What a wonderful week it has been here in the great OCM! Sorry this email is coming so late... but we were playing nerf gun wars with the Newark elders at the church. And Apples to Apples. And exploring the church's attic. It was awesome and it has been a wonderful P-day thus far!
Two wonderful things happened this week.
1.) Bob gave up smoking. He was smoking two packs a day and when we went to his house on Thursday to come up with a quit smoking game plan, and initially we had set a date of May 1 for him to quit smoking on because he didn't want to 'waste' the money he had spent on the several packs of cigarettes he had bought recently. As we continued talking after setting the May 1 date, I felt prompted to ask him if he wanted to quit anyway because he knows the church is true and that smoking is bad for him, why not just quit today. Sister Parry then pointed out that the money was already wasted, so either he could burn it in his lungs or he could throw it in the trash. He sat there for a second and then opted for the latter. He went in his house (we were meeting on the porch) and gathered up all his cigarettes, lighters, big bag of tobacco and papers to roll, and ashtrays and threw them into a big trash bag. When S. Parry and I got home, we counted 75 packs-- That's 1500 individual cigarettes! Friday he smoked one and Saturday he bought and smoked a pack, but I know that with the Lord's help, he will be successful. This week we're going to work on the coffee :)
2.) Cindy Gunn is a less active member in our ward and she has two kids, Athaena (9) and Chris (7). Chris has autism. She started coming back to church a few weeks ago and signed up to feed us on our meal calendar. We went over there and had a lovely dinner and she really opened up to us about her situation. She got offended by a remark another ward member made over the pulpet during fast and testimony meeting specifically about her and has struggled with feeling judged because she smokes and drinks tea. The reason she decided to come back a few weeks ago was her daughter who told her, "Mommy, my spirit is starving". She knew she had to set her hurt feelings aside and come back to church. She told us she was just so tired and wanted to feel peace. I felt prompted to promise her that she would find the peace she is looking for through the Book of Mormon. We then asked her if she would commit to reading a chapter a day from the book with at least her daughter and she agreed. A few minutes later she confessed that she needed a copy of the book of Mormon. We were happy to oblige. We talked to her yesterday and she told us she was having a hard time following the story, but she was continuing to read. We set up an appointment to come by and help her with the story line tomorrow :)
I love being a missionary. I have seen the tender mercies of the Lord in my life more abundantly these last few days then ever before and I am so thankful for his love and guidance. The gospel is true!!
Love, Sister Chelsea LeSueur
ps-- Bethany, I got your announcement this week... LOVE it. Letter soon to come :)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
He Sent Me Here To Earth By Faith To Live His Plan. The Spirit Whispers This To Me And Tells Me That I Can
Hello all you wonderful people!
What a wonderful week it has been in the great OCM! Stellar news-- BOB STROSHINE is getting baptized and so is Tevon!!! Bob has a date for the 15th of May (Bethany's wedding) and Tevon's is set for the 8th of May. I LOVE MAY!
Bob came to church yesterday wearing a white shirt and black pants. He looked so good! It made me reflect on 'the tough of the master's hand' and how through the gospel of Jesus Christ we can all have our rough edges smoothed away! Tevon lives in Zanesville, so she isn't technically ours, but since we've been teaching her and talking to her every day, we're basically sisters. I just think she's great and so is Bob and I am so excited for them!
The stake president at ward conference was really pushing for member present lessons more often than not, and so yesterday, we had S. Eros (a ward missionary) send around a sign up sheet for people who could go out with us. S. Parry didn't have much confidence in this tactic because she had fruitlessly tried it before, but being the optimistic greenie I am, I insisted we do it with faith. That sheet went around the entire RS room and only accumulated two signatures. One of them belonged to a woman who literally has no short term memory. Awesome. After RS a girl came up to us who we hadn't actually met before and told us she was the other signature... She's 20, her birthday is in October, and she's working on submitting her papers! She's not going to school because she's waiting to serve a mission, and she wants very badly to come out with us... YES! Whenever the Lord asks us to do something and we press forward in faith, he WILL provide a way for it to be accomplished.
Haha, in other news-- Here are a few signs of the times:
1. S. Parry got her trainer's wedding announcement. They registered only at a bank. I didn't even know you could do that.
2. We got a notice on our door telling us we had to take the picture of Jesus out of our window.
3. I'm seeing more and more shirtless men walking around Newark. So good.
I found the perfect missionary song. "How will they know" in the primary book. Look up the words. It ties in perfectly with the themes this last conference.
I love you all and I want you to know you're constantly in my prayers. Thanks for all the letters and emails-- It sure makes the week go much more smoothly when I'm reminded of my family's love for me! :)
The gospel is true!!
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur <3
What a wonderful week it has been in the great OCM! Stellar news-- BOB STROSHINE is getting baptized and so is Tevon!!! Bob has a date for the 15th of May (Bethany's wedding) and Tevon's is set for the 8th of May. I LOVE MAY!
Bob came to church yesterday wearing a white shirt and black pants. He looked so good! It made me reflect on 'the tough of the master's hand' and how through the gospel of Jesus Christ we can all have our rough edges smoothed away! Tevon lives in Zanesville, so she isn't technically ours, but since we've been teaching her and talking to her every day, we're basically sisters. I just think she's great and so is Bob and I am so excited for them!
The stake president at ward conference was really pushing for member present lessons more often than not, and so yesterday, we had S. Eros (a ward missionary) send around a sign up sheet for people who could go out with us. S. Parry didn't have much confidence in this tactic because she had fruitlessly tried it before, but being the optimistic greenie I am, I insisted we do it with faith. That sheet went around the entire RS room and only accumulated two signatures. One of them belonged to a woman who literally has no short term memory. Awesome. After RS a girl came up to us who we hadn't actually met before and told us she was the other signature... She's 20, her birthday is in October, and she's working on submitting her papers! She's not going to school because she's waiting to serve a mission, and she wants very badly to come out with us... YES! Whenever the Lord asks us to do something and we press forward in faith, he WILL provide a way for it to be accomplished.
Haha, in other news-- Here are a few signs of the times:
1. S. Parry got her trainer's wedding announcement. They registered only at a bank. I didn't even know you could do that.
2. We got a notice on our door telling us we had to take the picture of Jesus out of our window.
3. I'm seeing more and more shirtless men walking around Newark. So good.
I found the perfect missionary song. "How will they know" in the primary book. Look up the words. It ties in perfectly with the themes this last conference.
I love you all and I want you to know you're constantly in my prayers. Thanks for all the letters and emails-- It sure makes the week go much more smoothly when I'm reminded of my family's love for me! :)
The gospel is true!!
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur <3
Monday, April 5, 2010
"...I'm sure He'll call His little ones to gater 'round His knee"
Hello my wonderful, treasured, amazing, eternal family!
Hello from your much uplifted and edified sister missionary up here in The Ohio-- and Happy Easter! What a wonderful week it has been, I feel as though I could just BURST with love and happiness! A few big ticket items--
Bob is NOT dead. We got a call from him at 7:00 am Friday morning and he said,
"Hello, girls! There was a note on my coffee table that it was the Newark Police Department who kicked in my door, and I called them, and they told me to call you because it was you who was worried. There was a missing person's report out on me and everything! I just was in Kentucky, listening to country music-- because they have good country music down there and I like it a lot! I ran out of money though, so I had to wait 'till the first of the month to come back home!"
How crazy is that!? haha, We're just glad he's alive and well and uplifted from all those country tunes and back in Newark so we can get back to teaching him!
Happy Birthday to Kevin, Congrats to Wes on the mission call, and yay for new babies for Kristen, Connie, Heather, and Amy! What an exciting time in our cute little Jones Family-- Thanks for keeping me updated, Grandma and Mom!
Sister Parry and I are able to work together for another transfer... I've officially made it through one of my12 transfers, and I'm no longer the newby! We were able to go to transfer meeting on Thursday, and I saw Sister Whitney there, as well as Elders Hansen and Haws. We're all doing so well! We got a ride from the RS president in our ward who attends the temple on the first and third Thursdays every month along with a few other women in our ward. They're all of retirement age, and they were the funniest women to ride with. They were cracking jokes about the mess our country's in, they were teasing each other, and they all have this Thelma and Louise 'air' about them-- I'll send a picture home! It made me think of my two cute grandmas and their faithful temple attendance!
I've made it a goal to be able to play the piano by the end of my mission. We've been spending preparation days at the church, and I'm teaching myself how to play 'I am a Child of God'. By the end of this week, I should have it down pat, and I'll send a tape home with it! I just love the idea of being able to play hymns at church or being able to serenade my future kids on the piano. I'm going to do this :)
I was so thankful for the awesomeness that ensued this weekend. General Conference is always awesome, but when you're a missionary it's amazing times a thousand!! Is there any question now how important it is to teach our children? I am so thankful for the prophet, the apostles, and all the other church leaders who guide us in all we should do! Between sessions yesterday, S. Parry and Elders Carrinder and Howell and I dyed easter eggs! It was a blast and now we have yummy hardboiled eggs for the next week or so!
I know the church is true, I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God, I know our Savior lives, and I know as we teach our children about Him, we will ensure strong leaders in tomorrow's church! The gospel is true, and I love all of you! :)
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Please forward to Lance, Bethany, and Michelle
Lance- I got your email-- I love you... Letter soon :)
Bethany-- Your wedding date is OFFICIALLY on my 6-week planner! HOLY COW!!!
Hello from your much uplifted and edified sister missionary up here in The Ohio-- and Happy Easter! What a wonderful week it has been, I feel as though I could just BURST with love and happiness! A few big ticket items--
Bob is NOT dead. We got a call from him at 7:00 am Friday morning and he said,
"Hello, girls! There was a note on my coffee table that it was the Newark Police Department who kicked in my door, and I called them, and they told me to call you because it was you who was worried. There was a missing person's report out on me and everything! I just was in Kentucky, listening to country music-- because they have good country music down there and I like it a lot! I ran out of money though, so I had to wait 'till the first of the month to come back home!"
How crazy is that!? haha, We're just glad he's alive and well and uplifted from all those country tunes and back in Newark so we can get back to teaching him!
Happy Birthday to Kevin, Congrats to Wes on the mission call, and yay for new babies for Kristen, Connie, Heather, and Amy! What an exciting time in our cute little Jones Family-- Thanks for keeping me updated, Grandma and Mom!
Sister Parry and I are able to work together for another transfer... I've officially made it through one of my12 transfers, and I'm no longer the newby! We were able to go to transfer meeting on Thursday, and I saw Sister Whitney there, as well as Elders Hansen and Haws. We're all doing so well! We got a ride from the RS president in our ward who attends the temple on the first and third Thursdays every month along with a few other women in our ward. They're all of retirement age, and they were the funniest women to ride with. They were cracking jokes about the mess our country's in, they were teasing each other, and they all have this Thelma and Louise 'air' about them-- I'll send a picture home! It made me think of my two cute grandmas and their faithful temple attendance!
I've made it a goal to be able to play the piano by the end of my mission. We've been spending preparation days at the church, and I'm teaching myself how to play 'I am a Child of God'. By the end of this week, I should have it down pat, and I'll send a tape home with it! I just love the idea of being able to play hymns at church or being able to serenade my future kids on the piano. I'm going to do this :)
I was so thankful for the awesomeness that ensued this weekend. General Conference is always awesome, but when you're a missionary it's amazing times a thousand!! Is there any question now how important it is to teach our children? I am so thankful for the prophet, the apostles, and all the other church leaders who guide us in all we should do! Between sessions yesterday, S. Parry and Elders Carrinder and Howell and I dyed easter eggs! It was a blast and now we have yummy hardboiled eggs for the next week or so!
I know the church is true, I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God, I know our Savior lives, and I know as we teach our children about Him, we will ensure strong leaders in tomorrow's church! The gospel is true, and I love all of you! :)
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Please forward to Lance, Bethany, and Michelle
Lance- I got your email-- I love you... Letter soon :)
Bethany-- Your wedding date is OFFICIALLY on my 6-week planner! HOLY COW!!!
Monday, March 29, 2010
"Cherish Virtue-- God will bless the pure in heart!"
Hello Wonderful Family!
What a wonderful week this has been up here in The Ohio! The complete highlight of the week was Saturday at 2:00 when Nancy Abernathy was baptized by proper authority a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! The day went smoothly and there was such a wonderful spirit in attendance. There was a great turnout, and already Nancy is making friends who will be there to help her acclimate to her new life sans Earl but with the gospel! We met with her last Tuesday, and she made the comment, "Maybe I needed to be with Earl even though everything went South so I could be introduced to the gospel..." YES NANCY!!! YES!!! It was great. Yesterday, after she was confirmed with the Holy Ghost, she was glowing. I asked her if she would write down the feelings she had been feeling since her baptism and after her confirmation, and she promised. I am so proud of her... I just know her life is going to be immeasurably blessed. She brought with her to her baptism Saturday two of her best friends who were nothing but supportive of her and her 14 year old granddaughter. Nancy is going to be the spark all her friends and family need to bring them the gospel!
In other news, I found out people hunt for food... because they need to. NOT necessarily because they want to make deer jerky or whatever. There are lots of people who hunt up here because they can't afford meat. Wow, who knew?! Oh, and I had vennison at dinner with the Crook family yesterday. It tasted just like potroast. The Crooks also have chickens and baby chicks... I got to hold one. I WANT chickens!
I learned how to play Book of Mormon Stories on the piano. I am determined, on my p-day, to learn how to play at least a few key songs. I'll send a recording :)
Sister Parry and I got to watch the YW Broadcast. It was awesome and totally set the tone for me for conference. Speaking of Conference. it is this weekend! I'm so excited... Be there or be square!
I'm sorry this email is so short, but I'm out of time. Know that I love you all. The gospel is true, and through the atonement, we can all return to live with our Heavenly Father again one day. I love you-- The gospel is true!
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
What a wonderful week this has been up here in The Ohio! The complete highlight of the week was Saturday at 2:00 when Nancy Abernathy was baptized by proper authority a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! The day went smoothly and there was such a wonderful spirit in attendance. There was a great turnout, and already Nancy is making friends who will be there to help her acclimate to her new life sans Earl but with the gospel! We met with her last Tuesday, and she made the comment, "Maybe I needed to be with Earl even though everything went South so I could be introduced to the gospel..." YES NANCY!!! YES!!! It was great. Yesterday, after she was confirmed with the Holy Ghost, she was glowing. I asked her if she would write down the feelings she had been feeling since her baptism and after her confirmation, and she promised. I am so proud of her... I just know her life is going to be immeasurably blessed. She brought with her to her baptism Saturday two of her best friends who were nothing but supportive of her and her 14 year old granddaughter. Nancy is going to be the spark all her friends and family need to bring them the gospel!
In other news, I found out people hunt for food... because they need to. NOT necessarily because they want to make deer jerky or whatever. There are lots of people who hunt up here because they can't afford meat. Wow, who knew?! Oh, and I had vennison at dinner with the Crook family yesterday. It tasted just like potroast. The Crooks also have chickens and baby chicks... I got to hold one. I WANT chickens!
I learned how to play Book of Mormon Stories on the piano. I am determined, on my p-day, to learn how to play at least a few key songs. I'll send a recording :)
Sister Parry and I got to watch the YW Broadcast. It was awesome and totally set the tone for me for conference. Speaking of Conference. it is this weekend! I'm so excited... Be there or be square!
I'm sorry this email is so short, but I'm out of time. Know that I love you all. The gospel is true, and through the atonement, we can all return to live with our Heavenly Father again one day. I love you-- The gospel is true!
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Monday, March 22, 2010
"I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives..."
Dear wonderful family,
Happy spring! Although, June tells me you're not having much of a spring in Texas... What's up with all this snow?! It's been delightfully raining and 60* up here-- y'all need to get with the program!
It's really been a great week here-- I spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday battling a little bit of a tummy bug, so our weekend wasn't super productive. Saturday morning, I asked the Newark elders for a blessing, and they were nice enough to meet us at the church building to do it. The priesthood is awesome, and I'm so thankful for it! We then went to a youth baptism for Isaiah Barrick. His dad is in the military and has been deployed for a long time. He has leave for two weeks, and so it was so awesome to watch his dad, a worthy priesthood holder who is fighting for our country, be able to perform this saving ordinance for his son. It made me reflect back to my own baptism and how grateful I am I had a daddy who was able to do that for me.
Yesterday, I experienced my first real rude rejection... and it was at church from an active member, no less! Saturday, Sister Parry and I were going to a part of our area that we don't go to very often, Buckeye Lake, and we were going to go contacting down there. Well, we consulted our ward list to see who lived that way that we could visit and this elderly lady was really the only one, so we thought we would pop in to say hello. Well, Sister Parry, as politely as she could, tried to describe this dear sister as being a little less than cheerful-- but I wouldn't listen. After driving around trying to find her place, we just felt like we shouldn't drop in on her. So when we saw her at church yesterday, I approached her (cheerfully) to ask if it would be ok for us to stop by next time we were in the area, to which she responded very coarsely, "Don't come by, I don't want you to come over." "Oh! OK!" I said, and we kept walking down the hall. Hahaha, Sister Parry tried to tell me... So there you have it-- my first real rejection! I sort of felt like Polyanna with the grumpy old sick woman!
Nancy's baptism is going to happen this Saturday at 1:00. She was at church yesterday, sitting by us, and when Bishop Williams announced it over the pulpet, she just beamed with excitment! I am simply extatic for her... I just know this is what she's been looking for, and there's a peace about her now that wasn't quite there when we first started meeting with her. She didn't come to church last Sunday and then she wouldn't answer/return our calls, so Wednesday after our Zone Confrence/Mission Tour with Elder Evans of the Seventy we stopped by her house and there we found a very frazzled Nancy. After talking to her a bit we found out she and Earl got into a huge fight over the weekend and she just couldn't bring herself to church Sunday feeling as angry as she did. She was concerned she shouldn't get baptized if she was capable of feelings like that. All of a sudden I heard myself saying words with such conviction, telling her not to get discouraged and putting off her baptism was not what God wanted, but rather it was what Satan wanted. I spoke to Nancy with no fear, and after she agreed she still needed to get baptized on the 27th and we left, it hit me that the words I was saying weren't coming from me. Heavenly Father knew what she needed to hear and was able to soothe her nerves through me. It was so humbling to see myself be a tool in the Lord's hands.
Wednesday night, we had dinner at the Walkers not too far from Nancy's house, and I felt prompted to ask Sister Walker to come with us to the appointment we had at Nancy's the next day, and so she did. Wow, when we got there, we were teaching the third lesson and when we began to talk about repentance/forgiveness, it was clear why Sister Walker needed to be there-- she was able to relate experiences to Nancy to help her understand the need to forgive Earl. She was the exact right person for that lesson, and I was so thankful I was privy to and acted on that prompting.
The gospel is true, the work is great, and I know that my Redeemer lives.
Thanks for the prayers and the love, I feel them every day! Bundle up and Stay warm all you Texans!
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Lance--
Happy 4th Anniversary on the 24th-- I sent your card today :)
Happy spring! Although, June tells me you're not having much of a spring in Texas... What's up with all this snow?! It's been delightfully raining and 60* up here-- y'all need to get with the program!
It's really been a great week here-- I spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday battling a little bit of a tummy bug, so our weekend wasn't super productive. Saturday morning, I asked the Newark elders for a blessing, and they were nice enough to meet us at the church building to do it. The priesthood is awesome, and I'm so thankful for it! We then went to a youth baptism for Isaiah Barrick. His dad is in the military and has been deployed for a long time. He has leave for two weeks, and so it was so awesome to watch his dad, a worthy priesthood holder who is fighting for our country, be able to perform this saving ordinance for his son. It made me reflect back to my own baptism and how grateful I am I had a daddy who was able to do that for me.
Yesterday, I experienced my first real rude rejection... and it was at church from an active member, no less! Saturday, Sister Parry and I were going to a part of our area that we don't go to very often, Buckeye Lake, and we were going to go contacting down there. Well, we consulted our ward list to see who lived that way that we could visit and this elderly lady was really the only one, so we thought we would pop in to say hello. Well, Sister Parry, as politely as she could, tried to describe this dear sister as being a little less than cheerful-- but I wouldn't listen. After driving around trying to find her place, we just felt like we shouldn't drop in on her. So when we saw her at church yesterday, I approached her (cheerfully) to ask if it would be ok for us to stop by next time we were in the area, to which she responded very coarsely, "Don't come by, I don't want you to come over." "Oh! OK!" I said, and we kept walking down the hall. Hahaha, Sister Parry tried to tell me... So there you have it-- my first real rejection! I sort of felt like Polyanna with the grumpy old sick woman!
Nancy's baptism is going to happen this Saturday at 1:00. She was at church yesterday, sitting by us, and when Bishop Williams announced it over the pulpet, she just beamed with excitment! I am simply extatic for her... I just know this is what she's been looking for, and there's a peace about her now that wasn't quite there when we first started meeting with her. She didn't come to church last Sunday and then she wouldn't answer/return our calls, so Wednesday after our Zone Confrence/Mission Tour with Elder Evans of the Seventy we stopped by her house and there we found a very frazzled Nancy. After talking to her a bit we found out she and Earl got into a huge fight over the weekend and she just couldn't bring herself to church Sunday feeling as angry as she did. She was concerned she shouldn't get baptized if she was capable of feelings like that. All of a sudden I heard myself saying words with such conviction, telling her not to get discouraged and putting off her baptism was not what God wanted, but rather it was what Satan wanted. I spoke to Nancy with no fear, and after she agreed she still needed to get baptized on the 27th and we left, it hit me that the words I was saying weren't coming from me. Heavenly Father knew what she needed to hear and was able to soothe her nerves through me. It was so humbling to see myself be a tool in the Lord's hands.
Wednesday night, we had dinner at the Walkers not too far from Nancy's house, and I felt prompted to ask Sister Walker to come with us to the appointment we had at Nancy's the next day, and so she did. Wow, when we got there, we were teaching the third lesson and when we began to talk about repentance/forgiveness, it was clear why Sister Walker needed to be there-- she was able to relate experiences to Nancy to help her understand the need to forgive Earl. She was the exact right person for that lesson, and I was so thankful I was privy to and acted on that prompting.
The gospel is true, the work is great, and I know that my Redeemer lives.
Thanks for the prayers and the love, I feel them every day! Bundle up and Stay warm all you Texans!
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Lance--
Happy 4th Anniversary on the 24th-- I sent your card today :)
Monday, March 15, 2010
You can live a happy life in this world of toil and strife, if there's sunshine in your heart!
Hello all you wonderful, happy people!
Thanks for the letters and emails this week, I feel so loved and well connected. It is so great to get uplifting things from you all! Mom, the pictures were great... way to go documenting things when I'm not there, and Cam, I just loved that video. Could little Miss Audrey get any dang cuter!??!
First and most importantly, CONGRATULATIONS Cody and Caitlin! I'm so happy and excited for this new step in your life... I would love to get a wedding announcement!!
Things here in the Ohio are super... We're sort of in a holding pattern right now, A few possible investigators have popped up in the last week. I finally met Eddie's mom, Pat. She's in a rest home right now withdrawing from all the prescription pain/anti-depressant/sleep medications her doctors have taken her off of. That's our over-prescribed country for you though! She's wonderful, and she wants so badly to live a better life. We will have the opportunity to visit her in this rest home every day for the next month. I am so thankful for this time I can devote to service! It always makes her face light up to see us!
Tevin is still spectacular. She is finding that she can trust in God because he is the one being who will NEVER let her down. I just wish she realized her divine nature and individual worth. I am so thankful for the young womens program that drilled this into me when I was a young angsty teenager!
In other news, Bob may or may not be dead. It's been two weeks since we heard from him/he's been home. The police went and searched his apartment to make sure he wasn't dead on the bathroom floor, and they (luckilly) turned up empty-handed. No one knows where he could be, we pray daily for his safety.
This Wednesday we have our Mission Tour Conference Elder Evans of the seventy will be speaking to us, and in preparation for that I have been reading a lot in the scriptures. I never realized haw missionary-action-packed the entire book of Alma is. Holy cow. What I love about that story is how bad they started out and in a truly repentant way, how good they became and how many souls they brought unto Christ. Isn't it great how we can utilize the atonement and repent when we need to and its as if out infractions never even happened!? I am so thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. I particularly love the story of the prison walls tumbling down in Alma 15. Read it and realize the power we have through our unwavering faith. Faith is power. Never forget that-- we have power according to our faith!
I love you all a ton, stay strong in the gospel, and always work to increase your faith! Remember-- if you're not moving forward, you're moving backward!
Love you all forever and for always,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Thanks for the letters and emails this week, I feel so loved and well connected. It is so great to get uplifting things from you all! Mom, the pictures were great... way to go documenting things when I'm not there, and Cam, I just loved that video. Could little Miss Audrey get any dang cuter!??!
First and most importantly, CONGRATULATIONS Cody and Caitlin! I'm so happy and excited for this new step in your life... I would love to get a wedding announcement!!
Things here in the Ohio are super... We're sort of in a holding pattern right now, A few possible investigators have popped up in the last week. I finally met Eddie's mom, Pat. She's in a rest home right now withdrawing from all the prescription pain/anti-depressant/sleep medications her doctors have taken her off of. That's our over-prescribed country for you though! She's wonderful, and she wants so badly to live a better life. We will have the opportunity to visit her in this rest home every day for the next month. I am so thankful for this time I can devote to service! It always makes her face light up to see us!
Tevin is still spectacular. She is finding that she can trust in God because he is the one being who will NEVER let her down. I just wish she realized her divine nature and individual worth. I am so thankful for the young womens program that drilled this into me when I was a young angsty teenager!
In other news, Bob may or may not be dead. It's been two weeks since we heard from him/he's been home. The police went and searched his apartment to make sure he wasn't dead on the bathroom floor, and they (luckilly) turned up empty-handed. No one knows where he could be, we pray daily for his safety.
This Wednesday we have our Mission Tour Conference Elder Evans of the seventy will be speaking to us, and in preparation for that I have been reading a lot in the scriptures. I never realized haw missionary-action-packed the entire book of Alma is. Holy cow. What I love about that story is how bad they started out and in a truly repentant way, how good they became and how many souls they brought unto Christ. Isn't it great how we can utilize the atonement and repent when we need to and its as if out infractions never even happened!? I am so thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. I particularly love the story of the prison walls tumbling down in Alma 15. Read it and realize the power we have through our unwavering faith. Faith is power. Never forget that-- we have power according to our faith!
I love you all a ton, stay strong in the gospel, and always work to increase your faith! Remember-- if you're not moving forward, you're moving backward!
Love you all forever and for always,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Monday, March 8, 2010
"...They are generous and brave; They have precious souls to save; They must listen and obey the gospel's sound."
Greetings from Ohio where the sun is shining and the sky is beautiful!
I just loved reading all of your emails! Thanks for the cards and letters this week, it really helps to hear from my wonderful family-- it totally lifts my spirits!
Audrey turns one this week, and I am so sad I'm missing the no doubt awesome day you'll all have celebrating her birth! Hopefully the weather will be nicer this year than it was last year!
How is my blog? Is someone keeping it updated? You could maybe scan some of the pics and put them up to sort of document as we go with emails and letter excerpts, etc. Bravo to you if you already are though :)
I really am just loving the people up here... Here are some broad generalizations about the Newarkians: +Everyone smokes
+Everyone has at least one cat
+People have these cute wooden baskets in their front lawn they use as planters. Way cute. I want one.
+Most people have these little geese on their porch that they dress up. Kind of cute. A little Creepy.
+Rapture balls. look them up.
+A lot of people have porch swings... if they dont though, they just stick an old couch on their porch. Everyone is very resourceful!
This week we met Tevin (like Kevin with a 'T'<-- as per Sister Parry). She's a senior in high school and she's had a super duper rough eighteen years. When school was canceled because of all the snow, she spent her time on mormon.org growing a testimony. We taught her the first lesson Friday night and asked her if she would get baptized when she knew it was true. She said, "Well, see, the thing is, I kind of know it's true already." AHH!!! So, this is what being a missionary feels like! She technically lives in Zanesville, so she isn't actually ours, but we met her because her best friend is in our ward-- so we'll see what happens with her! Keep her in your prayers though, as she is having to overcome a lot of dark personal trials.
My other 'good news minute' has to do with Nancy who is in her 60's and married to a less active member (for the last 18 years) He's leaving her in June to re-marry the woman he's divorced twice... But she is still solid and decided yesterday she wants to get baptized on March 27!!! She also has a lot of hard things in her life to deal with, but I know she's receiving so much strength from the Lord.
I have to go, but I love you all so so much. I'll write more in letters today <3
All my love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
PS- when you send me my glasses (hopefully ASAP) please send my churchy CDs. Ipods have been outlawed, and I'm so over the 5 CDs we have :)
Lance-- Send this to SUE vis Email, please
Sue,
Thanks so much for thinking of me--- I'm serving a mission for my church in Ohio until next summer... So I'll be out of commission for a bit! Tell the kiddos "hi" for me, and good luck with the trips out of town! I miss you guys, and think of you often!
Love,
Chelsea LeSueur
I just loved reading all of your emails! Thanks for the cards and letters this week, it really helps to hear from my wonderful family-- it totally lifts my spirits!
Audrey turns one this week, and I am so sad I'm missing the no doubt awesome day you'll all have celebrating her birth! Hopefully the weather will be nicer this year than it was last year!
How is my blog? Is someone keeping it updated? You could maybe scan some of the pics and put them up to sort of document as we go with emails and letter excerpts, etc. Bravo to you if you already are though :)
I really am just loving the people up here... Here are some broad generalizations about the Newarkians: +Everyone smokes
+Everyone has at least one cat
+People have these cute wooden baskets in their front lawn they use as planters. Way cute. I want one.
+Most people have these little geese on their porch that they dress up. Kind of cute. A little Creepy.
+Rapture balls. look them up.
+A lot of people have porch swings... if they dont though, they just stick an old couch on their porch. Everyone is very resourceful!
This week we met Tevin (like Kevin with a 'T'<-- as per Sister Parry). She's a senior in high school and she's had a super duper rough eighteen years. When school was canceled because of all the snow, she spent her time on mormon.org growing a testimony. We taught her the first lesson Friday night and asked her if she would get baptized when she knew it was true. She said, "Well, see, the thing is, I kind of know it's true already." AHH!!! So, this is what being a missionary feels like! She technically lives in Zanesville, so she isn't actually ours, but we met her because her best friend is in our ward-- so we'll see what happens with her! Keep her in your prayers though, as she is having to overcome a lot of dark personal trials.
My other 'good news minute' has to do with Nancy who is in her 60's and married to a less active member (for the last 18 years) He's leaving her in June to re-marry the woman he's divorced twice... But she is still solid and decided yesterday she wants to get baptized on March 27!!! She also has a lot of hard things in her life to deal with, but I know she's receiving so much strength from the Lord.
I have to go, but I love you all so so much. I'll write more in letters today <3
All my love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
PS- when you send me my glasses (hopefully ASAP) please send my churchy CDs. Ipods have been outlawed, and I'm so over the 5 CDs we have :)
Lance-- Send this to SUE vis Email, please
Sue,
Thanks so much for thinking of me--- I'm serving a mission for my church in Ohio until next summer... So I'll be out of commission for a bit! Tell the kiddos "hi" for me, and good luck with the trips out of town! I miss you guys, and think of you often!
Love,
Chelsea LeSueur
Monday, March 1, 2010
Oh, Hi-- O!
Hello all the wonderful people I love!
I just loved getting all the great emails this when I checked my email today... I was beginning to think only Lance and TickTock loved me because they're the only people I've heard of in the two weeks I've been in the Ohio! Sister Parry was concerned my family no longer wanted anything to do with me, and I kept defending you all saying, "I'm sure they're just busy..." but when I checked the mail today and STILL nothing, I was beginning to wonder! Thank goodness there were a few emails waiting for me here. Some snail mail love spread throughout the week would be nice though :)
Anywho, I'm really thrilled to hear that everything is going well on the homefront... Audrey is walking!??! HOLY COW!! Sister Parry says you can send me videos. I won't hear sound... but I would love to see little miss priss walking! How are the rest of the Jensens doing? And yay for the new sales person. I'll bet she's making things easier/less spread out for everyone. How is Newport doing as a whole? Is everyone's health good?
Things are sailing along smoothly up here! Sister Parry and I make up the women's section in the ward choir... Hopefully we'll be able to recruit a few more girls. It's funny because we have a lot of boys! I've NEVER seen that happen in ANY choir! Also, us and the Newark elders want to do an open house in the spring. It's still in the early planning stages, but I would love any suggestions/ideas you all have seen in ours/other open houses. What is the general layout?
Speaking of Sister Parry, she really is super great. I love her so much-- we are having such a wonderful time up here doing the Lord's work!
We have this really great potential investigator, Eddie Compton, and his mother has been taught by missionaries for a long time. She recently moved in with Eddie and that's how Sister Parry and companion found her. She's been having some health troubles, and so I think it's opened Eddie up quite a bit. We were visiting with him yesterday, and he was telling us about the situation and was really distraught over it, even though he isn't actually investigating, I felt prompted to share with him a BofM scripture on enduring to the end and the benefits of trials and how Heavenly Father is aware of him, and Sister Parry asked if we could leave him with a list of other comforting scriptures. He said yes, so we did, and about an hour later he called us asking for help clarifying an Alma scripture. He then went on to talk about how much he liked one in Mosiah, and it was a wonderful experience. I just know he has such great potential-- He kind of reminds me of the big tall bald picture taking guy in our Plano stake... name?!
My time is about up-- I'll write more in letters to you all, and I'll send them this week! The letter from last week will be stuck in there as well-- last Pday was cut short, so there was no time!
I love you all so much, and I pray for you daily... multiple times! Stay safe and healthy :)
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Bethany-- Letter is soon to come... :) :) :)
Lance-- We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings this week. I thought of you!
P to the S.
This is Sister Parry & your daughter/sister/whatever she is to you is a bit of a fibber. I DID NOT tell her, or be concerned that her family did not love her. What really went down is that she thought you all (y'all) didn't love her & I kept telling her that this is normal & she shouldn't be worried, you're all busy people. Then I told her that this stage only lasts a bit cause eventually you tell your family that you really want the mailbox to actually have something, then they send you mail!! Yay!!!! She is awesome and I love her :)
I just loved getting all the great emails this when I checked my email today... I was beginning to think only Lance and TickTock loved me because they're the only people I've heard of in the two weeks I've been in the Ohio! Sister Parry was concerned my family no longer wanted anything to do with me, and I kept defending you all saying, "I'm sure they're just busy..." but when I checked the mail today and STILL nothing, I was beginning to wonder! Thank goodness there were a few emails waiting for me here. Some snail mail love spread throughout the week would be nice though :)
Anywho, I'm really thrilled to hear that everything is going well on the homefront... Audrey is walking!??! HOLY COW!! Sister Parry says you can send me videos. I won't hear sound... but I would love to see little miss priss walking! How are the rest of the Jensens doing? And yay for the new sales person. I'll bet she's making things easier/less spread out for everyone. How is Newport doing as a whole? Is everyone's health good?
Things are sailing along smoothly up here! Sister Parry and I make up the women's section in the ward choir... Hopefully we'll be able to recruit a few more girls. It's funny because we have a lot of boys! I've NEVER seen that happen in ANY choir! Also, us and the Newark elders want to do an open house in the spring. It's still in the early planning stages, but I would love any suggestions/ideas you all have seen in ours/other open houses. What is the general layout?
Speaking of Sister Parry, she really is super great. I love her so much-- we are having such a wonderful time up here doing the Lord's work!
We have this really great potential investigator, Eddie Compton, and his mother has been taught by missionaries for a long time. She recently moved in with Eddie and that's how Sister Parry and companion found her. She's been having some health troubles, and so I think it's opened Eddie up quite a bit. We were visiting with him yesterday, and he was telling us about the situation and was really distraught over it, even though he isn't actually investigating, I felt prompted to share with him a BofM scripture on enduring to the end and the benefits of trials and how Heavenly Father is aware of him, and Sister Parry asked if we could leave him with a list of other comforting scriptures. He said yes, so we did, and about an hour later he called us asking for help clarifying an Alma scripture. He then went on to talk about how much he liked one in Mosiah, and it was a wonderful experience. I just know he has such great potential-- He kind of reminds me of the big tall bald picture taking guy in our Plano stake... name?!
My time is about up-- I'll write more in letters to you all, and I'll send them this week! The letter from last week will be stuck in there as well-- last Pday was cut short, so there was no time!
I love you all so much, and I pray for you daily... multiple times! Stay safe and healthy :)
Love,
Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Bethany-- Letter is soon to come... :) :) :)
Lance-- We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings this week. I thought of you!
P to the S.
This is Sister Parry & your daughter/sister/whatever she is to you is a bit of a fibber. I DID NOT tell her, or be concerned that her family did not love her. What really went down is that she thought you all (y'all) didn't love her & I kept telling her that this is normal & she shouldn't be worried, you're all busy people. Then I told her that this stage only lasts a bit cause eventually you tell your family that you really want the mailbox to actually have something, then they send you mail!! Yay!!!! She is awesome and I love her :)
Monday, February 22, 2010
"There's nothing wrong with Ohio... Except the snow and the rain!"
Haha, just kidding-- I couldn't resist a Bowling For Soup reference! Ohio is really great! I've totally enjoyed my first almost week here! Our flight from Denver to Columbus was delayed because we were on a little plane and we were 450 pounds overweight, so it took us about an hour to get settled and take off. Good thing the flight was only an hour, otherwise we would have been really behind on our 'new missionary orientation' schedule for the evening! BTW-- EVERYONE was amazed at my one suitcase and my one caryon. I packed less than ALL of the elders :)
That night at the mission home, we had the best food I had had in three weeks, and I think I got the best night's sleep I had gotten in three weeks as well! (Not to mention the best shower!) But, when I woke up with my head and face unbearably cold and shivering at 2:30 in the morning, I really began to wonder what I had gotten myself into... I guess that's what nightcaps are for?
President and Sister Jensen are really great! I enjoyed getting to know them that first night! Oh, and Brother Malouf was telling me before I left about their friends the McFersons who live in Powell, Ohio... He and his wife work in the mission office! I met them my first night here, but I didn't put together they were one and the same until last night!
Thursday morning, we went to the transfer meeting, where I got the all-important debit card I'll have for the next year and a half, and where I met my trainer Sister Parry. She's awesome. Sister Parry is from Bountiful, Utah, and she has been out for just under a year. We're serving in the Moundbuilders ward in Newerk (which is pronounced Nerk, Ahia if you're a local-- and here I was thinking I didn't have to learn a language!) At the transfer meeting we sang hymn #266 (which I conducted) and I don't think I had ever heard that song before that day! Such a good missionary song. Look it up! Some of the elders sand a special number 'If I Could Be' Look that up too-- apparently there are videos of it on youtube-- its about if I could be like my brother nephi, abinidi, etc. So good.
After transfers, we came up (down? Over? I'm still learning) to Newerk. Just so you know, we serve in mainly Newerk and Pataskala, and a little bit of Granville. Sister Parry's last companion was sick a lot, so I think everyone is really excited for a change!
When we got here I was amazed by the massive icicles that were hanging off of every building. Apparently, everything is bigger in Texas EXCEPT icicles... Ohio takes the cake on that one. I'll have to send you pictures. The houses here are way cute... look them up! They all remind me of little dollhouses! There was also more snow than I've ever seen. It snowed a lot last weekend, but its sort of warmed up since, so now it's starting to melt... but I was amazed at the massive amounts of white!
I've already met some wonderful people here that are being taught. I'm beginning to realize just how BLESSED I've always been. Its a very humbling experience to meet these people and realize how faithful they are despite (or maybe because of?) their temporal blessings.
The ward here is tiny, and when I commented to sister Parry about it, she informed me its one of the bigger wards here in Ahia. They're all such great people. I love it here!
Thanks for sending my sheets-- oh my goodness, they're heavenly. If any of you are ever in the market for flannel sheets, eddie bauer is the way to go.
So as far as my address goes, I'll get the mail sent to the mission home forwarded to me, but I'll be at this address at least for the next six weeks. the address is:
1570 A Crystal Court
Newerk, OH 43055
If you're unsure of my address, things can still be sent to the mission home address, but in order for them to be forwarded, they must be sent through the USPS-- not fedex, UPS, etc. Just FYI :) I would love some mail!
I love you all, and I'm so thankful for the chance I have to be here! Thanks for all your love, support, and prayers-- they're definitely felt and appreciated!
Love, Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Lance-- Be expecting a letter soon... Did you get my VDay letter? Things should get to you a lot faster now that I'm not in the notoriously slow Provo USPS system! I love you :)
That night at the mission home, we had the best food I had had in three weeks, and I think I got the best night's sleep I had gotten in three weeks as well! (Not to mention the best shower!) But, when I woke up with my head and face unbearably cold and shivering at 2:30 in the morning, I really began to wonder what I had gotten myself into... I guess that's what nightcaps are for?
President and Sister Jensen are really great! I enjoyed getting to know them that first night! Oh, and Brother Malouf was telling me before I left about their friends the McFersons who live in Powell, Ohio... He and his wife work in the mission office! I met them my first night here, but I didn't put together they were one and the same until last night!
Thursday morning, we went to the transfer meeting, where I got the all-important debit card I'll have for the next year and a half, and where I met my trainer Sister Parry. She's awesome. Sister Parry is from Bountiful, Utah, and she has been out for just under a year. We're serving in the Moundbuilders ward in Newerk (which is pronounced Nerk, Ahia if you're a local-- and here I was thinking I didn't have to learn a language!) At the transfer meeting we sang hymn #266 (which I conducted) and I don't think I had ever heard that song before that day! Such a good missionary song. Look it up! Some of the elders sand a special number 'If I Could Be' Look that up too-- apparently there are videos of it on youtube-- its about if I could be like my brother nephi, abinidi, etc. So good.
After transfers, we came up (down? Over? I'm still learning) to Newerk. Just so you know, we serve in mainly Newerk and Pataskala, and a little bit of Granville. Sister Parry's last companion was sick a lot, so I think everyone is really excited for a change!
When we got here I was amazed by the massive icicles that were hanging off of every building. Apparently, everything is bigger in Texas EXCEPT icicles... Ohio takes the cake on that one. I'll have to send you pictures. The houses here are way cute... look them up! They all remind me of little dollhouses! There was also more snow than I've ever seen. It snowed a lot last weekend, but its sort of warmed up since, so now it's starting to melt... but I was amazed at the massive amounts of white!
I've already met some wonderful people here that are being taught. I'm beginning to realize just how BLESSED I've always been. Its a very humbling experience to meet these people and realize how faithful they are despite (or maybe because of?) their temporal blessings.
The ward here is tiny, and when I commented to sister Parry about it, she informed me its one of the bigger wards here in Ahia. They're all such great people. I love it here!
Thanks for sending my sheets-- oh my goodness, they're heavenly. If any of you are ever in the market for flannel sheets, eddie bauer is the way to go.
So as far as my address goes, I'll get the mail sent to the mission home forwarded to me, but I'll be at this address at least for the next six weeks. the address is:
1570 A Crystal Court
Newerk, OH 43055
If you're unsure of my address, things can still be sent to the mission home address, but in order for them to be forwarded, they must be sent through the USPS-- not fedex, UPS, etc. Just FYI :) I would love some mail!
I love you all, and I'm so thankful for the chance I have to be here! Thanks for all your love, support, and prayers-- they're definitely felt and appreciated!
Love, Sister Chelsea LeSueur
Lance-- Be expecting a letter soon... Did you get my VDay letter? Things should get to you a lot faster now that I'm not in the notoriously slow Provo USPS system! I love you :)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day!
Hello my wonderful family! I hope you're all doing well... I hear it snowed in Dallas yesterday-- I'm completely jealous, Texas snow is so much prettier than Utah snow (or Ohio smow, for that matter) because it's probably melted by now!
Right off the bat, let's get a few matters of business out of the way:
1. Mom, will you please check my wells fargo balance and dearelder it to me immediately so I get it tonight/tomorrow? I need to make sure I have at least 50.00 available for the airport (just in case)
2. Please send my sheets to the mission home today-- the address for packages is
19 Clairdon Drive
Powell, Ohio 43065
phone: 6143548839
3. My fav scripture is Alma 7:32-24 but I also LOVE D&C 38:32 ;)
4. My eye RX is -3.25 in the Left eye and -3.00 in the right eye
5. My flight plan: depart SLC at 705, arr. Detroit 1248, leave Detroit at 320
so, mom and dad, answer your phones? :)
Wow, I've had a dynomite week thus far. It's crazy though, because I started packing today to leave on Wednesday. I sent a box full of my bunders and books and such to the mission home, so pray that it will arrive safely!
The week started off really well with fast Sunday. I was nervous because I've never been awake for so long during a 24 hour fast... I know the lord blessed me though, because I hardly ever felt famished (or about to be famished, for that matter, Cam). We had a really powerful testimony meeting, and we also had a bomb mission conference. It was such an uplifting day!
Sunday night, we went to choir practice where we sang such sweet childrens sons called 'I feel the spirit' and 'The Lord is My Shepherd'. Little did I know at this point of my choral experience what I was getting myself into (more on that later...) The evening commenced with a fireside which was really interesting. Did you know Lehi was a prophet in Jerusalem at the same time Jeremiah (in the OT) was? Wow... The speaker went into a lot of detail outlining this, and if he had been a more dynamic speaker, more people might have been awake to hear his interesting talk! Read Jeremiah 52 to read about the biblical account of the destruction of Jerusalem... Muy interesting-- who knew that was there!?
Another interesting thing I learned about happened yesterday when I learned Lehi needed the plates of brass to know his lineage... Lehi is from the tribe of Menassah. His sons married the daughters of Ishmael who were of the tribe of Ephriam. Menassah and Ephriam were foreordained to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Then they came to the Americas-- fulfiling the prophesy! The gospel is true!!
So... Fastforward (or rewind) to Tuesday-- We're singing the songs we practiced Sunday in the fireside where Elder C. Scott Grow spoke to us, and I was gotten back at for every time I have ever made fun of a member of the MOTAB who got zoomed in on while they were making a funny face. The camera man, as soon as we began singing, zoomed in right to my face. My face filled to 50 foot screens at the front of the room. I didn't know this though, till later when my roommies, companions, district, and just about everyone else told me it happened! I guess its a good thing I didn't see myself though, cuz I dodnt think I could have kept a straight face!! I guess the fact I was having a good hair day is what prevented me from being mortified when I found out!
So, Wednesday morning, I woke up with a terrible tummy ache. We didn't work out, when we went to breakfast, I asked Elders Satchwell and Pierce to give me a blessing. They did, and by lunch I felt quite a bit better, and by dinner, I had almost forgotten about the incedent all together! I'm so grateful for priesthood blessings. They remind me our Heavenly Father is very aware of me and what a need :)
This morning, we walked, in the snow, to the temple and there we did initiatories. It was wonderful! We then ran into sister Itri's mom. It's amazing how small the world it (especially in the temple!) She was telling me she has been dating Brother Rabe (from Carrollton-- I guess he and his wqife divorced, and now he lives up here!) We also had breakfast in the temple. DELICIOUS belgian waffles there :)
I miss you all right now, and I can't wait to hear from you. I pray for you all every day, and I definitely feel the prayers that are said in my behalf! I Love you!
sister lesueur
please sent to
lance, bethany, and michelle
Right off the bat, let's get a few matters of business out of the way:
1. Mom, will you please check my wells fargo balance and dearelder it to me immediately so I get it tonight/tomorrow? I need to make sure I have at least 50.00 available for the airport (just in case)
2. Please send my sheets to the mission home today-- the address for packages is
19 Clairdon Drive
Powell, Ohio 43065
phone: 6143548839
3. My fav scripture is Alma 7:32-24 but I also LOVE D&C 38:32 ;)
4. My eye RX is -3.25 in the Left eye and -3.00 in the right eye
5. My flight plan: depart SLC at 705, arr. Detroit 1248, leave Detroit at 320
so, mom and dad, answer your phones? :)
Wow, I've had a dynomite week thus far. It's crazy though, because I started packing today to leave on Wednesday. I sent a box full of my bunders and books and such to the mission home, so pray that it will arrive safely!
The week started off really well with fast Sunday. I was nervous because I've never been awake for so long during a 24 hour fast... I know the lord blessed me though, because I hardly ever felt famished (or about to be famished, for that matter, Cam). We had a really powerful testimony meeting, and we also had a bomb mission conference. It was such an uplifting day!
Sunday night, we went to choir practice where we sang such sweet childrens sons called 'I feel the spirit' and 'The Lord is My Shepherd'. Little did I know at this point of my choral experience what I was getting myself into (more on that later...) The evening commenced with a fireside which was really interesting. Did you know Lehi was a prophet in Jerusalem at the same time Jeremiah (in the OT) was? Wow... The speaker went into a lot of detail outlining this, and if he had been a more dynamic speaker, more people might have been awake to hear his interesting talk! Read Jeremiah 52 to read about the biblical account of the destruction of Jerusalem... Muy interesting-- who knew that was there!?
Another interesting thing I learned about happened yesterday when I learned Lehi needed the plates of brass to know his lineage... Lehi is from the tribe of Menassah. His sons married the daughters of Ishmael who were of the tribe of Ephriam. Menassah and Ephriam were foreordained to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Then they came to the Americas-- fulfiling the prophesy! The gospel is true!!
So... Fastforward (or rewind) to Tuesday-- We're singing the songs we practiced Sunday in the fireside where Elder C. Scott Grow spoke to us, and I was gotten back at for every time I have ever made fun of a member of the MOTAB who got zoomed in on while they were making a funny face. The camera man, as soon as we began singing, zoomed in right to my face. My face filled to 50 foot screens at the front of the room. I didn't know this though, till later when my roommies, companions, district, and just about everyone else told me it happened! I guess its a good thing I didn't see myself though, cuz I dodnt think I could have kept a straight face!! I guess the fact I was having a good hair day is what prevented me from being mortified when I found out!
So, Wednesday morning, I woke up with a terrible tummy ache. We didn't work out, when we went to breakfast, I asked Elders Satchwell and Pierce to give me a blessing. They did, and by lunch I felt quite a bit better, and by dinner, I had almost forgotten about the incedent all together! I'm so grateful for priesthood blessings. They remind me our Heavenly Father is very aware of me and what a need :)
This morning, we walked, in the snow, to the temple and there we did initiatories. It was wonderful! We then ran into sister Itri's mom. It's amazing how small the world it (especially in the temple!) She was telling me she has been dating Brother Rabe (from Carrollton-- I guess he and his wqife divorced, and now he lives up here!) We also had breakfast in the temple. DELICIOUS belgian waffles there :)
I miss you all right now, and I can't wait to hear from you. I pray for you all every day, and I definitely feel the prayers that are said in my behalf! I Love you!
sister lesueur
please sent to
lance, bethany, and michelle
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