Not As The World Giveth

Hello everyone! It's me, Sister Larson. This week was some classic missionary stuff. I learned a lot about missionary work and about life. For example, one lady showed us how she makes her own pills in case she ever gets poisoned. We were like “oh hey why are you adding that strange blue powder to those previously sealing pills?” And she was like “it's THE antidote”. Sheesh I might need one of those some day. 

Anyway as the title of my email suggests we had a pretty big surprise this week that I will reveal later in my email. Hah. Also just for the record I am in fact eating an army biscuit while I write this.

here are some pristine little sections

BECAUSE I PROMISED

I ran out of time last week so here are the pictures from our district activity at the strawberry far. The 6 of us for the last time *that is foreshadowing*. Anyway, feast your eyes.

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We are your single aunts on a girl trip. Ft. Sister Peters, the cutest Senior missionary. She and her husband are adorbs.

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I met Noah. Elder Andersen was really in the back of all of my photos. 

FINDING FINDING FINDING.

We have a goal as a mission to find 4600 new people this month so we have been really pushing ourselves to talk to more people. It still blows my mind that I can walk up to someone and just say “do you want a picture of Jesus” and most of the time they say yes and sometimes they are even like yes and please come into my house and eat my food.

PLOT TWIST

The plot twist of the century is Sister Bentley (my MTC companion) is now my roommate? True story. So she had Sister Baldueza are companions now! I have photos for proof.

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We had to say goodbye to Sister Duran which was hard but she is going to be an absolute blessing to the people in Arevalo! She is absolutely killing it and I can't wait to see what she does next!

NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH

Everyday we meet people who have had unbelievably difficult lives. They have lost family members, suffered serious illness, lived in extreme poverty and or had family members treat them horribly wrong. We never know this when we first meet people but like the quote from President Eyring goes “ when you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” I'm learning more and more that most of the people we pass everyday are actively struggling and desperately searching for peace. 

In the Bible Christ tried over and over to explain to his disciples that he was going to die but that he would not leave them alone. They never caught on. He said in John 14 verse 18 “ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The disciples still didn't get it. In verse 27 he says “ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” They still didn’t understand. So when Christ died they were in complete dispair. They had lost all hope. But then if we remember the story, Christ did come back. He came to them again. Even though the disciples (us) felt completely lost and forgotten, Christ had not forgotten them (us). He gives us peace that can not be earned, fought for, or found in any other way. He is the Prince of Peace and because of Him we need not be afraid. Let not your heart be troubled. Fear not but be believing only. 

Christ is my Savior and the more I learn about him the more I am amazed by the eternity of his grace and the perfection of his love. He loves you. He is Peace.

Sister Larson