A surprise email!

Dear friends and family,

We had our FIRST SNOW I can't even believe it!!! I was sitting in Relief Society during the lesson, looked out the window and saw a snow flurries EVERYWHERE. I just about had to pick my jaw up off the floor, but not to worry, nothing stuck. So while you all "enjoy" the 100 degree weather back in AZ, soak up a little extra sun for your sister over here getting ready for a long winter ahead!

First snow!!

This week we met with Kim again and taught her about the restoration of the gospel. It went pretty well, and I know she felt the spirit because after I shared with her the First Vision in Joseph Smith's words, she couldn't stop smiling and said she got the goosebumps.  Everyone feels the Spirit differently, but we helped her understand that, and that the feelings she had were the Holy Ghost testifying of truth to her. But one of my favorite parts of the lesson was when she told us she loved a scripture we had her read-- Alma 32:21, which is all about faith. She said that she loved it so much, she wondered if she could get a tattoo of it. Sister Gomm and I were totally caught off guard, and said something along the lines of, "Oh... Yeah, isn't that scripture on faith so good?" Needless to say, we will probably be talking to her about how our body is a temple and gift from our Heavenly Father a little later on, but it gave us a good laugh! We will be meeting with her again is Wednesday and can't wait to see her!

So proselyting missionaries go on 24 hour exchanges with a different companion once a month, but we exchange between several PRS sisters once week because everyone gives tours a little differently and it helps us from getting in a rut of saying the same things.  We want our guests to have more than a "feel good" experience... We want them to have a "converting" experience. Our hope is that people will walk away a little better, a little closer to our Savior than when they came in.

During our exchange day Sister Simmons and I were companions and we started off a tour for a large family reunion group. Everything went well, they saw the video, the baptismal site, the homes, the cemetery, etc. But as their group was getting ready to leave, we were stopped by a man on the trail. He asked both of us if we would bear our testimonies on what we had learned or felt while serving at this site with the grandpa of the family, and 4 teenage cousins who were standing with him. We agreed, and Sister Simmons shared a story about how a less-active man decided he needed to get back to attended church while he visited. Then it was my turn. I initially started talking about the importance of faith, but then was impressed to talk about how we can experience change through the Atonement. I explained that because the priesthood was restored, we are able to partake of the Sacrament, and by doing so, access the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we take the Sacrament each Sunday with a broken heart and contrite spirit, a willingness to change and become closer and more like our Savior, our sins can be forgiven, we can start anew and truly change through Him. And if we don't know if that really is true, if the Atonement really works, we can try it out and pray to know, just as we are directed in Moroni 10:5 to find truth. After talking to this group of high schoolers, the man who asked us to share stayed behind for a minute and thanked us for our testimonies, and they left to join the rest of their group and be on their way.

You never know whose heart you will touch! I've noticed as I seek for opportunities to share my testimony with others, those opportunities to do so are practically handed to me. I'm reminded of the painting of the Savior, knocking at a door without a door handle. It is our choice to let Christ into our lives. 

He waiting at our door, but we have to be the one to open it and let him in. When we do this we can experience change through His Atonement and become who He wants us to be!

Have a wonderful week! And hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Larsen