11.29.10

Thanks for the pics of the pies.... it made me remember how bad my own cooking ability is. :) it seems like you guys got dumped on with snow, well if you look at the bright side then the ski season will be longer this year. beaver should almost be able to open up. :) Well this week was pretty good, nothing exciting happened. we've gotten into the habit of going to the park in town and playing something on mondays. today we played basketball, i thought i was kinda in shape.... but i'm not. i got so tired and worn out. i should start running every morning again. that would be a good thing. so my thanksgiving was awesome, it was so good that i forgot about it until friday. then i remembered, but by that time it was over, so i didn't miss much. i'm gonna buy a chicken today so maybe that'll be my thanksgiving dinner. We have two baptisms coming up, one might be pushed back for a polygamy interview but i think it'll go through almost on time. they're planned for a week from saturday. Well everybody, i love you tons and i hope you have a great week.
love ya
Elder Larsen

11.22.10

Thanks for the pics, you guys all look good.  mom, you have some very prego daughters.  Earlier this week we were able to help one of our investigators with his chickens.  we left early friday morning and headed up to his home above arusha.  it takes about 1.5 hours to walk up there.  and then we had to eat something first, that's like a tradition here, you always have to eat something, even if you don't want to.  so we drank some milk.  then we went to work with the chickens, there was about 100 of them.  we had to catch and vaccinate each one individually.  it was pretty fun, i haven't been able to do much with animals since i came out, but it was fun and enjoyable.  after we finished with the chickens we taught him the plan of salvation and set a baptismal date for dec 11.  I love this guy, he is an older gentleman, a retired veterinarian, and he is humble and has lots of soul searching questions.  he says he likes the church because he can ask a question and get an answer.  apparently that isn't possible in any other church.  who would have thought that Christ's true church helps us all to learn and progress?  its amazing isn't it?  i love being able to learn and find answers to questions.  
today we played some soccer in the park.  it was fun, as always there was kids hanging around waiting to play with somebody that had a ball so we formed a couple teams and had a good time.  
if i remember right then thanksgiving is this week, so enjoy!  i get sick everytime i think about pies and other good food.  haha next year i'll be there!  But remember to be grateful, just like pres Monson counseled us to be in his talk.  gratitude is a great way to show love and appreciation.   I know i'm so grateful for all that i've received in my life.  if it wasn't for all the good people who have helped me on my way then i know i wouldn't be in tanzania right now, sharing the joy that the gospel can bring.  I love you all and i hope that you all doing well. take care and be careful on them cold snowy roads!
love ya
Elder Larsen

11.15.10

Well I didn't get moved, Elder Ndhlovu and I will be staying together for a third transfer.  Elder Frost and Jackson are also staying together, so all of Arusha stayed the same.  Those two had a baptism on Saturday and then after that we finally started to watch General Conference. We watched the sat morning session on saturday and the sunday morning session on sunday.  hopefully soon we'll get to see the other sessions.  Elder Harris who just finished his two years had his family come and pick him up. He took them down here to Arusha and they went on safari's and stuff.  but saturday night they invited us to dinner at their hotel, wow, talk about good food. I haven't ate that good for a long time.  I think i'll count that as my thanksgiving diner, cuz i don't see another meal like that in the near future.  While we were watching general conference, right at the beginning, the power went out.  So we started singing "onward chistian soldiers" and before the song finished, the power came back.  I leaned over and whispered to my companion " a song of the righteous is a prayer unto me "  haha he just laughed.  but it's true, we needed the power so it returned.  John, the kid i baptized two weeks ago passed the sacrament this week.  I was so excited and happy for him.  He was all dressed up with his white shirt and tie and he did a great job. He kinda reminds me about connor and mason, only, john is quiet and shy and .... well, connor and mason aren't, last time i checked.  :)
So where did you get this wild boar that you ate?  I didn't know that was on the hunting list this year? 
Today we played a little basketball with some kids in the park.  it was four Elders on eleven kids.  needless to say that we got worn out really quick, but we still won. :) 
This week Elder Ndhlovu hits his year mark.  I think we're gonna buy a couple chickens and burn one of his shirts to celebrate.  It should be a good day, i'm excited for him. 
Well not sure what else to write about, so enjoy the snow and i hope that you all have a great week.  I love you and pray for you. 
Love
Elder Larsen

11.08.10

Well this last week went pretty good.  It was the last week of the transfer so tonight we find out transfer news.  Last week we went on exchanges and I went to be with Elder Frost.  but unfortunately he was sick as a dog so i got a lot of reading done while he went from his bed to the toilet.  It wasn't the funnest exchange i've had, but i sure did learn a lot.  Yesterday at church we found out that the branch finally got their copies of General Conference, so if i don't get transferred then we'll be watching them this saturday and sunday.   I'm excited for it.  I've heard about a few of the different talks so i'll be happy to watch and listen.  But if i get transferred somewhere where they have already watched it then i'm not gonna be to happy.  If thats the case then i'll have to borrow the disks and watch it on my pday or something.  So lately I've been thinking about how we worship a God of the fourth watch.  I don't know if i can explain it very well, but pretty much the help that we receive comes at the last minute, or in the last watch of the night.  Just like when Christ came to his disciples in the fourth watch of the night, it was the last one.  He could have came earlier but he didn't, their patience was exercised to the fullest and then he provided the help that was needed.  Its the same with us, as we are patient and long suffering and we hold out to the end and then just about when we're gonna give up, he comes.  So if your at the end of your rope then hold on a little longer and He will come.  When our faith is exercised to the fullest possible, further than we thought we possible, that's when we grow and change into the disciple that he wants us to be.  That is when we reap the blessings that we've sown.
Well have a great week
Love ya
Elder Larsen  

11.01.10

This week was great!  We had a baptism on Saturday.  We had originally planned on the father doing the baptism, but Saturday afternoon, we were informed that John (our member-to-be) had changed his mind and now he wanted me to baptize him.  So with out a change of clothes I changed into white and baptized the feller.  It was awesome, it seems like that happens a lot where i get  wet at the last minute and i don't have a change of        clothes.  But i'm not complaining, it was a great exper-   ience  and I enjoyed it.  I've enjoyed teaching this kid    from the beginning. We also got the confirmation taken care of in sacrament, and right after sacrament, he was ordain to the office of a priest. so now he can help with  the sacrament.  I think that makes about 3 young men in the branch.  Nothing else exciting really happened this week, just work like normal, oh we did go on exchanges with the other Arusha Elders.  I was with Elder Jackson he's from Zim.  He is a funny guy and i really enjoyed  serving with him for a day.  I think we're gonna do exchanges again this week and then i'll be with Elder Frost, not sure yet, but i think it'll happen.  Haha thats funny    that Landen missed his plane, if I did that when i go       home then it might be like 2 or 3 days before i get on another one. Transfers are next week, not sure what will   happen, but it's pretty likely that i might get moved.  We shall see what happens.  Well, i should probably get     going so i love you all and i hope that all is well.  Remember to keep the Lord bound in all that you do and the  promised blessings will be yours.

Love

Elder Larsen

10.25.10

The bus ride to Dar is long, I've made that trip 4 times now and I don't know if i want to do it again.... but in this mission, anything is possible. Sat we got picked up at 7:00 am and we didn't get to our apartment in Arusha till 7:00 pm.   Friday we had Zone Conference and then ZLC.  It was a long day of meetings and talking.  I conducted the Zone Conference, so that was a pretty cool experience.  This Saturday we are planning for a baptism.  The other elder's also had 2 canidates but they found out yesterday that one was involved in poligamy, she's wife # 2 so that was kind of a heart break.  but at the same time its a common thing here, it's not fun when you find someone to accept the gospel and then you find out that they can't be baptized.  So when we got to Dar I got the package that you sent and also a letter from Grandma Larsen.  thanks for all the stuff you sent, when i first saw the trail mix i was confused, i wasn't sure why you would send me such a thing.  but then i started eating it and i must admit, it's good stuff. i like it, kinda addicting, but good.  So lately I've been studying a lot in the old testament and there has been one thing that has stuck out to me a lot.  the people are always obedient quickly and with out question.  When the Lord commands, they act.  I've thought a lot about some of the choices that i've made in my life. how if i would have immediately followed the Lord's counsel then i would've been better off.  It just goes to show that the promise in D&C 82:10 is true.  As we are obedient to the Lord then we will always recieve the promised blessings.  I love you guys and i hope that you are following the Lord in all you do.  He has marked the path and gone on before us, now it's our turn to follow.  Have a great week, take care.

Love
Elder Larsen  

10.18.10

Well this week went by quick, they seem to do that lately.  Yesterday was awesome, we had 10 of our investigators and the other companionship had 10 as well. 10 + 10 = 20 investigators at church.  and it was a great meeting, good lessons and just a good day.  Today we went back up to the waterfall with Elder Jackson.  the wild raspberries were pretty good today, the sun was shining and there was only about 3 inches of dust on the trail.  It was a good hike, it's a lot easier to get somewhere if you know where your going compared to hiking blindly.  I don't know what the big deal is about eating a squirrel.  We cooked it and blessed it, there isn't much more we could've done, unless we would have caught it last year and vaccinated it.  :)  but that would've been quite the challenge.  This week is going to be a bit short.  Thursday morning we're going to Dar and we'll be getting back on Saturday.  Friday will be full of meetings, first zone conference and then zone leaders counsel.  i hope we'll be able to see the beach again.  that was cool last time.  The AP's will be there this time as well, it'll be good to see them both again.  Elder Lipengah said that he has a package for me so i'm excited to get it.  hopefully there will be a letter too.  We're planning on having a baptism in a couple weeks, i'm excited for it, we've been working like crazy and it's been way to long since we've had one.  Baptisms are awesome, helping someone to get to that point isn't always easy but it's totally worth it to be there for them and to help in the process.  But making those covenants are only half the battle, after that we have to keep our end of the deal.  By remaining worthy of the covenants that we've made then the Lord will surely bless us and help us in our daily lives and challenges.  I love you all and i hope you have a great week.
Love
Elder Larsen

10.11.10

So this week seemed to fly by. Elder Jackson got here on Tuesday?  or maybe it was Wednesday, i can't remember at the moment, but he's a way cool guy.  Everything is going pretty good, we had to change a few baptismal dates because of our traveling plans.  We'll be going to Dar again on the 21 of Oct.  We won't get back till satuday afternoon.  So the week after we return we should be having a few baptisms.  It'll be a good day :)  So i got to thinkin that it just wasn't fair that you guys get to do all this hunting without me..... so i took matters into my own hands. :)  hehe  So, I have this little slingshot, and at the church there are a ton of squirrels in the bushes.  well, i killed me one. but don't worry, we went home and cleaned it up, cooked it, and ate it.  Ya know, squirrel isn't to bad. I'll try to upload a picture of it.  haha it was a pretty short hunt, but it sure was fun. I hope that you guys continue to be successful in your hunts.  So mom, were you able to send that package yet?  Well i hope that all is well and that you are continuing to read and study the scriptures.  There is an amazing power that comes from the scriptures, it really is the window to revelation.  I only know of two windows at the moment; Scriptures => revelation and tithing => many blessings.  Open the windows in your life and the Lord is sure to bless you. I love you all and i hope you have a great week. 
Love
Elder Larsen

10.04.10

Well this week has been interesting.  Elder Magero left on Thursday so since then we've been working in a three-sum with Elder Frost.  His new comp, Elder Ayana, was suppose to come down friday.  but the border wouldn't let him through. Today we found out that another Elder will be coming tomorrow, Elder Jackson.  He's from Zimbabwe if i'm not mistaken.  I met him a couple weeks ago while at the Leadership training.  He seems like a cool guy so it'll be fun to get to know him.  Yesterday we had a lunch appointment all set up after church so we could all break our fast, but at church the lady cancelled and after that appointment we were booked until the evening.  but luckily we had another investigator that invited us over right after the other one cancelled.  That was a great blessing, he fed us kabisa.  if it wasn't for him, then we wouldn't have been fasting anymore.... we would've been starving.  I'm glad you guys got my letter, i was wondering if it was ever gonna arrive.  So i didn't even know that it was Conference weekend until Sister Burgener told us Sunday morning.  I feel like i'm on a different planet sometimes.  Hopefully we'll be able to watch it soon, three weeks....maybe.  So the Burgener's came up this last weekend and with them came Christmas!!  I got that package you sent with the Lurf's and all my garmets and suff that i ordered from the distribution center. Tanzanian prices were cut 90% on almost everything, so i ordered a bunch of stuff.  My shoes with these new insoles feel like a new pair of shoes.  They feel so good.  Thanks a ton.  So as for being there for the next peach pie that you make...... i kinda doubt it. The thing that i want to eat lately is biscuts and gravy.  so could you please send me the recipe for the gravy.  I'm pretty sure i can make the biscuts, but i'm gonna need some help with the gravy part of things.  I guess i better end on a spiritual note..... So we've been told to focus on the docrine on Chirst lately.  one thing that i've learned is that all we have to do is get sanctified by the Holy Ghost.  ( ? 2 ne 31 ? )  After that the Atonement will perfect us ( ?  Hebrews 12 or 13 ? )   sorry i don't have my scriptures with me or i'd give you the exact refference, that's ok, it'll give you a chance to search for it by yourself.  But the hard part is getting sanctified or "enduring to the end."   The goal of Heavenly Father is to bring to pass the "immortality and eternal life of man," right? so He just wants us to be perfect after this life, as we're perfect in this life by applying the Atonement and keeping the commandments then we'll get sactified.  it ain't easy, i don't think any test is..... but it is possible, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ and our loved ones around us.  As we lift each other up and are an example to all around us, then we will allow the Lord to shape us into the disciple that we need to be in order to live in His presence in the Celestial Kingdom. I love you all and i hope that you have a great week/day.

Love 

Elder Larsen   

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