Hello Family,
I hope that everyone is doing well and happy. I doing good in Brasil, and here they celebrate the new year shooting off fireworks every where.
This week we will have a baptism, Gildásio will be getting baptized. He is really excited to get baptized. Arlindo was going to get baptized next week but there are some problems with there wedding papers, and divorce papers, it´s just a mess.
I love you all, I know god loves us and this is hit work, tchau.
Elder stephen larson
Monday, January 16, 2012
Happy New year from Tampa
This Christmas/ new years was a funny one. On new years eve the Whites invited us over for dinner and they told us to meet us at another members house. So we go and actually we ended up crashing a wedding reception of someone in the ward. it was really nice to see everyone that I didn't know and i had no idea who got hitched. But despite the situation the lord provided us someone to talk to. we sat down with our new years dinner next to a couple who were nonmembers. They were so nice and we had a good discussion about what we did. We didn't get their information but we planted a good seed there. The next funny thing was that it actually got cold that night and I didn't bring a jacket. If I am having a hard time with this I wonder how I am going to be back in Utah. ahhh! But it is going to be ok. That night we were supposed to be indoors by 8pm so we got home and broke out the tim tams and did tim tam slams. it was very delicious. And to top off the night we watched The Testaments.
This week we saw Mia and are trying to help her be happy and trust in god that he will take care of her. That seems to be the doctrine that everyone forgets these days. We get so caught up in ourselves and what is wrong with me and why me. but really we just need to be grateful about what we do have, who we are, and where we are in this life of changing and progressing. I noticed that I myself was caught in that trap, thinking that I was not good enough to get better and I can never become a better missionary. but that is a cold blooded lie from that evil one Satan. what a jerk. but even with his whisperings we don't have to be miserable and unchanging. That is exactly why Jesus suffered and died. It was for us so we can become clean and pure and live with god again. Mia will catch the vision soon, pray for her and her kids, Eden, Hyrum, Jamiles.
There has been one reoccurring lesson that I have learned this year. I was reading a talk titled " the 4th missionary" and it talks about the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th types of missionaries. The 1st isn't a good missionary, he does what he wants whatever it is whenever, and is eventually sent home. The 2nd stays out his whole mission but is disobedient to the rules and doesn't get much accomplished and is a heavy burden on the mission President and whoever he serves with. The 3rd is a great obedient missionary who is very successful in bringing souls to christ. but their is a difference between the 3rd and the 4th missionary, the 3rd is not bennefitted from all of his 2 years of service. I was surprised and thought why? In D&C 4 it says if ye serve him with all your heart, Might, mind and strength ye shall be blameless at the last day. the 3rd missionary doesn't give the lord his heart or his mind. while he is still doing what the lord wants he is still fighting within himself wanting to do what he wants secretly. It is a slight difference that make all the work we missionaries do worth it not only for the people we serve but we are also befitted. If we give all of our selves to the lord those christ like attributes with become us. That blew me away. And I may not be the 4th missionary but I am striving everyday to give myself up to the lord.
I love all of you and pray that we all become what the lord intends for us to become. Take care.
[Elder Spencer Larson]
This week we saw Mia and are trying to help her be happy and trust in god that he will take care of her. That seems to be the doctrine that everyone forgets these days. We get so caught up in ourselves and what is wrong with me and why me. but really we just need to be grateful about what we do have, who we are, and where we are in this life of changing and progressing. I noticed that I myself was caught in that trap, thinking that I was not good enough to get better and I can never become a better missionary. but that is a cold blooded lie from that evil one Satan. what a jerk. but even with his whisperings we don't have to be miserable and unchanging. That is exactly why Jesus suffered and died. It was for us so we can become clean and pure and live with god again. Mia will catch the vision soon, pray for her and her kids, Eden, Hyrum, Jamiles.
There has been one reoccurring lesson that I have learned this year. I was reading a talk titled " the 4th missionary" and it talks about the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th types of missionaries. The 1st isn't a good missionary, he does what he wants whatever it is whenever, and is eventually sent home. The 2nd stays out his whole mission but is disobedient to the rules and doesn't get much accomplished and is a heavy burden on the mission President and whoever he serves with. The 3rd is a great obedient missionary who is very successful in bringing souls to christ. but their is a difference between the 3rd and the 4th missionary, the 3rd is not bennefitted from all of his 2 years of service. I was surprised and thought why? In D&C 4 it says if ye serve him with all your heart, Might, mind and strength ye shall be blameless at the last day. the 3rd missionary doesn't give the lord his heart or his mind. while he is still doing what the lord wants he is still fighting within himself wanting to do what he wants secretly. It is a slight difference that make all the work we missionaries do worth it not only for the people we serve but we are also befitted. If we give all of our selves to the lord those christ like attributes with become us. That blew me away. And I may not be the 4th missionary but I am striving everyday to give myself up to the lord.
I love all of you and pray that we all become what the lord intends for us to become. Take care.
[Elder Spencer Larson]
Happy New Year!!
Hey Dad Kris Anni Dave and Family,
Maigong Bagong Taon!! Happy new year!!
So New Years here is crazy!!! We had to be in our houses at 6:00 pm because of all the fireworks. The day started with some fireworks going off every now and then, but once it hit around 5:00 it started getting more and more, and at 11:25 or so, it is so crazy, non stop fireworks really, we sat up stairs and watched them while eating something called, mango float, or Gray Ham, is what they call it here, it is basically a cream and Grahm cracker layer frozen cake thing, with Mango's in it, they call it "Gray Ham" because when they read the Grahm cracker box, they think that's how you pronounce it. Ha ha, So we couldn't get to sleep until like 2:00 because of all the fireworks. And I thought the 4th of July was a lot of Fire Works.
We taught a drunk guy on sunday. He was funny, ha first he asked us to pray for his wifes sister cause she recently passed away and he wants her to go to the good place, then we started talking about the word of wisdom a little cause he knew a little about what we can and can't drink and eat. He asked, "so for you, you guys think it is bad to drink alcohol? Why?" instead of answering right off, we asked him what he thought, he was slammed. And this was his answer, "it is ok, if you only drink a little bit," then he went off about thing that has happened and why drinking is dangerous sometimes, then he answered again, "You know, drinking is bad, we shouldn't do it." Ha He was funny, I bet ya 25 bucks he'll be drunk again next week, and not remember our lesson. Ha maybe.
But this drunk man's wife was the real focuss, for me anyway. We had taught her a little bit before, but she was always pretty hard headed, She is a member of Iglesia ni Cristo, The church of Christ. The founder of this church used to be a mormon, but he wanted to be a general authority or something, so he started his own church. It is probably one of the biggest churches in the philippines. Any way, we shared with her of the Plan of Salvation, for the first time I saw a real spark! Something like, this was an answer to a prayer type of look, and it is something I have never really seen before. I felt the spirit, and even though I did a crap job teaching it, I felt the spirit, and I bared my testimony of it's truth and it's importance to our happiness. This is an experience I will never forget.
So I hope you all know that Our Father in Heaven Loves us, and he has a plan for each and every one of us. And we can all know and learn of this plan through asking, and searching and praying.
I know our Father in Heaven loves us, I know he knows each one of us and knows all of our problems and concerns in our life. And I know he is THERE for us, he is ALWAYS THERE for us, if we let him be. He Has a plan for us, if we accept it, we WILL find what true and lasting happiness is, and we can be with our families forever. I love you all, and pray for you always.
Love
Elder Benjamin L. Larson
Maigong Bagong Taon!! Happy new year!!
So New Years here is crazy!!! We had to be in our houses at 6:00 pm because of all the fireworks. The day started with some fireworks going off every now and then, but once it hit around 5:00 it started getting more and more, and at 11:25 or so, it is so crazy, non stop fireworks really, we sat up stairs and watched them while eating something called, mango float, or Gray Ham, is what they call it here, it is basically a cream and Grahm cracker layer frozen cake thing, with Mango's in it, they call it "Gray Ham" because when they read the Grahm cracker box, they think that's how you pronounce it. Ha ha, So we couldn't get to sleep until like 2:00 because of all the fireworks. And I thought the 4th of July was a lot of Fire Works.
We taught a drunk guy on sunday. He was funny, ha first he asked us to pray for his wifes sister cause she recently passed away and he wants her to go to the good place, then we started talking about the word of wisdom a little cause he knew a little about what we can and can't drink and eat. He asked, "so for you, you guys think it is bad to drink alcohol? Why?" instead of answering right off, we asked him what he thought, he was slammed. And this was his answer, "it is ok, if you only drink a little bit," then he went off about thing that has happened and why drinking is dangerous sometimes, then he answered again, "You know, drinking is bad, we shouldn't do it." Ha He was funny, I bet ya 25 bucks he'll be drunk again next week, and not remember our lesson. Ha maybe.
But this drunk man's wife was the real focuss, for me anyway. We had taught her a little bit before, but she was always pretty hard headed, She is a member of Iglesia ni Cristo, The church of Christ. The founder of this church used to be a mormon, but he wanted to be a general authority or something, so he started his own church. It is probably one of the biggest churches in the philippines. Any way, we shared with her of the Plan of Salvation, for the first time I saw a real spark! Something like, this was an answer to a prayer type of look, and it is something I have never really seen before. I felt the spirit, and even though I did a crap job teaching it, I felt the spirit, and I bared my testimony of it's truth and it's importance to our happiness. This is an experience I will never forget.
So I hope you all know that Our Father in Heaven Loves us, and he has a plan for each and every one of us. And we can all know and learn of this plan through asking, and searching and praying.
I know our Father in Heaven loves us, I know he knows each one of us and knows all of our problems and concerns in our life. And I know he is THERE for us, he is ALWAYS THERE for us, if we let him be. He Has a plan for us, if we accept it, we WILL find what true and lasting happiness is, and we can be with our families forever. I love you all, and pray for you always.
Love
Elder Benjamin L. Larson
The Christmas Story
Hey Dad Kris Anni and Davo, and the rest of you.
So first, the way you say Merry Christmas in Tagalog, is Maligayang Pasko! Ha fun stuff. Also I am so happy I got to talk to you guys. You all sound so great and like you are having fun in the new house, and in Wyoming. I hope you are enjoying every new moment there!
So Merry Christmas!! I hope you all had a wonderful day, and I hope you remember that this is the day we celebrate Christ's Birth!! It is so great to have that opportunity. It is definitely a blessing from god. The whole Christmas season and meaning really is a gift. Not just getting gifts but giving. I know that is kinda cheesy and we all know it's about giving, but I have kinda learned a different way to think of it now..
So Christ came to earth, and that is what we celebrate! Christmas! The wise men, (Wise Ben's) (Calling the 3 wise men the 3 wise Ben's is a family joke if you didnt get that) came to Christ and gave him presents. Theirs that word, GAVE! So that is like the first one. then others came and also praised and gave him presents. the shepherds. And of course all through out his life Christ was always giving to all those around him, he gave them blessings, he gave them life, he cleaned many, physically and spiritually. He healed also physically and spiritually. Then he gave his life, he gave his WILL for us. HE did what no one else could do, he gave what no one else could give. He gave us eternal life, a chance to be made clean of all our sins, the opportunity to be with our families FOREVER! It is only through him that these blessings can be received. He gave the ultimate sacrifice.
There was another who sacrificed greatly for us as well. He has the same love for us as our savior Jesus Christ did, He is our Father in Heaven. He GAVE his SON! Imagine for a second, that all but one of your children were lost and there is only one way to save them. You must give up the one you have, and even then it isn't a sure thing that the others will be found, but it is the only way. Would you do it, could you do it? Well our father did it for us. He sent his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, the only child that wasn't lost because he is perfect, and he sent him to die. This was his mission to die for us. And he willingly did it! I can't imagine how Our Father In Heaven, GOD, felt as he watched his son, suffer in the garden of Gethsemane for the rest of us, I can't imagine his feelings when his other children took bound, judged, and killed their brother. It was for sure the greatest sacrifice, and at the same time the greatest blessing of all, given to us, because our FATHER IN HEAVEN loves US! HE has PERFECT Love for us! HE gave his son, our brother Jesus Christ for us. And he also gave us AGENCY, the choice to accept his gift, or deny it. I Pray that we all realize the greatness of this gift, and accept it in our lives. I hope we learn and realize how we can use this knowledge to bless the lives of those who maybe don't have it or don't realize they have it.
So Christmas is great. It is a time of giving, but it is a time for receiving and accepting as well. Lets not only give, but ACCEPT the sacrifice, and the gift the savior Jesus Christ and OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN has given us.
I love you all, and hope you are all happy and ready to give to those around you.
I love you guys, Maligayang Pasko. and Maligayang Bagong Taon. Happy New Year.
Love,
Elder Benjamin L. Larson
So first, the way you say Merry Christmas in Tagalog, is Maligayang Pasko! Ha fun stuff. Also I am so happy I got to talk to you guys. You all sound so great and like you are having fun in the new house, and in Wyoming. I hope you are enjoying every new moment there!
So Merry Christmas!! I hope you all had a wonderful day, and I hope you remember that this is the day we celebrate Christ's Birth!! It is so great to have that opportunity. It is definitely a blessing from god. The whole Christmas season and meaning really is a gift. Not just getting gifts but giving. I know that is kinda cheesy and we all know it's about giving, but I have kinda learned a different way to think of it now..
So Christ came to earth, and that is what we celebrate! Christmas! The wise men, (Wise Ben's) (Calling the 3 wise men the 3 wise Ben's is a family joke if you didnt get that) came to Christ and gave him presents. Theirs that word, GAVE! So that is like the first one. then others came and also praised and gave him presents. the shepherds. And of course all through out his life Christ was always giving to all those around him, he gave them blessings, he gave them life, he cleaned many, physically and spiritually. He healed also physically and spiritually. Then he gave his life, he gave his WILL for us. HE did what no one else could do, he gave what no one else could give. He gave us eternal life, a chance to be made clean of all our sins, the opportunity to be with our families FOREVER! It is only through him that these blessings can be received. He gave the ultimate sacrifice.
There was another who sacrificed greatly for us as well. He has the same love for us as our savior Jesus Christ did, He is our Father in Heaven. He GAVE his SON! Imagine for a second, that all but one of your children were lost and there is only one way to save them. You must give up the one you have, and even then it isn't a sure thing that the others will be found, but it is the only way. Would you do it, could you do it? Well our father did it for us. He sent his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, the only child that wasn't lost because he is perfect, and he sent him to die. This was his mission to die for us. And he willingly did it! I can't imagine how Our Father In Heaven, GOD, felt as he watched his son, suffer in the garden of Gethsemane for the rest of us, I can't imagine his feelings when his other children took bound, judged, and killed their brother. It was for sure the greatest sacrifice, and at the same time the greatest blessing of all, given to us, because our FATHER IN HEAVEN loves US! HE has PERFECT Love for us! HE gave his son, our brother Jesus Christ for us. And he also gave us AGENCY, the choice to accept his gift, or deny it. I Pray that we all realize the greatness of this gift, and accept it in our lives. I hope we learn and realize how we can use this knowledge to bless the lives of those who maybe don't have it or don't realize they have it.
So Christmas is great. It is a time of giving, but it is a time for receiving and accepting as well. Lets not only give, but ACCEPT the sacrifice, and the gift the savior Jesus Christ and OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN has given us.
I love you all, and hope you are all happy and ready to give to those around you.
I love you guys, Maligayang Pasko. and Maligayang Bagong Taon. Happy New Year.
Love,
Elder Benjamin L. Larson
I health, learning, and happy
Hello everybody,
I am doing very well here on the mission, I health, learning, happy, and I´m serving the Lord. This week just flew by, me and elder araujo are running all around trying to do everything that have been planning. But we are weak and we are not able to do everything that we had planned.
Me and my comp are having a good time together. We laugh and joke around most of the time, and the other half we´re just tired.
Good news Pamela went to church yesterday and recived the Holy ghost. We had some members help us out to take her to church. I had called her before church and she said that she wouldn´t come because she was sick, but I told her that she could recive the Holy Ghost even with her being sick and that she shouldn´t let a little sickness keep her from reciving an ordence of salvation and going back to live with god. Have a good day I love you all.
Love elder stephen larson
I am doing very well here on the mission, I health, learning, happy, and I´m serving the Lord. This week just flew by, me and elder araujo are running all around trying to do everything that have been planning. But we are weak and we are not able to do everything that we had planned.
Me and my comp are having a good time together. We laugh and joke around most of the time, and the other half we´re just tired.
Good news Pamela went to church yesterday and recived the Holy ghost. We had some members help us out to take her to church. I had called her before church and she said that she wouldn´t come because she was sick, but I told her that she could recive the Holy Ghost even with her being sick and that she shouldn´t let a little sickness keep her from reciving an ordence of salvation and going back to live with god. Have a good day I love you all.
Love elder stephen larson
Mosiah 2:17
Hey Family,
It was really nice to talk with you all and i was very happy to see Stephen's face again. This Week I realized that this was the hottest Christmas I have ever experience in all my life. Last year was freezing here and before that I was used to all the snow. it is so weird. One thing that stuck out to me as I talked with you all is the feeling that I must finish out strong and with great enthusiasm and love. I remembered this morning about what Kris said about the spirit in lessons and waiting for that heavenly inspiration and then opening my mouth. That is something that is so important to do, because believe it or not I am a talker out here. I have been out here awhile and I think I know what I am doing. But even more important than gaining confidence in myself is gaining confidence in The Spirit of God. So at 2pm today at our appointment with Jeff, I am going to do exactly that.
Their is one good experience that I would like to share. This last Thursday we had a dinner appointment with the Jennings family. Of coarse they forgot about us so instead they took us to a Greek place and I ate a lot of lamb sandwiches called Euros. Then afterwards i went with bro Jennings to help him deliver presents to members of the ward. one house we went to was of a family that lived in a crowed trailer with a very little Christmas ahead of them. so it was a joy to bring them presents to put under their tree. Then me and bro jennings ended up carrying a big refrigerator in her house as well. I cut my finger on the bottom and we both got very sweaty and dirty.
I felt so good about that experience that I was able to help them in their time of need. "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your god," Mosiah 2: 17
Take care and have a happy new Year.
[Elder Spencer Larson]
It was really nice to talk with you all and i was very happy to see Stephen's face again. This Week I realized that this was the hottest Christmas I have ever experience in all my life. Last year was freezing here and before that I was used to all the snow. it is so weird. One thing that stuck out to me as I talked with you all is the feeling that I must finish out strong and with great enthusiasm and love. I remembered this morning about what Kris said about the spirit in lessons and waiting for that heavenly inspiration and then opening my mouth. That is something that is so important to do, because believe it or not I am a talker out here. I have been out here awhile and I think I know what I am doing. But even more important than gaining confidence in myself is gaining confidence in The Spirit of God. So at 2pm today at our appointment with Jeff, I am going to do exactly that.
Their is one good experience that I would like to share. This last Thursday we had a dinner appointment with the Jennings family. Of coarse they forgot about us so instead they took us to a Greek place and I ate a lot of lamb sandwiches called Euros. Then afterwards i went with bro Jennings to help him deliver presents to members of the ward. one house we went to was of a family that lived in a crowed trailer with a very little Christmas ahead of them. so it was a joy to bring them presents to put under their tree. Then me and bro jennings ended up carrying a big refrigerator in her house as well. I cut my finger on the bottom and we both got very sweaty and dirty.
I felt so good about that experience that I was able to help them in their time of need. "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your god," Mosiah 2: 17
Take care and have a happy new Year.
[Elder Spencer Larson]
Saturday, January 14, 2012
always have the spirit with you
Hi Everybody,
It was great talking with you guys, everybody looks like there doing great, I even got to see spencer kind-of. Yesterday was a great day, we went to church and while I was sitting there I could feel the spirit. That peaceful, wonderful feeling and then I thought `thats what it means to always have the spirit with you`. You always feel peaceful, calm, and happy when you have the spirit, but when you something wrong or sin you drive the spirit away and thats when you feel nervous, annoyed, angry, and just plain unhappy. When you repent then those bad feelings go away and then you feel peace again. This is possable because of the Atonment(suffering) of our savior Jesus Christ, because of him we can live in happyness and after this life live with god again.
Well right now its rainning and my comp said that he´s freezing haha. Me and Elder Araujo(my comp) have been laughting a lot, but I think we laught the most when are trying to help one another speak english/Portugês. I am trying to lose my american accent so when he helps me say the words right I am not able to and then he starts laughing and then I start laughing. It´s way fun. I love you guys bye
Stephen Larson
It was great talking with you guys, everybody looks like there doing great, I even got to see spencer kind-of. Yesterday was a great day, we went to church and while I was sitting there I could feel the spirit. That peaceful, wonderful feeling and then I thought `thats what it means to always have the spirit with you`. You always feel peaceful, calm, and happy when you have the spirit, but when you something wrong or sin you drive the spirit away and thats when you feel nervous, annoyed, angry, and just plain unhappy. When you repent then those bad feelings go away and then you feel peace again. This is possable because of the Atonment(suffering) of our savior Jesus Christ, because of him we can live in happyness and after this life live with god again.
Well right now its rainning and my comp said that he´s freezing haha. Me and Elder Araujo(my comp) have been laughting a lot, but I think we laught the most when are trying to help one another speak english/Portugês. I am trying to lose my american accent so when he helps me say the words right I am not able to and then he starts laughing and then I start laughing. It´s way fun. I love you guys bye
Stephen Larson
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