End of summer on the Susquehanna

Dear family and friends,

Get ready for a novel (sorry) because I had the most AMAZING week of my life!!!  Hard days, yes.  But bad days, no.  I can't get over this beautiful place and  feel so blessed to be here.    So much has happened

I don't even know where to begin, so please excuse my scatter-brained email!  On a side note, because we always need sisters in the visitor's center my P-day is officially changed to Tuesdays.

I know you're all probably wondering about the opening of the Priesthood Restoration Site! Wow. I can't even think of words to describe this truly sacred place. I think all of us sisters got teary just walking around the site, myself included... Which is saying a lot because I'm not much of a crier! I can't begin to describe how beautiful the site is and how strong the Spirit is, even just on the grounds. But I'd like to share a few highlights since the tours officially began on Saturday.

Typically, if our guests are able to stay for a full tour (which usually takes about an hour and a half) we start with a 25 minute video. It is beautifully done and you can only see it here at the center, so that's pretty neat. It is narrated by a person who portrays Oliver Cowdery, describing the events that occurred during his time in (then Harmony) Susquehanna, PA with Joseph and Emma Smith. Then we take them to the homes of Isaac and Elizabeth Hale and Joseph and Emma, and tell them about significant dates and events, the time period, the families, and stories of faith.  After going through the homes the guests come back to the center where there are a TON of super cool and interactive stations, as well as artifact displays. Also available are walking trails in the area where John the Baptist appeared to restore the Aaronic Priesthood (we don't have an exact location), as well as the original headstones of Isaac and Elizabeth Hale and the first infant Joseph and Emma lost. Just 3 minutes from the center is a little road that leads down to the river where Joseph and Oliver were baptized.

If you can't tell, there is so much to do here!  For more information on the PRS, click here: 

https://www.lds.org/church/events/priesthood-restoration-site-dedication?lang=eng


We see miracles happening here everyday and it is amazing! On Saturday morning Sister Gomm and I were packing up study materials when 2 sisters came running to back to tell us one of our investigators, Felicity, walked in the door, so of course we ran out to give her a tour. She hasn't been attending church and has cancelled all her appointments because one thing or another comes up during her week. We were so surprised to see her there with two of her kids. She said she felt like she needed to come here and her husband even helped her get the kids ready, which he usually doesn't. As we walked with her she kept saying how she felt so at peace here, her children weren't fighting and she felt like God had led her to this place. She said she knew she needed to start attending church to find out if this was best for her family. I know she was feeling the spirit so strongly, because I was, so hopefully we can get an appointment with her again soon.

Miracle #2 was with a convert of 1 year in our branch, who is 20 years old and BYU-I student! (Woot woot!)  She brought her mom, dad, aunt, uncle and grandma, who all had LOTS of questions about
everything.  But it was really great and helped strengthen my knowledge and testimony of what I knew to have happened here. The whole tour went very well, but I think one of the most powerful
moments was when we had her share her testimony of the Book of Mormon with her family in the room where Joseph would have done most of the translating. And to make a long story short, her aunt, uncle, dad and grandma all took a Book of Mormon to read for themselves. Her parents also came to church with her on Sunday, which was so exciting for us and their daughter! I hope they all come to know that the Book of Mormon is true and another testament of Jesus Christ, just as their daughter has.

I'm also one of the two companionships here who do both the VC and proselyting... Which is AWESOME! I feel so lucky to have best of both worlds! So every day Sister Gomm and I go to the PRS everyday for 6 hours (9-3pm or 3-9pm) and then spend the rest of our day finding and teaching. And can I just say how awesome Sister Gomm is? I seriously got the best companion in the entire mission and I love her to pieces!! We have even started finishing each other's sentences... Haha.  Anyways, woohoo for proselyting!!

Basically, every single appointment we had scheduled this past week fell through which was a little frustrating... except for one! We met with Kate and Mark, who are these super cool grandparents that are hard core bikers and have a strong belief in God. They have gone through a lot of hard things including the loss of their 19 year old daughter to cancer and overcoming drug addictions. They are just the coolest people. We taught them the Restoration, gave them a Book of Mormon and pamphlet, and they were very open to us and our message. I asked them if they would be baptized on October 17th if they came to know what we were teaching was true... And they said yes!! So now we have a goal, and a return appointment on Thursday to teach them about the Plan of Salvation. They even offered to feed us next time, which was so kind of them, and Kate put the appointment in her phone as "Pizza & Mormons" haha. I love them! As a missionary you really come to see people through Christ's eyes, and want for them the very best--which of course is the lasting happiness they can receive through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was a wonderful week, which I owe all to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The only reason missionaries are able to do what they do is because of them. I've never prayed so much, learned so much or loved so much.  I'm so grateful to part of such an amazing work! Much love to you all and hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Larsen

P.S.  On a side note, we found civilization!! Haha.  All of us sisters were so excited to get permission to go here (note from Alicia: apparently out of their normal boundaries) rather than the town store where potatoes are $6 a pound... This is the face of a happy money-saving girl!