August 31, 2020 " Humbled"

 And the hurricane completely missed us! 

Hello family and friends! Many of you know that Hurricane Laura was headed straight for Texas, including the area I am serving in. All week we prepared for a big hit, stalking up on water,  nonperishable food items, flashlights and batteries. We had been warned that our power would likely be out from anywhere between 2-3 days to 2-3 weeks. Luckily, the storm did not effect our mission, but many people from orange Texas, as well as Louisiana now suffer from lots of damage done to their homes. Prayers for those people!! 

The week previous to this week , I was praying and fasting that we would be able to find someone who was prepared to hear the gospel. Someone who was willing to submit themselves to God, and progress towards baptism. I knew that in order for my prayer to be answered, we had to put in the work. 

In MacGregor, my previous area, I came up with the idea of 7 people for 7 days. It is where we contact 7 people from our area book; people who have been previously taught, to those who could potentially be interested. The contacts could also include outside contacts; people we meet on the streets or at restaurants. (Because we cant go knocking doors.) We would reach out to at least 7 people, for 7 days. We decided to do that this week in Alvin.

While doing this, the lord has blessed us to be able to find and begin teaching 9 of his beloved children, all this week!!! Treasure, Kelly, Amber, Steven, Lori, Edna, Mary, Kim, and Reisa. 

In my previous weeks here in Alvin, we have found people, maybe 1 or 2 a week, sometimes no one. Everyone who we have found and taught have frequently canceled lessons, or don't keep commitments. Our area was struggling. (Also remember that we were both new to Alvin. When we arrived, we were teaching 0 people, with only 1 recorded potential who had been contacted once by previous missionaries. We were stuck.) 

Prayer after prayer was given for us to find people who desired to come unto Christ.

Our prayers were answered 10 fold!! 

Treasure, a referral from a member in the ward, was contacted over the phone at the beginning of this week. We lost contact with her for a few days due to the hurricane evacuation, but thanks to a loving father in heaven, on Friday we were able to meet with her in person to give her a letter and some treats. We set up another video call for the next day, and during that call she accepted to be baptized September 26th. She is our TREASURE!!  She loves Christ, and wants to bring her and her son into the fold of god! 

Many of the others have expressed their love and desire to come unto Christ, and we are working towards inviting Kelly, Shelly and Jim to be baptized soon. 

Jim is someone we have been teaching ever sense the elder dropped him, and sent him our way. He has been taught by missionaries before for years! During this last lesson, he told us we were pushing harder then any other missionaries, and it was working! He knows that baptism into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the right way to be baptized, and we are waiting for him to complete the Book of Mormon before he will accept a date. (He is in 3rd Nephi!!) 

This week we have been blown away by the miracles god has placed in our path. Each day we witness gods hand in this work, even when we stop at the park, or get food from a restaurant. Take this Saturday for example: we stopped at a taco truck called Taco city. The person who rang up the order only spoke Spanish. We happened to have a Spanish book of Mormon in our truck. She accepted it eagerly, and without question gave us her name and contact info. Her name was Maria. We referred her to the Spanish elders in our district who went right over to the taco truck not even an hour later. They called us soon after, telling us they had started teaching Maria, and her friend Margareta, who both accepted an invitation to church. 

We have a call next week with some members who have multiple referrals for us, as well as a few set lessons with some individuals who have also expressed interest in hearing more about our religion. More miracles to come!!  

Countless times this week we have stopped and asked ourselves what is happening. Why us? I was humbled. I recognized how unworthy I was to receive these blessings, and I am striving each day to improve. 

Alma 26:12 "Yea, I know I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yes, behold, many might miracles we have wrought in [Alvin], for which we will praise his name forever." 

Never before has this scripture rang so true. I know that I am nothing. As to my strength, speech, and knowledge I am weak. By myself, I cannot bring others unto Christ. But with him, we can do anything. It is because of him we have been able to see our missionary work grow exponentially! 

I am grateful for your prayers and love. 

Have the best week ever!! 

#Bathing a horse before the hurricane. Don't ask how it makes sense... we just do what we are told. 

#Me

#Me

#Sister Stephen's and I at little Mexico. 

August 24, 2020 Faith that Leads to Works

 Hello family and friends! 

How has a whole transfer flown by! First off. Do you know how hard it is to take photos of the entire district!! Everyone is always 100% distracted! So hopefully those pictures are good enough . (I totally understand the stresses of family photos... it takes a lot of tries to get everyone looking and smiling at the camera. Haha) Miss you fam!! 

I guess round 2 of white washing has officially been completed! We have seen many miracles this transfer as we have relied on the lord. This week we have been praying specifically to find people who are prepared to receive the gospel into their lives. As we have done so, we have received multiple referrals (which are rare in this area), and we are beginning to teach people who have really opened up about being interested in strengthening their relationship with god. The people are there, we just have to find them. 

As you may know, there was recently a companionship of sisters in Houston, Texas that got stabbed around 4 in the morning sometime last week. The intruder entered the sisters apartment through and unlocked balcony door, and proceeded to stab both sisters. They will recover, but prayers would be appreciated. 

On that note, the world is getting progressively more dangerous. Satan has gotten hold of many of god's children, and it is so important that we hold onto what we know to be true, so we don't fall into Satan's grasp. 

How do we do that? 

What we teach as missionaries is this: Having faith that leads to repentance. Baptism, or partaking of the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenants. Following the holy ghost as we live worthy to have him as a constant companion, and after this is done, doing it over and over again. 

I would love to hear any of your thoughts on how you have been able to stay faithful, especially during the trying times. 

Ann.elgaaen@missionary.org

For me, as a missionary, we have time set aside to study our scriptures. We pray over everything. We are learning and teaching about the gospel of Jesus Christ all day, every day. My life is very different then one who has not been set apart as a full time missionary. But that doesn't mean we don't experience trials and challenges. Satan is still working on us each and every day. 

Missionaries still make mistakes. Missionaries still have hard days. They stumble, and sometimes they fall. We are ordinary people, and just like every ordinary person, none of us are perfect. 

A way that I have shown faith in my life, is believing that God can take my imperfections, my mistakes and shortcomings, and use me to help others come closer to him. With that faith, I then put in the work necessary to be a witness of the lords work around me. 

I used to think faith was more of an action word, but recently it was pointed out to me that faith is followed by action, not the action itself. "Faith without works is dead" it's like saying "Sister Elgaaen without food is dead." I am not the food, I am me. Faith is not the works, it's the trust, the belief in that which is unseen. To strengthen our faith, we must put in work, just as you would eat healthy food to strengthen your body. 

My faith is in the savior, that when I do reach out and take his hand, he will lift me up. So I will stretch forth my hand. I will do everything in my power to reach him, because when i do. I have faith that his grace will make up for all I lack. 

I hope your faith can be strengthened as you put in the work to come and behold him. 

Love you all!! 

Pictures: 

×lesson with Sister Sidoway and Snitker 

×district

×district (notice how tiny we are!! 5'2 and 5'0 against elders who are 6'6.... we are so small!! Haha) 

×I made a bay blade stadium for one of the little boys we are teaching who LOVES bay blades! 

× sister Stephens and myself. 

×shopping to prepare for the hurricane

×sister Stephens first aggressive driving...

×cookies! 

August 17, 2020 "Ministering"

 Hello Family and friends! This week was BOMB! And it flew by so quickly!! 

We were lucky enough to have service after service that left us with small sunburns, and lots of return appointments.  There is no better way to get to know someone then getting your hands deep in the soil, or soaked in dish water with a "mom stain" of water across your shirt from leaning up against the sink. (All moms should know what I am talking about. ) It seems that when we reach out through service, we connect better with those around us. We show them that they are important to us, and we are willing to sacrifice our time and efforts to help them in their day to day life. 

Sometimes I feel that in order to bring others closer to Christ I have to help them understand the gospel with all its points and principles, but the savior often taught a different way. He "met them where they were" and helped them with their specific needs. 

I invite us all to be more like our savior in our efforts to minister and help bring other closer to Christ.  

Sorry this week is short, but I love you all so much! 

Pictures: 

Buc-ee's

District at the three little Pitties service project 

Truck ride! 

A picture with Gizmo, president's dog. 

Snow cones 

August 10, 2020 Faith Like Rahab

 Hello Family and friends! 

This week has been amazing! (Sorry in advance that there are only a few photos, but I spaced it this week!) We were able to do a lot of service for both people in our area, as well as the community. From cutting fabric to washing puppies, I would have to say this week felt like a dream.  

Quick side note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA BARBS!!!! 

I was reading from the bible this week in Joshua. Let me give you a little background. Moses has just died. He ordained Joshua as the next individual to lead the people. Joshua sends spies into Jericho to look at the land which they are going to claim for their own. 

As the spies enter the land, they stopped at a woman named Rahab's house to lodge for the night. The king of Jericho wants these men dead. He calls for them, but Rahab hides them on her roof, and tells the king that they already left the land. The king sends armies out into the direction Rahab said they had left. She then goes and speaks to the spies. 

She tells them that she knows they have been guided by god to take this land. She explains that she has heard of the miracles Moses performed, and she knows for herself that they are true. 

I love this story. How can we have faith like Rahab? Someone who doesn't have to be an eye witness to have a testimony, and act in faith. 

Who are some "Raheb's" in your life? People who serve you without asking, who love you without any effort on your part. Recognize those Raheb's, and I challenge you to do something nice for them. Thank them, treat them, love them. 

I love you all!! 

Pictures: snow cones with the district

Service with Sister Brenton and laugh men

Me and sister Stephen's 

August 3, 2020 Zone Conference

Hello Family and friends!! I hope you have had a wonderful week! This week we had our big zoom zone conference! We got to hear the missions focus, as well as their change of direction on involving members, and Facebook. They shared something they are calling "Facebook tracting." Its a way that we reach out to individuals in our assigned area over Facebook like we might have done if we were meeting them in person. 

We decided to try it this Friday. We sat together, prayed and read our safeguards for using technology before we opened Facebook and began selecting people at random to message. If I could describe it in one word, it would be awkward!!  

We felt uncomfortable as we friended and messaged possible potentials who currently live in Alvin. After an hour of searching, and many hours later, we had seen no success. It was early the next day during planning, when we chose a goal for the day. My companion, sister Stephens, suggested we set our goal to have one person respond to us over Facebook. I was a little hesitant to set that goal, because I knew it was out of our control, but Sister Stephens assured me that as long as we did all we could, God would take care of the rest. 

Our schedule was packed with lessons that day, and around 8 we noticed that we didn't get the chance to go "Facebook tracting." How would we reach our goal if we didn't put in the effort. But God is good! 

Around 8:15 a woman named Judy, who we had messaged the day before responded. She was open about prayer and spoke of how God had blessed her life. She was our miracle. 

With minimal effort on our part, the lord helped us accomplish our goal, and not only did we find Judy, but we found 3 people to teach this week, meeting our goal 100%. I know God loves each and every one of us. Exact obedience is vital, but in the end, it is God who performs the miracles. 

I love you all! A quick insight from zone conference that changed my perspective on repentance: when we come before our bishops and our priesthood leaders for help and guidance, we aren't burdening them with our addictions or questions; instead, we are putting them in a poison to be more like the Savior then they ever have before. You give them a chance to help a beloved son or daughter of God change and progress. Our priesthood leaders are there to help and guide us. Don't be afraid if that someone who needs help is you. The savior embraced the woman caught in adultery, he approached the leper, and knelt beside the woman with the issue of blood. People who felt unworthy of love, are those whom he so openly and clearly loved.  Let that be you.

Love you all!!