Texas Te Amo

YA SE ACABÓ  it appears like my 1.5 as a set apart missionary has come to a CLOSE! wow.  honestly this is such a surreal feeling, and mostly I am feeling a little nervous to come home, live a real life, and not be in this little comfortable yet insanely trying and stretching bubble of missionary life.  I am so glad that I came to DALLAS, TX; there are approximately 104729719 reasons (that I am aware of, plus infinitely more) that I needed to be exactly, precicely heRE.  I know that God can make brilliant and perfect works through very imperfect means!!! There have been so many times the past 18 months I have felt insufficient for the tasks ahead of me. But, somehow, miraculously, God has always shown me that I can do infinitely more when I trust in Him, and am working alongside Him, than what I could ever try to do on my own.  I know that the scriptures are God's word-- I know my Savior Jesus Christ, I know He is rooting for us, and is simp...

had a groovy week here in the lovely Rowlett!! I learned many things and met a lot of sweet people.  also got to spend 3 days in Dallas on exchanges with some amazing hermanas, and I learned so much from them!!! I read a talk this week that made me really happy and helped me learn about how to develop hope in my life. It helped me realize how accomplishing goals help us be more confident and hopeful. I loved this quote that helped me have a broader view on trials that come our way. "Rather than ask why we are faced with trials, we generally experience better outcomes when we concentrate on efforts to study God’s plan for our happiness, align our lives with His will, repent as necessary, and follow in His footsteps" "The Healing Balm of Hope" September 2013 General Conference  I hope you each have a glorious week and feel God's love for you!!!  I care about you all, and see you sooooooon !!! xoxoxox hermana  Rasmussen   ...

Jesus Loves You! I learned a lot about forgiveness and the atonement this week. Lots of ups and downs, emotions running all over the place, but the heart of life is always so good!  I care about each of you LOTS!  Hna ras 

a really groovy (yet tricky) past 2 weeks over here in rad Rowlett, TX!!!! my new companion, Hermana Alam, is really rockin', she is teaching me to more Mexican in my humor aka teaching me how to not get offended when she brutally makes fun of me and just make fun of her back, it is a delicate art form and I intend on mastering this sassy humor of hers by the time I finish out my mission. Truly companions strengthen each other in the randomest ways. Honestly though Hermana Alam is such a light and I am so inspired by her passion for the work, and the richness and sincerity of her testimony!! I am grateful for her!! We are cruisin'! assorted highlights!!! -we ate a delicious seafood soup w veggies at a restaurant called La Fogata and Okay I LOVE MEXICAN SEAFOOD SOUP WHAT IT WAS DELICIOUS - Broke through a really hard rut!! I got slammed with mad discouragement and low self esteem the first bit of this transfer, and it almost knocked the breath out of me dang, like Satan ...

icambios! mi linda georgia peach hermanita lance is gonna leave lovely Rowlett and cruise to Tyler, TX and be companions with my rockin' hija, Hermana Lunt. I am sad that our constant stream of inside jokes will have to pause but very excited for her, and excited to be companions with hermana Alam! She is very sweet and from Mexico, I can't wait to get to know her better :-) on being on the right track so there was a moment this week when we were biking and I was navigating on my phone using my insanely helpful phone holster (best $8 I have ever spent and will ever spend) and checked to make sure I wasn't getting us lost. we were on the right track, and it was pretty much a straight shot to our appointment. cool. That meant I could confidently cruise without worries, and just soak in the journey. I pondered on that concept for a bit... what a monumental, comforting knowlegde to simply understand that YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. i am so grateful for my mission. I thi...

truth v.s. lies "Are ye Stripped of Pride" -Kim B. Clark this talk has changed the way I see my existence. Almost every time I make a decision or even evaluate myself or another person around me recently I do it through a new lens. The lens of following the great truth, and not the great lie. So much to reflect on!! And have started to see how easy it can be to just absorb the lies that are around us, seemingly everywhere.  Here are some lies I have recognized in my life: - thinking I have to do it alone - not recognizing my inherent worth as a Child of God/the universe - thinking my best is not actually enough - assuming people's portrayals of themselves (through emails, social media, whatever) are accurate or realistic - thinking I am an exception to receiving the Grace of God through our Savior Jesus Christ - and on, and on, and on.  There are so many lies you may have woven into you life, you may not even realize it. I know I did. As I have gotte...

hello lovely ladies n gents!! I hope you are all having a radiant special day and that you are finding many things to be grateful for!! We had an outstanding week here in Rowlett! I love this ward, and I feel like I have clicked into my fun groove which I adore. Missionary work is so much easier once you enter that flow state.  HOLY WRIT I ENJOYED - An excellent talk that uplifted me this week: "You can do it Now" by Elder Uchtdorf. This was so good, and I believe in this principle hardcore. There have totally been times in my life, even during my mission where I feel completely unable to continue. But the beautiful thing is that I can!! And that God has provided, and will provide, the strength, support, and desire to do so. What a miracle.  - I have begun studying the Book of Mormon from the beginning! Thanks Come, follow me program U ROCK!! anyway, I have already been immersed in so much rich truth from the first few pages of the Book of Mormon. One insight I ...

CAROLING MADE MY CHRISTMAS es verdad. Okay I will say honestly that sometimes the holidays can get kind of long on a mission. There's definitely effort that needs to be expended to not get distracted by imagining what is going on at home which is not going on in the mission field (SNOW! WASSAIL! SLEDDING! COZY NAPS IN FRONT OF THE FIRE! SNOW! SKIING! BAKING! SHOPPING WITH MOM! WRAPPING PREZZIES! CLIMBING! UGLY SWEATER PARTIES PROBABLY! AND OTHER THEMED PARTIES! ET CETERA! BUT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT HERE NOPE!) haha buuuut I will say that I still enjoyed such a special and sacred Christmas here, and will probably remember it for the rest of my life!! I am grateful for Christmas on the mission, odd though it may appear, because it is so isolated from the presents, creature comforts, etc. that can sometimes crowd out service and, like, well Jesus. We linked up with the groovy Rockwall Hermanas to go caroling at an old folk's home. So tender!! Okay I will say that the fi...

Malachi  4:2 "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth..." this scripture was sacred to me this week. I am learning more about Jesus Christ than I ever have my entire life. As I allow the Light of Christ to further permeate into my life, my being, my existence, priorities, and perspective naturally align.  I am grateful for a Savior who knows me perfectly. It is Him to whom I turn when I truly know that nobody else can even begin to understand me. When I sometimes don't even understand myself. He knows the end from the beginning, and in Him I can find refuge within my self. I am so glad. How precious is this knowledge to me..!  I have seen, time and time again, that Christ wants nothing more than to comfort, to heal, to save, and to exalt us. I focused on turning with all my heart towards all the sources of goodness in my life, and they bloomed before my eyes. After a rocky week I fina...

Hi my dear friends!!! I deeply hope this letter finds each of you happy, healthy, cozy, and brim with Christmas cheer!! It has been a tougher week for this particular Hermana Rasmussen for certain. Some emotional lows kinda out of nowhere, that is no fun!  But nonetheless we had some miracles amid the chaos. Met some groovy members here Rowlett, ate homemade flour tortillas (MEGASCORE), and learned a lot about myself.  I am grateful that Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to be doing or feeling our best 100% of the time. Even though, yes, it would be top notch to be feeling and doing fantastic all of the time, we do not! These trials can rock us to the very core. A lot of times, like often in my case, the trials we experience make zero sense and can hit right out of the blue. But I can absolutely say for certain that God will deliver us and sometimes we have to struggle to the point of knowing of a surety that is was GOD who delivered us-- because it is to the p...

holaaaa mis amores!!!!!! Luis-- reflecting on our obstacles /testimonies We were waiting for someone to answer the door (basic) and this friend marched up and we immediately started having such a meaningful conversation about overcoming addiction, the power of the word of God, and how each of us have to go through certain things in order to recieve a testimony. he acknowledged that he really needed to talk to someone in that moment, and confessed that, after 4 years of being completely sober, was about to drink for the first time. When he saw us he renewed his desire to stay strong and sober- so cool!! moments like these build my testimony and have really helped me see that God places us where we need to be. It is by far one of the greatest pleasures of missionary work to witness tiny miracles in the world and realize you played a (albeit tiny) role!! blessings rain.  (h)exchanges/hawks/hermana holbrook Hermana Holbrook is a good friend!! I like her! We had a good exch...