I LOVE the miracles here - Dec. 13, 2011

Hi :)

This week was such a good week! We had a lot of success in different areas this week and it really has been a testimony builder week for me. On Thursday last week, we had a member come out with us for team ups. His name is Bro.(Logan) Christensen and he is a young return missionary who has this amazing testimony! We got to visit the guy Caleb that we met at the Subway a week or so ago and it wasn't as miraculous as we thought it would be but we are hoping that he opens his heart up to seeing why he has ran into us. We did get to visit with Greg, our investigator who is getting baptized and he brought a friend of his who kind of had off the wall remarks. I was a little nervous at first but I instantly saw how Greg loves his friend, respects him but Greg also holds his own testimony of this gospel and nothing is shaking him! I loved it.

Friday night was my favorite. We went to visit with Mae and her family, the same family I did the prayer drawing activity and we did therapy with. We walked in to find a DRASTIC change. Her husband Jim had just finished the laundry, the house was clean, the kids were all sitting around playing checkers, the room was re arranged to a more open feeling, Mae was out of her wheelchair sitting on the couch with her walker next to her and their was a feeling of LOVE in their home. It.was.AMAZING. They told us how they have been really trying to work on things saying family prayer every night while talking about problems the kids might have that day and making sure that everyone is being kind. We asked about their reading of the Book of Mormon and Mae was able to reiterate almost in full detail what happens in the first 6 pages! I was BLOWN away. Sister Underlin and I have never seen that type of change in such a short amount of time. This family is so faithful and has a strong desire to make things work. The best is they took the gospel, the basic teachings of prayer and reading and put it to the test then they saw the impact on their family. My testimony was strengthened SO much on the power of prayer and family involvement with it. There is such a strength that comes from it and I have experienced it first hand in such a beautiful way. I feel so privileged to be out here learning from people and seeing the Lord's hand in everything.
Later Friday night was our ward Christmas party which was a lot of fun! The ward expressed their excitement to keep me hear over the holidays which of course made me happy! The young women were pretty excited too, they make me feel like a super hero sometimes haha. Love them.

Sunday was a miracle day. We visited Mae and the family on Saturday to drop off some Sunday clothes for her and her 2 girls (we didn't have any extra clothes for her 2 boys or her little brother JD). The littlest boy Jacob was sick so we dropped stuff off and left, reminding them about church the next day to which their response was oh yeah I think some of the kids might be going. Our hearts dropped and we just prayed our hearts out. Sunday morning rolls around and the person we thought was picking them up was sitting right there on the pew in the chapel! "oh great" we thought...as I listened to a voicemail from Mae I look over at the door to see her husband Jim walking in with all the boys and one of their friends. It was an amazing sight of plaid shirts and jeans. They looked nervous but happy. The ward helped us out, adults and kids making sure the kids all went the right way and Jim came along with us to Sunday school! They all stayed for the 3 hours and Jim expressed his appreciation the whole time. It really was amazing. Did I mention how much I love this family?! Cause I do!

This is the first week of the next 6 weeks of the transfer and it couldn't have started off any better. I sometimes cant believe I am on a mission or have been gone for 9 months or see the miracles that I have seen. I am full of so much love for our Savior, for his unconditional love for everyone around me and the opportunity I have to help others feel of His love. What a better gift to have this Christmas season than this one. I love you all and cant express my gratitude very well but know that it is a LOT :)

Love

Sistaaaaaaa Larson