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
Sunday, March 4, 2012
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 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
Monday, February 20, 2012
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
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
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
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
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
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