I Love Being in Jail 8/23/2011

Hello Everyone!

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday messages and cards and presents. I felt SO loved! Rumor has it that my facebook was blowing up with birthday wishes too haha, so thank you even if I can't see it!! I'll read it next year ;-) My birthday after emailing only got better because I went to lunch with Sister Juergens, Vickers, Hinkley and Whittier to Red Robin. It was a blast! Even if I turned 24, I still wanted to go to Red Robin, a place I always loved going to when I was little...oh how things don't change much with age. I also got a surprise visit from SHEENA Bischoff and her kids along with Sister Moore and Tafradzhieva!! It was the funnest surprise!! :) They are the greatest and totally helped make my day. I miss and love them all like family. Speaking of family, I got to see my "Mom" Sister Powell that day too because she was in town! All in all, it was a VERY fun birthday.

Thursday's we have morning training from our sister leaders and from the visitor center directors the Adams. The theme for this transfer is "Becoming..." and last week we talked about Emma Smith and this past week it was Joseph Smith. Two AMAZING examples. I have such a deep love for these two and learning about their dedication to the church has inspired me in numerous ways. I have seen how they listened to the Lord, stayed positive, went through trial after trial and they still had this love for each other and for the Lord. Becoming like them really is something to work towards and a goal that I am striving to work on while I am out here and probably for the rest of my life. It amazes me even the other saints that were following Joseph Smith without really knowing much about the church but because they saw their diligence and character, they believed and followed. Its inspiring. Later that night, Sister Fie'eiki and Sister Hall set up the basement with lights and a sign on the front for our own personal night club haha. It was so fun. After we got done planning, we all went downstairs and danced to some good ol EFY/Churchy music. You can prob imagine the sweet dance moves we all did...just like being 14 at a youth dance! Whoo! ;-) I LOVED it.

Saturday Sister Whittier and I went to our ward mission leaders home that he is remodeling and we helped lay tile! It was so fun! Now I know how to lay tile, if I ever need to! Funny too because yesterday we helped a lady put up wallpaper in her house! I'm going to be coming home being the next Martha Stuart! Haha. But Saturday night we went out teaching and we stopped by Jaun and Claudia's home. They are from Mexico and have lots of questions but won't come to church or really set up an appointment with them. We stopped by and both of them were home and we had such a fun little discussion. Juan pulled out a paper he wrote down his questions on and we were able to help him understand it better! If you could, add them to your prayers because they are so amazing and so close to committing.

Sunday was a fun day. I was sitting next to this little 5 year old boy in the Jail waiting to take a tour and he told his mom that he found the girl he is going to marry haha. Sunday night we had a devotional at the Liberty Jail for all the recent converts to come and have the missionaries bring their investigators. It turned out to be SO beautiful. The spirit was so strong and beyond words to describe. Sister Whittier, Vickers and I sang a song with the piano and guitar to a different version to Nearer My God to Thee with the words from Guide Me to Thee. It turned out really well, we were all very grateful. It was an honor to be able to sing there too. Afterwards, Todd Ried came up to chat with me and Sister Moore (Sister Moore/Tafradzhieva, Todd and Jodie came up for it). Well we were just talking about the spirit that was there and Todd said he just loves hearing people bare their testimonies. I pointed out that its because the spirit is so strong at that point and the spirit is telling him that its true. I said "Todd, I know you know its true! You can't lie to me, I know it!" in a nice loving yet joking manner. He stopped, was speechless, cracked a smile and we all laughed as I said "I KNEW IT!" Haha. So. Todd Ried is going to be getting baptized on Sept 24th :) HECK YES!! :)

I am so grateful for everyone who continues to pray for me and for my work or efforts. I feel the love so much and wish that I could do more for everyone else. This transfer has been incredible and I am so grateful to be serving in Liberty Jail. I can't even express it because of the people I meet everyday while giving tours and the faith of other people that come in. I learn something new from others every single day and I love it. I have so much more to learn and I am excited to keep growing and learning and BECOMING. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! :)

Sistaaaaa Larson