04.25.11

I'm happy to hear that you guys had such a great Easter Holiday.  We missionaries must be workaholics cuz we just had a normal weekend.  :)  Sylvester the branch missionary who i was working with went home yesterday so i'm back in a threesome with Elder Jackson and Elder Rapiya.  this week Elder Rapiya will be going down to Arusha to serve in my old area.  Elder Olsen, (from Young Ward)  will be coming to take his place and Elder Jackson ( from Farmington ) will be coming to be my companion.  they should both be here by thursday.  On saturday there was a baptism. it was a good service.  i had asked a couple of the Recent Converts who i taught to give talks and come and give support.  they did awesome and it is so cool to see them grow in the gospel and gain testimonies and then share the gospel with their friends and family.  Next month should be a good month, we have a few baptisms planned and our investigators are just progressing and doing great.  The next baptismal service that we have planned is on the 7th of May. 
So from what i hear you guys are turning into fishes.  i expected things to be different when i return, but i didn't think i'd return to Lake Bonneville and a school of fishes. :) haha i hope that things dry up a bit and that there isn't too much damage.  So i wrote a few letters a while ago, have you received any of them?  Let me know if ya do/did.
Well this week i've had an added appreciation for the restoration, simply because of the knowledge of the Apostasy.  we have one investigator who has done research and found out info about many different religions around the world and the knowledge of the apostasy helps all of it to make sense.  I'm so grateful of the knowledge the Savior has given us and the gift of the Spirit in my life.  I would honestly be a very confused person if i didn't know anything about the Church. we meet people everyday in that situation and it hurts when someone doesn't want to know more or doesn't care to find answers to his/her questions.  but then i've also realized that not everybody is going to gain a testimony immediately.  some things take time, We met a man the other day who met the missionaries back in 1996 in Kitale, Kenya.  he knew a little about the church, but only now does he have a desire to know more.  the Lord truly does work in His own time and in His own way.  but His way is the best, we just need to be our best and follow the guidance that we receive and all will be well. I love you guys, take care and have a great week killing pigs :) 
Love
Elder Larsen