Showing posts with label Misison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Misison. Show all posts

Monday, April 11, 2011

We are all enlisted 'till the conflict is o'er

Dear family,

Spring has spring, flowers are beginning to pop up all over the city, and we had an 80* day yesterday for the first time this season-- and except for seeing all the half-naked people who have been waiting all winter to walk around wearing just about nothing, it was delightful! I told Sister Vaasili to watch out for summer, because that's when just about everyone wears their underwear just about everywhere they go! I love The Ohio! :)

It was a great week, culminating at the baptism and confirmation of the Mason family this weekend. We had the amazing opportunity to go on companion exchanges this Wednesday to Thursday. Sister Vaasili went to Powell and Sister Pettigrew came from Powell to Clearfork. Ever since I arrived in the field, Sister Pettigrew and I have wanted to be companions... she unfortunately is making the transition from full-time missionary to full-time member missionary this week at transfers, so things were looking like they weren't going to happen for our desired companionship until we received the phone call last week from Sister Jensen with the good news! Shoot, 24 hours is better than nothing! We had an excellent time together, and did a lot of good work in the short time she was here. It was such a tender mercy of the Lord, because it was exactly the pick-me-up that I needed!

The baptism for the Masons went well... they were a few minutes late because they forgot their all-important towels and undies-- so they had to turn around and get them. The spirit was very strongly felt, there were several members in attendance to show their love and support for this family, and they each received the first of the saving ordinances necessary to return to live with our Father in Heaven. Gene was glowing, Zack, the 10 year old, said he felt 'refreshed', and even Jakob, the 13 year old, cracked a smile! I am so grateful to have been able to witness this family's transformation as they were taught by the Holy Ghost the gospel of Jesus Christ and began to implement its teachings into their lives! Truly a life-changing transformation has taken place-- member missionary work is the BEST!

Marjorie and her Son Aaron BOTH came to church yesterday. She's come to church a couple times since we began focusing on her, but her 32 year old son who struggles with alcoholism hasn't ever been. We got the Elder's Quorum to get in on the fellowshipping and they picked him up and brought him to the priesthood session of conference two weeks ago, then he came to sacrament meeting yesterday. It was wonderful to see him there. In talking to him last week, he told us that he feels like he missed the starting bell... we told him that because the Lord loves us, through repentance and the Atonement, there are many starting bells. It's so true. If he is committed to turning his life around, he can do it, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Atonement, and fellowshipping from the members is how it is going to happen! Also, as we talked with Marjorie last week, she expressed her desire to attend the temple. We're getting her started on genealogical work and will get her in a temple preparation class as she firms her resolve to meet this excellent and very worthy goal. Everyone deserves a chance to turn their life around!

Transfers are this week, so we'll see what happens... I wouldn't be surprised if I leave, I have been in Clearfork/Zion for 6 blessed months! Still, I would love to die here! I'll report on the results of transfers next week! Any mail this week should be sent to PO Box 939 Powell, Ohio 43065 to make sure I receive it!

This gospel is true. I love it with all my heart. Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior, older brother, and friend. We must study the scriptures so we can know him and so he can become our BEST friend. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. Thomas S. Monson is his successor, and leads the church as the Lord's prophet today. Families can be together forever!

I love you so so so much!

Love,
Sister Chelsea Lynn LeSueur
xoxox

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Oh there's sunshine, blessed sunshine, when the peaceful happy moments roll!

Dear wonderful family,

I love life. It was a beautiful sunshiney day on this, the 23rd of November. Heavenly Father loves me!

Thank you so much to all of you who have sent me birthday greetings-- I've felt an abundance of love this last week with all the mail that has come my way... Can it be my birthday every week? ;)

Just kidding-- we've been teaching the Plan of Salvation a lot this last week, so I know perfectly well that if it was my birthday EVERY week, it wouldn't be as cool. "There must needs be opposition in all things"! I get it-- but it has been nice, so thank you. Really, thank you :)

I went to send Cam a birthday present this last week and the only tape I had was duct tape to keep the brown paper package together... When I got to the post office, the lady looked at me funny then said, "next time you send a package, try not to use duct tape..." When I asked her why, she said, duct tape is the preferred tape of bombers. Haha-- that's me. The missionary mail bomber. Ha, it made me laugh. Don't worry, Cam, it won't explode upon opening. Scout's honor! :)

New awesomeness this week includes Jeff Boyd asking us about the logistics of being baptized and the epiphany he had that he doesn't have to be perfect to be baptized... HUGE developments with him this week and we're going over there tonight to teach him more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is SO CLOSE! Pray for him?

Brenda and Tyson are struggling right now. They have amazing experiences and then question them-- it is heart-wrenching to watch! I can only imagine how Heavenly Father feels when we vacillate between righteous and unrighteous choices.

Really neat experience Sunday when our 12-year-old recent convert, who was baptized right before Sister Lillywhite and I got here, was ordained into the Aaronic priesthood this last Sunday and his dad came for the ordination! He really enjoyed church, and sat in on Xavier's recent convert lesson which just happened to be on the Plan of Salvation which just happened to be PERFECT for what he needed. We gave Xavier a family proclamation and asked if he would read it with his family and HIS DAD, Joe, said they would! That was so amazing to hear. After the lesson, Sister Lillywhite and I were comparing notes, and as we were teaching them, we BOTH could picture Joe in white getting baptized. It'll happen :)

I love being a missionary. The gospel is so true. Jesus is the Christ. Families are forever.

Go be a missionary in your corner of the world <3

Love,
Sister Chelsea-a-Lynn LeSueur

Monday, November 15, 2010

I believe in Christ, so come what may...

Wow, dear family, it has been an amazing week here in the great OCM!

It all started Monday with an amazing lesson with Jeff Boyd where we invited him to pray daily, even if it is just to say, ''hi''. We had the former bishop and his wife, the Goodwins, with us, and they were the perfect people for the lesson. Before Bishop Goodwin was a member he had lived a little riotously and he helped Jeff understand how the Atonement can change people. It was an amazing lesson, but with so many people who love talking (and lots of good things to talk about) we left a little later than we had hoped and didn't get home 'till 915. Well, now let's rewind to the night before, Sunday. Sister Lillywhite had left the dome light on in our car without realizing it. So, when we got a knock on our door at about 1010, we weren't quite sure what to suspect. It was our neighbor from the building by where we park and he told us about our lit light. We thanked him, he said, "no problem, the boys used to do it all the time..." and took care of the light and when we came back into our apartment, I felt the strongest impression that we needed to teach him the gospel. I told Sister Lillywhite this and we were in agreement. So, now fast-forward to Monday night at 915 when we pulled into the parking lot, there was our neighbor, standing outside smoking. I have never been so glad to see someone smoke in all my life! We went and talked to him, and in so doing, found out that he wants to get married and have a family but there "just aren't any girls with morals anymore". We also found out that the way the country is operating now makes him nervous. He told us how he has been watching Glen Beck and totally agrees with much of what he says. Then he said, "I've actually been looking into his religion... do you know anything about mormons?"

AHHHH!!! YES!!! Thank you Glen Beck! We talked about how hope and faith in God allows us to do good things which will make the world a better place (Ether 12:4) then we asked him if we left him with a copy of the Book of Mormon if he would read it. He said, "Yes, I've actually been online looking at religion and where I could find one of these". There's no doubt in my mind that he has been prepared by a loving Heavenly Father to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ-- part of his preparation was all these missionaries who absent-mindedly leave the car light on!

This weekend we had stake conference in which the choir sang 'I Believe in Christ' arranged by Mac Wilburg. It was the most powerful rendition I have heard of the hymn I have ever heard... I got chills when they sang, "I Believe in Christ, so come what may... With Him I'll stand at that great day." As tears welled up in my eyes, I realized that no matter what happens, as long as I believe in Christ and let my actions show it, everything will be alright. I believe in Christ, so come what may...I am so grateful for our Savior who knows how to love us and take care of us perfectly. The Atonement is real and we must understand how it applies to us and the change it can bring about in our lives. I believe in Christ!!

I love you guys so much... Next preparation day we're taking on Tuesday instead of Monday... Tuesday just happens to be my birthday (23 on the 23rd) and we're going to the temple. I can't think of any better way to spend my birthday than in the service of the Lord serving my brothers and sisters beyond the veil. It will be marvelous :)

Have a great week-- smile, the gospel is true!!

Love,
Sister Chelsea Lynn LeSueur