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)

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 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!