I couldn't feel any more blessed!

I took Eddie Perez on a Temple Square tour!

The best thing happened last night! Eddie Perez came to Temple Square! It was awesome. We showed him the temple model and the sealing room video. We told him about how that's where they will be next year as a family, after they’ve been baptized for one year!

Then we took him over to the North Visitors center to see the Christus and then "God's Plan for His Family" video presentation. Right when it finished he said “this was great, Yza would totally be crying right now.” Hahah!

After a nice look at Temple Square we took him over to look around Deseret Book. It was so fun to show him all the little things the Church has to help families invite the Spirit more into their home. So we looked around there for a few minutes and he got a couple little things. Don't worry, we got a picture!

It is so incredible to see someone who I taught and challenged to be baptized barely over a month ago come to TEMPLE SQUARE and buy CTR stuff at Deseret Book! It gives me a whole new perspective on the guests we have here every day. Eddie came here during the time I was in Colorado too, before being baptized. And the sisters took him around. Just think, that could be ANYONE we meet here at Temple Square. Every single one is a potential “Eddie!” We might not ever know in this life what kind of effect we have on people. I testify even the smallest act of goodness will make an impression on people. We all have a responsibility to plant those seeds. The Lord has taught us that “the field is white already to harvest.” That means that if we do our part: be loving, be good examples, and be bold with our testimonies, those whose hearts the Lord has prepared WILL come unto Him!

The Perez family is coming to Utah for General Conference this April!!!! I'm so happy that I will be done with my mission by then because I will have more freedom to spend time with them haha!

Man, I had no idea this would all happen from that first time we simply went to Yza's door and gave her a Book of Mormon. It's INCREDIBLE! I couldn't feel any more blessed!

Another blessing came last Friday! We were ordered to close Temple Square because of all the snow! So everything Church owned totally shut down! All that we were allowed to do was go back to our apartment building and hang out! It was so fun!

Well, other than that we are just trying to stay warm!

Stay happy and CTR!

xoxoxoxo

Sister Jarvie

From Sister Gillette, the Mission President's wife

I'm Back!!!

Sister Jarvie and Sister Fredrickson, reunited!

Goodbye COLORADO! Hello TEMPLE SQUARE!

I have already been back here for a week! It feels like forever ago that I was helping Alyssa Perez get ready for the New Years dance but I also feel like I just got here.

It was amazing coming back. I had a direct flight from Colorado Springs this time, and when I arrived at Salt Lake City Airport Sister Fredrickson was waiting at the bottom of the escalator for me! It was so fun, we totally hugged and cried!

So I am serving at West Gate this transfer!!! Woooo!!! I seriously have always wanted to serve there. Jenna Mettra served there for 3 transfers! I am so excited! West Gate is literally at the ‘west gate’ of Temple Square. It is where the motor coaches arrive and where the language tours are arranged. It can be really fast-paced and busy and stressful at times--that’s what I love about it! I am a district leader again and my new companion is Sister Hoyt from Murrieta, California.

So it has also been a little strange being back because I don't know so many of the new sisters! There are well over 30 sisters that I knew who are outbound now, and so many that have come in from the MTC, and so many that have gone home!  Things change pretty fast when you are off the square for two transfers! It feels so different. But it is so nice to be able to teach regularly again. Even though the square isn't busy at all (it's actually always kind of dead) this time of year, we still get access to a lot of finding through the phone and online. And I am already starting to see success! I love finding and teaching!

All of us that just came back from outbound are struggling getting back into the old grind! hahha I haven't had a time to do studies ALL WEEK because we have had early morning meetings haha We are so tired!

Anyways, it is so so good to be back!

Have a good week!

xoxox

CTR

Sister Jarvie

Mom's Countdown Calendar

To the Perez Family--God be with you 'til we meet again

Post-baptism blow dry

My Last Week In Colorado!

Gary's Baptism!

My Zone Leader, (such a hipster!)

Well well! I really cannot believe that I am done with my outbound experience! And it will be the beginning of a new year. I can't even wrap my head around how scary this is! I have been keeping a "One Line a Day" journal since August 30, 2010. So I just write a little something about what’s going on each day of the year. On New Year’s day January 1, 2012 I wrote, "This year will be 100% dedicated to the Lord. This whole year, I will be a missionary". I feel like I just wrote that a minute ago. And now this incoming year, 2013, I will not be a missionary for part of it! I only have a couple months left. This means I have to go back to real life?! Don't get me wrong, I'm excited! It's fun to think about but there's also a lot of pressure. Mostly because of "the unknown". For now, I try my best to maintain my focus, but applying for school makes this difficult. I'll take any suggestions.  My mom sent me this great poem that I love. It’s called “God Knows” but is often referred to as “The Gate of the Year”--

God Knows

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness

and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light

and safer than a known way.”

I am sad to leave Colorado! I have made so many great relationships here. I know I've said this so many times but everyone I've met here is so fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a better outbound experience. Everyone in Parker, Colorado better know that as soon as I can, I will be back to visit you all. Thank you so much and I love you!
I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Years tonight!
SET A SPIRITUAL GOAL FOR 2013!
xoxoxo
LOVE YOU
Sista Jarvs
--

New old address:

Sister Lauren Jarvie
Temple Square Mission
50 N. West Temple St. Rm. BSVC
Salt Lake City, Ut 84150
sisterlaurenjarvie.blogspot.com



Merry Christmas to All!

 

Merry Christmas! I am so thankful for this time of year. This is the second Christmas that I have been on my mission and this year is a lot different. Last year at Temple Square I never had much time to settle down and enjoy the season. The feeling this year seems more real than all the thousands of people and lights. Today we went to a lady's house to help her wrap Christmas presents. She said she is usually up until 2 in the morning wrapping but we were able to get it all done in 3 hours! We also spent the last week wrapping presents for another young family. I really enjoy doing any service for the people here. Especially at Christmas. I would rather tthat they be able to spend more time with their family than stay up all night worrying about getting things wrapped. I think that's what it should be all about. Tomorrow is Christmas day; I hope everyone can relax and think about Jesus. Christmas is a fun tradition and shouldn't be stressful. I always think about the talk by Dieter F. Ucthdorf,"Of Things That Matter Most". This is a wonderful time of the year, really, I love it! But I hope we don't get lost in the shreds of torn up wrapping paper.
This past week has been the best! The Perez family got baptized last Sunday. Then on Saturday Gary got baptized! They all got confirmed yesterday. It was so incredible; I really don't know how else to put it. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than being baptized and giving ourselves as a gift to God. Next year will be even better! The Perez family will be sealed in the temple! And Gary and his wife will also be sealed in the temple. At Christmas time!!! This is all I needed for Christmas. To see both these families fully come unto Christ is the greatest gift I could get. I am so blessed to have come here at this time and help these families move forward in the gospel. There is nothing greater than this.
I received a tender little mercy this week. I was having a hard time with the situation of the day, so this just made everything perfect! I got a letter from a sweet person who wanted to wish me a Merry Christmas! I won't tell their name but she is now a sweet friend in Michigan.
"Sister Jarvie,
I am not a member of your church but I read your blog each week. I honor you for your service and also for the way you seem to have a caring and positive attitude towards those who are exploring your church rather than judging them based upon your own agenda. I believe the Savior would approve of that attitude.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us through your blog.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed 2013 as you complete your mission and move forward into the next phase of your life.
Best Wishes,
*Michigan friend"
I just want to say, thank you so much! It really made my day. We need more people like you in the world! Even though we're not of the same church, we can still rejoice in Christ, it's perfect. I'm so happy to hear that my experiences as a missionary are reaching over the globe. I hope anyone who reads my humble little emails home will take a look around mormon.org or lds.org. I know that if anyone does they will be uplifted by the messages shared. Especially Christmas Is... Ad campaign on mormon.org.
I love you all and I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
xoxox
Sister Jarvie
--

Sister Lauren Jarvie

CO- Colorado Springs

11825 MeadowoodLn.

Parker, CO 80138

sisterlaurenjarvie.blogspot.com



Baptism!!!!

Many blessings ahead for the Perez Family!

Yesterday was the baptism of the Perez family! It was beautiful. We had a pretty crazy week so we weren't able to go and see them as often as we would have liked to. But everything came together for the baptism so it was great! It was announced in Sacrament meeting and so many people came, I've never seen anything like it. We held the whole program in the chapel and then everyone walked down to the relief society room for the baptism.

We helped them get ready and all we girls walked into the baptistery where the little waiting area is. It was so special to stand there with them and watch as Brother Keicher baptized Eddie. It was incredible! The Spirit was so strong!! I loved to see Eddie’s face as he watched his wife and children also get baptized. I love this family! They are so strong! I am so happy for them because I know they are coming closer to Christ each day they move forward in His gospel. This will bring so much happiness to their family!

Something that is hard for me to explain is the way they looked to me after they were baptized. I saw each of them in a completely new way. I could see that the Spirit was with them, they were glowing! It was such a sacred experience.

After that I got to work on Alyssa's hair, she’s 15 so it needed to be dried and straightened before we went back to the chapel haha it was so fun! I think her hair dried in maybe 6 minutes! It was also her 15th birthday and I got her the cutest little “tiara” birthday card. It said Birthday Princess and had hot pink glittery feathers on it! The best part is that she could wear it.

So when we all got back into the chapel, I gave the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It was a very powerful baptismal service. Then we went to the gym to have refreshments of course.

It was the best week of my mission!!!

I can't believe I go back to Temple Square in 2 weeks! Time has flown!

This Saturday is Gary's baptism. This is an investigator we have been working on since I got here, we’re so excited! And we will have 5 confirmations on Sunday! Oh my goodness!

Love you all!

xoxoxoxo

Sister Jarvie

CTR

-

Sister Lauren Jarvie

CO- Colorado Springs

11825 Meadowood Ln.

Parker, CO 80138

sisterlaurenjarvie.blogspot.com

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!

Christmas Party--Elder Durrant & Sister Jarvie

So much has happened this week! Last Monday we went to our investigator family’s home and we had a great member couple with their teenage daughter come with us. I felt really strong about bringing this couple with us to teach because the husband had also been Baptist. He was able to answer their questions in a way that we never could have, it was so great! I just feel so blessed to have these incredible members to help us teach! The Spirit was so strong and I really was able to bear a strong testimony to them. We talked to them about getting baptized in the coming weeks and they were going to pray about it during the week. They had a big Christmas party at their house on Saturday, so we went to their house to help set up during the week. It was great to offer service to them. They really feel like the ward is a 'family'! And they said that was exactly what they were looking for when they moved here. Wow, the gospel is so true. The Lord has been preparing this incredible family for a long time.

Their Christmas party was so fun! Most of the people who were there were from the ward. They were afraid they might not have enough food for everyone and I said don't worry; where there's Mormons, there's food! hah So we ended up with tons of leftovers to take home and to other people.

Last night was definitely the best moment during my whole mission! We went to their house and our Ward Mission Leader came with us; he is really good friends with the father of the family. We were teaching the commandments, and they had questions about the prophet. Our WML was able to bear the strongest testimony on each of the things they had concerns about. IT WAS AWESOME. I don't think they completely felt like baptism was the right thing to do so soon. But as our WML was sharing his testimony, I was desperately searching for a certain scripture that came to my mind. At the very moment he finished and looked at me the pages opened to that very scripture...

In Acts 2:37-39 it reads, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

I explained that after hearing this message and feeling it is true, the next step a person should take is to be baptized. I invited them to be baptized and I was totally tearing up!! They committed to this SUNDAY!!! Wow, it couldn't get any better than this, really. I am so so so happy for them, words cannot even express it. I love this family so much! Four of them are old enough to be baptized and the youngest will be eight this summer. I will come back here next year when they go through the temple to be sealed as a family. I’m so grateful that families can be together forever through Heavenly Father’s Plan.

Also, our other investigator is doing so well! He bought his last pack of cigarettes last weekend! And is still on schedule to be baptized on the 22nd!

When I left Temple Square and came here to Parker nine weeks ago, we had no real investigators. There hadn't been a baptism in 2 1/2 years. And in that time there was not one person who accepted a second lesson from missionaries. Now, we will bring 5 more souls back into the fold before the end of the year. It's incredible. I'm so thankful that I could be here at this time and fulfill my purpose in coming to the CCSM.

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

xoxoxooxoxo

CTR
--

Sister Lauren Jarvie

CO- Colorado Springs

11825 Meadowood Ln.

Parker, CO 80138

sisterlaurenjarvie.blogspot.com

The Work is Going Fast Here!

Alright, so I had this whole long email written out, saved it and had to switch computers! But now the email is gone and we don’t have any time left on the computer!

We had a great week! We had a really inspiring Zone conference with Elder Snow. And it was so great! I will rewrite what happened next week because we got some pretty great stuff.

Also the work is going so fast here. The Spirit is really testifying through us-- it’s incredible! Our investigator family has a Christmas party this weekend and there are tons of people in the ward that are planning on coming. It’s going to be great! SANTA will be there! The same Santa who was at the ward Christmas party haha!

If everything keeps on going we will have 7 baptisms by the end of the year in the Ponderosa ward!!! There hasn’t been a baptism here in 2 YEARS!!!! The Lord is really hastening His work!

Well, sorry I lost my whole email-- There will be more next week—gotta go!

LOVE YOU!

CTR

xoxoxoxo

Sister Jarvie