Whazzuuupp? This week has been an interesting week, that is for sure. Man! Time flies!
The first thing I should say is that we have transfers next week, so I probably won't be able to write till Tuesday. I anticipate that all of the Dapto Elders will stay, but in saying that I am probably jinxing it. Just sayin'. I really want to stay. Things are just starting to happen.
The weather here is weird! Within two hours, it will dump buckets of rain on us, stop raining, clear up, get hot and muggy, and then start raining again! What the heck?
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| Elders Olsen, Tito and Larsen |
Some of the highlights of the week; we found some new Less-active members to teach this week, with the help of the ward. We also met B_ and her husband. B_ is a strong woman. Her husband is in the final stages of Alzheimer disease. So she is taking care of him completely. Talking to her, we saw how important the Plan of Salvation is in hers and all of our lives. The redeeming power of the Atonement and the Resurrection mean so much, especially in cases where family members and loved ones lose any sort of physical or mental capabilities.
We did another trade-off this week. That was pretty great! This time I was with Elder Te'o. He is the man! He was born in Australia, raised in Samoa. He is the man! He speaks perfect English. He said that he attended the only English-Speaking ward in Samoa or something. That's pretty cool!
We got to the designated spot and no one was there
It was fun picking up Elder Te'o. What we decided to do was meet halfway between Mittagong and Shellharbour at 8 PM on Wednesday night. Or at least that's what I told Elder Te'o's companion. Apparently, the Mittagong elders had Missionary Coordination Meeting (MCM) on Wednesday, so they decided that they would trade off on the drive down, so that representation from both companionships would be there at there meeting. So Elder Thomas and Elder Te'o would come down and meet Elder B and I at the top of Macquarie pass (yes that means I would have to drive through twice in one night). That night it was raining. Cool.
So Elder B and I got out of our dinner appointment late, at 8 pm when we had planned with E Te'o's companion to be there. Shuck-a-roonboons! Oh well. So we start driving, and we are going up the pass, which obviously was scary and dangerous. Cool. We get near the top and got a call from the other two, asking us where we were. We told them, and they said "sweet" and hung up. So we assumed they were waiting. It turns out they hadn't even left yet! They apparently were waiting for us to call and tell them what is up at McDonald's. McDonald's! They weren't told anything by Elder Te'o's companion!
So we got to the designated spot and no one was there. It was like 8:40 pm. And on the top of the pass we had no cell service. So we didn't know where they were, when they were coming or anything! That was frustrating. So eventually we decided to just drive further and slow down after every car passed, to see if it was them. So we did that. We eventually found them, at like 9:10 pm. Sigh.... Bad planning on my part.
Missionaries clubbing!
The trade-off went well, anyways. Bro T_ took us out again to visit some people. He has really been involved in helping us out, like I mentioned last week. Which is fantastic! That was the day we went to B__'s. Good stuff! Then the T_ fam had signed up to feed us for dinner. So we ended up going with them to dinner at a club. Yeah! Missionaries clubbing! Woohoo! It was some good food! and it wasn't that kind of club, don't worry!
Yesterday, one of the Elders Quorum (EQ) members came with us pretty much all day after church, D_. He is the man! Returned Missionary (RM) who served in the Philippines, and has been back for 1 year. So cool! He helped us know who were some less-active members that could use a visit. It was great! We need more members to come and visit people with us!
Dodge ball ping pong
There were a few activities that we attended this week. The Elders Quorum had a ping-pong night that was fun. Our ward mission leader, bro Q_ and I had fun playing dodge ball-ping pong. We would take the ball and smack it as hard as we could at each other to try and hit the other, like dodge ball. It was ssssssssooooooo fun! Good stuff! And the Young men had a basketball activity that we helped them organize, to invite their nonmember friends to. That was great! One nonmember that we had met before showed up, so we all had a good time.
That is pretty much it on the highlights of the week. Except for one that I just remembered. This morning! Duh. Good one, Elder Larsen.
Showing up later than she expected
K_ invited us to come to her house yesterday, but we ended up showing up later than she expected. So she said we could come this morning instead. She made us a nice breakfast, and we got to catch up with her, and introduce Elder B to her and her son A_, who we are playing b-ball with this afternoon. I am keen!
Anyways, K_'s husband's cousin was there and we had a good chat with him. A nice enough guy. We shared a short scripture with them (Romans 8:16-17) and talked about our potential as sons and daughters of God, and he took that and talked for ages about perception, and traveling, and about knowing what is behind someones doors?, and goodness knows what else. It was all good fun! He definitely had the right idea when he said that he would pass judgment only when he had the details. And because of that, he respected us for our beliefs. Good guy! Good fun! We got some good food, shared a great scripture, and get to play a great sport this afternoon because of the visit! I think that was my favorite teaching experience. At least the one that I can have the best laugh at! Haha!
Drowning out the piano with his speakers
Oh yeah! I just remembered another funny, yet weird experience that we had! It was yesterday evening with D_. We went to go see this woman who we didn't know who D_ knew, and we pulled up in front of her house, and there was this Aussie dude in the neighboring lot in his ute, blasting music so loud that it literally sounded like a high school football games speakers. Ridiculously loud. Compleeeeeetely unnecessarily and unrealistically loud. He was blasting some '80's rock music, I think it was AC/DC. I can't remember. We walked passed him and he mouthed something to me (or yelled, I couldn't hear anyways) and I had no idea what he was trying to say. Eventually, he turned down his music a bit, and we talked to him, and he said he was getting back at his neighbor who apparently had no respect for him, because she played piano a lot.... Hmmm.... So he was drowning out the piano (and every other noise in the neighborhood) with his speakers. Apparently it was the woman that we were going to see. He said that he respected us, so he would turn off his music. But wow! Kinda extreme measures.... Good one!
Yeah, so that's really all of my highlights.
Answers to questions
How much English does Elder B speak? Fluent! He has a fun accent too! I also know his Fijian is fluent, because we met a Fijian dude yesterday, and he and Elder B had a great time laughing and talking together in the language. Good stuff!
I think that it is random that we have seen so much of President Lew. I happened to see him a couple times last transfer in Canberra because of the stuff that was going on down there. And I caught him a couple times this transfer with stuff going on in this zone. We are still pretty far away, so I doubt we will see too much of him and sister Lew. One can only hope! Oh yeah, interviews were good! It is always good to talk to Pres. Lew. He is so loving and kind! Such a big heart!
Are there Hershey's chocolate bars in Australia? Yes. Not as much as in the States though, there are a bunch of Australian equivalents to American lollies. What is my favorite football team? The Canberra Raiders! They are my team, now! First Area = Birth Area = Home team! Woohoo! Hahahah Ezra, you are a goofball!
Dad! You are a seminary teacher! Congrats! That is what you have been wanting to do for ever! And Mom! now you get to sleep in! Lucky you! or do you....? My favorite bad guy in the Book of Mormon? Alma the younger.. And that is because he is also my favorite good guy. :) And Ezra is right! There are only people that make bad choices, no bad people! :D
Snacks and such that I am missing? I miss nuts! I never got my last package (I am sure that E. Cocker and the new Queanbeyan Elders enjoyed it). So maybe you could send some of those? General Conference apparently gets broadcast a week late here in Aussie-world. Don't ask me why, I have no idea..
Okay! Now, a question for you guys! What is your favorite latter-day prophet/general authority quote?
I love you guys! Have a great week! I will send a few photos in a bit.
Talk to ya next Tuesday!
Elder Larsen
More bonus words from letter to Mission President
Reading the Book of Mormon continues to be a great experience for me! I really enjoy the War chapters in Alma, and because of that, the reading sucks me in, and before I realize it, I am 5 chapters ahead of the assigned reading! It is great! I loved reading about the faithfulness and obedience of the Stripling Warriors, as you mentioned in your email. I also enjoyed reading about Captain Moroni, and his diligence in protecting the Nephites. I love the Book of Mormon stories!
Our flat is decently clean. We do need to do a bit of deep cleaning today, but other than that, we are being better about keeping the flat clean.
(Parent question: why did they need to be better about cleaning their flat?...)
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