08.22.11

Well everybody, this is the last time that i'll be writing to you all.  it's kind of a bitter sweet feeling, knowing that i'll be leaving this part of the world with all my friends.  however at the same time i'm so excited to come home and see all of you wonderful people.  this last week was.... pretty awesome!  we had 11 baptisms and confirmations.  9 of my previous investigators received the priesthood and can now start helping with the sacrament and all the other duties that come with the aaronic priesthood.  the Mormon Helping Hands day was a success and we were able to have a good time while helping the local community.  We also had some sweet lessons with a few new investigators in our area.  I was kind of worried that i'd leave and the area would have a dry teaching pool, but it doesn't look like that will be the case.  we've had some great referrals and the Lord has introduced us to many new people who will keep Elder Madise and his new companion with plenty of work to do after i leave.  today we had a good time playing basketball, soccer and cooking meat over some charcoal.  i got in a little water fight and now i'm pretty well soaked.  but it's kept me cool while playing ball so i kinda like it.  So this week should be a good one.  i get picked up wednesday night, thursday we go on a safari with president B, friday i have all day to be with Elder Dalling, so i'm sure that we'll figure out something productive to do.  friday night we fly out and i'll be there saturday evening, so i hope that you guys are ready to come and get me.  

well take care and have a great week, love you all so much.

Elder Larsen   

08.15.11

Mom,

This weekend was plenty busy with our baptisms and confirmations, we had seven total.    Sunday morning we woke up and ran over to the Rongai branch for the sacrament meeting.  it was the first time that i've been able to return since i was transferred from there last year.  it was so nice to meet some of the people that i taught and see the members who i was good friends with.  they now have a branch of their own so they aren't meeting in Langata anymore.  After sacrament we took off and headed to our own ward for the service there.  On wednesday it was my companions bday, he's now 23.  so we had ourselves a little bbq.  cooked some meat over a fire and fried a bunch of fries.  it was a nice little bday party.  on thursday we went on exchanges, i was with Elder Willis, he's from laketown, utah.  just over the hill.  that guys a stud, haha he did about 12 interviews for me that day.... and he isn't done yet.  :)  he was completely worn out afterward.  can't really blame him, that was a lot for one day.  Today we had an activity at the chapel.  most of the nairobi guys came over to the chapel and we played basketball.  there was a group of guys there who were being trained by some big guy from Holland.  they practice almost everyday and since we were there, they wanted to play us.  well we played, and had a good time.  unfortunately for them, they kept losing :)  it was really fun though, we have some really good players serving in Nairobi right now, so our team was awesome.  this week is going to be busy as well, if all goes well we should have 10 baptisms this weekend.  Saturday is also the All Africa Mormon Helping Hands Day.  so we'll be busy with that as well.  The members are so cool, they all want me to come and have dinner with them before i go, so from tomorrow till i go home i have a dinner appointment lined up.  

well mom and dad i hope that you two have a great anniversary this week, remember that i love you tons and i'm so grateful for all that you do for me.  i honestly couldn't do this work without your support and encouragement.  love you!!

have a great week

Elder Larsen  

Casey reports on Aug 28 @ 9:00  am

600 E 600 S Smithfield

Please join us, we would love to see you!

Lunch at the park across the street from the house @ 11

08.08.11

Hey, how's it going?  today we're very late emailing, sorry it might be short.  We went to a croc place and then a giraffe place. It was a good activity.  i got a little action from a giraffe :)  haha so i sent a pic.  on the way to the giraffe center Elder Ramsey found a viper snake, so he caught it and we took some pics.  that guy is crazy about animals, especially reptiles.  This week end we were suppose to have one baptism, but our gator got held up with some visitors so we rescheduled for next weekend and will include him with the first group from the orphange, i think there will be six this weekend and about 11 next weekend.  I'm glad that i have baptisms to look forward to each weekend.  it definately keeps us busy and working hard.  thanks for sending me landen's wedding announcement.  i wish i could be there for his wedding and all the other weddings this month, but oh well.  so i gotta run, take care and have a great week.  love ya all.
Elder Larsen

08.01.11

Mom,
hey, so the tags have arrived.... hehe, right on!  I"m excited to carry a gun and shoot things again.  i sounds like mason is doing really good with baseball, i can't wait to see all his trophies.  Good luck with the court stuff tomorrow, i'm sure that all will go well.  today we had a really good activity, we went to this one place and played 18 holes of mini golf, one game of bowling and then a few of us played pool.  it was a sweet activity, i really enjoyed it.  this week on thursday we are meeting Pres. B at a restaurant called Spur for endless ribs.  it's gonna be a good night.  then on friday, Fred will be baptized.  this guy is so cool.  he wants to understand everything, and he does.  he is really good at analyzing things and putting everything in its place.  Its a joy to teach this guy so it'll be awesome to see him in the water.  We're going to set baptismal dates for the rest of the kids at the orphanage this week.  it'll probably take place my last two saturday's here.  baptizing 16 kids at once is no easy task.  the class of deaf people is doing good as well, it's a neat experience to be with them every sunday and feel their desire to know the gospel and follow Christ.  The blessings that the Lord has blessed me with these past couple weeks have been wonderful.  Feeling of God's love everyday and knowing that He is at the head of this work is a very comforting experience.  Elder Madise and I have been blessed a lot with the people who the Lord has prepared to hear His gospel at this time.  This really is the Lord's kingdom, and being a part of this great work is so cool.    Well have a good week and enjoy the wedding this week, tell Kylee congrats for me.  love ya all!!
Elder Larsen