How's things? I have another awesome week to report!
Forever a different person
Being a missionary definitely changes people, that is for sure. It is so hard to determine all of the changes. I think it will be much easier for you all to see (and hear) the changes in me when I get home. But as far as what I can see in how I have changed: I am much more confident. I am not nervous under pressure, the pressure actually helps me do better. I feel the Spirit daily, even constantly in my life. I enjoy scripture study, and gospel study in general. I have greater love, and desire to help others. I know how to make decisions.
I know how to keep myself alive (with physical nourishment and necessities). I am more organized. I know how to study better. I have an enhanced capacity to help people. I know how to talk to people, and have legitimate conversations. So, basically, I have grown up physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and every other aspect of my life. Yup, no more Jarrad Larsen here! I will forever be a different person as a result of my service.
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Elder Macfarlane trade off
This week we were able to have another lesson with Perlita and Ocean. That was awesome! Elder Macfarlane and I were on a trade off. It was really fun!! He is the man! He plays basketball, is going to BYU after the mission (probably to play ball there, he is that good) and is just an all-around good guy! It was good for both of us to be around another American for a while. He lives in a flat with the Samoan Elders and his companion is also Samoan. I live in a flat with my comp, Elder Tai (the man! just turned 24 on Friday) from Hong Kong, Elder Abquina from the Philippines, and Elder Harry from Vanuatu. Good stuff!
(Parent note: we do our best to stalk our missionary son. Sometimes we get help from other missionaries' blogs, including Elder Macfarlane. Check out Elder Macfarlane's blog here: eldermacfarlane.blogspot.com)
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| Elder Mac and Elder Abquina. |
We had a miraculous day in that we were able to catch Naomi at home. Our lesson with Perlita and Ocean was amazing! We had dinner before the lesson (delicious) and then we sat down and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The teaching was fluid (fortunately Elder Mac is a great teacher), the Spirit was strong, and they were very involved (the girls). Charlie, their uncle, was a big help once again. During the lesson, it was cool how they made connections between The Restoration (with the Priesthood authority required for baptism) and the Plan of Salvation (with inheriting Celestial glory by enduring to the end). They had awesome questions. Best part of the lesson: We set a baptismal date for both of them for the 11th of October!! Trade-offs! Every time, I'm telling ya, bring miracles! What an uplifting day!
Teauiti (apparently this is how it is spelled) is indeed on track for his baptism this Saturday which is really exciting! We had to teach him 4 times last week, but we finally finished the lessons! He has his baptismal interview this Thursday with Elder Mac, and then baptism at 2pm on Saturday! Elder Tai will be performing the baptism, which is really exciting! The day we were on trade-offs, they went to see them, and Teauiti told them his grandpa couldn't do it, and asked Elder Tai. So that is awesome. I will be confirming him on Sunday. But I will make sure to take pictures!
The winter has been cold, but it is now over! It has been warming up the latter half of this week. Actually, the weather has been perfect! Sunny, a bit of a breeze, temperatures not too hot not too cold. During winter, I would bring a coat most every day in the car. But now there is no need to. It rained a bit, but apparently most winters it rains more.
Wow! My brothers have some awesome math skills!
Mom, that is soooo awesome that you went on trade offs with the sister missionaries in Chico. That sounds very much like what we experience here in Aussie-world. That is great to hear about the families you visited! Good work, Sister Larsen:).
Kaysie, I would still have no idea if da roo-bags jump backwards, but I will ask one.... Hahahaha!
They needed us... like immediately
Oh yeah, last night was a bit crazy! We had dinner right after church with our old ward mission leader (we got a new one just called two weeks ago, who is Maori, and is super excited for the work of the Lord!) and then we went to go visit some of the less-active members of our ward. We were about to leave the house of one of them, when we got a call from the Sister missionaries in our ward. They told us they have a problem, and they needed us to come give a blessing to their investigator and recent convert. Like immediately.
So, we came as quickly as possible (bear in mind this emergency kept us out much later than we should have been, we didn't get there till 9:30pm), and we had to give this blessing to the investigator, following which we had to calm down this brother who was enraged to the point of yelling and swearing (almost to blows). That was fun:). Eventually he calmed down, and was very apologetic for his behavior. He truly is an awesome man! Such strong faith! He just needed a bit of help. Anyways, we didn't get home till 10:30, so that was interesting. Hahaha I was tired when we woke up this morning. But excited to go to the beach!
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| There was a baptism of record for our bishop's son, so he took us all and his family to the RSL which is a Returned Soldiers' Leagues club or something. |
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| Notice the four empty plates to the left of Elder Tai.... I claim those! |
Welllll, that's my week! Oh yeah, I got the package! Thanks soo much! We have been having fun with the nerf guns and enjoying the snacks.
Ofa 'atu!
Elder Larsen
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| The crew at the RSL (Returned Soldier's League). |
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