Email September 30, 2008

Well Surprise! We actually are having P-day today. Sorry to fool you. Thanks for the email mommy. Yes we did get to go to the broadcast. It was wonderful! Just what i needed to hear. We had a very inspiring zone conference yesterday. I loved it. i love president Nelson and his wife. we are learning how to strengthen our teaching skills through asking more quesitions. Its kind of salesperson approach....so i am learning how to persuade and convince using the scriptures.....its pretty neat and will be helpful for the rest of my life..... whenever i am trying to get my way....hah ha just kidding. Anyway.....wow miracles are still happening here.
First of all we had mini missionaries with us this past weekend! So fun! We had two cute young women from the stake come and stay with us for a couple nights. They got to do a little bit of everything. They said thier testimonys were really strenghtned...they didnt want to come at first but they said they never thought it would be so fun! also it was funny to see how they reacted when people would get mad and not want to talk to us. I think its funny now, it doesnt phase me...but for them it was new haha! usually people are pretty nice though. and one night we all went to Deannas and sang amazing grace as passionately as we could... the spirit was really strong.....poor Deanna. Bad stuff keeps happining to her and she is really depressed. We were not trained to deal with that kind of stuff....luckily a wonderful women from the ward has been helping her.....she needs lots of prayers please.
David LeBrun, the 9 year old finally set a date! The 18th of this month.....and then a few days later his older bro. Patrick chose the next week, the 25th. they dont want to do it the same day for some reason....oh well....so anyway thats really exciting....and has been a long road.... but they were all at church Sunday! Including the father! They are headed in the right direction. We really love them!
We got an awesome media referal Sunday night! Wow! This couple we took the Lamb of God video to are so prepared for the gospel! We both got the chills when we walked in to thier house....we just felt different....and they had so many questions for us. They had so many Questions and want all the videos and books we have to offer! ITs super....we are giving them a tour of the church on Friday and they said they will go to conference! WOW! We walked out with our mouths hanging open! Crazy! The Lord answers prayers! The gospel is so true! Jesus Christ is the only way! Well i love you so much! Thanks for everything!

Love, Sister Flake


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September 22, 2008 Email

Hello and so sorry about last week! We went on a hike and it took way longer then expcected.....but it was awesome! But i feel really bad and i have been missing you more this past week cuz i didnt get to check the emails...and we could have been dissobedient and went on a dfferent day....but no way. So yeah anyway we went and did the Grouse Grind which is basicly a hike in North Vancouver that goes straight up the skiing hill. It was easier for me then most missionaries becaouse we hike so much as a family but it was still pretty tough. But the view up top was amazing! And up there is all kind of exciting things..we watched a logging show and saw big bears (in a cage of course) and then we went back down on a ski lift thing....i took pictures that i will send home today:) so sorry again....but maybe we can do the hike together after the mission...that would be fun. Andrew you should look it up on Google.
yeah so transfers came and went and we are staying the same allthough most the people around us have changed....we are still getting fed very well...the weather is getting a wee bit chillier and rain occurs regulary.... you wouldnt believe how fun it is is to tract in the rain though! I love it! Seriously. I will write you a letter today with pictures included....get excited! Thanks for the many emails and pictures....
Next week I won't be writing till wed. because of zone conference on Monday. so sorry again....i really do love you all so much! and i still cant get over how huge my brothers are! Mom how do you keep them fed? and they are exercising so much to....they must each eat like 6000 calories a day with how much they are running.
Anyway so back to missionary work.....i am learning so much about faith and prayer.....things work out how they are supposed. A few highlitghts..... sister van den Bosch and I were walking down the street in New Westminister....and she walked both feet in to wet cement! HIllarious!! we still laugh every time we think about it! The construction workers thought it was pretty funny too!!!! wow! She is a blonde...we all have our moments!
well one of our investigators Nyla passed away on Thursday....She was the mother who had cancer....i cant remember if i told you but we have been teacching and singing to her for a while now.....we even visited her in the hopital a couple of weeks ago and had the zone leaders give her a blessing...and her daughter Natasha was there and asked for one too... she is 18 and we have been trying to teach her too. we gave her a bom...she actually called us the morning her mom died to let us know...we hope to be teaching the rest of the family about the plan of salvation this week...sad news.... but things happen for a reason....i think her family is being prepared...and they will be able to do her work....they are from Iran....like many around here who have left thier country because of our country.
Anyway......Deanna is doing way better.....we chatted with her...the reason she called us the other week is because her boyfrined broke up with her so she was upset and decieded not to get baptised....but she now knows its what she wants to do....so she has to quit smoking again....but her and her boyfriend came to church yesterday, it was his first time....so things are looking up for them... Joes uncle influenced him to not get baptised because he needs to reasearch all religions before he is baptised....yeah bad news eh? well satan is working hard here......but you know what? we just work are hardest and we know that the Lord is in control...... well i will tell you more next week!
Love, sister flake

September 16, 2008 Email

Well, we didn’t get an email from Lindsey this week, but we did receive a letter by snail mail today. Here is what she had to say:

I love you! I miss you so much! But I promise you that I am really supposed to be here right now. I mentioned to you that I received a blessing out here. It was a really neat thing and I really needed it at the time. I was told that the Lord, my family, and my friends all really love me, along with the people that I serve. And then he said that what I am doing now is necessary for what I will become. It was amazing how much comfort I felt from the blessing and I am just so happy because I was reminded that the Lord knows me and has a specific plan for me.
I am really trying to follow promptings and I think I am getting better at it. I am just so happy because I am progressing and I really love the people here. There is so much to learn from other people. Sin is really bad and ruins lives—but people are blinded by it! I feel like I have come face to face with Satan with all the bad stuff I hear and see out here. We are so sheltered in Utah. Please don’t forget why we are so blessed. It’s because we have the gospel! If you follow it—and serve a lot you will be always blessed!
Well, three months eh? Long time no see! It sounds like life is exciting there. I love you all so much—and I don’t think I will ever leave home again. J Seriously, no more Provo for me.

Love, Sister Flake

Email September 8, 2008

Holy Cow! My little brothers are huge! Thanks for all the pictures...wow how did you grow so fast, what are you eating? You look so different.....you are still handsome even more so! Good job with track boys! and Dawson sounds like you had a really exciting week. Way to go! I just love you all so much... thanks for being so awesome! Its great hearing about your life...i have been away three months...i hit my record for being away from home since i was in Ecuador for only three months. so i am one sixth of the way done:) when i am home i am not ever going to leave just so you know. i miss you....but dont worry i dont have time time to think about it.
Anyway....
So missionary life has its ups and downs but i have managed to stay positive through it all. The truth is Satan hit us with all he has on Sunday......will just put it at that....Deanna may not be baptised.....or maybe later....and a bunch of other stuff happend all with in a couple hours....i took it pretty hard but then after church and a few tears I asked for a blessing from one of the korean elders and i have felt commpletely fine ever since. I am so grateful for the priesthood! It was actully a really neat experience and i know that the Lord is looking out for me. I feel His love for me so much out here. I am learning so much and i am full of happiness. I am so glad the Lord knows what we need better then we do.
On a more positive note.... we got another baptism date with a wonderful young man named Joe! I don't think I have even told you about him yet because we were not sure how serious he was....but we met with him Saturday and he had read a ton of the book of Mormon and he had tons of questions about baptism! So basically he asked what he needed to do to be baptised! Awesome! He is so great, really humble and in tune. He is 25 and he had a brain tumor so he talks really slow....but he understands well. His father passed away earlier this year and he was excited when we told him that he can see his father again someday. So the date is set with him for the 27th. Reza met with the bishop so he is still progessing..... we have to find out what is going on with Deanna I think it has to do something with her mom who is a baptist and told her she was never going to talk to her agian......yeah satan is terrrible.....but i think it will happen later.
so.....the weather is still awesome here! this is such a beatuful place. We played football, soccer and ultimate frisby today with all the lower mainland missionaries. On pday all i want to do is run around all day because i feel so confined the rest of the week. you know me i like to be moving and a haf hour of dancing at the church in the morning is not cutting it.
well time is almost out! I love you sooooo much! really i do! but i love the Lord and i love serving Him. I am really getting to know Him better out here. I know that this gospel is true and its so great to be able to share it! God is real. Christ is our Savior! Love, Sister Flake

September 2 Email

Hello Everybody! Thanks for all the emails. I feel loved. Incredible week....but first thanks for the package! We gave alot of the food to the skate park guys! Ha ha! Thanks for being so thoughtful....those orange chocolate ones are really good....It is still warm here....it rains alot more though...no big deal i like it. We really do get fed a ton here are members are soooo good to us! Our bishops daughter just left today for the mtc. She is going to be at the SLC temple square! We switched places! She is awesome and we will miss her.
I will send some more pictures soon. I dont have time to take very many. Wow dad! you are doing excellent at your calling! The stake is using your idea! thats awesome... Remember member work goes like this PLSI Pray Look Speak Invite! Its all you got to do! The precious stones are working really well...the member work is really picking up. I am glad that you and mom are doing so much missionary work! Awesome....Boys you can invite people too! Think and pray about one person at school that could hang out with you and your mormon frends and they all you have to do is invite them to an activity! Simple!!!!!Can you imagin if everyone did that!
Well Danielle and Steve sounds like you have been majorley blessed! Keep up the good work....dont just hang out with the members though always invite some of the non members....you are such great examples so shine your light! So Dawson homecoming eh? WOW you are soo funny. way too fool them! Did they get it on video? Cant wait to here about the dance! Andrew way to go on your eagle project you are awesome? HOw is cross country going? Do you like your teachers?
You know what? One of the reasons why the youth have problems up here is that there are no school activities...Teachers etc. dont want to volunteer their time and there are no particpants.....so sad. Its good to be involved. we still hit up the skate parks a couple times a week and we have been the answer to a couple of prayers there. Neat!
Oh yeah so i did not write yesterday because of Labor day! Sorry! But anyway oh yeah great news! Deanna has decided to be baptised on the 13th!!!!!!!!Amazing!!!!!! I cant express to you how happy I am! She is really enjoying planning her baptism and she want us and Sister Anderson to sing Amazing Grace with her after she gets dressed.....It has been so neat to see her whole journey.....We met with her last week and got her a blessing from the Korean Elders then we all bore testimony and the spirit was so strong i just knew i had to ask her right then! so she said yes! Sad thing is that she told her mum and she told her that we are a cult. she does not believe her but we have got to explain to her the opposision of the truth. Anyway God is helping her and she will make it! Please pray for her to be strong..... Reza has put his baptism off....we need to explain a few more things to him....he still believes its all true.... so pray for him too!
Now I will skip to the miracle we had this morning! So in my morning prayers i was really specific today! I prayed to find an investigator today...preferalbly a family and it would be nice if they didnt have to get a ride to church!....yes i was that specific....and guess what? we were sitting in the church teaching english when i see someone walk in....i went to greet her and she said she just moved down the street and was looking for christian church to go to! WOW! so i took her and her little son on a tour of the church! She loves our focus on families and the primary program....then i took her to the Joseph smith picture and did the first vision! The spirit was really strong! and she kept saying wow! i told her about the book of mormon and she asked for one! So she has been prepared. she is excited for church on Sunday....she has two children 6 and 8. they are Persian and very beautiful and kind!wow so be specific in your prayers the Lord wants to bless us! we are so excited to start teaching them! we are meeting many people! The Lord Loves us! Our prayers are answered!
Love,
Lindsey