May 31, 2011

Hi Hi Hi!
This week we had our first tornado warning, sirens going off and all!! I was scared, okay only a little but it was very weird to me to have been joking the day before with my comp about if they went off how I would prob have a panic attack! But I didnt. Go me, whoop! We didnt get hit though but a town not too far from us in Oak Grove had some bad hail and then a tornado did hit in Sadalia. We went to the Speak's home, watched the news (yes, I watched tv on my mission...I'm SO rebellious) and made sure to just keep watching outside. It was surreal.
I did have a fun random filled week with my companion though, making smores over tea light candles, making imprints on our forheads with our name tags and all sorts of randomness which you can see in the pictures! Haha.
Thursday night after dinner with the Reid's we stopped at a nursing home up in Oak Grove and visited with two older ladies Thelma and Helan. They were so fun and reminded me about how much I love visiting with older people. I think that the show "kids say the darnest things" should be redone for "elderly say the darnest things!" Haha. I wish I was better at remembering it but it was fun to joke with them and talk about how far they both had come in their lives. They had both been through a lot and have these amazing testimonies. I felt privileged to be there, hearing their life stories and talking about how Christ helped them through the hard times.
I had another real life hit this week when we went to Bates City on Sunday visiting some of the trailer parks where we have some less actives living. As we stopped in to visit the first lady, I was blown away by the way she was living. Inside she had 3 dogs, her bed and a tv in this tiny "apartment". She didnt own a vacumm and had pee stains from the dogs on her bed. After talking to her, sharing about how Heavenly Father knew her, she was filled with such comfort knowing that He wants her to be happy. She was holding on to things from the past and didnt feel that she should be happy, she didnt deserve it. As we left, she was glad we came and I had never felt the love Heavenly Father has for his children like I did in there.
Looking back on my week, I really see how much the Lord wants us all to be happy and it all starts with ourselves and our family. There is a reason why all the prophets have said to have family prayer, family scripture reading, family home evening. So many people have fallen away or have troubles in their families and I know that it goes back to all of that. I feel extremly blessed to have loving parents on Earth who care for me and love me. But more importantly that Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to be happy, to have success, to help others and to have peace. Its amazing.
I miss my family and my friends so much! I am SO grateful for the fun emails and letters that I get! I LOVE it! :) Love you! :)

Love,

SISTAAAAAAAAAA Steph LARSON