May 9, 2011

Hi Hi Hi!
So this week has been pretty eventful and fun. First of all got to talk to my family yesterday on Skype which was so awesome!! Way better than talking on the phone. It's nice to see everyone and realize that not much changes while I am gone ;-)
Been a fun week though, on Monday last week after we emailed we went to where our zone leaders live and they have a huge lot of land with a zip line! Yes we all went on it a few times, way fun! And we got to play volleyball for awhile an make fun of each other of course, it was a blast. We had exchanges again on Tuesday and this time I stayed in Odessa and Sis Powell went with Sis Robinson and I had Sis Dent with me! It was cool being the leader for the day, making the plans and figuring out where to go. We had a fun time together. We stopped at a semi active older couples house. We chatted for way too long, they told us about pranks they used to play on the elders that used to teach them. Gave me some good ideas for later :) But when we went to leave, the husband said what is this handshake?? We dont do that! And went right in and hugged me!! Hahah. My first male hug on my mission. It was moment I will never forget. It was even funnier cause Sis Dent was totally freaked out! Oh man, gotta love the weird awkward moments out here.
Wednesday, Sis Powell and I went to this younger couple's apartment (Sean & Nicole) who have a little boy but they are not married. They have been taught by a lot of missionaries for awhile and still not really moving forward. Well, before we left their house I asked them if I could leave them with a commitment (a term they knew well). Sis Powell looked at me like, what is it?? Ha. But I asked them to commit to a date to quit smoking. Nicole said well, I guess but Sean we have a bigger date that we need to set....our marriage and baptism date. Ha! Booyah. She brought it up herself. It was awesome. They picked a date right there! June 4th! Which makes the total of investigators with a date, 8 now! Yes sir.
On Friday we had our last district meeting with everyone which was fun and sad. We watched Elder Holland's talk from Jan 11, 2011 again which is seriously amazing. But after our meeting, Sis Powell and I went to do vision boards with Sean and Nicole! It was so fun, they had bought magazines and were all about thinking in the future with goals or dreams which is a HUGE step for them. Sean just turned 21 and Nicole is 22, they are total sweethearts. Later that day we went to our favorite family, the Kellogg's home to do service. Our service was helping her scrapbook hahah. Best service ever. Except for me. We went in and she was showing us the pictures, her stickers, stamps, the whole sha-bang. My comp starts right on a page and I am just overwhelmed with all this paper, markers, and random stuff on the table. I have never felt so inadequate or not girlie before!! Haha. But it ended up being okay, I got the hang of it after awhile.
Saturday we did more service for a recent convert Sheila Queen cause she broke a rib last week! So we helped her unpack some boxes cause she had her floor redone. It was so nice to just help her put her room back together and see how she was so grateful. She is a funny lady too, after her floors were finished before we went over she called us to come see her place because she went from "Oak Grove Ghetto to straight up Opera!" Haha. Gotta love it. We also went and contacted a member referral that night who was so skeptical and superstitous about the Book of Mormon. He didnt want us to read a passage from it because he was afraid that he would be persuaded to do something he didnt want to do. It was kind of funny but random. He had a good heart though and loved the Bible. But he also had a cat that wouldnt leave my legs alone as we stood on his doorstep in the blazing sun as sweat dripped down my back. Gross.
Sunday was MOTHERS DAY! WHOOP! Before church started, Sis Powell and I were told that Bro. Kellogg needed us outside right away. We got outside and found him with a bag behind his back. He brought it forward to give to us a big bag of animal crackers!! It was awesome. They had a bag of them at their house when we did service and I was stoked because I wanted some, I used to buy the big cases of them at Costco. Yes I am a kid at heart. But it seriously made my day. After church, we went to our other favorite families home, the Brown's who also fed us on Easter and have 3 little girls. We got to skype our families! It seriously was so awesome!! It was good to see everyone's faces, my mom showed me the scrapbook she is making for me which was so cool! And I got to see my little nephew Kai walking! Cant believe it. Sun night we taught the other Kellogg boys who I just love. They remind me of my older brothers when they were little, its kind of funny and weird! Ha. But I love them, they are so fun.
As I reflect on a lot of what I have learned or studied this week, I feel extremely grateful for my special talents and gifts that Heavenly Father has given me. I see so many things around me that lift my spirits and I try my best to stay positive or happy as often as possible. I am still trying to finish reading the Book of Mormon and this week I got to 3 Nephi. One thing I loved was is 3 Nephi 14:2 about how the way you judge others is how you will be judged. It is so true and something to always remember, much like the golden rule. Treat others how you want to be treated. But I also like to think of it that if you are kind to others, you must be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with respect and remember to compliment yourself so that you can be a better person to others you meet :)
I love you all so much and am so so so so so so grateful for the love and emails I get from so many of you!!! :) Thank you again for the support from you all. I cannot thank you enough. Miss you and love you!

Sistaaaaaaaaaaaaa Larson

PICTURES:
1. Zip Line 2. Exchanges (Powell, Me, Dent, Robinson) 3. Tina Kellogg and crew 4. Brown's family 5. Brown's little puppy 6. Other Kellogg boys getting baptized on Sat with their Baptism Jersey's on the wall