November 28, 2019 - Street Fighting (Week 36) - Philadelphia, PA

First off, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!🦃💛

And second, wow Philly really is something else!😂

So many crazy things happened this week here in the city of brotherly love. We had exchanges this week and we got to spend all of our time in center city!

We did a lot of contacting and we stopped by a potentials house. Well its was windy and cold, but I had accidentally forgot my jacket back at home. The sweetest lady answered the door and she was like, "where is your coat!" I told her I forgot and she was like, "no you're gonna get sick! Its flu season!" So she turned back around went to her closet and gave me a coat! She was so sweet! Definitely a tender mercy too.

Well, we walked down to the corner after and started to update our area book. I was just chilling and then I saw this large group of teenagers walking towards us. We had just thought that school got out or something and didnt think much of it. Well, these kids started yelling at each other and so we turn around and they are FIGHTING!!! I was like, "ummmm am I witnessing a street fight?" We casually just walked away and when I turned back around I saw this kid pick up a whole trash can and chuck it into the street. It was honestly one of the most hilarious thing I have seen!

Later that afternoon we were walking to the bus and we saw some of those kids in the fight. They didnt look very happy so I'm assuming that they lost lol.😂

But, since its thanksgiving I want to say what I am thankful for. I am very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that I get to be with my family forever because the priesthood is restored. I am grateful for my best friends and for all that they have helped me through. And I am very very grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for his atonement. 

Keep being awesome!

💛Sister Larsen

A hat that a nice member taught me to crochet

November 18, 2019 - The Devils Walking Stick (Week 35) - Philadelphia, PA

Howdy y'all! 

So this week went by so slow but we were able to do lots of service this week! First thing we were able to do is to help set up some Christmas trees at a senior center. 

Yes I know that Thanksgiving hasn't even passed yet, but who doesn't love Christmas? 

On Saturday we were able to help cut down some invasive trees so the native trees could grow. So basically these invasive trees would block the sun and light from the native trees and would stop them from growing. 

As I thought later that night, we can totally relate this to the gospel (along with basically anything else). But we all have invasive things in our life that keep us from growing and reading the light of Christ. Well, we need to do what's necessary to cut down these invasive things so that we are able to reach the "son". 

So this week just think about things that you can change in your life so you can reach your full potential and have God's light in your life. 

Love you all!

Sister Larsen

Also if you want to serve it's almost December and light the world is about to start. If you'd like you can go to lighttheworld.org and sign up to receive daily service prompts. IT'S SO COOL!!

Also those invasive tree plants were called "the devils walking stick". Because satan tries to invade our life to keep us from Christ. Hehehe pretty ironic lol.

A nice portrait on our balcony

Christmas shenanigans

Sister Rex almost chopped my hair!

November 11, 2019 - FLOWERS!!🌷(Week 34) - Philadelphia, PA

Hello friends!

The Philly life is CRAZY!! I have witnessed so many things that I would have never seen back home in Utah.😂 But I am honestly loving it!!

So this week I found out something pretty interesting. The apartment complex we live in is right next to a river, and I guess they find at least 1 dead body in that river every week... So, yes, I live next to a possible crime scene. 

This week we got to spend some time with some members. We played a mean game of foosball and imma just say that I am on a winning streak! We also played some basketball and we'll just say that it went as well as it could haha. I have seriously learned to love these people so much! I LOVE loving people!

So we volunteer at a senior center and this week we got to help arrange flowers and put them in vases. Apparently it's called "the happy flower project" and they just hand out flowers to brighten up people's days. All of those people were so happy and they had the biggest smiles on their faces. I didnt even get any flowers, but I left there feeling SO HAPPY!! 

I'll be honest and say that missionary life/work isnt the easiest, but those hard times definitely bring blessings and make it all worth it!💛

Have the best week everyone! Lots of love.

Sister Larsen 

November 4, 2019 - Philly!! (Week 33) - Philadelphia, PA

It's a beautiful day here in center city Philadelphia and I love being a missionary!  

This has been the first week of the transfer and I love being able to serve in the Independence ward. It is definitely a lot different than any other place I have served thus far. 

I never thought that serving in Philadelphia would basically be like serving in a different country.  Sometimes as were driving down the street, I feel like I am in a whole different place. 

One of the best things about serving here is being able to walk past the temple every week! 

Hope y'all have a great week! 

Sister Larsen