Sooke(:

Oh my goodness everyone. So, this past week has been so crazy and so incredible and I can hardly even describe it. So, I got transferred. I got transferred to this tiny cute little area called SOOKE!!! It's on the island and it's so beautiful. Luckily, I have pictures, but it still does not do it justice at all. This week during finding time was probably the most adventurous times I've had on my mission so far. Let me just give you a little taste of what went on. So, everyone that lives in Sooke has THEE LONGEST DRIVEWAYS EVER. Seriously. It's like a 7-10 minute walk from the road to someone's house. It's crazy. and the driveways are all uphill, at least I'll get some awesome leg muscle workouts! haha so, everyone lives up in the boons, so as we find there are deer all around us, a deer was like 15 feet away from me at one point, and we ate wild blackberries as we walked (more like "hiked"). Oh and the drive ways? most of them are NOT paved. so i almost fell on my behind a few times due to the steepness of the incline and the looseness of the dirt and pebbles lol then there was a dog that followed us while we walked. saw some peacocks. someone gave us a giant zucchini. Went finding basically right next to the ocean while still being in the woods (seriously guys, this area is the best) and it just was awesome. oh, my new companion is Sister Han. She is from Taiwan and is so cute. she's having us all go to China Town today(: #sostoked she is teaching me Chinese. it's basically the best thing ever. also, we have heated tile floors in our apartment in the washroom so it's awesome. oh, and washroom means bathroom, for those of you who aren't Canadian. The Ferry ride over to the island was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. perfect weather. quite windy though, but it was great(: the area here is awesome, we have some great members and recent converts. can't wait to tell you all my adventures next week(: 再見 (goodbye) in Chinese(: haha my comp. is awesome. love you all! xoxo
love always, sister brittany larsen(:

-me and sister han(:

-gorgeous view

-the woods

-peacocks(:

-of course i pulled over to get a picture with the peacocks!! they were in their element!

Most stressful week ever

Seriously. It really was super stressful. But we made it through! Now all that's left are finding out about transfers! So A. got baptized last Sunday and then M. got baptized on Saturday then they both got confirmed yesterday and got their temple recommends! I am so happy for them. It's so ridiculous how over-the-moon I am about the fact that they both got baptized and are going to just be the best converts ever. So great(: Anyways, not only was it stressful planning for all of that, but M. asked me to sing "Teach Me to Walk In The Light" at her baptism and then we were asked to sing "How Great Thou Art" in sacrament yesterday and then we were asked to sing "Let the Holy Spirit Guide" in primary. so needless to say I am all sung-out and hopefully won't be doing any more musical numbers for a few weeks at least. I enjoyed it, but I still get super nervous and then it's not as fun anymore. But hymns are great(: haha anyways, there's that. Not much really happened this past week. Some guy answered the door while he was shirtless and was shaving so he had shaving cream all over his face. that was super funny. If I do get transferred from this area I am going to miss it so much! Maple Ridge has been so good to me and I will miss it dearly, members, investigators, and companions alike. Keep reading the scriptures and praying everyday!! I love you all(:

xoxo
love always, Sister Brittany Anne Larsen(:

P.S. Finally get to send some pictures!!!!

-beautiful B.C.

-A.'s baptism(:

-The Milewski's. this wonderful old German couple in our ward. the cutest.

-Happy Canada Day cake eating contest. i was not the winner.

-M.'s baptism(:

"Being worthy does not require perfection." -Becoming Perfect in Christ, Elder Gerrit W. Wong

So, first things first....

A**** GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY!!!!!!(:

So there was that. It was so amazing and such a spiritual experience for everyone who was there. It just amazes me how much God really does prepare these people. A**** looked beautiful in all white and I love that she made the decision to receive her first saving ordinance of baptism(: M****** gets baptized on Saturday so keep praying for her as well!!(:

Another cool thing, I held a black chicken named Jellybean on my lap during a lesson when we went on exchanges this past week.

We were tracting and WE SAW A BEAR!!! scariest thing of my life. granted, we were tractin' up in the boons, but seriously, we were talking to this guy at the door and he was like, "oh look, there's a bear. be careful" and we turn around and across the street in the neighbors yard there was a bear!!! a little black bear, but that scared me even more because where there's a cub, there's a mama. so we didn't let it phase us, we kept tracting but we kept a close eye out. don't worry mom and dad, i was "watching my back" (: Then that same guy we were talking to told us he didn't believe in God and then there was a mosiquoto on my leg so i swatted it off and the guy looked at me and said "did you just kill that?" and i said "uhh.. yeah?" and he said "that was one of God's creatures. and you just took it's life." but he told us that HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN GOD LIKE TWO SECONDS EARLIER. so that was a really bizarre conversation.

Okay, so back to the serious stuff. I had a breakdown on Thursday. but it wasn't even for myself! It was because I was so sad for everyone that had rejected the gospel that day. I was sad because they kept rejecting the one thing that can make them truly happy in this life and in eternity. and i just got sad. so i cried. and cried. and then i realized that satan had taken the charity I had and made it into discouragment and hopelessness for others souls! so then i stopped being sad, said a prayer, and now I'm fine! thank goodness for spiritual revelation! The Atonement is real. and people truly can be saved by coming unto Christ.

I love you all so much(: have a wonderful week and live the gospel to the fullest!(:

love always, Sister Brittany Larsen(:

Happy Belated Canada Day!

I always forget to say "happy whatever" BEFORE the actual holiday on my mission. so sorry about that. Anywho, it's been another AWESOME week here in Maple Ridge. The people here are so prepared! Well, the ones that will actually listen to us are! But even the ones that don't necessarily want to hear it are usually kind. except for yesterday. we were finding and like the 3rd house we go to was this super rude man that was just being really sarcastic and totally taking the Spirit away. so obviously we left but i was not having it yesterday. i had zero charity in that moment and honestly, all i wanted to do was go back and tell that guy how mean he was and then stick my tongue out at him and walk away. but obviously i can't do that as a missionary and it would not be a very Christ-like thing to do. so i didn't. but i chose to let it bug me. and after about 5 minutes I (and neither of my companions for that matter) couldn't stand it anymore so we stopped and said a prayer. the power of prayer is so real!! instantly the Spirit came back and we found a new investigator almost instantly after that. it was so amazing. i love my companions so much and am so grateful for the wonderful example they set for me in true Christ-like discipleship! Yesterday was a really good day. despite the fact that i tripped ON A WOODCHIP and biffed it hardcore. seriously. my knee is super scraped up but i'm okay(: haha just glad no one else saw it besides my companions...hopefully. Finding on Canada Day was super successful too! we were able to find a family to teach! which i am really hoping works out! lots of prayers for them please(: we also found this SUPER solid investigator last night at like 8:45 so that was a miracle! it was just a really amazing week overall. I am gaining SUCH  strong testimony of The Book of Mormon. I bore my testimony in sacrament yesterday on the power of it because I have just been so overcome with emotion everytime I testify to others about it. It truly is the keystone of our religion and we should make it the keystone of our lives! Once you've gained that divine witness for yourself, it is something that can NEVER be taken away from you. no matter the adversity that comes, the trials that try to tear you down, or the people that say it's just a bunch of nonsense. NOTHING in this world will be able to penetrate your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ because you know for yourself that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

I love you all so much(: have a QGC with someone today(: (Quality Gospel Conversation)

love always, Sister Brittany Larsen(:

"[There are] those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer. The reason? They have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives. This is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. We will still experience difficult challenges, but we will be able to face them, to meet them head-on, and emerge victorious."

-President Thomas S. Monson, I Will Not Fail Thee Nor Forsake Thee, General Conference October 2013