Book of Mormon, Baptism & Braids

Dear friends and family,

What a wonderful last week here in West Philadelphia! We doubled the number of lessons we taught last week (YAY for people holding lessons!!), the weather was beautiful and drizzly, and of course General Conference was just the cherry on top to a great transfer!

I just love Stephanie.  

With Stephanie

We weren't able to really meet the week before last because she was sick, but she got better and her trip to NY was cancelled so she got to stay in town all week and spend General Conference weekend with us! She is so excited and so prepared for her baptism in 2 weeks. We started talking details at one of our lessons with her this past week, and she wants the baptism to be all about Christ, not just her decision to become a member of the church. So we started brainstorming ideas of how we could help her keep her focus and came up with this cute idea. She wants everyone to put their painted handprint on a blanket and write their testimony of Christ next to it as a keepsake of her baptism. In our morning studies we had shared some highlights from Book of Mormon verses we had read and read 1 Nephi 21:15-16 which we shared with Stephanie. "For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." She knows that her baptism is so much more than just becoming a member of the church and enjoying the fellowship that comes along with that, but that she is choosing to remember Jesus Christ and take upon herself His name, just as He has taken upon Himself a reminder of her and everyone who has, does and will live.

We were finally able to get in contact with a young woman named Mai who we had met several weeks ago and set up an appointment to see her.  She gave us an address to meet at... And it turned out to be an African Hair braiding salon. So we walk in to women in African dress braiding and sewing weaves into people's hair and Mai calling us over to some chairs. It was awesome, and now I am considering corn rows or something haha! But we did our thing despite the atypical environment...sang a hymn, had a prayer, and read from the Book of Mormon. It was actually a really great lesson! Mai really came to understand that while there are many people who may say different things about the church, and there are lots of different opinions floating around out there, the only way to know what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is all about is by learning about it yourself and asking God if what is taught is true. I'm really excited for Sister Kartchner to continue teaching her because she has a lot of potential!

Sisters Roesch, Kartchner, and Larsen out finding
during Sis. Roesch's final week on her mission

General Conference weekend is the best!!! I don't think I've ever looked as forward to it as I have since serving! How to choose a favorite?? I will say Jeffrey R. Holland always knows how to lay it down. Stephanie (who watched 3 sessions with us, how awesome is that?!?), my companions and I were invited over to the Bartons', a young couple in the P4 Ward, for the afternoon session on Sunday. We were all waiting for Elder Holland to speak so when they finally announced him as the concluding speaker there was "exceedingly great joy," and everyone sat up a little straighter :) I really loved his comments on how the Lord will bless, and wants to bless, those who desire to improve. Just like in the Book of Mormon, He takes weak things and makes them strong, we just have to try and put forth our best effort.  Sometimes all we can offer is our "seeking to do good," but as long as we are trying our best, the Lord will help lift us the rest of the way. I think one of my favorite things he said was, "Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow and forever." And it's so true! I've learned a lot from serving here in West Philly. And not just how to say "Book of Mormon" in Hindi, or understand Liberians over the phone, or how to drive like the locals, but how much Heavenly Father loves each of His children. He is cheering us on with every step we take forward, and helping kindly correct us when we start to falter back.  His love is unconditional and will always be there for us no matter what. What a beautiful promise!

Love,
Sister Larsen

The awesome Sis. Tuesday with Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (as she calls us)

One final goodbye at the mission office.
Good luck, Sis. Roesch!