Elder Jarrad Larsen: Sad to see my firstborn son in the wilderness go

Hey y'all!

It has been a crazy week, with transfers and whatnot! What an emotional roller coaster!

Monday, we had a district P-day, at another beautiful place, called Minamurra falls! I didn't get too many good photos, because my camera decided to play up, but it's okay. :) I'll send what I have home.

Weird stuff happened this week

I had a trade-off with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Janes (the one that I am really good mates with). That was heaps of fun. We worked in Dapto ward boundaries, and had the opportunity to go around and see a couple of the people that I knew and was close with when I was there. We saw K_, which was cool! It was also good to have a chance to teach and further improve teaching skills. I think that I have taken for granted the opportunity that I get to teach the Gospel, and the Divine Authorization to do so. I will definitely bear that in mind this week, that it won't last forever.

Lots of weird stuff happened this week. For example, a couple days after our scheduled trade-off, we had to do another trade off with the same companionship, because one of them was sick, and couldn't go to their appointment. We came down, and I stayed with the sick missionary to give my trainee a chance to teach. Elder Kerr has really grown since I have been with him. My goal for him was for his testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel to grow, so that he can go out and preach more powerfully. It has been really amazing to spend the transfer with him and have my own testimony grow just seeing his faith. What a great guy. He has become more confident in his teaching. He teaches simply and powerfully. What a great trainee!

We made something called Lu Sipe

Other highlights; we met up with M_ our investigator this week on Thursday night to prepare for our Tongan class. We wanted to practice making Tongan food so that we would be better prepared for Saturday. We made something called Lu Sipe with M_, and it actually turned out really nice! I really enjoyed it! It was good, because we were cooking in the home of a member, and had to leave to go to MCM (Missionary Coordination Meeting) for an hour while the food cooked, so M_ stayed back with the member, and continued to develop a friendship with him. M_ is the man! We ended up teaching him on Saturday, but we didn't have a whole lot of time to talk because we had to shoot off to go to class. Thanks for your prayers on ours and his behalf!

In regards to the Chilean family, yes, we are still seeing them every week. The relationship is there, there is just little opportunity to teach and share messages with them. We are working on that. They are so good! Such great people! According to the Doctrine and Covenants, they really are prepared for the Gospel, and to embrace it again. D&C 35:12 says "And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation." Because of the good that they do, they are ready to receive the fulness of the Lord's gospel. That applies to everyone! So keep your eyes open:).

Sad to see my firstborn son in the wilderness go

Okay, so apparently some of you got inside info on transfers. Let me fill you in on everything else. So, as you heard, I am staying in Wollongong. Woohoo! I am so happy about that! It is a bittersweet transfer, because Elder Kerr got transferred out. I am training again, but am sad to see my firstborn son in the wilderness go. :( He needed to go to the Spanish ward, so I am happy for him that he is there. He is with a missionary who has also been out for only 6 weeks, so I am sure that he will grow quite a bit over the course of his stay there in the Spanish ward. I know that I won't be training another Spanish speaker. I already asked President. Maybe a Samoan? That would be sweeeeeet! Who knows? But anyways, I am currently with Elder Janes, who is also training, and we are in Bankstown with some of our missionary mates, including Elder Thomas? You may remember him from Dapto days. He was Elder Anderson's companion. He also served in Campbelltown at the same time I did. So it was fun! He is the man. (BTW, he just told me that if we go to NZ we need to go to a place south of Hawks Bay called Mahia.... Just so you know).

Also, my district has changed. I am still serving as a district leader, but unfortunately the districts have split so I don't get to go and do trade-offs in Dapto and Mittagong anymore. In fact, I only get to go on trade-offs with the Zone Leaders. I don't mind, whatever the Lord has for me! But it was fun to be able to associate with other elders and sisters every week!

Anyways, thanks for all of the prayers and the love! Hope you all have a great week!

Alofa atu!
Elder Loseni