October 20, 2014

Hey everyone :) this week was kinda crazy!!!

Me and my comp sister Allred are trying to help this area progress. It’s really hard but I know that we can do it. Yesterday we fasted as a zone and it was a really good feeling to do that for all the people that are zone has on date and for our own investigators to progress. On Saturday we had exchanges with the sister training leaders (STLs) and sister Lindmier gave me two talks she wants me to read. ”Becoming Perfect in Christ” by Elder Garret W. Gong i haven’t read it yet but I’m going to. I’m really excited and that’s something I want to do and focus on right now because it’s really hard not to get down on yourself as a missionary because you just want to do the best you can. Something I have learned this week is when you put in a good effort to help someone learn about Christ’s restored gospel it isn’t wasted and Christ is so happy that you did all you can. My focus this week is to talk to every single person I see even if it’s scary or awkward because I’ve been praying to find the elect people that are ready to listen and if I don’t talk to everyone and I let just one person walk by then maybe that was the person God put in my path and I don’t want to let someone slip through the cracks because I was scared or it was awkward. I’m learning that missionary work is awkward so you just got to get over it, forget yourself and who you used to be and get to work.

On exchanges with Sister Lindmier

 Sister Lindmier also gave me a talk by Elder Holland at the Brazil MTC on October 28, 2000 it’s called “The Miracles of a mission” I started reading it and I wish I got this when I first came out. It’s so good and it just tells you how important it is to stay out on your mission. I’ve seen the last couple of days that satan is really trying to discourage me and is making me feel scared to talk to everyone. I have these thoughts go through my head like you’re going to bother them then they are going to hate Mormons for the rest of their life or something along those lines. Sometimes I would listen to those thoughts but not anymore. I was talking to my STL about it and she pointed out that that is satan trying to make you not talk to the people that might be ready. so we were riding our bikes and I saw this guy get out of his car and there where those thoughts that he is busy and too far away. you are just going to look like a dork and annoy the guy, but I fought with those thoughts and then I felt the promptings to go talk to him so I did. I rode my bike over to him and we missed him. he was already inside his house but I felt good because I made that effort to try and that’s all God wants us to do. Whenever we get those thoughts in our head that aren’t positive and they make you feel scared or confused that is always satan. God just wants you to put that effort in to talk to every single person you see. I know that you will know when it’s the promptings of the spirit because it won’t be thoughts put in your head but it will be in your heart and you will feel this warmth go through you. sometimes we let satan into your thoughts and make it feel like it’s the spirit but if you really slow down and pay attention you will be able to know :) me and my comp planned to talk to everyone we saw this week and we made a goal to at least talk to 70 people and this week we talked to 110. We just know that as we talk to everyone God will bless us with the elect and they will be prepared to hear Gods message. During exchanges at companion study we practiced on teaching simply. So she gave me 10 pens and ten short but powerful sentences. I taught the restoration to her and I haven’t felt the spirit that strong in a companion study. It was amazing. I’m making it a goal to do that with sister Allred and if I have time to practice in my personal study. We went to invite Wanda to a church tour and she said she loves us and she likes us coming over but she doesn’t like the feeling she feels when she starts doubting her faith and keeps thinking ours is it. She has been in her faith for 50 years and she can’t turn her back on it. We told her what we tell everyone. We aren’t here to tell her that her faith is wrong. We are just adding to her sweet testimony of Christ and teaching her that Christ’s authority is on the earth again through a prophet that was called of God to restore Christ church again on the earth. She asked us to keep coming by but she doesn’t want to convert. I started to cry after we left because we can’t keep coming back if they aren’t willing to progress and keep commitments. One of the hardest things I’ve done on my mission is walking away from her house last Sunday. Josh didn’t show up to his lesson with his girlfriend at the Monsons. She told us he didn’t want us to teach him anymore. That was really hard. I got a priesthood blessing to help me get through the rest of the week. It helped bring me peace. Josh isn’t ready now but he will be. Sister Monsen called them this Sunday and invited them to go watch “Meet the Mormons” for FHE. Ginger, Josh and Max are going!!! We had a short lesson at the door step at Chris’ house with sister Monsen. He told us he read the Book of Mormon and he wants to keep reading it but he wants to do it by himself. He doesn’t want us to teach him right now. He just isn’t comfortable with it. Sister Mansen gave an amazing prayer and she expressed with us how sad she was for him. She kept saying that poor boy. I feel that way every single minuet of every day. I feel so bad that we have the restored gospel in our lives and people don’t know, even when we share it with them. They just can’t accept it and that’s so hard. I can’t let that get me down because there is some one that will and one soul is worth thousands in the kingdom of God. I know we are Gods children and that God loves each and every one of us! I know we chose to come to this world to gain a body to learn and grow in this world so that we can return to the presents of God. I know that Joseph Smith prayed to know the truth and that God the father and Jesus Christ came to him in person and called him by name telling him that none of them were the true church. I know God called Joseph Smith to be a prophet. I know he was given the power and authority to perform miracles and act in God’s name. It’s called the priesthood, the power and authority given to men to act in God’s name. I know that we have a living prophet today Thomas S Monsen. I know he is a prophet, seer and revelator. That he receives revelation for the whole world. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ and has the restored gospel and the proper authority of God to baptize men like Christ was. I know that I was called by God to serve a mission and I know I was set apart to preach the gospel to the people of Kennewick for 18 months by someone holding the proper authority of God. I know God hears our prayers. I know that as you strive every day to be worthy to enter the temple you will be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and will be able to be with your families for time and all eternity. I know God loves each and every one of you and I know he wants all of his children to receive these blessings. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Love



Sister Lacey Catherine Steen

The Arnolds are selling their house so we have to move!!! :-(

October 13, 2014

Hey everyone!!!



So this week was transfers. I got my new companion on Wednesday and it was a little scary at first. I’m younger then my companion but I’m senior companion. It’s kind of funny lol. She is way tall and I’m short so I look 14 next to her. Ugh! haha its been crazy I loved conference soooo much. There was so many amazing powerful talks. I know I already talked about it in my last letter a little but we had a lessen with our investigator Jen on Tuesday at the Gurnee’s and we watched Elder Bednar’s and President Monsen’s talk of Sunday afternoons session. it was so powerful, then it turned into talking about the plan of salvation and she broke down and told us her grandma just passed away and I Knew how it feels to lose someone you love so much but I was able to bear testimony of the plan of salvation and how families can be together for eternity in heaven in the presents of God and Jesus Christ. Something I have been working on a lot lately is obedience and patience this area isn’t so easy. Lots of people know the LDS missionaries and sometimes confuses us for the Jehovah Witness but I’ve seen that when I just remember what Christ went through I can’t give up because my mission is so much easier then Christ’s was. Me and my new companion sister Allred have made it a personal goal to talk to every person we see because that is what we were asked to do. I have a strong testimony that when you are doing all you can and are being obedient God will bless you. I got to see the blessings of God last night around 8:55 ish. It was almost time to go home but we stayed out until 9 because that is what we have been asked to do. I decided we should go walk around the season’s apartments. As we were walking there was a guy that was cleaning out his car. We started talking to him about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he asked us what is the difference between his church the Calvary Cross and our church the Mormons. Sometimes I don’t really know what to say but this time I just said the difference is the priesthood. Then my awesome companion went in more detail about the priesthood and how it’s the power and authority given to men to act in God’s name. She told him how we have a living prophet today and how through God he guides Gods children. The messages we hear every 6 months are not just for the Mormons to hear. The prophet isn’t just the prophet of the Mormons. The prophet is called to testify of God throughout all the world. This is Christ’s gospel on the earth restored in the fullness. I’m so blessed to know this and I’m so blessed to be able to share it to everyone I see. Mike told us we could go back and tell him more. a funny thing that he said to us was his preachers teach him how to know what to say to the Mormon missionaries but he wanted to read the book of Mormon anyway and he asked us to come back :) I really have seen Gods hand in my life and I know this is God’s work not mine. These are Gods people who we are so lucky to be set apart to do His work. I’ve never been so happy in all my life then I am being a sister missionary for Christ’s true church. I know Christ lives. I know he loves us all so much and that he wants us to return to live with him some day. I was asked to give a 5 minute testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting. I was a little scared and a return missionary Brother Vickary was giving his home coming talk. So that made me more scared but as I was taking the sacrament I sad a prayer in my heart to have peace and to have the spirit guide my words and thoughts. When I got up to share my testimony the spirit did just that. I was calm and I felt at peace. I was able to share my testimony on exactly what I have been telling you about obedience and patience. I was able to talk clearly and slowly and I looked at people to really show them how much I care about them. I shared a small story that happened to me and my new companion with sister Vickary. she was going out with us as a member missionary and we still had 30 min until we had to be home so we told her she can just drop us off at home and we will just walk around and talk to people. Well she decided she wanted to go with us so as we were walking no one was on the streets and we were walking past her good friend Pam’s. She looked at us and told us we can maybe go to her house and see how she is. We said it’s up to her and you could really tell she was being led by the spirit because she just said Okay let’s do it. We walked up to the house and talked to Pam. Pam talked to us for a while then sister Vickary basically started teaching her the restoration and invited her to take a book of Mormon. Pam said she has never read the book of Mormon and we shared with her that it goes hand and hand with the bible and that there are foot notes that you can go back and forth from the book of Mormon to the bible and that it’s just more of Gods amazing word. Pam took the book and said she would read. We prayed with her and then walked back home. Sister Vickary said she has been trying to give her a book of Mormon for 5 years. You could really see how much love she had for Pam when she was testifying about the restoration. Pam is so lucky to have someone that loves her so much. I love this gospel. There are so many people out there sharing the thing that means most to them to the dearest friends. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ. If you haven’t done this yet. I invite you to share your testimonies of the restoration with the people that you care most about. I have a best friend back home that means more than the world to me she is my Best friend in the whole world. This is my testimony to her that I know Jesus is the Christ the son of God our father in heaven. I know that God loves us so much that he sent us to earth to gain a body of flesh and bone in his image and that we were put in families for a reason. I know we were put on earth to learn and grow and to gain an education and use and share our talents in this life. I know God has a plan. A plan of happiness. A plan of salvation. That in this life we learn and grow from our mistakes and short comings. That as we are following Christ we will always make it out of that fog and into His light. I know God made families so we can be together forever in this life and the life to come. I know as you follow Christ he will lead you on the path of happiness and comfort. That he will show you the way. I only know this because I’ve done what every missionary has done. Invited the people they are teaching to do. I knelt down and asked God. I didn’t get all my questions answered at once but He did answer me. Through reading and studying His words and through the amazing warmth of the spirit. I know Christ’s church is restored through a prophet called of God. God loves us so much that he has called a prophet. I know this gospel has saved and changed my life. I’m so grateful for Christ’s atoning sacrifice. That I am able to repent daily and use the atonement more fully in my own life. These things I say in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

 Saying goodbye to sister Peatross

 Me and my new companion, Sister Allred, riding bikes

The day before transfers 

 The playhouse

 Jen

 The Gurnie's

 We had floats at the Gurnie's

Sister Donilly, Me, Elder Oso, Sister Larsen and Sister Peatross

October 1, 2014

We got to see “Meet the Mormons” this week on Tuesday. It was amazing. I loved it. It was so funny and then at the end so spiritual!!! My companion has bronchitis so we have been in for about 3 weeks. I’ve been able to study a lot. We had women’s conference and what I got out of it was temples and being worthy to have the covenants you receive and being worthy to do the Lords work. I’m so excited for conference we are going to try to have a member at every session. Conference on the mission is like Christmas. Hearing a living prophet speak is the best gift ever. I love being a member of the LDS church. I have a strong foundation in the gospel and I know my purpose in this life. A member gave me and my companion a cute card. She said she wants us to put all the qualities we want in a future husband on it. So I have been doing that and she said if I look at every day I will never be tempted to lower my standards. It’s an amazing thing serving a mission. You see hundreds of people every day and you see what you want your life to be like and what you don’t. I want all my friends that aren’t LDS to take a moment and really think about how your life is right now. Then think about how you want your life to be. Then I invite you with all the love that I have for each of you to read the Book of Mormon and pray to your Father in Heaven and ask if this gospel is true. I promise you that if you ask with a sincere heart really wanting to know the truth God will guide you and give you the answer. As a representative of Christ I know this gospel is Christ’s gospel restored on the earth again by a living prophet and that we have a prophet today Thomas S Monson. I know that he receives revelation for the entire world from God and that we can hear the prophet speak on Saturday and Sunday because technology has grown so much we have the privileges to listen to the prophet all across the world. I know this is real. That it’s not just some church but its Christ’s church. I know this because I prayed and I was able to feel the spirit testify that truth to me. All I can do is invite you and tell you this gospel has changed my life and my family’s lives. I’ve been a member my whole life but they day I really knew this was Christ’s true church is when I was living the gospel every day. I cannot deny it. I was able to go to the temple today and I had such a peace and happiness going in there to do this work for someone who has passed away and didn’t have the opportunity to except the gospel and being able to feel them right there is amazing. I didn’t want to leave because I know that it’s the house of the Lord and that satan is not allowed in the doors. I was able to get away from this world for a little and really pray for comfort and pray for my investigators family and friends and really feel Him nearby. This feeling is the best feeling you will ever feel and you can feel it too. I love you all so much and I would never forgive myself if I didn’t invite the people I love to take this and try it. God loves you all and wants your happiness. I wish I had more to say. Just know this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Being a missionary and sharing the gospel but I know it’s so important to Christ and it will bring so many people happiness including me. I’m so grateful I excepted the call to serve here. It is worth it!

I love you all.



Love Sister Steen

September 22, 2014

So on Monday we got to plant flowers at the temple. It was so fun. I love planting flowers. Some members asked us if we had time to help. The elders couldn't but we had time. They even bought tacos for us so that was cool. 

 We ate dinner with one of the stake president’s counselors and they gave us a lot of part member families to go see. It was pretty exiting after we got dropped by some investigators and the other ones aren't progressing. Before we left we took a selfie with him and his daughter sent it to our moms 

:) it was pretty cool. After dinner we went straight home because we were both feeling sick and I had a fever ugh. We had specialized training and it was so cool. We have a lot of things changing in our mission and we have to be so much more obedient. We have to focus on just our investigators. some of it is less active work but we have to get the members involved because we are only here for a short while and the members are here all the time. It’s so cool to hear stories about our members that have gone on missions. On Sunday the Holles fed us. He is in the stake presidency. We have all our stake guys in our ward. It’s pretty cool. Anyway his wife told us she met him in the mtc and he was going to serve in her home town in Belgium. Cool huh. When she got off her mission her dad and mom invited the missionaries to for dinner and he was the missionary. Now they are married. So many crazy stories you would never think could happen. I wish I had more to say but like I said I was sick all week brother Arnold made us this drink that was supposed to make us feel better and I felt like I was home and my mom was making me drink those gross drinks that have like vitamin C in it. He was like, drink it fast and I really didn't want too I even asked him nicely if I could just not drink it but he basically said nope drink it. ugh so I did and afterward I almost threw it up. it was soooo gross. Then he was like OK now you two off to bed. it was only 8. I felt so bad we were in bed at 8. grrrr I hate being sick. A couple days later we had dinner with the Windsong bishop. We got soup and lasagna. I was so happy. then bishop said after this we need to go home and sleep Bishops orders. He told his wife to take us to the store and get us what we need. Before we left to do that bishop was showing us all his guns they have 4 safes in the house full of guns and one of them is out in the garage. His man cave is full of big guns. I was so excited. He was like do you wanna shoot one and I had to decline because we can’t shoot firearms on our mission Sad face. he was also telling us about how he is on a team that plays airsoft and the guns look so real it’s crazy. he said it doesn't hurt as bad as paintball so after the mission he said come back and I can be on the team. Woot!! Transfers are coming up and we have no clue what’s going to happen. Scary! We both wanna stay until Christmas and bishop said we can come get a pumpkin for Halloween. I love this area and I hope that with all the referrals we just got that we can help these part member families go to the temple one day :)



Love Sister Steen

 on our way to specialized training

September 15, 2014

This week was crazy! We had a specialized training on Tuesday and it was all about weekly planning and changing the culture of our mission. How we need to be obedient if we want success. Our weekly planning on Fridays went from 4 hours to 7. It’s so crazy. but its helping us have set appointments for everyday at every hour and when we don’t have a set appointment that’s when we go and find. Our mission has had a culture of breaking the rules and not being the missionaries we are called to be by just being tourists and college students. We are changing the culture and we are going to be exactly obedient in all things. God and the mission president are preparing us for something bigger than us as missionaries. We have to be ready. Me and my companion Sister Peatres are striving to be exactly obedient. When we wake up in the morning we say a prayer together and during our personal study we really strive to study for our investigators. Then in companion study we share what we learned and that usually helps us know what they really need to learn that day. I’m so excited to see the culture of the mission change. I came on a mission to be a missionary not a tourist or a college student.

The sisters we share the car with were driving and they had to stop really fast and the truck behind them hit them. They are ok. We didn’t have a car yesterday but the elders gave us theirs because they have a smaller area. That was nice of them.

I got pretty sick at church yesterday and slept all day and night and woke up with a small headache but I’m ok now. It’s probably just stress. idk. Lol I love my mission. So many things are happening. We are praying to find people who are ready and that means we have to talk to everyone we see because we never know if that’s the person God sent us too :) I’m so grateful to have this church in my life. Its strengthened my spiritual growth and its helped me have a better relationship with my family. I know that by following the example that Jesus set for us we will be in the celestial kingdom with our families for eternity. I want to marry my husband in the temple and be sealed to him for time and all eternity. That is how important family is to me. When I get to heaven I want to see all the people I love friends and family :). That is why we have the temple so we can make that covenant with god to be with our families for time and all eternity. Not just until death. I know this is Christ’s church once again and this earth restored in its fullness with the priesthood that was given to men for the salvation of his people. the priesthood is the power and authority of God given to men to act in Christ’s name to do the things Christ did when he was on the earth. I know that if you have a desire to really know if this is Christ’s church pray and ask God and when you feel that burning feeling inside I know that it is the spirit and that all good feelings are of God and when you get that answer act on it. This world is full of sadness and hurt but with the fullness of the gospel you can have a peace and happiness.



Love Sister Steen <3

September 7, 2014

This week was good. We did a lot of service. A less active lady asked us if we could mow her lawn and line trim. So we did and we pulled some weeds and made it look beautiful. She asked me if I could fix her sprinklers because one of them was not working so after we were done I looked at her sprinklers and some of them where just turned all the way off. So I turned them all so they were facing the grass and we made it look real good. We picked all the tomatoes that needed picking and put them in her house and then we had a lesson with her. She told us she was having a really rough day and when she saw her lawn she just wanted to cry. It was so cool. We stopped by the Gurney’s to tell them we stopped by Jen’s and we were going to invite her to stake conference. They told us they already invited her and she can’t make it. They asked us how our week has been and we told them it was so good. Brother Gurney told us this is why he gave us Jen because most of the missionaries that came to their house always told them the negative parts and it was so cool to be the one companionship that is ready to help their friend come in to the gospel. They told us she stopped going to her church because it just doesn’t feel like the right church. She wants to come to church when she finishes her tests. I’ve been praying about how to help the Hyatt’s youngest boy Trent. I was asked to give the lesson tonight for family home evening and it’s going to be on the Priesthood. I was able to practice it last night at the Monson’s house. Their son is turning 12 and Brother Monson is our ward mission leader and asked if I could share what I learned with him. It was so cool I felt the spirit so strong I really hope the spirit takes over the lesson tonight and helps open Trent’s eyes to the powers of the priesthood. He is 12. D&C121 is what I’m reading with them tonight. :)

I love and miss you all so so much :)



Love Sister Steen

"I can almost reach"

September 1, 2014

Well this week has been so fun. We have been praying for miracles all week and on Wednesday it happened. we went to a less actives house java and we saw how he was doing. He told us to go to his friend’s house they all work for Vivint. So we went the first time and I knocked the wrong door. we were with a sister missionary that was going home this week. On Wednesday we tried again and it was just me and my comp this time. We knocked on the right door. She let us in and we got to know her a little and she started giving us all these names we should go try. They all live in the same apartment it was her brother and some other Vivint guy. When we knocked on the door a guy answered that I new in Yakima. He was installing a Vivint system in the Black’s house, the family I lived with out there, so it was so easy to get in and talk to them. Megan, the lady that gave us the referrals came down and we talked to them about missions and the temple and baptism. They are all in different places of their lives. Two of them weren’t even members but they listened and asked questions. We read some out of the Book of Mormon and the two members that lived there ran and got theirs. It was so cool to see how exited they were about us being there. Jonah is the one I met in Yakima. He is getting ready to go on a mission and Randy is a recent convert and has been a member for a year. So we got to talk about the temple and missions with them we invited them to church. Java, Randy and Jonah came. We didn’t know Randy and Johan came but Java sat by us and we were able to share our testimonies in front of them. it was crazy. i usually get really scared and go blank but i was really calm and just said what came to my mind. I looked people in the face and it felt so good. Java was so sweet. He said I did really good and i could really tell he needed to be there. There is a foreign exchange student in are ward living with the Brooks and they took us out to eat at a Thai place and I was so scared cuz I don’t do that scary foreign food stuff hahah. He was laughing at me the whole time and he snap chatted his friends back home me eating a really spicy soup. i was dying! lol Brother Brooks came up to us after church and told us he is so glad we shared our testimonies because when we got up there he was excited because he knew us. so that was cool. we have family home evening with the Hiatts again tonight and I’m so excited. Sister Hiatt is teaching the lesson :) and she got to go out to some of our lessons this week. she is really trying to set a good example to her kids by getting more active :) this morning at 10 Eli and Shantel, the family we live with, dumped a huge tractor of water on us. 

 It was soooo cold and sooo fun. My mission is so so fun and every day is a new adventure. 

We have a bear going around the mission and his name is elder Oso. 

The new district leaders said they found him hiding in their closet haha. So he said the other zone by us found out and are now trying to steal Oso back. So he gave him to us and we are keeping him safe. He got to ride around with us in the car on Sunday but he is safe in our room now :) I love you all. Share the gospel with the world. flood the world with your simple but powerful testimonies and for all of you who are thinking about going on a mission do it!!! It will change your life forever in the best way possible way. I’m a different person then I was before I left. I never thought the mission would teach me so many life skills and I know because I’m serving the Lord my family is being blessed. your testimonies will grow stronger and you will have the courage to share your love of the gospel with the people you love members and non-members alike. Pray about the mission build your foundation on Christ and you will never fail. I can promise you that. In the name of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ amen





Love sister Steen

 This is our area boundry

 Gracy and Cadence

Planning