Monday, April 28, 2014
Pictures April 28, 2014
April 28, 2014 Bethel, Maine
Be
One
Hello
dear, dear family!! :) April 28, 2014
I loved getting your letters this week and it seems
like you've been having a great and busy time way over there in Utah! :)
Here it has been another busy week as well! As far as weather, I am
soo ready for spring! I can just feel it though; it is right around the
corner! The grass is growing and there are a couple flowers here and
there, but the trees still look dead. It is warmer though, and we’ve
actually been running a lot!! Dad Amy and Erin, I’ve been inspired by you
from many miles away!! J It also helps to have a runner as a companion. It is very wet,
but we haven’t had any more flooding luckily! Good thing too, because
driving through a river is not something that I want to experience again!
Ok, so I seriously don’t even know where to start. It is
such a blur, especially on Mondays for some reason. So, last week we just had a
lot of miracles. It was amazing!! First, it all started off with
our companionship. Monday we had our comp
inventory (it kinda got pushed back and back), and boy those things are just so
great!! It is such an awesome time that is set apart to come together and
help each other. I feel like my weaknesses have been standing out to me
now than they have ever been before. It is discouraging and frustrating
sometimes, but well, that is why the scriptures counsel to have patience.
Not easy, but down the road I’m pretty sure it will be worth it. I’m just
so grateful for Sister May! She does so much for me and she helps me as I
try to do better and become more of who the Savior would have me be. It
was just a great way to start out the week! It certainly helped us become
even more united!
Another huge miracle was our investigator Katy. It has
been incredible!! She noticed the first time we met with her that we have
a love that she wants so much to have but doesn’t know how to get it. She
has so many questions and she has tried to many different religions to get the
answers. She has been a Quaker and a Shaker and a Catholic and on and
on. She is so sincere and has such a strong belief in God, but she is
still so confused. We were able to teach her two times last week, the
first time with Sheny, a recent convert. We have really been trying to
get as many investigators at our lessons as possible, and it has been super
sweet!! It was the first time that she had been teaching with us and it
was soooo powerful! The spirit was very strong and it was just amazing to
see Katy feel it J She was very touched and so was Sheny. We really
did all learn and grow together! Katy called us later on in the week and
decided that she wanted to come to church with us, and also had some questions
and wanted us to come have another lesson with her as soon as possible.
She is very interested in the Plan on Salvation, especially the
resurrection. It was great being able to use the Book of Mormon to answer
her questions, and she was excited to come to church to see what it is
like. So, Katy is someone who goes to as many church meetings of all
kinds throughout the week to try to get as close to God as possible, so when
she heard our meetings are three hours she was super happy. She came to
Sacrament Meeting, and it was just an insanely amazing meeting!
Awesome! The spirit was so strong. We have some incredible and
strong youth and one of them bore his testimony and it was very powerful.
Then the Bishop spoke about finding peace and happiness through the Savior and
a member of the Stake Presidency spoke about missionary work (if you haven’t
already guessed it was Ward Conference). I loved it so much and Katy
really seemed like she did too. It was interesting though because she
said that she was going to have to go home and meditate and think about
everything she learned because it was so much and she didn’t want to forget
anything. She said she had a lot of questions and that she liked the
meeting. I hope and pray that she felt the spirit and heard with her mind
and heart the divine truths that were being taught. The experience
teaching Katy has been such a testimony builder for me. I know that the
fullness of the truth has been restored and is taught in this church!!
There is no need for me to be confused because of so many different
religions! I am grateful that we can show that to Katy as well!!
Miracle three is a pretty big one. Adan our very recent
convert had the experience to go to youth conference last week. He had no
idea what it was going to be like at all, but he decided that he wanted to go
and see. The conference combined the Augusta and the Bangor Stakes youth,
so pretty much all youth in the state of Maine over 14 years old were
invited. Pretty neat!! J We were way excited too because it was all
about missionary work!! So, he came back on Saturday
and we went over to see them and got to talk to him about it. (Side note:
we were there for an after-birthday party for Sheny and Luis’s super cute
girl. There were a bunch of Latino people there who didn’t speak English,
but they were just super super nice and funny!!! It was such a blast! We
ate some super ethnic food which was delicious, drank hibiscus juice made from
the flower and pretty much played charades trying to talk to the people
there. Guatemalan’s sure do know how to throw a party!!) So, Adan
just couldn’t stop talking about how AMAZING it was!! He loved every
minute of it! He made a whole lot of friends and he learned a lot from
the sessions they did. He told us that he bore his testimony twice while
he was there, and he felt the spirit really strong! I’m so glad that he
went!! We talked to his leaders about him and they said the whole time he
was doing all he could to include people who were shy and reach out to
wallflowers at the dances and just bring happiness to everyone around
him. They said that he was such a great example! On
Sunday he talked to the Bishop about getting the Aaronic Priesthood and
a member of the stake presidency also talked to him. They were talking to
all the potential missionaries! J The elders told us that
they talked to him and that he said he was thinking more about going on a
mission. He isn’t sure, but he definitely knows that it is an
option. Wow. It is so cool to look back and see where he
started. It is a miracle to see how far he has come!
Next it was a miracle in disguise. On
Friday night we got a text from Bishop asking if we would do a musical
number for ward conference. We (umm..well…I) kinda panicked because I gave the
violin back to the member, so pretty much the only option was to sing.
Singing a special musical number in church is not something that was ever on my
bucket list. We enlisted the help of the Elders and decided to sing
called to serve with our special mission third verse. Saturday
and Sunday morning I was super nervous, but we did
it!! It was really neat because once I got to the pulpit and looked out
at everyone I love, I wasn’t nervous anymore. I decided to smile the whole time
I sang, which wasn’t too hard, and it was actually really great! J
I’m so glad that we had that opportunity and I got the chance to conquer a fear!
So, the last miracle I want to write about comes from my
scripture study. I’ve been in the war chapters of Alma and I just LOVE
them!!!! It has been so neat to be able to personalize them to myself
right here, right now!! I love Alma chapter 51, especially verses
1-23. The Nephites are experiencing a time of peace until contention and
anger rise because of the pride of the king-men. A division occurs and
overall, the Nephites end up getting run out by the Lamanites. It took
too long to settle the division within themselves and they didn’t have enough
time to prepare to fight against the Lamanites. What a great way to teach
the importance of humility and unity. I know that when I’m one with
myself and God, with myself and my companion, and on and on I am much stronger
than I am when I’m divided! The Lord taught us there is to be one fold
and one shepherd and also “be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.”
(D&C 38:27). I’m so grateful for the scriptures and the chance I have
to study them and apply them to my life. We were also able to share this
in a lesson and it was incredible how much they needed this message. My
testimony of the Book of Mormon is strengthened so much when I liken it to
myself and share insights with others.
Overall, this week was just great!! So much to write and I
feel I hardly covered anything! Being a missionary is amazing! I am
so grateful for this opportunity to be able to serve and unify myself with
everything the Lord has taught as well as with others. I love you all so
much and I hope that you have another amazing week!!
Love one another!
Sister Bergeson J
Monday, April 21, 2014
April 21, 2014 Bethel, Maine
He
is Risen!
Hello dear family!! April 21, 2014
I hope that you had a fantastic week
and that your Easter was superb! I can't believe that Amy and Erin are
almost done with their first year of college! Crazy!!! It is just going
by way too fast! Well, things have been super busy still, but well, I'm pretty
sure that that is just the story of a missionaries life! Also, it has
been warmer!! :) Finally! It has officially got up to 70 degrees
today! Loving it!! :)
So, lets see, some cool things that
happened this week. First of all, I found out that I absolutely love food
pantries! We started volunteering at one run by the Seventh Day
Adventists and it was just fantastic!! I loved it! The people were
so nice and boy did they give us soooo much food :) It was great to be
able to talk with so many people and get to know them! We had a fun time
there! Service is just awesome, and it certainly does soften hearts.
I love being able to help others and share a bit of the gospel here and
there, at least by example.
We had our zone conference this week,
and it was just what I needed, just like all of the meetings that we have as
missionaries seem to be. We talked a lot about teaching and first
impressions. It was great to be able to discuss how to better help the
people that we are teaching right now because we are teaching a good amount of
people, but none of them are progressing the way that we know they could if
they just put in a little bit more effort. They will get there though!
I also liked that they focused on making sure that we make a good first
impression, especially by smiling! I've really seen that it makes such a
difference when I smile :) And it is the best when others smile back!
Super simple, but awesome nonetheless! We also talked about
recognizing the spirit and following promptings we receive. I feel like
I've always had a bit of a harder time really recognizing the spirit,
especially when I'm teaching by it, but I know it is there. I just have
to take time to hush and listen to and feel it. Another big thing that we
talked about is the importance of members! Really, really important!!
I've seen that sooooo much! It has been kind of sad here in Bethel
as far as members go. Sister Lilly is gone for another week for her yoga
thing and another sister moved to the elder's area. It really is
incredible to think how few members that we have here, but we're going to find
more! The ones we have though totally save us! Their help is always
so appreciated in any way that they can give it. Especially coming to
lessons with us. I love to hear members bear their testimonies to our
investigators, it brings the spirit so strong! :)
So, after zone conference I went on
exchange with one of my sister training leaders to Yarmouth, ME. It was
super awesome and we saw a lot of miracles. One of them had quite a lot
to do with what we talked about in zone conference. Part one-we stopped
by a super awesome less-active members house (by the way he taught me how to
play the ukulele a little bit, and I am in love. Totally going on my bucket
list!!!!), and invited him to come to a lesson with us we were having near by
and he said yes! Part two- the lesson went really well! We talked
about faith in Jesus Christ, watched Because of Him (awesome video), and he and
the investigators got along really well! The spirit was really strong.
My testimony of the spirit was built quite a lot. At one part I was
bearing my testimony and I said something that I wasn't even planning on saying
at all. It just popped into my head and I said it. Kind of like a
light bulb moment for me. No lightening, but an assurance that Heavenly
Father wants to use me as an instrument in His hands through the spirit.
I felt so privileged to be able to have that experience.
Afterwords, the less-active talked to us and told us that that lesson was
for him and that he had been thinking a lot about coming back church!! :)
It was the greatest ever!! I was just so happy! Hooray for
the spirit and bringing members to lessons!!
That exchange was overall great!
I just love exchanges and learning from other sisters and the people they
teach in their area :) It was a shorter one, but that was fine because it
meant that I could come back and go to a member meal the Smith's fed us.
I love the Smith family!! (So, there are 2 active member families
in our area. The Lilly's and the Smith's. Both are quite
incredible!!) We had a great time with them and our secret service
lesson/thought was a total hit!! Always great! Member meals are
pretty awesome! All of the ones that we had were pretty great this week!
So, miracle. It was two days before Easter and nobody had invited
us over to their house. We are super far away from everyone who lives in
Oxford, so we don't really have many member meals down there, and Sister Lilly
is gone, so there wouldn't be a female at Bishop's. But, totally last
minute we talked to Bishop and planned that we would all invite a less-active
couple to come over to his house and have Easter dinner with us. It was
such a success!!!!! :) But now, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Easter was totally fantastic!!
I loved it so much :) The chapel which is usually filled with empty
benches was totally packed!! It was so great to see family members active
or less-active, members or non-members together at church to celebrate our
Savior's resurrection! It was a great meeting filled with the spirit :)
I just love Easter! I love my Savior, Jesus Christ! After
church we went with a member to visit a whole bunch of less-active members in
Oxford. We would either sing an Easter hymn to them (caroling-April
style), or "egg" their house (a festive alternative to "heart
attacking"). It was such a blast and we all enjoyed ourselves very
much. Then we traveled back to Bethel for our Easter meal with Bishop and
the McLarens :) It was so much fun! I love the Lilly's so much as
well as the McLarens! It was such a great time to get to know them all
better and for some sweet fellow-shipping to happen!! :) They finally
have the gas money to make it all the way down to church, and they are excited
to start getting back into going again!! :) It was all around amazing!!
After that we did some suuuuupppper sneaky egging. Really, I am
quite impressed with us and our ninja-like skill. It was a blast!!
I'm just so grateful that I was able to spend the holiday brightening up
people's day and bringing them closer to the Lord! I'm grateful for His
life and for His example. Overall, best Easter ever!! :)
I love you so much, family!!
I'm so grateful for you and for your examples to me as well! I hope
that you have a wonderful week!! Remember that everything is possible...
Because of Him!
Sister Bergeson :)
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Pictures April 14, 2014
April 14, 2014 Bethel, Maine
The
Worth of Souls is Great!
Family, family!!!! April 14, 2014
Hey, so I hope that you all had a
fantastic spring break!! (I'm pretty sure that it was spring break for
you right?) I haven't got your letters yet, so I might be false.
Anyways, I saw the pictures of you at the Women's Meeting and the trees look so
beautiful and springy! The grass looks green and there are flowers.
It is nice to look at things like that!! This mud season really isn't
that bad here though!!!! :) Which is SUCH a blessing!! It is definitely
the not prettiest season here though. But, the snow is totally
melting!! Hooray! The snow banks are shrinking so much, it is
fantastic! We even got almost 60 degree weather here!! I've officially
ditched my sleeping bag coat! So, yes, spring is coming and getting a
little bit closer every day! :)
But, enough about the weather, I've
got to make sure that I tell ya about the week! Boy it sure has been busy
here in Oxford!! Monday we had a great visit with Arleen who has stopped
smoking, she is wonderful!! We taught Adan as well and he was just
excited as ever to be baptized. Then, Tuesday was kinda up and down
for me. We didn't have a whole bunch of stuff planned, except Andrea in
the morning. I have a hard time teaching Andrea most of the time.
She has pretty bad ADHD and I totally love her, but she doesn't focus, like at
all. Therefore, discouragement. I just don't know exactly what I
can do to help her. So, yep, a bit of a rough start there. We did
find a new investigator, who is super open about religion. She's had some
interesting experiences, and she was a Quaker and a Shaker. Not a dull
moment with her! After that though we had a big hunk of time to
fill. That doesn't' happen super often in this area, so it was kinda
weird, and we decided that we would tract. Tracting isn't my most
favorite thing, but we did it for two hours. And.....of course, the very
last house that we knocked, we found a super solid potential
investigator. So, even though I didn't really have a super strong desire
to do it at first, we were super happy with the result. Just one person
really wanted to listen to us, but still, ONE PERSON WANTED TO LISTEN TO US!!
:) Everything worked out exactly how it needed to, and I most certainly
learned from it and was much happier afterwards!
Wednesday and Thursday were super
busy because we had district meeting get changed to Wednesday and a Sister's
Meeting on Thursday. We have two new members of our district, which isn't
super much of a change. All of the areas in our district are doing really
well right now, which is super awesome!! Our new district leader is also
really dedicated and our new motto for the transfer is "to infinity and
beyond!" which I think will be super great! :) After district
meeting we had a lesson with Jessica, and she is great, but isn't doing very
well with keeping her commitments. She really wants to get baptized, but
she isn't putting the work into it. We're really trying to figure out
what we want to do to help her, so we'll see how things end up going.
Alright, so Sisters Meeting...Awesome!!! Half of the sisters in the
mission got together for a super spiritual day! I feel like it was a
super big answer to prayer! Sometimes Satan tries to sneak up on me and
tell me that I'm not doing a good enough job, and it can be pretty easy to
believe him. It's sad, but I can totally see why we can get caught in his
trap without really even noticing it. I just hadn't really been happy
with everything I was trying to do the beginning of the week, and it totally
took a bit of a toll on me. Luckily I'm not alone. I have my Savior
to help me, but also my companion. Boy do I just love Sister May!! She is
so wonderful and she has been great and helped me out so much! So it was
great to be able to go the sisters meeting and hear all about how we can be
happy, serve the Lord more, and love ourselves more. It was great!!
The speakers were totally inspired! I know that no matter what God loves
me personally. I am His Daughter. I know that with that knowledge l
can overcome anything that Satan tries to throw at me! Also, some other
cool events that happened at the meeting was that Sister May and I did a
musical number. I was kinda nervous, but it all worked out. It is
such a blessing for me to be able to tackle fears in so many different ways on
a mission! :) Also.....I got to see Sister Tabitha Sumsion!!!!!!!!!
Finally! :) After more than 10 months! It was pretty
awesome! I just love her, and I still can't believe that we're able to
serve in the same mission! :) There was also two other people from
American Fork there! Sister Fratcher, and a member of the Portland ward
who moved up to Maine several months ago. It was pretty special :)
The next day was pretty much a
blur. Why? Well.... ADAN GOT BAPTIZED!!! Even
though Luis wasn't able to come because of work (..sad), they decided he
would get baptized anyways. It was such a great day!!! :) We went
over baptism covenants the day before and he had been reading the scriptures a
lot and was just so ready to make this big step. I really think that he
needed that extra week to prepare. It all happens in the Lord's timing,
and everything worked out! :) The speakers gave their talks in Spanish
and everything worked out with the Skype, so Adan's mom and aunt were able to
see and understand the whole thing. It was really cool, and even though I
couldn't understand a thing, the spirit was there very strong. We also
got to play our musical number at it too :) Overall, it was great!
Adan is such a great example to me, and I just feel so blessed that we've been
able to teach him and see him make this important step!! He was confirmed
yesterday and his confirmation blessing was so powerful! It hinted at the
decision of a mission, which I haven't really thought about a whole lot.
Either way he is being a missionary by being an example to his peers at high
school and his family. Another cool thing though. He is planning on
going to youth conference, and their theme will be "mission possible"
:) It is just pretty exciting!! :)
Sunday we were able to find another
new investigator!! :) Her name is Doris and she is 90 years old.
She is so sweet and spunky! :) I just love her! We visited her
before, but this time she had questions about the church. We gave her a
Book of Mormon and she said that she would read it! Even though it would
be very difficult for her to go to church or be baptized, it is amazing to see
God's timing in everything. He loves everyone and wants them to have the
gospel, no matter where they are in life! Another witness to me of how
personal God is.
I know that I am where I am in life
for a reason. The experiences and trials I have are exactly what I need
to come closer to Christ. Everything happens the way that God needs it to
happen and if I allow Him to help me along the way everything I go through will
be for my good. I have a strong testimony that God loves his
children. No matter what! It is such a blessing to serve others and
show my love to God as well :)
I love you so much! I'm so
grateful for you and for your examples to me!! Have a great week and...
Be your best self!
Sister Bergeson :)
Monday, April 7, 2014
Bethel, Maine April 7, 2014
We
Listen to a Prophet's Voice :)
Family Dearest, April 7, 2014
Hey, hey! I hope you had a
fantastic, amazing, wonderful week!! :) I was thinking about you as I was
watching conference and crocheting squares for our wonderful blanket!!
That was such a blessing, I just loved it so, soooo much!!! Greatest
tradition ever :) I'm glad that I was able to be apart of it still on the
other side of the country!
Well, before I go off about
conference, there is still so much that I have to tell you that went on before
the weekend. What a week this was! We were able to teach 8 member
lessons, which is quite a feat here in New England! I'm so grateful for
our dedicated members who sacrifice their time to go out with us and teach the
gospel! They are incredible! :) We were able to teach Arleen,
and we got WONDERFUL news on Saturday... She completed the stop smoking
program!! :) She is amazing! It was difficult for her at first, but
now she is so happy that she did it! She also knows that she can't let
herself slip though our she will get back into the habit. She is such a
great example to me of trusting in the Lord and doing all we can to keep the
commandments, and we will be blessed. She is really happy and so are we!
:) We were also able to teach Michael who is reading a lot out of the
Book of Mormon! Last lesson was awesome, he totally bore his testimony to
us that he knows the gospel is true and he so desperately wants to become apart
of it. Because of choices he has made in his past he needs to be fully
living the gospel before we can set a date to have his baptism interview.
We just keep praying that he will have the strength he needs to overcome his
addictions and make the choices necessary to be able to be interviewed for
baptism. I just love that man so much, he has so much faith, and he loves
the Savior so much! We are also making a lot of progress with
Jessica! She watched conference at a member's house and really liked
it. She is already a great example to her friends at school and she has
invited them to come to her baptism already! The youth here are really
strong and they are great missionaries! :) Overall, teaching has just
been such a blessing! We were able to have some great lessons this past
week! Hooray for the Spirit!!
On Thursday we also had our last
district meeting this transfer. It was super great! Our district is
awesome! We each shared a favorite conference talk, and it took a bit for
me to decide because I have so many, but I chose "Come What May and Love
It" By Elder Worthlin. I just love that talk soo much!
It is great to always keep that in mind. It was especially great to
remember because Thursday was SUPER crazy! After district lunch (we went
to a delicious Chinese buffet, yum!) we met with our ward mission leader and
got everything figured out for Adan's baptism on Friday. Everything was
all coming together! During the ride home we got a call that kinda
changed all of that though. It was Sheny and her uncle had died so the
whole family was going to leave for Boston as soon as they could. It was
a bit of a shock, but come what may and love it right? Although it was
sad that we had to postpone his baptism, it all worked out. Why?
Because like right after we hung up with her, we saw that Sister May had pink
eye. Holy cow, it was quite the experience! Everything happens in
the Lord's timing, and it would seem that Adan needs to be baptized this coming
week, if that is His will. I'm kinda praying that it is because we have
had to change his baptism date like, 4 times already! I'm just so excited
for his baptism!! He is so great and he has really gained a testimony of
the gospel :) Hopefully next week I'll be sending home baptism pictures!
Friday was not super exciting, we
planned and had to stay inside because Sister May was contagious. We kept
things pretty clean though and I washed my hands a lot and it looks like I didn't
get it, and I hope that it stays that way! We did get some exciting news
though.. Because of priesthood session being on transfer call night they
changed transfer calls to Friday night. Neither of us felt
like we would get a call, and we didn't, so WE'RE
SAFE!! I'm so excited to serve in Oxford for another transfer
with Sister May!! She is wonderful and I just love her soooo much!!
:) We have a great time together!
Alright, so now I can finally
get to conference! :) I just love General Conference! It was
such an amazing one too! I saw lots of similarities and patterns
throughout and it was just so spiritually uplifting! I love being able to
hear the powerful but simple teachings and testimonies that were given by
servants of the Lord. I loved how much family history work was talked
about. I was thinking of Grandma Otto and her love for genealogy and the
legacy that she herself left behind. I was also thinking about my pioneer
ancestors and the faith and devotion they had to God. I've learned so
much from my ancestors and I can't wait to continue to seek them out and learn
even more! I'm so grateful for them, and I just love them! Which
leads to another huge theme. LOVE!! President Monson and many
others focused on charity, love and service. It is such a small
principle, but super important! I need to strive to more willingly look
outside myself and love and help others along the way. As I was studying
Preach my Gospel this morning I read the section about Charity and Love in the
Christ-like attributes chapter (which is definitely one of my very
favorite chapters!). There were a lot of similarities between that and
President Monson's talk which I thought was pretty neat! (insert blurb
about following Elder Ballard's counsel and getting and studying Preach
my Gospel! It's awesome! :)) Overall, I feel so renewed and
strengthened by listening to conference! It was exactly what I needed!
:) A goal that I have is to continually study the words spoken at
conference. Last conference I didn't do too well at that, but I know that
it is so important. Elder Hales said, "The greatest blessings of
conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern
recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the works of the Lord, and
we return to our homes to live them." I'm excited to apply what
we've been taught and set goals to help me as I strive to become more like
Christ!! :)
I love you all so much and I'm just
so grateful for you :) I hope that you have a fantastic week and look for
ways to love and serve each other :)
D&C 68:4
Sister Bergeson :)
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