07.26.10

This week has been good, just busy.  Yesterday at church, one of the counselors in the branch presidency walked up to me and asked if i would give a talk.  the first speaker spoke for about 10 minutes and then the rest of the time was mine.  I didn't even have time to
prepare.  With no preparation i talked for about 20 minutes.  After that the people started to fall asleep so i just bore my testimony and sat down.  I wasn't going to continue to speak to people who weren't listening.  But it was cool to speak the words that were put into my mouth.  We didn't do anything that was very exciting this week, just worked like crazy.  We are having some guys make weights for us so we can workout in the mornings and at nights before we sleep.  It should be good.  we were going to start running in the mornings, but that hasn't happened yet.  Maybe this week we'll be able to talk ourselves into it.  The mornings are just so cold sometimes.  But its good, i love being a missionary.Have a good week, i love you all. 

Love


Elder Larsen

07.19.10

This week has been really good.  We had Zone Conference on Friday with the new mission president and wife, Elder and Sister Burgener and the AP's.  It was a really good conference.  I gave my first training as a ZL while my companion conducted the meeting.  We also had Branch Conference yesterday.  The Branch President recieved two new counselors.  Saturday we had exchanges with the AP's.  I went with Elder Harris.  He used to be my ZL when I was first moved to Rongai, so this was the second time I was able to work with him. Today we went to a snake park here in Arusha.  It was cool, they gave us a snake to hold and take pictures with.  there were a ton of other huge and dangerous snakes.  we saw a green mamba eating a baby chicken.  they also had a couple black mamba's and other things like pythons and cobra's.  I love my new comp, Elder Lipengah is a stud.  we get along really well and he is just a fun guy to be around.  I'm trying to work on the pics so i hope they work.  but anyway have a good day/week.

Love

Elder Larsen

07.12.10

So I got moved last week and I got to meet the new mission president. He's a way funny guy. He'll be coming down this week for our zone conference, it'll be on Friday. Oh yeah, so now i'm in Arusha, TZ serving with Elder Lipengah as a Zone Leader. And i must say, this place is COLD!!! but its an awesome area. Its a little tourist town at the foot of Mt. Meru? i think thats how you spell it. The ride down was DUSTY kabisa. I was caked with dust by the time i got here.



The flat we stay at is pretty nice. we have an oven so i'm excited about that. we've already made a cake and a pizza. but the wiring is messed up so we straight wired it to the wires in the plug, little scary, but it works. :) this last week has flown by. well, not sure what else to tell you. well love ya Elder Larsen

07.05.10

Well my days in Rongai are over!  Last night I was told that I'm getting transferred.  Not sure where I'm going, the AP's haven't told anybody anything.  I was just told to be ready to go by 4 pm today.  This last week has been pretty good.  President Taylor went home on Thursday and President Broadbent got here Tuesday.  I haven't met the guy yet, but I'm told that he's pretty cool and a fun guy to be around.  So I'm excited to met the feller.  I've decided that living out of a suitcase isn't so much fun.  I started packing last night and it just gave me a headache.  The water ran out last night.  So i have a ton of dirty clothes and I haven't showered yet.  Hopefully it'll be there when we go back.  I won't be able to wash anything cuz i  won't have time to let them dry if I'm getting picked up in a few hours.  I wish I knew where I was going, it sure would give me some peace of mind.  I'm gonna miss Elder Mutadhuba, he's become a great friend to me.  I guess you could say he's grown on me.  But change is good, I'm ready for another chapter in my mission.  Well I love you all.  Have a great day!  

Elder Larsen

06.28.10

This week has been interesting, Thursday my companion started feeling sick.  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday he was to sick to go out.  So this week hasn't been very productive.  We had three good days but then three not so good days.  but on a happier note, the baptismal service was a success.  Mark was baptized by me.  A member was suppose to do it but he was unable to make it. So Mark asked me to do it instead.  I gladly accepted even though i was completely unprepared.  I didn't have a change of clothes or anything.  so i slowly air dried :)  But it was fun, i enjoyed it.  After the baptisms we had an activity for all of our recent converts and investigators.  It went well.  we played games and ate food.  this week we have another baptism planned.  i hope it goes as well as the last one did.  well have a good week,

love all yall.

Elder Larsen

06.21.10

Congrats Whit!  :)  So this week was full of blisters.  Last Tuesday Elder Mutadhuba and I set off on a trek to hunt down a refferal from some other Elders in Nairobi.  We walked to a little village called Gataka and back.  Now I have a huge blister on my little toe.  Saturday we helped the YM and YW with a service project at a children's home.  We were cutting grass with thrashers- long slim mashetti's with a kink in the end of it.  Now i have one big blister on each of my soft scripture searching hands.  Never again will i complain about mowing the grass with a lawn mower!  Church was good yesterday, we had 5 of our investigators come to church and one of the in-actives that we've been working with.  I got the package you sent.  I also found out that they still go through the flat rate envelopes.  But luckily they didn't catch the price tag on the shorts, so i only had to pay 370 KSH for it.    I attached some pics from the service project on Saturday.  THis saturday we have a baptism planned along with an activity for all of our Recent Converts and investigators.  It should be fun.  Well have a good week.  Love ya!
Elder Larsen

06.14.10

This last week went by quick, we went on exchanges with the ZL's on Wednesday.  Saturday we were suppose to have two baptisms, but only one of them happened.  Mark, our investigator got hurt and had to go to the doctor to get fixed up.  He hurt his back at work.  We rescheduled the baptism for the 26 of June.  Church was good yesterday.  the chapel filled up slowly after the sacrament meeting started.  then i taught the Sunday school class.  It was fun, the lesson was on the book of Joshua.  I focused on chapters 1, 3, and 24.       So guess what?  This morning i weighed myself while Elder Mutadhuba was getting a hair cut, even though i feel like i lost weight, i gained ten pounds.  i thinks i'm littler than i was when i left, but the scale says otherwise.  either way it doesn't matter, i feel great and look great too :)  I've changed the way that i proselyte these days, i got tired of carrying my quad everywhere, so i bought a millitary edition of the Book of Mormon and that is now what i carry around with me now to teach.  it's sweet, it's so small that i can put it in my pocket.  so the World Cup is going, i don't even know if America is paying attention, but we africans love soccer (football).  FYI- USA tied with England.  The world cup is going to make teaching hard for us over here.  we have to be aware of the games so we can schedule appointments for when people are not watching the games.  i think there are games like everyday for the rest of the month and everybody is a fan.  it's gonna give me a headache trying to work around soccer games for the rest of the month.  But no worries, the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith is a prophet, so what else matters.... right :)   I attached some photos, one is of the girl who was baptized and the other is of Elder and Sister Randall.  they are going home in two weeks and yesterday was the last time they were attending our branch.  so we took a picture.  the couple who is replacing them are from Blanding, UT. i think they get here this week sometime, not exactly sure.  Have a great week, remember that obedience brings blessings, so keep the Lord bound!  If we do what he asks then he has no choice but to bless us. 
Love ya.  
Elder Larsen

06.07.10

Hey guys, so tuesday we had our Zone Conference, no i haven't gotten my package yet.  but i did get grandma larsen's letter.  The zone conference was good.  that was the last one that i'll have with President Taylor.  President Broadbent (spelling?) will be here at the end of this month.  Last friday we set a baptism date with one of our investigators, July 3.  I'm excited, her name is Fiona.  we met her through her aunt who is a member.  so with the aunt and uncle's help we've been teaching her and now we're workin towards baptism.  This saturday we have a baptism as well, Mark is his name.  He's a referral from one of our other members, Joseph.  Joseph is from the DRC.  He is the best missionary in the branch, if you ask me.  He has given us so many referrals, he's a great guy!   This week I'll finally be able to do my first baptismal interview.  I'm doing it for one of the sister's investigators, i'm excited.  I think it'll be a cool experience.  We'll also be going on exchanges with the ZL's this week.  I think i'll be staying here with Elder Chimimba and Mutadhuba will go to the other area to be with Elder Clark.  Have a great week. 
Love you guys! 
Elder Larsen

05.31.10

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  LOVE YOU!!!


Well its official, I'm 20!  Today we went to the Nairobi National Park.  Inside there is an animal orphanage so we went to check it out.  It was pretty sweet, there was all kinds of African animals.  When we got back to Rongai we came to the cyber and I found out that i had a virus on my camera and card, so I've been having a headache with that for the last two hours.  For my birthday I bought myself some rechargeable batteries for my camera....pretty exciting, I know.  I finally got a pic uploaded of the leopard but the rest of the pics will have to wait for another day.  you might want to scan the computer to make sure i didn't send the virus to you.  Tomorrow is zone conference, so we decided not to go to Upper Hill to see if the package came cuz we'll be going there early tomorrow morning.  But i hope it came.  Well have a good one.
Love
Elder Larsen 

05.24.10

This last week was interesting.  Wednesday morning we woke up to a flooded flat.  So we cleaned up the mess and put a bucket under the leaking toilet hose, then left for DDM.  When we got back the flat was flooded again, but we picked up a new hose on the way back.  the only problem was the guard wouldn't turn off the water for us.  so we waited for the plumber to come so we could get the problem fixed.  Thursday morning we woke up to no water at all.  which wasn't good cuz both mutadhuba and i like to shower everyday, you can call it an obsession if you'd like :)  Apart from all the problems we had, the baptism we had on saturday was the best i've had on mission so far.  It was awesome, a 12 year old girl was baptized by her father.  We had support there from a few of the auxillaries and a couple investigators came as well.   It was just a good day!  We were also able so extend a baptismal date for next month to one of our investigators who is progressing quickly.  Sunday was interesting as well.  they closed the road that goes from Bomas to Nairobi.  So we had to walk to church and we were almost late.  a few others were stopped completely from coming so the chapel wasn't as full as it could have been.  Amazingly enough we still had 3 investigators come. and the chapel was almost full by the end of the meeting.  they canceled the sunday school and priesthood meetings so instead of going home early we watched the priesthood session of conference until the power went out during Pres. Eyring's talk.  Tonight we get our transfer news, but because of a brother of mine, i know that my whole district is staying the same.  Elder Mutadhuba and i will continue to work together for at least one more transfer.  I'm happy that i'm staying here for another transfer.  so i attached a bunch of pics from both the Mamba Village and also a bridge Elder Mutadhuba and i found in our area.  The bridge led to a hotel/resort thing for tourists.  but it also works great for missionaries who want to take a few photos :)  well thats all i have to say for this week, so i hope you all have a great week. 
Love ya,
Elder Larsen