#LIGHTtheWORLD

Dear friends and family,

It hasn't been very long since I last emailed, but the snow is pretty well melted away, we ate lots of Thanksgiving leftovers, and the church finally released this year's Christmas initiative, "Light the World." Woohoo!!!

Back when I was a golden, we visited a less active man in our branch named Brother Lane who had not been to church in years. He was always very kind and enjoyed having us over, but never made much effort to change or come attend a meeting. When I got to Great Bend at the beginning of this transfer, due to recent boundary changes in proselyting areas, Brother Lane was now part of the Great Bend area so Sister Martinez and I decided to visit and teach him weekly. Yesterday at church, as chorister, I looked out at the congregation and lo and behold who did I see slip into the back pew? Brother Lane!!! He loved the meeting and bore a powerful testimony in our gospel principles class about how the Lord had continued to reach out to him even when he was lost. Whenever he began to think about how he needed the church back in his life, the missionaries always called or stopped by not too long after. He told us after coming, being with branch members and feeling the spirit he had a desire to make greater effort to come out to church! The light of the gospel has been rekindled in Brother Lane!!

At church with Bro. Lane

 Dalton and Mae also came up to the Priesthood Restoration Site to watch the film and see the Hale home. I absolutely love them!! They are just the cutest newlywed couple.   Mae had been taking the lessons with elders about 2 years ago, so she already has quite a bit of background and already has such a strong testimony! She was the one explaining to Dalton what the Books of Mormon is, why it is correct and helps clarify truths in the Bible. She says even after she stopped meeting with the elders she "couldn't get enough of the Book." At the end of our tour she was the one asking for chapters that she and Dalton could read in preparation for the next time we would meet! Mae has a lot of personality, and Dalton is quieter, but as we talked in the Hale home about Emma Smith and her experience praying as a young girl, they both shared experiences of when their prayers had been answered and how they are looking to strengthen their relationship with each other and with God. We are so, so, so excited to be teaching them!

If you haven't seen the new Christmas initiative, "Light the World," go watch it now!! 

Light the World Site Decorations

 (https://www.mormon.org). I can promise you will love it!! Sister Martinez and I have been singing the music walking up and down streets ever since Friday... it is so good! What I love about this video is that it so simply teaches when we serve others, we come to know Christ better. He is the light, but we can a light to others too. Our acts of service don't have to be big, grand events, but they can be little things. Last week in our weekly visitor center training meeting we talked about diligence. The word "diligent" comes from the Latin word "diligere," which means "love and to take delight in." When we diligently serve, our love for the Savior increases and whatever work we are a part of becomes more of a delight to us because we are coming to see those we are serving as Christ would. It's a beautiful thing!

Have a wonderful week and check out mormon.org for more ways you can include this year's Christmas initiative in your Christmas celebrations! 

Love,

Sister Larsen

When your milk and your comp expire on the same day 🐄