09.27.10

ELK DOWN!!! Haha I scared my companion when i first read that line.  :)   haha he nearly jumped out of his chair.  I'm so excited for mason, sorry i couldn't help with all the work..... i am a bit far at the moment.  You guys will have to send me some pictures of this critter, i want to see him, and a letter would be nice too. :)  this morning the AP's called and told me that we needed to buy one ticket for Elder Magero so I'm pretty certain that i won't be going anywhere this transfer.  I'll be sticking around for at least one more with Elder Ndhlovu.  so that is good news, i don't think i'm ready to leave this beautiful little place yet.  This last week, we went on exchanges with the other two.  I was with elder Frost.  when it's me and Ndhlovu we don't attract to much attention.  but when you put two mzungu's together then everybody decides to stare or welcome you to Arusha.  Kinda weird how that works out.  But it was still fun, i enjoyed spending some time with him.  Not much else has happened this week, just work work work.  It is paying off though. We had an entire family at church this week, all are investigators.  that doesn't happen for me very often so when i saw them all there i was filled with joy.  It's so good to see families come together in the gospel.  It makes me think of all of you and the love that i have for you.  It brings me comfort to know that we are sealed together forever.  Not even death can separate us.  Teaching that to people and seeing the light in their eye's when they understand it, brings a happiness that is kinda hard to explain.  the power of the priesthood and the gift of the atonement are two things that are wonderful blessings in our lives.  It makes me wonder what eternal life will be like, cuz that's the best gift we can receive from our Heavenly Father.  I love you all and i hope that you all have a great day/week. 

Love 

Elder Larsen

09.20.10

So no dead elk yet, huumm.... they need my help.  Saturday morning felt like a good day to kill one.  I was expecting a big story and some pictures.....maybe next week. 
So the big training in Nairobi went pretty good, I liked it.  We stayed with the AP's and the guys from Dar.  It was good and uplifting.  the new MTC president came on thursday.  it was cool to meet him and his wife, they are really nice people.  The training was just there to kinda help us to focus on a few areas so that we can be more productive. 
Today we hiked our butts off.  i haven't hiked like that for quite some time.  I'm all sorts of sore.  but it was totally worth it, i feel good now.  I miss hiking all the time.  we went to this cool waterfall and took some pics and stuff.  on the way back we found some wild raspberries, yum yum they were so good.  Reminded me of all the fresh fruit that is at home this time of the year.  Coming down the mountain killed my knees, but it was good, we were running some of the time. 
This week is the last week of the transfer so hopefully i'll know transfer news when i write next time.  if not then you fellas might just have to wait two weeks.  I'm trying to attach pictures, hopefully it'll work.  If that doesn't work then the atonement always does!!  All it takes is a little application and some desire and everything works out....everytime.  Well i love you all and i hope to hear some more exciting news about this elk hunt, mason needs to kill a big ol bull!!  Have a good week
Love Elder Larsen

09.06.10 and 09.13.10

Sept 13,2010


Mom,
Eesh this week has flown by.  So today I put on one of my fake ties and i thought it looked so ugly, so i told myself that i'd get rid of it today. so I walked into one of the many shops on the street and traded my ugly fake tie for a really nice purple one.  I had to add a little money but i got rid of the ugly tie.  Thats my story for today.  This week has been pretty good, nothing exciting happened just work work work.  Tomorrow we'll be going to Nairobi for a two day leadership training.  we come back on Friday.  It should be a good time. I feel bad for our gators, we won't be able to meet with any of them till saturday.  We were suppose to go to a waterfall today that is here in arusha, but we ended up not going, i hope we can get it arranged to go soon.  I'd love to see it.  Friday we went up the mountain to one of our gators who is a retired veterinarian.  He's a funny old man that knows very good english and also french.  He raises chickens and works part-time in town to keep him busy.  But anyway when we went up there the dust was terrible.  Seriously the dust was like powder and it was about 6 inches deep. we were covered in dirt/dust when we got home.  But the trip was totally worth it, he had a huge list of questions about the Book of Mormon. So it was a good lesson.  I love teaching about the Book of Mormon, I know that it is the word of God and that as we read and study it constantly then our testimony and relationship with our Heavenly Father will improve.  I love the plain and precious truths that we learn from it.  I hope that all of you are reading and studying the Book of Mormon everyday.  I love you all, take care and have a great day.
Love
Elder Larsen


Sept 6,10


It only took me twenty years......... but i finally learned how to whistle. :)
Well this week was pretty good, it was the first full week of work since Elder Nhdlovu got here.  It's been so nice just to work like normal and not have to worry about traveling somewhere or other missionaries.  Not this week but next week we'll be going to Nairobi for four days.  Tuesday we'll go up, Wednesday and Thursday will be a leadership training and then Friday we travel back down to Arusha.  So that week will be all messed up as far as the work goes.  Which means we have to make the most out of this week and do all that we can to help our investigators to progress.  We haven't done anything to exciting lately, other than i got a hair cut this morning.  I've needed one so now my head feels lighter.  We climbed up on the roof and took some pictures.  Its a pretty good view of Mt Meru from the roof top, the only bad thing was the roof is made of tiles so we had to be careful where we walked.  but it was good, we got some good pics.  I've also been working on cracking my bull whip.  Elder Ndhlovu gave me a few pointers and now i can crack it multiple ways.  thats the closest sound to a gun that i can make, so i like it, and so do the neighbor kids.  :)  they come running every time they heard it.  So i got Grandma Larsen's letter. Letters are awesome!!  It sounds like the Brazilian roads are similar to the African roads. :)  so i also wrote you guys a letter and sent it today, so hopefully it'll get there soon.  Well not sure what else to say, so i hope all is well and that you're recognizing the Lord's hand in your life.  I know that when we are obedient to his will, he is bound to bless us.  ( D&C 82:10 ) ?? i think that's the right reference ??  haha anyway i love you all and i hope you have a fantastic week.
Love Elder Larsen  

08.30.10

Hey guys, how is everything this week?  This last week was really good, Tuesday we traveled to Dar, Wednesday we were in a meeting and Thursday we came back.  So at the meeting was Elder Watson from the Seventy.  He's in the Area presidency.  Elder Ndhlovu and I were asked to give the training for the AP's cuz they couldn't make it to Dar.  That was pretty cool.  We were given a topic and then we had to prepare our own training, it was good.  Elder Watson talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  Sister Watson talked about using the Articles of Faith as we teach.  President and Sister Broadbent talked about prayer and how important it is.  After the meeting all of us changed our clothes and went down to the beach.  It was so cool to walk on the beach and see the Indian Ocean, it pretty much looks like any other beach, just sand and water.  But i loved it.  We later found out that the beach we were on is the same place where the country of Tanzania was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel.  i don't remember who did it, i think it was Elder Nelson, but i'm not sure at the moment.  So we got back in Arusha thursday night and then friday, I burnt a shirt!!  It was cool i'm sending some pics of it, i decorated it and then soaked it in kerosene and i was gone in a matter of seconds.  It feels good to know that i've been out for one year now.  kinda weird to think about it, but its a good feeling.  So i've been wondering, do you have a good recipe for a pizza base?  We like to make pizza down here, but i don't ever know what to put in the dough to make it good and tasty, so if ya got a good one then would you please send it to me, thanks.  So right now i'm thinkin about the temple, i wish i could go there.  there are many people here who have the desire but are unable because of the distance.  I think its such a great blessing to have a temple in our backyards, i hope all of you are taking advantage of what the Lord has blessed us with by partaking of the blessings that are received in the temple. i hope you have a great week. 
I love you all!!  
Love, Elder Larsen

08.23.10

Aug 16, 2010

So the AP's just called, Elder Lipengah is leaving me. :(  But i'm not sure who will be replacing him.  I'm not to happy about that, i love this guy, six weeks just isn't long enough to get to know your brother.  So earlier this week Lipengah ran out the gate and locked me inside, so instead of getting my keys out of my pocket, i climbed the wall and jumped the gate. in the process i ripped my pants.  so i was able to sew them with green thread.  it ripped the seam so you can't see the thread, but if you could, haha you would laugh.  For insoles i think i need size 10, not really sure at the moment, my brain is empty.  sorry i haven't sent a picture of my house yet, my camera card has a virus and is a pain in my butt!! but i'll work on it.  So the other guys had a baptism yesterday, that was pretty good.    Eesh i'm brain-dead at the moment.  i'm not sure what to write about.  Well, say your prayers and study the scriptures and the Lord will bless you!  Love you have a great week.

Elder Larsen  

Aug 23, 2010

Sorry last week was so short.  I'll try to do better in the future :)  so last week Elder Lipengah left and went to serve in Nairobi with Elder Harris as an AP.  I should have known he was going to be the new one, he's a great missionary, i'm gonna miss him.  But its ok, i gots myself a new companion named Elder Ndhlovu.  He's also from Zimbabwe.  He's a way cool guy, i love him already.  Elder Magero will now be serving with Elder Frost.  We had a hard time getting Elder Lipengah and Elder Sibiya on a bus to nairobi, they didn't leave till thursday morning.  the passports didn't come till wednesday night, so when we picked up elder Ndhlovu and elder Frost on wednesday afternoon, I had two companions for a little bit.  that was a little weird.  I don't think i would like to ever serve in a threesome.  It would be difficult.  So this week i'm looking forward to; two 10 hour bus rides, one long meeting, BURNING ONE SHIRT, and well, thats about it.  Honestly i'm only looking forward to the shirt burning.  I mark one full year on friday the 27 of august.  I'm so excited.  Its weird to think i've been gone that long.  this morning we did what i would call "spring cleaning"  our flat needed a good cleaning, so we did it.  i found a ton of crickets, i think they wanted to be like the mormon crickets or something, cuz they were everywhere.  This week is mission tour in dar es saalam, thats why i'll be a bus for 10 hours.  we leave tuesday morning, wednesday will be the mission tour and then thursday we'll get back on a bus and arrive in arusha thursday evening sometime.  Friday will be the day to burn a shirt.  This week is going to be long, but i think it'll go pretty quick.  well i think this is longer than the last one.... i think.  most of the time i don't know what to write about, so ask me questions and i'll write about that.  well i love you all, have a great week. 

Love

Elder Larsen

These are the pictures of his flat!!

So i almost forgot to tell you guys about the Mormon Helping Hands.  Saturday the whole branch and a ton of our investigators went to an orphanage and we cleaned up the place and helped where we could.  It was pretty cool, we got to wear the yellow vests and everything.  Thats why me and Elder Ndhlovu and I are in yellow vests in the one picture.  So I hope ya like the pics. have a good one.
love
Elder Larsen

08.09.10

This week was sweet.  We went on exchanges with the other        elders. i was with Sibiya, he's from South Africa.  Today there is a group coming from Nairobi for the night.  they are doing the same thing that i had to do a few months ago.  coming down for visa  stuff.  it should be a fun night.  we had to arrange for two sisters who are coming down as well.  so other than that not much is     going on, just missionary work.  we've been working with a part member family, teaching the kids english and preparing them for baptism.  we set dates this week with them so we're excited for    that.  Transfers are next week, but i don't think i'll get moved, i    hope i stay here for a while, i love this place.  there is an international trade fair this last week so today we are going to try and go  to it.  hopefully it will be good.  Sorry i'm a bit rushed so i didn't  get any pics uploaded, so love you have a good one.
love
Elder Larsen

08.02.10

This week has been crazy, I'm exhausted!  We've been    working like slaves here.  I don't think i described    what we do here everyday. Monday is pday, tuesday is    english class in the morning, wed is DDM, thursday is   english class in the morning, friday we do our weekly   planning, saturday is coordination meeting, and sunday  is church.  We have a meeting everyday of the week.  Butits good, i like it here. Today we went to another snake park, this time we got to hold a python.  i have some  good pics but you might have to wait till next week.    there were also some cobras   that got all puffed up for us.  one was a spitting cobra and the window was       covered with spit.  we also went on a wild monkey chase in the forest with a local man.  we found some white    monkey's that looked like a skunk. they were pretty cool and vocal.  Well that was the excitement for the week.  Next week i think we might go with a member to find    some waterfall that is nearby.  This last month has     flown by, i can't believe that it' August.  Well i hope you have a great day/week.
Love
Elder Larsen
 

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