Good timber does not grow with ease

Hi guys!

This week has been another busy one. I got birthday package part one! Which was awwweeeesooommeeee!!! The pens are soooo cool! And I mean a lot! Both of them. I really like the Kauri tree wood, as a good reminder of our trip to NZ. I also like the prune tree one, as a reminder of our farm of trees. The black walnut pen is unfortunately worse for wear. So these two will help to replace the loss! Although I will take much better care of them.

I must be focused on missionary work or something...

Getting a package reminded me that there were a few birthdays in our family over the past 4 or 5 weeks that I missed! Wow! I must be focused on missionary work or something...

Dad, you turned like 33 (again)! And Alyssa would be 14 or 15? Kaysie can't be 17. That is just weird. She is almost as old as me! What is something Australian that wouldn't be incredibly expensive that yous would like for your birthday? Just for ideas. I may ignore them completely... We will see....

Drawing of Elder Larsen by his sister, Kaysie.  "That is weiiiiirrd! It actually does look like me! What the heck!?????"

He truly has felt the song of redeeming love

We finally caught one of our investigators at home this week, one that is due to be baptized soon. He has just been sooo busy with work and with his mother. His mother is going through some health issues, and needs some extra assistance. So we were lucky to catch him at home. But we had a great talk with him. We didn't get to do any of the stuff we had planned on sharing with him, because he was still a bit rushed. But we were able to encourage and build him up, and bear testimony of the Plan of Salvation and that God looks out for us all. He is so ready! His testimony is already quite strong. Now it is just a matter of finding the right fellowship for him.

His name is B_. He is the man! His faith is so strong, and he truly has felt the song of redeeming love that Alma describes. I feel that that was a miracle. He is a bit older than Mom and Dad are, works with cranes (the massive ones that you see working on the big building operations; not the birds). He also came to Church this Sunday, which is kinda irrelevant, but at the same time it is relevant.

We weren't able to go over to the T_ family's house this week (Italian part member family), only because they were on vacation in Wagga Wagga. Or maybe it was for school. I don't remember.... But we have an appointment for today around 5 pm, for amazing food, and a lesson. It should be awesome! Pray for us please! Oh yeah, and the husband (M_) came to Church yesterday on his own! Hectic turnout at church! Good stuff!

Mormon version of Werewolf

This past week was our zone P-day. Which was fun! There is a park literally right next to our flat that we used. We played basketball, played Ultimate Frisbee, played werewolf (or rather the Mormon version of it: Gadianton robbers), and had some amazing food provided by Elder Osmeni. He is from Albania. I don't remember if I have told you's about him. But anyways, he is a professional cook. He cooked us some hectic food! Lasagna, and some other dishes that I can't pronounce. Good stuff! Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures with my camera then, and I forgot my camera today, so I can't really send pictures from the pday, or for the rest of the week.... Oh well....

I am really excited for this week. We have a lot of things already set. In both of my last areas, it was hard to have set appointments. But this area seems to be pretty promising! We will be busy, at least. This Saturday (my birthday) we are having Sister Preach My Gospel studies with all 10 sisters in our zone. The zone leaders are supposed to have that every month. We have an opportunity to train on various topics that we feel the sisters need to learn about. The best part about it is I will probably get a shout for lunch (shout meaning someone will pay for me). Woohoo!

She invited a friend... and that friend decided to bring her whole family!

I did mention that the ward here is really good. Let me share with you an example... So our stake president is in our ward (actually his brother is our bishop), and the stake president's wife decided to do some member-missionary work. She invited a friend to come to church with them. And that friend decided to bring her whole family! It was hectic! Both seemed to be pretty interested (both the husband and wife, that is). There were also 2 kids. So hopefully Elder Winkelman and I can demonstrate the principle that Elder Ballard spoke on last week during general conference: following up.

That is pretty much it for this week. Elder Winkelman and I have been doing a lot of zone planning this week, and helping everyone out. Slaving away. The usual.

I love you guys! And I am excited for the miracles this week will bring!

Elder Laseni

A favorite poem:  Good Timber

This is one of my favorite poems, that President Monson shared in one of his recent conference addresses:

Good timber does not grow with ease
The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees
The further the sky, the greater length.
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow

(Note: poem quoted by President Monson in General Conference HERE.  Poem author is Douglas Malloch)