Missionary Meets World

The departing group

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this is it... my last pray, my last email from TS.

Okay so I don't get released for another 2 weeks, but Monday is pretty much my last day on TS. In all honesty I think I am glad I'm not going to be released. I feel like it will be a nice transition. I'm sure my sisters will get me all caught up on everything... kinda nervous about that.

Brother Archuleta came and spoke to us a few weeks ago and he told us about how as soon as he got back from Chile he flew to LA to get back into music. But when he got there he was so over whelmed with the world and how they wanted to focus on him and make him look awesome that he came back home and hid in his house for 2 weeks :P Yes a funny story but I learned a lot from it.

The world really is all about me, me, me... but as a missionary it's about everyone but us. We sacrifice everything for another, our investigator, our companion, God etc. To come back to a world that tells you to just focus on you and your wants and your needs is the complete opposite to the way we have lived as missionaries. No wonder it is hard to go back home. You don't have that spiritual bubble and you have to let go, at least a little bit and start to think about your future. School, work, marriage etc. Thats hard.... Well my parents have always taught me to plan and have goals so I think I have it a little easier than some. Sister Souza is pulling her hair out trying to plan her next steps in life when she gets home. Brother Archuleta said he still doesn't know what he wants to do with his life... But thats okay. Slow and steady win the race right? I've been really learning to slow down on my mission and just enjoy the moment... thats harder for me to do sometimes, okay a lot of the time.

So I still have a few kinks to work through. Good I need to be doing something.

I really like the words of my best friend at the end of his mission:
"Honestly, when I'm home, you may not recognize me. You may not know who I am anymore, and I think that's okay. Maybe you won't like who I've become, or how I act differently. You might be surprised by my testimony, my maturity (one way or another), or how I look. I am different than before, you know---the things that were good are better. The things that were bad are slowly departing, and [18 months] is a long time for medication to work its wonders on the human soul."

As I end mine... I just want you all to know that I love you. I love my Savior. I was hoping I would know him better on the other side, and I do :) I was hoping I would get rid of some bad habits, gain some better ones. Love deeper, see more meaning in life. Know how to express myself in a better way. I'm not perfect at any of these things, but thats okay because perfection doesn't come in this life. As long as its better... better than it was. 

For those of you I will see soon please be patient with me. I think this all might hit me soon and I might hid like Brother Archuleta did :P God willing I don't bit off more than I can chew ;)

I love you all. I love my mission. I can't really express it all in words, but I hope you get the picture.

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem
and Smarter than you Think
Sister Bascom 

ALWAYS be a MISSIONARY!

Dear Family and Friends,

We had zone activity today, we went to Liberty Park and had a picnic, play basketball, took pictures and just relaxed. Its was good and I was glad to do it.

As my mission draws to a close I keep thinking "What more can I do?". I am trying to stay away from the dangerous thoughts that Satan likes to put in our heads, "You deserve a rest." This week I am going to study the talk "This Day" by Elder Eyring. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/this-day?lang=eng I have always loves how he talks about constant service and how the Savior was a perfect example of that. I think this will help me to be focused and push myself to the very end. I can't let Satans excuses get to me, there is more in me than that, he knows it and I know it.  The words of President Harmon's (Pre. H is one of the counsellor's in the T2 mission Pres.) favorite songs come to mind: 

"Be fixed in your purpose, for Satan will try you;

The weight of your calling he perfectly knows.

Your path may be thorny, but Jesus is nigh you;

His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose."

The Time is Far Spent #266  https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/the-time-is-far-spent?lang=eng

I need to be fixed in my purpose this week and not let anything hold me back.

Okay MIRACLE!!!!

A previous investigator M. Sister Dias (my trainer)  and I taught him together,  we found out he was still on parol  and he would have to wait a loooooong time to get baptized. He got really discouraged with that cause he really wanted to be baptized. He also needed to go to jail for a few days or week or something to do some time... He didn't want to and said he wasn't going to go. We told him we need to be law abiding citizen... We didn't get positives responses from him and we got scared he was going to run for it... every email we got back from him after that he said he was fine and don't worry about me.... He then he stopped replying and we just knew he was in jail.Well last week I was going through all my dropped people and trying them all one last time. I called M's bishop to ask about him. AS of December 8th 2013 he has been an active member of the church. I could hardly contain my joy! I haven't talked to him myself yet but I hope to be able to before I leave or add him on FB when I get back. BTW FB is an awesome way to find people :)

So to sum this all up. I am learned that a missionary's work is never done. My work isn't done. Taking off the name tag means nothing. Its a piece of plastic. What matters is the name written on your heart. I hope after 18 months or 24 months Christ's name is written on ever missionaries heart even after the name tag comes off. We still represent Jesus Christ. I need to remember my calling isn't done. I haven't been released, just reassigned. I'm excited about that. There are people in other places that I need to help. They just all happen to be in Canada at the moment, or on FB or... Its going to be great! I hope you are all looking for those people God has sent you to. 

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think
Sister Bascom 

Guess who came to hang with the girls Sunday night???

What I Learned From General Conference

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow conference was just so great! I can't believe it has almost been a week since the square was flooded with people. It is true the saying "The days move slow, the weeks move fast, the months move faster and years don't really happen" (okay I made most of that up, but you get my point). I got to see quite a few return missionary friends and hear about their new life adventures. They actually answer quite a few of my questions that I had brought to conference. I know as I study the other general conference talks my other questions will be answered. I have been coming to the square for personal study and companion study and reading the general conference talks, they are truly answer all the questions I have. My favorite at the moment is "approaching the throne of God in confidence".
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/approaching-the-throne-of-god-with-confidence?lang=eng

As I listen to his first opening statements, questioning us on how we would feel if we were about to meet our God. I stoped and wrote down my feelings and than continued. He gives us 6 points to work on to help us become more confident for that day when we do have to approach the throne of God. I was delighted to read about how the atonement was key in helping us have confidence, my favorite line "Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out.". It never runs out. Shouldn't that be music to our ears? I just feel so much gratitude for my Savior and the opportunity I have to repent every week as I get to partake of the sacrament. That I can have confidence when I see my Father again. The Saviors sacrifice just means so much more to me now.
So many people talk about how members of the church have a light about us. I think this light an confidence comes directly from our knowledge of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Knowing that as we do our best, the Savior takes care of the rest.

I can't imagine not having this knowledge... this is why people get discouraged in life. The knowledge we have... knowledge of what this life is all about, really take the temporal stress away, and leaves only the spiritual stress to put those important things first. Prayers, scriptures reading, temple work, church attendance, home teaching, visiting teaching etc these are the important things that help us be better and that is what we are going to score the highest on when our mortal life is all added up.

Okay I will be off my soap box for now. I love you all and hope you have a great week. 

Its your choice to follow our Savior. Its your choice to study these things out. But I know these thing are true and they will stand as a witness forever.

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think.
Your Sister Bascom

Mom note: I was on business in SLC. (The sisters on Temple Square are allowed to have one visit with their family.)  I surprised Lani and showed up on Temple Square and was able to spend a couple of hours with her. We went out for dinner and she gave me a tour of the visitors centre. (There may have been some tears spilt from both of us.) I got enough hugs to last me two weeks until we return to get reclaim her.

Conference IS COMIMG!

Dear Family and Friends

Again this week is just flying  as we get ready for conference TOMORROW!

We had a crazy but good ZTM (zone training meeting) this week and now we are going on exchanges. I LOVE exchanges, I feel I am the most selfless on exchanges (I'm still not perfect but I try). I just want the other sisters to shine and shine she did this week. We were able to focus on teaching people about the restoration. One women started to cry as Sister An shared the first vision. It was so powerful and she is going to meet with the local missionaries when she gets back to CA!

S is also FINALLY in touch with the missionaries in his area. Which is really exciting! He can't wait to get home to finish the discussions and get baptized.! He is just so great!

A has been having a hard time but she is doing everything right. She comes to temple square. Her brother is going to give her a blessing etc etc. Her mission papers have been delayed, but hopefully they will be off soon and we will see where she will go in 3 weeks!  She sent me one of my favorite talks "Forget Me Not" by President Uchtdorf in the form of a book and wrote the sweetest note inside. I will always cherish it. 

Sister Souzas progressing Investigator that she has been teaching FOREVER! Has finally set his own baptismal date and will be baptized on the 25th. So excited! Sister Agulara and Moreno are going to have like 12 baptisms this transfer. They are just teaching Spanish and Portuguese speakers and they are on fire! So proud!

Conference is going to be SO great! We get to go to Sunday afternoon session and there will be a special visitor coming after conference to see us... don't ask me who cause I still don't know.

Conference is like Christmas(I may have told you all this already) and I love Christmas. But we don't get physical gifts during conference only spiritual ones (Which are the best anyways.). I look forward to having the questions of my soul answered and being able to help others receive answers to theirs too.

I love you all have a great week!
Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think!
Your Sister Bascom  

Do FIRST Things FIRST and SECOND Things NOT at All.

Missionaries LOVE mail!

Dear Family and Friends,

There is so much I could talk about today.... I honestly don't know where to begin....

I attended the temple dedication of the Ogden temple via satellite in the Joseph Smith Memorial building the last session. Elder Oaks, Pres. Ballard and Sister Burton spoke. It was really good! I have been trying hard to not make a ton of notes in meetings and devotionals.The instruction seems to go in one ear and out the other when I do that. I have now been writing the whisperings of the spirit in my planner on a daily basis. Things I want to do to be changed.  I feel that is a lot more productive.

Just got back from a ZL meeting it really motivated me to help the sisters in my zone! Speaking of being more productive I love what President taught us today. He shared with us the  way some of the most successful businesses achieve success. He based it off of this quote: "Do first things first and second things not at all"  He taught us to create a Daily Priority Task list. Its a little hard to explain over an email but I will send a picture of it in the future and explain more. Applying these skills will solve a lot of my stress about feeling like things are falling through the cracks. I can't wait to apply what he said.

P day always just seem so long and unproductive. Funny because it is called preparation day....

Sorry this is really scattered. I'm just in one of those can't sit still moods; but I have to stay with my companion.... oh well...

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem, and Smarter than you Think.
Sister Bascom

Conference Center

http://ldsliving.com/story/76671-30-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-conference-center?page=1

I bet Sistah Bee know all these things plus more.

One Final ROUND

Sister Bascom started her mission of with her trainer Sister Dias from Brazil. 

Dear Family and Friends,

Well I love my new companion and our zone is going to rock the square this transfer again! (Mommy note: Lani's new comp is Sister Souza. She is from Brazil and they are both in their last transfer. Her parents are also picking her up.)

I have a lot of friends that are returned missionaries that talk about how much they miss this work and teaching all the time. This makes me want to savour every minute I have left. 

But this last week has been kinda hard. I feel like I am going through a little more purifying, the Lord isn't going to let me rest just yet. Nope not in my last 6 weeks of the mission. There have been the usual trials of the mission. Trying to find those who are prepared for the gospel and not get discouraged about those who aren't yet ready. Every person I seem to talk to have those deep questions that I still can't answer myself and bother me too…(I hate not being able to answer someones question.) Its really been a trial of faith, these last few days. 
My progressing investigator was about to drop us before I reminded him of how he felt on Temple Square. 

Relief Society was really what I needed though. There were 4 speakers all talking about how Temple Square had changed their lives. To hear about people that were touched by us without us really knowing it is really good.

As for the zone, it hasn't changed a ton. The DLs are the same awesome sisters. We have the best trainers in our zone! Sister Yeung is the new AP :p  We met with the DLs yesterday and we were able to talk about what we really want our sisters to feel this transfer and for the rest of their missions. The spirit was really present. We talked about really owning the square and the he power and authority of our calling. It was awesome! I can't wait for training meetings. This transfer will be great!

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think
Sister Bascom

And Finishing with Sis Souza also from Brazil. 

Conference is COMING, Be Prepared!

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, this week has been great! I felt the Father using me a lot this past week. I have shared my fear and hate of divorce this last week with quite a few people; mostly young people. The new fact I have learned is that RMs that marry each other have a 2% divorce rate. This has really lessen my fears in  the future of marriage and makes me so happy I have served a mission and that my mom and dad did too. The people I have shared this with have been completely blown away and they said that was something they had been thinking about a lot. I'm glad I can serve them in that way. I love being a tool in his hands and following the promptings I receive. I haven't always done it... I wish I had cause I know there are so many blessings behind each one. So much of the time I have said to myself  No we are already late. or  I don't want to disturb them...All very silly things to think when the spirit just told you to go talk to someone. I pray we never tell the spirit off. The spirit has feelings too and if you keep hurting it he won't stick around to keep sharing...

Again so many miracles this week:

I had a  woman on German tour the other day that referred herself. She won't be home for another month but she really wanted to read the Book of Mormon. We could tell she didn't 100% agree with her present faith and she just lite up when we told her about the Book of Mormon.

We followed a prompting to talk to a young man on our way home. Now we are helping him prepare for a mission. He is SO excited to have more direction in his life.

A has been having a hard week this week, but she knows what she has to do. I'm glad that she trusts us so much. I really feel like I have found a life long friend :)

S was back in UT and so he came down to Temple Square if he is still here Sunday we want him to come to church and Music and The Spoken Word with us. :) We taught him about modern day prophets and he was just itching to watch all the videos we had from General Conference and the testimony of the 12 and the prophet. So we ended the lesson and let him run wild by himself after we invited him to be baptized. Now we need him to go to church in between all the driving he does....

Conference is just around the corner. Conference is like Christmas to me even though I don't get physical gifts I get the questions of my soul answered through a living day prophet, what better gift could you get? I always love to play a game where I  take a question to general conference. If the prophet or one of the apostles don't answer it through the spirit than this isn't the true church. It is always answered. I know the Thomas S Monson is a prophet. He speaks in behave of Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and Redeemer. His and the Fathers purpose is for us to be happy here and to return to live with him again. I can't wait to be there with him.

 I am also looking  forward to the new transfer. So many wonderful sisters leaving including my trainee to CA for her outbound. :( But I can't wait to see the Sisters who are coming back to us, namely Sister Ma so I can hug her, and Sister Steenhock so I can ask her all about DC :) I love my mission, I love what he is making me into, I know he loves you, much more than I could.I hope you all prepare to listen to the prophet in just a few short weeks and have the questions of your soul answered. 

In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think.
Sister Bascom

Peaks, Hula and Miracles

We went to Ensign Peak for a zone activity today. When we got to the top I realized that it was almost a year since I climbed that peak for my first time. I really got to think about how I have changed and what is different between now and then. We had a great testimony meeting with the zone. We shared about what we thought when we opened our calls and how we are truly becoming the missionaries the Lord wants us to be.

I am so proud of the zone, they are all trying so hard to be effective in their mission responsibilities and the numbers show it. We are the smallest zone in the mission (16 sisters), but we are leading the mission is several key indicators. There is always room for improvement, but I'm just glad they can see where they are at and feel accomplished and move forward taking that confidence with them.

Ali whom is preparing to serve a mission.

I did hula dancing this morning and all the polly sisters were amazed at how naturally it came to me (My grandma always wanted me to be a hula dancer.) New work out in the morning? Check! Maybe someday I will be hula dancer and perform all over the islands in the south pacific :D Performing will always be a love of mine. I love going to the performances we have here on Temple Square as well, they have quite a few good ones.

We have had so many miracles this week, I just feel so blessed. First Ali my no longer less active is preparing to serve a MISSION!!!!! I can't even explain how much I love this girl, she has become my sister. She puts her papers in the 1st of Oct and says she will open is her call on Temple Square :D She has come so far and I know she will be the most amazing missionary.

Al, he isn't my investigator but, every time I see him we get to have the most awesome conversations. He has changed a lot from who use to be. I have been able to share some gospel principles that helped him to change. This is why I love being a missionary.

Last and best, we took a call to close the Joseph Smith movie during our dinner. As we close it I stopped a couple and ask them what they thought of the movie (this is a great way to teach and testify about JS divine call and responsibility). He is a member who had seen it before and said it always brought tears to his eyes. The woman said it was her first time and she had just recently decided to read the Book of Mormon (She just got one from Deseret Books.) and start learning more. They are newly wedded couple (Okay 2yrs.) and she asked about temple sealings. We have an appointment Sunday :D

These are just to name a few, the Lord has been so merciful. Can't believe Conference is around the corner. They are putting up all the Christmas lights already too.

Time flies when you are having fun!

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think
Sister Bascom  

Mission Life and Earth Life

This sisters with their plachards for announcing tours after Music and the Spoken Word.

Dear Family and Friends

Wow what a week, so many ups and downs ins and outs.

T was baptized a couple weeks ago, I don't think I mentioned that. She has a job now, which is good but it makes her miss church every other Sunday. :P  P my recent convert took us out for dinner. It was nice to catch up. V is getting baptized on SUNDAY! Hopefully we can get Skype all set up so we can see the baptism.  We are also trying to get in touch with a RM from that area so they can help us teach his parents who speak Creole (A Frenchish language.), and get them to a branch there :D 

We went to the temple this morning and I really needed it. Sometimes it is really hard to stay focused. I compare mission life and experiences to Earth life experiences. Just go with me for a minute, okay.

Kilroy was here.

See we are all here on Earth; but its not REALLY where we belong. We are here to learn and be better, gain a body and learn from trials. But we really belong with our family in heaven where we can do so much. We don't even really understand what we can do. 

I feel the same about a mission. As missionaries we are here for a cretin amount time to learn and grow, become better; but its not really where we are meant to be for a long time. We have certain restrictions that we agreed to, but we are capable of so much, on and off a mission.

Sister B signing that she is offering tours in ASL.

 Don't get me wrong I love my mission, its the best/hardest thing I have ever done and I can say the same about my Earth life. I can't remember much about my pre-earth life (God knew it would be much harder if I could). I mean being able to remember my pre-mission life is hard enough. Not that I'm going back to a lot of that, I hope I don't go back to how I was in my pre-earth life. We have trials for a reason. We came here for a reason. No one said it was going to be easy; In fact I'm pretty sure we all knew it was going to be really really hard. Same thing with a mission…

I love my mission. Everything I go through here is making me better. Making me want eternal life more. I have had such a desire to be better this week and maybe thats why I have been so down is because its really hard to live up to what your mind wants you to be. I don't want to waste this time. Its going to be a long time before I get a chance like this again. I know RM's say its so hard to not be a missionary any more. I wonder if we will say that same thing about being mortal? Hmmm food for thought.

Girls just wanna have fun.

I hope you all have a great week, I love you and wish you all the best

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think.
Sister Bascom

Zone Conference, Repentance and Temple Blessings.

The sisters that returned to the square mid May from outbound missions. 

WOW another week just flies by! I can't believe we are halfway through this transfer! This morning I was studying about Abraham for our LA, to help her see she is not the only one with parents that don't follow the example of our Saviour. I started getting all caught up in trying to understand who beget who, who married, how they were related and where they went to live. I love learning about that stuff. I need to see it on a big chart though so my mind can figure that out. Maybe one of these P days or when I get home. The scriptures are just so great! Chalked full of goodness! Understanding our family history is also really good and I look forward to doing so much when I get home. Especially bringing the names of my ancestors to the temple. Goodness knows I want reasons to go over and over and over again! My mom sent this to me this week "This week to celebrate the anniversary of grandma's passing (Celebrate seems like the wrong work. Honour his memory is more appropriate.) Dad , Grandma and I went to the temple and did 21 sealings. There were several that I was flooded with the spirit with a confirmation that they were waiting and accepting those ordinances....Elizabeth and Hyrum are going to the temple to do baptisms They each have half a dozen family names to do."I love how family history and temple work is becoming a family event at my home. I know the spirit will be with my family even more now. It is such a blessing to have the temple so close by. I hope we all utilize it and the blessings we gain from it.

Okay so funny, Funny story!

Last night while I was at one of the desks. I saw a man with a IPad that had the temple on it, so I went up and started talking to him. He told me he was from Cal. and was with his brother who he introduced me to saying  "He is deaf." I said "Oh, AWESOME!." and we started signing away to each other. I told him a lot about myself and the work on TS. He told me he was from Riverbend ASL branch and I said "Oh I was talking to the president of the branch a little while ago about one of the investigators there, it started with a C..." He said "Oh you are the sister missionary that called me I thought I recognized you!" Hahhaha we laughed so hard and long about that. We had talked like a week earlier and hadn't recognized each other . :P He knew Pres. Born who was my MTC president. They were in the same branch and Bro Born was his MTC teacher :P

Love how small the ASL/LDS world is :D

 We had zone conference this week and it was SO GOOD! I loved ZC (zone conference) because during testimony meeting I was trying to feel the spirit but I was having a hard time. I have been lacking in purpose in my personal studies and in my prayers and of course this is the foundation to your whole day. Last week I also missed the sacrament while I was helping Sis Talatoka (A sick sister in my zone.) get to church, so all of these things combined made me not feel as spiritually prepared as I should have been. So I have rededicated myself and felt a difference already.  Sis Briggs made me cry at the end. She is just so sweet and just loves so deeply. Her love of the Savior, the way she talks about him always inspires me to learn more about him. I have several friends like that and I feel blessed to know them.

Sister Yeung and I have been having a great time together. She is just so sweet and I have learned so much this transfer, mostly about how to teach effectively and how to love others and feel the spirit more. We are both striving to be our best and so we are really working together, learning on each other. Sister Yeung has been fighting a cold this last week as I think we all are. Trying to stay healthy can be so hard sometimes. Especially when people keep giving you candy and you have a sweet tooth… Anyways

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think
Love Sister Bascom

Yep NO Time! I LOVE You.

Dear Family and Friends

I'm out of time again so I will again sum up what I have been emailing other people:

I have been reading this amazing story about an Elder that served in England (Where Elder Ruttan is.) He is from Italy and baptized over 100 people on his mission. He literately "Feared no man." and was so in tune with the spirit, he said "It was like I was talking to another person". Elder Clake of the 70 gave told us about him and then gave the story to one of the sisters in my zone.

Yep that is about it for time... sorry I will make up for it next time. 

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think.
Love, 
Sister Bascom

Pray He Is There. Speak He is Listening

Dear Family and Friends

Sorry I am short on time again so (please for give the spelling and grammar….)

TRANSFERS, were this week and my new P day is Friday. Sister Peters is now a DL or our district and is with Sister Mashbat from Mongolia! They will be great together. They are still in West Gate Sister peters is the only one that stayed out of both West zones so she has to train her whole district on WG! ( West gate handles getting the sisters to take drop in tours.) BTW we had a great b-day party for her. She has joined the 20's club :D

I am now serving with Sister Yeung from Hong Kong. I joined her as a ZL in N3. This zone is on square a lot and  and with sister Yeung speaking Mandarin, Cantonese and German we are really really busy! :P But its been great!  We are teaching really well together. I know most of our zone really well. Sister Crazy Kennach and I are going to have SO much fun! More picture to come I promise!

T is getting baptized tomorrow!!!!! So here is her story! T was passed to me by a sister going out bound. First time I talked to her she wasn't really interested. Her friend and some of her family had really been just pressing her to learn and she wasn't ready. I called her a few times, she said she just wanted a friend to talk to. It was always hard to get a hold of her with her being in school and taking care of her dad. I went outbound and we lost contact. She was one of the first people I called when I got back and I invited her to really learn and let it change her life. She said she wanted that structure in her life. We have been teaching her ever since. At one point she didn't know if she could be baptized because her mom didn't really approve of the church... We suggested she should talk to her and than text us. We waited a week and she texted saying she wanted to talk.  She said she was a grow women and didn't feel like she needed to get her moms approval for anything and now she is getting baptized!!!!!

Also Amy (Amy is a recent convert that Sister B shared the gospel with.) is coming to SLC next week and I FINALLY get to meet her in person! I am also excited to start teaching her son this transfer :D

Last thoughts: I have really been thinking about how to act like Jesus in situations when you just want to slap people and say "you are wrong this is the ONLY way!!!".... not very Christ like. I constantly have to think about  Victor Garcia and how he said before he joined the church how he couldn't understand why the members were so Christlike. I want people to look at me that way, whether or not they join as long as they see that I am Christian and I am happy.

This morning I got to share my favorite primary song, that really helped me growing up, with a member or pour faith that is struggling: 

"Heavenly Father are you really there? And do you hear and answer ever child's prayer?"

I still ask him this question a lot, but than I get to answer my own question in the second verse:

"Pray, he is there. Speak, he is listening. You are his child, his love now surrounds you. He hears your prayers, he loves the children, of such is the kingdom the kingdom of Heaven"

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think
LOVE Sister Bascom

Service, Use Time Wisely, Share

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been really good, I'm sad this transfer is coming to a close so quickly but I look forward to my new callings with the new transfer. So I don't know when my next Pday will be so you will all have to sit tight. For all I know it could be Wednesday or next Tuesday... now that would really suck. 

I was studying about service the other day and we have been talking about pride with our less active recently. I think President Monson is an excellent example of unselfish service. Last night Sister Peters and I both thought we needed to spend our square time more wisely. We usually plan 3 places to go and as soon as we get to the square we feel we need to get there as fast as possible. We pass so many people as we rush from place to place looking for those waiting for the gospel. It reminded me of what I read in PMG (PMG is Preach My Gospel it is the Missionary gaining book.) in chapter 9 is states "While the Prophet Joseph Smith was traveling with a group of missionaries on the Missouri River, the Lord revealed, “It is not needful for … mine elders to be moving swiftly … whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief” (D&C 61:3)." 

We set a goal for today to not plan places to go but to just follow the spirit. I'm happy to say we now have a new investigator that lives here in Utah and has lots of questions. She has lived here her whole life but never really investigated the church! I feel so blessed and so stupid at the same time as I strive to be better I see all these great results. I can't help think to myself "Why didn't I do this sooner!? I am the one stopping myself from receiving all these blessings". I see that in my investigators too, and all the people around me. Our Father is SO amazing and wants to bless us, but we stop him from doing so. Because he cannot bless us when we aren't willing to put in a little work of our own. 

Sister Peters and I watched an amazing video this morning, the churches newest mormon message. I hope that you will all share it with your friends and family. I was just so so so blown away by it! I love the gospel and how it really does change lives to drastically.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3701964025001&cid=HPTH073114368

Have a great week everyone and know that I love you!

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think
Love Sister Bascom

Because of HIM!

Dear Family and Friends,

HAPPY PIONEER DAY!

I feel so blessed to be here twice for pioneer day! Unfortunately I have lost the cord to my camera to charge it, so I don't have any pictures to send of the pioneer festivities. I will try and send some in a few weeks when I get them from other sisters cameras.

We went to the Bountiful temple Tuesday as the SLC one is closer for renovations. Going to the temple was so nice!  I have been so tired and stressed this week and going to the temple was like a drink of clear cool water, or the sleep I have been needing for a long time. I wish I could have spent another hour there so I could just enjoy the peace there and pray and receive answers to all my questions. I just really needed to feel that peace and love from my Father.

I love what a fellow missionary send in his email today "If I could ask anyone to just understand one thing I would ask that they take the time to understand God's love. Love from Him. Love for Him. and Love like Him." I love how he said he doesn't talk about himself because he would rather talk about Christ and his great love for all of us, and just how that love can change all of us and make us better. He went on to say "I want you to all know my great love for you, but more importantly Fathers love for you, Christ's love for you."For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

 Thanks Elder for sharing that and thank you for serving!

If there is one thing I have learned on my mission it is about the atonement of Jesus Christ. What it is capable of, what I am capable of through it, with it and with Him. I love my Savior and all he has done for me, his great sacrifice enables me to be who I am today, tomorrow and in 10 years.. Because of Him!  I hope you all have seen the Because of him media clip, if not here is the link: https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng I love watching this media presentation. It reminds me of who he is and what he has done and now what I can do Because of Him!

Thank you all for your support and love. Have a great week!

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think!
Love Sister Bascom

Called to Serve

Mommy Post: Going on an LDS mission is a huge act of faith. You open an application prepare all supporting documentation they need. Then you meet with your local ecclesiastical leaders they add their endorsement of your application and off it goes to the mission department of our church. They meet on a weekly basis to make these assignments and over two years they have made 86,000 assignments. From the time it is sent until the big white envelope arrives the excitement climbs.

I know that my Lani's call was inspired. I know that she was meant to be in the district that she was in. I know that she was meant to develop her ASL. Her mission language will open doors for her future career. I know she was meant to be in SLC. I know she was meant to go to DC and serve in the deaf program and train the sisters she trained there.

I don't fully know how this placement will impact her future life but I see glimpses of it. This is a blog post of a sister Lani served with in DC as she beautifully explains how she is "Living the Dream." and her call was inspired through inspiration.

http://sisterbusathindc.blogspot.ca/2014/07/called-to-serve.html

BTW the 100 day (Until she returns home.) count down started Sunday we are at day 96.
The Mum

What I Learned at Youth Conference???

Half of the TSQ sisters at Brighton Camp sporting this years graphic T's
 Lani is just to the right of center back row.

Dear Family and Friends,

I can't tell you how blessed Sister Peters and I feel this week, we have been in contact with so many people who are truly ready to have the gospel in their lives! We have 5 different people who have a baptismal date scheduled all are progressing well, going to church... Most are on date for this transfer! We honestly don't know where these blessings have come from. We don't feel we are doing anything different but the blessings are coming! This is really motivating us to become the best missionaries we can be, so we are worthy of these blessings we are receiving!

Another person we are as assisting back to full fellowship is going to be married next month! He has a lot to go through to get himself ready spiritually to get married in the temple. He is going at it head on right now and we are so excited for him. It just is such a big testimony to be about keeping the commandments as I see how it is when we make mistakes up how it messes up so much of the rest of our lives. To some people the commandments look so restricting and yet they keep us sop safe. Brad Wilcox came and spoke at a Youth Conference today and talked about how obedience sets us free. I will never forget some of the things he shared about smoking, drinking and immorality.

 Smoking: He talked about a person who smoked before and described smoking like this:

We are up on this level ------ but smokers are here _____ and so by smoking they they are trying to get up to where you are to feel normal, but they don't feel that way... That sucks, who wants to smoke when it makes you feel terrible and the only way you feel better is when you smoke.... talk about living off of something!

Drinking: Everyone who drinks at parties looks like they are having so much fun! And they are getting such a high! But you know the one thing they don't have? The memory of it. Why would you go out and get a high and have a great time if you can't remember it? And then after your head hurts and you never feel that high again? He said "me and my family were out for dinner and telling stories about the family did and what kids said what and what grandma did etc etc, we were all were laughing so hard and having such a great time that the next table over told the waiter "we want what they are drinking" "Water?"" Whats the point of having a good time if you can't remember it!?

Immorality: Pretty much he said that when we give ourselves away to others and to things before marriage we enter our marriage with nothing to give anymore... only to take. If you grow up in that attitude of only taking you will enter your marriage that way, and marriage isn't about one person giving and the other taking, its about both giving and both receiving and than having more to give and more to receive. Its the difference between, Love and Lust. If you love someone you will wait for the right time and place, if you love the Lord. If you love yourself. Love gives, lust takes....

But that is why we have the atonement, that is why Jesus died for us. I'm so thankful for that sacrifice and for that LOVE he showed us. 

I love doing YC (youth conference) and listening to all these amazing speakers, they really do up lift me and strengthen my testimony in what is right.

Remember you are Braver than you Believe and Stronger than you Seem
and Smarter than you Think
Sister Bascom

Mom note: This week the sister had a day trip to Brighton Girls camp. Lani didn't write home about the day but Sister Briggs the AP did. It was a day of spiritual experiences and worth a read: http://sisterbriggs.blogspot.ca/2014/07/youre-right-where-youre-supposed-to-be.html

Salvation is NOT a cheap Experience

Dear Family and Friends,

This morning I was reading about eternal marriage in Preach My Gospel and I just loved the quote from The Family Proclamation to the world. https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation I'm just so glad we have the guidance that we do in these days from the prophets :) I also just found a talk that talks about husbands and wives becoming equal partners. Hope you all enjoy it.https://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/08/crossing-thresholds-and-becoming-equal-partners?lang=eng.

I love how my family has been doing family history and this is what my mom shared with me:

"Your biblical lineage goes like this Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, Jacob, Judah….You then go into the royal lineage of Troy (turkey) You are related to Odysseus, Your aunt is Helen of Troy, Charlemagne, Your 64 great aunt was married to Titus the 10th emperor of Rome, other emperors of Rome and royal lineage of the following countries: France, Netherlands,Germany and England. Pretty cool!"

I LOVE family history, I truly believe as we get to know our ancestors and they become more apart of our lives they can be there to aid us in our time here on earth.

There was a lots of antis (Mom note: Antis are people that are TRAINED and actively try to peach us out of what we believe. Many of them travel to SLC on buses from great distances to go on tours on Temple Square. Their goal is to prevent the sisters from sharing their messages with others by adding a negative influence and to  their tours.They also clog up the phone lines in the call centre to prevent the sisters from answer questions by others that sincerely desire to know more. They get joy out of bringing the sisters to tears.) on the square this week. Sister Peters and I have been talking about the best way to address them. Mostly we are doing our best to treat them like the children of God that they are and help them see us and treat us like the children of God that we are. They don't want to hear our message. So we don't really share it much. We just invite them to learn without prejudice. But most of the time we just want to slap their faces.... but we don't.. promise. But honestly antis are a blessing in a way because I hate not having an answer for them. So I find  an answer to every question they ask me. I don't always share the answer with them (They don't want an answer. They want a fight and to tear down your faith.), but I know in my heart why I believe that and it strengthens my testimony without a doubt. I actually really really enjoy it. Antis are a blessing :)

4th of July was pretty good, Jdogs were awesome (it was really just the sauces) and Sister Peters and I dressed in the colors of America. Our room mate Sister Lunndule is awesome and made me a Canadian flag and her an American flag and printed pictures us all dressed up fro both days :) http://slctemplesquaremission.blogspot.ca

Sister Peters and I are still working hard and not feeling the greatest success when it comes to baptisms at least. We have such high hopes for our investigators and they seem so ready. But all to often they disappear and we don't hear from them again.... This is the hard part about missionary work. Like Elder Holland said "Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?" I ask myself this so so so often these days.... but I love his answer: "I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy." I just keep telling myself this. I keep telling myself to just work to have the spirit with you and you will succeed. My one ray of hope on my mission has been a women that recently got baptized A. She is now divorced from her anti husband and is trying to be the best example of Christ that she can be to her kids, so someday they will too make the decision to join God's true church to the earth. I too hope that they will make that decision and I will be there to see it happen.

Remember you are Braver than you Believe, Stronger than you Seem and Smarter than you Think!
Love Sister Bascom