Another Miraculous Week in Clinton

Dear Family and Friends,

Things are still going great in Clinton and I had an awesome week filled with miracles and lots of learning experiences :)

Monday evening we had a lesson with Laura and Ruby. Laura (the mom) is totally ready to be baptized but Ruby (her 13 year old daughter) is struggling to develop a relationship with God. She wasn't raised going to church or believing in God so she is having a hard time finding desire but she was definitely able to make some progress this week. We read out of Alma 22 and 30 which talks a lot about whether or not God really exists. We showed her some quick mormon messages throughout the week as well which seems to be helping.

Tuesday we did service for Sharon again. She is finally all moved in to her new house so that's good :) We had a lesson with Carl about John 21. Carl loves fishing and so he really enjoyed the story. Hopefully he can now apply the "Lovest thou me more than these?" question to his life and focus on the most important things. Carl wasn't able to make it to church yesterday because he went and visited a family member in the hospital but he lived the Word of Wisdom all week so he is back on track :) That night we had a dinner in Weatherford and then we had a lesson with Bradley and Shyanne. They like to talk about politics sometimes which is kind of distracting (and against the missionary rules) and it reminds me of the days when I was more involved in politics. I don't miss those days, it's really nice being on a mission and not having to worry about that stuff :) #John16:33 

Wednesday we taught some lessons in the afternoon, had some members take us out to dinner, and then ended up teaching some less-actives :)

Thursday we had a 2 hour lesson with Bessie. She has finally been able to quit smoking and her health has stabilized for the most part. So we were talking about getting her baptized on the 26th and she said that she wants to be baptized but she doesn't want to become a Mormon. Apparently there was a miscommunication when she talked to Bishop a while back and so she thought she could get baptized and not automatically become a member. At this point in the lesson I had no idea what to do so I said a silent prayer for help. Eventually, through asking questions and talking about priesthood authority we finally got to the root of all her concerns. When her parents were on their deathbeds they made her promise that she would stay a catholic for the rest of her life and she doesn't know if she's able to break that promise. So that was an unexpected curve ball. But we told her to read and pray about it, and I think once she gets a chance to talk to Bishop again that she'll come around. She knows in her heart that the Book of Mormon and the church are true, she just has one last hurdle to clear. That night we went with Bishop to teach Bradley and Shyanne about family history and temple work (something that Bishop absolutely LOVES) and so Bishop ended up basically teaching all of us some pretty cool stuff :) It was pretty cool though because Bradley had just started doing a bunch of family history that same day and we hadn't told him what we were going to be teaching that night. #Miracle

Friday after district meeting we had splits with the zone-leaders which was a blast! It was super cold outside but it reminded me how bad the weather used to be and made me a lot more grateful for the good weather we have been enjoying recently. We didn't really see much success but we found lots of potential investigators :) Elder Knight and the other zone-leader went to Cordell in the evening to teach Beth about the Word of Wisdom. They had a super spiritual lesson and were able to leave with all her cigarettes, coffee, and tea! Beth is seriously a golden investigator and she is getting baptized on April 8th! So cool and humbling to watch the gospel change people's lives :) #Miracle

Saturday was kind of slow. We had a member come out with us but stuff fell through and so we ended up reading the Book of Mormon with a super sweet 80 something year old less-active member :) We did find a new investigator later that day which was awesome! After dinner we had a zone power hour. Basically, every missionary in the zone spent the whole hour out trying to find new investigators. We all saw lots of miracles and it was a really cool experience :)

Sunday we had a pretty good turn out. Bradley and Shyanne were there as usual. Beth came and she has stayed strong. 3 days now without any tobacco, coffee, or tea! Laura and Ruby also came to the Spanish group which was really good because they haven't been able to make it to church for a while now. They are getting fellowshipped really well by the Hispanic members. After church there was a baptism for a girl who just turned 8 in a part-member family so that was cool to watch :) 

So Carl is on track to receive the priesthood this coming Sunday, Bradley and Shyanne are still set for their marriage on April 18thand their baptism on April 23rd. Laura and Ruby are set for baptism on April 2nd if they make it to church this Sunday and Ruby feels like she is ready. Bessie is set for baptism on April 2nd as well which will hopefully go through, we'll do everything we can this week to help her. Beth is set for baptism on April 8th. So excited to see some baptisms in the near future! :)

 A cool scripture I found this week is in 1 Nephi 18:15-16. This is when Nephi had been tied up on the boat while they were sailing to the promised land.

"15 And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.
16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."

I love this scripture because it shows that no matter what happens to us, no matter what trials or afflictions or sorrows we face, we can always be grateful. One of my favorite hymns to sing when I am feeling down or discouraged is "Because I have been given much." Having an attitude of gratitude helps us keep an eternal perspective and helps us to always find joy in the journey. One of my favorite conference talks is "Grateful in Any Circumstances" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He says, 

"We can choose to be grateful, no matter what. This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer. When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace. We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain? ...  May we live in thanksgiving daily."

Well I hope y'all have a wonderful Easter weekend celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is Risen and He Lives! #Hallelujah

Love, Elder Larsen

Mosiah 16:6-8