Pictures from Holly's Mission - 2013.
Sister Holly Larson's Mission Adventures!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 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
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