It's been another fantastic week here in Norman, OK! Every week is a good week when you have the opportunity to be a missionary! (even if it's super hot and humid and you get to bike everywhere ;))
Last Monday was our first P-day without companionship study. The extra hour Pres. Mansell has given us definitely makes a huge difference :) In the evening we were able to go with a member to teach a less-active and had a really awesome lesson about Alma 5.
Tuesday was a long day of trying to visit people and having appointments cancel. But we witnessed an awesome miracle in the morning! After our plans fell through, we went to go do some finding on a street that I'd never been down before. We started with a prayer and asked to be led to someone who was being prepared. So we started walking down the street, knocking on some doors and talking to some people but no one was interested. Then we saw a house with the garage open but we couldn't see anyone inside. We felt impressed to go see if anyone was there and we started talking to a guy who was working on his car. Before too long, he started asking us some really good questions about what we do as missionaries and what we believe. Eventually he asked us if we could come back and teach him more. He said that the church he goes to now doesn't really do much for him, he doesn't learn much and isn't challenged spiritually. He admitted that he just goes because it's good for his kids.So we're super stoked to go back and teach him in a couple of weeks! #FindingMiracle
Wednesday we had exchanges with the zone leaders which was a blast. I got to be with Elder Norton who was actually one of the zone leaders in my last zone before I left Clinton. This exchange was different than the last one we had 4 months ago because instead of freezing to death we were dying of heat and sweating all day :)
Thursday during planning we got to take a break a go visit one of our active members who recently had his less-active daughter and family move in with him temporarily. So we got to talk with them and get to know them better which was good. In the evening we had one of the youth come out teaching with us and we had an awesome word of wisdom lesson with Danny and his family. Haha before we started the lesson, Danny asked about something he saw on a movie he watched recently. The movie portrayed Mormons as not being able to eat fast food or drink soda. He said he didn't know if it was true but that he didn't care either way. He said he would do what it takes to be baptized. So cool to see how committed and excited he is for baptism!
Friday was my year mark which is super crazy to think about. I'm trying not to think about it because I don't want my mission to ever end... Anyways, President Mansell showed up randomly to our district meeting and we did a combined district meeting thingy with the other 2 districts that meet in our church building. So that was unexpected and slightly stressful but it worked out great in the end and I learned a ton :) After district meeting we did exchanges with the Elders in the 4th ward and had a great time. We had an awesome lesson with Carrie. She is doing lots of reading and praying and is working on coming up with a baptismal date :) So excited for her!
Saturday we were able to meet with tons of members, both active and less-active which was super great. For the active members, we've started doing short 10 minute visits in which we share a miracle and missionary principle with them and then leave them with a simple commitment. The members here are so awesome!
Sunday we had Elizabeth, McKayla, and Raven at church :) (Danny hurt his foot but it's getting better and Carrie was out of town) In the afternoon we went and taught some awesome lessons with a member and after dinner we got to go teach Danny and family about tithing and chastity which went great. Our other appointment fell through but we were able to find a new investigator instead #TheLordProvides
One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Nephi 3:6
"Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured."
One of the key differences between Nephi and Laman or Lemuel is that Nephi never murmured or complained. He obeyed God's commands with a willing heart. Something we sometimes forget though, is that Laman and Lemuel kept a lot of the commandments. They, like Nephi, left their home in Jerusalem, went back for the plates, traveled in the wilderness for 8 years, built a ship, and sailed across the ocean. They made it through the whole journey and reached the promised land. We don't like to admit it, but sometimes we're a lot more like Laman or Lemuel than we realize. The reason we sometimes complain and murmur while keeping God's commandments is because our heart is not in it. We haven't yielded our hearts unto God and we haven't truly repented. Repentance is more than changing our actions and aligning them with God's will. Repentance by definition is a change of heart. A change of desires. Let us pray for the divine help we need in changing our actions AND our desires. Let us yield our hearts unto God so that they can be purified and sanctified. The journey will be so much better and we will be so much happier if we are able to truly love the Lord and doing his will, not our will. Attitude is so powerful!
"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." Helamen 3:35
Thank yall for all your love and support over the past year. I couldn't have made it this far without you. I miss yall so much but I know I'm where the Lord wants me to be. Have a wonderful week!
Love, Elder Larsen
1 Nephi 4:31
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