Best week - Week 17 - April 26, 2021

This week has been one of the most fun weeks ever. This week went by so fast. Towards the beginning of the week, we had a few lessons. The people that we are teaching aren't super close to baptism, we are just helping them grow their faith, or so forth. On Wednesday had district council and the assistants were there so it was really nice to see them and be able to talk with them. We had dinner at Brother Medina's house and he's so funny Holy crap. I was laughing so hard. 

On Thursday we went to the library and did companionship study. The library is huge and super nice and right behind it is a river and a bunch of greenery. We made a video down by the river for our Facebook too. Friday we had a huge rain, thunder, lightning show. The lightning was less than a mile away to it was pretty neat and super loud. We had a lesson and we ran about 30 feet to the door from the car and we were SOAKED after it was raining so hard. 

On Saturday Kenny got baptized! We went over early to set up and stuff and we saw just this HUGE roach chilling on the wall. This thing was giant, I was nervous to get close. However, Kenny was soo excited to get baptized. His testimony and faith made me really think how important that covenants with God is.  We went a Mexican restaurant after with his family and it was so good. I'm really going to miss Kenny and his family I love them so much. They moved just outside of our area to Gonzalez. Which is also just outside of our mission. 

Yesterday was Elder Pollock's birthday so that was pretty neat. We had church and confirmed Kenny a member in the church and I got to participate. We stopped by a lot of people that day and a few of our friends aren't doing good. Please keep Jenny in your prayers. She really needs it right now. We then had dinner at bishops and it was super fun to be over there. Then we had a live. 

Ok, then today has been so fun and crazy. I'd even have to say my favorite day of my mission so far. We did service this morning and then shopping and all that. Bishop then picked us up we then visited the biggest walnut in the world, then went to D&D which is just a place where cowboys go. They have cowboy hats, boots, and other stuff. So I looked at some boots, and I think I've found a pair I like that ill get in the next few weeks. My style is changing being out here in the country, it's starting me to like the style of cowboys and just kind of being a hick. So after that, we went to Black's BBQ and the bishop said that it's the best BBQ he's had and it's soo good. 

Then went to Buc-ee's which is the biggest gas station in the world. It was awesome. While we were in there I saw my bishop from my last area and it was so awesome to talk to him. So today has just been so fun. 

Love yall stay safe and remember the gospel brings happiness into our lives. I see it in real effect out here. Repentance is a real thing! You can be forgiven and make it through addictions or troubles that you've made. I've seen our friend's lives change because of choosing to live the gospel. They tell me stories all the time about when they weren't living the gospel they were struggling with money or relationship, whatever the circumstances might be. Once when they starting living the gospel and obeying God's commandments, the things they were struggling with becoming better and easier.  God wants to bless us all, but he can't give us the fulness of blessing or happiness if we don't do what he says. 

Love yall Elder Larsen 

PS it's not letting me add photos for some reason sorry next week.

Seguin - Week 16 - April 19, 2021

Hey yall this week went by kind of slow. Knowing I was getting transfered slowed down the week and then getting out here to Seguin was really slow the last few days because I know no one so it was hard to know what to do. 

However last week we went by some families in castle hills and I said goodbye to them a couple of my favorite people we couldn't stop by because they were gone which made me sad. Then on Wednesday we had Elder McOmber, with us and he was going home. Everyone left home on Wednesday but for some reason his flight left on Thursday, so he was with us. I learned so much from him though he was an amazing missionary and will be missed. 

Then Thursday I came out here to Seguin, something I need to say is that I thought my last apartment had a bad roach problem. This one has so many its crazy. They are just crawling all around in the apartment, they are in our room, bathroom, closet, and kitchen. They are everywhere. Surprisingly it doesn't bother me too much. Its a lot different out here! Everyone is so chill, the missionaries and people. I love this area so much already its a small farm town. There are so much cowboys and people with big trucks, on Sunday I just see trucks in the parking lot and families walking in with cowboy boots and cowboy hats in jeans. Then there little kids were doing the same thing haha. It was pretty cute to see the little kids in their cowboy stuff. Its different here though because all of these people are real cowboys not just wanna be cowboys. In Riverton there are just a bunch of wanna be's haha. When we drive outside of town its just straight fields of wheat or something and like yesterday we were driving to one of our friends and we were in the middle of nowhere when we just see about 200 trailer homes so its kinda weird. 

There is a place in our area called McQueeney and its so beautiful! Oh my goodness its a small town thats next to the river and there are just huge homes on the side of the river its so neat. 

My first lesson here was with this old guy out in the middle of no where that lives on a farm but he was so nice and it was so nice to be out there because he was just living a very simple life and had no technology. That's another thing about here is a lot of people don't have phones so we have to go stop by their house and hope they are home. 

Covid here is nothing. I thought my last area was nothing but here people show up to church with no mask and we shake hands with everyone. None of the workers wear masks at the food places. Its back to normal here. 

I've realized that God has a better plan for you than you thought you had. I was praying and hoping to stay in Castle Hills with Elder Wallin and all the others. I was super sad when I got the news I was leaving but now I know this is where I am meant to be. Sometimes when things happen or pop up we think that we had better plans or complain saying "why did this happen."  However Heavenly Father knows us better than we know ourselves and he doesn't do anything that would ruin us. He gives us challenges or roadblocks in our lives to help us grow and become a better person. 

Sorry this was a long one! Love yall. Email me and let me know how yall are doing! 

Elder Larsen 

Transfer News - Week 15 - April 12, 2021

Hey this week we found out our fate. I found out I'm going to Seguin. Its a town outside of San Antonio, and its small town. I heard there are a lot of farms so I'm super excited to go. I'm also super sad that I'm leaving Castle Hills I love it so much here. So this week we will go by some of our members and friends and say goodbye and get some pictures. 

So this week went by so quickly. Elder Stewart and I went on another 2 exchanges this week. I've been on 9 exchanges the 12 weeks I've been here its crazy. Its nice to lead out an area, makes you feel like a veteran. But this week has been great we had a lesson with Joel and put him on date so that makes me sad that I won't be able to see him get baptized. Apparently on Saturday when we went on exchanges, I went to the Spanish area with Elder Stewart. However here in Castle Hills apparently it was the craziest day of Elder Wallins mission. I can't say what happened but it was an insane day. 

I'm sad I'm leaving but excited to start again in a new area and give it my all. Even though imma go over to the assistants and talk to them about how they transfered me hahah. I'm going to miss the missionaries here in Castle Hills. I'm going to miss going over to the assistants and talking to them all the time, I'm going to miss the technology Elders too they are such big examples to me, I'm going to miss elder Wallin a ton. This is the greatest area, I've been surrounded by some of the best missionaries here and they've taught me so much. I'm forever grateful for what I've been taught. Great things are to come! 

Elder Larsen

Cody's baptized - Week 14 - April 5, 2021

This week has been super fun! From Tuesday-Thursday we had a missionary with us so we were in a trio. He was leaving to go to Chile and he was up here because he had to get a covid test and do some paper work. On Tuesday morning Elder Wallin and I got a call that someone needed a wheelchair so we were walking to the car to go to the church to pick it up. We see the assistants driving into our apartment complex and we thought nothing of it because they live a few doors down from us. Elder Smith says to us here is your next companion haha. So we got him then. 

On Friday we had exchanges and Elder Stewart and I are back at it. Elder Wallin and Elder Stewarts companions are zone leaders so we are always exchanging together. It was super fun though because I got to go into the Spanish area. We had a couple lessons one of them was in spanish and I asked a few of the questions. I'm starting to understand more and more spanish. We also had a member dinner. We pull up this huge house and it was insanely nice. Not to be stereotypical but I wasn't expecting a house as nice as theirs. Their house was nicer than any house I've been to in my area. We had ribs, mashed potatoes, pasta, beans, chicken, and bread. It was amazing. We then had horchata and cheese cake it was great. The second lesson we had was in English so I got to actually help teach haha. He was 18 years old. 

On Saturday it was general conference so we watched both sessions at the assistants apartment and we took a projector and moved the couch so we could see. Then in-between sessions Cody got baptized. It was a great service and im so happy for Cody. He flies back into Texas today so we will congratulate him in a few days. 

Yesterday we went to bishops for the second session. I can't get over how awesome our bishop is he's so chill and just tells us all this advice and makes super funny jokes. When we go over to his house I feel at home and so comfortable. 

Today we went over to President Tveton's house and played some pickleball against him. Guess he won! Ya I beat him, he's pretty good though was not expecting him to be that good. Then Elder Stowell and me played Elder Wallin and Sister Tveten. Elder Stowell and I won. It was Elder Wallins birthday today, so we went to in n out after pickelball. 

I hope yall had the chance go watch conference it was amazing. Its really basic, but President Nelsons talk about faith was soo good. When I was writing notes I didn't look up once everything he said I wrote down haha. It was a solid talk and helped answer a couple questions I had. Its amazing to hear from the Lords chosen servants. I know the things that they say are true. 

Love yall have a good week 

Elder Larsen 

Ops while I was looking through photos to add I forgot it was zone conference this week that was great!