Monday, January 21, 2008

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....**


7 comments:

Lindsey F. said...

This is GREAT! Thanks for the memories! I don't know if I ever knew that you and Aaron went into the MTC on the same day!! I must share one of my favorite memories of you; I stood outside the bathroom door and scared you when you walked out. Doesn't sound so great, but I guess the picture I have of you screaming so big I can see your tonsils makes it hilarious!! Maybe I'll post it on my blog for ya!

Joel and Kristie said...

Wow I didn't know you went on a mission! HOW COOL!!!! I love the pix you shared and the memories! It looks like you had a Wonderful mission and were a great missionary!!!

ohilaryk@gmail.com said...

Dev, I miss you too!!! Crazy to think of our missions being that long ago! I was laughing out loud reading about your pink panther costume experience... some memories really out do themselves! I also still laugh remembering you telling me how your tights got so stretched out they fell down to your ankles! What we put those things through. Thanks for sharing the memories... I guess it is time for me to pull out the mission box too!
Love ya!!

Amanda said...

Wow.. I hope you know that you just made me cry. I wish I would have had to guts to go on a mission! But I chickened out.
Mand

KateMarie said...

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

I miss you Sister Larson!!!! I am so going to do this too! You have inspired me!

I love you!
Kate aka Sister Lyon :)

Erin said...

Ohhhhhhhhh! I loved reading your mission post!! Even though we weren't in the exact same mission we weren't far from each other. Therefore memories came flooding back! Chocolate bombs?? Hello! And the back scratching incident? I had almost the exact same thing happen with my comp and I. Weird people! So glad to to be able to check out your blog now!
Erin Shiflett aka Sister Hind

Jeneanne said...

I finally got to see your new posts. I could see all the cahnges you made to your background but the the new posts wouldn't show up. I'm an idiot! That was awesome to see those pictures and read some of those memories. Great times! Remember how our only fight was over riding bikes. I think you crashed that time as well! Apple crumble almost every night in Plymouth. I can also distinctly remember when you hit a median in the road and scared me to death. My driving lessons, "Now you can go help the child you just hit!" Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!