Yeeehawww🤠🐃 - Week 61 - February 28, 2022

Dang, I forgot to send an email out last week.

Saturday, we had a lesson with a less active family. We've been working with them for the past few months. They've started coming back to church the past month and a half. She then called us yesterday crying, because they finally got their temple recommends and she was so happy. We are going to go to the temple with them here in the next few weeks.

Honestly, Saturday was probably one of my favorite days as a missionary, ever. In the morning we went and had a lesson with two people, we thought it was going to be a bash, but it ended up being an amazing lesson. After that we had service that was about a 45 minute drive away so the member picked us up. We helped them move a ton of boxes and furniture. Then another member was there and took us out to lunch. We went to this tiny restaurant out in the country. It was a place that you would see in the movies. Everyone was a hick. They had some amazing BBQ. Then we came back and went to dinner with a member family. Then went to the ward party. Then went to visit Joe and Sal, they took us to Whataburger. Holy, that day was just jam packed fun! 

We just started working with this super less active. He is the son of an active member family. The son just moved back home from Austin. He really hadn't been going down the right path. Now after he's been reading the Book of Mormon and us coming over for the past week. He is a new person, honestly. He's so much happier, he always wants to be the person to pray, and to read the scriptures in the lessons. 

Last week on my exchange with the zone leader, he was telling me how when we go home it will be a eternal preparation day. How we spend our time in our down time now will be who we become when we go home. Wow, that hit me. In my down time-at night, lunch, dinner-i've not been spending my time the best. I think that is my biggest fear right now, is when I go home I'll fall back into who I was before. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't the best. 

I hope everyone had a good week, please reach out. I'd love to hear how y'alls week went. :)

Elder Larsen. 

Oh P.S. imma go to the zoo today. I'm excitedddddddddd

Longest week of my mission... - Week 59 - February 14, 2022

This week felt like it was a whole month; it's been very very hard. We learned that someone we were teaching committed suicide. This was someone I loved a lot. 

I feel like a baby sitter right now. I'm training, then my district is full of a bunch of super young missionaries. They still don't know what they are doing. So I'm always stressing on how I can help them. It's honestly just over baring right now. Just too much going on. 

We had a general authority come and visit with us on Friday. It was Elder Mackay from the Quorum of the 70. He is a very good speaker, and said a lot of wise words. 

I'd say my spiritual high was yesterday. At church while partaking of the sacrament-even though this week was super hard-I tried to focus on what the Savior has done for me during the week. It was a very tender moment; I was crying a lot. Then last night we went to a members home, the spirit in their home was so strong. I don't know if I've ever felt it that strong in someone's home before. So I was tearing up again. 

This week I leaned on my Savior. He carried me through the week, it wouldn't have been possible without his help. He really does carry us when we can't go anymore. There is a youth song that the church made called "Peace in Christ". In the chorus there is a line that says,"He gives us strength, When we can’t go on." How true is that?! Remember that if it weren't for Jesus Christ, life would be nothing but suffering in guilt, shame, loneliness, etc. There wouldn't be peace. Thank Heavenly Father for the many things He gives you! 

Love y'all,

Elder Larsen

Members are the best ‼️ - Week 58 - February 7, 2022

Hello everyone! I hope y'all have had a great week. I dont know why but my heart is full of love for y'all today. Thank you for all of your support and love! :)

This week has been a pretty crazy. Elder Jenkins got an email on Wenseday saying he was leaving to Africa on Friday! So he had to get packing and we had to drive a ton to get things done before he could leave. So rest in peace to our miles. 

We had a lesson with Al on Wenseday. Everytime we make a lesson plan it gets scrapped because he has so many questions. This time we explained the relationship between the Bible and Book of Mormon. He also had a lot of questions about blacks and the priesthood. Thank goodness for the member that was there because he carried us haha. 

We picked up the greenie on Thursday, his name is Elder Langston. Honestly already a stud. Should be a good transfer. 

As of lately I've really been trying to deepen my understanding of the Book of Mormon. I've changed how I study, and I'm learning more than ever before. It's crazy to see how the Holy Ghost is teaching me so much as I study. The Book of Mormon is just so amazing. There are just infinite amounts of stuff you can learn from it. 

Our goals for this transfer are 26 new people to start teaching, 50 people at church, 100% member present lessons, and companionship prayers every night before bed. Those goals will definitely keep us super busy. Also this transfer I've been trying to really focus on the people. Oh what a difference it has already made. 

Love y'all, I would love to hear from you. Have a great week, and keep being missionaries!

Elder Larsen

Improvements and upgrades🌅 - Week 57 - January 31, 2022

GREAT WEEK! We had to give a talk yesterday at church, so I was pretty nervous throughout the week. It went super well though. We had 10 people come to church yesterday so that was awesome. 

We got our transfer news last night. I'm staying in my area for the 5th transfer. I'm the district leader and I'm training a new missionary that's coming in on Thursday. I'm very nervous but excited. I don't know how I feel about being a district leader though, I guess we will see how that goes. Elder Jenkins is staying too, so we will be in a trio. 

That's it for this week! Love y'all, bye. 

Elder Larsen.