What is that scar from?

Hey everyone! So sometimes weeks go by faster than a snap, and sometimes they go by slower than a lifetime. This week was quick though. It wss still filled with some really good experiences! 

I guess first, now that my sister moved out a week and a half ago... my parents are empty nesters. So feel free to tell them how old they are... if only you include how great of parents they are ;) I mean, 3 kids.... 1 served a mission, 1 is serving a mission, and 1 plans on it. Plus we are all semi-responsible, so that's a positive. I'm so happy everything they've taught me and learned from them.

Hmmm where to start though! We tried seeing a lot of people that were in our teaching pool that haven't been seen in awhile... we've actually done that the past few weeks. None of them are home!? Maybe they moved, or maybe they are always working!? I'm not sure... but we basically cleaned out our areabook from the people that were just there to the people we are actually just teaching. Garrett wasn't home this past week which is too bad. So we will try again soon. Jim was busy all week so we plan on meeting with him this week. 

Friday was kinda interesting though, we had to take the car into the car dealership to get some things fixed on it (thankfully I didn't break it!). But that created the issue of being on foot that day. I'm sure all of you have done this at least once, or heard of someone that has... but we forgot the apartment key with the car... it was so sad as soon as we got up to the door and realized we can't get in lol. So the zone leaders were kind enough to drive 30 minutes down to us and go get the key ha! It was pretty funny though. While we were waiting, for a good little while, we tried everything to get into the apartment! I attached a pic at the bottom... no worries, that back side is pretty secluded, and I made sure no one was watching. But that's me trying to open that window since we always keep it open, there was just this huge screen that was impossible to take off since most of my strength was being used to hold myself up  pretty funny day though.

 "Dude you look like Jason Bourne!" 

Yesterday was pretty good both because of the dinner message and because of the experience we had with a man right after. We were talking about how we remember our scars and where they came from. We were told there is an article about this in the August ensign. But then how Christ says we are engraved upon his palms. The scars in his hands remind him of us. We are his scar story. He will never forget any of us. I wish so many more people would know this important truth. I'm sure you can look back and realize that god is in the smallest details of our life. He is always there right with us.

After dinner we walked up to this guy probably in his mid 60's and offered to help him finish cleaning up some stuff in his driveway. He said he was fine but then we started talking about religion and things of that sort. He has a few religious books and doesn't believe we need Christ to "go to" (pray to) god although he does believe Christ performed miracles and was a great man. He told us if we plan on having success with him it probably won't happen and we would benefit by spending our time somewhere else, but we told him we would still love to come over and talk to him. He also told us he probably won't be willing to come to our church. But before we left we asked if he has a book of Mormon, and after he said no, we gave him one and invited him to at least read the introduction. He, without hesitation said he would read the whole thing, in a very sincere tone. He was very kind. The best part was when we left. Elder Chipman and I both got in the car, and BOTH said, I can see him getting baptized. He may take time, but just as we are taught in alma 32, if we plant the seed and nourish it, and don't cast it out in disbelief, then it will grow.

Oh how I love my mission. I don't think any of you have any idea what kind of influence it has put on me. I'm so grateful to be out serving the Lord. It's amazing. Have a great week! And if you have a chance, read "my scar story" in this month's ensign! Love you!!! 

Love Elder Larson 

Elder Chipman teaching me how to jump rope since the last time I did it was elementary school and I completely forgot how. No joke  

Random pic of me about to do a pull up. I can't do it of course, so I can't get a pic of me at the top 

Be a finisher

Hey peeps! Really good past couple days! We've knocked a lot of doors and also tried really hard to get in contact with some of the people we are teaching. I'm pretty sure they all either moved or don't want to talk to us because it's been impossible. We will probably drop them pretty soon... which is sad... but that's life. 

On Tuesday though we went to a follow-up appointment with a guy named Garrett. He was awesome! Apparently his sister married someone on studio C!? He said she was baptized a little while ago. So he knows a little bit about our faith. We have a return appointment with him tomorrow so we'll see how that goes. 

Jennifer wasn't able to make it to church, but sister Owens did. We still are trying to meet with... well both of them. Something kinda crazy happened yesterday though. THEY COMBINED THE EUREKA WARDS. So we will now be having dinners with the Hermana's. That will be strange. Then again it will be like the same thing in Fairfield. I guess it's just weird since we will know half the people and they will know half the people.

We went on exchanges with our district leader on Wednesday which was pretty good. We went to this place that is kinda like an old folks home and we ended up giving 3 unexpected blessings. The more you give those, the more you realize they are from god not you. When we left after one of them, both the lady and her boyfriend were in tears (her boyfriend isn't a member). It was a tender experience. I love seeing people happy and know that their Heavenly Father loves them.

 

Good old elder Nelson after exchanges

Yesterday I read this really great talk by President Monson titled "Finishers wanted." It was great. It talks about the importance of finishing instead of faltering. Whether that's the race of life, or a race to a goal. He gave 6 key points or marks of a finisher. 

"1. The Mark or vision. It has been said that the doorways of history turn on small hinges, and so do people’s lives. We are constantly making small decisions. The outcome determines the success or failure of our lives.

2. The Mark of Effort. Vision without effort is daydreaming

3. The Mark of Faith. Recognize that faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other

4. The Mark of Virtue.

5. The Mark of Courage. Courage becomes a living and attractive virtue when it is regarded not as a willingness to die manfully, but the determination to live decently.

6. The Mark of Prayer."

All of these things are important for someone who wants to finish their race. It was a good spiritual reminder of what I need to do to be a finisher in my race. Different things that I can work on. I hope you can take those things and finish whatever you've set out to do. 

Have an amazing week! Talk to you all next week! I love you all!! 

Love Elder Larson 

4242 Walnut Dr Apt 3 Eureka CA 95503

I've never felt more Asian in my life

They've multiplied... 

#missionarywork

I. Know. It's. True.

Hey everyone! Pretty good week over here in Eureka! Kinda cloudy, and sad as far as weather goes... it's been a little more cloudy but I guess you get used to it after awhile. Training is good though! Elder Chipman and I get along great! He started talking a lot more at the end of p day last week, so he's getting a feel for everything. He's gotten a lot more funny though so that's good. This week was filled with laughing and smiling :). It was good. He still lacks in teaching skills but that's why I'm here to train him! I mean... I'm sure I wasn't perfect at it 2 weeks in (still definitely not perfect either). 

As far as people we're teaching goes, we talked to Sister Owens last week and well... she just doesn't know everything is true. Which is a valid reason to not feel comfortable with baptism... we will probably talk to her again about everything soon. Then the other main one Jennifer... we haven't been able to have a sit down lesson with her, but she came to a dinner with us at a members. So we talked a little bit there. She is just a single mother watching over 3 young kids so things get pretty hectic. Hopefully we will be able to meet with her or she will be able to come to church.

We mostly knocked a whole ton of doors and set up some return appointments... so we will see how all of those go. Most of the ones we set up for Saturday fell through... Which kinda sucks... But I mean, it's their choice! I hope the ones this week won't fall through. Funny story though, we were helping a member clean out their backyard by moving a LOT of cut branches and other things like that, and there are so many mosquitos up here, after one bit me, I was like paranoid the entire night. I hate them. They are of the devil. But sometime during the night... I look down, and there are like 2 BITING ME THROUGH MY SOCK. Like what is this. Crazy. Mosquitos are flipping geniuses up here haha. Moral of the story.... ummm wear 4 layers of socks when doing outdoor things in Eureka  or just wear bug repellent.... one of the two. 

Anyways... I talk a lot about how much I love this gospel and how much it has changed my life.... we watched the blueprint of Christ's church on LDS.org by Tad R Callister the other day and WOW. I know we as missionaries aren't here to convince people, but that talk is amazing. I had watched it earlier in my mission and remembered it was good. If you've never read or watched it I highly recommend it. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the true church. This is Christ's restored church on the earth today. Sure there are things I wonder about and question.... But that's where faith comes in! You gotta just keep doing what you know is right and those questions will get answered. I know this gospel is true. It really is. There are so many people that give TWO YEARS of their life to share this message. I know I wouldn't do that if it wasn't true. This church is good. It brings happiness. Go find that and learn that for yourself. Create an unbreakable foundation. I love Helaman 5:12 because it says WHEN Satan (does whatever he does) not IF... Satan will try to drag you down. Make sure you are ready to for him. 

I love you all! Have a great week! Oh and my address is 4242 Walnut Dr Apt 3 Eureka CA 95503 talk to you all soon! 

Love Elder Larson 

 

 This fun hike we went on last week with the district, AP's, and Tech Elders

Messing around with the Facebook filters after we did a practice skype lesson 

with another missionary and his trainee

Training

Hey! What a great, long, exciting, busy, happy, stressful week. I was able to go all the way down to Santa Rosa on Wednesday and then drive all the way back up in the same day. My new comp is Elder Chipman! He's from highland Utah, went to lone peak, played baseball, he's cool. I'm so excited to get to work with him. The "field is white and ready to harvest," it will be a good 12 weeks.

Zuri moved back down to Rohnert park... so that's sad. Since she's moving to Santa Rosa sometime this month we haven't been able to send the missionaries over... we will soon though! We had dinner with the Owens yesterday, that's the family where the dad is a member, the mom comes to church every week but isn't a member yet, and the son got baptized like 6 months ago. We brought up some food for thought yesterday as we talked with her. She's been though a lot of missionaries and isn't sure whether all of it is true or not (because she was raised with Jewish beliefs). We asked her if she has prayed about things, and she said that she hasn't as sincerely as she should. Hopefully we will start working with her and help her find out the truth for herself.

The coolest thing happened on Friday! We were helping this family move in from Logan Utah, and they had someone that drove one of the trucks helping them (he was a family friend)... and I kinda recognized him. So we get talking... and turns out... I went on a backpacking trip with him when I was a teacher!? Like you wot!? It was crazy, so we talked a lot about people in my ward. It was so cool. 

Brother Allred (the one I went backpacking with)

Yesterday was pretty cool too. We had a really really long meeting.... zone conference... but it actually wasn't too bad. We talked about a lot of NEW things! It wasn't just another repetition meeting. But that was good, also different, today doesn't feel like p day haha. We are going on another hike today so we'll see how this goes :)

 

Zone Conference, my comp is to the right of me 

Hope you have a great week. I love my mission so much. I have learned so much and grown so much. This gospel is so true. It brings so much happiness. There isn't anything that can bring as much joy. If you don't know it's true, go find out for yourself. Don't take my word for it. I love you and care about you! Talk to you soon! 

Love Elder Larson 

Stopped by to say hi to Joey, Dina and the kids on the way to Santa Rosa