Why missionaries are not allowed on the Internet

Familia!

Bula vinaka! How goes it? This week was pretty great. Miracles, great teaching appointments, and transfers..... Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!! *insert thunder and lightning here*

Elder Poppins?

Why missionaries are not allowed on the internet

To start off the week last Monday, we had a very interesting visit with our Chinese investigators. We went and finally caught them at home, after so long of not being able to see them (see Jarrad's first meeting with these investigators from July here). Bwahahahaha I think that it was the strangest visit that I have had on my entire mission. Hahahaha! We got to their home around 7 pm, and found them both home. I introduced my companion to them, he had never been there and we talked for a bit. We started speaking of their desire to learn about the gospel. And then, Z_ pipes up with this great idea, or with an idea you can really tell he thinks is great. "Do you want to meet mow ob da Chinese peepow?" Our first thought is referrals. "Of course!" He invited us to follow him upstairs, which really confused us.

We went up to the room where his computer was, where he invited us to sit down. He explained himself a bit more, and the gist of what he was saying was that he gets online pretty much everyday to a live video chat program that allows you to talk with any number of other people. He could program it such that it would only access people in China. He wanted to show off that he has white friends. Apparently everyone in China wants to meet Americans! So he pulled up the chat thing and said he would be our interpreter, so that we could talk to the Chinese people.... Cool! The camera was pointed at us when the video chat room loaded, and a few faces popped up. The other people saw us, then excitedly began to talk to Z_. They fired us so many questions. Not too long later, we saw someone took a screenshot of us and sent it out as a message for everyone on the chat to see. Pretty soon, more and more people requested to talk with us. Our screen was filled with Chinese people who all wanted the opportunity to talk with us.

Hahahahah it was soooooo weird! I felt like something on display. Apparently a lot of the Chinese people were saying that they were Christians too. That's great! Or maybe they were just saying that. One old woman asked us if she would be attractive in America. Ah!! Danger, danger! What the heck?! I quickly realized that these people were dressing up to look good for the camera, many of them were saying to come and visit them in China. Ahh!!!!!!!!

This is why missionaries are not allowed on the internet..... Hahahah so funny!

Absorbed in the Book of Mormon

We had a great opportunity to share the gospel with someone, a bit of a miracle. There is a less-active brother in the area who wanted us to come over and teach his family. We called him up the evening before our appointment, and followed up to see if we were still good to come and teach them. He said they probably weren't going to be there, but that he was going to be the only one. We were sad, but still happy to help out this brother to understand the Gospel better.

We got there, and surprise! His partner was there! It was pretty funny, because he was too shy to invite her to join the lesson, and she was too shy to join us, so Elder B and I had to be the ones to break the ice. She agreed to join us, and we had an incredible lesson. It was awesome! We taught the Restoration, they both received it well, and accepted copies of the Book of Mormon. We followed up this morning via telephone call, and J_ has been absorbed in the Book of Mormon. He can't put it down! He read all the way through First Nephi, and now he is in Second. He has taken that as an answer to his prayer, asking whether or not the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

The Spirit works on each of us differently. But as we pray with sincerity, our prayers are always, without fail, answered. That is a promise.

I need some answers to questions...

We were blessed to have a great appointment with J_ and S_ as well. We felt that the Spirit guided us in our teaching. We originally planned to teach the Plan of Salvation, but that morphed into fasting and prayer. They needed an answer to prayer to know that God is there, and that the message that we share is true. The Spirit was strong, and they committed to fast this past Saturday to Sunday. One comment after committing to do so was "I need some answers to questions...." They understood well the power of fasting. Sunday, they had a tragedy in the family. If you could pray for them, that would be much appreciated; pray that they receive an answer to prayer, and pray that they can overcome adversity. Thank you!

Got this from Jarrad's camera card - Dapto (we think)

My parents will probably send you away

We also had a finding miracle. Well, lots of them, but this is one of the few. Just yesterday, we were walking around, trying to be productive, but without any success. It was dead outside. We just kept walking and walking, no one was outside. But eventually, there was a high school kid who walked up to us and struck up a conversation. Cool! We told him about our unique message to the world. And he agreed to hear us out. Sweet as! We could tell he was sincere because he said to not come to his home, we will meet elsewhere, because "my parents will probably send you away". Will keep ya informed on his progress. Oh, and he texted last night, super excited to find out that he has a Mormon friend, who I am sure will be getting a lot of questions. Cool beans! His name is N_, so please pray for him too!

This week has surprises and miracles in store! I am looking forward to it! Now, are you all ready for another surprise?

I got transfered!!! Dang it!!!!

Jokes! Neither myself nor my companion left. In fact, only one missionary in our zone got transferred. So I am still here. This will be the area that I have served in the longest! And only my 3rd comp that I have been with for more than one transfer. Sigh... I just finished my 7 1/2 month as a Zone Leader. Time flies! Gosh! But we are looking forward to an awesome transfer!

Yes, we beat Elder Mac's team :) hahahah!  Mom! Stop swearing! Dad I have NOT added those colorful words to my vocab, and do not plan on doing so.

Typical brekky for Elder Larsen is a bowl of Wheat bix (they have really grown on me) mixed with balanced right, which is kinda like raisin bran with more variety in the fruits.

That's my week! Love you all heaps! Pray for us here in Aussie-land!

Love,
Elder Larsen