Elder Jaron Larson: 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