Monday, December 18, 2018

Hello!

Such a good week!  Sister Kimball was able to say some goodbyes.  I miss her, but also it is so fun that she's just down the road!  We headed into Anchorage Thursday morning and were able to go to breakfast with all of my favorite people, like Sister Cox, Oliver, Pike, Spender, and Mataele!  I miss that crew so much, but it was so fun to see them.  After that, they dropped me off at the church, and I was able to see all of my other favorite people including President and Sister Toone AND meet my NEW COMP, SISTER SPENCER!  She is seriously the greatest person ever!  She was the only sister that came out this transfer, and so we immediately knew who's comps were ours.  We had some awesome training lessons from President and the assistants, and then headed back to our areas.

 Greatest picture ever!  (the elders tried to copy our picture)

 The sisters!!! (after finishing cleaning an elders' apartment that the sisters were moving into--no comment!!!

 Sister Fa'anunu and the ginormous carrot!

It finally snowed and, as a result, our hour trip back to our area took about two hours.  We arrived there, had dinner, and then went out and knocked on some doors.  All I have to say is Sister Spencer is a champ!  She knocked on those doors and talked to those people like she's been doing it for months!  We met some awesome people who let us in--MIRACLES!  We made some return appointments, and she gave away her first Book of Mormon!  She has so much excitement and love for this work, and it's contagious!

 SISTER SPENCER (my new companion)!!

We continued to work super hard, knock on tons of doors, and met with our awesome investigators throughout the rest of the weekend.  We had some lessons that went well and some new people to start teaching, which we are so excited about!  We had a ward Christmas party Saturday and SIX of our investigators showed up!  It was SO amazing to see.  The ward just took them right in.

We had a lesson Sunday evening with one of our investigators where we taught the Restoration with a focus on Latter-day prophets.  We also shared Thomas S. Monson's talk called "The Power of the Book of Mormon," and it was so incredible.   I want to share a little part from his talk that was such a good reminder to me of the power and importance of the Book of Mormon.

"My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.  As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven's help in our lives.  I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I have come to LOVE the Book of Mormon so much.  It has been such an amazing source of peace, guidance, and direction in my life and I am so thankful for that.  As we were talking with our investigator about the power of the Book of Mormon, the spirit was SO strong.  This is one of the last messages our prophet shared in Conference, and it was the message that our Heavenly Father needed/wanted us to hear, because of the power the Book of Mormon has in our lives and the promised blessing that we need each and every day to continue to stay faithful.  I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true, and is convincing evidence that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored once again on this earth through the prophet Joseph Smith.  These promised blessing that our beloved prophet shared are real.  I have felt each of them daily as I have studied and read the Book of Mormon!  

Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants nothing more than for us to return to live with him again, and has blessed us with so many tools to make that possible, and the Book of Mormon is one of them.  I love this Gospel!  And I love this wonderful time of year that we have to celebrate the incredible life of our Savior.  How thankful I am for the life He has, loves, the amazing example He has set, and the greatest gift He has given.  

Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Love, Sister Lake 

 Palmer, AK! Just on the side of the road as we were driving!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Weekly

Hello!  
It has been such an amazing week!  First off, we got transfer calls this week.  I will be staying here in just the Lazy Mountain Ward and will be training a new missionary.  I am SO BEYOND excited and just SO thankful for this amazing opportunity.  I pick her up on Thursday and seriously cannot wait!  It will be awesome to have that "greenie fire" around me 24/7!  Sister Kimball, my old companion, will be staying in the Cottonwood Ward (our other ward we were in this last transfer) and getting Sister Wilden as a companion.  They will be so close, thankfully.  It's about to be a stellar transfer.

We also had an amazing experience this last week with our new investigator Kassandra.  We had tracted into her my very first hour being in this area six weeks ago and hadn't been able to make super good contact with her; however, in these last six weeks the Lord has prepared her so much.  We were planning on visiting Wednesday morning but felt inspired to go and visit her later that evening.  We stopped by, she came to the door, and said, "I have been thinking about you girls all day, and I thought if I prayed hard enough that God would send you to me, and here you are!"  We visited with her for a couple of minutes, and then she set up an appointment for the following day at 11 o'clock.  We walked away feeling so thankful that the Lord guided us to her at that time on that day.  It just goes to show how aware He is of each of His children, and the things we need that very moment.

We went back the following day and had the most amazing visit with her.  She opened up a ton, and shared with us the things she has been struggling with.  We talked and testified that she was a child of God and that He hears and answers her prayers.  We shared with her the video called "Mountains to Climb" with President Eyring speaking; the spirit was SO incredibly strong.  We talked afterwards and she asked who the man was that was speaking.  We began to teach her about the Restoration and taught her that we have latter-day prophets and apostles today.  She said, "As he was speaking, I just had this feeling that I can't even explain come over over me."   It always makes me so happy to see when these people that I love so much, and just want them to have the Gospel in their lives so badly, recognize and understand the spirit.  It truly is one of the most joyful experiences.

The following day we went back because her kids had been sick, and for "Light the World" challenge, we were supposed to serve little children.  We brought them some dollar sundaes and had another incredible visit with them.  We taught them all about the Book of Mormon, and before we could even give her one, she said, "What can I do to get one of those books?"  She wanted one so badly; it was so cool to see.  We gave her the book and marked some of our favorite chapters, and chapters we felt she could use at this time.  We left her with Moroni's Promise and invited her to read and pray about it.  She said, "I most definitely will, but I have to say, with you showing up exactly when I needed it, and the amazing feeling I have as you teach and testify, I already know in my heart that this must be true, but I will still do it."  Something that I have learned and experienced so much on my mission is that the spirit testifies of truth, and for Kassandra to recognize the spirit testifying of the truthfulness of this Gospel has brought me so much joy.

I know without a doubt this Gospel is true and this is the Lord's great work.  It is so very humbling to realize that Heavenly Father has given us this amazing opportunity to be a part of this great work when He could really do it all Himself.  I am so truly grateful.  I know I share a lot about how God is aware of us and that I know the Book of Mormon is true, but those are two things that I have come to know so clearly and specifically on my mission.  They are two things that have helped me day-in-and-day-out.  So, I know I repeat myself a lot, but I know without a doubt that we are children of God, and that He knows us so very individually.  He hears and answers our prayers.  And, I know that the Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ and is the word of God.  I love that book so much!  And how thankful I am to have it to turn to for guidance and direction in my life.  This church is true, and what a wonderful season it is to celebrate our Savior Jesus Christ's birth.  What better way than going out and #lighttheworld by serving others.  I love you and am so thankful for each of you!  Have such an amazing week!

Love, Sister McKenna Lake

 Sister Burdick and I going back to our North Pole days!

PS:  The stake I'm serving in did an amazing Nativity display this week where they transformed the entire church into Bethlehem and had over 1000 nativities displayed from all over the world.  Such an amazing experience, and so powerful to watch as the entire community came together and celebrated Christ's birth!  

Nativities in the native room

  The international room

 Home Sweet Home room

PSS:  Alaska is playing a trick on us--instead of below-freezing temperatures, we have had this crazy warm, rainy weather, which then freezes at night resulting in the entire surface of Alaska being covered in a thick layer of ice skating rink.  Tracting is quite the experience to say the least.  Pray for us!!  

Monday, December 4, 2017

Tim's Baptism

Hello! 

Another week!  Quick update!

Tuesday, we had Tim's baptism.  Such a sweet experience!  His friends that originally invited him and his family to church flew up from Utah just for his baptism.  It was such a special experience.  Everything went super smoothly.  At the very end of the service, we were able to sing the song, "Families Can Be Together Forever."  As we were singing, I looked at Tim's sweet family--his wife who was baptized just a couple months ago and his three adorable kids--and in that moment I was just so thankful for this wonderful Gospel and knowledge that we have of the Plan of Salvation that we can live with our families for eternity.   

 Baptism Day--Tim Gruenes, his wife and three children!

We were able to teach the Plan of Salvation twice this week, and what an amazing plan that God has created.  I have been thinking a lot about the plan and the peace that it brings in knowing where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going.   As we were teaching this principle to some of our investigators, who have thought about these questions a lot before, it was so cool to see the peace that overcame them.  Hearing the plan just clicked with them!  It is such a wonderful plan that truly comes from a living, loving Heavenly Father who wants nothing more for us than to return to live with Him again. 

We have been doing a lot of finding, and it has been amazing to see the Lord's hand in it all.  Whether it is through tracting, former investigators, or part-member families, we have seen so many miracles.  There are some incredible people here that I surely do love, and they have made me very thankful that I have been called to serve in this area.  

 Birthday Bash for Sister Wilden!  Sisters (L to R)--Sister Fa'anunu, Yeates, Johnson, me, Burdick, Wilden, and Kimball

I want to share one of my favorite scriptures from this week.  I have been reading in 2 Nephi 2:2 lately, which states:

Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.  

Leading up to this verse, and following this verse, Lehi is talking to his sons and basically giving them his last words before he dies.  Through it all, he shares his testimony with them.  I love this verse because as I have been reading the story of Lehi and his family this last time, I have been amazed at their faithfulness and obedience to the Lord.  They were not asked to do an easy thing whatsoever when they were told to leave Jerusalem.  That was a trial in and of itself, and they had no idea that trials would keep on coming, but through it all they continued to do what the Lord asked of them.  They were given trials, but Lehi saw these trials that we endure can be turned into our benefit.  He didn't see them as bad things, but I feel like he truly understood that those trials and afflictions they exprienced were the Lord's way of helping them learn, grow, and become stronger.  

Elder Richard G. Scott, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said it best, and explained that God provides us with challenges that are designed to help us grow spiritually:  "Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously.  When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Proverbs 3:11-12).  He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit.  To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain."  

Heavenly Father is aware of us and exactly what we need.  He loves us, He knows our potential, and He will help us reach the potential that we have.  I have such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and know that its words contain the word of God.  This knowledge truly brings peace, direction, and healing into our lives, and I encourage all of us to take our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson's invitation to read from the book daily. 

I love you all!  Love, Sister McKenna Lake
Alaska Anchorage Mission

 Carrots anyone?  (P.S. Alaska's carrots truly are the best carrots ever--don't know why!)

 Alaska all wrapped up in one picture!