05.30.11

Mom,
eesh, this last week was crazy with traveling to Eldoret and back.  We left Thursday morning and our Leadership Training was that afternoon.  It was a great meeting, I gave a training about how to improve our DDM's.  That night the B's took us out to a fabulous Chinese restaurant, i haven't had such good food in a while.  Sister B even made us a big chocolate cake, talk about good!  Friday morning we were suppose to return to Kisumu, but the transportation was on lock-down.  apparently the government was trying to improve the quality of vehicles on the road.  but what really happened was all the matatus and buses went and parked outside of town and took the day off.  so we were kinda trapped in Eldoret.  It worked out great though, cuz President Kogo (District President and counselor to Pres. B)  planned a big dinner for all the missionaries that night.  All the Sisters were there and then us and the Eldoret Elders.  Saturday morning we were able to find a little van headed to Kisumu so we jumped in and returned.  Well that was the excitement for the week. This week we have a huge baptismal service planned.  i think the count is up to 9 people getting baptized.  One sister, Agneta, is a referral from the B's.  She works at the local hotel where the couple's stay. Ever since she was introduced to the church in April she's been coming and we've been teaching her.  She's awesome and really prepared by the Lord.  President and Sister B were in town yesterday to visit with the Jorgensen's and Sister B called me this morning, she was so excited cuz she was able to talk with Agneta.  They visited last night and again this morning before they left. 
Oh i got one of the packages, the one with ranch dressing in it.  and i also got a birthday card from kim and cindy.  Thanks a ton, you guys are awesome. 
So I just thought for a second and this is what i can come up with.  I could share about all the wives and children I've been offered, but i lost count.....  so the thing that sticks out in my mind the most as i've reflected on the past few months is just about how i've been able to watch as people progress towards baptism.  as someone allows the spirit to teach them something and then to see that person act on what they've been taught.  that is the greatest joy that i've had in the mission field.  it could be a small change or it could be something big, but being there and helping someone to change their life for the better is a feeling that is hard to match.  Like Agneta for example, we had a powerful lesson on the word of wisdom, we committed her to stop drinking tea and she stopped, just like that, cold turkey.  seeing someone exercise faith on something that you testify of and the spirit has borne witness of, is just cool.  When i'm able to see the hand of the Lord in someone else's life then i'm able to see more clearly His hand in my own life.  I guess another thing that i've experienced a lot of is dealing with companions and working towards unity.  That isn't always easy.  Developing Christlike attributes has been the best way to improve the quality of a relationship between companions and myself.  It's a good thing that they're written down in preach my gospel or else it would've been harder to choose which one to work on :)  so pick one and work on it, see the difference that it makes in not only your actions but in your relationships with others.  Well i'm drawing a blank for anything else, but look through my past emails, i'm sure there are some more experiences in there, 21 months of emails should add up to something, right? I love you guys, take care and have a great week.
Elder Larsen

05.23.11

So this last week went by pretty quick, i don't know where time goes but all of the sudden it's monday again and here i am writting another email.  Let's see, we've spent some time with the new couple, Elder and Sister Jorgensen.  We've tried to show them around a little and help them to know the area.  We ended up not having a baptism this last week, the next baptismal service that we have planned is June 4th.  It should be a great day, I think we counted like nine candidates who should be ready by then.  We were suppose to have a baptismal service this saturday but this week we have a Leadership Training in Eldoret, so all baptisms have been pushed back to the 4th of June.  The training should be a good one.  They've asked me to give a training, so i need to do a little bit of preparing and planning before we make our way up there.  Elder Jackson won't be accompanying me to Eldoret, only the DL's, ZL's and trainers are going, so unfortunately i have to leave him behind for a couple of days.  He'll be with another Elder that is working in Busia while we're up there. 
So i don't know why everybody wants to get married right before i get home, but this is starting to become a little bit absurd.  I know that the Prophets have said to get hitched, but i didn't think that meant to do it right before Casey comes home.  I mean seriously, that just isn't cool. haha jk i know my personal presence doesn't really make a difference but hey, i just wanted to voice my opinion.  congrats all you newlyweds-to-be!!! 
Love ya all
Elder Larsen      

05.16.11

The last few days have been pretty fun for Elder Jackson and I.  We had the opportunity to pet two cheetahs at this park, so we did.  it was awesome.  their fur reminded me a lot of the drathar's, short and rough.  This morning we went into town to try and find a frisbee.  we didn't find one, but we found two mitts and a bat.  I had my base ball with me, so we bought the mitts, borrowed the bat and went to the park for a couple of hours.  Two little glue boys showed up and started playing with us and then later the other elders came.  it felt so good to throw a base ball and swing a bat.  we only paid 250 KSH for the mitts, that's a little more than $3 and they're in good shape!  That was our exercise for the day, cuz we were too tired to get out of bed and go running this morning.  on the 28th of this month I'll be going back to Eldoret for a leadership training.  Not sure why, but they asked me to give a training, so i'm gonna have to prepare that in the mean time.  oh yeah, Kisumu now has couple missionaries again.  they showed up on saturday, we didn't even know they were coming.  i think the other elders knew, they just didn't tell us.  Elder and Sister Jorgenson are from somewhere in Idaho, i don't remember the town right now, but it started with and "m" ..... i think.  i also found out that Arusha will be getting a couple.  I'm so excited for that.  that place will probably pick up and improve at a much faster rate with somebody there to guide those saints.  Well i guess on a more spiritual note.  if all goes well then we should have a baptism this saturday.  We just got to wait for the approval to come back.  I love watching people's testimonies grow as time goes on.  this one family that we've been teaching is just awesome.  they walk for about an hour and a half every sunday to come to church.  the kids don't really understand much english, but they love what they feel.  we've been working with them and we set a baptismal date for the three oldest kids, the mother is already a member and her husband past away a few years ago.  Their faithfulness is amazing in my eyes.  it makes me sad to think of how easy it is to go to church at home.  these people struggle and save and do all they can to do what the Lord would want them to do.  The blessings that they receive from the Lord are amazing.  The Lord hasn't blessed them with huge things, but with small and almost insignificant things.  It just goes to show that the Lord is bound when we do what he says.  So..... let's do what he says!!
Love you guys
Elder Larsen

05.09.11

It was so good to talk to you guys yesterday, you all sound pretty good.  it's hard to believe that was my last phone call, time has really flown by.  So this whole last week is just a blur to me now.  I can't even remember what happened or what we did, all i know is that it went by really fast.  although i do remember that we had a baptism on Saturday and that it went very well.  I'm starting to not like church so much cuz for the past few weeks i've been the pianist.  I've learned a lot about the difference between playing the piano and playing the piano while people are singing.  lets just say it's hard and i'm not excited to play every week.  but i'm getting better slowly and i've learned a lot..... like, life goes on, even if i do slaughter a hymn.  Well today was pretty fun, we bought a whole bunch of meat and had a little BBQ.  it was a fun little activity and i enjoyed it.  This week we don't have much planned other than teaching people so it'll just be a normal week. Well i hope that all you mothers had a great day yesterday and that this week is a continuation of the holiday.  i love you all! 
Love
Elder Larsen

05.02.11

Mom,
Hey guys, congrats on your kill.  It sounds like you all had a blast.  It almost sounds like a target shoot rather than a hunt, but hey, meat in the freezer is meat in the freezer, sindio?   
This last week was pretty sweet, on Thursday the black Elder Jackson and I went to the funeral of one of the primary kids in the branch.  I feel bad for the father, last year his wife died from the same disease that his daughter just died from. It was a sad event, I don't like children's funerals.  After the funeral we went and picked up Elder Jackson, my companion, and then Elder Olsen, the other Elder Jackson's companion.  They're both good guys, my district is just awesome.
We had a depressing lesson yesterday.  We showed up and the couple that we were teaching and preparing for baptism informed us that he's a polygamist.  It kinda put a damper on everything cuz the wife was suppose to be baptized this Saturday.  Not much we can do in that situation except encourage them to continue to come to church and to live the gospel in their home, just like any other member in the church.  I guess we will see what will happen, but I really hope that they stay active.   
On a happier note, I can't wait for this weekend to come, not only do we get to talk on the phone, but we also have a baptism planned on Saturday.  It should be a good service. oh and Elder and Sister Fox left us some root beer concentrate.  that stuff is amazing.  it was so nice to sit back and drink root beer.  i had forgotten how delightful that stuff is.   
Yesterday, or maybe it was Saturday I can't remember, I was reading in 1 Nephi.  And I realized something.... it seems like Laban and Lamuel were very prone to whining after some kind of physical affliction.  I kinda thought that there are times when we react the same way.  However, Nephi set a great example by remaining humble and submissive in spite of all that was happening.  Through his humility and desire to do something to better the situation, the Lord was able to bring prosperity back to Lehi's family, to guide them and to feed them.  Today it seems like the world is going nuts with tsunami's, tornado's, earth quakes and then all kinds of personal afflictions and trials, and maybe we are the only one who feels the pain in that situation.  Regardless of the cause of the trial, we can push through and be a tool in the Lord's hand as we reach out, serve other people, and do something to make things better, the same way that Nephi did.  It all starts with a little step of faith. Anyway I hope that you all have a great week and a wonderful Mother's Day.
Happy mother's day to all you mother's!  i love you all.
Elder Larsen