Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, this past week has definitely been a long one. But God is good and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

Transfers are on November 16th and I've been in Norman for 7 months now so if y'all could send any mail to the mission office until I get my new address that would be great :)

Last Monday evening we weren't allowed to go out proselyting so we got to watch part of "The Saratov Approach" as a zone so that was really fun :)

Tuesday morning I got to go to MLC (missionary leadership conference) so that was awesome as always :) We got a really cool training on how to use the Book of Mormon more effectively by showing how it answers the questions of the soul. When I got back to Norman, we went and visited a less-active/active family. The Mom and kids come to church every Sunday but the husband works late every Saturday nightand so he usually doesn't make it. He was actually baptized about a year ago and so we were able to set some goals for him and his family to be sealed together in the temple :) 

Wednesday Elder Neil woke up really sick. So the only thing we did all day was go teach a lesson to Martin and Marelyn.

Thursday Elder Neil was still sick so we got one of the members in the ward to come help me give him a blessing. After that we found out that another missionary in the zone was sick as well so I dropped Elder Neil off with the other sick Elder and me and his companion got to go out and work. I was going crazy being stuck inside so going out for just a few hours that evening was a tender mercy :)

Friday was the day that Marvin became a Non-smoker! We decided to take immediate action about his smoking problem because he wants to be baptized on the 19th. We went to Walmart and purchased Cinamon flavored mouthwash and tooth paste, grapefruit juice, and vitamin C. Then we went and did the stop smoking workshop with him and he loved it! He crushed his cigarettes and committed to following the 15 steps we gave him. He is excited and working hard towards his baptism! After that we had a lesson with Carrie and Zion before dinner. We're basically just waiting for Carrie to make a decision about which church to join and doing everything we can to get her to attend church with us. After dinner we went to go try one of our old investigators, Mr. James, and his wife Brenda answered the door. She invited us in and we had a really cool lesson with her. We not only gave her a book of mormon and taught her about it but we also gave her a specific chapter to read. And she didn't wait until we left to start reading. She read to us the first 14 verses of Alma 36 and she said she felt the spirit as she read. Definitely a miracle :) We're really excited to go back and teach her!

Saturday morning we went with Dani to give Mandy a tour of the church building. It went really well and she was totally able to recognize the spirit and peace that was there. She made a really solid commitment to come to church the next day. In the afternoon we went with the elders in the 1st ward to do some service for a lady who needed some help cleaning up her unsanitary and unclean living quarters so she can keep her apartment. It was a really sad situation and her hoarding tendencies made it so there was only so much we could do. One of our appointments in the evening fell through but we were able to have a lesson with a less-active. 

Sunday Marvin came to church but he was only able to stay for sacrament meeting because his Brother was visiting from Tennessee and he wanted to see him off. Haha I got told by someone in the wardchoir to not sing very loud because my voice is so terrible. So much for my ward choir career ;) In the evening we had a dessert night with one of my favorite families in the ward and Marvin and some of their non-member friends came as well. We had a fun time and were able to view the Restoration movie with them. After the movie, we asked Marvin to share his thoughts and feelings on the Book of Mormon and he bore his testimony about how he knows that it's true and how he's excited for baptism! We talked with him last night and he still hasn't smoked at all since we did the workshop with him on Friday. He is such a trooper!

Yesterday morning we had interviews and teaching practice with President Mansell and so that is why our P-day got moved to today. In the afternoon we biked around and tried to visit some people without much luck. Our appointment at 5 fell through but we knocked on one of the neighbor's doors and she was really nice and willing to talk to us. We'll probably refer her to the sister missionaries on OU campus. After dinner our appointment and backups at 7 all fell through and then at 8 we met with the Elders Quorum president to go over the ward roster with him.

Seeing as today is election day, I feel that Mosiah 29:27 is an appropriate verse to share:

"And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land."

But regardless of what the voice of the people is, we have no need to fear.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. It really does make a difference and I'm so thankful to have so many wonderful amazing people in my life. You're making a difference and you matter. Have a wonderful Veteran's Day!

Love, Elder Larsen

D&C 6:34