Jumping into the missionary life with both feet!! (filmed five days before an official missionary)

first week in Lima

Hola!!!! Como estas?

That is still all i know of spanish but it is still good! This week has been so long i cant believe it. First i am going to say a few things that are bummers. I can´´t ever send pictures in the CCM. I can´t take pictures here unless it is outside and i can´t take them unless it is p day. i´ve had all week to think about this and still am bummed but i can see the reasoning i guess.

So p day is so nice. we went to the temple today and it was all in spanish so it was pretty hard to do everything and understand but it felt so nice to sit in a comfy chair haha

basically i have numb bum 24/7.

THE FUNNIES (peru edition)

1. Last night we had a devotional and the mission president´s wife got up and at the pulpit with every single missionary in the CCM there goes ´´I need to know if any of yous have had diarreahss in the past 2 days okay? whose had it and how many days? I was laughing mostly cuz peeps raised their hands haha.

2. One of our teachers knows a little english but he said one time ´´Espanol es a piece of brownie yes?´ (piece of cake if you didn{t get it)

3. THE LATINAS I don´t understand them cause my spanish is really however i joke and dance with them all the time. we had a dance party in the hall and found out later that there are cameras and all the teachers and president of theCCM saw so.....no more. They are some of my best friends here. It is sad cause i won´t get a picture with them because they don´t have the same pday as me....

FOOD

eggs every. single. morning.

rice and pork

rice and chicken

rice and potatoes and pork

rice and potatoes and chicken

RICE4dayz

oh and rolls everyday

everyone has found hairs in just about everything but the food is so so good. I just gobble it down.

I am totally going to get a rice belly. but. when in peru!

GRANADIAS look them up! it is a way funky fruit that looks like alien poop or fish eggs or something but so good.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

my bowels are being champs. I haven{t had any problem with diarrhea or constipation so thanks for the prayers, keep praying

25 elders last week had diarrhea...lol suckers

a few days ago someone in my group was throwing up and diarrhea at the same time and 2 elders had to go into the bathroom stalls and give him a blessing putting their hands over the stalls. crazy. feel bad for him.

I had to go to Migrations and Interpol which is the police station. Each took 6 hours and i was the only sister but I placed a book of mormon. the guy i started talking to spoke english. luckily. basically i asked what he did for work and he was going off on how he wants to be better at not just caring about material things and getting more knowledge so i asked if he has heard of our church and told him about the bom and then gave him it and a passalong card! I was next in line but he told the elders behind me that it was a perfect way to start his birthday and that he was waiting for a change so he would read. so cool!

MY COMP

she is awesome. she is from alaska and kinda reminds me of Thornbrue from skyline haha we get along really well

MY DISTRICT IS SO FUN/inspiring/cool

Almost everyone in my district has taken lots of spanish in hish scool. 2 are fluent and my comp is pretty good. I´m not good but hey it has only been a week.

ACTIVITY TIME

I play futbal which is fun or volleyball with the latino´s. there is a guy who doesn´t look latino but looks black and everyone calls him either OBAMA  cause he looks exactly like him. peeps makes jokes when he hits it like ¨´I think it is time for a change hehe

SPIRITUAL

i thought everything here would be way more spiritual but SUNDAY was the best spiritual day. I don{t know if it was because i was learning the doctorine in english for the first time or what but it is aweosme

SPANISH

We can only pray in spanish which is cool, but sometimes i cant express all that i want to ask for or am thankful for but it is all good. i can testify and pray in spanish and everything else is kinda bad haha i´m a lot better at reading body language from the latinas though.

Sisters get lots of attention cause there is like 80 elders and 15 sisters. someone told me they heard peeps talking about me in the bathroom....i asked if there is anything i should stop doing and he said to stop smiling (joking) but for reals it is kinda a joke how scared they get to talk to me. 

how is everyone?  I miss you.

its a little cold but not bad at all.

luh u all.

SEND ME PICTURESSSSS

Less than 1 day..

WHAT?! I am getting on a plane in less than 24 hours to fly to Peru! I'm incredibly terrified, but beyond excited to help others learn of Christ! How amazing it will be to talk, teach, and learn about Jesus Christ for the next 18 months! 

Today, I had the opportunity to be in the temple with my whole family and for awhile I said to myself why am I doing this? Why would I leave them? It is so that others can be together with their families forever just like mine.  

Please pray for my stomach…who knows what i'll be eating. Rat and Guinea Pig for sure. I am so grateful for all the love and support I've received. Be back soon!!

Alex

MY FAREWELL TALK

Hola mi amigos y familia! Como estas?.  I have been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints to the Arequipa Peru Mission.  Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru with an elevation of about 9,000 ft.  As I have googled it the past few months the temperature never gets below 45 degrees and doesn’t go over 75 degrees, but people that have been there either tell me that it is super hot or they got frostbite. So, I’ll have to let you know about the weather later. I have been so humbled by the support and encouragement that I have received the past few months and just want to thank all of you for being here today. It means a lot.

            Well I have dreamed and pondered about the farewell talk for quite some time now and I came to a conclusion that the reason I am standing here is because I made a decision so I am going to share with you all my experience of deciding to serve a mission.  Before I start, however, I would like to invite you all to pray for me to be able to speak my mind clearly and that you will all feel the spirit here today. 

            Once Upon A Time I was a young girl sitting in sacrament meeting listening to Jami Dunfords homecoming and the only thing I can really remember her saying was, “Every girl should go on a mission”. In my garden of missionary work a seed was planted. I didn’t think much about it because I was so little, but it doesn’t surprise me that I remember her saying it. Fast forward to high school when all my brothers had served a mission and it became the family joke that I was going on one.  Along came the infamous general conference where President Monson announced that sister missionaries could now serve at the age of 19. Alone in my living room, I began to prance around the house saying oh my gosh oh my gosh is this for real? .  Now at this point I wasn’t thinking of going I was mostly just happy that the option was available for others at a much earlier age than 21. Although I did find this in my journal, “It is hard to believe that a 30 second announcement is changing my future plans.  In about a year I could be filling out missionary papers. I always thought and saw myself seeing how life were when I was 21, then I would go but this means to me that the lord wants me to go and share my love for the gospel.” The seed in my garden was getting watered and nourished.  After this announcement the whole LDS community was buzzing away with plans to go on missions and I believe that this is where I began to get bugged with the question that I was asked a zillion times but now have an answer to. “So, do you think you’ll serve a mission?”  Here are a few of my responses: I don’t know yet, My family has had enough missionaries, and I am semi-embarrassed to admit this next one. Missions are the worst I hate them. But then the next day I would say, Ahh missions are so great, they are just the best. A part of me was always hesitant to be a sister missionary because living in a house of three returned elders, they would often have stories of the sisters usually ending with an “oh the sisters, bless their hearts” phrase.  

            College came and a lot of my friends had already left on missions. This was the beginning of me wanting to know if my Heavenly Father wanted me to.  I enrolled in Mission Prep my first semester hoping that it would help me decide.  As I sat in my seat with many other prospective missionaries I would feel the spirit in the lessons and it didn’t make me feel that I needed to go on a mission. Rather, I would often tear up just thinking I LOVE JESUS! I LOVE HEAVENLY FATHER so much! Often times I would think to myself, you know I AM worthy and I AM able. I like talking to people, and I love talking about the gospel. What the heck would stop me from doing that? Some days I’d be so grateful for being born into a family with the gospel and it filled me with the desire and obligation to serve BECAUSE I’ve been so blessed.  

I got so sick of my internal battle of thoughts that over Christmas break I decided to meet with the one and only Bishop Alder to bounce ideas off of him and just chat about what I was going through.  Basically he said that going to school is a good decision and going on a mission is a good decision.  The thing that is hard is making your decision right. You have to make a choice and make it right within yourself so you won’t regret anything. I just want to testify to you all that if you are ever in a pickle, it is really nice to just talk to the bishop, he won’t make a decision for you, but you feel the saviors love through him and are left with a feeling of hopeful peace. 

I have also been blessed with amazing parents who have always talking me through situations and decisions.  I remember one night talking with my parents and I told them that I hadn’t decided but that I felt inadequate to serve and that I would be terrified to go on a mission. I can’t stress how real these feelings of inadequacy were, This was a strange feeling, because I have never been one to be scared of much, but I was frightened of the thought of having a mean companion, not knowing a language if I had to learn one, the schedule alone, the heartache. So many things. As I talked with them, they told me, “Alex, you have been preparing your whole life for a mission.” Satan can imitate many feelings but the only one he can never fake is peace. 

            The next week, I was on lds.org and found an article on answers you can get from prayers about the decision to serve.  I had been praying for eight months and I didn’t feel any different about my decision.  Some answers in the article said, Yes you should serve, but not now. No you don’t need to serve, or Not now but maybe later. As I was reading the descriptions, nothing seemed like the answer I was getting until I read the last response. NO ANSWER.  I knew that this was my situation. It went on to explain, that having NO ANSWER didn’t mean that Heavenly Father wasn’t hearing my prayers or didn’t want to answer my prayer, but that he trusted me to make the decision on my own. After seeing this, I knew that I needed to change my prayers from “Help me to know if I should serve a mission,” to just making a decision, telling Heavenly Father what my plan was then ask if it is the right thing for me.

 The following week my weeds or scared reasoning’s crept back in my head and I continued thinking why I wasn’t ready for a mission and then this scripture really stood out to me as I was reading.  Moroni 7:33. “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” Again, the spirit was tangible and I didn’t feel the need to go on a mission still, but it was a blessing to know that my fear was answered with direct revelation through scripture.  I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost and how he confirms feelings through our mind and our heart.  I have had many experiences with the Holy Ghost but one sticks out in particular to me.

I had an experience with a roommate that didn’t tell us how things were in her life and was pretty private. She opened up and was upset about a situation that had been going on in her life for a long time, and after a few hours of talking I finally decided to ask her, Have you ever thought to pray and tell your Heavenly Father how you are feeling or asking for help.  Her response broke my heart, she said, “I’m not good enough to pray.”  I’ve been surprised at how many people feel this way, but I know the spirit guided me to tell her of our Heavenly Father’s love for us.  I don’t remember much of what I said that night, but I remember thinking that experience was for me. I knew I was in tune with the spirit and that I could be bold, open my mouth, and teach.  I sat back and for one of the first times my desire to go on a mission increased.  I decided to go to the temple the next day, to confirm my new decision! After baptisms I read my patriarchal blessing with a mindset of missionary work. I had read it many times before so I anticipated what was coming, but this time it made so much more sense. I left the temple that day knowing that the battle in my head was over!

            When I got home I was reassured of my decision as I looked at my phone and I had a text from Bishop Alder saying We need to talk. Will you be home this Sunday? How perfect was that!

            You may be wondering why I keep using words like Garden, seed, and weeds because you all know I’m not close to a gardener or a farmer.  The law of the Harvest found in Galatians 6:7 reads….”Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  As I have looked back and analyzed my past year, I realize that the reason I got my answer was because I worked and sowed for it.  I prayed, read my scriptures, talked to church leaders and parents, pondered in my heart and now I have reaped the benefits! 

            Alma 32: 43 says, Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you. This scripture is the epitome of what I went through.  I have already reaped many rewards from this decision to serve a mission.  Every few days I get reassuring feelings and moments and I know this is what I need to be doing.  I know that with missionary work I will reap what others have sowed before me in Peru.  Likewise, who knows how many seeds will be planted while I’m there that I won’t be able to see come to a harvest.  The only thing I can plan on the next 18 months is to continue sowing and give everything I have to the Peruvians.  They have a lot more troubles than I do.  

 My whole life I have grown up feeling like I never had any trials.  My life was pretty easy and all I worried about was a homework assignment or a golf tournament.  This concerned me because you hear all the time that you grow from your trials and that’s how you become stronger.. I got the impression that I couldn’t become stronger and I couldn’t grow without getting through a trial.  Now, I realize that I’ve been growing my whole life without trials and it is okay to not feel like you have to be going through something. They will come, but for now I’m going to enjoy my time and be happy in knowing that I can still become better through Jesus Christ.

             I have a testimony of this gospel.  I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I’m thankful for the Atonement and the power that comes from using that incredible gift in my every-day life.   It is not just for repenting, but as a comfort in knowing that someone else has been through what you have.  I had a seminary teacher who would always say I wouldn’t dare live a day of my life without reading the Book of Mormon. I understand and agree with him.  We are incredibly blessed to have it in our lives and I have learned a lot from reading, questioning, and praying about it.  I’m thankful for Joseph Smith who restored the gospel in the Latter-Days.  I know President Monson receives revelation from the Lord. I wouldn’t be speaking right now if we didn’t receive revelation through the prophet.  I don’t know everything, and that is okay. Sometimes it is good to just believe.  However, I do know that I can come to know a lot more as I continue planting the good seeds of praying and reading my scriptures. 

             

            I’ve really appreciated everyone’s support not only today, but also my entire life.  Coaches, Teachers, ward members, YW leaders- you are all superstars.  To my friends: you all provide light and happiness in the heart. I’ll never forget the examples that you’ve been to me.  What can I say? You’re all givers! My family: You guys are the reason I will soon become Hermana Larsen. 

The roller coaster of emotions has been quite crazy the past few days, but I came across a quote that Elder Eyring used in a talk that pretty much sums up my feelings in a nice eloquent way.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast! I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tainted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I now live by faith, lean on His

presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, and my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear! I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up stored up, and paid up of the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till I know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear.

Henry b. Eyring

 There has been so much love my way and I can’t wait for 16 more days to redistribute all the love to those in Peru.  I won’t know the language, and I don’t have much to give them except my heart. I love you and the Lord loves you too.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.