Monday, May 24, 2010
Hello! I am so thankful for the inbox full of letters that I found this morning! I have some very exciting news about transfers...I am staying in Groningen and I will be training!!! I can´t believe it! I received a call from President Brubaker last night at 10:20 and he said, "Zuster Sharp, the Lord would like to call you to be a senior companion right now and to also train a new missionary." I was in total shock! I think that he could hear that in my voice and so he quickly followed by assuring me that the Lord and he had total confidence in me. He also talked about Groningen being really a huge area of focus right now because he has felt inspired that there is a lot that will be taking place there. He told me that I was called to this area at this time to do some very important work and that I would be able to do it as I continue to serve the Lord with all of my heart, mind, and strength. What a humbling telephone call! As you can imagine it took some time before I fell asleep last night. I just kept having doubts about my ability to train a new missionary because a trainer has such a huge impact on a missionary´s mission and life. But the Spirit kept comforting me and letting me know that as long as I do my best and stay close to the Lord that nothing can go wrong. I just have to keep trusting in those feelings! I will be taking Zuster Stapleton to Utrecht on Wednesday (she will be serving in Dordrecht for her last transfer...I will miss her a lot!) and I will be picking up my greenie there. WOW! Even writing this is making me nervous! Keep praying for me and for my greenie!
This week has been another amazing one! I had piano lessons again with Gabriel Fridsma and I am just having a blast doing it! He is loving it too and is making a lot of progress. He can name all of the notes on the piano and he can also play a few songs out of the book. I will have another appointment with him this week.
On Thursday we took the paper chain to Swinda and Dave. When we arrived at the Ronald McDonald house and called Swinda to let us in she told us that she had totally forgot that we were coming and that she wasn´t home. We were a little bummed out because we were so excited to give it to her and Dave but decided that we would just leave it there in their mailbox. We found a park bench to sit on and we wrote a little note to stick on the chain and then took it back up to the door. One of the workers came to let us in and he said that Swinda had just barely walked in the door too. He led us over to her and she seemed somewhat happy to see us but really stressed and tired because they are waiting to hear the results about Dave. We gave her the chain, picture, and note all packaged up and then went on our way. On our way out Zr. Stapleton had to use the bathroom so I just waited in the hall. About a minute after waiting Swinda came walking up to me and threw her arms around me. She was sobbing and had tears running down her cheeks. She had opened up the package and had the chain in her hand. When she could finally talk, she said that that was the best gift she had ever received. She also said that she wanted Dave to be among the children in the picture because their faces just seemed to glow! Dave came running in a few minutes later with one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen. We were able to take some pictures with them and make a new appointment to meet with them this week. Her heart was truly softened! It was such a huge miracle! Thank you for your prayers in their behalf!
I love you soooo much! I am inspired by each of you and I think about you often! You are always in my prayers! Have a good week and continue to do things for others to make them happy...that is the gospel!
Love, Laur
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
What a beautiful day!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Hello Fam! How are you doing?! I am so looking forward to reading your e-mails and hearing all about your week! I was really thinking a lot about everyone yesterday and the chance you all had to get together to attend Becca´s farewell and support her. I am so excited to hear how it went! Ever since I was able to talk to you on Mother´s Day I have been replaying our conversation over and over again. It is such a blessing because it is not a source of homesickness but a source of strength. Actually, since I talked to you, I have been less focused on missing you all than ever before in my mission. It was such an uplifting conversation! You were all so positive and loving and uplifting and I know that even though the time was short, the Lord blessed us for our obedience!
I had a wonderful week! Last Monday night we headed down to Amsterdam and had Zone Conference on Tuesday. The Conference was totally focused on working with the members (one of my favorite parts of missionary work) and I learned so much that I am beginning to apply to the work here. It was also wonderful to be able to gather with all of the other missionaries and encourage each other with the work.
Tuesday night I came back to Groningen with Zuster Fowler and we had such an AMAZING time working together! I learned so much from her and we saw some amazing miracles as we worked together. One of them was with Swinda. We went and visited Swinda and Joanne came with us. Joanne brought her violin and she played "I Believe in Christ" and Zuster Fowler and I sang along. The Spirit was amazingly strong (I know that I say that every time, but it really was!) and we were able to share Jesus Christ´s love with her. I know that God has a great plan for her and Dave and that we are just so blessed to be able to be a part of that. She didn´t come to church yesterday but she is planning on coming to the RS activity on Wednesday. She is making progress...slowly but surely! We did the sharing time yesterday and made the paper "get well" chain for Dave. The kids were all so excited about it and the chain is so cute! We took a picture of all of the kids with the chain and we are going to take it to Dave with the Primary President this week. I´ll let you know how it goes!
The rest of the week was really busy! Emily and Ying Na called off their appointments but our hopes are high that we will have appointments with them again this week. Thanks for keeping all of them in your prayers! You´re working miracles through your faith!
Today, Brother and Sister De Jonge, an older couple in our ward, took us and the Elders on a p-day outing so that we could all have a chance to see Groningen really well before transfers next Wednesday. I ate herring! It is a kind of fish that the Dutch people love and they eat it raw. We went all of the way to the coast of the Netherlands and I ate a whole raw fish! It didn´t taste bad but the texture freaked me out a bit! At least I can say I am a little closer to being a Nederlander! I will be sending pictures of it soon!
I love you so much and keep you in my prayers! Thanks for your prayers and support....You are all amazing! I hope that you have an amazing week and know that I LOVE YOU! Love, Zuster Sharp
P.S. Brandt, I came in contact with a girl that comes from Romania. Her mom had a lot of contact with the missionaries a while ago. She comes from a little town (maybe Assa) in the area of Moldavia. The name sounds familiar so I got her moms name and was just wondering if by some small chance you know her. We are also planning on taking a Book of Mormon back to her and I was wondering if you could send me an e-mail with your testimony in Romanian so that I can write it on the inside cover of the book. Thanks! Her Mom´s name is Mariana Zaharia. It is a small world!
Hello Fam! How are you doing?! I am so looking forward to reading your e-mails and hearing all about your week! I was really thinking a lot about everyone yesterday and the chance you all had to get together to attend Becca´s farewell and support her. I am so excited to hear how it went! Ever since I was able to talk to you on Mother´s Day I have been replaying our conversation over and over again. It is such a blessing because it is not a source of homesickness but a source of strength. Actually, since I talked to you, I have been less focused on missing you all than ever before in my mission. It was such an uplifting conversation! You were all so positive and loving and uplifting and I know that even though the time was short, the Lord blessed us for our obedience!
I had a wonderful week! Last Monday night we headed down to Amsterdam and had Zone Conference on Tuesday. The Conference was totally focused on working with the members (one of my favorite parts of missionary work) and I learned so much that I am beginning to apply to the work here. It was also wonderful to be able to gather with all of the other missionaries and encourage each other with the work.
Tuesday night I came back to Groningen with Zuster Fowler and we had such an AMAZING time working together! I learned so much from her and we saw some amazing miracles as we worked together. One of them was with Swinda. We went and visited Swinda and Joanne came with us. Joanne brought her violin and she played "I Believe in Christ" and Zuster Fowler and I sang along. The Spirit was amazingly strong (I know that I say that every time, but it really was!) and we were able to share Jesus Christ´s love with her. I know that God has a great plan for her and Dave and that we are just so blessed to be able to be a part of that. She didn´t come to church yesterday but she is planning on coming to the RS activity on Wednesday. She is making progress...slowly but surely! We did the sharing time yesterday and made the paper "get well" chain for Dave. The kids were all so excited about it and the chain is so cute! We took a picture of all of the kids with the chain and we are going to take it to Dave with the Primary President this week. I´ll let you know how it goes!
The rest of the week was really busy! Emily and Ying Na called off their appointments but our hopes are high that we will have appointments with them again this week. Thanks for keeping all of them in your prayers! You´re working miracles through your faith!
Today, Brother and Sister De Jonge, an older couple in our ward, took us and the Elders on a p-day outing so that we could all have a chance to see Groningen really well before transfers next Wednesday. I ate herring! It is a kind of fish that the Dutch people love and they eat it raw. We went all of the way to the coast of the Netherlands and I ate a whole raw fish! It didn´t taste bad but the texture freaked me out a bit! At least I can say I am a little closer to being a Nederlander! I will be sending pictures of it soon!
I love you so much and keep you in my prayers! Thanks for your prayers and support....You are all amazing! I hope that you have an amazing week and know that I LOVE YOU! Love, Zuster Sharp
P.S. Brandt, I came in contact with a girl that comes from Romania. Her mom had a lot of contact with the missionaries a while ago. She comes from a little town (maybe Assa) in the area of Moldavia. The name sounds familiar so I got her moms name and was just wondering if by some small chance you know her. We are also planning on taking a Book of Mormon back to her and I was wondering if you could send me an e-mail with your testimony in Romanian so that I can write it on the inside cover of the book. Thanks! Her Mom´s name is Mariana Zaharia. It is a small world!
Monday, May 10, 2010
What an amazing Mother's Day!!!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Hello! It's so fun to be writing right now because I feel so close to you after having just talked to you! You all sounded SO good and so happy!!! I am so thankful that you made those 30 minutes so extra special! Last night as I went to bed your words of love and happiness just kept playing over and over in my head...that was a 30 minute conversation that I will never forget! I still would have liked to share more words of love and gratitude with you but I feel so satisfied and energized with the time that we did have. Just never forget that I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU for everything! I hope that you all had a wonderful Mother's Day and I hope that you also know that you made my Mother's Day extremely special.
I didn't get to tell you yesterday, but I spent a day in Amsterdam this past week! Zuster Stapleton had to go to a leadership conference in Brussels with another sister, Zuster Ekstrom, so I spent a day in Amsterdam working with Zuster Vels, the only true Dutch sister in the mission. It was a shocker! I am so used to the smaller cities like Zwolle and Groningen and going to big old Amsterdam was a little overwhelming! I loved it though and I learned once again that wherever I go I immediately just fall in love with all of the people that I meet. It was really awesome to work with Zuster Vels and learn from here. She has such an amazing gift because she is Dutch, she can speak the language so perfectly, and she can relate to the people. Finding with her was awesome and we saw many miracles in our time together. She also helped me with my Dutch accent...I loved it! I wouldn't mind having another chance to serve with her again but maybe up here in the North...I like the quieter, smaller cities!
Swinda is still doing really well. I am going on exchanges on Wednesday with Zuster Fowler and I am hoping that we can get an appointment with Swinda for that day and that Joanne can come as a joint-teach. Joanne can play the violin really well and we are hoping that she can bring her violin and play and Zuster Fowler and I will sing a hymn with her accompanying us. The power of music in bringing the spirit is so amazing and I think it would really touch her heart. Keep her in your prayers! Dave isn't doing so well. Luckily we are going to be teaching primary this next week and we will be making cards from the primary children to Dave so that will hopefully give him and Swinda a little boost of hope and allow them to feel the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!
We are also still teaching Ying Na and her 6 year old son, Run Ze. They are Chinese and they have no Christian background. I took my gospel art book the last time we went to teach them and I sat for about 45 minutes with Run Ze going through the book and telling him story after story about Jesus Christ and the people in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. At times I thought it would be too difficult for him to understand but he couldn't get enough! He begged me to bring the book back and I promised him I would to share more stories with him. I am amazed at the faith and understanding of small children...I really need to learn from them. I think that he might end up being the key to his mother’s heart to help her understand and accept the gospel!
I love you so much and I hope that you have a wonderful week! The Lord lives and this is His church! I am so thankful that I have the truth and that I get to share it with others. Thank you for your prayers and love and support! I pray for you too!
Love, Lauren
Hello! It's so fun to be writing right now because I feel so close to you after having just talked to you! You all sounded SO good and so happy!!! I am so thankful that you made those 30 minutes so extra special! Last night as I went to bed your words of love and happiness just kept playing over and over in my head...that was a 30 minute conversation that I will never forget! I still would have liked to share more words of love and gratitude with you but I feel so satisfied and energized with the time that we did have. Just never forget that I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU for everything! I hope that you all had a wonderful Mother's Day and I hope that you also know that you made my Mother's Day extremely special.
I didn't get to tell you yesterday, but I spent a day in Amsterdam this past week! Zuster Stapleton had to go to a leadership conference in Brussels with another sister, Zuster Ekstrom, so I spent a day in Amsterdam working with Zuster Vels, the only true Dutch sister in the mission. It was a shocker! I am so used to the smaller cities like Zwolle and Groningen and going to big old Amsterdam was a little overwhelming! I loved it though and I learned once again that wherever I go I immediately just fall in love with all of the people that I meet. It was really awesome to work with Zuster Vels and learn from here. She has such an amazing gift because she is Dutch, she can speak the language so perfectly, and she can relate to the people. Finding with her was awesome and we saw many miracles in our time together. She also helped me with my Dutch accent...I loved it! I wouldn't mind having another chance to serve with her again but maybe up here in the North...I like the quieter, smaller cities!
Swinda is still doing really well. I am going on exchanges on Wednesday with Zuster Fowler and I am hoping that we can get an appointment with Swinda for that day and that Joanne can come as a joint-teach. Joanne can play the violin really well and we are hoping that she can bring her violin and play and Zuster Fowler and I will sing a hymn with her accompanying us. The power of music in bringing the spirit is so amazing and I think it would really touch her heart. Keep her in your prayers! Dave isn't doing so well. Luckily we are going to be teaching primary this next week and we will be making cards from the primary children to Dave so that will hopefully give him and Swinda a little boost of hope and allow them to feel the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!
We are also still teaching Ying Na and her 6 year old son, Run Ze. They are Chinese and they have no Christian background. I took my gospel art book the last time we went to teach them and I sat for about 45 minutes with Run Ze going through the book and telling him story after story about Jesus Christ and the people in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. At times I thought it would be too difficult for him to understand but he couldn't get enough! He begged me to bring the book back and I promised him I would to share more stories with him. I am amazed at the faith and understanding of small children...I really need to learn from them. I think that he might end up being the key to his mother’s heart to help her understand and accept the gospel!
I love you so much and I hope that you have a wonderful week! The Lord lives and this is His church! I am so thankful that I have the truth and that I get to share it with others. Thank you for your prayers and love and support! I pray for you too!
Love, Lauren
Monday, May 3, 2010
Happy Mother´s Day!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Hello Family! What a beautiful week! Did you enjoy it? Thanks for the pics Cars! You all look so cute! Did you have a good time at prom? I can´t wait to read about it!
YES! I get to talk to you in less than a week! The rules are the same from Christmas...30 minutes. I don´t know what time is best for you but I was thinking that we could maybe talk at 7:30 PM here, so 12:30 your time. Does that sound okay? The number is 01131652338970. I can´t wait to hear from you! It will be so wonderful to talk for 30 minutes, especially on Mother´s Day!
We were just showered with miracles this week...too many to share them all! But I will quickly share the highlights of the week and hopefully through them you will see how much God loves all of His children!
We were able to teach Swinda 3 times this week, the Elders and a member gave her and Dave a priesthood blessing, and SHE COMMITED TO BE BAPTIZED!!! It has become such an amazing teaching situation because she is experiencing firsthand the blessings of the priesthood so she understands that she needs to be baptized with that authority. The day that she received a blessing, we accompanied the Elders and the member. We were all gathered together in a tiny room and I know that angels were present. As one of the Elders gave Dave (her 6 year old son who has cancer) a blessing, he promised him that he would one day become a missionary too. Now I know that that will only occur according to his faithfulness and Swinda´s faithfulness but I know that it is very possible and that the things that are taking place in their lives are preparing them to receive the gospel so that they will be able to go out and share the gospel. Those 30 minutes were enough to make my mission all worth it...and I didn´t even have to do a thing! It is true that the elect are prepared before we meet them. Anyway, she just loves all of the things we are teaching her and she can´t wait to meet with us again and learn more. Her scheduled baptismal date is May 29, so we hope that she will receive a really clear answer that this church is true and that she follows through with everything the Lord expects of her beforehand so that she will be ready!
Emily came to church for the first time yesterday! We met her at her apartment at 9:00 and walked with her and her 18 month old son to the church. I think that she was a little overwhelmed at first but she learned a lot and built up relationships with members. She is also still planning on being baptized on May 29. I am looking forward to this double baptism!
Last night we held a big fireside with the Elders to promote missionary work in our ward. President Brubaker gave a short talk and we did some trainings and practices. We had a turn-out of about 40 people and they really got excited about helping their friends come unto Christ by doing "small and simple things" (Alma 37:6-7). We are hoping to set up a mini-MTC program every week that members can attend to continue to get training from Preach My Gospel. It´s really exciting!
I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week! THANK YOU for everything! The Lord lives and He loves you all so much! I LOVE YOU TOO! Happy Mother´s Day to all of you mothers, especially to you, MOM! I´ll talk to you on Sunday!
Love, Laur
Hello Family! What a beautiful week! Did you enjoy it? Thanks for the pics Cars! You all look so cute! Did you have a good time at prom? I can´t wait to read about it!
YES! I get to talk to you in less than a week! The rules are the same from Christmas...30 minutes. I don´t know what time is best for you but I was thinking that we could maybe talk at 7:30 PM here, so 12:30 your time. Does that sound okay? The number is 01131652338970. I can´t wait to hear from you! It will be so wonderful to talk for 30 minutes, especially on Mother´s Day!
We were just showered with miracles this week...too many to share them all! But I will quickly share the highlights of the week and hopefully through them you will see how much God loves all of His children!
We were able to teach Swinda 3 times this week, the Elders and a member gave her and Dave a priesthood blessing, and SHE COMMITED TO BE BAPTIZED!!! It has become such an amazing teaching situation because she is experiencing firsthand the blessings of the priesthood so she understands that she needs to be baptized with that authority. The day that she received a blessing, we accompanied the Elders and the member. We were all gathered together in a tiny room and I know that angels were present. As one of the Elders gave Dave (her 6 year old son who has cancer) a blessing, he promised him that he would one day become a missionary too. Now I know that that will only occur according to his faithfulness and Swinda´s faithfulness but I know that it is very possible and that the things that are taking place in their lives are preparing them to receive the gospel so that they will be able to go out and share the gospel. Those 30 minutes were enough to make my mission all worth it...and I didn´t even have to do a thing! It is true that the elect are prepared before we meet them. Anyway, she just loves all of the things we are teaching her and she can´t wait to meet with us again and learn more. Her scheduled baptismal date is May 29, so we hope that she will receive a really clear answer that this church is true and that she follows through with everything the Lord expects of her beforehand so that she will be ready!
Emily came to church for the first time yesterday! We met her at her apartment at 9:00 and walked with her and her 18 month old son to the church. I think that she was a little overwhelmed at first but she learned a lot and built up relationships with members. She is also still planning on being baptized on May 29. I am looking forward to this double baptism!
Last night we held a big fireside with the Elders to promote missionary work in our ward. President Brubaker gave a short talk and we did some trainings and practices. We had a turn-out of about 40 people and they really got excited about helping their friends come unto Christ by doing "small and simple things" (Alma 37:6-7). We are hoping to set up a mini-MTC program every week that members can attend to continue to get training from Preach My Gospel. It´s really exciting!
I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week! THANK YOU for everything! The Lord lives and He loves you all so much! I LOVE YOU TOO! Happy Mother´s Day to all of you mothers, especially to you, MOM! I´ll talk to you on Sunday!
Love, Laur
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