This past week has been absolutely amazing! I feel like the Lord is just too good to us sometimes. So many undeserved but greatly appreciated blessings :)
Monday we had zone p-day in Norman which was really fun :) It's so cool to be able to go back and visit. When we got back to Seminole we had dinner with some members and Elder Tureson was able to say goodbye to some people.
Tuesday morning Elder Tureson packed up his stuff and in the afternoon we had a lesson with Allen. We were about to drop him but he kept his commitment to fast for humility so we're still teaching him. Did a lot of biking around and talking to people and we found a potential named Gordon who told us some cool stories about when he was working as an EMT.
Wednesday was transfers and it was so much fun to see so many of my previous companions! My new companion, Elder Shira, has been out for 18 months and is from Northern Idaho. He's amazing and we've been having a lot of fun together :) After transfers we went to Maud for lessons with Wesley and Tonya but they both fell through/rescheduled. We were able to see some less-actives though. Got back to Seminole and had a great lesson with Veronica. She's a really cool, older lady who is helping raise her grandkids. She has a really strong faith and seems really in tune with the spirit so we're hopeful that the Book of Mormon will touch her heart :) After that we had ward council and dinner.
Thursday morning we went to a funeral at the church since I was asked to play piano for it. We were told it started at 10 but it actually started at 11 so by the time we got done there, we headed straight to Maud for a lesson with Tonya. She's been reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and likes it all so far. We read 3 Nephi 18 with her and discussed the sacrament and she really wants to come to church and bring her son with her. She didn't end up making it because she has trouble sleeping sometimes which was unfortunate but hopefully she'll make it this next week :) After that we tried to visit Wesley and he wasn't home but we found out that his girlfriend is interested too so we gave her a Book of Mormon :) When we got back to Seminole, our 2 appointments fell through and Donna dropped us so we visited Margaret. After dinner we did weekly planning since we didn't get to do it in the morning.
Friday we had district meeting down in Ada. Our district now consists of us, the Ada sisters, the Ardmore sisters, and the Pauls Valley elders. It was fun and afterwards we drove to Holdenville to do yardwork for Rose but she wasn't feeling up to meeting with us :( So we tried some less-actives, dropped a potential, and then I felt prompted to go try a referral who requested a bible about a month ago. We had tried setting up appointments with her but her work schedule was too crazy. But thanks to the Lord's hand, we caught them at just the right time. Elizabeth's boyfriend Chad answered the door and he invited us right in. We sat down and got to know them a little bit and then had an awesome restoration lesson with them. They seem really interested and when I asked, "Would it mean something to you if Jesus Christ had a church on the earth today?" they responded, "Well of course, we've been looking for a better church to go to." #Miracle #Solid After dinner we got to bike around and talk to lots of people, some chill, some not so much... :)
Saturday after lunch, we got to drive to Norman for Martin's baptism :) It was definitely one of the best days of my mission. I'm so proud of Martin and the amazing faith that he has shown. He's a good man and I feel so lucky to have a part in his conversion. After he was baptized he bore his testimony and it was SO powerful. He has his sights set on the temple and being sealed to his son for eternity. I now realize that he was one of the reasons I needed to be in the Norman 2nd ward for 7 and a half months. I also got to see a lot of the members from the ward and that was a special treat :) Especially to see the Williams family again, they're amazing and I love them to death! After the baptism, we drove to Wewoka to have dinner with some members and afterwards had an interesting lesson with Chris Camp. Not sure how sincere he is, we might have to drop him if he doesn't start keeping commitments. Our appointment at 8 fell through and we exhausted our backups so we said a prayer of guidance and ended up talking to a group of people at an apartment complex who were pretty chill and interested in learning more :) #Miracle
Sunday was great :) After church we met with a less-active and then had lunch out at the Choate ranch. Grandpa Choate passed away Thursday morning which was sad. He'd been sick for a while and so it wasn't a huge surprise, the family is handling it pretty well. After that we tried visiting some people, did some finding, and had a good lesson with Gordon. He committed to reading the Book of Mormon and giving it another shot (he's met with missionaries in the past) so hopefully it will go better this time :)
Recently I was listening to a BYU devotional by Elder Holland ("Remembered and Nourished by the Good Word of God") in which he quotes John Taylor. I think this is my favorite way to teach the importance of having a modern-day prophet. It just makes sense!
It's always been crazy to me how many people reject the idea a modern-day prophet. Instead of the glorious belief taught in the 9th article of faith:
A lot people seem to believe:
We believe some of what God has revealed, none of what he now reveals, and we believe that he will not reveal anything else pertaining to the Kingdom of God and that the heavens are sealed.
The message of the Restoration is the declaration that the heavens are open again. God loves us. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It only makes sense that he would continue to speak to us. I know that we have a living prophet and 12 apostles on the earth today who lead and guide us. It is such a simple and beautiful doctrine and one that brings so much light, knowledge, and peace into my life :)
Thank y'all so much for all of your love and support! I wouldn't be where I am today without your example and care for me. Missions are simply the best :)
Love, Elder Larsen
Amos 3:7
P.S. I want to make a shout out to my good friend Maddie who just received her mission call to the Washington Kennewick Mission! She's going to be a great missionary because she's already an amazing member-missionary. Congratulations Maddie!
1. Elder Tureson and I having breakfast before transfers
2. Elder Russell and I at transfers
3. Martin and I at the baptism
4. So great to see the Williams family again!
5. Me and Elder Shira
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