Tuesday, March 25, 2014

You're off to great places!



This week. Oh man. I can't even describe it completely. It was so hard to say good-bye to everyone. For reals. I miss Sister Holm SO MUCH!! But we are both with the people we need to be with and in the areas we need to be in. So after transfer meeting (which was super inspirational) we drove back to the apartment in Maple Ridge. Sister Stewart (she is from Jamaica) has only been here for a transfer and still doesn't totally know her way around...so our 45 minute drive ended up being 2 hours due to the fact that we got EXTREMELY lost. But we found it eventually haha then I got unpacked and tried to get settled into my new "home"...but Osoyoos will always be home to me.
This week I have definitely been chastened by Heavenly Father to learn to have more charity for people. On Saturday when we went tracting we tracted into these two YSA aged boys who were very rude and made fun of us and whatever. So I, being the positive person I am, just forgot about it and we just kept knocking houses. Then like 20 minutes later those same guys drive by and yell, while we are talking to this lady, "HAVE YOU FOUND JESUS?!?!" It was so ridiculous. But I just kept moving forward. Then like 30 minutes later they drove past again and yelled something, but we were basically done with the street by then. But I just was so mad and then I didn't even care because I knew God was with us and that everything was going to be okay. Because Jesus Christ was made fun of, and as representatives of Him, we have to go through something similar. Plus, I've never cared, nor will I ever care, about what anyone thinks of me (besides myself, God, and my family), so it wasn't too bad(:
Then church yesterday was good. We got to play a part in the primary lesson and I got to pretend to be Mary Magdalene for 5 seconds and we got to teach Young Women's as well. It's so bizarre to be in a ward again. I miss my little Branch a lot, but I know that this is where I am supposed to be right now!
I love you all so much! Have a great week(: and try to talk to at least 1 person every single day about the gospel. You can even get some mormon.org cards from the missionaries in your ward(: seriously people! The work is hastening! Be apart of it! Love you all(:

Love, Sister Brittany Anne Larsen(:
 

 I think she's needing some extra words of encouragement right now.  I'm sure she would love to hear from you--- Send her a note (her new address is below or you can email her at brittany.larsen@myldsmail.net)  Thanks for everyone's love & support!!


New Address (letters):   
Sister Brittany Larsen
11686 232A St.
 Maple Ridge, BC V2X 2K5
           CANADA

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

If you send her a package to the Point Roberts, Washington address (this is the best/cheapest way) you have to write the contents on the outside of the box , otherwise they have to open it up at customs when they take it into Canada.  


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

New Adventures on the Horizon!(:



Well everyone, the time has come for me to finally leave Osoyoos. I'm actually super heart-broken over it, but I know that it is the right thing right now. Trust God and all things shall work together for your good, right? I am going to some place called Maple Ridge down in the lower mainland with a Sister Stewart. Sister Holm is staying here with a Sister Bowman. Life will be interesting! I'll actually get to email on Mondays now and that will be weird...I am just kind of sad to leave my little Island of Misfit toys. I have become so close to my little branch of 30 members and I will always call this place home. But, like I said, trust in God!! So this last week was really hard. I really just had a hard time with just about everything, and I'm kind of grateful though that God gave me a super hard week for my last week here because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to look back on all of the absolutely incredible times I have had in this lovely little area. Honestly truly, this week was rough. Sister Holm got me through so much and I am so grateful to have had the chance to train her! I have definitely learned a lot more from her than she has from me over the past 3 transfers, but we will hang out all the time when we get home seeing as we only like half an hour away from each other, so that makes me feel a little bit better. Anyways, on the drive here today we were listening to this song called "Mountains to Climb" and it is super uplifting. It just so happened to come on as we were driving up a super steep hill that we always do to get to Osoyoos, and I realized that only when we get to the top of the mountain do we have the most beautiful view. Only when we get through the trials and keep climbing do we see ourselves, the world, and God in a totally different, more refined, perspective. A more eternal perspective. I am so grateful for trials, because without them, who are we? Without trials, we cannot become who God really knows we can become. I'm not going to lie, I have had a fairly easy life so far. Not perfect, by any means, but nothing too hard to deal with. I've had ups and downs and heart breaks and happy times and ugly times and silly times, just like everyone does, but for the most part, a pretty sheltered, not-too-many-trials-life. And then I came on my mission. People. No one really knows what hard times are until you come on a mission. We get to experience just a taste of what it was like for the Savior when He was here. And it is really hard. But there is absolutely nothing more rewarding than being here, knowing you are worthy, serving God with all of your heart, might, mind, and strength. One of the best talks ever that really hits on this is "Missionary Work and the Atonement" by elder Jeffrey R. Holland. So good. Anyways, I am sad to leave my first area. 7 and a half months just came and went in the blink of an eye, but I am so thankful for the time I have had here and I can't wait to see what miracles lie ahead in Maple Ridge!(:

Love, Sister Brittany Larsen(:
-We will be best friends forever!! Love you Sister Holm!(:
-our little town of Oliver(:

-Our little town again(:
-we did some service this past week and found a farming tool that looks similar to a sickle, so obviously we had to take a picture with it.










Wednesday, March 12, 2014

"We are the island of misfit toys..."



Good Morning one and all! Oh boy oh boy oh boy. This week has been a crazy one. A good one for sure, but definitely a crazy one too.
So we definitely had a lot of fun on Tuesday after we emailed. We did a TON of street contacting and had a lot of QGC's (Quality Gospel Conversations). We are supposed to get at least 20 a day, as instructed by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. So we have been working our tails off to try to make sure we follow his counsel! Because there is absolutely NO excuse for not following the prophet, even if you are in a tiny town like ours. So yeah, 20 QGC's or bust. Anyways, Thursday after weekly planning, Sister Holm felt very impressed that we should go finding on the Indian Reserve here in Oliver, so we did. The reason this was such a big deal is because normally we don't go on the reserve for safety reasons (there are lots of wild animals on the res.), but it was still in the early evening hours of the day and very light outside, so we went. We tracted for about 3 hours in the rain and it was probably one of the most fun times I have had tracting since being out on my mission(: honestly, it was a blast and a half! We came across these guys hauling wood into their truck, so, being the service-oriented missionaries we are, we asked if we could help them. The guys looked at us then at each other (I think they were trying to figure out if we were joking or not) then said "sure! why not!" Haha it must've been a sight to see two girls in skirts trying to haul some wood into the back of this truck haha it was pretty fun though and we got a good conversation out of it. We just have so many weird things happen to us here. That's why we are the island of misfit toys. Oh and we found this new investigator named E. S. and he is Mexican and only speaks Spanish, so now I wish I would've taken Spanish in high school, but oh well. We just say "El Libro de Mormon" and "Hola!" super loud and hope he understands us haha but we think we might've found someone to help interpret our lessons for us, but just pray for us to get the gift of tongues or something so we can just baptize him already!! haha
Man. This week was just kind of odd, to tell you the truth. It FLEW by and I don't remember a lot of details, but I do know that we talked to literally everyone and it was so hard but so worth it! We literally chased some people down just so we could talk to them. Some people were seriously so rude, but it doesn't even matter, because when people reject us, they are rejecting the Savior, and this is not even a sliver of what He had to go through, so why on earth should we complain when He went through so much for us? It was just a really bizarre week. But man it was so good. Oh, and I hit my 7 month mark!! Holla holla! But that also really freaks me out because now I have less than a year and that is really weird and the time is just like sand slipping through my fingers! Ah! And transfer calls are next week and I don't really know what to do about that except pray to be able to accept whatever news we get! I've definitely learned to trust God more out here on my mission. It really makes all the difference in the world, because when you put your trust in Him, everything works out for the best(: Anyways, love you all tons!

Love, Sister Brittany Anne Larsen

-took a quick mini trip down to the border(: haha (literally is 5 minutes from our chapel)






Friday, March 7, 2014

7 months!!

Sister Larsen didn't have time to do her big email this week.  So I (Mindie- 'the mom') thought I'd re-post something from Sister Holm's (Sister Larsen's companion) blog and put on a few pictures.  Sister Larsen is still doing great and loving it!!  Transfers are on March 20- so don't mail anything to her address in Oliver after March 11 (just in case she gets transferred, which I'm pretty sure she will this time.  She will have been out - and in the same area- for just over 7 months).  They had a conference last weekend with Elder D. Todd Christofferson.  She said it was wonderful!  Thanks again for all you love and support!!

Here is Sister Holm's blog post.

It's been a miraculous week!  Yes, Jim was baptized!!  His story is amazing and with his permission, I get to share it with you! 
Jim is so sweet and soft spoken.  He was a high school band teacher for most of his life and also owned a flower shop.  He was in an abusive marriage for 51 years, which truly hurt his confidence and ability to trust.  Without saying more, it's safe to say Jim has had a trying life.  Through it all though, he remained unconditional and kept his faith in the Savior.  Jim was taught starting in May 2013, almost a year.  He's had baptismal dates in the past, been taught everything at least twice, and has come to church for the last 8 months straight.  He was an eternal investigator.  After my first time meeting and having a lesson with him I literally cried because I was so frustrated.  How could we ever get through to this lonely, sad man?  After a couple weeks of reflection (not teaching him) we prayed and felt that we should try again.  So, a few lessons later we felt a strong impression to set a date with him.  He had told us his concerns before and just wasn't ready.  But the impression was so strong that Sister Larsen and I knew that we had to follow it.  So...we straight-up asked him.  He was a little shocked at first and said "how about a maybe."  We went back and forth for a while and finally he just said "I know that I need to be baptized.  Okay.  Feb 22 it is." and then signed Sister Larsen’s planner.  We walked out of that lesson with tears of joy! 
After setting a baptism date, there was a mighty change in Jim.  He was glowing!  I can honestly say I've never seen Jim smile and laugh so much!  He was a different man.  He told us during one lesson "well girls, the night that I set my baptism date, I had a feeling come over me of just peace and love.  I slept so well!  I can tell that He is happy with me!" What a doll.  There were a few bumps in the road but Jim was baptized this past Saturday!  Sister Larsen and I, dressed in all white, held his precious little dog Annie on the steps of the font per President Tilleman’s request.  Magical is the only word I can literally think of to describe it.  It was the happiest day of my mission thus far.
Watching Jim go from a pained and bitter life to one full of joy and love was incredible.  Jim truly went through the refiner's fire.  We cannot go through that fire with pride in our hearts.  Heavenly Father can only mold us when we become humble enough to accept His will.  Just as it says in Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth."  Jim is an example to me of how making Christ our focus and making Him our rock will get us through anything.  We will all have trials, big and small, but it's through faith in the Fathers plan and humility in accepting His will, not our own, that we will be able to overcome those obstacles and make it through the refiner's fire. 
Remember that Christ never forgets us.  He is our only Shepherd.  1 Nephi 21:15-15 "...Yea, they may forget yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel...  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Although we might not always remember Christ during our trials and afflictions, He will ALWAYS remember us.  He knows every pain and every joy you've ever felt.  The nail prints in His perfect hands are the constant reminder of the sacrifice He made for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross.  I know that baptism is the only way we can truly repent of our sins and show our loving Father in Heaven that we are willing to follow His commandments.  What a blessing that Jim, who is 74 yrs old, now has been cleansed of his sins, has the gift of the Holy Ghost, and can live with God again.  It is never to late to change.


Pictures that Sister Larsen sent this week......
-family tree! lol

-guess what road i am standing by...


  
-BRITT ROAD!!!! YEAH YEAH!