My week was... Hectic! That's for sure!
So I'll just jump right into it! As I mentioned last week, I got to hang out in Bankstown for a few days to wait for my son (trainee) to fly into the mission. That was fun. Tuesday was busy, as the missionary I was with (Elder Rose, another Samoan speaking palagi) had a couple medical appointments we had to go to. So we actually kinda got to travel all over the mission! We went through Campbelltown, Liverpool, and Bankstown areas. It was sweet! That night, we had a trainers dinner at the mission home with all of the trainers. That was pretty sweet! Very motivational, because of the testimonies that we shared, and of the training that we received.
The day we were getting our children :)
Wednesday was the big day! The day that we were going to be getting our children:). So we met at the mission office at 12 o'clock and had a long day of meeting all of the jet-lagged trainees, talking with them, and helping them to feel welcome. They had different orientation stuff to do, we had a lunch all together etc., and a testimony meeting, all to help Pres and Sis Back to determine which trainee will go with which trainer. After all of the trainees bore their testimonies, Pres and Sis Back, along with the Assistants, went into Pres's office and decided all of the companionships. There were probably about 45 missionaries in total in the room, trainers and -ees. Pres directed the trainers to bear their testimonies while they decided companionships, then told me to get up and lead us all in an intermediate hymn if we were feeling tired.
Eventually, after maybe 10 or 15 testimonies, I decided it was time for a hymn. I got up, and sat next to a particular trainee, who was the designated piano player, and asked him to help me out after the person speaking was finished. His name is Elder Kerr. He was one of the three Spanish-speaking missionaries to be trained. A thought went through my head "That would be funny if we ended up being companions".
Pres and the others came back. He then asked trainers and -ees to sit on opposite sides of the chapel, and called us all up in groups of threes.
The Spanish speakers were first of all.
"Elder Edmondson, your new companion is Elder Simon!
"Elder Fitzner, your new companion is.... Elder Meyer!
"Which leaves... Elder Larsen with Elder Kerr!"
Hahaha I smiled as I looked at my new companion, gave him a massive bear hug. I knew that he was meant to be my "son", and I knew that the thought that I had was inspired when I first thought "Huh, it would be funny if we were comps". He said he felt something similar. And it has turned out to be quite a wonderful first week of the transfer!
Feeling the effects of Jet Lag
I have learned a lot from Elder Kerr. Let me tell y'all about him! So he is from Anaheim, California. He went to a year of school at BYU before his mission. He is still 18, turns 19 next month. He enjoys waterpolo and swim, and we like a lot of the same movies etc. A great guy! I was pretty pumped that he is from Cali as well. I would have tolerated a Utah-son, but Cali is way better! Only joking, for you Utah folk! You guys are great! :)
I really love that Elder Kerr is enthusiastic about being a missionary. He has a big smile, and is so excited to preach the gospel! He is also very humble, and willing to learn. I can definitely learn a lot from those attributes. It has been fun over the past couple days because of the effects of jet lag. A couple of times, we would finish planning, and then he would say "I'm gonna go lay on the bed for 5 minutes...." This is at 9:30-40ish. I would go in the room, around 10:30, after finishing writing in my journal, and he would be crashed on the bed, still dressed in proselyting clothing. Hahaha! I have really enjoyed being with him. It is really quite a different experience being with someone towards the end of their mission vs the beginning. Much more focused, for sure.
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| Elder Kerr, feeling a little jet lag. |
DTM (District Training Meeting) was good, it is admittedly fun to be able to prepare trainings again, because I feel that I get more out of my studies. We talked about Greenie Fire, and it's relation to our Faith, and desire to serve the Lord. We are all a bit more motivated to do the work as a result!
Our ward mission leader and his family are awesome! Matt Hardwick really knows his stuff. To help our investigator M_ feel more a part of the ward family, he organized a hike for us all to participate in. It was gorgeous! M_ (investigator) showed us all up with his fitness, and we had a great time. Afterwards, we went to the Hardwick's for french toast. they made heaps and forced it down our throats against our will!
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| Thank you Matt Hardwick for this picture! |
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| Elders Larsen and Kerr. |
He refers to the teachings of the Church as "our beliefs"
The week's highlight (as far as teaching goes) was Sunday arvo, after Church. We had some enlightening talks and lessons in church, where M_ (our investigator) and us all really enjoyed. Matt Hardwick taught a really profound lesson on scripture study, and its importance. We met with M_ at his home, to finish teaching and discussing the Plan of Salvation. It was fun to prepare with Elder Kerr for his first real teaching appointment with an investigator (planned in advance, anyways). It was very spiritual. It is neat to pay attention to M_ as he asks questions and shares his thoughts, as he refers to the teachings of the Church as "our beliefs" or "our faith". He already believes in all of the doctrine, and has a desire to be baptized, it is a matter now of helping him to resolve his concern (I think I mentioned it before).
We were prepared to talk about it today. We spoke, as guided by the Spirit, of how God gives commandments, and the only time that we are to go against his commandments is when God himself directs it. We shared the example in the Book of Mormon, where Nephi is compelled by the Spirit to kill Laban, which would be a sin under normal circumstances, however because God directed it, it would be a sin to not obey. He applied that to himself very well, without us having to explain. He decided that he would like to do a fast, to see what the will of God would be on the matter, and receive personal revelation. He feels firm in his personal decisions... but he doesn't know God's mind on the matter. He feels that if it is God's will for him... then he will have no problem being baptized [sooner]. He has righteous intentions. Otherwise, he would prefer to wait until [later], because he feels that it would be hypocritical. Please pray for him! We will be fasting with M_ this coming weekend, but he could always use your prayers too!
Well that's my week! I don't have much time left, so I will talk to y'all next week!
Love,
Elder Larsen
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