Jumping June 6th, 2011

Hi :)
This week was so eventful! With finding 7 new investigators, going out to a town called Buckner and seeing a barn full of 60 horses, getting packages from so many people and the baptism for Josiah Reynolds! It was a good week :)
Wednesday was the best day. With going to the barn and petting the horses, it was like I was a little girl again! I love horses, it was so cool slash killed me to not be allowed to ride them! Lame. But later I got all my packages! One from Lacy Gibb with her wedding pictures (finally), a cd from Alisha, address labels (yes they excite me) and my sisters wedding pictures!!! Ah, they all made my day!! :)
Wednesday night we went to dinner at the Reid's home who Todd Reid (the dad) is not a member and we went to the nursing home with them last week. We are trying to work with Sis Reid to get him wanting to learn more and get baptized. Well that night I kind of was blunt with him, as he talked about searching for a connection with God. I asked why he didnt ever go to church and search there. He was kind of caught off guard. I think past missionaries have danced around that problem but never asked him straight out. Luckily it wasnt awkward or anything and we all have a fun relationship with them. By the end of the night i shouted out that I would see them all on Sunday, including Todd! They all laughed and shut the door. Well...Sunday came, I get up to bear my testimony and I look out. Todd Reid is staring at me with a grin on his face in the back row! Ha!! I smiled, sat down and couldnt believe it. Todd Reid has NEVER come to church. He stayed for all 3 meetings, in gospel principles he even participated in a lesson! I was stunned! Who is this guy and why isnt he a member yet!? Haha. Sis Powell leaned over and said...Todd Reid is going to get baptized, I can feel it and I know it. I couldnt agree more.
Sunday after church was Josiah Reynolds (age 18) baptism. He told Sis Powell and I on Sat night that when he first started coming to church with his girlfriend Nicole over a year ago (who is a member and is 17) that he hated it. Thought our church was fake and was against everything. Well, when the sisters started teaching him in Feb he was still resistant. As he read the Book of Mormon, he said that his understanding about Christ grew immensely. He also said that he has never felt Christ's love more in his life and is so grateful for the closeness he has with Nicole. He grew closer to her as he grew closer to the Savior. After his baptism on Sunday, we asked him to share his testimony which was exactly what I said but better. The spirit was so strong. He is a huge example to me and our ward. Words cant describe the spirit at his baptism or his strong testimony. All I know is that I am grateful to be here and to have grown so close to him.
I realize how wonderful it is to know I am here for certain people. Sis Powell was truly sent here for Josiah and I know I was sent her for the Kellogg family. The relationship I have with the Kellogg's is so strong and I love them SO much. All of them (there are like 4 Kellogg families in my ward). Ha. I am also lucky to be raised in a family who was blessed finacially. So many families are living off of food stamps, have one car, have to limit where they go with the amount of gas they have and rely on their neighbors to help with kids or other issues. It is so humbling to me to see what I have been given and to know that I so many people I know are doing okay or better than okay.
I love so many things about being a missionary. I love the letters and support I receive from my family and so many of my friends! Thank you again. I hope that your testimonies are strong, no matter what. Relying on the Lord, never turning your back on Heavenly Father who has given so much to us. I love you all and I love this Gospel.
I am off to go play with my Zone again outside at the zipline with volleyball and ultimate Frisbee! Oh Yeahaaa! Sorry I dont have any crazy funny stories today! Maybe next time ;-)
Love,

SISTA Larson
Pictures: 1. Josiah practicing with Brandon Huber (Nicoles older brother) 2. Josiah and Nicole before the baptism 3. Jaylen at the Visitor Center last night, I know her from Chandler!