"and that...is a crazy lady." (can you name it?)

Alright alright, so i can't really give the full details of the reasoning for my title this week, but basically let's just say I've been exposed to a whole new world of things that would have never ocurred inside my little bubble back in good ol' Murray, Utah. I ran away from this woman though. She was terrifying and you could not feel the Spirit at all around her. It was sad. But we shoved a Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet in her hand and then proceeded to run away.

Aaaanyways, this week has been...interesting. All of our baptismal dates dropped. I was emailing one of my dear friends recently and he asked me sarcastically for dating advice. I said "what's a date if it's not a baptismal date?" yeah, all my previous knowledge of the opposite gender has gone out the window since becoming a full-time missionary. Which I am actually quite proud of, to be considered one of those "weird sister missionaries", but whatever. Judge me. So like I was saying, no dates. So we are hoping to set some soon in the next week or so...our investigators just have not been super solid lately, which is quite heart-breaking to see when you've worked so hard with them and prayed so fervently that they will actually accept what you are teaching and even when the Spirit testifies to them, they still reject it. But WE DO NOT LOSE HOPE!! Rule #1 in Sister Larsen's Book of Knowledge. There's a lot of "rule #1's" in there, but that's a story for a different day.

It is so weird that we are half way through with yet another transfer. The time goes by oh so quickly. And before I know it I'll be leavin' on a jet plane back to my home town that I love so much. I love this place though. God could not have put me in a more beautiful part of the world than right here in British Columbia. The people are amazing and the miracles are even more wonderful than I could have ever imagined before coming on a mission. This church is true and it changes lives! I love you all(:

Love always, Sister Brittany Anne Larsen(:

Us and President Tilleman. He called it "a tearful goodbye" picture haha We had interviews with him and of course that always ends in spiritual tears.

 

Me at the Aquarium in Vancouver

Sister Stewart at the Aquarium.

We went to dinner with T. and Sister P.

 Us and Sister Lutz in Fort Langley!

I love Sister Lavery (we came out together). We had matching skirts at zone meeting!

Fully Dedicated to the Lord

Hello my wonderfully beautiful people(: This week has been A-W-E-S-O-M-E! Don't ask me the details of why. It just has been. Over the last few weeks I have come to know myself and my Savior better than I ever have before in my entire life. I know for a fact that if I did not serve this mission that I'm on right now, I would not be able to accomplish the things that God needs me to do in the future. It has taught me soo much about exact obedience to the Lord, priesthood leaders, and the guidelines given to us as missionaries! I've learned so much about loving EVERYONE and working hard. Charity is a hard thing to have, but when you pray for it, the Lord helps you! I love my mission. That's all there is to it. I've been out for over 9 months now and it is so bizarre but I love that I've been truly converted to the Lord, the gospel, and to my mission! I know that I can make it and I know that Heavenly Father has so many more miracles in store for me the rest of my mission with helping souls come unto Christ. I was reading yesterday in Alma 15 and in verse 16 it talks about Amulek and how he gave up literally everything for the gospel. "And it came to pass the Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred." Amulek was totally abandoned by his family and friends and gave up all the things of the world just so he could know the word of God and be truly converted! and although i haven't been rejected by my family and friends, I've left them all for a short time and left all the things of the world behind so that not only can I know the word of God better, but so I can help others know it too and help them see the blessings that come from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Nothing brings greater peace or joy in this life than from being exactly obedient to the Lord's commandments and from following the counsel of the prophet. God lives and loves us! Have a wonderful week everyone and don't forget to count your many blessings and be grateful IN your circumstances like President Uchtdorf has instructed us to do(: love you all.

xoxo

love always, sister brittany anne larsen(:

We cannot know true joy without the trials God gives us.

Okay people, okay. I know it has been forever and a day since I have graced you all with one of my long, glorious emails. So buckle up. I mean, it's really not a big long dramatic story, but it built my testimony and I think that's all God was really trying to do.

So once upon a time, God gave me a trial, just like He gives everyone trials. This trial was different and something I had never known before. He brought me to my knees so many times until I finally learned to rely on Him. I hit rock bottom to find out that He was my rock. The anchor of my soul. The foundation of what I will build my life on. I have never felt more depressed, more lonely, or useless in my entire life. I wanted to come home. I was close to coming home. Then right when I was ready to give up, the sun came out. God's hand is always outstretched towards us, we just have to reach out and take it. He will never force us to do anything, He waits for us to ask for His help, and even when it doesn't feel like He is answering, He is. And what a glorious day it is when we finally recognize His answers.

So, I got a blessing from President, and interview with him, took a deep breath, and actually smiled again. I am half way. I feel a renewed sense of purpose. I actually dread the day I come home, because everyone says that back home is "the real world" but it's not. THIS, missionary work, is the the real world. This is what eternity will be like. This is where salvation begins. In the eternities, we won't have to worry about school or bills or being late for work or what the coolest new movie is. We will be focused on our families, serving others, and feeling true joy, which does not come from the world, it comes from God! When we all figure that out, that's the day we will all be excited to enter the Celestial Kingdom and leave all our worldly things behind. I don't really care about the newest song on iTunes anymore like I used to. I don't miss the movies back at home that are coming out while I'm gone. I miss my family, but not enough to leave my mission earlier than when the Lord has told me I've completed my mission. So I guess what I'm trying to get at here is that I. LOVE. MY MISSION. And nothing will ever change that. Ever. So, in the words of the beloved Apostle, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "keep trying, keep believing, be happy, and believe in good things to come." I love everyone.

Love always, Sister Brittany Anne Larsen

Canada Vancouver Mission

Best Mission on Earth