This week was a very good one for me. I am finally getting out of my sickness and I feel great. It was the perfect timing because we had to meet and greet a lot of people at a church christmas activity called "The night in Bethlehem". It was kind of like a walk through show in bethlehem. It was so much fun. I even learned how to spell my name in hebrew. It went on for 4 days and every night got busier as the days got closer to the weekend. I got about 15 referals from it in total and it was very fun to talk with so many people. I think that it was a very useful way of finding. And I got a little fat from eating so much cookies and hot chocolate.
Elder Elizondo is doing very well. He is teaching a long right with us and having a fun time on his mission so far. One of my most favorite successes that happened this week involved a less active member named Flora. She is spanish and has a hard time reading the Book Of Mormon. So we sat down with her and read the first chapter of the Book Of Mormon with her and talked about in great detail on how it applies to her life. In doing so the spirit led the conversation to other things such as the word of wisdom. Flora has struggled with this for a bit and we challenged her very boldly and lovingly to stop for two weeks and see what happens. I called her to see how it was going the next day and she said that she wasn't having any tea or coffee. We also challenged her to come to church with us. She actually came, for the first time in all my time being here she came. and she stayed for all three hours. The best part is that she The whole week she didn't drink a single drop of tea or coffee. Instead she drank Lemonade. I am so proud of her, and I let her know it.
I love this work. My testimony of Jesus is growing day by day and It is wonderful. I feel hope and peace as I pray. Take care and have a good week.
-- [Elder Spencer Larson]
ps. I can't wait to talk to all of you. except you my brothers. I miss you guys so much, have a good christmas where ever you are.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Hey everybody
Hey everybody,
This week Pamela was baptized, but on saterday after her baptism when she went home, her X-boyfriend chassed after and started threating her and her family, and on sunday she didn´t go to church for some other reasons. And this saterday Luis will be getting baptized and on sunday Luis and Pamela will be confirmed members and will recive the Holy Ghost.We have been teaching a lot of people and a lot of these people have the desire to get baptized. I am execited to see them progress.
Elder Stephen Larson
This week Pamela was baptized, but on saterday after her baptism when she went home, her X-boyfriend chassed after and started threating her and her family, and on sunday she didn´t go to church for some other reasons. And this saterday Luis will be getting baptized and on sunday Luis and Pamela will be confirmed members and will recive the Holy Ghost.We have been teaching a lot of people and a lot of these people have the desire to get baptized. I am execited to see them progress.
Elder Stephen Larson
Pasko #2
Hello my mom and Jess and family!How is it all going!?
I hope you are all happy, and enjoying that weather, it is still hot here, I sweat like a sinner in church every day!!! Ha but I like it, I am getting used to it I think, Or just used to dealing with it.
So 15 hours time difference. I don't know exactly how it will work, because we have transfer's on the 21 of december, so right before christmas, I don't know why they did that, but it's ok. I don't know if I will stay or go, I have mixed feelings about it cause I like this area, I have been here for 4 months, it is my first area. Ha, there is an elder in our zone who goes home this transfer, he is basically done, his parents came and they are going to stay here for like a week or something, ha it was kinda wierd thinking about that.
So I am doing good here, lets see, the language is still hard, I feel like I just keep saying that to you guys, ha hopefully one day I will be able to say, "I am fluent!!" And I hope that is soon.
In our mission we have made a big shift. Instead of focussing on investigators, we are now focussing on Less Active members. Because it is estimated in the past 5 years there has been 75,000 baptisms, I think, but only 10,000 are active, so we have lost like a lot, the real stastistic is like 8 out of 10 baptized go in-active. So that is a big thing that we are switching and focussing on now. I like it, We have even found so much more investigators from finding new Less active members. Ha it is sweet.
We had a good district meeting this morning, and also last week. I have really had my testimony strengthened since I have been here, especially in Jesus Christ. I made a goal in the MTC to be able to say that my relationship with the savior is like a very close friendship, and I feel like I am reaching that goal and exceeding it, every week. I love my savior he is the rock of my testimony. I know I am weak, and I have doubts, but I have faith in Christ, and with that faith, those doubts are flushed down the toilet! I love it.
Faith is one of my favorite things! I like the scripture in Moroni chapter 7 verses 30 I think to whatever like 40. It talks about miricales and if miricals cease it is because of the lack of our faith, I like that a lot, cause sometimes I do have doubts, in miricles or whatever, but I know that christ can do all things, and If we have faith in him, we can also do all things.
I love this church, and I love Christ, he is my Best Friend, and in the times I have had no where else to turn, he has always been there to lift me, and to carry me through my burdens and trials. I know he is there for ALL of us, IF we ACCEPT him and ALLOW him to help us. Just pray for it, out loud and you WILL feel the love of god for you! I know it!
So No drunk people have kissed me or anything, too bad, maybe next week we can have a good laugh. I hope you are all happy, and Healthy. Mom I hope your foot gets better and Jess I hope you find a good happy job, Pray about it. I love you all, and am excited to talk to you on christmas!!!
Love you so much Mom, and Jess!! And mom again.
Love Elder Benjamin Lamoreaux Larson
I hope you are all happy, and enjoying that weather, it is still hot here, I sweat like a sinner in church every day!!! Ha but I like it, I am getting used to it I think, Or just used to dealing with it.
So 15 hours time difference. I don't know exactly how it will work, because we have transfer's on the 21 of december, so right before christmas, I don't know why they did that, but it's ok. I don't know if I will stay or go, I have mixed feelings about it cause I like this area, I have been here for 4 months, it is my first area. Ha, there is an elder in our zone who goes home this transfer, he is basically done, his parents came and they are going to stay here for like a week or something, ha it was kinda wierd thinking about that.
So I am doing good here, lets see, the language is still hard, I feel like I just keep saying that to you guys, ha hopefully one day I will be able to say, "I am fluent!!" And I hope that is soon.
In our mission we have made a big shift. Instead of focussing on investigators, we are now focussing on Less Active members. Because it is estimated in the past 5 years there has been 75,000 baptisms, I think, but only 10,000 are active, so we have lost like a lot, the real stastistic is like 8 out of 10 baptized go in-active. So that is a big thing that we are switching and focussing on now. I like it, We have even found so much more investigators from finding new Less active members. Ha it is sweet.
We had a good district meeting this morning, and also last week. I have really had my testimony strengthened since I have been here, especially in Jesus Christ. I made a goal in the MTC to be able to say that my relationship with the savior is like a very close friendship, and I feel like I am reaching that goal and exceeding it, every week. I love my savior he is the rock of my testimony. I know I am weak, and I have doubts, but I have faith in Christ, and with that faith, those doubts are flushed down the toilet! I love it.
Faith is one of my favorite things! I like the scripture in Moroni chapter 7 verses 30 I think to whatever like 40. It talks about miricales and if miricals cease it is because of the lack of our faith, I like that a lot, cause sometimes I do have doubts, in miricles or whatever, but I know that christ can do all things, and If we have faith in him, we can also do all things.
I love this church, and I love Christ, he is my Best Friend, and in the times I have had no where else to turn, he has always been there to lift me, and to carry me through my burdens and trials. I know he is there for ALL of us, IF we ACCEPT him and ALLOW him to help us. Just pray for it, out loud and you WILL feel the love of god for you! I know it!
So No drunk people have kissed me or anything, too bad, maybe next week we can have a good laugh. I hope you are all happy, and Healthy. Mom I hope your foot gets better and Jess I hope you find a good happy job, Pray about it. I love you all, and am excited to talk to you on christmas!!!
Love you so much Mom, and Jess!! And mom again.
Love Elder Benjamin Lamoreaux Larson
Pasko
Hey dad kris and Kids!
So first Pasko means Christmas in Tagalog. Ha thought you might want to know that.We have had some good district meetings these past two weeks. I have felt my testimony in Christ grow so much. I love him and know he loves me too. In the MTC I told myself by the end of my mission That I wanted to be able to say that christ is my Best Friend!! And each week I feel like I get closer and closer to that goal, and even like I am surpassing it. I have so many weeknesses and doubts, but with my FAITH in Jesus Christ, those doubts and those weaknesses somehow deminish, and I am able to overcome them. I can't explain it, but every single time here on my mission when I feel overwhelmed, and don't know what to do, I recieve strength, and most the time I don't even realize until the day is over and I think to myself, wow, I did it. And then I think about it and realize it has all come from christ. It has all come from faith and acting on that faith. I know that faith is such a simple-ish thing to a lot of people, but to me, it is my best and surest sorce of strength, It is my direct help to god! I love it. Read Moroni chapter 7 if you get the chance, I like it a lot, especially about the part of miricles and faith and hope. It is great.
I love you all, Anni I am so proud of you, so good at basketball, and david with soccer. You guys are so talented!!!! I am proud to call you my brother and sister. I love you all family, and pray for you always.
Maligayang Pasko! Merry/happy christmas.
Love Elder Benjamin L. Larson
So first Pasko means Christmas in Tagalog. Ha thought you might want to know that.We have had some good district meetings these past two weeks. I have felt my testimony in Christ grow so much. I love him and know he loves me too. In the MTC I told myself by the end of my mission That I wanted to be able to say that christ is my Best Friend!! And each week I feel like I get closer and closer to that goal, and even like I am surpassing it. I have so many weeknesses and doubts, but with my FAITH in Jesus Christ, those doubts and those weaknesses somehow deminish, and I am able to overcome them. I can't explain it, but every single time here on my mission when I feel overwhelmed, and don't know what to do, I recieve strength, and most the time I don't even realize until the day is over and I think to myself, wow, I did it. And then I think about it and realize it has all come from christ. It has all come from faith and acting on that faith. I know that faith is such a simple-ish thing to a lot of people, but to me, it is my best and surest sorce of strength, It is my direct help to god! I love it. Read Moroni chapter 7 if you get the chance, I like it a lot, especially about the part of miricles and faith and hope. It is great.
I love you all, Anni I am so proud of you, so good at basketball, and david with soccer. You guys are so talented!!!! I am proud to call you my brother and sister. I love you all family, and pray for you always.
Maligayang Pasko! Merry/happy christmas.
Love Elder Benjamin L. Larson
Pamela is getting baptized
Hey everybody,
This week was a good week. Pamela is going to get baptized this Saturday day the 17th, she´s excited and we are too. Our friend Arlindo got married this last weekend, but now that he´s married he doesn´t know if he wants to get baptized or not. Manoel hasn´t gone to church for 5 weeks now, maybe he´s just not ready yet. Eliete is amazing, she has gone to church 5 week in a row, she knows the book of Mormon is true, she has recived answers from our Heavenly Father, and she wants to be baptized, but she not married. Eliete wants to get married to keep the comandments but it looks like her husband (edinilson) doesn´t want to get married, but we are going to talk with him about getting married, but he´s always working. We are having a lot of people that want to get baptized here at the moment, but the person that is the most incredible is Luis. Luis is a miracle, he has received a answer from God that this is the Restored church of God on the earth and that the BOOK of MORMON is true, before we even taught him and the spirit is so storng when we teach him.
I love you all, This is ture. God has testified of it. tchau
This week was a good week. Pamela is going to get baptized this Saturday day the 17th, she´s excited and we are too. Our friend Arlindo got married this last weekend, but now that he´s married he doesn´t know if he wants to get baptized or not. Manoel hasn´t gone to church for 5 weeks now, maybe he´s just not ready yet. Eliete is amazing, she has gone to church 5 week in a row, she knows the book of Mormon is true, she has recived answers from our Heavenly Father, and she wants to be baptized, but she not married. Eliete wants to get married to keep the comandments but it looks like her husband (edinilson) doesn´t want to get married, but we are going to talk with him about getting married, but he´s always working. We are having a lot of people that want to get baptized here at the moment, but the person that is the most incredible is Luis. Luis is a miracle, he has received a answer from God that this is the Restored church of God on the earth and that the BOOK of MORMON is true, before we even taught him and the spirit is so storng when we teach him.
I love you all, This is ture. God has testified of it. tchau
Greenie
So, funny story. Elder Larson and I have been super excited to get our new greenie and teach him how to be an obedient missionary. We got him on Tuesday morning a long with all the other trainers. His name is Elder Elizondo. He is from New Mexico, he is kind of short and has brown hair and glasses. Elder Larson and I gave him a big Larson sandwhich of a hug when we found out it was him. One of the coolest things about Elder Elizondo is his contageous Laugh and he can quote practically every Disney movie in the world. We get along great, we have pretty much heard town movies worth of quotes now since he has been with us. What is even cooler is that Chris Olinquevitch(Renan's cousin), one of my best friends is best friends with his Sister, Cassandra Elizondo. Cassandra Wrote me a letter before she even knew that Elder Elizondo was coming to this mission. What a funny thing and what a small world I live in. this First week was really good for all of us. We met with Eric multiple times this week to make sure he was good for his baptism on the 10th and he was baptized and confirmed. Not only that but he is now a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. He is solid in the gospel and he is running with it very well despite all the family opposition. He is a beacon not only for his family now but he is a great blessing to the Ward and is going to be the means in bringing many to the truth and happiness of the gospel.
Brian is struggling with his addictions and is never ready to listen to us when we come over to teach him. so I am kind of bumbed out about that. I hope we can get him to church and help him feel the spirit more.
Mia is doing well, but she gets a lot of stress headackes and it kept her from coming to church yesterday. We had a nice visit with her afterward and challenged her to pray and then read the Book of Mormon every time she feels down.
One cool experience we had was with a lady who had gotten Locked outside her door on sunday evening. We were just following up with a less active member and we got to talking with her. She was a very nice lady and I think that she got locked out of her apartment so we could talk to her. So I invited her to the " Night in Bethlehem" at the stake center. She said that she would come to it. Also during emails today I got to talking with a lady who lives in the apartment next to ours and we were able to invite her to the night in bethlehem as well, and she seemed very excited about that. So it is funny the oppurtunities we have to share the gospel.
I haven't gotten any of your packages yet but I am excited for it. Have a good week and take care.
[Elder Spencer Larson]
Brian is struggling with his addictions and is never ready to listen to us when we come over to teach him. so I am kind of bumbed out about that. I hope we can get him to church and help him feel the spirit more.
Mia is doing well, but she gets a lot of stress headackes and it kept her from coming to church yesterday. We had a nice visit with her afterward and challenged her to pray and then read the Book of Mormon every time she feels down.
One cool experience we had was with a lady who had gotten Locked outside her door on sunday evening. We were just following up with a less active member and we got to talking with her. She was a very nice lady and I think that she got locked out of her apartment so we could talk to her. So I invited her to the " Night in Bethlehem" at the stake center. She said that she would come to it. Also during emails today I got to talking with a lady who lives in the apartment next to ours and we were able to invite her to the night in bethlehem as well, and she seemed very excited about that. So it is funny the oppurtunities we have to share the gospel.
I haven't gotten any of your packages yet but I am excited for it. Have a good week and take care.
[Elder Spencer Larson]
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Book of Mormon is true!
Hey everybody,
This week was a good week. Pamela is going to get baptized this saterday the 17th, she´s excited and we are too. Our friend Arlindo got married this last weekend, but now that he´s married he doesn´t know if he wants to get baptized or not. Manoel hasn´t gone to church for 5 weeks now, maybe he´s just not ready yet. Eliete is amazing, she has gone to church 5 week in a row, she knows the book of Mormon is true, she has recived answers from our Heavenly Father, and she wants to be baptized, but she not married. Eliete wants to get married to keep the comandments but it looks like her husban (edinilson) doesn´t want to get married, but we are going talk with him about getting married, but he´s always working. We are having a lot of people that wanting to get baptized here at the moment, but the person that is the most incredible is Luis. Luis is a mirical, he has recived a answer from god that this is the Restored church of god on the earth and that the BOOK of MORMON is true, before we even taught him and the spirit is so storng when we teach him.
I love you all, This is ture. God has testified of it. tchau
Elder stephen larson
This week was a good week. Pamela is going to get baptized this saterday the 17th, she´s excited and we are too. Our friend Arlindo got married this last weekend, but now that he´s married he doesn´t know if he wants to get baptized or not. Manoel hasn´t gone to church for 5 weeks now, maybe he´s just not ready yet. Eliete is amazing, she has gone to church 5 week in a row, she knows the book of Mormon is true, she has recived answers from our Heavenly Father, and she wants to be baptized, but she not married. Eliete wants to get married to keep the comandments but it looks like her husban (edinilson) doesn´t want to get married, but we are going talk with him about getting married, but he´s always working. We are having a lot of people that wanting to get baptized here at the moment, but the person that is the most incredible is Luis. Luis is a mirical, he has recived a answer from god that this is the Restored church of god on the earth and that the BOOK of MORMON is true, before we even taught him and the spirit is so storng when we teach him.
I love you all, This is ture. God has testified of it. tchau
Elder stephen larson
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