The Work has just Begun!

It's so interesting to sit here behind a computer screen and email home for the last time. How surreal it feels to really be going home in just a few short days!

I don't have much time today, but I just want to simply leave you all with my testimony. 

 Sabrina and Sister Farmer lighting the world

I think back on all the miracles that I have experienced, shared, and seen in the last 18 months, and man there are many! So many. But I know that the greatest miracle has been the change in me. I am so different than when this all began, and thank the heavens for that! I know who I am, I know who I can become, but most importantly I know who the Savior is and what I can become through Him. My heart is so full as I leave these people that I love and these places that I treasure. I never thought saying goodbye could be so hard! However, I know that the miracles will continue! Because for devoted, and trying followers of the Savior, they never cease. 

I know that families can be together forever, and I know that my family is on it's way! How grateful I am for that eternal truth. 

I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that He loves us. I know that His Atonement is real. 

I know that God is our Father. He knows our names. He wants us, and all of His children to be happy. And with Him by my side, I am happy, happier than I have ever been! 

Being able to come home to all of you, who I love, is a miracle! And I cannot wait to see you all sooner than soon! 

I love you, to Omaha and back, for the last time!! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen 

P.S. Don't forget to LIGHT THE WORLD this Christmas and all year long!!

REMEMBER HIM

[Insert comment about how fast time flies here] 

I don't have much time, I never seem to, haha, so here we go! MISSIONS GO BY WAYYYYYY TOO FAST!!! 

Sabrina and Sisters at Leadership training

Miracles:

Last night we were out trying a potential and as we were walking back to our car we saw a man getting into his truck, parked in his driveway. We quickly ran down his driveway and stopped him before he could get in. He readily told us that he wasn't religious and then Sister Farmer opened her mouth and just started to bear her testimony. This man looked at us, and almost instantly his heart softened, by the end of our quick conversation he gave us his phone number and was smiling. I think these miracles are often my favorite. It is so sweet to see how a simple testimony, from a simple 20 year old girl has the power to break down barriers and soften hearts. And it truly is because of the spirit! How grateful I am that we are not alone in this work, and that we have the guidance of God in all that we do! 

Lighting up the World

Right after we finished talking to this man in his driveway we chased down another man on the other side of the street. We started talking to him and he looked at me and said, "Hey, I know you. You smiled and waved at me the other day when you were walking. I knew instantly that you were a follower of Jesus Christ." How cool is that?? As we continued to talk he opened up and he is SO prepared for the gospel, and has the cutest little family. Sadly, he did not accept our invitation to learn more at that time, but he will. He did take a pamphlet and said he would go to the Trail Center to see the Gingerbread, so pray he does! His name is Matt. 

Finally, our investigator Hylton came to a baptism on Saturday and afterward we had a lesson in the chapel. The lesson quickly turned into a discussion about ideologies and philosopies and Sister Farmer and I quickly began to pray for guidance and direction. After a few minutes of desperation the thought came to invite him to kneel and pray RIGHT there and ask if the Book of Mormon was true. And he accepted. We knelt in the chapel and Hylton said a simple, humble prayer, and the entire lesson changed. We ended the meeting shortly after and the spirit still lingered as we walked to our car and drove away. Again I am so grateful that I am not alone in this work because I know that I could not do this by myself! 

There are probably 200 other miracles I could share, just from this last week, but my time is so short! So I promise, someday I will share the rest! 

Funnies: 

Bike Fail

Haha! So today our car got a nail in the tire and had to get fixed, so Sister Farmer and I had this great idea to ride bikes. We had a lunch appointment with a member and we thought for sure we could make it by 1:00 pm. We started biking at noon and quickly realized there was no way to get over the freeway! Haha we spent like 56 minutes biking in circles, up hills and down them, then getting lost, then my bike broke, then Sister Farmer almost fell off. It was just a mess! Haha but what a memory! We missed our appointment and skipped lunch, but I have killer calves to show for it! Psych. 

I am not a cyclist...

Sabrina and Karen 

Spiritual Thought: 

We were able to watch the Christmas Devotional last night and it was so wonderful! I hope you all got the chance to, and if you didn't I highly recommend you go watch it. Right NOW! Go, do it! You won't regret it. I promise. But as I was watching I was thinking about how the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is remembering. Remembering the Savior. And that's what this life is all about. Truly REMEMBERING Him. I was reading in Mosiah 27 today about Alma the Younger's visit from the angel. The last thing the angel said to him was "remember". How powerful is that. The angel did not teach him anything new, he simply invited him to remember. That is exactly what we do as missionaries every day! We just invite people to REMEMBER! Remember who they are and where they came from and who they can be! 

I think the most prominent time we can remember is during the sacrament. What a sacred time that is, to just sit and REMEMBER your Savior. I want to invite all of you to prepare for the sacrament this week, and start today, because that truly is the most important time of our week. REMEMBER HIM. AND LIGHT THE WORLD!! 

I love y'all! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen 

Endless exchanges! Who even is my companion??

So as you can probably guess from my caption...we have had a week full of exchanges! Which means a week FULL of miracles! It seems like Sister Farmer and I have not seen each other in like an entire week...but that is all part of the fun! She could probably use a break from my craziness anyway...

The coldest exchange ever!

Thanksgiving was wonderful! We spent it with our Bishop and his family and it felt like I was right at home! Everyone teased each other and told funny jokes and stories and we all ate way too much. It was a blast! But it was also a very humbling day. Our investigator Kim texted us Thanksgiving morning and told us that her best friend passed away. It wasn't unexpected, but still really difficult. We haven't had much contact with her since, so just keep her in your prayers. She sure needs them! How grateful I am to know that this life is not all there is!

Miracles:

I think my favorite miracle of the week was finding our new investigator Laura! Laura was a referral from her daughter who is a member in California. She asked us to go over and do some service a few months ago, but the timing and scheduling and weather just never worked out :( We went over this week just to check on her, and ended up teaching her a little bit of the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. As we were teaching her she turned to us and said, "I need to pull out my Book of Mormon and start reading." My heart soared! I know that her daughter has been praying for her heart to be softened for years, and she truly is prepared! Her husband passed away 17 years ago in a car accident, and just a few years ago her daughter was able to go to the temple and do the work for him. As we were teaching her we testified boldly and powerfully that families really could be together forever, and the spirit was strong. I have no doubt that her husband is being taught in the spirit world, and I hope that he has or will accept the work that has been done! Laura is such an awesome lady, and she needs this gospel. She needs the peace the Savior brings! And He was there with us when we taught her. I love this work, and I love families. I am eternally grateful to know that mine is ETERNAL!

Also this week we were able to teach this lady named Geney! We raked her leaves a few weeks back and we went to go check in on her and ended up sharing the Restoration! She committed to read and pray and seemed so excited! I had the sweetest sister with me on exchanges and she really needed an uplift. Seeing Geney was an answer to her prayers and mine! She has a lot of spunk, and claims she ain't ever gonna stop smoking, but I think the spirit will help her change her mind. It is so cool to see how service softens people's hearts!

Exchanges

Funnies:

So there is this older couple in our ward, the Schroeders, and they are seriously hilarious. I am sure I have told y'all a story about them before, but honestly every time we go over something funny happens. Well yesterday we went over for scripture study and I was wearing this super cute shirt that Sister Farmer owns and I thought I was looking so good. Well I stood up to grab something and Bro. Schroeder looked at me and said, "That shirt makes you look pregnant!" Hahahahaha I was on exchanges with this cute Sister who is REALLY struggling and she about died of laughter. It ended up being a huge tender mercy! But man, I don't think I will borrow that shirt again!

Gingerbread festival at winter quarters

Spiritual thought: 

I read a talk from President Uchtdorf this week as I was preparing to teach Laura, and this quote just rang so true to my heart.

"The sublime message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that God is our Father, that He cares about us, and that there is a way to return to Him.

God calls to you."

Heavenly Father truly calls to each of us every single day. I have heard that call and I am trying my best to heed it. I know that God loves me, I know that He loves all of His children. I do not know everything, but that is enough.

Have the best week! See you sooner than soon!

xoxo,

Sister Bengtzen