I am currently serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California San Fernando Mission for 18 months. If you want to know more about what I am doing you can go to mormon.org/missionaries/
I am staying in Palmdale but leaving the Princess House. Aqua Dulce was whitewashed and Sister Larsen and I are staying together in Ana Verde. We are moving to an apartment. Here is my new mailing address:
Sister Heidi Starr
39129 10th ST W #24
Palmdale, CA 93551
I cannot believe how many blessings the Lord is sending us. He is definitely gathering his children. His is expecting so much of us which is very humbling. We set another baptismal date today. That give us a total of 11 in Ana Verde. 11 Baptisms in one transfer. Goodness, the Lord must trust us soooo much. I hope he is sure about this :) We just have to be sure and follow up! Going on a mission is so cool. It is crazy how just a few weeks ago I wanted to be transferred and now I want to stay for those 11 baptism dates. Palmdale California - Am I really on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? - - - Reality Check. Yes you are! I did a lot of work to get here. Interviews, shopping, tons of studying, goodness, and now here I am. Now I wish I could truly forget myself and focus on others.
I had Bronchitis and a Sinus Infection last week and then this week I got the worst flu of my life. I did not eat for 3 days. Yesterday - Monday 12/13 - I had to go to the doctor to get a shot to keep anything down - it was terrible! Sister Larsen was a great nurse. She had to pick out my clothes and dress me I was so sick. I don't think I've ever been that sick in my life. She said my face was so grey and white she was scared. I feel like I conquered death!
Goodness I have no idea what to say in these blog posts anymore. I know I am having incredible experiences, but putting them into words is tricky. I need to write down better notes throughout the week so I can express myself. So many of the experiences I am having are so personal to individuals because it involves their change of heart and coming to know Christ so personally and realizing he is truly their Savior. It is an emotional journey. Many are at different mile markers, but the remarkable thing is that I am blessed enough to help them along, and answer their questions, resolve their doubts and prepare them to enter the waters of baptism. Then they can continue on their journey with the help and sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost.
We taught one woman this past week was at the very beginning of her journey. We went over to her house where she had prepared cookies and juice for us. We met her autistic son who was adorable. We taught her about the restoration of the gospel. She said "I feel something is missing from my religion." I could not relate to her situation. I have had the gospel my entire life. I have never felt like anything was missing. BUT, even though I could not relate, I COULD help her. I told her that what we were teaching her would was not only true, but It was going to make her feel complete. We were all crying. She prayed at the end of the lesson. It was not how she usually prays but she said she would try our way. She said "Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending me the missionaries. Help me to know if the Book of Mormon is true. .... umm that's all I've got.... Jesus name, amen" We told her that her prayer was perfect and that was all she needed and that if she really wanted to know, God would answer her prayer. OH goodness she was the sweetest Lady! I could see that Heavenly Father loved her soooo much and I am so grateful that I can be a part of this great work!
The Mission President is ordering me all of the Spanish study material from the MTC. He said he wants me to learn Spanish. But I told him I had no materials and he was setting me up to fail - so he took care of that - haha.
11-15-10 Randi got baptized! She is so sweet. Her whole family came and it was wonderful. And Shannon even came! She is an investigator from another ward who is hopefully getting baptized soon! Church was wonderful. We did splits where my companion and I both went to separate wards and had members as companions. We had 9 investigators come to church! That is definitely a record for us! Heavenly Father is trusting us quite a bit with his children here on earth. It is a big responsibility to stay worthy of the Spirit so we can help them find the truth and teach to their individual needs. But it is also SO EXCITING!
Randi and me at her Baptism on 11-14-10
Can I also say that mission birthdays are the best? I love NOT focusing on myself, but focusing on everyone else and what is important= Jesus Christ. I love this whole "forget yourself and get to work" motto. I would have been devastated if I missed out on that. I know that this is one of the miracles that has happened for ME so far while I have been on a mission. I have become less self-centered. I'm sure there are many more to come.
Have a blessed week. And enjoy the fall air before winter comes wherever you are and whatever state you are in.
Love, Sister Heidi Jayne Starr*
11-22-10
At stake conference we had several investigators come and one even brought her parents.... the bad thing was that one lady got up and told the whole stake how attractive her husband was....etc...she would not stop! Also the temple pres. made some joke about the Pope getting baptized.... eek! SO... We may have lost them. Church meetings are NOT relaxing. I am so tense during them because I have no clue what they are going to say. Can't I screen the talks before hand? But we are being so blessed. They are talking about splitting our area because we have created so much work... I think we have convinced president to wait another transfer because we want to see these baptisms happen. We shall see. We never know what transfers will bring.
11-29-10
We went and talked to the youth at Bishops Youth Discussion and talked to them about being a missionary. We had a Question and Answer session. They asked if we are ever tired. I said you are just kind of always numb because you are so tired. I want more than anything to take a "Sunday nap" like the good 'ole days. But the Lord helps us perform his work. Really. He does. It is kinda crazy how we constantly go go go though haha.
A mission is awesome. I am so glad I am doing this. It is tough to be away from family and stretch myself in areas that I'm not used to... but it is so worth it for the message of the Gospel and bring it to people that need it in their lives. God is changing people and I get to be a part if it.
We have been praying to find people In our other area and saw a miracle just yesterday! We met a man a few months ago who was interested but wanted to delicately investigate because he knew his wife wouldn't approve (she is very active in another church). All we knew was that he lived in "Acton". We had an appointment that he missed and he wouldn't return our calls or messages. We didn't know what to do. Yesterday we were thinking "Goodness we wish we could just FIND him!" We were tracting a street and there was a husband and wife outside. We went up and talked to him and the husband said "hi sisters!" IT WAS HIM!!!!! Out of all the streets in Acton, the Lord directed us to that one. He lived at the end of the street. Had we stopped and turned around we wouldn't have seen him. We were truly being lead and guided.
God's hand is changing people for the better, and He is letting me be a part of it.
Today was interesting. Sister Larsen and I went and cleaned the apartment of Sabre. We did it when she and her brother and 14 year old aunt were at school so they weren't embarrassed. I am so glad we cleaned. I am so grateful to have lived in a clean home.
10-29-10
Elder overload today. I feel like I went on 2 double dates, gross. And then tonight our DL called to tell us about a referral and I was like "get me off the phone with Elders"!
11-8-10
Things learned this week:
Your name does not denote what gender you are.
Kim- guy
Frankie-girl
Randi-girl
Jonnie-girl
(all people we are teaching)
Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience. Sister Starr*
Transfer time! I'm staying put with Sister Larsen. I can't wait to make goals for this transfer. Things I learned this week: 1. God has the funniest sense of humor. (ex: we have a list of people who have been taught a little about the church before, it goes back several years. So one day we went by this house who a particular person was supposed to live at. We did this twice and both people had moved. No worries though, the people that moved in we DIDN'T have on our records, but they had been taught about the church and were interested in learning more! Good thing we found them! God just leads us to people left and right) 2. Even though you become a missionary and have sworn off boys, you will still get hit on. (ex: we went by this apartment of a person who we had in our records. Well, they moved. But another guy lived there who was interested in the church, and in us. He felt like "celebrating!" because we had found him. And he really wanted to "hang out". Sister Larsen asked "what is your definition of hang out?" hahaha. We can hang out.... on Sundays from 9-12. Hahaha. We got out of there pretty quick.) I'm sure I learned much more, but that is it for this week. Thank you all for your support and prayers. Sister Heidi Jayne Starr*
My mailing address is still: Sister Heidi Starr 4529 Sungate Dr. Palmdale, CA 93551
Sister Heidi Starr and her Mission District - Oct. 2010
Mom and Dad, thank you so much for being a wonderful example of tithing. There are so many people that we teach (less actives, actives, investigators) who have such an issue with tithing. Thank you for always willingly paying tithing and teaching me to do so also. These people are forbidding blessings to come to them that God is waiting to pour on them. It breaks my heart.
We had the baptism for Sabre yesterday. She is soooo adorable. She asked me to give the talk on "baptism" and I think it went well. That makes her whole family members!
We met some interesting people yesterday. There is a man who lives in Acton (agua dulce area) who lives in a tree house. Seriously. But it is HUGE and covers several plots of land. It is so tight. He was an investigator before and we visited him to see if we could teach him the lessons again. He also gave us a copy of his book "Hollywood Unlisted" ... It is not in the approved Missionary Library, and probably shouldn't be hahaha.
One of my favorite parts of this week was finally getting to paint my nails! It is little things, ya know? Haha. But really the little things do count and add up to big things. Just like it says in Alma 37:6-7. If we are doing the LITTLE THINGS, like prayer, church, reading scriptures, GREAT THINGS can come to pass! Too many times I want results NOW and then I just have to realize that it is the little things that will make miracles happen.
Have a lovely week, all!
Sister Heidi Jayne Starr*
10-17-10 Baptism - Sister Larsen, Kenny Maler, and Me
"Do you know what a prophet is?" ... "Yeah a profit is how much money you make..." I swear with everyone we talk to, everyone has a different idea of what prophet is. But this one was the funniest. Sooooooo, yesterday I forgot my Name Tag. TALK ABOUT FEELING NAKED! And it was the worst possible day to forget it. Not only did we have a baptism, but I also gave the prayer in church! I wanted to sleep in it, I missed it so much! We just had a new man move into our ward. We went over to get to know him and his wife. He was the ward mission leader in another ward in the stake. What makes this man unique? He is married to a Jehovah's Witness! Oddest couple, right? We talked to them for a while and learned about her religion. It was very interesting. I am glad she felt comfortable enough to open up to us. This was also the same night that we had 3 desserts. We go over to see a family and they are having dessert! And it would be rude to say no, so we indulge... but we totally felt sick by the end of the night. Everyone is so nice! More from Sunny (and getting chilly!) Southern California next week! Sister Starr*
