I did all the dirty work while my companion did missionary work

We had one heck of a week! That is for sure. Shuck-a-roonies!

A lot of extra training/teaching this week

I did a lot of extra training/teaching this week. We had Zone training meeting, so I trained on faith. Missionaries and members alike need the faith to know that there are people that are prepared for us to find, teach, and baptize. Elder Tai trained on Following Up. His was a great training! He is an awesome comp!

We both also gave trainings on Friday morning for the zone and the mini missionaries within the zone. There was a morning devotional, we were split into our companionships, there were language studies, principle studies, and zone leader training. Sigh... It's okay, I actually enjoy the preparation and delivering of trainings, or rather the Spirit that I feel in that process. This time I trained on using the Book of Mormon in missionary work. Elder Tai trained on key indicators for conversion. Needless to say, these are topics that we felt that we could improve on personally. It is always a blessing to have completed a training, or a lesson, or a talk, or some other format of teaching, and to find that your testimony has grown, if only incrementally.

The mini-mission

I guess I will tell you about the mini-mission! My companion's name (Elder Tai and myself both had mini-missionary companions) was "Elder" Mataele T_. He is the man! He was born and raised in Australia, his parents came from Tonga. 15 years old (they let him do it because his b-day is in a month), he plays rugby union, and is a stud member-missionary. Sooooo funny, as well! We honestly got along very well. And I have still only had 1 pakeha (American) companion the whole time I have been out (not including the MTC). We had such a great experience!

Right as we are leaving to go out and labor in the vineyard with our mini missionaries

The van with a flat tire

My mini missionary has so much faith! He was so keen to get out and save souls! We had quite a few positive experiences together. The most noteworthy of those experiences happened on Saturday, around 11 am. We were returning to the car after making contact with a few different households of potential investigators, and we heard a noise on the road behind us. We turned around to see a van with a flat tire pulling over to the footpath (side walk) just behind us. Elder T_ turned and looked at me, and asked "Should we help?" I agreed that we should, and we went over.

I did all the dirty work while my companion did missionary work

There was a Lebanese mother and her 13-year-old son in the car. They got out, and we offered help, to which they gratefully obliged. I did all the dirty work, while my companion did missionary work with the young boy. Man! What a stud! It felt so good to be able to help them both with something that they would have been incapable to do by themselves. To add a cherry on top, Elder T_ took the initiative to do the missionary work. The mother called her older 17 year old son to come help out before we arrived, and he showed up when we were almost done. We finished it together, and then they offered to let us wash our hands at their home nearby, which we accepted. So we trekked to there home about 200 metres away, just up the road. And we talked to this young man. He was a good kid! They are a Muslim family by birth, but this son doesn't really believe in it. He asked a lot of questions about us as missionaries and things like that. And he had a sincere desire to learn. We were able to teach principles of the Restoration, and set a return appointment with him. So hopefully we can continue to teach him and his family in the future. Whatever happens, it was a great experience for Elder T_.  

We had a great week. A much different week than I have had since I started my mission. But it was great nonetheless. It reminded me of my own mini mission. I had one goal for the mini mission: to make my mini missionary's experience better than mine was. Which wasn't too hard, given that on my mini mission, the missionaries I was with didn't talk to me a whole lot. But they taught me heaaaaps!

I think that the Lord inspired the companionships that we were in. It was incredible to feel the power of my companion Elder T_'s testimony. He has such faith. They asked the Mortdale/Bankstown zone leaders to bear testimony at the end of the mini mission closing fireside, and one thing that I mentioned in my testimony was that the Priests/Laurels now are more prepared than even my generation of Priests/Laurels 1 year ago. They are so ready to serve. I have a strong testimony that I have gained over the course of my mission that was solidified over the course of the past few days; that whom the Lord calls He qualifies. Those mini missionaries are qualified.

This week should be pretty good. We have interviews with President Back on Thursday. We have lots of dinner appointments. I am excited to help hasten the work. My faith and diligence have been rekindled.

Notice the additional tie around Elder T_'s neck, and the extra name tag that I am wearing:)

Elder Tai's conversion

You asked about Elder Tai and his conversion. Well, he has a pretty neat story. He is the only member in his family. He converted when he was around 18 yrs old. His grandfather had passed away, and he started asking questions about where we go after death. He had a friend in school that was a member, who answered some of his questions. She then referred him to the missionaries. The missionaries taught him the Plan of Salvation. He read the Book of Mormon, and prayed, and gained a testimony of it's truthfulness. He was baptised and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. None of his family have joined to this point. But he has been able to do work in the temple for his family. And he is doing a lot to help his family accept the gospel back home. What an inspiring story!

Elder Tai and his mini-missionary companion Elder W_ contacted Z_ and J_, the two Chinese people that we committed to baptism. They are still keen to be baptised. They just want to make sure that they are ready. On top of that, they are taking a trip to China for a month or two soon, so that will interfere a bit with their progression. But we will pray hard for them! Elder T_ and I contacted Selena A_'s Boyfriend's family. We had a positive experience with the father of the home, N_ (Selena's boyfriend) was out with his footy team, and hopefully next time we visit we can get in and teach the family! Oh! We found some solid potentials while tracting this week as well. I had to give Elder T_ the opportunity to experience tracting. And it payed off! :) More info next week.

That is pretty much it! Hope y'all have a great week!

042!
Elder Larsen