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

What are you grateful for?

Sister Farmer and myself organized a big old game of volleyball this morning and it was a riot! We only broke one light and only one Sister got hit in the face! All in all it was a success :) 

Well, it's Thanksgiving yet again! And I LOVE Thanksgiving. And that is not just because we get to eat obscene amounts of potatoes, rolls, turkey, and pie...although that is a HUGE bonus....it's because I get to spend an entire day remembering all the incredible things Heavenly Father has blessed me with! And how special that is! 

I am grateful for the special spirit of gratitude that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings into my life. I have been studying a lot about remembering the past few weeks, and I think that is one of the most inspiring blessings of the Gospel, it helps me REMEMBER my Savior, my Father in Heaven, my family, my divine nature and destiny, and the things that matter most. I have been blessed with so many things, and my mission nears the top of that list. These last few months of my life have been a gift that I will never be able to thank my Heavenly Father for, but I will do my best every day to live the life He wants me to live. 

Miracles:

So this week our investigator Hylton came to church! Yeah! HE CAME TO CHURCH! Haha I am clearly not that excited...psych I am off the rocker excited! 

During the second hour of church he opened up to us about how on Tuesday (when we met him) he was praying that he could find more inspiration, guidance, and direction in his life. He told us that he felt like he was missing something, and that he knew God could help him find it. Well just moments after that prayer was uttered, Sister Archibald (the sister I was on exchanges with) and I came walking down the street and spoke to him as he was sitting at the bus stop! We were his answer to his prayer! 

He ended up really enjoying church and told us he wanted to come again. He had a bunch of really great questions about this life on earth, and Heavenly Father's plan for us, so we committed him to read 2 Nephi 2 and we are meeting with him on Saturday to teach him the Plan of Salvation. 
Heavenly Father works in such interesting and miraculous ways. I have been working to exercise my faith to see a big miracle, and I think I almost expected Heavenly Father to give me the exact miracle that I wanted, Robert and Kayla to be baptized and confirmed on December 2nd. That still could happen! I do not doubt it. But I am recognizing that maybe they are not the miracle right now! Maybe it is Hylton.
I am not sure what it will be, or who it will be with, but I know that a great miracle is about to take place in the Old Mill ward and I cannot wait to see it! 

As you can probably discern, Robert and Kayla and the rest of our investigators aren't doing too great, but we are trying to still help them along! We have some make it or break it lessons this week, so please pray for all of them! 

Funnies: 

So we saw Robert and Kayla at Robert's mom's house this week, and let me just tell you about that house...it is crazy! Like 6 people in and out all the time, tons of yelling, fried chicken cooking, and Robert's mom is hard of hearing, so she is always just talking to herself. Well we asked an inspired question about the Savior and as everyone got quiet Robert's mom just started going off about how she loved the Mormons. "They came across the sea in those funny clothes, and they did a lot of farming and met the Indians..." She said. I thought she was talking about the pioneers, so I started to encourage her dialogue, and then it all went south. "Yeah, they met them Indians and then they shared food, and that's how Thanksgiving came to be! The Mormons invented Thanksgiving!" HAHA! I about fell off the chair at this point. I wish we invented Thanksgiving...

All in all it was a rough lesson and the spirit was not very much present, but we sure tried!

Also this is an accurate description of our week and our companionship..haha! 

Spiritual Thought: 

One of the things I am most grateful for is the Book of Mormon, so I thought I would just share this little quote about the Book of Mormon with y'all this week. 

"When I think of the Book of Mormon I think of the word POWER. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the POWER to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls." - President Nelson 

I testify that is true. I have felt the power of the Book of Mormon in my life every single day I have read it. I do not know everything, not even close, but I know the Book of Mormon is true, and that is enough. 

I love you all and I am SO GRATEFUL for you! 

Happy Thanksgiving!! 

I Forgot The Subject Line

I have a question! Any and all answers would be greatly appreciated! WHY DO MISSIONS GO BY SO DANG FAST?? If you have any insights please let me know. :)

Miracles:

This week I was on exchanges with Sister Archibald and goodness gracious I LOVE HER! She is just herself, and when a missionary is herself she is that much more powerful! We saw so many miracles together, but I just want to share one really quick. We had just finished 3 or 4 hours of finding, and were walking back to our car, when I all the sudden felt prompted to knock on a door. One door, off the whole street, and it looked like not a soul was home! But I followed the prompting, and this sweet single mother named Jackline answered. She was speaking on the phone and seemed to be in the middle of an intense conversation. As she opened the door she looked at us, we smiled at her, and she quickly finished her conversation and hung up the phone. That NEVER happens. Usually people use any excuse they can not to talk to us! But this lady didn't. She immediately began to ask questions and they were incredible questions. She is from Sudan and has 5 children, 4 of which are over the age of 8! We shared the message of the Restoration with her and she readily accepted it and eagerly invited us to come back. She was so prepared! She is so prepared! I NEVER get tired of witnessing the miracles that come from following even just a simple prompting of the spirit.

Also this week we met a man named Hylton and taught him the Restoration on a bench while he was waiting for the bus. Well, I did not think he was very interested, but we got his number and followed up a couple of days later. Turns out he read a passage in the Book of Mormon and accepted an invitation to meet with us again! Last night we took him to the Trail Center and had an awesome lesson about the Savior and committed him to read and pray. Now he is a new investigator!

As for Robert and Kayla and Kim, we have hit some might road blocks. Neither of them came to church, and both of them are really being hit hard by the fiery darts of Satan, so just keep them in your prayers. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of them though. And I know that He will continue to soften their hearts, even if they aren't prepared to accept the Gospel and be baptized right now. Their time will come. And the Savior isn't going to give up on them, so neither are we!

Funnies:

I can't think of anything funny...

Sister Farmer made cookies today and they were gross, so she gave them to some Elders...

Haha that is kinda funny.

They ate them all.

Elders are so weird. 

Spiritual thought:

So Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Seventy came to tour our mission this week and we had a few awesome meetings with him. He taught all about the Savior, and I loved that! There is nothing more powerful to teach about, for He is the center of all we do, of all we teach, of who we are! Anyway, he asked us two simple questions, and I want to invite all of you to ponder upon them this week. And I would LOVE for you to share your answers with me, if you feel so prompted :)

When did you know that Jesus Christ was the living Son of the living God?

When did you know that you knew?

I love the words found in Hymn 136, and I echo the testimony which they bear, “I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives, he lives, who once was dead. He lives, my ever-living head. He lives to bless me with His love. He lives to plead for me above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need."

I love you all, and I hope that you have the most wonderful week!

Know that you are in my prayers!

xoxo,

Sister Bengtzen

The beginning of the end :(

Sabrina and Her new companion Sister Farmer

Hey y'all! So I have a new companion and her name is Sister Farmer and she is from KAMAS, UT! My second favorite city in the whole state!!! She played soccer for SLCC, so we get along well to say the least. She is the hardest worker, and the most diligent missionary, and I am so excited to be with her! 

Miracles: 

This week we saw Robert and Kayla with one of our members and he bore the most powerful testimony on faith and he actually set them on date to be baptized Dec 2nd! Robert responded so positively and ended up bearing his testimony to Kayla, which softened her heart and inspired her to agree to the date. So as of right now they are set to be married and baptized on December 2nd!! We still have to work out the details with the building and the schedule, but I am confident that if the Lord wills it so He will make it all work out! I am so grateful for members who are bold and loving, and who understand that missionary work is a team effort. I am so grateful to be on the Lord's team! At one point in the lesson Kayla looked at me and said "Miss Bengtzen, what are you thinking?" And as I sat pondering my thoughts just spewed out into words and I said, "Kayla, I am just trying to recognize what Heavenly Father wants me to say..." Phrases then filled my mouth and I was able to testify of eternal families and the spirit was there. Kayla's countenance changed and it was just a sweet, celestial moment. I am so grateful that I am not left on my own to do this work. I would truly be nothing without the spirit! 

Robert, Kayla, Lay'lah, and Jai'lah also came to church on Sunday and loved it, so they are doing well, just keep them in your prayers! 

Also this week we were able to see our investigator Kim and she told us that she has read all the way through 2 Nephi 5. How wonderful is that?? She has been reading and praying every day, and even teaching her nieces to pray as well. As we sat with her she began to talk and it was one of the coolest experiences. All we did was watch her have this incredible interaction with the Holy Ghost and at the end of it all she told us she wanted to be baptized! She completely allowed the spirit in, and we physically witnessed the Holy Ghost teaching her. Again, what would I do without the spirit?? I could not do a single thing!

And if those two miracle weren't a witness enough for me of the power of the Holy Ghost, we had yet another while we were going to dinner this weekend. We felt prompted to go to Smashburger and as we were ordering the cashier ended up telling us he was a less active member that had a desire to come back, to come home! He gave us all of his information, and the moment we finished our conversation 4 or 5 families flooded the restaurant and he was busy for the rest of our time there. The timing was perfect, because it was not our timing, it was God's! 

Sabrina taking out new missionaries

Funnies: 

Saturday night Sister Farmer and I were talking and the conversation somehow turned to daylight savings time. This is how the conversation went: 

"When even is daylight savings time?" - Sister B

"I have no idea..." - Sister F

"We should probably ask someone.." - Sister B

"Nah, we will figure it out." - Sister F

* 5:30 am the next morning 

"What the heck, why does our phone say 5:30am??" - Sister F

"It's probably busted.."- Sister B

*Both Sister B and Sister F look at each other 

"Oh crap, is daylight savings time today???" - Sister F

"I am going back to bed." - Sister B 

Hahaha we are SO out of the loop out here! But we got an extra hour of sleep and that was a pure gift! 

Sabrina saying goodbye to Sister Church and Sister Preator

Spiritual thought: 

So this week we were teaching Kim about faith and I was able to share one of my studies with her about the difference between faith and belief. Belief is like believing you have a great car that will drive you anywhere, but never getting in it to reach a destination. Faith is actually getting in the car, and driving! If we truly have faith in Jesus Chris then we act. Kim LOVED it and something clicked within her. She even used the analogy in one of our lessons later in the week to explain something else. It was so cool. It's incredible how simple the Gospel can be with the companionship of the Holy Ghost! So I urge all of you to exercise your faith this week. ACT! And look for the blessings that come. 

I LOVE YOU ALL! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen 

Life is like a bouncy ball :)

It's starting to get cold again here in Nebraska, and I am slightly confused! I swear we just finished the month of May and the calendar says November starts this week....I don't know what is going on! Time is flying, flying, flying!

Sabrina and Sister's with the mini van

It has been one of those weeks here in Omaha, lots of ups and lots of downs. This is how I would describe a week of missionary work if all I could use to express myself was emojis: 😊😖😬😁😑🤔😅😣🙄😂🙂😐😮😥😱😵😩😢😢🤕😌😊😴😴😴

Haha but I love it. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now than where I am!

Miracles:

Sabrina and her District

So Saturday night was awesome, we saw two of our incredible progressing investigators and both of them committed to come to church, had made plans to come, and were excited. Well Sunday morning came and pretty soon it was 8:55 am and no one was there. The clock began whizzing by and before we knew it, it was 9:03 am, still no one there. We were heart broken. Coming to church is by far the hardest commitment for our investigators to keep, and we are trying so hard to help! Anyway, sacrament meeting began and it was the primary program. We were listening to all the cute kids sing and testify, and trying not to cry, when all of the sudden I heard Sister Preator gasp. I looked at her and then at the door of the chapel, and in walks Robert and Kayla with Layla and Jayla! I could not believe it! My heart practically burst out of my chest. I was so happy. Robert works night shifts, so he doesn't get off until 7 am, and it is a huge sacrifice for him to come to church, but still he came. He gave up his sleep and he came. And I know they were blessed for it! They are still set to be baptized this month, but they are quite hesitant to rush their wedding, so we will see if they actually follow through with that date, but keep them in your prayers. They. Are. Trying!

Also this week we went to drop our investigator Jennifer because she hasn't been progressing very well at all since I got here. We walked into the lesson and both of us just kinda felt dumbfounded. All of our words came out clunky and it just didn't seem right. About 10 minutes into the lesson Jennifer's mother Kathy walked in the door and sat down. We have been trying to teach her for weeks, but she has never been open! All of the sudden we just busted into the Restoration and she sat in for the whole lesson and committed to pray and read! She soaked everything in that we taught, and was so prepared! And Jennifer lit up when she acted interested too! That's why the beginning of our lesson was clunky, that is why nothing felt right, Heavenly Father had other plans, and He just needed us to wait! Now Kathy is an investigator and she is going to progress and I pray she will help Jennifer do the same!

Funnies:

I met a girl named Sabrina the other day and I think my eyes about popped out of my head as I spoke with her. I tried to change the subject immediately after she said her name and ended up asking how her car got hail damage...DUH! It got hit with hail...haha. She shut the door almost immediately. 

Spiritual Thought:

This week has been a trying week for the Old Mill Ward. One of the sweetest young moms in our ward passed away unexpectedly and her family has been really struggling. Today we were able to attend her funeral and it was a bittersweet event. The spirit was strong, but there were many tears. I have just been pondering a lot this week on death, and how difficult it is. But one of my favorite scriptures has been coming to mind, and I just wanted to share it with you this week, as my simple spiritual thought.

Mosiah 16:7-9

7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

Christ truly has broken the bands of death. The grave has no victory! I testify that that is true. And one day all of us will see it fulfilled. There will be no more death, and we will be with those we love again.

I love this work. I am grateful to wear the name of the Savior on my chest, but I am even more grateful to have it on my heart always.

Love you all! Have the best week yet!

xoxo,

Sister Bengtzen