I hope thou farest well. Unto thee I report much change and activity for the past week.
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| My favorite pic! Elder Winkelman and I hiding out under our stairs. Hahahahahahaha! We have fun together. |
So I guess the biggest thing to report is that President Lew was released last Tuesday as our mission president, and will be flying home to Utah today (due to health concerns). Last Wednesday night, we received a text message from the assistants, telling the zone leaders that we had an important conference call that night. So we connected to the conference call, and Elder Williams informed us that 1) Elder Haleck of the Seventy flew into Sydney Monday evening 2) Elder Haleck released President Lew from his service as our mission president 3) A new mission president had been called up and flown in; President Palmer 4) President Palmer was set apart. And because of that, he holds the priesthood keys to lead and guide this mission. He has been called of God to fill the vacancy left by President Lew. The assistants told us that the important thing to remember is that he has been called of God, that this is all God's will, even though it is different, and that this is the best thing for President Lew.
Elder Winkelman and I both were in shock. We did not know what to think. We compared it to Gandalf's fall in The Lord of the Rings. That was how we felt. President Lew was and is incredible. Sister Lew is the best mission mom that anyone could ask for. They have soooooo much love. They are truly the kindest, most loving and caring people that I have ever met. All of the missionaries are devestated. But they all do recognize that this was ordained of God. This is what was supposed to happen. I don't like it, but I have a strong testimony of the Lord's timing. So I do know that this is the Lord's will.
If anyone can fill the hole and vacancy left... it will be President Palmer
I was able to meet President Palmer this past Thursday, along with most of my zone. We were at an activity at one of the chapels in Liverpool, playing basketball with less-active members and non-members. President Palmer came to interview one of the Elders to renew his temple recommend. So we were able to go up and introduce ourselves, and get to know President Palmer on a personal level. I don't think he expected so many missionaries:). He is the man! He is so loving! His smile is so big, and genuine. I really think that if anyone can fill the hole and vacancy left by President Lew, it will be him. He is from NZ (Christchurch), and he was a mission president in Spokane, WA from 2009-2012. Great guy! We have a zone conference with him and his wife, along with the assistants tomorrow. So hopefully we get to know him even better.
There and back again... to the temple!
Today we went to the temple! It was my first time going to the temple in Aussie land. Period. And I have been here for 7 months! It truly was a choice experience. I love the temple, the symbolism involved, and the spirit one can feel inside. I felt closer to God, and feel that I have received some measure of added spiritual strength because of my visit. And taking a train there and back again (Hobbit quote) allowed us to bond with the members of our zone. It was fantastic!
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| Sydney, Australia Temple |
One of Elder Winkelman's recent converts from Dapto received the Melchizedek Priesthood this past Sunday, at the MacArthur Stake Conference. I don't know if I told you about P_? The guy who took us rollerblading? Well, Elder Winkelman baptized him while he was in Dapto. So we got permission to participate in the ordination. It was a choice experience. It is soo cool to see people progress in the gospel and receive the ordinances of salvation. It was even better for Elder Winkelman. We saw heaaaaaaps of people from Dapto. And since we both served there it wasn't awkward for one companion who didn't know anyone. We both really had a great time. That's when I talked to Bro T_ from Dapto.
I guess the massive package was a dead give away
Last Monday (sooo long ago, it feels like) we had MLC (Mission Leadership Council). Which was awesome. This was before President Lew was released. So we were still in a state of ignorant bliss. President Simpson and President Hopkins attended that. They both gave trainings, along with the assistants. We learned a lot of really good things that we can apply to make our ward councils function better, and things that will help us to work better with the members. We were blessed with a special treat; Sister Lew was escorted in with President Hopkins and Elder and Sister Peterson (an office Senior missionary couple). You should have seen the smiles that broke out on everyone's faces.
And Sister Lew! Her testimony is so sweet and precious. She has such sincere and tender love both for her husband and for the missionaries. We did not know that that was going to be the last time that we would see President or Sister Lew while in the mission field. But we were happy to see her, and sad to see her go. She actually (in the middle of her testimony/words of wisdom) saw me and then she said "Oh Elder Larsen! Happy Birthday! I was going to call you and sing to you, but I didn't have the time!" Cool. Cover blown. Now everyone there knew it was my birthday. I guess the massive package with the quilt was a dead giveaway too (I loooooooooove the quilt, by the way! It must have taken heaps of effort and heeaaaaps of time! Thaaaaank youuu!! And Elder Tito was grateful for his stuff too! I was able to give it to him at the MLC meeting). It was a great experience though. I will really miss the Lews.
Hopefully that pulls him even more in the right direction
An update on B_; this past week, he was asked by his work to go to South Australia to work at one of the mine sights, so unfortunately he has been out all week. We aren't sure when he will be back.
We also were not able to meet with M_, because he had to work during our appointment. However, he did come to a mission-wide Recent Convert Fireside, where missionaries, investigators, and members (normally recent converts) alike attend to hear the testimonies of those that have recently been baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. M_'s 10 year-old son (who was baptized in March) spoke, and shared his experience, along with a number of other recent converts. And their testimonies were very powerful. We know that M_ had a great time, and felt the Spirit. So hopefully that pulls him even more in the right direction.
We ran down to meet them and saw heaps of blood
We had another small miracle this week. Last Thursday, there was a blessing in disguise. We were visiting an investigator that two of the sisters had passed to us to teach (so it was in their area), and we were sitting on the porch of this investigator, having a good discussion before we opened up the lesson. We saw (after a few minutes of being on the porch) the sisters (Sister B_ and Sister M_) walking towards their car on the street literally 10 metres from where we had parked our car. We waved. All of the sudden, Sister M_ swayed, stumbled, then sat down on the curb. We were a bit too far away to see what exactly had happened. Then she was on the ground. One of the neighbors came out, and walked up to see if she was okay. Sister B_ waved us over. So all three of us kicked into gear (Elder Winkelman, our investigator, and myself).
We ran down to meet them and saw heaps of blood, then ran back to the car to get some stuff to dress the wound. What had happened was when Sis. M_ stumbled, she stuck her hand out to this tree to catch her, but this tree was full of foot-long spikes up and down the trunk (a certain kind of palm tree I think). And it stabbed her hand. We helped them to clean up the wound, and took them to the hospital to make sure there was no infection. The cut wasn't terrible, but we wanted to make sure. So, we helped them go to the hospital where everything was taken care of.
It was a bit of a traumatic experience I am sure for Sis. M_, but it shows that the Lord places his servants in the right place at the right time. We almost didn't go visit this particular investigator, but then suddenly decided to go. And we were there when we needed to be there. Definitely a testimony-builder.
Spanish, for real, with a real investigator!
We were able to see this investigator yesterday, after our shortened visit on Thursday (thanks to the sisters), and we had a hectic lesson with him! His name is C_. He is from Chile, so he speaks Spanish. And English too. But I have another opportunity to practice my Spanish, for real, with a real investigator! I have been doing Spanish Language study with Elder Winkelman, and we have been able to put it into practice. We talked to him heaps! He is so funny! He has strong faith in Christ, was previously Catholic. He told us a lot about his daily struggles and concerns. We were able to apply the gospel to his concerns, specifically the Atonement, and CPR (Church, Prayer and Reading the Scriptures). We read some scriptures with him, and he really felt the Spirit. He is excited to read the Book of Mormon this week till our appointment on Friday with him, and he said he loves coming to church (apparently he has been once before). He has truly felt the joy that the Holy Ghost and the Gospel bring. We hope to continue to help him to have these experiences over the upcoming weeks and months, so that he can realize his full potential. What a choice soul!
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| Another Aussie sunset. |
I thought that it would be a good idea to extend an invitation to all of you, especially the kids. More so to the kids. One thing that I have thought about a lot since I have been out here in the mission field is that I had sooooo many opportunities to share the gospel growing up. I just didn't think that it was that important. That is what they have missionaries for, right? Wrong! "Every member a missionary!" I have a lot of regrets as far as missionary work is concerned. I wish I would have opened my mouth more. Which is why I would like to extend this invitation to the youth and primary aged children. So that you all don't have the same regrets on your missions.
I would like to invite you to think about one friend that you could either 1) invite to mutual or a primary activity 2) Invite to church 3) Invite to dinner (while simultaniously inviting the missionaries to dinner) or 4) if it feels right, invite to hear the missionary message in your home from the missionaries. I will follow up next week! Next week I will ask you to actually cary out this assignment. So this week, think of a person. next week, do it!
Okay, that is pretty much it! I love you guys! I will talk to you next Monday (Sunday) around 8 am!
Ofa'lahi'atu!
Elder Larsen
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