Are you hungry for the truth?

Wow! Ok! Time flies. I cannot believe it has been another week, and Easter at that! I hope you all enjoyed Easter Sunday as much as I did. It was so incredible to sit in the House of the Lord and just have a sure knowledge that we are going to be together forever. I thought a lot about Grandpa Bengtzen and Aunt Mona and all those others that we love that have passed on, and I am sure they celebrated with us. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed being so far from all of you, and my heart hurts a little bit. Yesterday was one of those days, but I recognize that this is such a small sacrifice to give to a Savior that has given us everything. I just hope you all know how much I love you and miss you. I think about you often and pray for you always! I am so grateful to know that the Savior lives. That He is risen, and that He is constantly there for each of us every single minute of every day. I am grateful for His patience, His persistence, His mercy, and His unfailing love. I am grateful to know Him, and to have the opportunity to spend the rest of eternity coming to know Him and emulate Him. Thanks for all the Easter cards and the birthday wishes and the candy and the love. I feel all of your hugs way out here in Kearney! 

Miracles: 

So we are teaching this incredible girl! She is 18 and her name is Stacy. Her boyfriend is a member of the church and has been a remarkable missionary the past few weeks. Stacy has such genuine interest and is so excited to learn more about her Savior. The youth took a trip to the temple this last weekend and Stacy went along for the ride! The whole three hour ride! (I imagine Dad turning to Max as he is reading this story and saying "A three hour tour.." Haha I love you Daddy!) Anyway, she sat at the visitor's center while they were in the temple and just soaked it all in. She is working towards baptism and she is such a remarkable edition to the youth of the ward. I can hardly explain it...but she has this way of earnestly seeking after light and goodness...and I think she is beginning to recognize she has found a fullness of it. So PLEASE keep her in your prayers!

Sherletha

Also this week we were walking out of this lesson with a potential that TOTALLY tanked and we saw this cute lady sitting on the sidewalk. We went up to talk to her and it turns out she had ordered a Bible from Mormon.org that morning! We hadn't even received the referral yet! She praised Jesus and threw in some Hallelujahs and Amens and the whole shebang! It was awesome. We prayed with her and she did some singing and we gave her a Book of Mormon and set a return appointment! Haha her name is Sherletha and she said she met with missionaries before. She was the sweetest thing I had ever seen and you would've thought we'd have given her a million dollars when we handed her the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Her face was priceless! We are seeing her tomorrow and I sure hope she pauses between praises long enough for us to teach her! Haha ;) I will attach a picture.

Funnies: 

Easter Candy Coma

I forgot to tell you this one...so it is from a few weeks back, but it still kills me! For the record I have permission to tell this story, so do not worry. 

So back when Sister Church was slowly dying because of her knee, we spent the night in Omaha and she texted all the sisters in our stewardship to see if any of them had baptisms set for the following day. One of the companionships sent back "Nada Pinata" and Sister Church, all hyped up on Ibuprofen and no sleep got all excited and responded "Is that one of your investigators?!" Haha she kills me.... 

Spiritual thought:

So I have been thinking a lot this week about this life and the temptations and hardships we face. It is a constant battle that we MUST fight...but I read a verse this week that put it into perspective for me. "Fear ye not...the Lord shall fight for you." (Exodus 14;13-14) I think so often I find myself wearied by the fight and not sure of myself, or my ability to fight, but I forget that I am not the one who is really fighting. Christ has already won the battle, I just have to let him help me through to safety! I make things so complicated...we all do...but the simple truth is that Christ has won the victory. HE IS RISEN. How grateful I am for that knowledge. This week I urge all of you to bury your weapons of war and allow the Savior to fight for you. 

Oh and also...I forgot about this...but we are now in a trio! Sister Church, myself, and sweet lil Sister Stocking from Washington state! Her companion had to go home all of a sudden so we are lucky enough to spend the rest of the transfer with her! She is a doll! Also Sister Church is doing much better and her knee is healing up real nice! 

ALL IS WELL!

This week was a whirlwind! 

I am so blessed to be Her comp!

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes again, and just all of the love. Really, I feel so loved and so blessed! I felt like Heavenly Father was giving me a giant bear hug all day yesterday! I really don't have any time at all, so I am just going to send a quick update.

Sabrina and the family whose basement she lives in.

Sister Church is OKIE DOKIE! She got a cortisone shot this morning and we are on the mend! Thank heavens for modern medicine! 

We are trying so so so hard to find, so please keep these people of Kearney in your prayers! It's hard not to get down on ourselves sometimes, but we know that this is the Lord's work and not ours, so we are pushing through!

Streamers

But here is a miracle! 

We stopped by to see one of our investigators the other day and her name is Staysha Redfield. She told us that she had started to read the Book of Mormon and that she really loved it, she pulled out her copy and we saw that she highlighted 1 Nephi 1:12. We asked her about it and she told us that she felt the same way Lehi did (as he described in that verse) filled with the spirit of the Lord! We were thrilled! And it was so evident that she had heard the whispering of the Holy Ghost. She even told us that she read the Book of Mormon her entire lunch break at work because she felt so good when she did. But what broke my heart was that last night she texted us and told us she was no longer interested in learning. But at least a seed was planted!

She got lots of cards from her family!

Love you all! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen 

Hay is for Horses

First things first. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes and love! My heavens I have the best team in the tournament! Seriously you are all my favorite. Can't believe I will be 20...woooooooot! Look out adulthood...here I come!  

Second things second. SISTER CHURCH AND I ARE STAYING TOGETHER FOR 6 MORE WEEKS!!!!! Best birthday gift I could have asked for! So all of y'all better get excited to meet her on Mother's Day because she is excited to meet you! 

Third things third. Sister Church most likely tore her meniscus...so we are hobbling along on crutches and trying to keep her from hurting it worse! She is a trooper. 

Miracles: 

This week I went on an exchange with Sister Poulson and that girl is incredible! The gospel has sunk deep into her heart and she has this incredible ability to share it in a way that is 100% Sister Poulson! She is genuine in all that she says and you can tell that she practices what she preaches. Man I have so much to learn. Anyway! While on exchanges we went to see this less active member and it turns out his less active daughter was there as well. Her name is Arianna and she has a 15 month old son and one on the way. She told us how she has been thinking so much about the church and that she has recently had the strongest desires to come back again. She told us that she wants to raise her sons to know the Savior, and she knows in her heart that she needs to raise them in the LDS church. Sister Poulson and I were speechless. She clearly has poignant feelings connected with the church, but she isn't quite sure of her testimony yet. We committed her to watch General Conference and approach it with a question, and she was so excited about it! So we get to follow up with her about that tomorrow. WOOT! 

Also, we watched General Conference with Pam and another recent convert named Jo Lind and it was SO cool to see them receive revelation live! And get answers to their questions. Seriously conference is incredible! 

Oh! And we started teaching the sweetest new family of 6! They are the Rodriquez family and we found them a few weeks ago. They are on the path to progressing, they are just super busy, so keep them in your prayers. Teaching families is the best thing! It just makes the work so exciting. 

Funnies: 

Sister Church borrowed some rusty crutches from a ward member and as she was waddling along yesterday they broke and she fell...haha it was SO funny! I made that sound way worse than it was...she was laughing too! I promise!! And she didn't get hurt at all! 

Spiritual thought: 

I hope you all enjoyed General Conference as much as I did! Seriously we are so blessed to have a Father in Heaven who loves us enough to send us a prophet to lead us and to guide us and to walk beside us. As I was watching General Conference this weekend so many things stuck out to me, but there is one in particular I want to share. Towards the end of his talk Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said something that just pierced my heart. "Come as you are, but don't plan to stay as you are." Our Heavenly Father loves each of us infinitely and perfectly. He will always take us as we are, but he strives to help us be better, to improve, to change. We all came to conference as we are, but I want to urge each of you not to stay as you are! Take the things you were taught by the spirit and APPLY them! Make changes, even if they are small. And recognize the glorious blessings that come from doing so. The Savior promise us time and time again that by small and simple things, or small and simple changes, GREAT things come to pass. I testify that his promises are sure and He is bound when we do what he asks of us. This church is true. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer lives. And I say these things in his name. Amen.

LOVE YOU ALL!!! 

Keep on keeping on :) 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen 

MARCH MADNESS

Y'all probably think the NCAA tournament is entertaining, but lemme tell you, watching Sister Church, myself, and President Gardner shoot free throws would've blown college basketball out of the water! We had the Nebraska Omaha Mission (N.O.M.) Olympics this week and Sister Church and I killed it! We took the gold! And had way too much fun doing it. So there's a lil' update. In other news we ran out of money this month so today we went to the store and bought a total of 8 bananas for the week. Mom don't freak out! I promise that the Cammacks let us have some of their food and we won't starve! Ya know what they say..."Man cannot live on bananas alone..." 

Miracles: 

So this week there was a baptism in a nearby branch and it was so happy! The girl's name was Mila Gonzalez and she is 19. She was baptized into the small family branch in Holdrege, NE, but the YSA was there to fellowship her at her baptism, so Sister Church and I got to attend as well. One of the best things about a mission is that you get to just see how aware of each of us Heavenly Father is. One of the recent converts from the YSA attended the baptism and her name is Natasha. (I LOVE HER.) Anyway, Mila got up to bear her testimony and just poured her heart out about how her family was not supportive, but she was so grateful that she made the decision to be baptized regardless. Natasha's family was not supportive AT ALL when she was baptized and as Mila bore her testimony tears filled Natasha's eyes. The moment the closing prayer was finished Natasha ran to Mila and told her her story. They both started to cry and just held each other. It was like they had known each other for years. Now Mila has a new friend, and an entire YSA branch eager and excited to get to know her. And they never would've crossed paths had it not been for the Lord and his hand in their lives. 

I got to go on exchanges this week with Sister Gershin and OH MY GRACIOUS! That girl. She is an incredible missionary, and she truly has given her whole heart to God over the course of the last 18 months. I had the incredible blessing of being her last exchange ever and we had loads of fun! But during our last chat of the night she said something so profound and it hit my heart hard. She told me that she didn't serve the mission she wanted to serve, but she served the mission the Lord wanted her to serve.

 My heavens these sisters teach me so much more than I could ever hope of teaching them. I am so blessed to be a missionary! 

Also this week is GENERAL CONFERENCE! If that is not a miracle than I don't know what is! Prophets and Apostles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are going to be speaking directly to us. And I CANNOT wait! I CANNOT WAIT! I urge all of you to approach conference with a question...because when we ask we receive answers. 

Funnies: 

This morning I woke up at 4:11 am absolutely freezing cold, so I slowly slid off my bed head first and grabbed my blanket that fell on the floor. As I was doing this Sister Church sat up out of nowhere and looked at me and this is the conversation that followed: 

Sister Church: "You good??"

Me: "Yeah I'm good..." 

"What time is it?" 

"4:11"

"YESSSS.....(she leaps out of her bed) I need to go the bathroom so bad, I am about to explode!"

Next thing I knew it was 6:30...haha

Spiritual thought: 

I guess these past few weeks I have been struggling quite a bit with finding. We are finding all the time! We are being obedient, our efforts are diligent, and we are studying hard, but people don't seem to be willing to make commitments or have a desire to continue to learn more. I have been in a little bit of a rut, so I have been seeking answers through fervent prayer and scripture study, and I read a verse the other day that just filled my soul with assurance and increased faith. 1 Nephi 21:5 reads "And now, saith the Lord - that formed me from the womb that I should be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him - though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength." As I read this, the spirit replaced two words of this verse to teach me something crucial. "And now, saith the Lord - that formed me from the womb that I (myself) should be his servant, to bring [Sister Bengtzen] again to him - though [Nebraska] be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength." The Lord has placed me upon this earth to learn and to grow, and ultimately my job is to bring Sister Bengtzen (myself) again to him. Although the entire state of Nebraska may not be baptized, and although others may not listen or commit, the Lord is still proud of me and I will rely on God to carry me through. How grateful I am for the scriptures and for my relationship with my Savior. How grateful I am to know that numbers do not determine success, that the Lord does not look upon the outward appearance of things, but the Lord looks upon my heart. (1 Sam 16:7) Sometimes it seems like we just aren't having success, that our lives don't look the way they should or that things aren't going the way they should, and it's hard. But Heavenly Father knows that we are trying. He is aware of the efforts that we make and above all he knows our hearts. So even if life seems to be a mess, keep going, keep trying. The Lord is with you and he will lead you along. 

I love you all! Even when you go to Cancun and tour Book of Mormon ruins without me. I will forgive you! Maybe! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen 

I think I am pretty funny...

Sabrina Jumping from a large land mover!

JUST KIDDING!!! I really do think I am quite funny, and Sister Church agrees 65% of the time, so I consider myself a winner! I actually have a lot more to say this week, so hold your horses people ;) Sometimes I fear that you are forgetting about me and just getting used to life without me, so I have decided I must keep you on your toes, because guess what?! I MISS YOU! Seriously I miss you all so much. But at the same time I am in the best place I possibly could be and I wouldn't give that up for anything. Missions are just a roller coaster! 

Miracles:

So I went on exchanges with sweet Sister Goff this week and my heavens above, that girl can light up a room by just walking in! She is so humble, yet at the same time she recognizes that her efforts are appreciated and accepted by the Lord, and with that combination she is powerful. We had an incredible miracle while we were on exchanges. We have this potential family we have been working with for quite some time and a few weeks ago we had to drop them because they simply weren't keeping commitments. Sister Goff and I were in their neighborhood so we stopped by their apartment and the wife, Lindsey, answered the door and just looked exhausted. Before I could even process my words I asked her if we could come back in an hour and help her clean her home. (The spirit is real!) Gratitude and relief filled her eyes and she accepted. We have been praying specifically for Lindsey's heart to be softened for so many weeks, and through service it finally was. We helped her to clean her home and bore powerful testimony to her and her husband before we left. They thanked us profusely and invited us to come back, so we will be seeing them this week!

Exchanges with Sister Goff and Bailey!

Also this is kind of a crazy, random miracle. We were knocking doors in this fun little neighborhood and we saw this huge, beautiful, old home. I swear it was probably 100 years old, so naturally that is the house we started with. As we were walking up to the door we heard a dog, but the reflection on the glass door made it so we couldn't see inside the home. When we got to the door we recognized that this thin glass door was the only thing between us and this HUGE, snarling, angry dog. The dog pounced at the door and Sister Church quickly put her foot against it to hold it in. We looked at each other and both offered up the quickest and most earnest silent prayer we ever have. As we were quietly and hurriedly discussing what to do the dog quit snarling, perked up its ears, turned around, and sauntered into the back room. Sister Church and I were speechless. We took another look at each other and took of in a dead sprint. We got back to the car just in time to hear the dog start barking and snarling again. I have no doubt that angels were protecting us, and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father is aware of his missionaries.

TIRE SWING!

Also this week... Pam, our recent convert, got to go to the temple! She signed up to go a few weeks ago, but the day before she totally backed out and called us and told us she wasn't going. We immediately went to her home and had a powerful lesson on Satan's lies and the influence of the adversary. It was incredible to see how much she changed from the beginning of the lesson to the end. She ended up going to the temple and said it was one of the most meaningful and memorable days of her life. She cannot wait to get her endowment in one short year! I know that the adversary is real, but the power of the Savior is so much stronger and sustaining. I am grateful that through the scriptures we can learn how to use the Savior's power and how to fight Satan!

Funnies:

So while we were visiting with Pam, talking about the adversary, and trying to help her to get to the temple, we were talking about how Heavenly Father sometimes allows us to be uncomfortable because He wants us to grow, and there is no growth in the comfort zone! As we were talking about this I got all excited and I said: "Pam, Heavenly Father is trying to help you grow! Like that plant!" And I pointed to the plant on her windowsill. Pam proceeded to look at the plant, then at me, then at the plant again and gave me this look of just disgust (haha which Pam loves to do because she loves to mess with us) then she yelled: "That plant is dead!" Hahahahaha. Sister Church and I proceeded to look at each other, then at the plant, then at the ground, then at Pam, then back at the ground, then all three of us busted into laughter. Hahaha I am such a dork. I know for a surety Heavenly Father was laughing with us though! 

Buffalo! 

Also this week we were out in the country and we pulled over on this dirt road to take a picture with a group of cows. (Side note: What do you call a group of cows? A flock? A pack? A herd? A fold? A squad?) Anyway, the second we got out of the car these cows started standing up, and I'm telling you, they were ready to fight. I have never gotten back into a car, put on a seat belt, and started driving so quick! Moral of the story is DON'T MESS WITH THE COWS. They aren't a fan of selfies...although they are UTTERly adorable! (Ok that one was painful...)

Spiritual thought:

In 2 Chronicles 15 a group of people are gathered together in Jerusalem and offer up a mighty sacrifice to the Lord. Along with this sacrifice 2 Chronicles15:12  reads "And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul." As I read this I thought about the sacred covenants we all have the privilege of making, and I specifically thought about baptism. Do we recognize that part of the covenant we made and that we make every Sunday as we partake of the sacrament, is to always remember the Savior, Jesus Christ, and in the same spirit, to SEEK him? The word seek means "to go in search of" or "to discover". How many times throughout our week do we SEEK the Savior? How many times throughout the week do we look for the hand of God, show gratitude for His tender mercies, or remind our families and loved ones that we LOVE them? Jesus Christ truly is the light and the life of our world, and of each of our lives, and we are promised that as we SEEK him - with all our hearts and with all our souls - that his light will enter into our lives and it will grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day. (D&C 50:24) So this week I am going to make a more diligent and conscious effort to SEEKmy Savior and allow his light to illuminate my life. I hope you all do the same!

I love you more than cows love hay and more than Kearney natives love to drive tractors!

xoxo,

Sister Bengtzen 

 

Joy in the Journey!

Sister Robertson and I getting blown away!

So sometimes I look back to like a year ago and I realize...I knew absolutely nothing about a mission. Haha and I don't think you can ever really understand what on earth a mission is like until you go! Jakey and Abby and Dad, you'd probably agree. But my heavens it is hard, and wonderful, in every single way! Sometimes I wake up and still can't believe I am in Nebraska...of all the places. I am so grateful that the Lord has far greater plans than I do...I couldn't love this place and these people more. 

I hope y'all are enjoying Disneyland for like the 10th time this year! I swear it's like I leave and y'all go to Disneyland to celebrate. And then you go again and again! Haha or better yet, you decide to plan this killer trip to Peru and don't even tell me about it! (JABBY!) Rude. 

Haha but it's OK. I have corn fields... and cows. And I am so happy here :) 

So I brought Grandpa Bengtzen's history with me on my mission and I must admit it has been my saving grace the last couple of days. Reading through his journal entries from his mission is one of the coolest things, because I feel like I can relate to him, and in a weird way I feel like I know him, and that I am experiencing all of his experiences with him...just a few years later. Anyway, this week I was reading it and I swear I could have copied and pasted his words into my own journal for the day! He said something along the lines of..."We spent the day having doors slammed in our face, but days like that make no difference to a missionary." Haha so I suppose you could say it was a rough week. Lots of rejection, and sad moments, but at the same time it was an incredible week, full of a lot of love and a lot of reassurance from the Savior. A mission is a roller coaster to say the least. But there's so much joy in the journey. 

Miracles: 

I found a guitar!

I went on my first exchange this week and I thought I was going to die! Haha poor Sister Robertson. I was so nervous. But she is the most incredible missionary and she spent the entire day teaching me! It was the windiest day of my life, and I could have sworn I was going to be blown away! But we survived. Anyway, we were able to see one of our recent converts named Mariah and just before the lesson Sister Robertson turned to me and told me she felt like we should talk about divine nature and the potential she has as a daughter of God. So we scratched the lesson plan and we followed the spirit! It was the most amazing lesson, exactly what Mariah needed, and she recognized it! But more than that, it was INCREDIBLE to see Sister Robertson recognize the spirit and follow its promptings, even though she didn't know anything about Mariah or her situation. The spirit truly is the teacher, and no matter who we are or where we are, when we are in the Lord's service, and when we are worthy, we can receive revelation to help His children. 

Ok and here's a miracle that literally occurred 10 minutes ago. We are currently sitting here in the Kearney library, and a man just walked up to us out of nowhere. He told us his name and that he needs help with his family history! He said he recognized  that we were from the church because of the light we carried with us, and he asked for the church address and our number. How sweet is that! It's cool that the Lord can use us as an instrument in His hands, even at the most unlikely times. 

Funnies: 

One of our members gave us this killer referral the other day, so right when we left their house we skipped lunch and went to try them! The member told us, and I quote, "The husband is super interested, but his wife is pretty comfortable in her faith. She's sweet though! She won't kick you out." We knocked once on the door and the wife answered. She looked at us, then at our name tags, then slammed the door in our face. Hahahahaha. I guess the member was right...she didn't kick us out, she didn't even let us in! 

Oh and then as we were walking away there was this guy on the street and Sister Church said hello! (In her bubbly and happy way) The man looked straight at us and turned around and began walking the other way. Sister Church and I looked at each other and just busted up laughing! Haha people are my favorite! 

Spiritual Thought: 

I think all of us have weeks where our faith is tested. Where we question, where we worry, where we doubt. We are human! So it happens. And I think sometimes our tests of faith come in seeing some of the most elect leave the church, or in seeing great persecutions and contentions rise against the church. I know that there have been times, even just this week, where my faith has been tested in those exact ways...but I read a quote the other day that gave me great comfort and reminded me whose church this really is.

 "Please know that even though great storms of wind and waves beat upon the old ship (Zion), the Savior is on board and is able to rebuke the storm with His command 'Peace, be still.' Until then we must not fear, and we must have unwavering faith and know that 'even the wind and the sea obey him'." - Elder M. Russell Ballard 

This really is the Savior's church. The only true and living church on the face of the whole earth! And persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, and armies may assemble against it, but the truth will go forth. He will not forsake His church. He will not forsake us. And I know that with ever fiber of my soul. How lucky we are to be a part of His kingdom on earth. 

I love you all and I am so grateful for the truth of eternal families! 

I had to speak last minute on Sunday and I got to talk all about my INCREDIBLE family for 25 minutes straight. And I could not have been happier to do so. Know that you are my greatest blessings!! (Even though you go to Disneyland and Peru without me...) 

LOVE YOU!!!! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen 

PURE joy!

Heyo! This week may have been the best week of my life! AHHHHH I swear my mission keeps getting better and better. You think it can't get better than it is, then BOOM! Heavenly Father proves you wrong! The church is so true. 

Miracles:  

Pam Morrow is officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! And she could not be happier. Saturday was a gift, to say the least. Pam has been going to church every Sunday for about 6 months, so the entire ward was thrilled when they found out that she was finally being baptized. They went above and beyond, making it as special as they could for her, and she was so grateful. But all the fluff and floof aside, the entire program was so emotional. We sang and we cried and we laughed. Pam cried most of the meeting and the spirit filled the entire church building...it was beyond powerful, and very humbling. But I must say the most awe inspiring moment was when the actual ordinance took place. As Pam was buried, then lifted again out of the water the look on her face was indescribable. She could not move and she could hardly breathe, she was so overcome with joy. She looked as if her soul was jumping up and down inside. As she was helped out of the font we wrapped her in a towel and she smothered us with a hug. We held her and she cried. I have never seen someone so visibly affected by a baptism before. It was beyond words. Ahh I wish you all could have been there! She was so prepared, and she is so prepared! Prepared to keep the covenants she has made, and prepared to progress further in the gospel and to become more like her Savior. 

On Sunday as Pam was confirmed the light in her countenance shone for the entire ward to see. She said she felt a weight physically being lifted off her shoulders as she was given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the Priesthood holders in the circle said they could feel her sink into the chair when that sacred gift was given. Pure joy filled the chapel that day and I felt like a Saint on my way to Zion as we sung the hymns and prayed together.

I think about all the miracles the Savior performed while He was on the earth, and at times I am envious of those that got to witness him raising the dead, or giving sight to the blind, but on Saturday I was humbly reminded that I have a front row seat to the greatest miracle He has ever performed, and forever will perform: changing hardened hearts and healing broken souls. I would never in a million years give up this opportunity to serve a mission. To serve my Savior. 

Now in addition to all of that, this week we found a family...a family of 4! We have been praying and fasting specifically for a family of 4 and on Saturday we received a referral from the Trail Center. We followed up last night and sure enough a FAMILY of 4! A mom, a dad, and 2 sons. (Ages 9 and 11) We taught them the Restoration and committed them to read and to pray and set a return appointment. After we had finished, the Father asked us if his family joined, would him and his wife have the opportunity to renew their vows to last for eternity. The spirit engulfed the room as we bore testimony of the truth and answered his questions. So please keep them in your prayers! The Sugroue family. 

Funnies:

Pam called us on Saturday morning super anxious about her baptism and almost in tears, so naturally we did what any good sister missionary would...we went to Panda express and bought her some chow mien and orange chicken. Haha she was real grateful! 

Also Pam LOVES animal print, so we wore animal print for her baptism. She was through the moon about it! 

Spiritual thought: 

In Matthew 4:1-9 Satan tempts Christ to use His God-given power in pursuit of fame, fortune, food, etc. His ultimate temptation is to get Christ to be selfish, to turn inward instead of outward, "IF thou be the Son of God..." 

Elder Bednar explains, "Satan's strategy, in essence, was to dare the Son of God to improperly demonstrate his God-given powers, to sacrifice meekness and modesty, and thereby betray who he was. Thus, Satan attempted repeatedly to attack Jesus' understanding of who He was and of His relationship with His Father." 

Just as Satan tempted Christ by enticing Him to forget who He was, he does the same to us! He strives to convince us to forget who we are...children of the Most High God! We have divine potential, nature, and worth. 

I love the first chapter of Moses because Moses gives us a great sure-fire example of how to KILL Satan's temptations. 

"And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son (or daughter) of God, in similitude of His Only Begotten...Get thee hence Satan, deceive me not." (Moses 1:13,16) 

So this week I encourage each of you to REMEMBER who you are and who you are becoming. When you feel temptation creeping in, recite this scripture in Moses and remind Satan that you know you are a child of God, and cast him out. 

I LOVE you all to all the small towns in Western Nebraska and back! 

xoxo, 

Sister Bengtzen