"You guys are kind of like Jehovah Witnesses, but not really, because you wear nametags and smile all the time"

Dear Family,

 

Another wonderful week in Oliver/Osoyoos! Heavenly Father is bringing miracles to Sister Parkinson and I as we work hard at trying to invite everyone to come unto Christ!

 

Tuesday was great! We were able to get in contact with a former investigator and talk to her about coming to church. She still has such a desire to learn, but is super busy so we are hoping her schedule will loosen up a little so we can meet with her again. We were able to do some service for Sister L. so that was good because we will find ANY excuse to wear pants as sister missionaries lol Sister Parkinson and I also able to get a priesthood blessing from Brother Whitesell, our Branch Mission Leader. He is so great and the blessings definitely helped both me and Sister P.

 

Wednesday was great. We had District Meeting so that's always fun! We got to see R., a recent convert, and committed him to stop smoking. He said he would do his best, so we were thrilled about that as well! We also met with A.  that night and had an awesome lesson with her all about repentance and truly changing the desires of our hearts. She is wonderful and Sister P. and I are so glad she is so willing to talk with us.

 

Thursday we had Cody O's funeral. It was so sad but a very colourful and bright. His mom was very at peace with everything and takes comfort in knowing she will be able to see him again someday. We also got to have dinner with the B.'s. We just love them so much. They are like my adopted grandparents out here(:

 

Friday we went on exchanges and I learned so much from our District Leader, Sister Kunz! I had been feeling kind of bad because I didn't feel like I was being a successful missionary. She told me that something that helps her is to remember that everyone has their personal agency and that our job as missionaries is to give everyone the necessary tools for them to make a right decision. If we are doing all we can to help them, then we are being successful in doing our job as missionaries.

 

Saturday we did weekly planning since we didn't get a chance to do it on Thursday. We did some tracting that night and got to watch some of The District that night as well.

 

Sunday we went to church and then had dinner with Sister H., a less-active. She is great and is so sweet. We had been fasting all day for a baptism in October as well so the food tasted even better!!

 

Yesterday was P-day and so that was good! We had a lesson with R. and E. and N. were able to come with us. They are so great for giving up their time to come with us. We found out R. hadn't smoked in 4 whole days!! It was a miracle and we told him to keep up the good work! We also saw T., Sister B.'s step brother, and I invited him to baptism. He said yes!! We set a date for October 19th and we are hoping to be able to help him in any way we can to help him be ready by that day!! We are so excited!!! We also had dinner with the B.'s again and had a great lesson on temple work.

 

 This week was so incredible and I hope that I get to stay in this area for at least another transfer! We find out about transfers on Monday! I love you all and hope you have an amazing week(: the church is true!!

 

 

We made homemade oreos!! This one is for you Auntie Head(:

The sunset on....Saturday I think haha

 

Love, Sister Larsen(:

 

I asked her about the title of her email..... this is what she said.

oh yeah, on Friday we ran into a guy who had met with the J.W.'s a while back...forgot to mention that, and he told Sister Kunz and I that about us lol it was pretty funny.

Crazy, Busy, Wonderful Week of Missionary Work

Dear Fam Jam,

Missionary work is exhausting!!! I have almost fallen asleep in a couple lessons lol but I love it so much and wouldn't trade it for the world right now!!!

Tuesday was great. We got to help deliver bags for the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive (their Thanksgiving is October 14th). So that's what we did for most of the day, and it was really hot but we had fun. I got some massive blisters, but it's okay because now my shoes are REALLY broken in(:

Wednesday we had Zone Meeting. It was absolutely wonderful and I learned so much about being a "new era" missionary and how hard we have to work so that God can help us when we fall short. We had dinner at the Martino's and that was great. Their family is so awesome and I'm so grateful for them and all of the support they give to us as missionaries(: We did service for Sister B. that night (nonmember daughter of an active member). It was so great to see how much we were able to help her and she said she appreciated it so much!

Thursday was weekly planning but we also go to do exchanges part way through the day. I got to be with Sister Hughes, one of the Sister Training Leaders in my zone. She is so wonderful and I learned so much from her about member work, positivity, and connecting with people when finding them to teach!! We had so many QGC's (quality gospel conversations) that evening during consecrated finding time and I loved it so much.

Friday we went and did some service for Sister S. and helped her make peach jam and can peaches! It was so cool to learn about and she even let us have some. The jam is so delicious!!! We exchanged back and Sister Parkinson and I went and tracted for the rest of the evening.

Saturday was so busy and crazy! We went and picked up all the bags for the food drive and then we got to help sort the food. It was so much fun and we got to work very closely with the members, all of whom I absolutely adore!! That evening we found a young man named Colton who looked worried and troubled. Sister P. and I asked if we could help him and he said he didn't have a place to stay for the night. We called every single person we could think of for a solid 45 minutes to see if anyone could help. No one could. I have never prayed so hard in my life that someone would be willing to help this young man. Then randomly, this gentleman walks up and is like "you need a place to stay for the night? I've got a floor you can stay on." Colton said thanks and walked off with the man. After that I just started crying. I knew at that point that Heavenly Father was there and that miracles happen if you have the faith that they will, even if after everything you do, you think nothing has worked, He will work it all out.

Sunday was great! We had potluck and it was absolutely delicious. Then yesterday was P day and we got to go see Amanda's horse, Cassanova. It was so fun!! We also got to do service for Sister B. and help her clean some more!

This week was so wonderful and I just love being a missionary(: I love you all. The church is true!(:

Love, Sister Brittany Anne Larsen(:

 

 

A week full of miracles!!!

My Dear Wonderful Amazing Crazy Lovable Family,

So this week has just been so incredible. Heavenly Father is definitely playing a huge role in the success that Sister Parkinson and I have been having!

Monday was P-day, but we had Brother Bender's baptism, so we only got a couple hours of P-day in, which was fine because, HELLO! BAPTISM!!! We were pretty excited(: everything went super well with that and it was all wonderful.

Tuesday we did a lot of tracting. We went and visited Sister Lipps, who had hurt her back so she hadn't been able to get out much. She said she had gotten priesthood blessing though and was feeling a little better. Then we went and visited Sister LaFleur and got to do some service for her. We helped her sort bottles and cans. She does it every year so she can earn money to go to Hawaii! It's pretty neat.

Wednesday President Tilleman came! It was so incredible to just feel the power of his calling while we were in his presence. He helped us talk to one of our investigators who is having a bit of trouble committing to be baptized. President Tilleman helped him understand the importance of it a little better than we could though. After that we went and visited Robin, a recent convert who is still having trouble with quitting smoking. President Tilleman said that we couldn't stay if he was going to smoke in front of us so we left and got some lunch. Sister P. and I were a little surprised because we had never just gotten up and walked out on him because he smokes all the time during lessons with us. President Tilleman said it is very important to have him realize he can't have the companionship of the missionaries there with him and have the Spirit be that strong if he is going to smoke. So that was a good learning experience. President Tilleman is so Christ-like too. Robin said he couldn't go to church because he didn't have a white shirt, so President Tilleman gave him the shirt off his back. He also gave Robin his tie and name tag as well. President Tilleman just changed into a golf shirt and had an extra name tag, but it was incredible to see how much love he had for someone he barely knew at all and how important is was to him that Robin went to church.

Thursday was weekly planning. We went and visited a couple members and did some tracting. Again, not much to talk about for Thursdays haha.

Friday we went and visited some former investigators just to see how they were doing. We were able to do some service for the Benders and help them clean their house a bit before their family came to stay with them for a few days.  Our branch mission leaders took us to dinner. The Whitesells are just so incredible and are always taking such good care of us as missionaries. They are the best mission leaders ever. We found out Robin was in the hospital so we went and visited him with the Whitesells. We went and visited some less-actives later that night as well.

Saturday we went and saw Robin again with Sister Ang. We read the Book of Mormon with him and talked about the importance of prayer during hard times. He has pneumonia and will probably be there for a few more weeks. It was so miraculous though that Sister Ang was able to go with us. She works for four jobs and so she's pretty busy most of the time. We were trying to find out who could go with us to visit Robin though and she called to tell us she could go without us even asking her first!! It was amazing. We went and cleaned Sister Barclay's house for her that night and then her daughter agreed for us to come help her clean hers on Wednesday!!

Sunday Brother Bender got confirmed! It was great. We went and visited Sister Lipps and she said that she had prayed this morning that the missionaries would come over and visit her and so she had made us cinnamon rolls this morning! It was so amazing. Her and I are like the same person because we are so assertive and positive. We then were walking to a house to go talk to some friends of a refferral we'd gotten. We were walking past a less-active/part-members house and the husband invited us in. We had an amazing lesson on the Restoration with the husband and wife and I invited Andy (the husband) to be baptized!! He said he would pray about it, but the Spirit was so strong and I just loved it!! 

The church is true. Heavenly Father makes everything happen just the way it is supposed to and we must always recognize His hand in EVERYTHING that happens!! I love you all so much(:

Love, Sister Brittany Anne Larsen(:

It's awkward being a missionary

The life of a missionary is so awkward!! Haha you go talk to strangers (who clearly don't want to talk to you) and ask them super heavy questions (like "do you have a belief in Jesus Christ?") within the first 15 seconds that you meet  them. Everyone in my area is old too, so we get a lot of grumps, and a lot of people who just want to visit. It's a strange thing to be a missionary, and awkward is about the best word that I can think of to describe it! But it's great, and you get used to the awkwardness. I think that's why so many missionaries are awkward after they come home. You just get used to being awkward so it's all fine and dandy and you just accept that fact about yourself. Haha anyways, this week was great!!

Monday we had P-day and did a lot of cleaning and shopping. It must be a sight to see two girls in dresses/skirts washing a car. It's hard when it's a little windy too...my skirt kind of blew up in the wind, and needless to say anyone that would have been there could definitely have seen that I was Mormon, but luckily this town is tiny and there was no one else at the car wash. Haha so that was exciting.

Tuesday we got to e-mail for a little bit, and Sister Parkinson and I only get a little over an hour on the computer each because there is one computer and we have to do it on Tuesdays because our town is tiny and nothing is open on Monday, so we come to our chapel (about 20 minutes away from where we live) and get to e-mail. After that we got to visit an investigator named Jim. He is an older guy who is very lonely and absolutely cannot go anywhere without his little dog named Annie. He brings her to church. A lot of the people in the branch aren't happy with it, but Sister Parkinson and i look at her like a service dog because we think he has depression and she helps him. He had a baptismal date but isn't very sure about it now, so we're still working with him.

Wednesday we had District Meeting in Penticton. It was so great to be able to see the other sisters (I'm in an All-Sister District) and talk with them. They are so incredible and I love them all! We did some tracting that day and that was about it.

Thursday we did Weekly Planning. I really don't like it. It takes us about 5-6 hours to do it and is a long process, but we wouldn't be able to get through the next week without it so I'm grateful for it. Sister Parkinson and I started not feeling too well later so we just stayed in and finished some things we needed to get done. Later that night, we got a text from a less active in our branch who we were planning on going to see tomorrow. She said she couldn't meet with us because her 8 year-old son had been in a fire and was badly burned so she was at the Vanouver Children's hospital with him. We both felt even more sick after hearing about that, so we fasted and prayed for them on Sunday and we're really hoping everything is okay. The little boy, Cody, had 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body and is in an induced coma right now for the pain. The Elders in Vancouver couldn't even go in to give him a Priesthood blessing because of how severe it is. Keep them in your prayers though. Prayer is a very powerful thing and I'm coming to realize that more and more everyday I'm on my mission.

Friday we did A TON of baking. Sister Parkinson made some homemade rolls and I made some cookies. We made some for every single active member of our branch, which is only about 30 people, but it was still a lot of baking. We did some tracting and then went and visited Sister Barclay. She reminds me a lot of Grandma Rosie. It's pretty funny. She is so sweet and has so much faith but is still just so goofy and silly. The thing that made her remind me most about Grandma Rosie was she said one morning she woke up really early and couldn't fall back asleep so she went out front and sat on her porch with the birds and said "good morning birds!!" and just talked to them for a little bit. I love how people here remind me so much of people I love back at home. It makes me feel closer to home for sure.

Saturday we took all our goodies to the members and "heart-attacked" them, which is where you cut out a bunch of paper hearts and stick them all over their door. Sister Parkinson and I think we need to come up with a new name for that though, seeing as everyone in our area literally could have a heart attack any minute and die.

Sister Parkinson and I making hearts for heart-attacking people!!!

Sunday was fast Sunday so we went to church and then visited some part member families in the area. It was nice. There isn't a ton else to report about Sunday.

Yesterday, Monday, was Brother Bender's baptism!!! Ahh!! It was so incredible. He had been investigating the church for over 40 years and his wife (who's a member) had been waiting so long for him to get baptized!! She said she can't wait for them to be able to go through the temple in a year. The spirit there was so amazing and I just want to go baptize everyone now!!! Afterwards, Sister Parkinson and I had to get some shopping done, so we went and this lady just randomly walks up to us and starts talking to us like she knew us. It was really weird and both of us thought maybe she was a member or something, but she said she was friends with Sister Simpson, (the sister who lives upstairs whose house we're staying in) and she was interested in learning more and she had a lot of questions!!! We are really hoping we will be able to meet with her soon. She is definitely ready to hear the gospel.

Sister Parkinson and I with Brother and Sister Bender at his baptsim

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week and remember that THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!!(:

Love, Sister Brittany Larsen

 

 

P.S. Oh darn! I forgot to put in there that when we were talking to an older lady on her doorstep on saturday, she totally let one rip. It was so funny. Sis. P. and I had a hard time keeping it together lol

 

 

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!