where were you 9 years ago??

My MTC companion, Jeneanne Calvin

I have been thinking a lot lately about my mission. It was nine years ago, yesterday, that I went to the MTC. So, I pulled out some of my boxes of pictures and journals... (I haven't done that ONE time since I have been married...) and it's been quite entertaining... I wrote in my journal EVERY day of my mission. What a huge blessing... because it brings back floods of memories... and serious amounts of laughter...

in front of the Provo temple with Calv

I am so SO grateful that I served a mission. And I am grateful that I was able to serve in a foreign land... it was a life changing experience~ full of joyous highs, depressing lows, various miracles, 20 pairs of tights, 3 pairs of Doc Martians, 1 worn out/pen marked set of scriptures, 500+ pictures, dozens of lifelong friends, 1 faith building testimony, a stronger knowledge of the gospel, and generations of people that will be affected by the missionary service...



I was only a part of 2 baptisms my whole mission. One was a huge.... disaster. (another story for another day...) And the other was an adorable 13 year old girl. Her name is Jade. She was raised by her Grandma Jackie. Jackie was a member and Jade was finally interested in learning more about the church... we taught her the lessons and she agreed to be baptized. It was incredible. Her Grandfather was having serious health issues... (he was remarried and living elsewhere...) and Jade said that she wanted him to baptize her... So, we asked him and he of course agreed. Shortly after the baptism (literally, just days later..) he passed away. We all knew that he was hanging on to baptize his only granddaughter.
Jade and I just barely re-connected this past month. She is still active and serving in the Primary in her ward. I am so happy for her. It really gave a special meaning to my mission.... you never really know who you affect... or how you affect people.

my last area, Truro, Cornwall, England

anyway. I just want to share some funny little things... mostly for me, but also for my fellow sister missionaries.... (I love you Lindsay & Kate & Jeneanne & Cami & Shelba & Hilary & Angie & Tamara & Natalie... )
~~ I remember my Trainer, Sister Thorup, teaching me how to ride a bike with a dress on. Literally, this is how she did it-- she got out her bike, walked it to the top of a hill, told me to get on, I did-she then pushed me, I found out my feet didn't reach her pedles... I had to lean to the side and crash to stop.... Pain. that's what I remember most. pain.

~~ I remember answering the phone "Hi, this is Devenie- er, I mean sister Larsen..."

~~ I remember the Elders wanted to go with us on my first door. A dog came out and peed on his leg. We had to go into town to buy him some new shoes...poor Elder...

my last comp Hilary Osborne @ St. Michaels Mount

~~ I remember going to a members house with Sis. Calvin... and they yelled out the mail hole in the door "I am sorry, you can't come in we're naked!" so wrong. so very wrong.

~~ I remember the Mission president telling Calv and I we couldn't scratch each others back in Sacrament meeting... it was giving the men the wrong idea.... yeah. seriously.

~~ I remember running to catch the bus... shin splints and all... only for it to be the wrong bus... or to have my tights down to my ankles....

southern beach of Falmouth, Cornwall with Natalie Chemin

~~ I remember doing a service project with Sis. Dredge. The cystic fibrosis foundation wanted us to wear costumes and stand in front of the grocery store... we were all supposed to be telly tubbies... but they were short one costume, so I got nominated to be the pink panther. Only my costume was just a SKIN TIGHT pink fuzzy onesie with a tail and a huge nose pointing straight up on top of my head. I had several kids pull my tail and ask what the heck I was supposed to be... frustrated I told them I was just a pink weasel....

~~ I remember after walking for miles one day.. we stopped to have lunch on the grass... after sitting there for a while... we both look down to find ourselves COVERED in ants... picture two girls in dresses screaming, waving their arms and running around... reminds me of Chris Farley..."Bee's... they're eating my flesh off..."

~~ Sister White... I love you.... "left, left, left right left. My back aches, my bra's too tight, my butt shakes from left to right... left, left, left right left...

~~ I remember riding my bike (aka: the Orange Bullet)... bouncing off cars, ripping my skirt, putting cloths pins on my dress to keep from flashing everyone the goods... only to have them fly off at 100 mph, people throwing cigarettes at us, riding over dead squirrels...(that was a traumatic one...)riding over ketchup packets, yes, they covered us...

~~ I remember talking into the recorder for our families... and for our sanity. Sis White and I made up a song: all my bags are packed I'm ready to go, I'm standing here, up on the third floor, Here's a little story I'd like to tell you now. It started way back in history, the twenty-eighth of July, ninety-nine....

~~ my mom writing in her letters "dev, stay away from those chocolate doughnuts...." obviously, because of the pictures I was sending home... and sending my companion and I matching white sweater jackets... with shoulder pads. classic.

~~ my skirt zipper getting stuck at our Christmas Conference... it took 8 sisters to get that sucker back up... it was our Christmas miracle! (ok, I really should have kept away from the chocolate bombs...)

so many memories... I hope I never forget them.

Stephen and I are very anxious for the day when we can go back there... It is such a beautiful part of the world. The castles... the hills... the sheep.... the red post boxes.... I miss all of it...

in this pic: L- Brother Chad, Dad, me, Sam & Heidi (in white, school friends)
Angie, Cami and Shelba (some of my companions...)
yes, they all called me sugar....

**sorry about the pics... I don't know why they scanned all crazy....**