One of the craziest weeks in my mission!

Dear Family and Friends,

How ya goin? I think this has been one of the craziest weeks in my mission. And I can say that with confidence.

I think that I mentioned that we were going to have lots of meetings with Elder (President) Pearson? Area President of the Pacific Area? Well, we had 3 meetings with him. We had lots of awesome teaching experiences this week. Lots of new opportunities to share the gospel. Worked with lots of members. Wow! What a week! So much to write!

He was going to be kicked out of his home

I think that I had just better go day by day. Monday, as I hinted to, we were able to get back in contact with our investigator Y*n. He had previously dropped off of the face of the planet. It was cool, because the reason we were able to do so was because we sent him a verse in the book of mormon, along with a number of other investigators. We sent him Moroni 10:32. It is one of my favorite scriptures. So he told us that he liked the scripture, and I think I sent exactly what he wrote? Anyways, we met up later that same afternoon at the chapel, and he opened up to us, telling us he missed meeting up regularly, and also had some temporal concerns that he needed help with. We were able to share with him about how Heavenly Father will bless those who have faith. He was going to be kicked out of his home the following day, and had nowhere to go, and wanted to stay with us. Obviously, he couldn't which we told him (it is against Missionary Rules), but he exercised some faith, and prayed for help, and was blessed the next day with somewhere to live! It was a neat little miracle for him!

Meetings with Elder Pearson

Tuesday had our first two meetings with Elder Pearson. We had MLC (Mission Leadership Council) and then a Fireside to go to, where he presided at both. I think I had better just summarize some of the main points that he made. So first, MLC:

• To set goals, we need to have a specific date, know the obstacles that inhibit achieving these goals, know our resources, then we need a specific plan, followed by massive action, and we need to know the leverage (why we have made these goals and plans)
• What doctrine, if understood, would change the behavior of the missionaries that we serve? The investigators? The members?
• Setting goals for the week, we need to have more faith in them, not vain hope. How many new investigators are we going to find TODAY? How many members are we going to inspire TODAY? What inspiration are we going to receive from the Holy Ghost TODAY?
• Overall, there was a strong sense of urgency, urgency in the work, that gave me a drive to do better. 

He counseled us to remember the feelings that we felt, rather than the words that were said. I remember feeling inadequate, yet determined to change. It was a very spiritually empowering meeting. My faith has definitely increased.

The feelings the Holy Ghost sends feel like Home

At the fireside, Elders Tito, Bryce, Smith and I sung the song "Did you think to Pray?" We had a fun time singing and sharing our talents with the many people that showed up to the fireside. We may sing again as a group for Elder Bednar in February.... :O

Some things that I learned from the fireside (it was a recent convert fireside, and the first point was something that a recent convert said, the next were from Elder Pearson):

• "How could you have the truth, and not share it??" (said with tears in her eyes)
• The Atonement is the most compelling evidence that God is Our Loving Heavenly Father
• How does the Gospel bless families? It gives us divine capacity (Grace) to overcome weaknesses, and allows us to change in order to be able to follow God. And as we draw nearer to God, naturally we will draw nearer to our families, because we share the common desire and goal of achieving eternal life.
• The Holy Ghost's responsibility is to help us know where we come from, why we are here, and where we are going. He does this by sending feelings that remind us of where we used to be; home. The feelings the Holy Ghost sends are the same feelings we felt in the presence of our Heavenly Father. That is why there is a familiar ring to the Gospel in the ears of those that hear it for the first time. That is why when people enter our chapels it feels like home.

What an inspiring man.

Christ brings healing

Wednesday we had a great teaching experience with D*rek and B*rtha. We were able to go and testify of the plan of salvation, that despite the challenges that presented themselves, B*rtha can be with her father again. We shared the scripture in the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:13, and talked about how Christ brings healing. Her heart can and will be healed through Christ alone. Our fellowship bore an awesome testimony. It was a pretty powerful spiritual experience.

Side note; apparently B*rtha's husband stole her copy of the Book of Mormon and had been reading it since the missionaries stopped coming 3 years ago! Cool! We need to meet him!

She hasn't prayed since the baptism fell through...

The same day, we also had an appointment with one of the YSA (young single adults) that is prepping for her mission and her friend. Her friend has been taught by many missionaries, and she has been out regular meeting with missionaries for 2 years. She was almost baptised, but then was in the hospital, and then things just kinda went downhill. Her name is Ch*lsea. She wants to get back into it. She knows that the Church is true. We got to know her better, then shared a brief scripture about prayer. Apparently she hasn't prayed since the baptism fell through 2+ years ago. And it was her that realized that is what she needs to start doing. Cool beans! Hopefully we are able to continue to help her back to the path that brings eternal life!! Her fellowship was sooooo excited and happy with the way it went. Man! And all she did was invite her friend to dinner, and say the missionaries are going to be there! It is so simple!! :)

Let me reiterate what the recent convert in the fireside said "How could you have the truth, and not share it?" Ponder that question.... :)

Zone Conference with Elder Pearson

Thursday was a Zone Conference with Elder Pearson. It was so spiritually enlightening, I don't think that I could even summarize it and do it justice. Elder Pearson took almost the whole 5 hours. Wow! The thing that stuck out the most to me was a diagram he drew. Next week I will have to send a pic or something...... Basically it outlined the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, but much differently than I have ever seen it. Here, I will try and draw it and take a pic and send it today..... He talked about what kind of missionary do we want to be. He taught about becoming a true disciple of Christ. There was just so much to learn! I think that you will simply have to read my study journal when I come home in 16 or 17 years. It was wonderful.

She prayed and thanked the Lord

Friday, we had a lesson with M*sui (the less-active, well, now active brother that we met with like every day for a week or so) and his partner, M*rtha. M*rtha is ready to hear the Gospel. She had questions about the Book of Mormon, and many doctrinal points of the Gospel, so M*sui invited her to allow us to come over. And she agreed! Another simple invitation! Pretty cool!

So we went over and taught. The Spirit was there. We testified of the Love of God manifest in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Restoration of Christ's Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. M*rtha understands, and committed to take the necessary steps to know truth for herself. We were able to all kneel as she prayed and thanked the Lord for allowing us to come and share this precious message. What a neat experience!

You two just seem to glow!

We also did some service for a potential investigator family we met. We basically attacked the weeds and unwanted bushes in their backyard, for which they were grateful beyond feeling. They received the message we briefly shared with gladness, and we set up an appointment for the next day. Their names are J*hn and M*l. They opened up to us and said that they have had lots of problems in their relationship, and they need divine help to overcome the weaknesses in their lives! So the next day, I was on trade-offs with Elder Bryce, while our companions went to Sydney to take a test, we brought a "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" to their home. We taught many of the same basic truths that Elder Pearson taught in the fireside, how the Gospel blesses families.

They had so many wonderful questions. The best 2 parts were 1) M*l apparently was baptized when she was 8 in a different ward in our stake. We found a lost sheep! and 2) John agreed to be baptized when he knows that these things are true. One of the things M*l said was "You two just seem to glow! You have this aura about you! Every time we see you, we notice it! (She traced a big smile on her face)" We testified that that was the Spirit working through us. The Spirit emanates, in the form of the Light of Christ, to help humble truth-seekers to find it. That was what she saw in us. (I got the chills as she said that and as we responded). Choice experience!

Just busy busy busy!

We also met with Zh*ng. He is so excited for his baptism. We were able to resolve some of his concerns. For example, he now prays in the name of Jesus Christ, which before was a major stumbling block. He has committed to come to church every week beginning the 25th of Jan (we moved his baptismal date to February 7th). Next week, he will be prepared with all of the supplies that he needs for the stop smoking program. He has heaps of fellowship. And things are looking pretty good for him!

Yesterday was a decent day. We had church and ward council. We met an atheist woman from Denmark, whom we gave a Book of Mormon, which she will read and pray about. We met with R*o, and set an appointment for tonight (Monday). Just busy busy busy! I think you may be able to see the difference in our work now. We have a stronger sense of urgency. In the words of Pres. Back, Elder Pearson "got inside our brains for a few minutes and rewired them to stop thinking like 18-21 year olds, and to start thinking like disciples of Jesus Christ." Hahaha funny analogy but true!

Freeze!

Something that my companion did to make me laugh: we do this thing where if one of us says "Freeze!", the other has to immediately stop what he is doing. So we have had some funny moments where for example I will be eating something, or about to eat something, and Elder Wu says "Freeze!", then takes whatever I have in my hands and eats it, then says "Unfreeze!" Hahaha. Just little dumb stuff like that makes us have a good time doing the work. :)

That was pretty much my week! The pictures below were from on Friday when my companion got some treatment for his back, which he hurt one morning during morning exercises.

Love you heaps!
Elder Larsen

Removing air in the cups...

Wow...

Yum! Pepperoni pizza!

If you look close, you can see Elder Wu has needles in his back.....

The next pic is Elder Mariano with a baby pigeon that lives on our balcony.
In the Phillipines, he had heaps of pet pigeons!