10.25.10

The bus ride to Dar is long, I've made that trip 4 times now and I don't know if i want to do it again.... but in this mission, anything is possible. Sat we got picked up at 7:00 am and we didn't get to our apartment in Arusha till 7:00 pm.   Friday we had Zone Conference and then ZLC.  It was a long day of meetings and talking.  I conducted the Zone Conference, so that was a pretty cool experience.  This Saturday we are planning for a baptism.  The other elder's also had 2 canidates but they found out yesterday that one was involved in poligamy, she's wife # 2 so that was kind of a heart break.  but at the same time its a common thing here, it's not fun when you find someone to accept the gospel and then you find out that they can't be baptized.  So when we got to Dar I got the package that you sent and also a letter from Grandma Larsen.  thanks for all the stuff you sent, when i first saw the trail mix i was confused, i wasn't sure why you would send me such a thing.  but then i started eating it and i must admit, it's good stuff. i like it, kinda addicting, but good.  So lately I've been studying a lot in the old testament and there has been one thing that has stuck out to me a lot.  the people are always obedient quickly and with out question.  When the Lord commands, they act.  I've thought a lot about some of the choices that i've made in my life. how if i would have immediately followed the Lord's counsel then i would've been better off.  It just goes to show that the promise in D&C 82:10 is true.  As we are obedient to the Lord then we will always recieve the promised blessings.  I love you guys and i hope that you are following the Lord in all you do.  He has marked the path and gone on before us, now it's our turn to follow.  Have a great week, take care.

Love
Elder Larsen  

10.18.10

Well this week went by quick, they seem to do that lately.  Yesterday was awesome, we had 10 of our investigators and the other companionship had 10 as well. 10 + 10 = 20 investigators at church.  and it was a great meeting, good lessons and just a good day.  Today we went back up to the waterfall with Elder Jackson.  the wild raspberries were pretty good today, the sun was shining and there was only about 3 inches of dust on the trail.  It was a good hike, it's a lot easier to get somewhere if you know where your going compared to hiking blindly.  I don't know what the big deal is about eating a squirrel.  We cooked it and blessed it, there isn't much more we could've done, unless we would have caught it last year and vaccinated it.  :)  but that would've been quite the challenge.  This week is going to be a bit short.  Thursday morning we're going to Dar and we'll be getting back on Saturday.  Friday will be full of meetings, first zone conference and then zone leaders counsel.  i hope we'll be able to see the beach again.  that was cool last time.  The AP's will be there this time as well, it'll be good to see them both again.  Elder Lipengah said that he has a package for me so i'm excited to get it.  hopefully there will be a letter too.  We're planning on having a baptism in a couple weeks, i'm excited for it, we've been working like crazy and it's been way to long since we've had one.  Baptisms are awesome, helping someone to get to that point isn't always easy but it's totally worth it to be there for them and to help in the process.  But making those covenants are only half the battle, after that we have to keep our end of the deal.  By remaining worthy of the covenants that we've made then the Lord will surely bless us and help us in our daily lives and challenges.  I love you all and i hope you have a great week.
Love
Elder Larsen

10.11.10

So this week seemed to fly by. Elder Jackson got here on Tuesday?  or maybe it was Wednesday, i can't remember at the moment, but he's a way cool guy.  Everything is going pretty good, we had to change a few baptismal dates because of our traveling plans.  We'll be going to Dar again on the 21 of Oct.  We won't get back till satuday afternoon.  So the week after we return we should be having a few baptisms.  It'll be a good day :)  So i got to thinkin that it just wasn't fair that you guys get to do all this hunting without me..... so i took matters into my own hands. :)  hehe  So, I have this little slingshot, and at the church there are a ton of squirrels in the bushes.  well, i killed me one. but don't worry, we went home and cleaned it up, cooked it, and ate it.  Ya know, squirrel isn't to bad. I'll try to upload a picture of it.  haha it was a pretty short hunt, but it sure was fun. I hope that you guys continue to be successful in your hunts.  So mom, were you able to send that package yet?  Well i hope that all is well and that you are continuing to read and study the scriptures.  There is an amazing power that comes from the scriptures, it really is the window to revelation.  I only know of two windows at the moment; Scriptures => revelation and tithing => many blessings.  Open the windows in your life and the Lord is sure to bless you. I love you all and i hope you have a great week. 
Love
Elder Larsen

10.04.10

Well this week has been interesting.  Elder Magero left on Thursday so since then we've been working in a three-sum with Elder Frost.  His new comp, Elder Ayana, was suppose to come down friday.  but the border wouldn't let him through. Today we found out that another Elder will be coming tomorrow, Elder Jackson.  He's from Zimbabwe if i'm not mistaken.  I met him a couple weeks ago while at the Leadership training.  He seems like a cool guy so it'll be fun to get to know him.  Yesterday we had a lunch appointment all set up after church so we could all break our fast, but at church the lady cancelled and after that appointment we were booked until the evening.  but luckily we had another investigator that invited us over right after the other one cancelled.  That was a great blessing, he fed us kabisa.  if it wasn't for him, then we wouldn't have been fasting anymore.... we would've been starving.  I'm glad you guys got my letter, i was wondering if it was ever gonna arrive.  So i didn't even know that it was Conference weekend until Sister Burgener told us Sunday morning.  I feel like i'm on a different planet sometimes.  Hopefully we'll be able to watch it soon, three weeks....maybe.  So the Burgener's came up this last weekend and with them came Christmas!!  I got that package you sent with the Lurf's and all my garmets and suff that i ordered from the distribution center. Tanzanian prices were cut 90% on almost everything, so i ordered a bunch of stuff.  My shoes with these new insoles feel like a new pair of shoes.  They feel so good.  Thanks a ton.  So as for being there for the next peach pie that you make...... i kinda doubt it. The thing that i want to eat lately is biscuts and gravy.  so could you please send me the recipe for the gravy.  I'm pretty sure i can make the biscuts, but i'm gonna need some help with the gravy part of things.  I guess i better end on a spiritual note..... So we've been told to focus on the docrine on Chirst lately.  one thing that i've learned is that all we have to do is get sanctified by the Holy Ghost.  ( ? 2 ne 31 ? )  After that the Atonement will perfect us ( ?  Hebrews 12 or 13 ? )   sorry i don't have my scriptures with me or i'd give you the exact refference, that's ok, it'll give you a chance to search for it by yourself.  But the hard part is getting sanctified or "enduring to the end."   The goal of Heavenly Father is to bring to pass the "immortality and eternal life of man," right? so He just wants us to be perfect after this life, as we're perfect in this life by applying the Atonement and keeping the commandments then we'll get sactified.  it ain't easy, i don't think any test is..... but it is possible, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ and our loved ones around us.  As we lift each other up and are an example to all around us, then we will allow the Lord to shape us into the disciple that we need to be in order to live in His presence in the Celestial Kingdom. I love you all and i hope that you have a great week/day.

Love 

Elder Larsen