Wait Mom, I was having trouble understanding your letter, whose birthday was it? 7 hours in the temple sounds like quite the party. We're hoping that on Friday we'll be able to take a new convert to the temple, though I imagine we'd have to have quite the conversation with President Fingerle if we were to stay there for 7 hours. Lisa, a true magician never reveals his secrets. But fortunately for you I am no magician. It just involves some awkward leaning and stretching until my head is about sideways. In terms of your question, "what is the purpose of prayer," I'm not sure if I can really tell you anything you don't already know. Some answers I've heard from others are: to invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, to receive answers from God, to align our will with His, to obtain forgiveness for our sins, to obtain direction in our life, to express gratitude to God, to receive the strength to change our circumstances, to ask God for things we need...all of which I think our good and true answers. For me personally I think the purpose of prayer is for me to have the opportunity to speak with and obtain divine help and direction from my Father in Heaven, who loves me and who I love. Well Andy, it's strange to hear that the Dirty Devil is coming up once again. That means I'll be around for the next one. So I sorta just got stuck in a long phone call with a member which means I've now got like 0 time, but things are going well. For whatever reason everyone in this country seems to only be able to meet on Monday so we keep having to change to Tuesday, but President Fingerle hasn't gotten bothered by it...yet. Love you guys, have a good week!
Elder Larsen
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Little Town of Werdau
Yeah Mom, I suppose Andy could be right. Transfer me once, shame on
you, transfer me twice, shame on me. Or something. Now I just need to
find out what the nefarious Elder Larsen could be doing to cause such
a thing :). Well Lisa, I'm guessing that if the crab never is able to
go through the door at all, you'll probably be having terrible luck
for the year. I awkwardness of your little dating experience that you
shared last week as well. Careful Andy, if I had a dollar for every
time you've said you'll probably be smooching this week, I'd have at
least one dollar. Gotta say Heidi, I'm pretty jealous. I sure wouldn't
be opposed to Elder Bednar randomly showing up to the Leipzig stake
conference here in Germany. You're certainly right Joey, if nothing
else all the craziness definitely keeps me from getting bored.
Unfortunately Dad, I don't think we'll be able to go to the Freiberg
temple for pdays. Traveling there and back would take around 4 hours,
which already takes up all of our time. But I am really hoping we'll
be able to get Peter, a new convert that was baptized a few months ago
here in Werdau out to the temple.
Well, I'm pretty sure I spent more time traveling over the course of
this week than any other week in my life. Getting here to Werdau from
Hildesheim, going to and from Berlin for a trainer/trainee conference
and traveling to a city called Jena for a zone service project
probably puts me at around 15 hours or so. It'll be nice to be able to
spend more time actually in Werdau itself this upcoming week.
My new companion, Elder Earl is from Orem, Utah. After 4 weeks he's
got stinkin good German and seems to know more about missionary life
than I did after being out for like 6 months, haha. He's kept a good
attitude despite the difficult situation he's been put in. It's not
every day that a brand new trainee knows more about his city than his
trainer. He's an awesome missionary.
Anywho, aside from sitting in trains a lot, 2 highlights of the week
were, as previously mentioned, the trainer/trainee conference and zone
service project. The training conference was an interesting blast to
the past, as it was about the same as what we had done back when I was
a trainee. But it was really nice to think back on and remember the
things I had learned back then. It hit me once again that the key to
having success as a missionary, the key to receiving the gift of
tongues and the key to being a servant of the Lord is love. In one of
he videos we watched a member of the Seventy says: "The gift of
tongues is not a one-time event. It's a journey of loving the people."
I think that principle applies to most aspects of being a missionary.
As for the service project, it was "Service Day" in the city of Jena.
Little did they know they'd be invaded by 14 missionaries from all
over East Germany. Elder Earl and I got assigned to help build a
couple tables at a day care center, where we worked alongside a couple
college students. We were able to get to know them, and afterwards
they invited us to come with them up this hill with a pretty good
overlook of the city. We were able to talk with them for a while as
well as share some of the message of the restoration. Though they
didn't show much interest in religion, it was a confidence booster
that everywhere in the world there are good, friendly people out there
being prepared by Heavenly Father. Who knows, perhaps the next time
they run into missionaries they'll be interested in learning more.
Life is great here in good ol' Deutschland. I'm hoping to be spend a
little more time here than I have in my last 2 areas, but I'll be
satisfied with whatever the Lord gives me. Love you all and hope you
have a great week!
Elder Larsen
you, transfer me twice, shame on me. Or something. Now I just need to
find out what the nefarious Elder Larsen could be doing to cause such
a thing :). Well Lisa, I'm guessing that if the crab never is able to
go through the door at all, you'll probably be having terrible luck
for the year. I awkwardness of your little dating experience that you
shared last week as well. Careful Andy, if I had a dollar for every
time you've said you'll probably be smooching this week, I'd have at
least one dollar. Gotta say Heidi, I'm pretty jealous. I sure wouldn't
be opposed to Elder Bednar randomly showing up to the Leipzig stake
conference here in Germany. You're certainly right Joey, if nothing
else all the craziness definitely keeps me from getting bored.
Unfortunately Dad, I don't think we'll be able to go to the Freiberg
temple for pdays. Traveling there and back would take around 4 hours,
which already takes up all of our time. But I am really hoping we'll
be able to get Peter, a new convert that was baptized a few months ago
here in Werdau out to the temple.
this week than any other week in my life. Getting here to Werdau from
Hildesheim, going to and from Berlin for a trainer/trainee conference
and traveling to a city called Jena for a zone service project
probably puts me at around 15 hours or so. It'll be nice to be able to
spend more time actually in Werdau itself this upcoming week.
got stinkin good German and seems to know more about missionary life
than I did after being out for like 6 months, haha. He's kept a good
attitude despite the difficult situation he's been put in. It's not
every day that a brand new trainee knows more about his city than his
trainer. He's an awesome missionary.
Anywho, aside from sitting in trains a lot, 2 highlights of the week
were, as previously mentioned, the trainer/trainee conference and zone
service project. The training conference was an interesting blast to
the past, as it was about the same as what we had done back when I was
a trainee. But it was really nice to think back on and remember the
things I had learned back then. It hit me once again that the key to
having success as a missionary, the key to receiving the gift of
tongues and the key to being a servant of the Lord is love. In one of
he videos we watched a member of the Seventy says: "The gift of
tongues is not a one-time event. It's a journey of loving the people."
I think that principle applies to most aspects of being a missionary.
As for the service project, it was "Service Day" in the city of Jena.
Little did they know they'd be invaded by 14 missionaries from all
over East Germany. Elder Earl and I got assigned to help build a
couple tables at a day care center, where we worked alongside a couple
college students. We were able to get to know them, and afterwards
they invited us to come with them up this hill with a pretty good
overlook of the city. We were able to talk with them for a while as
well as share some of the message of the restoration. Though they
didn't show much interest in religion, it was a confidence booster
that everywhere in the world there are good, friendly people out there
being prepared by Heavenly Father. Who knows, perhaps the next time
they run into missionaries they'll be interested in learning more.
Life is great here in good ol' Deutschland. I'm hoping to be spend a
little more time here than I have in my last 2 areas, but I'll be
satisfied with whatever the Lord gives me. Love you all and hope you
have a great week!
Elder Larsen
Monday, September 12, 2016
Birthday Package
You'll be pleased to hear, mom, I did indeed get my birthday package.
I had the opportunity to go on exchange in Berlin this week with the
Turkish Elders (the ones who are actually from Turkey and speak fluent
Turkish) and at the end I was able to go to the office and pick it up.
I'm quite grateful for the unique pillow case, as well as the various
sweets. But I'm especially thankful for the notes from my setting
apart; it was kind of scary how much the things written on that apply
to my current situation and the way my mission has been in general.
Thanks, love you guys!
Elder Larsen
I had the opportunity to go on exchange in Berlin this week with the
Turkish Elders (the ones who are actually from Turkey and speak fluent
Turkish) and at the end I was able to go to the office and pick it up.
I'm quite grateful for the unique pillow case, as well as the various
sweets. But I'm especially thankful for the notes from my setting
apart; it was kind of scary how much the things written on that apply
to my current situation and the way my mission has been in general.
Thanks, love you guys!
Elder Larsen
Here We Go Again
So...funny story. A few hours ago I got a call from President
Fingerle, informing me that I'd be leaving Hildesheim...today. At this
moment I'm on my way to a city called Werdau, where I'll be training a
new missionary named Elder Earl. His old companion got sick and had to
go to Berlin, hence the lack of forewarning. I'm really bummed to
leave Hildesheim; my short Turkish adventure with Elder Johnson is
over, and I only had time to say goodbye to a couple members and
investigators. I suppose if nothing else, at the end of this I'll be
able to say that over the course of 2 months I've been in 3 different
areas, 6 weeks of which I was able to learn a teeny bit of Turkish.
I'm still kind of flabbergasted (pardon my use of such a word) about
all that's happening, so I'll keep this email short. But I know that
the Lord is watching over me and will not forsake me; nor will he
forsake you. I hope y'all have an awesome week. Love you!
Elder Larsen
Fingerle, informing me that I'd be leaving Hildesheim...today. At this
moment I'm on my way to a city called Werdau, where I'll be training a
new missionary named Elder Earl. His old companion got sick and had to
go to Berlin, hence the lack of forewarning. I'm really bummed to
leave Hildesheim; my short Turkish adventure with Elder Johnson is
over, and I only had time to say goodbye to a couple members and
investigators. I suppose if nothing else, at the end of this I'll be
able to say that over the course of 2 months I've been in 3 different
areas, 6 weeks of which I was able to learn a teeny bit of Turkish.
all that's happening, so I'll keep this email short. But I know that
the Lord is watching over me and will not forsake me; nor will he
forsake you. I hope y'all have an awesome week. Love you!
Elder Larsen
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
The Celestial Language
Hallo,
Sorry about not sending this yesterday, for whatever reason people
only seem to be able to meet with us on Mondays, so we keep having to
ask if we can move our email time to Tuesday.
The crowning event of this week was, of course, the dedication of the
Freiberg Temple. Not only were we able to hear President Uchtdorf
speak in German, but Elder Bednar as well, who served his mission in
Germany. I suppose German really is the celestial language after all.
Unfortunately the satellite connection at the stake center in Hannover
was struggling so we ended up missing a good chunk of President
Uchtdorf's words, but it was still pretty legit.
Nothing else from this week can really compare with that, but we did
have a couple cool experiences. So the typical German teenager when
stopped on the street will typically stare at you for a second and
then start laughing before walking away. After experiencing this
rather often, I've become somewhat wary of the mysterious creatures
known as teenagers and wasn't particularly excited when we crossed
paths with one a few days ago. Well instead of walking away, laughing,
he listened and asked questions until we had shared pretty much the
entire first lesson. Though he didn't have interest in meeting, he did
have interest in the Book of Mormon ("I can have it for free!?").
We're hoping and praying that he'll read it and one day have interest
in learning more.
Second cool experience, we were walking through the center of town and
this random guy comes and talks to us in English, "are you guys
missionaries?" He's a student from Syria and had met the missionaries
(not sure where or how much he met with them) but he gave us his
number and said he'd like to come to church. It was kind of awkward,
because we had to tell him he'd have to wait a week because of the
temple dedication, but we have an appointment with him later today. It
was a nice reminder of who is really in charge of this work, at the
end of the day it's not really us doing anything, it's just God using
us as instruments in His hands.
That's all for this week folks, have an awesome week!
Elder Larsen
Sorry about not sending this yesterday, for whatever reason people
only seem to be able to meet with us on Mondays, so we keep having to
ask if we can move our email time to Tuesday.
Freiberg Temple. Not only were we able to hear President Uchtdorf
speak in German, but Elder Bednar as well, who served his mission in
Germany. I suppose German really is the celestial language after all.
Unfortunately the satellite connection at the stake center in Hannover
was struggling so we ended up missing a good chunk of President
Uchtdorf's words, but it was still pretty legit.
Nothing else from this week can really compare with that, but we did
have a couple cool experiences. So the typical German teenager when
stopped on the street will typically stare at you for a second and
then start laughing before walking away. After experiencing this
rather often, I've become somewhat wary of the mysterious creatures
known as teenagers and wasn't particularly excited when we crossed
paths with one a few days ago. Well instead of walking away, laughing,
he listened and asked questions until we had shared pretty much the
entire first lesson. Though he didn't have interest in meeting, he did
have interest in the Book of Mormon ("I can have it for free!?").
We're hoping and praying that he'll read it and one day have interest
in learning more.
Second cool experience, we were walking through the center of town and
this random guy comes and talks to us in English, "are you guys
missionaries?" He's a student from Syria and had met the missionaries
(not sure where or how much he met with them) but he gave us his
number and said he'd like to come to church. It was kind of awkward,
because we had to tell him he'd have to wait a week because of the
temple dedication, but we have an appointment with him later today. It
was a nice reminder of who is really in charge of this work, at the
end of the day it's not really us doing anything, it's just God using
us as instruments in His hands.
That's all for this week folks, have an awesome week!
Elder Larsen
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