08.30.10

Hey guys, how is everything this week?  This last week was really good, Tuesday we traveled to Dar, Wednesday we were in a meeting and Thursday we came back.  So at the meeting was Elder Watson from the Seventy.  He's in the Area presidency.  Elder Ndhlovu and I were asked to give the training for the AP's cuz they couldn't make it to Dar.  That was pretty cool.  We were given a topic and then we had to prepare our own training, it was good.  Elder Watson talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  Sister Watson talked about using the Articles of Faith as we teach.  President and Sister Broadbent talked about prayer and how important it is.  After the meeting all of us changed our clothes and went down to the beach.  It was so cool to walk on the beach and see the Indian Ocean, it pretty much looks like any other beach, just sand and water.  But i loved it.  We later found out that the beach we were on is the same place where the country of Tanzania was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel.  i don't remember who did it, i think it was Elder Nelson, but i'm not sure at the moment.  So we got back in Arusha thursday night and then friday, I burnt a shirt!!  It was cool i'm sending some pics of it, i decorated it and then soaked it in kerosene and i was gone in a matter of seconds.  It feels good to know that i've been out for one year now.  kinda weird to think about it, but its a good feeling.  So i've been wondering, do you have a good recipe for a pizza base?  We like to make pizza down here, but i don't ever know what to put in the dough to make it good and tasty, so if ya got a good one then would you please send it to me, thanks.  So right now i'm thinkin about the temple, i wish i could go there.  there are many people here who have the desire but are unable because of the distance.  I think its such a great blessing to have a temple in our backyards, i hope all of you are taking advantage of what the Lord has blessed us with by partaking of the blessings that are received in the temple. i hope you have a great week. 
I love you all!!  
Love, Elder Larsen

08.23.10

Aug 16, 2010

So the AP's just called, Elder Lipengah is leaving me. :(  But i'm not sure who will be replacing him.  I'm not to happy about that, i love this guy, six weeks just isn't long enough to get to know your brother.  So earlier this week Lipengah ran out the gate and locked me inside, so instead of getting my keys out of my pocket, i climbed the wall and jumped the gate. in the process i ripped my pants.  so i was able to sew them with green thread.  it ripped the seam so you can't see the thread, but if you could, haha you would laugh.  For insoles i think i need size 10, not really sure at the moment, my brain is empty.  sorry i haven't sent a picture of my house yet, my camera card has a virus and is a pain in my butt!! but i'll work on it.  So the other guys had a baptism yesterday, that was pretty good.    Eesh i'm brain-dead at the moment.  i'm not sure what to write about.  Well, say your prayers and study the scriptures and the Lord will bless you!  Love you have a great week.

Elder Larsen  

Aug 23, 2010

Sorry last week was so short.  I'll try to do better in the future :)  so last week Elder Lipengah left and went to serve in Nairobi with Elder Harris as an AP.  I should have known he was going to be the new one, he's a great missionary, i'm gonna miss him.  But its ok, i gots myself a new companion named Elder Ndhlovu.  He's also from Zimbabwe.  He's a way cool guy, i love him already.  Elder Magero will now be serving with Elder Frost.  We had a hard time getting Elder Lipengah and Elder Sibiya on a bus to nairobi, they didn't leave till thursday morning.  the passports didn't come till wednesday night, so when we picked up elder Ndhlovu and elder Frost on wednesday afternoon, I had two companions for a little bit.  that was a little weird.  I don't think i would like to ever serve in a threesome.  It would be difficult.  So this week i'm looking forward to; two 10 hour bus rides, one long meeting, BURNING ONE SHIRT, and well, thats about it.  Honestly i'm only looking forward to the shirt burning.  I mark one full year on friday the 27 of august.  I'm so excited.  Its weird to think i've been gone that long.  this morning we did what i would call "spring cleaning"  our flat needed a good cleaning, so we did it.  i found a ton of crickets, i think they wanted to be like the mormon crickets or something, cuz they were everywhere.  This week is mission tour in dar es saalam, thats why i'll be a bus for 10 hours.  we leave tuesday morning, wednesday will be the mission tour and then thursday we'll get back on a bus and arrive in arusha thursday evening sometime.  Friday will be the day to burn a shirt.  This week is going to be long, but i think it'll go pretty quick.  well i think this is longer than the last one.... i think.  most of the time i don't know what to write about, so ask me questions and i'll write about that.  well i love you all, have a great week. 

Love

Elder Larsen

These are the pictures of his flat!!

So i almost forgot to tell you guys about the Mormon Helping Hands.  Saturday the whole branch and a ton of our investigators went to an orphanage and we cleaned up the place and helped where we could.  It was pretty cool, we got to wear the yellow vests and everything.  Thats why me and Elder Ndhlovu and I are in yellow vests in the one picture.  So I hope ya like the pics. have a good one.
love
Elder Larsen

08.09.10

This week was sweet.  We went on exchanges with the other        elders. i was with Sibiya, he's from South Africa.  Today there is a group coming from Nairobi for the night.  they are doing the same thing that i had to do a few months ago.  coming down for visa  stuff.  it should be a fun night.  we had to arrange for two sisters who are coming down as well.  so other than that not much is     going on, just missionary work.  we've been working with a part member family, teaching the kids english and preparing them for baptism.  we set dates this week with them so we're excited for    that.  Transfers are next week, but i don't think i'll get moved, i    hope i stay here for a while, i love this place.  there is an international trade fair this last week so today we are going to try and go  to it.  hopefully it will be good.  Sorry i'm a bit rushed so i didn't  get any pics uploaded, so love you have a good one.
love
Elder Larsen

08.02.10

This week has been crazy, I'm exhausted!  We've been    working like slaves here.  I don't think i described    what we do here everyday. Monday is pday, tuesday is    english class in the morning, wed is DDM, thursday is   english class in the morning, friday we do our weekly   planning, saturday is coordination meeting, and sunday  is church.  We have a meeting everyday of the week.  Butits good, i like it here. Today we went to another snake park, this time we got to hold a python.  i have some  good pics but you might have to wait till next week.    there were also some cobras   that got all puffed up for us.  one was a spitting cobra and the window was       covered with spit.  we also went on a wild monkey chase in the forest with a local man.  we found some white    monkey's that looked like a skunk. they were pretty cool and vocal.  Well that was the excitement for the week.  Next week i think we might go with a member to find    some waterfall that is nearby.  This last month has     flown by, i can't believe that it' August.  Well i hope you have a great day/week.
Love
Elder Larsen