Wednesday, December 21, 2016

12-18-16 How's the 208?!?! Miss you all like crazy but I get to see you on Christmas! SO STOKED!!

Hello Family!!

Well, this week went by very slow, but so full of wonderful miracles... it was the BEST!!!!! So first, a miracle that happened this week! We went to Vaitoomuli to go recontact a lady named Pili who we hadn't seen in a while because we've been working in Faala a lot and because of my feet... a while back! So we went to go see her and her husband on Wednesday! So this is how is has been...she's been being taught for the past 2 years, and has been going to church every Sunday, but has continually said that there will be a time for her to be baptized, but she kept saying now is not the time. So we've been fasting, praying, hoping something will spark her desire to be baptized! Well, this Wednesday, we went and we sat down with the husband, Paepae, and we just started talking and he went into a HUGE explanation into how we as members of the church should never force anyone to come into the gospel otherwise, it will fall on us later if they fall away from the church. And then Pili came in and sat down with a HUGE smile on her face! Haha then Paepae, the husband went again into how the bishop was trying to force Pili to get baptized for some time now, and then said there will be a time for Pili to be baptized! And then Pili butted in and said, Hey, enough of talking like that! And then Paepae laughed, and explained that they were really glad we could make it today, because and his words were, "we are excited to let you two know that Pili now has the spirit and desire to be baptized." And then she just beamed again! I was speechless. This daughter of God, since I got here in August, and has been going to church the past 3-4 years, more often than some members, and since we had fasted and prayed, it just came out of no where! She then explained that she wanted this to be her gift to the Savior, the sacred Infant this time of year, as we remember him and what he did for us! And I could not have said it better! What a fantastic gift to give to the Savoir than to enter into the waters of baptism and covenant to take upon his name and follow him!!! And she said she wanted to get baptized this Saturday, and we got everything together somehow, made it work, and she was baptized 2 days ago and confirmed yesterday!! It was amazing!!

And then the day before, we went to visit Tanielu who really wants to be baptized, but hasn't been able to because his wife's divorce hadn't been finalized...but miracle number 2 for the week, we go to visit cause we had just gotten back from the bishops the day before and he told us that Tanielu wanted to be visited again! We hadn't visited in quite a while cause we could do nothing but wait for them to finalize it and every time we went over... before they would continually say that they couldn't get married, cause the wife's divorce wasn't closed completely, and so he couldn't be baptized. But low and behold, we went this Tuesday, and we start talking with his wife and asked again, if the divorce was completely closed. She said quite confidently, that's why we wanted you to come, because the case is completely closed so we can get married and Tanielu can get baptized! Holy miracle!! Same thing with Tanielu, its been like this, couldn't get married til this week, 2 has seemed like eternal investigators, both made it to the waters of baptism this week!! So Pili, Tanielu, and Fuaiupu all got baptized this week!! It was a crazy day, but with such a  spirit that only miracles can provide!! It was FANTASTIC!!! 

I testify that Christ lives. He was born and performed the Atonement for each and every one of us if we come to him with a broken heart and contrite spirit! He is eager to reach out to us, and as we come closer to him, he will raise us and we will have strength to overcome anything with his help! 

Love you all!!!
Elder Larson


Hey, so Pili's baptism, my Christmas tree, and my MTC mate!!!!! Back at it again!! He's my new ZL!!!


Sunday, December 18, 2016

12- 11-16 Hey hey hey to the fam in the 208!!


How are you all doing?!?!? Sorry about last week, the ZL's needed to email so they came to email over here, which didn't leave us a whole lot of time, just to read emails, but not send any):


Anyway, sounds like everyone is having a total blast!! Through sports, service, and coming closer to the Savior!! LOVE IT!! Yeah... got the Halloween package last week!! Thank you so much for it!! It was fantastic to see the chocolate!! Haha Haven't had chocolate in a while! Real chocolate! Lucky ducks, be grateful for the cold. It's flaming coconut trees over here! Yeah... there was a tsunami watch ,but from what we heard it hit Solomon islands, and wasn't supposed to come this way...not sure... we just heard it on the radio at our feed the other night! 

This week was crazy!! Crazy amazing!!! So on Tuesday we had a Christmas devotional with Pres, his wife, and the APs!! And it was ABSOLUTLEY FANTASTIC!!!! I LOVED IT!! Lots of thing happened, but I want to share an experience that totally changed me, changed my outlook on the priesthood, service, my Savior!! So we went caroling and we went to the hospital in Tuasivi, which I've been so familiar with the past month(;, but we went to each of the wards in the hospital and sang to everyone! And then in the biggest ward, where people were in each of their own rooms, and family members were around, and then President said something that immediately came to my mind... The work of our Lord and Savior with his apostles was on the earth back then. And the Savior to his 12 special witnesses,   "...began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 
And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place....
 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
And thats what we did in the hospital. Anyone who would desire a blessing, not known to us if they were even members or not, we asked and explained that we held the Power of God, just as Christ and his apostles in Christs time, to be able to heal them, according to their faith! And then we continued singing and then this was the best...we all had finished singing, and everyone was dispersing to the vans, but I had followed Pres Hannemann when he was shaking hands with a few different people, and he finished at a young couple, with a sick little boy, about 2 years old, sitting near the doors. Pres turned to me and said, "You stay here" and then my companion wasn't too far behind me, and we were the only two left in the hospital area, and Pres told us to give the blessing to the little boy. Then he left to take care of the other missionaries. So that left my comp and I the only two missionaries left in the hospital, with heaps of people staring. But at that point, it seemed as though it was just us, the couple, and the sick little boy. We explained what we were going to do and how the blessing was going to go, and then I thought we were just going to perform it while the mom held the little guy, but my comp asked to hold him while I did the annointing. It was the most spiritual experience I have had giving blessings. Because as I held the little boys quite warm head in my hands, it was only after the annointing that he had stopped fussing and fell asleep peacefully. Then my comp gave him to me to hold as he did the blessing. And wow. Power. As my companion gave the blessing, I just thought immediately to Christ, when he said bring all the children unto me and I will bless them. And as I stood there in that hospital holding that sick little boy and everyone staring at us, I just felt the Power of God rest upon this little guy and his parents, just a power of peace. It was amazing! We finished and gave the little guy back to his mom, and it was just amazing! She was beeming as we handed her son back, they weren't members but hopefully they felt the same power and peace at that time in the hospital as I did. Words can't describe my feelings at that point. Heavenly. That's the only one that can even come close. The priesthood has been restored upon this earth, and I, to all priesthood holders, please stay worthy of the Power of God that you hold. It will bless you and your family. I testify of these things, in the name of our Savior, he who died and shed his blood for his to use His Atonement and become like him, even Jesus Christ, Amen.
 Well, that was just one of the powers this week! We're finding people through the roof over here and we can feel the Spirit of God working through these people! We'll have 2 baptisms this week, Fuaiupu and Tanielu, and then next week hopefully 3!! Bringing people to this gospel is the BEST GIFT anyone could give them this Christmas season! Share your testimony, share a Book of Mormon, invite a nonmember to church, I promise you will feel the Christmas spirit more that you have ever in your life if you take this commitment!! Love you and hope you have a bomb as week!!!
Love you all,
Elder Larson(;
Our feed with a wonderful family! And the Christmas program we did on Tuesday. Just pondering the Love of God and the beautiful world He created!