She's in Canada!!

Brittany finally emailed today (8-27-13)!!

Sister Brittany Larsen the day she arrived in Vancouver.  With President and Sister Tilleman.

 

Sorry I didn't e-mail you yesterday! The thing is, is that Sister Parkinson (she's from New Zealand) and I are in such a small area (Oliver/Osoyoos) that nothing is open on Monday, including the library. So, We have to go to the chapel on tuesdays to e-mail because the library is always full anyways. So just know that my P-day is monday, but I will always e-mail on tuesday as long as I'm in this area. Which, by the way, is so cute! Almost everyone here is older than the hills are they are so funny. A lot of them are members but are less active, or are active with Word of Wisdom issues or something. They are so funny and so sweet though. Sister Parkinson and I are getting along well so far I guess. We are both really different, but I'm trying hard to be patient and loving.The flight was good. I did get to nap so that was awesome. I got to nap on our 8 hour bus ride from Richmond to Osoyoos too so that was exciting! lol I'm excited that Austin is going to write me. I can't wait for him to get his call!!! I did get the package you sent me, thank you so much! you're amazing. I am sending a letter to you guys today, but the postal system here is pretty unreliable so I don't know how soon it will get to you guys.  How is school going for dad and Cody? How is work going for you? My back is alright, I'm getting a lot of shoulder knots because I'm so stressed, but I'm doing my best not to be so stressed out! We did get to go do a session at the temple at the MTC and it was awesome. I don't know if we'll get to out here. The temple here is itty bitty.  We've only had a couple doors slammed in our faces since we've been here, but it's okay because we just go to the next house and hope it's better(: haha there is like older guy that has been an investigator for a little while and he's really lonely so he has a little shih-tzu named Annie, and he brings her to church and she just sits there quietly on his lap and he talks to her and it's pretty funny. I spoke in sacrament this last Sunday! I spoke on missionary work. Oh, and our chapel used to be a funeral home and the primary room downstairs is where they used to keep all the dead bodies, so there's that. We have a branch, not a ward. I love my area and I love the people! I am starting to have a canada/new zealand accent already too! Hope to hear from you super soon!  I love you all so much(:

Love, Sister Brittany Larsen(:

Please write to her.  Don't forget to put extra postage.  It is a $1.10 for 2 ounces, they sell 'Global Forever' stamps.

Sister Brittany Anne Larsen

P.O. Box 1337

Oliver, BC

V0H IT0

Canada

Sister Nelson (MTC comp) and I being sad that we weren't going to be companions anymore.

Me and my comp, Sister Parkinson (who is from NZ) at the Vancouver Temple. We stopped there on the way to our area, to take a picture.

 I took this on the drive to Osoyoos! It is so beautiful here!!!

Me with all my luggage on trax on the way to the airport!

First Words from Sister Larsen aka "Sister Mom" 08-16-13

Posted by: Mom (Mindie)

The night before she left.

At the Provo Temple (right across the street from the MTC), just before dropping her off.

              

Dropping her off.

                                 

 

Her letter from the first day in the MTC.  08-07-13

"You would not believe how exhausted I am!!  It has been the craziest day of my whole life, but it has also been the most spirit-filled day I've ever had.  These Elders and Sisters here are incredible.  We are all truly missionaries called of God.  The spirit here at the MTC is amazing.  I love my companion, Sister Nelson.  She is such a sweetheart!  Everyone here has such a strong testimony and love of the gospel."

Her second letter from the MTC.  08-09-13

"My District is awesome.  I'm super sad though cuz the MTC put Sister Nelson and I with the Virginia Chesapeake Mission District and I love them all too much to let them go in a week and a half, so I'm packing them in my suitcase and taking them with me to Canada.  lol  Sister Nelson is so incredible and we are learning so much from each other.  Our roommates that are in our District, Sister Jensen and Sister Hymas are so awesome!  They are so funny and I can totally laugh and have fun with them, just like with my roommates down at school. We do so much studying here everyday and it’s crazy how exhausting it is because you feel the spirit ALL THE TIME!"  

“My face hurts at the end of the day because how much I laugh and smile here.  I can be as enthusiastic as I want about the gospel and no one judges me for it!!  My testimony has grown so much in 2 ½ days (feels like it’s been 2 ½ weeks) and I love it here!"

She also told us she has two nicknames already,  “One is Mickey Mouse and now some of the Elders in my District call me Sister Mom!! Haha, They said they don’t miss their moms as much when they’re around me, which makes me laugh and cry all at the same time.” 

 

 (She has a Disney suitcase and a Mickey Mouse shaped pin with a Canadian flag on it, that she wore the first day.  Thus the nickname Mickey Mouse. And Sister Mom?  Well….. I guess she takes after me a little. LOL)

.

 

 

 From her first email: 08-15-13

"I love it here at the MTC so much. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time. Heavenly Father is definitely helping me to grow in ways I never could have imagined. Sister Nelson and I are still getting along really well. We are both super nervous though to go into the field. We report to the MTC travel office at 6 am on Wednesday, August 21st to take the FrontRunner to the SLC airport. Our flight leaves at 11 am and I have no idea what time we'll get in. I think it'll be about 2 pm, but I don't know if that's Utah time or Vancouver time. I miss you all, but I know that this is definitely what Heavenly Father needs me to do right now. The last week has already gone by so fast. It's crazy. Thanks so much for the package mom. You are so awesome! But don't send me anymore food because we hardly get time to breathe around here, much less eat! And we can't have food in our classroom...otherwise I'd be snacking all the time."

 

"The days are so long but the weeks really do go by so fast. It's weird to think that I'll be gone for 18 months, but at the same time, that time is going to fly by!!"

"Sister Nelson is from Orem. She is so incredible and we are learning so much from each other. We spend 90% of our time in the classroom. Literally we get up, go to our classroom for an hour, go to breakfast for 30 minutes, back to our classroom for 3 hours, lunch for 30 minutes, back to our classroom for another 3 hours, dinner for 30 minutes, classroom for 2 more hours, then we get to occasionally go outside or something. It's really funny, we all feel like we are in elementary school again when we were excited for recess just to go outside and see the sun haha it's crazy that it's already been a week. It feels like it's gone by super fast now, but I still feel like I've been here for 12 years."

"The church is truer than anyone will ever recognize!!! I love this gospel and I love being a missionary!!!!"

 

Our MTC district. Back row left to right: Elder Horrocks, Elder Kelly, Elder Aitken (our District Leader), Elder Mickelson, Elder Davis, and Elder Hood. Front row left to right: Sister Jensen, Sister Hymas, Me (Sister Larsen), and Sister Nelson.

Sister Nelson and I on our second day at the MTC

        

"It wouldn't let me send the third picture, but there were a TON of missionaries all walking back to the MTC. It was only a small portion of the missionaries after Tuesday night's devotional at the Marriot Center. Elder Richard G. Scott of the 12 came and spoke to us on prayer. It was basically the coolest thing of my existence. We need to remember to thank our Heavenly Father for the gift of prayer(: I love you all so much! Til next time (when I'll be in Canada)!!!"

She is obviously loving it!  Thanks for everyone's love and support!

 

MTC Address, Mission Home Address, & Mission E-mail

Well this is super strange. I can't believe I leave in five days. Thank you all so much for your love and support! For any of you that want to write me, here is my MTC address and my mission home address that's in the United States so no one has to pay extra for postage to Canada(: I will be leaving the MTC on August 21st so after that just send everything to my e-mail or mission home!

Sister Brittany Anne Larsen
AUG21 CAN-VAN
2011 N 900 E Unit 207
Provo UT 84602

Sister Brittany Anne Larsen
Canada Vancouver Mission
PO Box 149
Point Roberts,WA 98281-0149

And my email is: brittany.larsen@myldsmail.net

Thanks again everyone! See you in 18 months!