Happy Fathers Day

Hey Dad and kris and Anni and Davo.

Happy Father's day dad!!! I think it's coming up close if I'm not wrong. On the 17 right?? Anyways, happy Fathers day, I am grateful for you Dad, and am grateful for all the sacrifices you have made in your life so that you were a greater part in our lives, it means a lot, and I am grateful for it. I love you dad.

So this week, we have a Baptism coming!!! Sister Veronica had her interview yesterday and she is finally getting baptized! It has been pretty quick. ha, She will be baptized this Saturday, the 16th. She was so nervous for her Interview yesterday, but according to our Zone Leader, Elder Sims, she did a great job and she is ready! I was a little stressed yesterday because one of our recent converts Sister Caridad, has missed her 5th week of church yesterday, she has no reason, she just didn't want to come, I was mad at her, because of her choice, and I shouldn't have been, but was. Later after church she showed up to the chaple to be there for sis Veronica and her interview, because they are neighbors and friends. We sat down and got to have a good talk, and kind of got talk about the church thing, I think she is having a hard time adjusting to the Mormon life, cause she use to be so active in her last Church, and she had a calling kind of like visiting teaching in her church, and stuff, and now not really, and she only has some friends, she would make more friends if she would come to chruch and the activities. But she is stubborn, so am I though, ha. I have been really pondering how to help her. We will pray and see. I am excited though for Sister Veronica's baptism, it will be nice to have a baptism finally!! Ha good stuff.

We had a Film showing also on saturday, where we showed the Restoration movie of Joseph Smith, the 1 hour version, we were hopefully going to have many attend but at the last second, many of our investigators and Less actives bailed on us. So we were just trying to find some people to bring and stuff. And one of our Families we are teaching were able to come, and brought some of there extended family so it turned out ok. And I had fun. So it was a success.

I hope you guys are all happy, and doing a lot of fun stuff. And I hope you guys get all figured out if what you will do. I know that you will know what to do, if you listen to the peacefullness of the Spirit. I love the Peace the spirit brings. I have really felt that this past week. It is nice, and helps in our hard time. I love you all and miss you.

Love Elder Benjamin L. Larson

Good Birthday

Hey Mom, Jess Steve and Spence,

Hope that your all feeling better, sounds like you got hit pretty hard with the flew. Sorry to here about your job thing falling through., hopefully you will be able to work next week.

So I am doing good here in the Philippines, I had a good birhtday talking to you guys, it was nice to hear all your voices . And this was a pretty normal week, it has beeen raining more lately and I am getting wettert. I like the rain though cause it's coolder. But it's wetter too, so that is the down side.

So We had a few family home evenings with one investigator family, and also a Less Active family ANd then a Investigator and her New member friends. So we had three FHE's one afte4r the other this week. It was fun thought. And we and my companion made Mango Floats, with Gray-ham (gaham) crackers. they were very yummy, but probably not as good as waat you all ate on sunday after steve and spencers talks. I bet those were great.

I got Katelyn's wedding announcement, I have neber met her new husband, but she looks happy there, did you get to meet the guy? How old is he??? IS he nice? DId Katelyn seem really happy?? Ha, lots of questions sorry.

Sorry mom, Notheing really exciting has been happenig, we had to move back the Baptismal Date of one of our investigators because she dreanked coffee on saturday. We told her that one thing she can do is switch to another drink. One drink I drink a lot here is called Energen, it is like hot chocolat with some oatmeal in it, it is really good, I drink it every morning, ha more like three times a week, ha. It is good though, closest thing to milk I can find, but it's hot so not the same.

So I was talking to my comp E. Montejo last nicght, about vampires, He asked me if I bleleave in that kind of stuff, I told him no. And then he said, why is there Twighlight then? I then chuckled a little, and explained to him that Twilight is just a story , and fake, the people in it aren't really vampires, and wear wolves. And then he said, How do you explain the people who drink blood and stuff, I told him that those kind of people are just wierd and crazy. Then I told him the story of Dracula, how he was a real person but not a real Vampire, he was just a creep and a sick person who enjoyed killing people and drinking their blood, thats it. Then he said, "I still believe in it". ha THe people here in the Philippines are very suppersticious, they believe in Withces, Aswangs (mystical creatures) and vampires and stuff. My comp also asked me if I believe gohst can show them selves in pictures, I say to him, no it is just in the head, in the thoughts. He believes it, haha I think it's funny. I have learned that my comp is a very afraid person. He has many affraids, when a dog barks iven it is across the street or far away, he jumps, and when we walking in the rain, with our umbrellas, if it has lightning or thunder, he quickly closes his umbrella, or he holds onto the Plastic part only cause 'he will be ok if he gets hit by lightning and he holds the plastic', ha and he also makes random noises, like because he is afraid, because he thinks of himself getting hit by a car or struck by lightning, and it scares him, haha, he is so funny, and just, has a lot of fobias he says. haha, I also have to be the one to turn out the light at night.

So the Filipino people are one of a kind people, they are so funny, even if you explain to them how this wierd things happen, they still believe in all this wierd stuff. Haha i love them. So I hope you are all diong well and don't have the flue. And also this is our new address to our Mission, just incase I haven't told you yet,

Elder Benjamin Larson

Philippines Quezon City Mission

Aurora Blvd. Cor. JP Rizal Street

Project 4, Cubao

Quezon City 1109, MM, Philippines

I love you all so much, and hope you are doing well, and Steve and Spence, don't get married yet if you can help it, we still have to play, haha, joke, but seriously try to hold off a while, ha unless you fall in love or something crazy like that, if that happens I guess you can get married. Ha

Mom, I love you, and miss you, and am so gratefull for you! And Jess, I freekin love you! And I hope you are enjoying your calling as the Munchy Mingly Person or whatever, ha, I love you kid.

BE safe all you peole, and take care of eachother.

Love Elder Benjamin Lamoreaux Larson

Blowing Bubbles

Hey mom jess steve and spence,

How are you guys doing? Wow, thats good, it seems like you are doing many new things there in the house of ours. And I am glad that you got all the garage all cleaned, and i am glad too that I am not there to experience that ha. 

I am doing good here in Philippines, it has been rained for a couple of days, the first two, we had no unbrellas, the next two day we finally bought some. ha, good thing too, cause those days, we almost had no lessons. Only 2-3. It is hard sometimes here, the people are very really busy and many of the time they just don't want to or have not the time to listen us to our message. So steve and spence, you have a new car!! Wow, Mercury?  Is it a stick shift, what color is it, you should probably send to me a picture. ha

I also heard about Josh that makes me sad, and hopfeully he will be ok. I will fast for him like you.

So today is our P-day, and we did our laundry today. we have no machines so we use buckets and our hands. And today I discovered that half way through Laundrying, it is much more funner to take a brake a Blow Bubbles with your hands and the clothes soap!! ha, they are HUGE! Man I liked it, I don't know about my comp, Elder Montejo, he was pretty serious about his laundrying. Ha But I like to blow the bubbles, and then to catch them again and send them off flying again. 

So nothing to exciting happened this week. Except.............. Brother Rosendo who has been being taught of the missionaries for about 6 months has excepted the Baptismal Date of June 2, ha, so you know, those 6 months were all teaching about prophets, Joseph Smith especially and the BOM. Ha, we have just started to go into the Plan of Salvation, Steve and Spence, dont judge me, I know it is long of only Lesson 1, He needed it, believe me. ha

So I am excited that he is excepted to that date, and it is so cool to see people change. I remember the first time I saw him, he was convinced that Joseph Smith was Fake, becuase of his many wives. And also he had questions of the BOM, and why there is no sayings of it in the bible. He has listened to a different preacher man for a while, he is from the Philippines, and is memorized in the bible. and so he calls him self a prophet, but all he does is show scriptures in the bible trying to destroy Joseph Smith and our church, wow, what a prophet.. haha

Me and my comp are doing good. we are doing are best, and I am really starting to feel all the slack that I am pulling. Ha but I guess that is how it is as a trainner. We will be in a lesson or talking to a people on the street and they will ask something then I will look to my comp to see if he want to answer or me, and the look on his face is like, YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU!!!!! He is still pretty shy and stuff aobut teaching, he will get there. 

I love this work and the philippines, even though it is wet and hot, and smeels like many  different thingys. I love it all. and I know that god loves us and has a plan for us, and we should follow it or our lifes will suck. I love gods plan and his word, the BOM and Bible.

Love Elder Benjamin Lamoreaux Larson

Training

Hey Mom, Jess, Spencer, and now Stephen.

 

I am doing good here in philippines, It is so very hot though, it has been 35* celious, up to 37* celcioius, I don't know what that is in F, but it is hot, plus humidness. But hopefully rainny season start soon. and yes mom it is true when it is wet season, you are always wet, even if you have a unbrella.

 

So Steve how is you being not a missionary. It is weird no? Thats what they all tell me, it is wierd. But it sound like you are having fun, a lot, and volley ball playing. So how was Katelyn's weeding, was it fun. It is wierd that she married now. Is she get merried at the temple?

 

So my new comp is elder Montejo, he is also from Philippuines. But a different place of it so he speaks a different language called Waray-waray, and he says he is not so good in speaking Tagalog. I think he is better than I was though when I was just new, but also i wonder if he is understanding what i said to him, ha it is wierd to train. I do a lot of the teaching, and he is still pretty quiet, but he is also fun and happy, he reminds me of the spencer when spencer is in trouble, quiet and kind of inocent looking, ha, he is just like you in trouble spence.

 

So we are teaching a man who is name is Rosendo Fransiya (60+) he is very cool. He at first would also always ask questions about Joseph smith and why he had many wives, but now he has move on, and not so much struggling there now. He has been taught by the missionaries for kind of a long time, I am his 6 missionary. But he has just started to come to church, since I have been here. i am lucky.. one thing thats funny, is that he told us he believes there is no girls in heaven after we die, he said we are all boys after we die, because girls cant have the priesthood, I didn't even know what should i say. So I just told him i want to get married one day, and be sealed in the temple, and after I die, when i see my wife again as a spirit, I want her to still bee a girl. haha, then he still wans't so a lot convinced, so i just said in myself to my head that this isn't important for his salvation for now. But he is very cool, ever since he has start to church, he has listened his problem about Joseph Smith and he has now had a desire to read boook of mormon, and before though he didn't want to read it ever. We talked to him of baptism, but he sais he is afraid to be baptized because he doesn't want to sin again after and loose his chance to be clean. So this tomorrow we will teach him about repentance, and sacrament and stuff. 

 

He is one of the investigators that I have really seen a change happen into him. And I really love him, I want him to be baptized but I know it is up to him, and I want him to make the choice. It will be good, I know he will be baptized! He is prepear of god! I am lucky to be here in this time of his life. It is very cool!

 

I love you all, and I know that throught the gospel of jesus christ we change our bad happits to good happits. I also know that christ is the    one who is changing to us. we can't do it alone we must have him. I love you all. 

 

Love Elder Benjamin Lamoreaux Larson

I get to have kids!!!

Hey Dad, Kris Anni and David!

Happy Birthday david, sounds like you had much fun in your birthday celebration throughout the whole day, your 9, wow!!

So I am doing ok, but something new is happening in the mission. We got a call from our AP's on Monday, and they gave me some news. well...... I am going to have a Kids...........................  I am training!!

I don't know how I am going to do this. I have a hard enough time with a Jr comp. ha but hopefully it will all be ok. And hopefully I can take care of my kid a lot.

So on tuesday we had a meeting with the president, only the missionaries who will be train, so I had to go alone, it was so weird to not have a companion, but I did it just fine, and I was able to take a Jeep-Nee into more center city, and then find a taxi, and me and the taxi man had a pretty good talk, we talked about religion and why there became many churches, and I gave him a brief summary of christ establishing his church when he lived on earth, then I gave him a Pamphlet to read, the restoration. Good stuff.

So on the brite side, we had many Less Active members come to chruch, 17 came! And 6 investigators showed up! The work is really taking off, but I feel bad for Elder Basalo cause he has been here in Marikina 4 for 6 months, and no baptisms yet, poor kid. He will do good in his next area though, he is a good missionary.

So I hope you guys have fun with Steve, and Tell me how is his english when he gets off the airplane. I bet you he will not know how to english after he is done. Ha, this will be funny. I know how that is, sometimes I forget my english too though.

I love you all, and hope you are happy. And I know that god love us, and his son Jesus christ sacrificed for us, and this gives us the hope to go through our lives daily.

Love Elder Benjamin L. Larson

The boys are coming home!!!!!!!

Stephen and Spencer will be coming home soon!!! YAY! Spencer will be home April 11 and Stephen will be home April 25!!! I dont know when there homecoming talks will be but I will let you all know as soon as I know.

-Jessica

Sheila was baptized!!

Hey Everybody,

Conference was great, I liked the talk that Jeffrey R. Hallond gave about "Its never too late!", and the 2 that Deiter F. Uchtdorf gave. On saturday after the 2nd session of conference Sheila was baptized, it was great because the spirit was strong and there were a lot of people there because of conference. I attached some pictures to this e-mail there are pictures of servic projects, activites, me at the temple with Elder Alves Da Silva my last comp. also there are pictures of baptisms, and pictures of me and elder Araujo, and Elder Bentes my curent comp.
This week was a good week and many things happened like, Splists with the Zone leaders, Baptism interveiws, teaching , doing contacts, rude people, many laughts, distric meeting, Learning new words, Genral Conference, Eatting at members homes and joking around, and inviting people to get baptized. It was a pretty good week, many people we taught this week for the frist time really had no intrest but we did our part. We did enconter a girl named Byanca(15 years old) which excepted the invite to be baptized on the 21st of April. She was very foucused in on the lesson when we taught her The Resturation. Bruna didn´t go to the conference so we got a little sad about that because she missed a great opportunity to hear the servents of God speaking.
Saterday after Sheila´s Baptism we bought a pizza and were walking to our house when a young homeless boy(about 12) stopped us and asked for a slice of our pizza. So I reached into the pizza box and grabbed a slice, and as I was handing it to him a little bit of the cheese and toppings fell to the ground. I said sorry, then he reaplied ´´It´s ok, you know you´ll eat anythink when you´re hungry.´´ and then he walked off. I feel sad for the way his life has turned out. I know that when we keep the commandments of God we are blessed, and when we´re down and hungry The Gospel Of Jesus Christ and lift us up and strengthen us.
Have a great week everybody,

With loveElder stephen larson

Last week

My dear Family,

What a blessing I have had this week to listen to the prophet and apostles and other members of the seventy. Every time I watch them and listen to them speak I have the assurance from the holy ghost that they are men of god and they are who they say they are. I always think after," If only the entire world would shut up and watch conference than they would know of the power and authority of god. " But it isn't like that at all is it.
I had a lot of talks that were amazing and hit me hard. I agree with dad that Elder Ballard hit the mark on the family. But I really liked President Uchtdorfs Talk about not judging others but loving them instead. We all are sinners, we just sin differently. I got to get me that bumper sticker. And there were many other things that I learned from this amazing conference.

Some other good things happened this week and some funny and some bad. We did some more service for Papa Durden, who is not a member but his son is and he and his wife love the missionaries. After we served him he took us the next day to a Chinese restaurant and it was good. Then I tried the Mussel that they had and I did not like it one bit. ugh! I think I would rather have liver and onions or ox tail soup rather to endure Mussel again.

We had a cool pick nick with some new investigators Mike and Lenora. They are a young couple and they are just trying to survive in this crazy world of money and politics. We taught them the restoration and gave them a book of Mormon. So far I am a little worried that Mike will let his head get in the way of the spirit, because he is a very smart guy and studies a lot of different religions and conspiracies. They are willing to come to church and study with us.

We haven't seen Mia for a month and a half. It has weighed on my mind the whole time. but she has her agency and I can only do my best to help her receive this message. She said that we could come today so hopefully we can figure out why she acted in such a way towards us her friends. I love her to death.

Donnell is honestly the best man I have ever met out here. He has built his foundation on Jesus Christ and knows that the book of Mormon is true. He is praying for a date to be baptized. He is having struggles with his family and finances so he needs some prayers.

Geoff Hunter is also really depressed and needs a prayer in his behalf. he is in the process of cleaning out his house of all the things that his wife left him with. which is a ton of stuff. he is a great guy who is struggling to find purpose in his life. I know that this gospel and this church will help him.

I think about all these friends that I have out here in whom I love and it makes the idea of going home really hard. I want to stay and help them recieve this happiness, and joy and peace. But I know it is my time to go. don't get me wrong, I am pretty excited to come back home to see all of you.
the Members are very funny here . Especially when you tell them how much time you have left. They are the ones who make me the most trunky if I got trunky. Even this morning a member called me and told me that her niece is in salt lake city and she is single..... yeah. That is what I have been enduring lately. It really is just funny to me. So I am well and am enjoying my time left, especially elder Elizondo. He is so funny and makes me laugh every day. I thought he would really make things hard for me this last transfer but he has been my saving grace. I know with all my heart that this gospel is true and that this work changes lives and hearts.

I love you all. Take care.

[Elder Spencer Larson]

Its getting closer

Hey my family,

It has been a very blessed week here in the Tampa 4th area. We have been getting referrals left ans right this week I don't think that I have had consistent lessons and work like this my whole mission and it is great. I do however feel inadequate for the task but I know that as I do all I can the holy ghost will teach me what to say in the very moment. Or he will stop me from saying something stupid. So I am doing good, I bore my testimony this past sunday because it was my last chance to do so for this ward. I am always nervous but I knew that the lord would help. I felt so good to be up there and I feel my testimony growing little by little.

As far as investigators go, Alex is doing good but we haven"t met with her all week. She started a new job holding a sign up for 5 hours on the street. So pray for her feet. Big jo is good. she is a dry mormon now. We are still working with her to understand the lessons and we even watched the book of mormon movie with her and she really liked that. I am still not sure how much she is getting from our lessons.

Mia is alright but we have not been able to meet with her either. She is scared and she has some doubts about her being ready for baptism. but we are seeing her this week to talk about it.

We actually just had a lesson with Donnell today because he has a hard shcedual. He is with out a doubt the coolest man in the world. He told us that ever since we came he has felt a growing in his heart and he has been able to make it through some very hard times. He has read the Book of Mormon 2 times and has still had no time to come to church. We gave him the website to our church so he could watch general conference. He has had a rough go of things and yet he is so positive and he helps me be more positive. he promised that he would make it to church before I go home.

One thing that was very prevolent this was service. We did a lot of it. We raked a lady's leaves up in her yard and we even pressurewashed a partmembers pool area. I almost fell in but I thankfully didn't. I think that service is one of the best ways of finding, because you feel good and the lord puts people in your path to teach. Infact, while we were raking this ladies leaves a guy walking his dog came and started talking to us about jesus. The funny thing is he still recognized us as elders even though we were in our p-days.

The last bit of service we did was help a new family move into the ward. They are from BYU territorty and they are both lawyers . We were the only ones who came to help and when we were half way through it started to pour rain. So we got wet. but we didn't get shocked by lightening so that was good.

I am not liking how little time I have but I know that it will be alright. And no I am not too trunky. I may have my moments but Elder Elizondo is good at keeping me focused and on my toes. so i love you all and I am excited to see you all soon.

[Elder Spencer Larson]

Hey EVERYBODY,

This week was a very good week, had a lot of succses teach many poeple and learning new ways to interact with them. This week I recived my new and last comp, Elder Bentes. Our golden investigator Sheila is stedfast and frim on the trail to baptism. We had 2 Spiritual Expirences this week, one with Lionardo and Edna, and the other with Sheila. What a great blessing it is to be here serving the Lord and helping his children.
This week we have changed the way we normally speak with people. Normally we say ´´Hi we are the Missionarys, we have a message that talks about Jesus Christ and how GOD has called a prophet to guide us here on the Earth today. Would you like to hear our Message?´´. More often than not people say ´´we don´t have time to listen to your message.´´ or ´´ I already go to church.´´ or ´´ I aleady know the Gosple and all of it´s teachings, and I´va read the Bible so,,,,, No thanks.´´. It get frustrating sometimes, getting reajected over and over again. But that´s just preparing me for life I guess. Now we are going to us a new tactic(i think that´s how you spell it?). We talk about baptism and that without it no one can enter into the Kingdom of God, and then ask them if they are intrested in going to heaven and living with god, if they say Yes i say ´´So when can we go to your house to tell you how?´´. I´ve already recived some NOs. I believe this will help us find the Elects of god(Golden investigators). Sheila is doing very well, she is super excited for her baptism this Saterday, On Friday we were walking on the street, it was already dark and it was about 8:30pm and we were just about to head to our house for the night when I felt a little impression to stop by Sheila´s house to see how she was doing. Normaly Sheila doesn´t get home untill about 10pm so at this hour she wouldn´t be home, but we followed the prompting. To our suprise she was home, she had gotten home early, so we sang a hymn, said a prayer. We talked with her a little bit about The Book of Mormon and another gosple topic, and we felt the spirit. When we were about to leave Sheila and Danelle(a member of the Church which is sheila´s friend) shared there gratitude and said that we are like angles of God and that we had brought with us a sweet spirit and great peace. We don´t see ourselves in that way,but it is amazing to see how the spirit effects people when they are touch by him.
Lionardo and Edna was another visit this week where the spirit came and conforted them when there baby gril had been seriouslly sick for acouple of days. I know that God is our father and that he uses the Spirit to confort and guide his children here on the earth. I know that Jesus Christ is our Saivor and Redemer. Have a great week everybody,

Elder Stephen Larson

When the Lord commands, I odey #2

Hey mom and jess,

I am doing pretty good here in my new area, I am here in Marikina 4, it is nice. The people are so nice as usual. My comp is Elder Basalo, he is a Filipino. I really am so blessed to have had all Filipino companions on my mission. He is only 4 months in the mission, he came in, in November 2011. I am a senior companion.................... and a District Leader.

So it sounds like you have a lot of fun in your cruise!! Man that sounds so fun, I want to cruise one day. Next time you go I want to come with you too. So our apartment is really small. They say it is the smallest in the mission. Once you open the door and take your first step, you are at our desks, your second step is into the kitchen, if you step right you get into our rooms, if you step left, you go into the CR (comfort room, or bathroom). My comp is really cool, I like him a lot. He is still in his first area. So he knows the ward very well. But he told me our first night together that he will lead the area, cause I don't know it yet, but he wants me to lead everything else, the lessons, the contacting, everything like that. We will have to work with him a little bit with that to help him learn how.

So it is fun here. I was sad that I only spent 1 transfer in Quezon city south, but I am exited for this new area, and all these new people. We had a Less Active member ask us a question last week, her question was why did Joseph Smith have a lot of wives, it is forbidden in the bible. We told her that God's ways are higher than ours, and that all throughout the bible there are things like, that happening. We told her about Abraham sacrificing Isac, and how it is forbidden to Kill people, but Abraham was commanded to kill his son. Also about Nephi Slaying Laban. She understood what we were saying but wanted a SCRIPTURE saying that Joseph Smith was commanded to have many wives.

I really don't like answering or even talking about that subject because before I came on my mission, I struggled with this as well, why joseph had Many wives, it just doesn't really make sense to me. But Today we talked about it in District Meeting and I asked our Zone leaders what they do in this situation, they told me that they don't answer the question. They say that they tell them to read the Book Of Mormon and pray again about Joseph Smith, and if he is a prophet, than it doesn't matter what he does, cause he is commanded of god. Like it says in D&C, God will NEVER allow a prophet to lead us astray, if a Prophet did decide to be dissobedient, he would be destroyed. So Obviously Joseph was a Prophet, cause 1, the BOM is true, and 2, Joseph didn't get destroyed by God. haha.

So that is one thing that happened to me this week. Nothing too exciting going on. I feel a little over whelmed sometimes with all the lord calls me to do, but as Joseph Smith said in the restoration movie," I don't let myself question God....... when the lord commands, I obey" So Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the church is true.

I hope you are all happy, and getting back into the groove of work and all. Mom, you HAVE TO TELL ME WHERE DANIEL GETS CALLED!!! I have been wanting to send him a letter, but it is so hard here. No post offices to the US. I don't know how we will swing the whole Jon coming here. I want to see him and all, and my pres said it is ok, but the problem is where, and when. So this is our Phone number right now, You guys aren't allowed to call or text me so don't try, haha, but if Jon gets a cell phone, he can text me or call and we can set up the thing 0927-546-3678 . If not, just tell him to look up where the Aurora Church is in Manilla, I think it's the same address that you use to send me letters / packages. But he can go there to the office and ask someone there if they can get a hold of me to go to lunch and stuff. it should work out.

I love you all and hope you are all so happy. Jess, I hope you are having fun right now in work and stuff. I love you!!!!!

So I love you all, and wish the best for you. Love you guys, Mom!!

Love,Elder Benjamin Lamoreaux Larson

When the Lord commands, I obey

Hey Dad Kris, and Kids,

So I am doing good here in my new area, Marikina 4. My comp is Elder Basalo, he is Filipino and he is about 4 months in the mission, and he is obedient!! So I am a senior right now, which is a cool new experience, a lot of new things this transfer. haha oh yeah I am also a District Leader.

So Kris, there isn't an oven here. I don't think they exist here ha. So our apartment is small, they say it's the smallest one in the mission. It is just us two in it. And Once you open the door and take your first step, you are at our desks, your second step is into the kitchen, if you step right you get into our rooms, if you step left, you go into the CR (comfort room, or bathroom). My comp is really cool, I like him a lot. He is still in his first area. So he knows the ward very well. But he told me our first night together that he will lead the area, cause I don't know it yet, but he wants me to lead everything else, the lessons, the contacting, everything like that. We will have to work with him a little bit with that to help him learn how.

So it is fun here. I was sad that I only spent 1 transfer in Quezon city south, but I am exited for this new area, and all these new people. We had a Less Active member ask us a question last week, her question was why did Joseph Smith have a lot of wives, it is forbidden in the bible. We told her that God's ways are higher than ours, and that all throughout the bible there are things like, that happening. We told her about Abraham sacrificing Isac, and how it is forbidden to Kill people, but Abraham was commanded to kill his son. Also about Nephi Slaying Laban. She understood what we were saying but wanted a SCRIPTURE saying that Joseph Smith was commanded to have many wives.

I really don't like answering or even talking about that subject because before I came on my mission, I struggled with this as well, why joseph had Many wives, it just doesn't really make sense to me. But Today we talked about it in District Meeting and I asked our Zone leaders what they do in this situation, they told me that they don't answer the question. They say that they tell them to read the Book Of Mormon and pray again about Joseph Smith, and if he is a prophet, than it doesn't matter what he does, cause he is commanded of god. Like it says in D&C, God will NEVER allow a prophet to lead us astray, if a Prophet did decide to be dissobedient, he would be destroyed. So Obviously Joseph was a Prophet, cause 1, the BOM is true, and 2, Joseph didn't get destroyed by God. haha.

So that is one thing that happened to me this week. Nothing too exciting going on. I feel a little over whelmed sometimes with all the lord calls me to do, but as Joseph Smith said in the restoration movie," I don't let myself question God....... when the lord commands, I obey" So Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the church is true.

I love you all and hope you are all happy. Thank you dad for your story about your mission, It helps a lot, and you as well Kris. I hope you kids are having fun with your sports!! You are so lucky, your parents are going to coach you!! Have fun there huh!!

Love,

Elder Benjamin L. Larson

Sheila

hey everybody,

Well this week wasn´t how would have liked it to be, but thats life. My health and safty is good. We are still working with Sheila(19) and Bruna(17). Sheila got a job this week and guess what her boss is a member of the Church. Sheila was realy suprised when she had found out that fact. Now she said that her boss asked her to say a prayer at lunch, and even thow she is shy and stuff she said the prayer, and now she seems a lot more intressed to read the Book of Mormon. We have taught her The Resturation, The Law of Chastiy, The Word of wisdom and The Gosple of Jesus Christ. Now Sheila is getting more and more excited about her bapitsm for the 31st of March, yes!
Bruna went to church with us on Sunday, she had said that she would but I douted her thinking that she would make an exscuse, or sleep-in or something. I was so happy to see her coming out of her house all dressed up and ready to go when I rang the doorbell. We have taught her THE Resturation, The Word Of Wisdom, and The Law of Chastiy. Bruna is having problems reading the Book of Mormon but little dy little we´ll help her out.
Last friday I recived a letter From dad, which was sent on the 4th of January, it had our family christmas/newyears letter in it which I thought was really well done, Thanks Dad and kris. But that shows you how longer it can take for a letter to get to someone here in brasil when it is sent close to christmas or Newyears.
I also recived a letter from Grandpa and Grandma Larson on Friday. Thank you so much for the Card Grandpa and Grandma. Grandma asked about how many Stakes and Wards there are in my Mission. And she asked if missionarys are per ward or per stake. So responding to her question, in the São Paulo Interlagos Mission there are 12 Stakes, a little more than 75 Wards, 10 Branches, and 3 Districts. Here every ward has two missionarys designated(assigned), so was get really attached to the members in our wards that we pass in. And in our mission we have about 160 missionarys.
I was really suprised to hear that Rachel got married, because I didn´t even know that she was engaged. Actually I didn´t even know that John or Rachel were engaged, let alone Married. Well CONGRATULATIONS to John, Caleb, Rachel and Janelle(that is now engaged).ha
I know that when we live The gosple of Jesus Christ, we are happy. I heared last week that we can mesure how we are doing in living the gosple based on the leval of our Happieness that we feel. I know that we are not always going to be happy, sure we will have problems, but that´s to humble and test us to see if will be faithful or not, and if we are faithful we´ll be strengthened and blessed. I know that Jesus Christ is the Redemer and Saivor of us all, and only through him can we be saved.
Have a great week everybody. With love,

Elder stephen larson

"the Lamb of God"

Hey family,

Well in our mission we have been having a hard time finding new investigators to teach. And everyone knows that when you don't find anyone you don't teach. So President Summerhays called this March Madness finding. And he was really inspired to say that and help us prepare to get 180 investigators in one week. That is two investigators per missionary per week. So Me and elder Elizondo are taking this very seriously and we are finding with the spirit. It is amazing. WE found 4 new investigators this week and they are all pretty cool. Mike and his girlfriend Lanora, Mike, and a red head girl named chloe. Chloe is the coolest. She has had a very tough life but Christ has helped her get out of the slumps and on to her feet. She is very open to us. She is really into reading books and she found out that I was reading the hunger games books. And by the way I had no idea they were making a movie, how cool is that. That is proof how out of the world I am. any way, she went and grabbed the last book which I haven't read yet and was offering me to read it and not to give it back until I finished. That was the perfect opportunity to start our discussion about who we are and what we talk about. It was awesome. The spirit is with us and is helping us in every phase of the work, especially in finding efforts. I wouldn't be surprised if our mission hit 180 this week.

We had a lesson with Jeff and the day before he told us he had some concerns he had about the priesthood and black people. I prayed and searched out the scriptures to find some good way to teach it. I didn't find much, but I knew that the because the Book Of Mormon is true and that Joseph smith was a True Prophet we would be fine. that is really what it comes down to. so the lesson didn't go well because of lack of belief and he wouldn't listen to the spirit. I still love that man and we are going to do some stuff with him before I leave. It was sad to have it end that way, but he will have another chance later.

On the other hand last night we went to the Whites house for dinner. They have a grandchild named Gauge. He is a firecracker. but he is very smart. He told brother white that he wanted to read the Book of Mormon with us, but then didn't want because he got nervous. So we began at the pictures in the front of the book of Mormon and told him about all the cool stuff in the book of Mormon and introduced it so he could understand. He is 5, but I know without a doubt that the spirit lead us as we taught him. He understood it. Children are the best learners because they are so humble and willing.

One of the nice things I did this week was go and do service for My favorite Bishop, Bishop Kelly. He was a marine, and he is a tough cookie. But he is like Grandpa Rodabough in his manner. He is funny as heck. We helped him cut down limbs from his tree and rake leaves and other things. He wouldn't have been able to do those things by himself in that amount of time. I got to know him better and I feel that he trusts us and loves us even more.

In this ward it has been hard to get things going with missionary work, but i think that we finally are making a difference and are breaking through the darkness of doubt and fear. In church this Sunday we watched " The Lamb of God". I have watched that movie a number of times before, but this time I learned and felt something new. As I watched what they did to the savior, as they beat and scourged him and pounded the nails one by one into his hands and feet I felt so much anguish and pain like never before. And what surprised me was that he still didn't complain or struggle against it, He humbly submitted to his fathers will. It is so hard for me to think that he did all that for me. But it doesn't change the Fact that he did. And he did it because of the love he felt and had for me and everyone. It really is wonderful to me.

I love all of you and am really excited and nervous to come back. But I know it will be all good. Take care.
--
[Elder Spencer Larson]

Transfers

Hey Dad, Kris, and Kids,

So I am doing good here in Quezon City South zone, but the only thing is, It's my last day here. I am transferring.......................

I have only been here one transfer, and I am already leaving. Man, I hope I didn't do something wrong. I was almost sure that we were both staying, me and my comp elder Perez, cause we both came in here at the same time. We got Shot gunned in here. And it stinks cause we just set a Baptismal Date with Jeffery(19) and his sister Mimi(17), we have been working with them since we got here, and they have grown so much, especially Jeffery, I can see him as a missionary!! We are also gotting close with their cousins Kathleen(16) and Jessa(15) they are almost ready for a Baptismal Date.

So I am kinda bummed that I am leaving here, especially right when our work started taking off, and getting close to taste the fruits of our labors, now some lucky elder is going to get transffered in to QC South and get to see all these cool people be baptized.

So I don't know where I am going to transfer, I am a little nervous, I kinda want to get out of the city, ha really actually. But I will go wherever and be happy there!! I also am a little worried who my comp is going to be, cause I feel like Our President has put me with a lot of Dis-obedient ish missionaries. I don't like babysitting on the mission.

So I hope you are all happy and healthy, and excited for summer Anni and David!! It is coming up!! Have fun in school though, dont be afraid to meet new people and do new things, cause new things are fun!!! Just like here on the mission, I am sad to be leaving this area, but excited cause there will be many new people and places I will get to know and see, and I am excited for it. I have a funny feeling about it all.... don't know why, ha its a happy/ nervous feeling.

I love you all so much, be good, have fun in your new callings, Dad and Kris. Kris seminary was my favorite, especially in my Jr and Sr years.
Dad, so about the Less Actives, that is a lot, I don't know how it works over there, but our whole mission has switched focuss from investigators to Less Actives. And I would say as the WML, make sure the elders have Ward Council, and the other meetings with the ward they need to have. Also be fun and happy with them, Missionaries work better when they are happy and having fun. But don't let them get out of the meetings, it helps them get closer with the ward and helps the Ward get Involved, that's a big thing, the Ward is the power, and the Friends for the returning LA members, With out friends they will go away again.

So I hope this all helped, its exciting doing this work with you guys. I like it,

Love Elder Benjamin L. Larson

FAST!

hey guys,

Many good things have happened this week. Well first off, our ward has started a 40 day fast and our whole mission joined in a fast for 180 new investigators in one week. So there has been a lot of fasting for missionary work. So Elder Elizondo and I have really grown in our faith that god will bless us with some souls to teach. And he has. It was awesome. I went on exchange with a really cool elder Named Elder Rowan, who is some how related to Aunt Marine. We had a blast, we decided to go down to where bishop Kelly(my bishop) told us to go finding. So the first guy we talked to was budist and really not interested. Then we talked to three guys who told us they were devil worshippers they actually we kindof funny but really not interested. then me and elder Rowan were about to get out of there but I decided to just give the other side of the street a try. The second door we knocked a 19 yr old kid named Christian talked with us and we bore our testimonies about the Book of Mormon. Then he said," I think it would be better if you came in to teach me and my whole family." Me and elder Rowan just looked at each other and went in and had a great lesson with this columbian family. They are currently being taught by the spanish elders.

We had tracted into this lady a while back who we nicknamed,"the sick lady" because she was sick the first time we met her. It seemed like every other door but we finally got in this week. Her husband Kris is a really cool guy who doesn't like religion because of the bad experiences he has had. But he listened to us and agreed to let us come back and serve him and teach his family. I have a really good feeling about them.

Mia is doing alright, she got stressed out about her baptism and told us to hold up and wait until she felt more ready. so we are trying to work with her to help her feel more comfortable.

Alex is sooo awesome! we had a lesson with her last night about the Plan of Alex(Salvation). It was a crazy atmosphere but the spirit endured and she is really looking like she is going to get baptized. We now have to set a date with her.

One thing that has been very prevalent this week was girl crushes. I didn't have any but I for some reason all at once everybody is telling me that they like me. ahhhhhh! it is pretty awkward and I just want to focus on my missionary work. So even though there is opposition the work will go forth Boldly, nobly and independant.

That is about all I can say but I love you all and can hardly wait to see you. Take care.

Elder Spencer Larson

these are the best 2 years FOR my life

Hi guys,

How´s everybody doing? You know, I don´t know anything that goes on with you guys unless you tell me. And it´s the same thing with you guys knowing about me.
Well I doing good, I am health, happy, and serving the lord. Me and my comp taught this couple Edson and Shurly, we taught them about a commandment of the lord in Keeping The Sabbth Day Holy. The only thing is that Edson was a member of the Adventist of The 7th Day. So that lesson was a little bit heated, and I learned a lot, it seems like you learn more when you teach sometimes.
It´s also so funny to teach about The Book Of Mormon to people because here in Brasil it´s seems like a lot of people don´t know there Geografy(and I don´t know how to spell. ha). So sometimes people think that the Americas is Africa or Austrelia(?). So we´re not just teach the gosple but some times we are teaching Geografy too.haha
This last Wensday we had a meeting with a Genral Authority, a 70. His name is (Elder) Godoy, he´s a brasilan and is realy funny he talked about some of the reasons of why we missionarys are here. 1st, To save other People. 2nd, To build up the kingdom of god on the earth. 3rd, To save ourselves. It was a great meeting.
This week we were knocking on doors and it was about 5 O´clock and we knock and a door and this lady anwsered it. Her name was Marta and she was about 50 years old and at frist she didn´t want to accept our message, but after talking with her a litle bit she got intressed and told her about the Restoration and it was so cool to see how the spirit can work with people so that they can be open to hear the Gosple.
I know that Jesus Christ is our Redemer and Saivor, and I know that if we live The commandments of God we will be Happy here on Earth and we will be able to live with our Father in heaven. The only thing we can give to god is our own free WILL, and when we do we are blessed. These 2 years are not the BEST 2 years Of My Life, but they are the Best 2 years For My Life.
I love you all have a great week and live the Gosple.

Elder Stephen Larson

We are going to baptize the heck out of people

Hey guys,

This week was a fantastic week yet again. I had many good experiences and a couple really bad ones. I was able to learn from all of them. I will start with the bad experience. So we were following up with a guy who was in the area book. He was working but his dad was there to talk with us. At first he was very pleasant with us but then he started preaching at us his knowledge and doctrine. Lesson one, when a man starts spitting out doctrine at you, usually that means they aren't interested in what you have to say no matter what and they won't listen at all. I fail that test. I thought i could convince him that what we are doing will bless his life but he would not listen and the spirit was not there at all. It was so frustrated, mostly at myself but I really appreciate those moments after, because I learn from them. And that wasn't the last time that people spoke against us this week. It all happened a lot in this one week, it was very weird.

Now to the good stuff. Our new investigator Alex(17) is a really cool girl. She is the girlfriend of Mike, a young man in our ward who is getting ready to go on a mission to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yeee haa! I make fun of him all the time and sing the Oklahoma song when he is around. So we taught the restoration to Alex and challenged her to read the book of Mormon. She has Dyslexia
and told me that she hopes that she can understand and read it good enough. She has been reading it for a week now and is already finishing up with 1 Nephi. She says that she understands it very well and has no trouble reading the Book of Mormon. that was huge and I told her that the holy ghost is helping her read it. But I think that just like stephen we are going to go over the Law of chastiy soon just to make sure that Mike and Alex are kept safe. But so far so good for her progress in the gospel.

Big Jo came to church and she is actually getting involved with the lessons and she is starting to get it. Repetition is her friend.
I think she will get baptized but we still need to hear from President about what Salt Lake says. Mia is out of the Hospital and is doing well. She had some mental issues and got some medication for it. She is still set for the 10th of March and we are going to see about getting her and her family over to a FHE with some Members. Those always bring unity and the spirit.

We went to Golden Corral with Bro. Ojukwu and Our investigator Jeff. Jeff and Bro. Ojukwu are both Black and Bro Ojukwu is a huge guy about 6ft 6in maybe 7in. So we pigged out at golden corral and had a wonderful discussion with jeff about god and his humor and his view of us. And for some reason every time we go out to eat, some one out of the blue comes to talk with me. Like this one lady came up to me told me I looked familiar and she actually looked familiar to me. Just stuff like that. I love the missionary spirit that we all carry where ever it may be. there are so many opportunities to do missionary work it is crazy.

Transfer calls came this past Saturday and I was hoping to stay here with Elder Larson but Sadly He is leaving me to die here in Tampa 4 with Elder Elizondo. I am however happy to be staying in this area with Elder Elizondo. WE are going to have a blast and we are going to baptize the heck out of people. So Just one last Transfer and I am done I will hold on to the end and I will work my hardest to the very last moment I have here in florida. I love you all, Mom have fun on your Cruis. See you all soon.

Elder Spencer Larson

Weather has been crazy

Hey everybody,

I didn´t even know that Valentines Day had already passed by, it seem like I don´t know anything thats happening in the world. The weather has been crazy this week, every day it´s realy hot in the mornning untill it hits 4 O´clockpm then it starts to rain, it´s crazy and then people get sick because the weather changes so fast. I am already acostumated with brasil, I think I spelled that wrong, whatever.
On to my Investagators, Misrael(27), he didn´t go to church this because he just wanted to be lazy. He has already been taught everything but he´s being timid in accepting a baptisimal date. He said that he whats to know that these things are ture like we know that they are true, but I think that there is something elss that he´s not telling us. he said that he´s reading The Book Of Mormon and praying but that he is not reaceving an anwser....?
Sheila(19) is preparing for baptism(the 17th of march) but she is only reading when we read with her and she isn´t praying and asking, but she has gone to church 3 weeks in a row, so will keep working with her. We have taught The Resturation, The law of Chastity. and The Word of Wisdom, and she said she´s keeping them.We were/are teaching Patricia with sheila but she doesn´t pay attention and don´t show any intress.
We are teach our neighboors(Bruna(17)and Sergeo(41)Marked for the 17th of march) but they say they don´t have time to read, or to go to church, bruna is showing that she whats to get baptized and continue going to church, but I beleive she´s doing this more because of her boyfriend than anything elss. And we´ve only taught her The Resturation, naxt lesson The Law of Chastity.
It´S funny because like spencer we also someone that is mamber of the Baptist Church , but the only diffrence is that Spencers investagator accepyed the message, but ours was like fighting with us say that we are wrong and stuff, but in the end she said she would read and pary to know that what taught was ture, I hope she´s open to get the anwser because she´s cool and she speaks English and she did in the US.
But that was a little bit about my week.

I love you guys and I hope you all have a wounderful week.

Elder stephen larson

I'm still green

Hey my Family,

This has been another fantastic week in the Florida,Tampa Mission for me. The weather is so perfect I don't even want to think about what I am going to experience when I get home. Time keeps flying by and I don't like that. I feel like I have only begun my mission here and I am still learning like I am brand new. But I think that my companions will dissagree with me because I do most of the talking when we go out to work.

I had a lot of good experiences this week. I went on exchange with an elder named Elder Forbush. hah he is a goof. I love it. We taught a part member family the Taylors, in our ward and they are the hardest people to teach because they are all doing their own thing. So we decided to play a game with them so they all were engaged in our visit. We played Mafia and we applied it to agency and how we need to choose to follow Jesus Christ instead of listening to the evil spirit who leads us to captivity and death. It was a lot of fun. Actually that lesson was the same day as valentines day so we went to a yogurt shop and enjoyed the success of the lesson.

We had a great lesson with Mia and set up a calender with her so she can know what to expect all the way up to her Baptism on the 10th of March. She went to the hospital on Saturday and I am worried about her so we are going to try and visit her.

We followed up with this guy named Billy who we found knocking doors. He is Baptist and very friendly and open to talk. We taught him the restoration and I felt the spirit so strongly. He has committed to read the Book of Mormon and he wants us to come back. We are working on setting a baptismal committment on the first lesson with investigators.

One funny thing happened as we taught geoff. Geoff is a very inteligent man who catches all detail. We decided to teach him about the plan of Salvation and to let Elder Elizondo Start off the lesson. So he did, but as he was explaining that we were with god in the beginning and we could either choose his plan or the devils; he forgot to mention the part about those who chose satan plan not recieving bodies or exaltation. So geoff was confused saying that if we all go to heaven despite which plan we choose( satans of gods) than what does it matter which plan you choose? We spent a good moment trying to explain. When we finally figured out what was missing we all laughed. Geoff said, " Now it makes sense.... that is an important peice to leave out." So it is so funny how leaving out one little sentance makes the whole plan of salvatioin a mess.

Jo(83) came up to us on sunday and asked us if she could be baptized. I was happy but with the situation of her possibly not being accountable was troubling my mind. So we went over to talk about it with her and invited President Summerhays to come. We were a little late and when we arrived at her house President was outside with her helping her pick up leaves and bagging them. That is the type of man President Summerhays is. he is so full of love and spirit. After talking with her President said he would have to ask some one from Salt Lake. so We will see if she needs to get baptized or not.

I Love this work and the time I have been able to spend in the service of My god. Its great and I feel good when I do it. Take care everyone and have a great week. I love you.

Elder Spencer Larson

same old same old

Hey Dad Kris and Anni and Davo,

So I am doing good here in Philippines, I Hope you are also doing good in our country. It sounds like you guys had fun with the scones and the snow, Snow in Tagalog is Niyebe, I am not sure if that is spanish too, there are a lot of spanish in tagalog, and winter is Taglamig. Hope you enjoyed last weeks vocab list, ha I thought it was a good one.

I am healthy, and just bought a basketball so now we can play basketball in the mornings. Yes!!! Nothing new really is going on. We got a new zone leader Emergency transfered into our house, we are roomates with the zone leaders, the last zone leader had something going on he wasn't telling anyone............. and thats all you need to know. Haha

So this week, on wednesday we had our appointment with Larissa (20) but then we had an unexpected missionary exchanges with MTC here in Manilla, they do this for the missionaries there, at the end of there MTC experience a couple days before they leave, I was assigned with 3 other Elders, So it was me taking care of 3 new guys, and here is the great part, THEY DIDN"T KNOW TAGALOG!!! They were from Pakistan, all of them, and one spoke pretty good english, the others tried but mostly stuck with Obdub, or Snubgub, whatever they said there language was, is was weird. Any way so we were on our way to Larissa, then we got a text saying she couldn't continue with our appointment, she went somewhere with her fam, Crap. Sorry for that big dissappointer. so we went to our next appointment which was to sister Mimi (19 or 20) a new convert, and we shared with her about faith, which is one of my favoritest things to talk and teach about. It's what keeps me together, and helps me in my stupidest times. So I did all the talking which was fun! I am not used to it, but I like it, I have always had companions who are way better at me in the language cause they are all from here. So that was a cool fun experience, then the other 3 shared there testimonies, and that was a hoot, cause the first 2 did it in their Snubby Dubby language, and the other elder translated into English, Then I translated, Kinda, In tagalog, so we had like 2 lines of translation, crazy huh, that's what we call the gift of tounges, God deffinetlely helped us out there.

So that was cool, then I took them to a member family, and that was fun. The Racaza family, they are one of my favorites here. The kids are all basically Ward Missionaries and help us out a lot, there are 6 of them. And when we went there, Nany Racaza was so surprised to see us, them more surprised to see all the Bombai's ( that's what they call Indian's here) with me. Ha she said she had a major nose bleed, which means she really had no idea what the junk they were saying. but they were good and fun and tried to comunicate with her, then the one who is good english sang a hymn how great thou art, nice one.

So, crap, that Larissa cancelled on us, but we stopped by the brother who is member who works right close to her, and gave him a Book of Mormon and 2 pamphlets, the Restoration and Plan of Salvation, she apparently was very happy to recieve them and we haven't set up a return appointment yet. Hopefully she reads those wonderful readable things.

So thats pretty much my week, we did teach a lot of other people but I am runnin out of time, so this will be all for today. Hope you enjoyed my week, hehe, that sounds funny. Lets all hope tagalog gets easier, I feel like sometimes it gets harder a few days, then easy all the sudden. But I am trying hard, and Loving it here.

I hope you are all happy, and I hope your job is great Dad and also yours Kris, Making the best of it and all. And Kids, I hope you are enjoying the Niyebe (snow) it is fun, and you can through it at other people, you can't really do that with rain. Ha Hope you are enjoying and loving life, cause it is meant to be loved, and cried, and laughed, but mostly just loved.

Love you all,

Love

Elder Benjamin L. Larson

There was no escape

Hello everybody,

Let me tell you guys what in last 4 days because my last e- mail wensday. On thursday we taught Bruna and her Uncle who is Sergeo That live in front of our house, it was a little akward at first because we see them almost every day, but they try not to notice us but this time there was no escape for them. We taught the resturation and accepted our invists and they are marked for baptism the 17 of march along with Patricia and sheila.
I love you all and hope you guys have a good week.

Elder Stephen Larson

We went to the Temple

Hey everybody,

I am doing good, I didn´t send an e-mail because our P-day was moved to today because today we went to the Temple, and when we go to the Temple they switch our P-day. I just got back from the temple and it was great.
Last tuesday when I got here in ´Cidade Dultra´(which is my new area), I was really suprised because this area is the area that my Trainer(Elder Field) finished his mission in 2010. My new companion is elder Alves da Silva, he´s from a place called Recife(city), Panabuco(state), it´s the same place where uncle Matt Larson served his mission. Elder Silva has about 1 year on the mission and he seems like a cool guy.

This ward ´Cidade Dultra´, seems to be having some problems, but I am excited to be here to help them out. This area is very small compered to my last area, actully this area is very closs to my first area(Palmares). The church is in our area, but we have 4 wards that attend our building, it´s cool because yu see a lot of members.

We don´t have very many investigators here but we do have a Patricia(21) and sheila(20) that we taught on sunday and marked them for baptism, for the 17th of march. There´s also a man named Misrael(about 35) that I´ve only talked with him one time but we don´t know why he hasn´t gotten baptised yet, so tonight we are going talk with him about Baptism. Elder Silva was teaching a young lady named Mikaeli(17) but I don´t even know who she is yet, and on tuesday some other Elders in our Zone told us about a young lady that lives in front of our house that is interessed in our message, her name is Bruna(17).

I know that god is our father and that he wants us to be happy, but we can only be trully happy when we live the Restored Gospel. I know that Jesus is our Savior and Redemer. I love us all Have a great week.

Elder stephen larson

pics

The power of gratitude

Hey Family,

Man this was a very interesting week. I didn't have much of a p-day because I had to go up to the most north part of our mission and settle some issues with some missionaries. And ended up staying there on exchange for 2 days and I had an excellent time with the ward up there. While I was up there I ate a huge steak at a members house and I went on a split with a member who has no legs because of his military service. There are a lot of people in the military down here. But this man not only rolls around in a wheel chair; but he also DRIVES! he pushes the gas by a handle right next to the steering wheel. It was freaky. Guess what his name was.... Brother Chairwalk. I almost died laughing. Ben, I told Brother Chair Walk that you were serving in the Philippines and he said he knew a missionary whose name is Jacob kimmy. He is American, Let me know if you know him.

We had a Zone conference and I was pretty stressed out about it because not only did I have to give a training that I wasn't prepared that well for but I was asked to conduct the entire meeting. Then I found out in the Middle of it that it would be my last Zone conference. That was very weird, so at the end of the meeting i stood up and bore my "Departing testimony" about the savior and his love for me. It was hard to get through it but I never felt such joy in all my life in getting up to bear my testimony. It was a very powerful experience for me.

The days following were tough for some unknown reason. The work slowed down a lot. Appointments fell through right and left and we weren't able to teach anyone. I have never wanted to give up in all of my mission than that day. But even though I didn't feel like pushing through it we did. And we began to remember the lords blessings in our lives. I literally counted each blessing the lord had given me at that time. I was thankful for our car, my health, good looks, stuff like that. And as soon as we did that we felt a little better to get us through that day. I know from that experience that I am completely useless as a missionary without the lords help and guidance. I needed that lesson, now that we are depending on the lord more we are getting more appointments and more things are happening. Then on Sunday our lesson was sealed by the sacrament talks, one was on Grace and the other was on Gratitude. And i learned that when we "count our many blessings" it takes effort, especially when you don't feel like being thankful for anything. But as we try to count them, you begin to put your focus on god. I thought that was a great thing to know so now every time I feel down or depressed about something that doesn't go my way, I can count on the lord to lift me higher. Now I am happy and confident that what ever happens i am that much prepared to choose to be happy.

By the way, Mia came to church two times in a row with one of her sons, and Jo came as well. but I think that Jo isn't accountable so we will just keep helping her get to church until she can't or she passes into the next life.i love her and i know that she is a great blessing in my life.

That is about it, I love you all. see you all soon.

Elder Spencer Larson

I dont know what to call this e-mail

Hey mom, Jess, Family, Dogs too i gues.

I am doing good here in my new area, I am a little bit more adjusted now and know the streets a little better, but there are probably around 300 little alley way's that go who know's where, and those are hard to navigate. I am healthy. We went to the dentist last week cause my comp said his gums were hurting him. We wen't( it was actually pretty nice, mostly cuase it was the dentist our mission uses) and it turned out he had a wisdom tooth that had just come in. They pulled it out right there. Ha it was so funny. Like we went in signed a paper, they took my comp back, we were the only ones there, I read a few signs in the office and tried translating them all in tagalog, ha ha, then when I was done, so were they. It took all about 15 or 20 minutes. Probably the fastest dentist drop I have ever been to, also I didn't have to have them hurt the crap out of my teeth so that was extra bonus.

Tell Jon I don't know yet what number he could call me on or what, but there is transfer day on March 15 probably, and I need to know what day he is coming and until when so I can figure it all out. I also don't know what number he can call me at or if any of this is allowed by my president. So I will figure it out and e-mail you every thing in the next couple of week.

So This was a different week. We met a girl named Larisa, she was born in the Philippines, was adopted when she was 8 and lived in california ever since. She is 20 ish now and has forgotten tagalog, she is just visiting her family before she starts college. It was kind of weird how we met her, we were looking for a house of a Less Active family so we went to a guy in our ward who knows everyone, he was at his little food hut, called Tindahan, where he feeds people, not a resturant just a side of the rode 10 spuare feet hut. Anyways, so they were talking when we walked up, and I was surprised when they weren't speaking Tagalog. I looked at her weirdly for a second, then asked her how she was in english, she said, 'Im alright'. Cool!! Also it was a little difficult to have a conversation in English, I had to think extra hard. ha, then I asked her where she was from and started a little conversation. It was cool, especially when I asked her what she liked to do, like her hobbies. ( I don't know why I asked that question, it just popped in my head) she said she liked reading books, and the books she said she likes to read are deep life books, and what life is all about and how to be happy. So I thought to myself, " YES!! I have the Perfect book for Her!! (the Book of Mormon)" Then as I was reaching into my bag for it, I realized................ it was Tagalog version. Patay!!! ( it means death, but in this context, "CRAP") So instead of doing that, we just continued our conversation a little, then when the time came, I told her a little about our church and what we as missionaries do as missionaries, It was weird to do it in english. Then I said how she said earlier she likes deep life books. I asked her if it would be ok if we could come over another day and talk a little bit about what life means and what the whole big deal about it is. She said yeah sure. ( YESS!! Just a little victory moment for us) We set up the appointment and havent had it yet, because it is this wednesday! Hopefully I can teach the Plan of Salvation ok in english, I mean Its' already hard enough in Tagalog. Ha I can do it though.

So I have been studying about the Plan of Salvation a lot lately I'm not sure why ( I do know why, its cause we are teaching it this week, I just wanted to say I didn't so my e-mail would be funner) and I have learned a lot. I have read mostly Alma chapters 40 until 42 those are all really good chapters. It talks about where we came from and a little about why we are here, and mostly where we go after we die. One thing I have noticed though in these chapters is that it is all centered around Jesus Christ. But all three things are important, the Creation Fall and Resurrection/Atonement. The Creation needed to happen so we could live here, and have bodies, easy peasy lemon squeezy, the Fall happened so we can have experiences, and a chance to return to our Heavenly Father, this part I think is cool, the Atonement was able to come because of the Fall, and we need it in order to fulfil our hole purpose, so we can be with our families forever. So all of this stuff is conected and all of it supports eachother, but the Atonement is what we all mostly focuss on, because the other two have already happened and now we are un-perfect and need the atonement or we will all go to hell and be miserable with nashing of teeth and wailing stuff. I said this a little wierd, but it is direct and true. If there was no Atonement there will no hope either. The Atonement + Accepting it = Salvation! That is my new math equation of life. God has given us a sacred gift called agency, we get to choose to accept this plan or not, the thing is, we have already accepted it, and now we have the choice again to finish it! I love the Plan of Salvation it gives light to our not understandingment.

I love you all, and hope you are all happy. And Healthy, and accepting the Atonement every day of your lives. We are the only ones who can hold back the blessings of god, He wants to give them to us, his hand is stretched forth ready for us to take them, it is up to us to Take them though.

Love you mom Jess, I pray for you two always. Jess I love your face too. I hope your hair is getting long and gorgious like you promised me you would let it.

Love Elder Benjamin Lamoreaux Larson

Shot gun

Hey Davo Anni Dad and Kris,

I am doing good here in my new area, (it is my 2nd just so you know). I am here in Quezon City south 3B area, our ward, Quezon City 3 has 4 missionaries, so we have a split area, A and B. My new comp is elder Perez, he is a Filipino, My 4th Filipino comp, and also my 4th companion. ha all My comps have been Natives, which is a blessing and I am grateful for, but sometimes I wonder what its like to be with an american. Having Filipino comps helps with the language though, it forces you to speak it since they don't really speak english. I think I am the only one in my batch who has had all Filipino companions. (Ha I think that is a good thing.)

There is one weird thing this transfer though, and that is that me and my comp, are both new in this area. We call it a white out or a shot gun. So we are glad for the Ward Missionaries who help us a lot, its good to have Ward mission help, in my last area we had none so its nice to learn how to work with them. My comp knows only two members and where their houses are because he came from Quezon City 3A area, so he was in this ward before, just tranfered areas. Ha he is also my first Co. Senior. So that is cool I guess.

We have met a lot of nice people here, our numbers are lower this week but our President understands because he flippin put us both into a new area. Ha Its a great learning experience that I am grateful for! We have a member in our ward, who I think just became active again in the church. She has two kids, one 15 or 16, the other 5, and the 5 yr old is pretty spoiled, ha, I don't want any of my kids to act or be like her. She is cute though. She is, what do you call this, Obeese? Well she is fat for her age, I wouldn't be surprised if she weighed in the low Hundreds or Ninties. But the Husband is not a member, oh there names is the Clementine family. Brother Clementine really wants to get baptized, he just has a little problem with the Word of Wisdom, he came to church and from what it looks like, he has been churching for a while now. Which is good, now I hope I can help him with his addictions.

There aren't as many Less Actives in this ward as there were in my last area, but there are still many. Hopefully we can meet them all and help them return to our church. We have met a few that the last missionaries didn't know yet, that's a start. A good start I think. Hopefully next week will be better and more lesson full.

So my favorite thing here is the kids, most of the time they are fun, some can be annoying when they swear at you and try to be cool, but mostly they are just fun. I love walking down the street and have a big group of kids come running up to you yelling either, "Americano!!" or "Elder, Elder!" if they know you. They always want high fives, and some like to hang on my arms and make me lift them high in the air, it is just fun and makes my day most the time. It is especially cool when I speak Tagalog to them, they get an amazed look on their faces and all laugh like the coolest thing just happened, I like it.

Tagalog is still hard, I still have a lot to learn. Hopefully soon I will be fluent, Stephen said that around the time he hit 6 months he felt pretty fluent, I am at 6 now, and I still don't quite feel there yet, but there are some missionaries my age in the field who are training now or are seniors, so hopefully I can catch up to them quick.

I love you all and hope you are happy and healthy too, Anni and Davo, I hope your all doing good in your school and all your fun sports, just do your bests and have fun! Thats what its all about. And Dad and Kris I hope your Jobs are also fun and successful.

Love

Elder Benjamin L. Larson

I am so happy

Hey Family,

Well this week was a very good one. Because it is always good when you learn something about yourself that you really didn't see before. So I am pretty far into my mission just over a year. hehe. And I know what i am doing right? Wrong! I still have no Idea. And that was bugging me until I found out why. I every day is different and everyone we talk to is different and changing minute by minute and hour by hour. I have no Idea how to teach these people or how to say the right thing so they will listen to us, but the lord does. I have to be seeking and listening for the holy ghost to guide me all the time and not just do it my way. So it was a really good lesson to learn.
I went on an exchange this week with Elder Johnson. He is a Spanish elder and guess what I don't speak spanish. But I want to so bad. But I had a great time with him and I was surprised how much Spanish I understood. We biked a lot and taught a lady who was getting ready for baptism. We read in the book of Mormon in Spanish and I tried to do it and the lady was so excited that i was actually trying she made me read around three verses. It was intense. We also met a short lady named Florence who is from Hati. Apparently it was her first time walking from a certain place to her apartment and it was on a busy road. She didn't know when it was safe to cross the walk. So we stayed with her pushing our bikes and getting to know her a little bit more and we still almost got killed by some florida Driver. She is now being taught by the sister missionaries and i gave her two book of mormons.... Books of Mormon.... what ever.

Millie is doing a lot better in the hospital since we gave her a blessing. She has a cousin in utah who is mormon and she is a great influence on her. We gave millie a Book of Mormon and one of her friends who came to visit her started reading it and wanted one. So we gave millie another one to give to her friend. God is so orchestrated.

We have been having a hard time helping Mia progress and we didn't know why. so we sat down and really listened to her and what she was feeling and it was the most wonderful lesson I had ever had with her. We finally know what is holding her up and we can now teach to her needs instead of just throwing a whole bunch of doctrine at her that has nothing to do with her needs or concerns.

We stopped by Donnell and actually got to sit down with him. We have only had one lesson with him and have only talked with him three times and he is already read up to 3 nephi 28. he is probably done and started over with it by now. he is golden, now we just need to get into his home and teach him more.

I am so blessed out here i don't even deserve it and i never will. I am thankful to god for it.

So I am well, Happier than ever and Elder Larson and Elder Elizondo are pretty cool guys. I love you all and i will talk to you later.

Elder Spencer Larson

Im being transfered

Hey everybody,

This week was a very good week. We had a lot of people this week that accepted the invite to be Baptized. Claudiono and Joice went to church yesterday and they really excited to get baptized on the 18th of this month. Antonio and Mariana have been going to Church for a month and a half and they know that the church is true and they want to get baptized but they aren´t married. Antonio has a great fear of getting married again because his first marrage didn´t work out, but we convinced him to get married and they are going mark there wedding for the 17th of march. We started to teach a family this week Fatima(mom), Rafael(17 son), Ranielly(11 daughter) and Leomar(25 couisn). They like us a lot and Fatima already recived an answer that The Book of Mormon is true. WOW, and they are going to get baptized on the 25th of this month.
But I am sad because I recived a phone call saying that I am being transfered on tesday so I wont be here. I love you all my time is up have a good week. Love always

Elder stephen larson

Elder M. Russel Balard came

Hey Everyone,

This Week was a great week. We started the week with a meeting with an Apostle of God, Elder M. Russel Balard visited our mission last tuesday. It was great, he was making jokes and every once and a while he would make a coment in spanish, I think that he thought in Brasil the people speak spanish. When we ended the meting with Elder Balard everyone was excited to go out and teach the gospel.

Our investagators are Claudiono and Joice who are married and they have already recived an anwser about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, it´s so great to teach them because the spirit is strong and there excited to learn. They are marked for baptism, the 18th of febuary. Antônio and Mariana, they were not sure if they wanted to get married because they said that they fight all the time. Mariana said that she wanted to live Antonio, but we talked with them and they seem very happy. Arlindo is still having problems with the divorce papers. And francisco(our 21years old Golden investagator) was baptized on saterday!

I love you guys , I wish I had more time to tell you everything but... Don´t worry I am safe, healthy, and happy. Have a great week everybody.

Elder Stephen Larson

Miracle

Hi My Family,

This week was also a good week even though the numbers don't show it.
We taught Luis and he told us all about his past and he is looking
positive. but we might be giving him to the spanish Elders because he
might understand better in spanish. We had planned on getting three
investigators to church this week but they didn't make it. Big Jo
actually was waiting for us but we got there a little late and one of
her friends picked her up to go to thier church. She has short term
memory loss so she forgot that we were coming. Man she makes me laugh.

Saturday we went to the Adult Session of Stake conference and it
was very spiritual. This Lady talked about her daughter who had gotten
in an accident and she was in serious shape. Her mom couldn't even
recognize her. She had broken her spine is 7 places and her foot was
messed up and her vains on her neck were cut like a cat on curtains.
The Docters said that she wasn't going to make it and if she did she
would be a vegetable. They said there was nothing they could do. But
her mom comely and couragously she that she could do something. She
called her hometeachers and they came and gave her daughter a
priesthood blessing. Everything was calm and it was in the lords
hands. The daughter came out of the coma that she wasn't supposed to
come out of. The girl had bad head trauma and would be able to
remember anything but when her mom came in and asked her "do you know
who I am?" she squinted her eyes open and said," your my Mama." It
was a miracle and the Miracle doesn't stop there, The girl made a
COMPLETE recovery. I was so touched by this mothers experience and
when she was finished speaking Her daughter got up and I couldn't
believe my eyes. I had seen this lady sitting on the stand before but
I had no Idea this was the same girl. She was absolutey beautiful and
whole and healthy. the Lord can heal us completly. What a powerful
manifestation of gods love and power.

Then the next day I had the blessing to give 4 blessings one of
which was heart peircing. We got a call for a lady named Millie who
was in a nearby hospital. she wasn't a member and she probably had no
idea what a blessing was. We never saw her before or talked with her
so it was a blind walk in. When we walked into her room she was
weezing as she slept. We were about to leave but she called out in a
raspy quiet voice. At first I didn't know what we could do, But then
she cried out and just wanted the pain and the sickness to end. I felt
so much love and compassion. We gave her a blessing and I felt a good
peace afterwards, And she opened her eyes wider after that and thanked
us for coming. We are going to stop by again to see her. I have no
doubt in my heart or mind that she can be healed and better.

I love these people so much. I love you all aswell. have a wonderful
week and be safe.

--
Elder Spencer Larson

Transfers are coming

Hey dad kris and kids.

I am doing good. This week was a little hard but good.

I am still hard in the language, but hopefully it starts coming.

This week, nothing too exciting happened, I have almost been here in Pasig 3 (my first area) for 6 months. In Feburary, I will have been in the field for 6 months. I am learning a lot, hopefully I learn everything I need to, Like this language. Sometimes I wonder if I will get better at it after I have a 2nd area, maybe it will force me to open my ears and mouth more and stuff. At the same time I don't want to leave the people, here. I love them, the families are great, and I am getting closer to some of our frequent investigators. I know it will all work out.

The reason why I am talking about transfers right now is because they are next week. I think i might be transfering. I will know by tuesday I think. Or wednesday. Our P-day next week I think is on wednesday.

Oh I gave a talk in church yesterday. I spoke on service, cause saturday we helped this family, the Cinco family (my favorite) move to a different house, it wasn't far, just another street in the town, but we and only like 3 other members showed up. So we ended up only getting 3 lessons that day cause we were busy helping them move all there stuff. I was so tired, and sore the next day. They didn't have many stuff, but the heavy stuff I had to carry, cause no one else could lift them, and then their new house is at the top of the building, 4th floor. I was stinky and exhausted at the end of the day. But I was glad to help them move, and see them settle into their new house.

Also my talk, I thought it was pretty good, then the second councelor in the bishopric leaned over to me after I had finished and he told me I wasn't close enough to the microphone, no one could hear me, my voice was too weak. Well that's that. I felt pretty dumb, but it's ok. I have that feeling a lot out here.

I love you guys. And Davo I am so proud of you and helping your friend learn the gospel, good job buddy. And Anni, you are probably so beautiful!! All the boys asking you to dances! Just remember, no dating until you are 16, and on that day, I get to talk to you date and ask him a billion questions and embarrass the crap out of you in front of him. haha, no but really, Listen to your parents, they know what they are doing, and you will be happier if you obey them, I promise.

I love you all, and hope you are all happy.

Love

Elder Benjamin L. Larson

Big Jo

Dear Family,

It is so wonderful to receive all your thoughts and words of encouragement in your emails. This week was a really good one with some challenges. We have been trying to get Mia and her Family and Jannett and her family to make it to church. They both didn't make it this week but one of our investigators did. Big Jo did. She sat with us and even though she didn't quite understand what was going on she had fun socializing with all the members. As Jo was walking up the church building she grabbed Elder Ryan Larson's hand and held it. When I saw the situation I laughed and Elder R. Larson was just feeling all awkward. We came to the conclusion that 83 year old ladies know that they can get away with stuff like that. What can we do.

We had an amazing experience with Jeff this week. We brought Bro. Ojukwu who is from Africa, and played College Basket ball because he is so big and tall. Jeff has been struggling with life and just want to find that peace and enjoyment of life. So we asked how he has been doing and about the Reading in the Book of Mormon. He was depressed and not reading the Book Of Mormon. Then as we talked Bro. Ojukwu share his life and conversion. Jeff is very opened minded and very honest with how he feels. He didn't feel like a story like that could happen to him with his experiences. But we all persisted and bore our hearts to him. Once we started talking about his relationship with his family he began to feel hope and at the end of the lesson we were all laughing so much and we were all filled with the love and joy of god. I love Jeff so much. He said that he would like to continue to meet with us. That was a miracle.

On Sunday we had a lot of success in finding new investigators, we also found a Alligator .............. Snapping Turtle. Jess and mom don't worry I didn't touch it. I still have all my toes and fingers. When we were in that part of the neighborhood we talked to this guy named Luis who was very open to us. He is into drugs but he is open to listening to us.

We went biking for the first time with elder Elizondo last week and he almost crashed about 5 times. We also ran out of english planners so now I am using a Spanish planner this transfer.

Davo and Annika I am so proud of all the choices that you are making. I always wished that I could've grown up where I had to be the example to others in living the gospel. Davo you are a great missionary already.You are a great example to me of the courage. It takes courage and faith to share with your friend something that can change their life for ever.

Kris here some of the answers to your questions.
I do get to teach the Plan of Salvation A lot. We actually just finished teaching Mia the Plan of Salvation. She really likes it. and I have gained a great knowledge and testimony of it as i have studied and taught it.
Most of the people we run into are catholics or Baptist so it is kind of hard to get them to listen passed their Family traditions.
Concerning My living quarters, I live in a pretty nice apartment complex, with hundreds of people living in them. All the people in our building know or have at least talked with us a little bit. The lady down below us really likes us and she even told us one day that she had a book of Mormon and she read a little of it.
On P-Days in this area it is hard to get together with a lot of missionaries together because everything is so spread out. but we usually try to go to the stake center and play some B-Ball. I actually have gotten a lot better at it.

Well I love you all, Take care and have fun.
--
Elder Spencer Larson