MacLarsen

HEY EVERYONE! 

so yes, the calling home every week thing is crazy. I just got to FaceTime the fam and it was awesome! They're still as cute as ever. 

It's wild to me how many changes have happened from when I got into the mission field until now! First, we changed from the flip phones to smartphones! Later, we got Facebook. Sister missionaries can wear dress pants!! We have changed from home teaching to ministering. Church has been shortened and in-home learning emphasized. The name of the church even is being reemphasized! We got a new Preach My Gospel which tweaked the lessons we teach a bit and we no longer use words like "investigator." We get to communicate more with our families on Mondays! It's crazy, but so so cool how the Lord is just continuing to hasten His work! Like President Nelson said, we need to take our vitamins and buckle up. I love him and am so grateful for a prophet here on earth today to lead and guide us!

Okay, so, this week Sister Kitterman left and I got my new companion, Sister Larsen! She has been out 6 months and has served in Odessa (where all the oil is). She's the cutest ever! She is one of the most amazing teachers I have seen. She is pumped up about missionary work and her energy is contagious! I love it! 

I also got to go on exchanges with my old companion Sister Eggett on transfer day! It made my life! She is my favorite and I love being around her. She is such an amazing example to me! It was so fun to catch up and she always gives me bomb advice and helps me feel normal when I'm struggling. I swear, I have just had the absolute best companions on the planet #blessed

We have been meeting with these 2 girls, Shay and Deja, and they're awesome! We met them doing a family history booth. Since then, they have come to our family history fair, institute twice, we've had two lessons, they came to Eddie's baptism, and they came to a dance! We had one of the most powerful lessons of my mission with them when we taught the restoration. Like I said, Sister Larsen is an amazing teacher, but the Holy Ghost was the real teacher of course. After reciting the first vision, we asked them how they felt. The spirit was so strong and they started to tear up as we testified. They are praying about it now! 

Beckley is also praying about being baptized right now, and is kind of struggling. If y'all could pray that he will recognize his answer and have the DESIRE to ACT. 

At volleyball Thursday, we had a bunch of people we're teaching come and so many nonmembers! We also had 15+ nonmembers at church yesterday! This ward is amazing and they're constantly inviting their friends to activities! 

Yesterday we had a really cool experience! There was this random name on our ward roster that stuck out to me, and so I put her on our schedule for a random day and time so she wouldn't be forgotten. She kept getting pushed back because our days were just so busy. Saturday, we finally went to her house and met her husband. He is a nonmember and actually didn't know his wife was a member. He told us we could come back the next day when his wife was home. So, we went yesterday and she really needed us. She has been struggling a lot with family and other aspects of her life. She had only really come to church as a teenager when she was living with her aunt and uncle. We shared with her how much Christ loved her and was SO aware of her. We also shared 1 Nephi 11:17 with her. As I told her how Christ was really looking out for her and how He knew exactly what she was going through, she started to cry and said things were rough and whatnot, and she had been praying extra hard the past few days. I felt God's love so strongly for her! We had to refer her to the family ward elders, but God answered a prayer that I had, as well as hers. I love that guy! 

I hope y'all have a blessed week! 

<3 Sister MacLay