I'm home...- Week 92 - October 1, 2022

Hello everybody, I wanted to write this to give y'all an update on my life. I'm home from my mission. After talking to my mission president he thought it'd be best for me to come home. 

My whole mission I've struggled with mood swings, ups and downs. It's been hard, really hard. After seeing a doctor and talking to Salt Lake City, they said that it'd be best for me to go home to get more support. The mission is stressful, it's tiring, it's physically and spiritually demanding, its the best thing that's ever happened to me. 

I have loved my mission. I gave it my all; I worked as hard as I could daily; I talked with as many people as I could. I love this gospel. It changes lives! I saw it first hard, what an experience that is!

I'm greatful for Jesus Christ; I love him so much. He has given me EVERYTHING. The mission isn't the end. I'm still going to be a missionary. I am still going to change and become more like our Savior. 2 Nephi 4:34 "O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh." I will give Him my all...

Love,

Elder Larsen✌️

Photos:

1. First day in San Antonio

2. End of my mission

Grindin' 🏃🎮⛪️- Week 91 - September 26, 2022

This last week we went to the temple; it was so amazing. It's always a honor to be able to enter the house of the Lord. 

Our friends Becky and Jeffery will be getting baptized on Friday this week. We had the opportunity to talk to them about the temple, so that was amazing. We then played to CoD zombies with their son named Silver. We are trying to build trust with him, and so we thought that was the best way to do it. 

Lately, it's been really hard for us to find people. We have been knocking doors and street contacting. However we find like 2 people a week. We are trying to work hard and effectively. 

Lastly, in my personal study this morning I was reading in Isaiah. I came across these couple of verses I liked a lot:

Isaiah 51:22-23

"22 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over."

Elder Larsen 

Listening to Rockstar by Dababy 👂🔊🎧- Week 90 - September 20, 2022

Our preparation day this week is on Tuesday, because as a district we decided to go to the temple today. 

This week went by super fast. We had some really good lessons and we also got dropped by some people. It's always sad when someone does that to you. One person in particular was reading the Book of Mormon and loved learning from us. We tried helping resolve his concern, however he just didn't want us coming over anymore. 

Next, Elder Eaton and I had to give a training in Zone Conference on Thursday. We were expecting to only have to teach a zone and a half. But the sisters that were teaching the other half asked if we could help them; one of them were sick. So we taught that group of people without knowing what the training was, hahaha. You always have to be on your toes as a missionary.  

That's it for this week!

Great week! 😁- Week 89 - September 12, 2022

We had a few really good lessons this week. First off, we had one with the soilders on base (Broski and Webb) and we taught them about the commandments. They are solid for their baptismal date on September 24th. 

We then had a lesson with some new people named Shane and Anna. We just got to know them really well, and understood what they were hoping to gain from meeting with us. We gave them a Restoration pamphlet and invited them to read it. I'm excited about them. 

Other than that nothing too crazy happened. President Fitzgerald wants Elder Eaton and I to give a training at zone conference. Pretty nervous about that, but it will go well. 

That's it for this week!

Airsoft!🔫- Week 88 - September 5, 2022

Good week. We had our friend Jacques get baptized. It was a small service, because he is on the military base. He then got confirmed a member and got the priesthood on Sunday at church. 

We once again went and played basketball with Deonte. Our friend that we found a few days before named Marques came and played too. It was super fun. There was like 20 people there and Elder Eaton and I were the only white guys. Everyone is so good. 

We had some really good lessons with people we have found recently. One in particular named Kevin, he had read the first 3 chapters of the Book of Mormon. He then goes to explain everything perfectly. It was awesome, we are really excited about him. 

Love ya!

2 Transfers left - Week 87 - August 29, 2022

Transfer week!

It was a good week. This week I tried something new, because I have been quite homesick lately. So I decided yo delete messenger off my phone, so I wouldn't get distracted. It helped a lot. This week I have been pretty focused. 

Our friends Becky and Jeffrey and praying about a day to get baptized. Then our friend Michaud didn't get baptized again, because he wasn't allowed to leave base. Someone in his battalion was disobedient and ruined it for everyone. We then had a lesson with Webb and Broski yesterday and they are so prepared for baptism. Things are going well here in this area, a lot of work to do. 

Saturday we went a played basketball with Deonte (recent convert) and he invited a bunch of his friends. It was so much fun. Deonte is so good at basketball he played in college and has hops like a bunny. I'm glad I was on his team most of the games.

Moving forward!🚶👞- Week 86 - August 22, 2022

Last week I had written an email, but just forgot to send it. This week was a pretty good week. I feel like it was Monday a couple days ago. The weeks are going by faster and faster. It's too crazy. 

I had an interview with President Fitzgerald that went good. We talked about staying focused during these last few months of my mission. After that we went to a pass off lesson with the sisters. There was a single lady that we had found while knocking doors. She's great and she seems willing to progress. 

Next, our friends Becky and Jeffrey are doing well. We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon. Especially the process of how it was translated and how we got it. It was good for Jeffrey to hear that, it seems like missionaries haven't taught it well in the past. Our friend Travis came to it with us and he just explains everything so well. 

Travis then took us out to dinner the next day. He is so funny, he was telling us a story of his senior year prom. I couldn't stop laughing. He took us to a super nice restaurant on the river walk; I got a 50$ steak. Yes sir. 

Lastly, I've really been pondering about the Book of Mormon. I think about how amazing it is! The stories of God's dealings with his children, the clarification of doctrine, and how we can always be learning from it. I'm greatful for the Book of Mormon and for the Prophet Joseph Smith. Often when I think about Joseph Smith my thoughts get turned to visiting the Priesthood Restoration site in Pennsylvania with my family. The feelings and gratitude I have towards the Prophet grow as I think what he did for Jesus Christ's church and children. 

I'm on a mission😁 - Week 84 - August 8, 2022

Another great week! 

I'm just going to start off with the best part. Yesterday after church on base we taught the non-members the first discussion. Afterwards we put two of the soilders on baptismal date! They are honest in their desire to be baptized. We set their date for September 24th. 

We had a few very good lessons this week. First was with Cherron and we brought a recent convert named Deonte. He is so cool, he was baptized 3 weeks ago. He is black, plays basketball, and is our age. One of the coolest people I've met. Then we had a lesson with Francis and Phillip and talked to them more about the Book of Mormon. Francis has a testimony of Joseph Smith now, she even shared it yesterday in sacrament meeting. Lastly, we had a lesson with Becky and Jeffrey, we taught them about the Plan of Salvation. We had a member named Travis Anderson join. Travis is probably the smartest person I've ever met. He explains things so well, also he knows the answer to ANY question you ask him. 

Lastly, we went to the temple on Tuesday with a recent convert. It's crazy to me how the spirit is always in the temple, no matter what. I don't understand why we don't take advantage of going there all the time. I made a pledge to myself that when I go home I'll go to the temple at least 1 time a month. The temple blesses us so much! It helps us draw closer to Jesus Christ and our family. What more could you ask for? 

Love y'all!

This is God's work - Week 83 - August 1, 2022

On Saturday morning I woke up at about 4:30am and had the worst stomach cramps. I couldn't even sleep. We then went to the gym and I just laid down feeling like I was going to throw up. So I slept for about 3 hours when we got back. I took some medicine and then I felt better. 

This week we went off! Yessir, we found 11 new people to start teaching and had 7 people at church. We are grinding out here. We are super excited about a few people we found this week. First is a lady named Cherron and she is awesome, almost too elect, she is super responsible which is different. She came to church with members that she already loves! Yesterday at church on base we found 2 new people. One wants to be baptized!! We are meeting with him next week after church to set a baptismal date. It's so hard to meet with the soilders on base--they are just so busy. 

This week my testimony grew on how this is God's work. What an opportunity it is to participate. It's amazing, literally. It's great to be a missionary, as I've been focusing on the needs of others and how we can help them, I've never been happier. Yes, I miss home. Nevertheless, I don't think we understand how important missionary work is sometimes. This work can change people for eternity. Imagine how selfish we are if we don't share this gospel.

Elder Larsen