January 27, 2020 - Head Flurries (Week 45) - Philadelphia, PA

Hello everyone! I cant believe another Monday is here. 

This week started off pretty well and we were able to visit some awesome people. Well on Wednesday night we were in our apartment just chilling and getting ready for bed when the alarm goes off. Apparently an emergency had been reported in the building and everyone had to evacuate. So we decided to be good missionaries and followed directions and went and sat in our car. 

There were fire trucks and police cars everywhere and nobody even knew what was going on. Well it was getting late and so we spent the night with some other sisters. When we got back the next morning we found out that somebody accidentally started a kitchen fire. So that was the most exciting thing from my week. 

Well, from that point on we weren't able to get much done.... I was sick and stuck in bed all weekend which is the worst! Especially as a missionary. So everyone pray for Sister Hales that she won't lose her mind.

Stay safe and stay healthy friends!

Oh and also thank you to everyone for all the birthday wishes! 

Sister Larsen

The STL's made a nice cake for me haha

Birthday dinner with the O'Brien's

January 20, 2020 - SNOW! (Week 44) - Philadelphia, PA

Hey hey hey!

I cant believe that another transfer has come and gone so fast! Thankfully I am staying here in the city with my daughter Sister Hales!

First off, we finally got our first snowfall! It definitely felt a little like home.

This week we got to attend a baptism for our friend Jose! He has been attending church and taking lessons for around 2 years. There is seriously nothing greater than seeing the difference that the gospel makes in people's lives! It definitely makes all the hard times worth it!

Funny story for the week: ever since I have started to serve in philly I have encountered many people on drugs, but this one was the best. He walked past our car and ran into our mirror which scared me so bad! I locked our car so fast, and when I looked up he started to yell at a pole and continued to fight it.😂 we were trying so hard to not let him see us laughing in fear that he would fight us next. 

So moral of the story, dont do drugs and keep the word of wisdom! 

Stay safe y'all!

Sister Larsen 

we went on an adventure today...

Snow!!!

Independence district!

January 13, 2020 - Another Week Bites the Dust (Week 43) - Philadelphia, PA

Hello everyone!

This week has been sooooo long. But we were able to talk to lots of people. 

On Saturday I got to talk to this guy that was from Mexico! Well, he didn't know very much English so I spoke to him with the very little Spanish I do know. It went really good actually and he said that he would like a Book of Mormon in Spanish. So I'm basically an hermana now. 

We experienced lots and lots of rejection this week which was pretty rough. But one thing that I did think about was how lucky I am to have the knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. If you think about how many people there are in the church compared to people in the world, the odds are pretty slim. You are so lucky to be here at this time and to have the knowledge of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I hope you have a great week and keep going strong with those new years resolutions! 

Sister Larsen 

January 6, 2020 - Man Hunt (Week 42) - Philadelphia, PA

Its 2020! I hope you all are keeping those new years resolutions! Keep on setting those goals and making plans lol.

This week was very very busy! We had a really good lesson with Kia and Raven and Kia told us that she knows that we have the truth! We still have a ways to go but we are so excited to keep helping her progress! 

So on Saturday we went to go visit a less active member that lives in a super sketchy part of Philly. 

Well, we were driving there and on our way at least 5 cop cars passed us with lights and sirens. We were so confused as to what was happening. We parked and said a prayer and that's when we heard the helicopters. We looked up and 2 helicopters were hovering over us and flashing a spotlight just a few blocks over. We walked rather quickly to this members house and asked if she knew what was happening. She was like, "eh somebody probably just escaped from prison." So apparently this kind of thing happens all the time our here! 

Another funny story is we went to go visit an inactive lady the other day and she was telling us about when she went to kohl's. Well this lady is kind of crazy, but I LOVE HER! Well she said that she was buying a bedding set and didnt see any pillow cases in it, so there was the same bedding on display.  She decided to take the pillow cases off of the display and she took them home with her. Well, when she got home she realized that there were some pillow cases in the package all along. She went on to tell us that she doesnt want to take them back so shes just gonna keep them. 

But it was a good week and I wish you all a happy new year!

Sister Larsen

Sister Reynolds, one of the greatest people to ever walk the earth

Me and Sister Hales in center city

December 31, 2019 - I Hate Bus Stops (Week 41) - Philadelphia, PA

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!🎉 I hope you all make some great new years resolutions and stick to them, because as Elder Holland once said, "The start of a new year is the traditional time to take stock of our lives and see where we are going, measured against the backdrop of where we have been. I don’t want to talk to you about New Year’s resolutions, because you only made five of them and you have already broken four. (I give that remaining one just another week.)"

This week we rode the bus SO MUCH!! I really dont mind riding the bus, but I absolutely HATE waiting at the bus stop! 

It was a good week and these past 2 days I have really learned how perfect Gods timing is. Just today Sister Hales and I walked to pick up some lunch and then decided to go back to the church to eat it. Well at the church was some members who were cleaning up from a wedding reception. A delivery guy was there picking up some things that the members had rented for the reception. Well, turns out these tables they rented weren't very good quality. But the member tipped him for his efforts. The worker felt bad about accepting the tip because of what happened. Well, the member told him to keep this tip, but that next time he sees missionaries to talk to them. He agreed and they had a gospel centered conversation. 

Well just about a minute into this conversation we walk in! We were able to answer some of his questions and we gave him a Book of Mormon. He was so excited to read it and to learn more. 

It's amazing to see how simple member missionary brings forth so many good things! It is never as hard as you may think, I can promise you that. But I would like to encourage you all to think of someone that you can share a scripture, an uplifting quote, or a video with to brighten their day. 

Keep on keeping on!

Sister Larsen

Sister Hales eating pizza

Christmas Eve service

A nice bus selfie

Philly loves Jesus

Apartment selfie

Main street selfie