Firm as the mountains around us, stalwart and brave we stand...

Dearest family,

Wow, it has been quite the week. Holy cow, I'm embarking on my 6th transfer out of 12. Where is all the time going!? ...And conference is about to happen in 4 and a half days... And fall is here. I officially opened up my suitcase and grabbed a heavy sweater this morning! Before we know it, winter will be here and this sister missionary will be freezing for four months!

I just love this time of year though. People are getting excited for the upcoming holiday season, and they are ready to make changes in their lives. We have met several wonderful people who are curious about who we are and why we are out walking around carrying books and wearing name tags. I love what a good conversation piece the little blue Book of Mormon we carry around all day is! I wish every member everywhere would carry around a copy of the Book of Mormon with them everywhere they went. Maybe you should try it this week!

We had a really amazing thing happen on Thursday-- We took Kent Haisley on a tour of the church building. We were waiting for our member to show up and sitting in the foyer talking to him when he informed us that he likes what he's heard from us and read in the Book of Mormon but he just can't leave the people of his church. They're depending too much on him. Well, we talked about covenants and the service opportunities in the church, and then Brother Clark showed up and so did the Middletown missionaries (who were coincidentally there to get things ready for their church tour later in the day) so we all began our tour of the church together... In the primary room, our district leader, Elder Savage, made the comment that the Lord always looks out for his children and he will always provide someone to pick up the slack -- Elder Savage didn't know what was going on with Kent, but he said, "there will be someone to watch over the people in your church that you're now in charge of, but nobody can make your covenants with Heavenly Father except for you." It really struck Kent... and when he came to church yesterday, he felt the spirit strongly and was moved to tears-- despite all the noisy children! He'll be snow birding down to Florida for a month, home a month, then gone two months, but maybe the distance is what he needs to help him not feel so unseverably connected to his church. Oh, and he's at the end of the Book of Mormon-- when he finishes, he plans on going through the index then starting all over again. He is truly an amazing man!

I love this gospel. I love my savior. The things that he did for each of us on an incredibly individual level are truly amazing--- we must let the Atonement work in our lives! We must seek for the personal revelation we need. It's there for each of us if we will but ask for it. The gospel is true!!

Enjoy conference this weekend-- take notes, and try to understand what Heavenly Father wants you to know personally!

Love you so so much,
Sister Chelsea Lynn LeSueur

You can make a pathway bright, fill the soul with Heaven's light, if there's sunshine in your heart! ...

Dear wonderful family,

What a blessed time to be alive! Five days 'till the Relief Society broadcast and twelve days 'till General Conference! I encourage you to look inward and pick a question or two you have for Heavenly Father-- something you need help with or guidance on-- and prayerfully ask to receive the revelation you need during the conference broadcasts. Your prayers will be answered and you will know the will of the Lord in your life. Also, make sure to have something handy while you watch to write down the impressions you receive... the more you write, the more you'll get! Heavenly Father is so wonderful like that!

We have had a wonderful week... A new man we began teaching this week is Doug. Doug is divorced and has custody of his 11 year old daughter Hannah. He has an amazingly pure spirit. We taught him on Saturday, he came to church yesterday, and we're teaching him again next Saturday. He is a member referral-- His boss at the Y is a member of the Little Miami ward and she has really taken Doug and Hannah under her wing. She has been an amazing example to them and when the time was right, she turned him over to the missionaries! You never know who the Lord will place in your life who is ready to hear the gospel. Always be ready and willing! Doug will be an amazing member of God's Kingdom one day soon, and I just know it is what Hannah needs as she enters the scary world of middle/high school!

Another wonderful thing happened this week when a less active family we have been visiting previously, but not in the last two weeks, kept their appointment on Saturday AND asked if we could teach them the missionary lessons. I know the Lord has been working on softening their hearts and I know being fully active in the gospel is what will bring their family happiness and safety. So, Next Friday, we will be going to the Harries home with a member of the ward and work to remind them of the testimonies they once had. I'm optimistic :)

This is an amazing work of which we get to be a part... I feel so blessed to be a full time missionary in the wonderful Springboro ward. I love my savior, Jesus Christ, and I know we are all children of a very loving Heavenly Father. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ has indeed been restored to the earth in these Latter days and we can come to know this through reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know of its truthfulness. I love you guys, and I know our family can be together forever. Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Chelsea LeSueur

My heart shall triumph in my Lord and bless His works and bless His word ...

Dearest Family,

I just adore fall... and living in a place where the leaves actually change colors makes it even more magical! I LOVE The Ohio!

This week Sister Angell brought home a tummy bug from one of the many homes we visited and she was out of commission Tuesday then Wednesday it was my turn. You know, I'm all about companionship unity but... this was a little much. Luckilly on Wednesday we had a Zone meeting before which we received a blessing from our zone leaders, Elder Hansen and Elder Harris. I am so grateful for the healing power of the priesthood, and I am grateful for the council we receive from Heavenly Father in blessings! In the blessing I was told that I would receive what I desired... It made me think about what I really want and at this point in my life, it was exactly what I needed to reevaluate what I want and what I'm doing to get there.

We met a wonderful woman Friday night. Her name is Kelly-- we were looking up former investigators and came to her home. Her son was outside painting the fence and told us that she would definitely be interested in talking to us again but that she wouldn't be back from work for another three hours. He asked if we could come back and we said, of course! When we came back, she was excited to see us and we began talking. One of her bestfriends is a member in Kentucky and that was how she got in contack with the missionaries three years ago. Then she started taking classes to get her RN and got insanely busy, but would love to talk to us more now as she has a little bit more of a set schedule that isn't jam-packed with reading anatomy books! We're excited to get to know her better!

The gospel is true, I love our savior, Jesus Christ. Through Him all mankind can be saved, and I am so grateful for that knowledge-- it truly changes lives :)

Have a superb and wonderful week<3

Love, Sister Chelsea LeSueur

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure!

Hello family and Happy almost fall!!

Our preparation day yesterday began with a brisk 3 mile bike ride in Waynesville with the wonderful Saige Magley-- a laurel in the ward who is amazing. Hah, the elders couldn't believe we actually WANTED to ride bikes on our preparation day... We told them that for us, it is a recreational activity. They sort of grunted at that-- but nonetheless, it was a wonderful thing to do on a cool 60* morning :)

This week we had the wonderful experience of seeing the evidence of being in tune with the spirit. As a missionary, you study the scriptures, spend most of the day with a prayer in your heart to be where you need to be, and practice strict obedience so you can be worthy of feeling and recognizing the promptings of the spirit-- sometimes when you've followed a prompting you're able to say, "I know that is where we needed to go/what we needed to do/what we needed to say", but many times we just trust that good happened even if we didn't see it as a direct result. Well, this last week, we felt prompted to drop in on certain members and it seemed like we were there right when they needed help or right when they were visiting with a less active member or a friend who needed to feel the spirit through us. It was amazing because as a result of following promptings this week, we were able to say several times that we were right where we needed to be. I was grateful for those experiences this week-- it was just a little reminder from Heavenly Father about how great a privilege His spirit and guidance is, not only in our lives, but our influence in the lives of others as well!

How grateful I am for the spirit of the Lord. I am grateful for His guidance and the outpour of love from him I feel daily. I am grateful that we know that God speaks to us today-- personally and as a church. I'm grateful that He can use us as angels in the lives of others-- we just have to be worthy of and listen to the promptings He sends our way! Who can you serve today? Just ask Heavenly Father... You will be used :)

The gospel is true!! I love you!

Love,

Sister Chelsea LeSueur