I love Tongans! I love Otai too!

G'day!

This week has been swell. We had a couple trade-offs, some choice teaching experiences, and good fun!

I love Tongans! I love Otai too!

We traded off with Elder Fiu and Elder Chu Shing (trainee) this week. I was working in our area with Elder Chu Shing. He is the man! He is serving from Melbourne, and got to the mission field about 5 weeks ago. What a great missionary! The whole time we were together, I kept on being reminded of when I was at that stage in the mission. Wow! It has flown by. Elder Chu Shing helped me to get excited about the work again! We had a miraculous trade-off (remember, trade-offs bring miracles).

We were walking around one of the suburbs that we work in, contacting some investigators of ours, and we passed this particular house with plants that clearly identified the family as an Islander family. So we decided we should knock that door. We knocked, and a Tongan man probably in his 50's came to the door, saw us and said "Wait here, I will go get you a drink". So he walked off, and came back with some Otai (a Tongan drink normally made with coconut cream, milk, watermelon, and other varieties of fruit). He then invited us into his home, where we sat on mats weaved from leaves. He and his wife started talking with us as if we were best friends! We eventually found out that the husband used to be a member, even a Ward Mission Leader. And since he married his wife, he started to go to her church. They were busy then, but they said to come back and we can teach them. Man! I love Tongans! I love Otai too! I need to learn how to make it...

Sometimes missionaries feel a little left out...  Please let them in!

Picture taken by Elder Tai, Jarrad's previous companion

Turning Elder Larsen Pink

We also had a trade-off with our Assistants to the President. I went with Elder Roberts, serving from Canada. And Elder B went with Elder White, my first zone leader (with Elder Shafer). I worked in the Assistant's proselyting area in Mortdale. Man it was awesome! Elder Roberts is such a great missionary! We had heaps of fun together. We decided to walk around all day, so that we could talk to more people, and Elder Roberts wanted me to turn pink. So we did so, and we had quite a bit of success with finding new people to teach, as well as turning Elder Larsen pink!

Elder Roberts and I had a lot in common. He used to work on a Church farm in Canada, a cattle ranch, and is basically a cowboy through and through. He loves working hard. It was cool to be able talk about the mission, about difference experiences that we have had, and what we have learned from them. He is the man! A funny experience that we had: One of the part-member families they are working with is from Lebanon (the middle-east for those of you who don't know). A few of them are members, most aren't.

That family is craaaaazy! They had some really funny little girls, age 6 and 4 (I would guess, anyways). Far out, the 6 year-old was naughty! She had a wider vocabulary than a 6 year old should have, for sure (she swore a bit). Well, anyways, these two little girls ran up to us as we were walking down their street, and started running back towards their house a little bit in front of Elder Roberts. The 6 year-old stopped and made a very bad noise. Man it was loud! The two little girls laughed, ran a bit more, and then she did it again! What the heck?? They thought it was sooo funny! Okay, we were busting up laughing too. I will be honest. HAhahahaha!

Elder Roberts and Elder Larsen (a little pinker...)

Resolve any of life's questions

Something that I am thankful for is the Book of Mormon. This week in my reading, I have tried a bit of a different approach. I normally do different things to help me to get the most out of my reading, and this week I decided to study for some of the elements of teaching. Basically, I wanted to learn more how the Lord and the BoM prophets use inspired questions, how they extend commitments, and what promised blessings they give people. The idea was to allow me to model the questions, invitations, and promised blessings that I use to those used in the scriptures. It has strengthened my testimony that the Book of Mormon can answer and help resolve any of life's questions as you search, ponder, and pray to receive inspiration and guidance. And it has payed off as I have applied what I learn. What a blessing to know that we can receive continuous revelation from the Lord!

Strange weather

This week had strange weather conditions here in Sydney. Sunday was HOT-AS!! Monday, we caught a rainstorm that carried over to Tuesday, then Wednesday through Saturday we had variations of heat and cold, wet and dry. What the heck, weather?? Make up your mind! It made me want to cry!!! Monday evening, returning to our flat to begin proselyting after our P-day was over, we got outside just as it started dumping heaps and heaps of water down. MAN! We were soaked!!!! Lucky we only had to walk from our car to the flat, or we would have been soaked! Far out!

P_ and O_ went on vacation this past week, so they are not going to be baptized for a bit. However, we should have an appointment this Wednesday. So hopefully we can get them on track. There is another part-member family that we are working with, J_ and S_ who have two kids, London, and Jayda. It was their party that we went to a few weeks ago. They are doing really well, actually. I have visited them a few times since I have been here in Bankstown, but they have never progressed this well. They almost came to church Sunday, but J_ found out he had to work last minute (grrrr.. shift work....). But I have a feeling that this week is going to be incredible.

That is pretty much it for Elder Larsen in Aussie world! Hope yous have a great week!

Love,
Elder Larsen