Nov. 30, 2011

Hello hello hello hello! We welcome you today! Hello!

This past week was such an amazing week. On Wednesday night, we walked out of our Mexican families house and her husband was working on stuff in the garage while listening to some amazing Mexican samba music really loud. Naturally, I started dancing out towards the car and we ended up having a little dance fest in their driveway for 10min :) But later that night, we stopped in to the Liberty Jail and right when I came up the stairs to say hello, the Boswell Family from Odessa (the bishop) came walking in! It was so much fun seeing them again and their little girls Mary and Sariah came running to me and hugged me, it was such a fun experience. I LOVE that family, they informed me all about some of the people I saw get baptized and they are doing good. Josiah, the 18 year old was originally putting off going on a mission til 23 but now he is counting down til his one year mark! So awesome. Later that night we stopped by one of our investigators houses, Stacy and Sam (Sam is the member) and visited with their family for a bit. I love being over there because Sam reminds me a lot of my brother Brian, just a big teddy bear but a lot of fun. Their kids are so cute, I feel like an Aunt cause how much we go over there and watching their little boys grow up. A fun temporary for me with being away from my lil neice Kai :)

Thursday was Thanksgiving and we had to work at the jail from 12 to 4pm and afterwards went over to the Oscarson's house. It was so fun, its a combined family with her kids and his kids so I felt right at home! Sister Oscarson is just a big sweetheart and really made sure that we were taken care of the whole time we were there. Afterwards we went over to visit with their neighbor around the corner, one of our investigators Jim and we met his other kid Sam who is getting his Phd over in Columbia. We all stayed talking for an hour about spiritual experimenting. Their whole family is big into science, more of an agnostic standpoint so it always makes for interesting conversations. My comp is the science major so some things go right over my head haha, but what else is knew! Overall it was such a fun Thanksgiving Day for me out in the field!! One I wouldn't trade for anything.

Friday my district leader asked me to give a training on the importance of church attendance for conversion. I was preparing, thinking and trying my best to make sure I taught everything I was supposed to for everyone. After I finished, he got up and said that he prayed about what he needed to go over in the training today and he prayed that I would go over a list of things that he wasn't going to talk about and I said everything he wanted me to say without every telling me. It was incredible. I really saw that what I was doing and all that I said was by the spirit! What an amazing feeling and I felt so grateful for him telling that right after I finished. I was really honored that he said that in front of everyone too! Nothing better than knowing you are truly listening to the spirit and its promptings.

Saturday night we went to this lighting ceremony over in Independence, skipped our dinner so we could go and ended up in a subway around 8:00. While we were standing in line, this man came in waiting for us to order. He eventually went first and ordered a sandwich I was debating on, which of course I said that out loud to him for whatever reason. Then it became a joke where I commented on his cheese and saying good choice or ooo, your getting banana peppers?? Haha. But it was fun, eventually after we finished and he finished eating his food at another table, we went over to talk to him again. He told us that he just left children's mercy hospital where he dropped off his little 6 month old girl because she is really sick. He then told us about how his wife passed away shortly after giving birth to their daughter who was born at 23 weeks old. He was such a cheerful man with a smile on his face and a sure knowledge that God is helping him out. I was in total shock and have such a deep respect for him. We got his number and said that we can visit with him this weekend, I will let you know how that goes. Please pray for him, his name is Caleb and his daughter is Melody.

Monday was the best, we had an appointment with our investigator Greg who has been coming to church for the past 3 weeks to all 3 hours and we invited him for baptism...he said yes!! He is getting baptized on Dec 24th!! He is so excited to get baptized as a present to himself and to God. He is amazing, he LOVES that we have a prophet who speaks for Heavenly Father and he is so excited for the priesthood. I really have seen such a change in my life as I have been reading Doctrine and Covenants, there are MANY sections that focus on the priesthood and I LOVE it. In D&C 121: 36 and 37 talking about how it is a power of heaven....wow....men have a huge responsibility but what a blessing to have in their life. What a blessing to me apart of that in a home! I am so grateful for the men in my life that I have seen exercise their priesthood and worked miracles because of it. Now Greg will have it soon! We celebrated after we got out of the jail as we walked out to our car from the back door to the jail and as I was like "YEAHH!!!!" we came around the corner to see Greg with our member looking at us funny. Hahah. Some things will never change with me and terrible timing haha.

Next week we have transfer calls on Tuesday, it is so weird to think that it is already that time again. I have loved being up here at the jail and I am PRAYING that I get one more transfer here. I would love if you help pray that i stay too haha. But I know wherever I go is where I am supposed to be :) That is what is so amazing, the Lord doesn't make mistakes! :) I love you all, thank you for your support and keeping me and all the other missionaries in your prayers! I feel them and love them!!!

Love,

Sista Larson