love,

Hermana Larson

Post #57

Hey everyone!

This week has been crazy. And good. And hard. I've had days where I just break down crying--not sure how I'm going to do it anymore. And days where I've been really happy and have seen so many miracles. So I guess all in all it's been a pretty typical missionary week :]

Last week we had an awesome zone conference! The spirit was so strong. The theme was Teach Clear, Use the Scriptures, and Bear Testimony. I think the mission is just really focusing on our teaching skills. We have SO many new missionaries coming that we have new missionaries training new missionaries! It's incredible seeing all the growth in the mission though.

Last p-day our whole zone went to Golfland and played mini-golf, which was really fun because honestly we don't do a ton of fun things on our p-day. We have so many things that need to get done that we barely have time finish that! But I'm glad that we went because it's always fun to get out and do something! Especially now as the weather is so beautiful! It's really perfect, not too hot, not too cold. But it won't last long. I can feel the Summer coming!

The cast for the Easter Pageant has started practicing outside everyday and it's so cool to walk out of the visitors' center and see it getting ready! We are inviting everyone we see on the streets and are praying that there are people in our area that will go to it and feel the spirit. We dropped a lot of investigators this week. They just aren't prepared, aren't progressing. And I think that that induced my mini breakdown. There are so many people in our area, but I just feel like I don't have time to find them! It's actually a struggle that a lot of the sisters in the VC are having since they changed the schedule in the VC (we are there SO much more). So it'll be interesting to see what president does next transfer. I have had a feeling lately that I might go full-field this next transfer in the area with Sister Aquino. She's never been full-field before. And even though I've already have my 3--let's be honest, anything can happen. And this is my last opportunity to be full-field, because your last transfer is always in the VC.

Anyways. This is not the most exciting letter ever... sorry! But I love you all! Have a great MARCH! Can you believe it?? :]

Love,  Holly

Post #56

Hard to believe that this Friday is MARCH! So insane. You would think that it almost being spring break, here in Arizona it would start heating up... but no. IT SNOWED THIS WEEK. Well barely. But it happened. It was fun to see all the houses with white roofs. I never thought I would come to Mesa and see snow. But it made for an interesting night as we had to return to the apartment and bundle up. The weather here changes SO quickly. So by like the next day during the day it was a little hot.

This past Saturday Omar got baptized! I thought that I wasn't going to be able to go to the baptism because I was working in the Visitors' Center and we were the only Spanish sisters on shift. But then I talked to some other sisters that were just here for a lesson and said that they were going there afterwards with an investigator. And so we got permission for me to go on exchanges with one of them... while the other stayed in the VC. I don't know if that makes sense... but pretty much it was a miracle I got to go. Because it was just like ten minutes before we figured all of this out. So Sister Valladares and Omar didn't think that I was going to be able to make it. But then I showed up right as they were starting. It was awesome. He was so prepared and ready.

So as  all of you already know... they are opening 58 new missions throughout the world. Super necessary. Mission Presidents just can't keep up with that many missionaries. We have about 220 right now... with more on the way. This transfer coming we have 17 new sisters coming. Just sisters. It's insane. The entire world will be training. Only 4 of the 17 are Spanish sisters... so I doubt I'll train again. But I have no idea where he is going to find 13 English trainers. (we have like 8 that are training still from the last transfer). And he is going to have to open a lot of new areas. We have three transfers before the split happens... and I suspect that they will all be insane. Just preparing for it. Here in the Valley they are opening two new missions--Gilbert as well. So there will be a Tempe, Gilbert, Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale mission. Look it up on a map.. they are each like 10 minutes from each other. So I don't think they'll just split our mission--I suspect they'll redraw new boundaries for all of them. It's madness... but exciting times. I'm sad that I'll go home before all the splits.

We've been seeing a lot of miracles this week. It's incredible. I know this is the Lord's work. His church has been restored and He wants everyone to know it. To prepare myself spiritually and be able to testify of the Savior during the Easter Pageant this year I'm reading the New Testament in Spanish. Right now I'm in John 13. I'm learning so much and my testimony of the Savior grows each day. There's a month before Easter; I invite each of you to read one of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) before then. Or all four if you are feeling ambitious :] I know as each of you do it your faith in Jesus Christ will be strengthened and the meaning of Easter will be clearer to each of you. 

I love each of you so much. This week Julie sent me a package with pictures from the wedding! It was so awesome to finally get to see pictures from it! I loved seeing the pictures of all of you. The grandkids have all grown up so much. They aren't going to know who I am :] It made me realize how much I missed all of you. Here in the Visitors' Center there are a lot of 19-21 aged girls that come in asking what it is like to be a missionary. And I get to testify so often about the changes it has made in my life. I can't imagine my life any other way. It hasn't been easy. But I'm grateful for every moment of it.

Love you all,

Sister Larson

Post #55

Hey everyone!!

Hope everyone's Valentine's Day was great! Ours was good--probably a little bit different, but still good! This week has been full of different funny things happening, neat spiritual experiences, and disappointments (as usual! hah)

Now that I am back in the Visitors' Center everyday I've been able to answer calls from Church Headquarters, chats from mormon.org and that kind of thing. They always bring interesting experiences--to say the least! But this week we had a really neat opportunity to talk to a couple named Rindy and Domingo from Missouri. They had just moved into a new city in Missouri and were looking for a new church to attend. They live really close to an LDS church building and said that they didn't want to pass the LDS church by for ignorance. So they had come to mormon.org to learn more. It was really cool to answer all the questions that they had and see how through the course of the conversation their opinions were changing. As we explained what the Book of Mormon was and how they could know for themselves they completely changed. They said, "Are you kidding? That makes so much sense. We had no idea--you have no idea how much our eyes were just opened." It's so incredible for me to be apart of this work, and to see how people react when they recognize the truth. It like sounds familiar to them. I love it.

Sister Aquino and I have been exercising our faith this week--our faith to drop :] Maybe some of you have heard of that. haha. We have a decent amount of investigators but they aren't progressing. And we don't have a ton of time to work in our area. So we dropped a decent amount of people. We called Carlos Thome on Saturday. He hasn't met with us in like two weeks because he always says he is too busy. So we called to pretty much drop him. We told him that if he wants to learn and know for himself, make these changes and everything that we are always here. And told him that he knows where church is and if he wants to do these things that he can show up at church. And he came yesterday!!! It was awesome. I think that as we dropped him he realized that he needs to act. So we are excited to work with him this week and help him progress.

In the Visitors' Center I have a huge stack of referrals that haven't been called, that I need to call. And everyone in the Visitors' Center has the goal to have contacted all their referrals by the time the Easter Pageant starts (oh and mom was asking about when we start prep for that--already started. The stage is up. The cast has been practicing since October!! but the stage went up about two weeks ago!). So as I was looking at my huge stack feeling a little bit overwhelmed, I prayed that at least one of these referrals would be in our area. We need new investigators! So with that new enthusiasm I began making calls! And Sunday morning I talked to a girl named Karla that said that she would be willing to receive the  missionaries--and lives in our area!!! She was actually a referral from one of my investigators in Liahona 4, Brenda. That had given the referral when we were at the VC for a lesson while I was still serving there. Superr cool! God answers prayers :] And we're going to visit Karla this week.

This past week Hermana Mendoza was sent home for medical reasons :[ Super hard. We were never companions, but she was trained by Sister Cottrell, and we lived in the same house for 2 transfers when we were both in Mesa Grande. She'd only been out 4 transfers but had a couple of seizures last week. So it's been super sad this week at the VC. And it caused a huge companion exchange mess for like 3 days. But it was fun because one night I got to go on exchanges with Sister Cottrell! We hadn't been companions since the MTC and it was fun to work together in the field.

Anyways it's been a good week. I love you all and hope that everyone is doing well.

Have a great week!!

Love

Hermana Larson 

Post #54

Hey Family--

How is everyone doing? Fun to hear that Chad is in Houston right now working on house stuff! I'm excited to see the masterpiece :]

This week has been full of changes--like most transfer weeks are! We spent the beginning of the week getting ready for transfers--getting Sister Valladares comfortable to train. She's a perfectionist, so we spent our spare time rearranging furniture and making everything perfectt! haha. Transfers came fast. And because we had so many missionaries coming in transfer meeting was crazy. It's always in a stake center right by the mission office and I thought they were going to have to open the overflow haha. Practically the entire mission was there. President Ellsworth talked a lot about trusting in the Lord and accepting his will.

I'm really just trying to get to know the area and the members as quickly as I can. This area has so much potential. So much. There are so many people to find--and we actually have a decent amount of investigators, but they aren't prepared. No one is progressing, no one comes to church. The area we have hasn't had anyone in church since November :/  It can be discouraging to be in an area like this, but I just know we need to work differently. It's not all about working HARD! It's about working smart. Not just being busy but being effective. So we are changing how we work. We're focusing more on working with members. One of the difficulties about the area is that only 3 families live in it. The ward has 6 missionaries in it and almost all the members live in the other areas. I went through the ward directory my 2nd day in the area and said okay--let's visit all the members in our area.... that didn't take very long.  Another difficulty we are facing is that we are spending even more time in the Visitors' Center. We are there 6 hours everyday. Add studies on top of that and it doesn't leave us very much. But I know that is my calling and as we do everything that lies in our power that God will make up for it.

I love all the changes in the Visitors' Center. At first I freaked out about not having time in my area--but then really realized that my calling is to the visitors' center. And we are all having so much more success on media. I finally have control of my investigators because I have time to plan and organize myself and make phone calls and follow up on referrals I've sent out and such. We will have growing pains in different ways as these changes are made into effect but I know that these changes are coming from Salt Lake and we will be blessed as we obey. I love being in the visitors' center and having the blessing of sharing the gospel in many different ways.

I love being Sister Aquino's companion. She works hard and we get along really well. Yesterday was her 22nd Birthday! Which was fun to be her companion and make it a special day for her. We decorated the apartment (the other set of sisters that we live with and I) and made her breakfast and just tried to make it special... but then just went about our day. So many things that are just not important as a missionary.

In the Mesa Stake we had stake conference yesterday! It was a great meeting. They talked a lot about the Christlike attribute of love. Loving others. Showing the love that we have for others. It was a great message for me as I really thought about the love that I have developed for the people here in Mesa. I am so grateful that I was called to serve here. The further I get into this the more I realize that God knows exactly what he is doing. I'm here for a reason. I love it.

I love you all!

Have a great week!

Love,

Holly

Post #53

February 4, 2013

Dear Family!!

I hope that things are going really well for you. Hard to believe that February is already here! We received transfer news on Saturday night and this upcoming transfer has tonsss of changes. But I'm excited for them. I've been transferred. I wasn't super surprised by it because I had a feeling Sister Valladares would be ready to train a new missionary :] She will be training a new missionary from Washington state that is learning Spanish. She'll be a great trainer. But because she is training... it means I am leaving the area. I'm really sad. This area is incredible. And I love our investigators so much. But I know that this is what the Lord wants me to do and I'm happy to just do what He wants. I'll be leaving the Liahona 4th ward and going to Liahona 3rd. It's a totally of 1.5 miles away! haha. That's about how transfers go when you are a VC Sister. My companion is Sister Aquino! She's from Mexico City and has been out for a little over 6 months. She's super cute and I already know her pretty well from working around her. I will be back working at the VC everyday. Which will be a change because I've been "full-field" since SEMPTEMBER. But it will be excited to be back. We received a lot of new changes from Salt Lake for how things run in the VC. This transfer the shifts change from having 3 shift of 9am-3pm, 3pm-6pm, and 6pm-9pm to only have two shifts a day, 9am-3pm and 3pm-9pm. Which means that we will always have 6 hours shifts. And I thought that that would mean we wouldn't have shifts every day but maybe have a day or two off a week... but no. We will still be there everyday. We will just have more time to work online and on the phones. At first I was like what. That leaves us NO time in our area! But after praying I remembered that this is my call. My call is to the Visitors' Center. And there is a reason we are having these changes. I'm just glad I'm not training. haha. Can you imagine 6 hours in the VC, 4 hours of studies... and like 1 or 2 hours in the area! How crazy. I suspect that as more missionaries come they will split the areas of VC Sisters to make them a lot smaller if we are going to be in the Visitors' Center so often. They have also put us on VC "teams" with 5 companionships on each "team" and we are ALWAYS on shift with those five companionships. It'll be interesting... but exciting. Because we had a lot of new sisters in the mission a lot of the sisters in the VC have been called to train "full field" sisters (like what I did with Sister Sanchez). Sister Valladares is actually the only Sister training in the VC. And we are on the same team so I'll see her all the time. This is all super complicated but hopefully some of it makes sense. Sister Cottrell is going full field this transfer. So funny. We haven't been in the VC together in forever. This transfer will only be five weeks.

This week was a great week working with our investigators. I love being full-field and having some much time in our areas. I suspect that I will finish the rest of my mission in the Visitors' Center. We have a lot of progressing investigators and it's excited to see people change. I'm nervous about Sister Valladares training and not having time to keep up with them! But I know that the Lord has done this for a reason and He will take care of them.

Haley's last day in the hospital was yesterday... today she is being sent to a rehab center in Chandler (not in the mission) so we won't be able to visit her anymore but we will still be able to call her and keep up with her. I love her so much and it's been absolutely incredible to see all the changes that have happened in her life. She has such a bright future.

Wow. So many things have happened. Our departure meeting at the VC this week was so sweet. I gave the legacy for Sister Sordes (like just talk about her and her mission) and the spirit was so strong. I have said bye to her life 5 times thinking it is the last time I'll see her and it breaks my heart each time. She was such an incredible companion and such a close friend. I can't believe she is going home. The VC will be so different without her. Also Sister McKenzie from Kenya and Sister Holladay from Utah are going home. Changes changes changes.

I hope all is well! I love you all so much! And I hope that each of you were able to watch the Joseph Smith movie. I know mom and dad did... but I didn't hear back from any of the rest of you...   :]

Love,

Sister Larson 

Post #52

January 28, 2013

Dear Family!

Sister Valladares and I have had a great week! We found a lot of prepared people and are excited to help them progress. We doubled our goal in finding new investigators which was really excited. We are a little disappointed that not very many of these new investigators came to church. It is such an important key indicator. It really helps us to see who is prepared and who is going to progress. We are going to focus a lot this week on helping our investigators get to church the next week. We're going to try doing some church tours like President Ellsworth suggested, and also have a lot of member present lessons because we know that as they meet members they will feel more comfortable in church.

It's been raining here like CRAZY. Which does not happen very often in Arizona. But it rained like three days without stopping! I liked it... but I have a car. We felt so bad for the elders in our ward that would show up to dinner each night SOAKED.

On Monday we went and contacted a referral we had named Omar. He's awesome. He's 23 and has actually been to an English ward 5 times. He just walked into a church because he was curious and wanted to know about it. He is from Mexico but really wants to learn English. In our second lesson we watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration at the Visitors' Center and it was so incredible! He felt the spirit so strong. He has always been really religious but he just had never heard of the restoration before. He said that this is exactly everything he's been looking for. It just makes sense to him. We set a baptismal date for February 16th. Then he met the bishop yesterday. It was a great conversation,

Bishop Rodriguez: "Hello, how are you?"

Omar: "Great thanks."

Bishop Rodriguez: "So you are investigating the church?"

Omar: "No. I'm not investigating...."

Bishop Rodriguez: (confused...) "uhh... oh so you are a member?"

Omar: "Well no. Not yet. But I'm getting baptized so that I can be a member. And so that I can be a missionary."

Bishop Rodriguez: "Oh! Wow! That's awesome!!"

It was awesome. haha. He is seriously so prepared and we are excited about it.

On a sadder note... our investigator, Morena, that has a baptismal date for this coming Saturday is MIA :[ We haven't talked to her in like 5 days. Her phone is like blocked (goes straight to voicemail). And when we go to her house her aunt and uncle (who she lives with) just say that she left with her mom and they don't know when she'll come back or where they went. (and they aren't super supportive and won't give us the phone number of her mom :[ ) And we've talked to all her friends that we know, who say that they haven't had contact with her either. So we are really worried but aren't sure what else we can do. Sister Valladares and I fasted together yesterday and are just praying that we'll be able to talk to her and know what is going on. There were times when we were borderline freaking out. But I know that if we just do everything we know how that everything will work out.

Haley is doing so awesome! Sister Ellsworth came to a lesson that we had with her and it was great for her to meet her! She is progressing so much. She was considering for a while moving back to Idaho with her mom after she got out of the hospital. That is what her mom really wants her to do. It's the easier decision because her mom would be able to pay for everything and she would have a place to live. But that is really not a good atmosphere for her. Staying here is scary because she doesn't have a place to live or anything. Apparently her mom is really good at convincing her to do things and talking her into it. But we are really happy because she has finally made the decision to go to a rehab center in Chandler when she gets out... and then move back here to Mesa :] We love her SO much. And we're sad that while she is in Chandler we won't get to visit her. (It's out of the mission) But we are hoping to have permission from President to still call her everyday. I'm not sure if she'll be allowed to have visitors (like other missionaries) while there but she needs to still have contact with someone. And then hopefully when she comes back to Mesa she'll be close enough that we can keep teaching her and help her to get baptized!

Last week I started reading the book "Our Heritage" that is part of the missionary library. I can't believe I've been our over a year and have never read it!!! It's so incredible all the stories that are in that book and all the trials that the early saints went though. Today I read about the Martyrdom of the Prophet. And I love in Doctrine and Covenants 135 when John Taylor recounts the events. And especially the verses in Ether that Hyrum was reading. It just is so perfect for what they were going through. I invite each of you this coming week (for FHE tonight or next Sunday) to watch the movie Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. This is the one that we watched with Omar this week. It's an incredible movie and each time I see it it strengthens my faith. Maybe some of you have a copy of it, but if not you can watch it online at this site:

http://www.mormonchannel.org/joseph?lang=eng

I hope each of you find the time to watch it... and I'm in missionary mode, so don't worry I'll follow up next week :] (We invite, They commit, We follow up! yayy for the 8 fundamentals!)

I truly know that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet. And that he really "did more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it." (D&C 135:3) It's an incredible privilege that we have to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.

I'm doing so well. So happy with where I am at. I know that my mission has changed every aspect of who I am. I can't believe this Saturday we receive transfer news, AGAIN. It was a 7 week transfer and it still flew by! I honestly have no idea what to expect, but am up for anything. Whatever the Lord wants from me.

I love you all so much.

Love,

Sister Larson

Post #51

January 21, 2013

Hope that everything is going well!! this is going to be a little bit on the shorter side because I don't have a ton of time today!!

this has been such a great week. We got to go to the temple earlier than usual because the temple will be closing for two weeks for cleaning and maitenence and all of that! it was so wonderful to be inside of the temple! such a beautiful place to feel the spirit!

I spoke in sacrament meeting yesterday. this ward is interesting... they have the missionaries speak ALLL the time. but they aren't super missionary oriented. We're working on helping them out and really moving the work along here. I've really come to realize that the members are so important. SO important. They are how you find the people that are prepared... because they have had that contact. They are how you help your investigators feel welcome in the church... and have a desire to return. They are just so vital. And it is their duty. There are so many quotes from prophets about the duties of members to share the gospel. But most people don't get it. They think that we are just asking for help in our work--this is their work too. This is their duty, and because a lot of people don't know how to do it we are helping them :] I just hope to help people here. And I hope each of you are sharing the gospel with the people around you the best you can. And are always kind to investigators in church. And I hope that I can really be a good member missionary when the time comes for me to go home.

We were able to set a super sold baptismal date with Morena this week! She's super ready and super excited. She's getting baptized Feb 2nd at 7 pm :] She stood up in relief society and announced it. So cute. She came to a mission president's fireside we had last night that was so awesome. the spirit was so strong. Sister Valladares sang a version of "savior redeemer of my soul" in Spanish that was soo good. She has an awesome voice.

We were able to find a lot of new investigators this week--that are pretty solid. Like you can tell they are interested and want to make changes in their lives. It's really exciting and we feel really blessed. I just hope that we can help them to progress this upcoming week.

It's interesting being in award ward where I have served before... because some of my converts are there. Emanuel is in this ward and it's great to be able to see him again. He's having a hard time right now. He wants to do what is right but it is hard for him. He actually wants to go on a mission but just has a short little frame because he hits one year in march, but then turns 26 in july. The bishop told him that he needs to work things out financially because the ward can't support him :/ But he doesn't have papers... has no family in the united states. He doesn't know what to do. So we are working with him for him to just prepare himself spiritually. But I trust that if he does his part, the lord with work it out.

Well I need to get going. But I hope you are all doing so well :]

Love

Holly