¿A Donde debo ir?

Hello Hello Hello!! How is everyone this week? I hope you all enjoyed your last week of school, Porter GRADUATED, and already enjoying your summer vacation. CRAZY that you are already on summer vacation again... I don't know about you... but this year went fast, right?? 

The week for us was great also! We've been focusing on finding this week. Elder Ballard told all the mission presidents a while ago that it would be a good idea to set a standard for the mission to do 20 contacts daily to find new people to teach. This was something that has been hard for me do. BUT, my companion and I set the goal to really focus on this this week. AND, we've seen success! With our goal to find the family, we contact everyone that is walking with a kid, and we've been able to get many addresses and appointments! Not only do we see the blessings of obedience, but the blessing of Talk to EVERYONE! Everyone needs the gospel, everyone is a child of God! "But are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." 

Also, good news from this week, I went to Priesthood for the first time ;) haha Jorge, our convert from last week, recieved the Priesthood, so my companion and I went to the opening of Priesthood with him to see him recieve it and the blessing. It was so great to see, and I was so happy for him! 

In my study of the Book of Mormon, I read again the story of when Nephi broke his bow (1 Nephi 16: 23, 18-24). I loved what he did. He didn't complain. He had faith in the Lord. He got up and made a new one. And asked the Lord where he should go, willing to go wherever. This is something my companion and I have been praying for, to be guided to the people that are ready. To be guided in what to say. To be guided in what to do. 

Nephi is the best example of this. Especially with even his family complaining. But, humbly went to make a new bow. Complaining wouldn't change the situation.  So, may as well make the best of it! He decided to look for the best in the situation and to solve it. 

I know the Lord will guide us to the people that are ready, will guide us in the right direction with every aspect of our life, and will always always ALWAYS help us! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Enjoy your first full week of Summer Vacation! 

Love you!! 

--Hermana Severtson

Orar Con Fe

Buenas Tardes! 

I want to start this email today, saying that this week was GREAT!! It was super quick, and flew by, but it was excellent. 

Jorge and Vanessa got baptized. They are fully involved and dedicated. They are ready to keep going! They are amazing! The baptism was really great, so many members came to support them in this decision. The whole ward is excited to take them in to the ward family. Along with the 2 converts from the Elders we share the ward with. 

I am also happy to share, that we recieved our transfers, and IM STAYING! :D I wanted to stay, and I am! :) Im excited to keep working here with Hermana Calarco and work towards our goals and plans we have for this transfer. 

Like I mentioned, we went to Iquique this week, and it was amazing! Elder Spannaus and his wife are so great! It was weird to return to Iquique, to my same sector. I thought being there would help me remember a bit... nope. I really do not remember hardly anything from that transfer. haha It was SO long ago ;) 

They talked to us about sincere prayer with faith. A prayer shouldn't be a "wish list". It should consist also of a plan. What we will do, to help work towards the things we are asking for. Be specific. This is something we've been working on as a companionship, and its been a lot more effective. We feel better when we pray this way. We think before about the things we will thank and ask, and they have more meaning. 

Then, to end the conference, Elder Spannaus gave us a challenge and a promise. To read the whole Book of Mormon before September 1, highlighting anything that has to do with names of Christ (Savior, Redeemer...), the atonement, and the Gospel of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost, endure to the end). The promise, was that if we do this, we will strengthen our testimonies of Christ, and learn something new about him we didn't realize before. I accepted this challenge, and I will do it! :D And I invite any of you would like to do it, to do it as well. I know this promise he gave us is true! 

Pray with faith. Prayer should be a conversation, it takes effort and energy. There really is an extra difference in the day when we pray... pray with faith. This testimony I've learned here in the mission especially. God answers prayers. He knows us. He knows our needs. He knows best. 

I love you lots!! You are all the best! You are great examples of hard work and testimony. Enjoy your last week of school this week, and work hard until the end ;) 

--Hermana Severtson

No Dudo Que Mi Madre Lo Sabía

Hello!! and Happy Mother's Day!! 

It was great to talk to you all yesterday, and to hear about BENTLEY'S MISSION CALL!!!!! I am so excited for her, and excited to tell anyone that will listen to me ;) She is going to LOVE it! It is the perfect mission for her! There are people there that are waiting for Sister Clark! 

We had a great week!! We will be having a baptism this week! I'm super excited for that!! After working and working with this father and daughter, they accepted to be baptized, and are excited for it! 

This week, we are going to IQUIQUE! A member of the Quorom of the 70 is coming, Elder Alin Spannaus. All of Arica will travel to Iquique to hear this conference. I am excited to go see Iquique again--during the day. We always pass through in the middle of the night and I recognize a little ;) Im also excited to hear from Elder Spannaus. It will be a great conference! 

I studied this week about the 2000 Sons of Helaman (Alma 53-56). I really like the part they talk about the traits of these young men... Brave. True. Faithful. Serious. Mature. Obedient. Strong. Because their mom's taught by example. They were confident in the testimonies their mother's had, because their mothers shared their testimonies by word and action. 

I thought too, especially with Mother's Day, that I KNOW that my mom knew too. She always taught by example, and showed us the right way. She taught me SO much more than she probably realizes. She was always patient in all things. Her example of service and charity until the end is an example of love and selflessness. She accepted everyone for who they are and a friend to all. She is SO loving of all things. and HAPPY. I think that's the thing I am most grateful for that she taught me. How to be happy. How to be optimistic. This is something you can only teach by example. And she was the best example there is. I don't remember ever seeing my mom sad, angry, frustrated, ... always happy, smiling, laughing, having fun, and enjoying every moment. 

I hope we can all live in such a way, that no one will doubt that we KNOW this Gospel is true. That we have no doubts about it, and that for our confidence, they too want to learn more. I love hearing your stories of inviting neighbors, testifying to your friends, and being great examples. Because that is the best way to show that you BELIEVE and KNOW and LIVE the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Happy Mother's Day! 

I love you all LOTSS!! 

<3 Hermana Severtson

Cosas Pequeñas Y Sencillas

Hello Hello Hello!! 

Another GREAT week we've had here! Im loving every minute of every day right now! My companion is AMAZING, we are seeing lots of success, and we have lots of fun together! 

My Birthday was fun too... cant believe I'm 21! Especially when the whole world still tells me I look like I'm 18 ;) hehe But it was a good day! 

We went to Antofagasta, traveled Wednesday night, leaving at 9:30, and leaving Antofagasta at 6pm the next night. But the meeting was great, and it was fun to see a bunch of my old friends and companions on my birthday ;) 

This week, we had an activity called Cine Bingo. We watched The Restoration, the 20 minute one, and had bingo cards with phrases from the movie. When you heard the phrase, you marked your card, and whoever got Bingo first, won! It was really fun... but no one won.... haha ;) But it was neat! 

MOTHERS DAY. BENLEY'S CALL. I sure hope she gets it! Yeah, if she does happen to get it on like Wednesday, don't torture her, and she can just open it ;) hehe But I'd like to see too, if she can stand it. But dont plan it all around me. ;) 

We will have to figure out too how to do it, because I cant talk to other people besides family. So maybe if i talk to you all for a while before, then she can open it at the end, and I just hang up there? I dont know. we will see! :D But either way, I'M SO EXCITEDDD!! 

My guess! I never guessed yet. I'm going to guess that Bentley will go somewhere back East.... like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia... something like that. or foreign.... France or Russia ;) hehe 

You asked me too about my TK20... I dont know what that is... but either way we have to purchase it, so just get it whenever is a good time. i have no idea. ;) 

This week, I was thinking about Alma 37:6-7. How SMALL and SIMPLE things bring about great things. "By very small means the Lord bringeth about the salvation of many souls" It is true!! I was thinking about all the small and simple things we do, say, and how the Spirit testifies of it. Even little small acts of obedience bring great blessings. 

Last Sunday, we had our 2 investigators Jorge and Vanesa (dad and daughter) come to church. I dont remember if I already told you... I hope not. But anyways. We were waiting for Vanesa to get ready, and Jorge shows us a picture of his nephew who passed away a few years back. Jorge's sister and her family are active members of the church, and were in this ward when her son died. He showed us the picture and told us a little about him. Next, we go to church, and in the talk, he mentions this family, and this boy. It was a random story, that didnt seem to have TOO much to do with the talk, but it was exactly what Jorge and Vanesa needed to pay special attention and recieve this little miracle that God knows their needs. 

Another, is a member, Olga, that is doing AWESOME with missionary work. She asked us for some pass-along cards she can give to her clients (she works with "seguros"--I forgot what that is in English... wills and trusts I think?) AWESOME! It just made me think that yeah, maybe no one she directly gives a card to will accept the gospel right away, but maybe one day, a friend will invite them to something, and they will remember the nice lady that gave that card. Our example really affects people. Many people know a member of the church, and will want to listen if they know there are "good people". 

Jorge and Vanesa recieved a special blessing from Bishop this week too, to help them recognize their answers and prepare to be baptized. It was EXACTLY what they both needed. After church, we walked them home, and they were both awe stuck with how perfect it was. I hope they can keep progressing. 

This week too, from little things, I strengthened my testimony. Of planning. In the morning, we planned to visit a few people, and to try a few addresses of less-actives in the ward we didnt know. And we had success! But, that same day, for a few things that came up last minute... we didnt follow our plans, and we didnt have too many lessons that night. Planning really is important. The Spirit can tell us where to go... but we just need to Follow it! 

Also, with the Book of Mormon. We have an investigator that was progressing, kinda. BUT, her neighbor is a member, and this investigator was sick, and "took advantage of the time" to read the Book of Mormon! She told us she LOVES the story of Joseph Smith. She LOVES the Book of Mormon!!! And, the same story of a different investigator. We didnt see her for like 2 weeks, and thought we'd just have to drop her. But, her aunt (lives next door, very active) helped her again, read the Book of Mormon with her, and now is super excited to be baptized! 

There is power in the Book of Mormon, and also, power in working with members. There is more "power" if a member says something sometimes, than the missionaries. Members are "normal" people, and have automatic trust. 

Another small and simple thing, are the missionaries. We are young, we are inexperienced. But we are the ones here, doing the work, learning, growing, strengthening.... We see people every day who are amazed that we left behind our home, family, friends, school, to serve a mission. 80,000 missionaries, in comparison with the population of the world, is small. But 80,000 small things put together, is creating something large and wonderful! 

Work on the small things. Small things really do make great things. Be an example, people notice the difference. Bear your testimony. It doesnt always have to be "Id like to bear my testimony..." just little things "I know that" or "Im happy that.." :) Thats something I've really learned in my mission, not to be afraid or nervous to say what I know. The Spirit can only testify if we bear true testimony, of things we really know and believe. So share it!! 

Im SUPER excited to talk to you all on SUNDAY!! I will call around 6:30 or 7 here. My companion will call her family first, an hour before that. Maybe I can log in real quick before her and ask about Bentley's call and figure something out if she is going to open it. 

I hope you all have a GREAT week!! Remember that I love you LOTS!! and I miss you too, but time goes quick.... (and like you all always remind me :)   ) I'll see you soon... The mission is the best thing in the world, and I know its the only place to really learn and grow. There is no other opportunity or experience I'd trade this knowledge for. The church is true. Christ lives. We have living prophets. That's what makes the difference, and the difference is what makes it true! 

Les quiero mucho, y espero lo mejor para cada uno de ustedes. Sean felices y nunca se olviden quienes somos. Somos hijos de un Amoroso Padre Celestial. Sean fuertes en todo momento. Sean la luz del mundo. 

Las familias son eternas, eso yo sé. Y estoy muy feliz por eso. Y estoy muy agradecida que YO tengo la familia mejor del mundo. Padre Celestial me bendijo mucho, porque me dio una familia así ;) 

Espero que tengan una semana GENIAL! 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Severtson 

¿Cómo es que no puede enseñarme?

Hola Familia! 

Once again, we had a FANTASTIC week! We've really been starting to see a lot of success here in our sector. We have been recieving LOTS of referrals from members, applying the advice and teachings of the Mission President...and seeing it WORK! Its so great!! We have so many great investigators right now, and they are all thanks to members! 

We've started challenging our new investigators to baptism during our first visit. IT WORKS! At first, I'll admit, I doubted it, thinking it was direct and before we had their confidence. But, if you do it right, its BETTER. They know why we are here to help them, they have a goal, they try harder to get an answer... its awesome! 

We did more splits this week too, fun stuff! I love learning from the other sisters, and getting to know more people! We always see some sort of miracle in the days we do this splits, and I love it! 

We had another FHE in the chapel this week, great like last week! We played some games, had a lesson, and had a little "party" for a future missionary who left TODAY to go to Brasil on his mission! 

I can't believe Bentley sends in her papers THIS WEEK! How awesome! :D I hope I can see her open it.. but it will cut it close! 

Speaking of... MOTHERS DAY! how does 6:30 or 7 sound? Chilean time. I think we are about 3hours difference right now (we had daylight savings on sunday again). Let me know how that sounds, and we can figure it all out. 

We made more Banana Bread again... EVERYONE loves it! And asks us to make it for any excuse they can think of ;)

Thanks also for the birthday wishes! I cant believe another year has passed! 21... !! Im so old... ! haha 

We had interviews with President this week, and the assistants shared a scripture I liked.... 1 Nephi 17:51. I didnt get the chance to read it in English... so ill do a brief translation: If the Lord has shown us so many miracles, how is it that he can't teach me to build a ship? 

We see SO many miracles. The Lord has ALL power. How is it, If he can show Nephi to build a ship, that he can't show us how to be a better missionary? be more obedient? be more loving? learn better in school? help me with my homework? be an example? .... HE CAN. 

Through prayer, we can see many answers, but we need to just listen. I love the quote "If we want to talk to God, we pray. If we want him to talk to us, we read the scriptures". That's how it is! We recieve so many answers through the scriptures. If we read and apply, we recieve answers to any and everything. I promise! If we have an open mind and start with a prayer, the Lord gives us personal revelation through scripture study. 

He can do all things. He can teach us all things. WE just need to be open and let him. Nothing is too hard for God. 

Thats the challenge this week. Read the scriptures daily, at least a little bit, and see what the Lord is trying to teach you. Set a goal: to try something new, to break a bad habit, anything! And if you do it through prayer and scripture study, He will teach you. 

I know it's true! Ive seen it SO many times in my life, and especially through my mission. He loves us, and wants the best for us. He will teach us! 

I love you all!! I hope you have a great week!! Make a new friend, be an example, and set a new goal! And most important, BE HAPPY!! :D We have so many blessings, more than we can count! So much to be thankful for. 

Love you! 

<3 Hermana Severtson

P.S. My companion and I... finally ;) well take more this week ;)

¿Cual Es Tu Destino?

Hello and Happy Easter! 

Easter, I've decided, is one of my favorite holidays. Its such a great way to remember and celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He Lives! He loves us, and He shows us the way. 

This week, we made more Banana Bread, like I explained last week. IT IS SO GOOD. ;) We started a weekly Family Home Evening at the church everyFriday for the ward, and the first one was this past weekend. It was great! We did a Spiritual Thought about the life and resurrection of Christ, and played games after. My companion and I brought banana bread...and everyone loved it ;) hehe 

We did our first splits as Sister Training Leaders this week too. I learned so much from the other Hermana I got to pair with. I'm really going to like doing this. We have 2 more planned for this week, because we have 7 companionships of sisters to do splits with, in 6 weeks. We didnt do them the first week because of the transfers, and next week we will go to Antofagasta again, so we have 2 a week ;) But I like it! I just wish I could be more with MY companion ;) I love the splits and I love my companion, so its hard ;) 

Speaking of my companion.... yep. I realized we haven't taken any pictures either! haha We will take some this week and send them to you next week. Time just flies so quick that we havent even thought much about pictures! haha ;) 

I saw the email you sent, and that you talked to my counselor. PERFECT! My schedule looks pretty good too! Awesome! I'll be busy for sure! But maybe I'll start up teaching piano again if I can. I'd like to work, and I LOVED teaching piano, so I'll probably do that ;) 

I hope we can get it figured out with Porter that we can go together, that'd be perfect! I cant believe he already has so many credits! Great job!! 

And Bentley's call! HOW AWESOME!!!! Im so excited for her!! I have no idea either where to guess.... Im going to say France ;) I know she'd love that! haha Or alaska?? ;) I dont know... Ill do some "pondering" this week and let you all know  ;) 

I hope she has her call before mothers day too! That'd be so fun to be able to see her open it!! :D 

I forwarded you a talk, from Elder Arnold that President Dalton sent us. I really really liked this talk... "What is your Destination?" It's so true how Elder Arnold explains it. So many times we think we "end" when we reach a goal. But really, the goal is just the door to another bigger and better goal. Our ultimate destination should be the Celestial Kingdom...and not even that! Because we just keep progressing! You'll just have to read the talk, because he explains it better than me! ;) But its a good one to really think and ponder about our goals, destinations, priorities, ... 

What is YOUR destination? Where do YOU want to go? Its really our choice. My companion and I studied this week 2 Nephi 2:27, "Men are free to choose liberty and eternal life, or captivity and death" Its kinda a strong and direct scrpiture, but its true in the big sense of things. If something doesnt help us progress, it makes us degress. We choose our destination, we are free to choose what path we want to take. 

I don't remember if I told you way back then or not, but when I was in the MTC, a speaker came and talked to us a little about this. He told us, that when we go back to our rooms, to write in our journal of what kingdom we wanted to go to. Everyone always wants the Celestial Kingdom, right? Its the most glorious, the best! But, if we really wanted to go to the Celestial Kingdom, no temptation would even be a temptation. We would never even think about sinning, because we would know it would stop our progress for this Kingdom. 

So, after all this rant, it's our choice. What will YOUR destination be? 

Ok, thats enough for today ;) I love you LOTS!!!! I hope you all have an amazing week in school/work/sports/activities, and being a great missionary example to everyone you meet! 

Con MUCHO amor, 

Hermana Severtson 

PS-- I hope you all saved me one of the new Severtson Screen shirts ;) hehe the activity looked super fun! :D 

Disciple of Christ

Hello Hello! 

How was your week? I hope it was good for all of you! 

We had a good week here! My new companion, Hermana Calarco, came and we've already seen some great success here in our sector!! She's AMAZING and I know it will be a great transfer with her! 

I always love the first week of transfers. I don't know why, but I've noticed these past few transfers I've had with new companions, that during that first week, we receive miracles. People give us so many referrals, people stop us in the street, we find amazing people... its great!! I just hope this time, it doesn't stop at the week, but continues through the transfer ;) 

We received a lot of referrals from the Mini-MTC we did, and we were able to contact them finally this week. One of them, along with one other investigator, have baptism date goals for May 10! They are awesome, and I know they can really progress and be ready on this day! 

Its really amazing how much better the work is when you work with the members.... BTW, thats you guys ;) hehe and me in just a short time more! I know now, that I will be preparing my friends SO much better now, and giving the missionaries someone to work with ;) 

This week, we had our first conference to Antofagasta! We traveled Wednesday night to head there, and Thursday night to head back. It was a great conference with President, and it was neat to be able to go! We go every month, so the next should be May 1. Which is my birthday! ;) Coming up quick! It'll be fun though, because of the 3 companionships of Zone Leaders here in Arica that we travel with, one of them too has his birthday May 1, turning 21 also! So the 12 hour bus ride we could have a party. haha 

I was sitting here in the cyber (a "store" that has a bunch of computers to use) when I met Hermana Johnson. She is from DC, and guess what? She knows the Smith's! She tells me, "You're Hermana Severtson, right?" yes.... "So you're the cousin of Connor Smith?" YES! He was good friends with her brother I guess... small world! ;) And, since we are the Sister Training Leaders, I will be getting to know her good too, and going on splits and everything. So it should be fun! 

Hermana Garrison here in the mission, is the senior couple we have. She always makes Banana Bread for the mission conferences, and its the best I've ever tasted. She sent us all the recipe, and my companion and I made it this morning.. YUMM!! I never really liked it too much before the mission, but its SO GOOD now!! First time I've made it, and it turned out good! That's an American recipe, but one of many I've collected here in the mission. 

Today is the first day we get to go back to live in our own pension, and I am happy for that! To be able to sleep in my OWN bed! It will be nice! 

This week, we really focused on working with members and receiving referrals from them. I promise you, its the better way!! They automatically have a friend, someone to support them, and someone to go to with doubts and questions. They come with more potential, and are just awesome! Remember what Ballard said in conference, every 3 months, or 4 times a year, we should be looking for someone we could share the Gospel with. Imagine how MANY people will be converted to the Gospel! If just 100 people invite 4 people a year, thats already 400 new members.... more than a ward. Imagine! And thats just 100 people! We could really see great improvement in our church if we apply this revelation. I know we can do it! I will do it when I'm home!! 

(Speaking of... Dad, you asked me about my travel plans. I still don't have them. The missionaries going home this transfer, mid-May, received them today, so it will still be a while. They give them to us later, so we stay focused ;)  ) 

But, like they said in conference, being a member is being a Disciple of Christ. A disciple is someone dedicated to the Gospel, not afraid to share it, someone who represents Christ in every aspect. I loved how so many of the General Authorities talked about Discipleship this conference. I know they receive revelation. I know they're prophets, seers, and revelators of God, and know what we need right now. I know they know better than us, and are here to guide us. ;) 

Have a great week everyone! I love you lotssss!!