5-3-17 Hello Family!!

Hello Family...Short and sweet!

Thanks for setting all that up for me! You are the Best!! sorry I don't have a ton of time, I'm getting transffered to Manu'a today with my son in Ta'u! haha The President said I'll probably finish there! But here's a pic of our last district meeting and my new comp Elder Liana! He's from Hawaii and is the bomb! I'll have to look for a degree after I get home but thanks for everything!! Hope you are having a bomb as week!

Love,
 Elder Larson

District meeting and transfers...crazy Elders!!

My new Soa!! Elder Liana is pretty awesome!! He's from Hawaii!
Fresh from the MTC!!!

4-18-17 HEY FAM!!!

HOW'S LIFE!??!

 Man this is the first pday in a while that we actually have time to do stuff!! Its awesome to relax a little bit!! 

So E. Barclay is actually my comp right now! We cover Safaatoa, Tanumalala, Faleseela tai, and Fasitoo uta! We cover 2 wards and 2 branches, and we've got just about all of Samoa in each area!! We've got a really really thick grassy vao area, we've got one in the mountains, and we've got one right next to the ocean...its' awesome!! The people here are just amazing! We're still teaching,but we mostly do a lot of errands as well as district meetings because we have 3 districts we cover. We also take the elders or sisters with their investigators to Pesega to do the visitor center tour I was telling you about! IT'S AMAZING!! Yesterday, for the first time on my mission, we went with our ward and some investigators that just got baptized and took their family names to do baptisms in the temple!!!!!!!!! IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!! One word... it was just Peaceful. This month we remember Easter and the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how he is the Prince of Peace! Because of His sacrifice, we can find eternal peace in His gospel! LOVE IT!!!

We have 2 baptisms this week, Olioli and Litala! SOOO EXCITED for them! A lot of our investigators.... I've realized, especially here, have 2 of the  biggest problems. One is the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom....BUT, it has strengthened my testimony in Jesus Christ seeing these sons and daughters of God take amazing steps to Him through faith and repentance, and finally through the waters of baptism!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!

Sorry not lots of time, but love you and hope all is going well! Props to the bros on all their sports and school achievements!! You guys are killing it! And how tall and heavy is everyone?! Haha just curious! Tell ALL our family...on both side...I LOVE THEM ALL and APPRECIATE ALL THEIR SUPPORT!! Love you all!

Elda Laason

No pictures again...so sad!!

4-11-17 Having the time of my LIFE in Samoa!!

How's the Fam?

I am so sorry! I just wrote this massive paragraph to you and I just deleted it by accident... haha sorry!

ZL life is so crazy busy, but I'm having so much fun, because we get to see Pres. Hannemann so much more often and it literally just brings such a smile to my face! Well, I had this really detailed explanation of this cool new program that our Pres.and his wife set up at Pesega, but I deleted it all by accident): So, deleted story short....the mission is doing a visitors center right now. Just about everyday we get to go with elders or sisters in our zone with their investigators and have one of the most spiritual experiences ever! IT'S AWESOME!! So it's starts with these massive pictures of Christ, the first vision, the Restoration of the Priesthood, the Plan of Salvation, temple work, and Christs baptism in the River Jordan! And then a 20 min  Restoration movie to end it and almost every single non member that has gone through, walks out with a greater love for the Savior and what he did, and a date to be baptized!!!! IT'S INCREDIBLY SPIRITUAL and I absolutely love it every time we go through!! I've really grown to love the priesthood, the temples and the work done inside, and especially the Savior!! I LOVE IT!!!!

Kyle, Cade and Keato! You all need to memorize the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood! One thing that Pres Hannemann is really emphasized to our mission, and it's really hit me and the spirit has testified to me the importance of this, that EVERY priesthood holder should have memorized the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood!! Always remember the holy power that you hold and how you need to live clean in order to access that power of God!! I've come to love...and am sooo grateful for the Lord's trust in me to hold His holy power and He trusts us all to live worthy of it!! 

Love you all! Sorry... not a lot of time, but that's just how ZL life goes! Oh...and I just got the package this morning! You rock!!!!!!!  LOVE YOU!!! Have a bomb as week!!

Love, 

Elda Laason

Busy...Busy... Busy!!! 4-4-17

Elder Larson's emails are getting shorter and shorter because he was made Zone Leader last week!
Here is this week's quick email...

Hi Fam!

Ah man... thank you so much for all you do!! I really hope to help you once I get home with the work and such! I am so blessed to have you as my family. I'm just super lucky!! 

Sorry... not a lot of time.  Everything is going well, and holy smokes... Zone Leader is busy! We didn't get home til 10:30 almost every night the past week... dropping off missionaries from the new visitors center in Pesega by the temple! It's super spiritual and absolutely the BEST!!!!!It's super spiritual and wonderful every time you walk into the office ...and we go just about every night with investigators of the zone! It's the absolute BEST!!! I LOVE IT! It's all centered around the Savior and baptism!! Then they watch a short restoration video after words! AWESOME!! 

 Love you all! Hope all is well and you are all having the time of your lives!

 Love and miss you, but we'll talk with you on Mother's Day... coming up!!!! 

Love you all! 

Elda Laason(;

No pictures again...:(

I'm Back!! (We haven't heard from Elder Larson in 1 month...ahhh!!!) This is his first email since Feb. 14th. YAY!!

Hey fam! 

Sorry, the internet went down in our area for a while and I just got ET to Upolu! I'm in Siumu now with an Elder Clark, he hasn't been out very long and we're white washing the area so it'll be a new adventure, but definitely people have loved serving in this area so I'm excited! 

haha, I'm really sad to have left Faala and the work, but I'm just glad that E Leatigaga and Griffiths will continue it! I just want to bear my testimony real quick on exact obedience! The first transfer E Leatigaga and I were together we were both looking for changes in our mission, and really quickly we found that one of the fastest ways to miracles was exact obedience. But that whole transfer, we did not get one soul saved. We had set a goal of 10 believing that that was a goal that we could reach through exact obedience and hard work. But we ended up with not one soul saved. The next transfer began and we were super excited to continue hopefully start reaping our sowing efforts! And with exact obedience, miracles began to happen. The first week, we had 2 baptisms. Then next week had another 2 baptisms! The week after that we had 1 set but because of it being a ward conference week, it got pushed to the next week, then we had 2 baptisms on the 4th of march, then another 2 this last week, and then we have 2 set for this week! My 2 most favorite investigators Faamaga and Felolini! They are a small little family of 4 who used to be lotu LMS, and were looking for a change! It began with the wife Felolini and for a month and a half we worked with the family to get them married and then the husband turned his life 180 through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and they got married and are set to be baptized together this Saturday. Then when the ZL's called that I was gonna get ET, this was the first moment on my mission, where I truly felt Christlike love for this couple because being able to be apart of their conversion process, it was beautiful! They have completely changed the village. All they want is blessings for the people, themselves and their two little ones! Faamaga and I cried like kids saying goodbye, not being able to attend they're baptism, but I told them that I would attend in spirit, and that will do! I bore my testimony to them that I hope and pray they continue to faithfully serve in the church and next year, plan to go to the temple and be sealed together as an eternal family! These 2 wonderful souls would complete the 10 beautiful souls saved for that transfer, our goal for the transfer before! Exact obedience brings miracles, and not just to me and my comp but to those we were blessed to be a part of their conversion to Jesus Christ and His Atonement and Gospel! I love this work, ready to work here in Siumu with Elder Clark, and work miracles with the Lord! I say these things humbly is the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I was so sad leaving Faamaga and Felolini and missing their baptism this Saturday, but the Lord obviously has other plans for us, and we just need to trust! I wish I had my camera I forgot it back at the house so next week I'll send pics of this sweet fam! Honestly, my favorite fam on the mission!!! So great to be a part of their story!!! I love and miss them so much!! 

So sorry its' been ages since I've emailed, internet went down, but we're all good now with the internet over here! Love you... sorry no pics, but next week definitely!

Love Elder Larson :)

This is my zone with President Henneman and his wife.

2-7-17 Tatou te tau faamalo ile agalelei ma le alofa o le Tapa'au Sili oi le Lagi

Family...How are you doing!??

So sorry...Our pdays have been changed to Wednesday over in our mission. That's why you didn't receive a letter on Sunday...our Monday!  Whats going on?? Whats happening?? The pics from the snowshoeing looked so fun! haha!  

Well, so this week and half is beginning to bring in the blessings that we waited a whole transfer for! We're both staying here in Faala so we'll be able to reap the benefits of our sowing! We have 4 baptisms planned for this week, Moaga, Salio, Francine, and Lina! Moaga is almost 30, and when we found him he was having a very hard time. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he has turned 180 degrees and is consistently at church. He is strong and learning to have great faith and standing up for himself with his family of another religion. Salio, Francine, and Lina are all going to get baptized this Saturday too! They're all just little guys 12, 12, and 9, but they are very smart and understand and feel the love our Heavenly Father and Savior have for each of them! Really excited for all of them!! 

Nothing absolutely life changing happened this week, but I do want to share this. There's is a MASSIVE church history book we found in our house that goes over the whole church history beginning in the late 1700's! And it shares a lot on Joseph Smith Jr... the 14 yr. old boy that with the power and authority of God, went on to become 2nd behind Jesus Christ, in shaping the world for the Second Coming of our Savior, through the Restoration of his gospel! I can't really put my finger on it, but it just brings me so much joy to read about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon which he translated with the power and authority of God! I just feel really AMAZING! And at district meeting we all wrote our testimonies about the Book of Mormon, and it was just a really nice time to contemplate and strengthen my testimony by writing it down! Which is a really nice thing for investigators, because if they can gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, then that leads to a testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet called of God to restore the Church of Jesus Christ, meaning the true church of God, is now upon the earth, and more than 15 million of Gods children are working to spread it to the 4 corners of the earth! Incredible, isn't it?? I'm just so thankful to be apart of it! 

Hope you are all doing great! Sorry its a little late, love you and can't wait to here whats happening!! 

Love,

Elder Larson

PS. We were walking to some homes and came across these HUGE PIGS, just chillin like villains.

PPS. We bought tons of saimini, but it expired and made us sick, so we kind of made a little bit of a mess in the house.  haha

Nothing like a good coconut find on Pday!

1-29-17O Fua a nai galuega o ma'ua!

Hey FAM!!!!

What's happening!?!? Haha don't you worry, it is very hot over here! Everyday, as we begin the day, we immediately start sweating which makes for a long, wet day!

Sounds like Mom and Keats are gonna go party in the snow with snow shoes! NICE! 

So this week....

We are beginning to see the works of our labors!! Five weeks of work is beginning to pay off!! For the past 3 weeks we haven't had anyone to church. We've been working morning to night, and we're FINALLY seeing the fruits of our labors!! It adds new meaning to the scripture in Ether from Moroni..."I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. "

So this last Sunday, we were just praying that we would have some souls at church! We get to Faala 2nd ward, and no one is there. We then went to Vaitoomuli after sacrament was over, praying we would have some investigators there, and we had 2!!! Moaga and Matalena! Moaga is going to be baptized on the 11th! His only problem has been that he hasn't come to church! But he did it! And then Matalena has been kind of a toss up cause we've been hearing from everyone... but her... that she wants to take lessons, but not from her specifically! And then she just showed up to church yesterday with a member! And then this week we found another little guy that just came from Apia to live with his fam here who are all members, so after lessons...he's getting baptized on 11th with Moaga! 

And so this week we're going to begin with the First Vision with Lolofi, the sweet old lady, and please pray for her because if she were to accept baptism, it would be amazing! So PLEASE pray for her to recognize the truth! 

Well, that's us this week, and this week I was going over my notes from a conference we had with a Seventy, Elder Neilsen, that came in October, and something his wife shared has never left me and I was reminded again of it. Sometimes, not just on a mission, we start feeling discouraged because we feel like we're doing all we can to overcome trials, obey the commandments, and love God, but nothing seems to be going right. All I ask is that YOU remember this scripture that Sister Nielsen shared with us in times of trial...in the words of Christ in the book of Psalms 82...

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 

So love yous all and hope yous all have a bomb as week!! Love and miss yous all!!

Elder Larson

Ps..we officially have a bunch of pet chickens now! My comps is Linguini and mine is Gerald!

1-22-17 O le a foi lenei faigamalaga ma le vaa ua goto...

Fam in the really freezing 208!!

Whats happening?!?!

Sounds like you are having heaps of fun with all the snow!! I'm not even going to go back into how hot it is over here...cause it's hotter than burnt pancakes in the Sahara...that's hot.

SO! This week was full of trials, but that's just how the work goes...but a very special experience I want to share. So at the beginning of the transfer my comp and I talked about our goal of 10 baptisms...and we've been going over it ever week, yet the 2 bapt dates we have set with Chelley and Moaga keep getting pushed back because it seems as though church isn't there first priority...its really a bummer cause the ward is already struggling, but we're trying our best. We've just been praying for a miracle, working for a miracle, and striving to have exact obedience for our miracle. It's just been a struggle because the whole week, great things happen, great lessons with the strong Spirit, investigators keeping commitments, and then Sunday comes and we're thinking by the works of the week, almost everyone will come, but sacrament starts no one shows up, not even the other half of the ward. My comp and I talked, and we feel as though we're doing everything in our power to help these people but nothing seems to be moving forward. But we had our weekly planning yesterday, and we talked about what's going down...our conclusion, and may we always remember..."When we go through trials and the tribulations with the thought that seems to jump at certain times, "Where is you Lord?"Let us always remember, The Teacher is always silent during tests!"

But one particular special experience that I will never forget. We are literally going all over our erea to find new people to teach, and we came to the house of the old woman that lives at the Mcdonald's colored house, and her name is Lolofi. We went to visit her on Thur, and she quickly hustled us into her house after she said she had been waiting for us to come visit. You have to remember this lady is almost 9, but she's moving around like she's 55! We sat down and just began getting to know her and her fam. So her husband passed away, leaving her and her 13 kids, who are spread all over the Pacific..New Zealand, Australia, Tonga, Apia, everywhere! And some of her kids are even Mormon! The whole time we just had in the back of our mind, she might be our miracle. And then we introduced the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We were just praying she was ready to except it, so I explained a bit about the Love of God and it has come time to restore His gospel upon the earth, and then my comp brought up Joseph Smith and how God has now called another prophet to lead his church today....and this is the first time this has ever happened on my mission, and might be the last...she seemed kind of receptive, just kept nodding her head, and then we told her we had a small gift for her, and then we gave her the pamphlet of the Restoration with Christ on the front holding the lost sheep. My comp stood up to give it to her and she met him halfway, took the book and then just stood there looking at the picture of Christ. Then she began to cry, and kissed the picture three times while saying Iesu, Iesu, Iesu...and as she sat down she held the book to her chest and then went into thanking us for bringing this book of Christ and just crying as she thanked us for this blessing. And then my companion and I just kept looking at each other not really knowing what to do, and then he asked me if we could share the BoM. It wasn't part of what we planned but I knew he was being led by the spirit, so he went into a small explanation about the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and then we gave her a copy. And almost the same thing happened, she took the book, held it close, and thanked us for these blessings  and before we could even invite her to read it, she said she won't stop till she finishes both of them!!! The Holy Ghost was so powerful because her heart was ready and she was prepared, and I thank my Heavenly Father for trusting us to find her through our work! And then it was over just as fast as it had started. We set up to visit with her Tues and we are praying that she will remember through the spirit, that this was the plan from the beginning, God giving us this gospel to bless us and our families, restored to earth through the work of a young prophet named Joseph Smith! So just an amazing experience that we had this week and we are praying that the miracles that are promised through exact obedience are around the corner!

So that's us! Love you all and hope you are having a great week!! Love you!!

Elder Larson

Taro Root peeling!! Sooo fun !!!

In our busy lives, sometimes you need to stop and smell the flowers!!

I have a hard working, cool comp!!

1-15-17 #E tainane le paia lasilasi o le 'aiga alii nei.....

FAM!! What is happening!?!?!? 

Sounds like you have had heaps of fun in the snow... lucky ducks!! I'm turning maroon and my comp is turning black over here it's so hot, we just keep cooking....so yeah!! 

  

So this week, it was kind of a trial of faith week...haha, things are sort of moving, but then as soon as things start moving, people stop progressing....Sunday comes around and we get to church and no one seems to see the importance of church. For the past 2 weeks we haven't had a single investigator at church. Its super depressing because it feels like the district where the sister missionaries are are really trying to get some people to church too, but they usually cancel like 15 minutes before....so my comp and I talked about it, never done it before, but we're going to go about an hour and a half before church next week, and literally give ALL our investigators a wake up call to come to church!! haha We're hoping it goes well, never done it before, but if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got! 

So I just want to talk a little bit about a young family we found tracting this week...Salele'a and Penina, and then their 4 little ones under 7! So we were really just trying to find more people to teach and went down this road that I don't think any missionaries have ever gone down, because it's almost hidden, but we went down, then we found a Mcdonalds house, haha painted red and yellow with a matching fale apa next to it, no one home so we went to a little fale samoa in the back, where we found this family. We sat down with them and just got to talking with Salele'a and his wife more about them, and then we just shared a 10 minute message about the Plan of Salvation and then asked for a return date so we met again on Saturday and let me tell you, I have never seen a couple so into these teachings, especially these two!! They were just drinking in the Plan of Happiness, Penina was straight reading cover to cover the pamphlet while Salele'a was asking questions and we were talking more about it, and the Spirit was so strong, it was just the BEST!!!! Penina had to leave near the end though, so she left, BUT she came back and asked when the next time we were coming over to have another family teaching session and was super happy about it, which NEVER happens! So we kind of wrapped it up with Salele'a because we wanted them both to be there! So we're going back Tuesday, and then as we were walking out, a man in the next fale Samoa over, called out to us, asked how we were doing, and then out of the blue was like, "So when can you come to my family and talk about the teachings your talking about with Salele'a fam??" So we were like ABSOLUTLEY we'll come and teach you... got his name and we're going back Tuesday! AND THEN, the last house in this area, the Mcdonalds house, the old lady that lives there called out to us, asked what we'd been doing, then said we were really good, and then asked when we could meet again with her!!!!! IT WAS SO WONDERFUL!! So Tuesday we're going back!! 

My comp and I walked out of there on cloud 9 it was so awesome!! We've just really been hoping for a miracle, cause our presidents goal for the mission is for each month, each zone in the mission gets 30 baptisms, which by the end of the year will get the mission to 3000!! One, he is called of God, two, they fasted and prayed for this, and 3, we have promises from Pres Russel M Nelson than Obedience will bring Success, but Exact Obedience will bring Miracles! It's just another testimony of how much our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us! He's always watching over us, and helping us along our eternal journey back to our heavenly home!

Love you all and hope you have an awesome week!!! Thank you so much for sending the package!! Love you all!!!

Elder Larson

PS...When things aren't moving, it's always nice to go sit on the edge of the ocean and regroup our thoughts...

And then we both found coconuts to drink and we busted the shell, and they came out like big white snowballs haha! 

My awesome Soa! (Companion)

1-1-17 #2017 #ManuiaLeTausagaFou

My apologies this post is out of order. I thought I had posted 1-1-17 weekly email of Elder Larson's.

Fam, what's happening!?!?! How are you doing?!?! It was so awesome to talk with you on Christmas!! Fantastic!!! Good to hear all your voices, even Cade whos voice dropped by 5 octaves haha! 

Well, here's whats happening in Samoa!! E Fesolai is officially done, haha love the guy. It was a great learning experience! I'm now with E Leaitigaga, and we are going to absolutely just kill this transfer!! He's from Long Beach and has almost hit his year mark, next month! He's awesome and we're both really excited to really dig down and just go to town with the work that is ready to be done here in Faala! Our goal is to get 10 baptisms... which we're praying, fasting, and striving to be exactly obedient which is not the easiest thing, but it's the right thing, and we're seeing so many blessings come from it it's awesome!! We only got about 3 solid days of proselyting this past week, cause Fesolai wanted to faamavae with families and was just really ready to finish his mission, but Friday to Sunday, we went missionary crazy, and we just asked for referals, looking for service, and talking to everyone we saw, and in that 3 days we got 12 referals, with more on the way this week, and we are having an FHE with a part member family tonight that we're hoping to extend 2 baptismal invitations tonight!! The work is moving and the Lord's Church will not be stopped in progression! 

Just really excited to get really working again!! It's fantastic to have a comp who is ready to work and willing! Pres Hannemann is always stressing that we become "I will" missionaries! Something new comes up, we don't question we just say I will. Like Nephi, we we are faced with trials, we need to say, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for the Lord giveth NO commandment unto the children of men, SAVE HE SHALL PREPARE A WAY FOR THEM, that they may accomplish the thing that he commanded them." We may be given things that are too hard, or too difficult to follow, but I promise and more powerful the Lord promises that He will Prepare a Way for Them, that we just have to be willing to follow. So I guess my question is, when trials come your way this week, will you sit and crumble or will you stand with the strength of Nephi in seeming impossible things and say "Lord, I will"?

Love you all and hope this week is just a fantastic one!! Sorry not much, but Love you all and hope yous are having an absolutely fantastic new year!!

Love,

Elder Larson

More preaching in paradise!!

Elder Larson got a Samoan Rugby shirt for his 20th birthday! Woot! Woot!
Love you ALL!

1-8-17 #OsoTheMea

Family, How are you doing??

I wish it would snow over here, but that will never happen soooooooo, it hailed over here and people went nuts....if it snowed, world war 3 might occur in the pacific islands haha!

Anyway, sounds like you have had some very fun snow over there! It's hotter than hot cocoa out of the microwave poured over your head....burn. Yeah, it's just very hot over here. If you want to switch... that would be great! ANYWAY, so this week was FANTASTIC!!!!! We set 2 baptismal dates with Chelley and Moaga for the 28th of this month! Really happy for them.  Chelley just moved in with Afele, both really young, but she really wants to be baptized, but they'll need to get married first which Afele isn't super excited about. The 3 of us fasted, Chelley, my comp, and me to be able to help her partner want to get married! We are praying for them! And then Moaga just came up out of no where. We were trying to get faamasani with the area, and this fam we came to, Keilagi and Li, just started to get faamasani with the fam, and then asked if they knew anyone who would like to talk to us! Then Li, the mom, started asking Moaga if he had been baptized, but he said he started lessons but never finished because he moved here. And he had a huge word of wisdom problem, still did, but then he talked with the family and just said you know what, I should stop....and it was AWESOME!! That has never happened with any investigator in my life! We showed him a pic of Christ and we testified of the love of Christ for him and the Atonement that Christ performed just for him....and then he just said right then and their after we taught him about the word of wisdom, I'll stop. And he said he hasn't touched it since....this gospel is true! (We continually pray for his strength and when he's ready...he wants to be baptized!)

I just find so much joy and peace testifying to people about the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what it can do for them. We may always ask "No one really knows how I feel", "Christ never went through this kind of trial", "How can he REALLY know what I am going through?"....and then we turned to the teachings of Alma, where he is teaching about the Atonement to the Nephites and how Christ

"shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 

And he will take upon him death , that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

Christ knows us. He loves us. And he would not have performed the Atonement had it not been for the Love he has for each one of us! He knows us, individually, perfectly, because he is perfect, and he performed a perfect atonement, so yes. He knows us perfectly. So turn to Him. He knows how to help you overcome weaknesses, trials, sin, heartache, he knows it all. Because of his love, he suffered for us and knows how to succor his people according to their infirmities! 

Anyways, love you all and hope it was an amazing week, full of snow, snow and more snow! 

Love Elder Larson (I'm just sun-burned...you're all snow-burned!)

Samoan missionary fun on Prep day!!

  

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!!!

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!

11-27-16 Back at it!

Fam...What is up!!!

How's everyone going!?!? Whats in the news!?!? Your trip to Utah sounded sooo fun! I wish I could've been there with you all!! Tell Grandmama and Buddy, Sonia, Gina, Dee and the boys hello from me and I love you ALL!! I'll write to them next week. Tell EVERYONE I love them!!!

I am sooo grateful Grandmama is okay...prayers answered! 

I wish I could have been there for the snow. I wish it would snow here, but that's so far from possible! Haha it did hail, don't know if I told you that... probably 2 months ago! First time ever in Samoa! 

Well, this week, started slow, the doc said stay off til I felt 100% just cause the weather can just mess it up again, but thanks for the prayers cause I'm back!! The feet are all healed up just not looking as pretty anymore haha! So this week, has been kind of an internal struggle, cause my new comp is quite different from ALL my other comps up until now! Really the only thing that's keeping me sane is looking at the example of my Savior Jesus Christ. He is the Perfect example and we had quite the conversation in Sunday school yesterday and one lady in the ward brought up, with all the bad things going on today, how are we to judge what is good and bad anymore?? I didn't get the chance to share, but I wanted to explain how Christ has said, Follow me, and do the things which ye hath seen me do. It was a really a simple question, but it really got everyone thinking, going back to the basics. What would Christ do?! This past week, the quote that keeps going through my head is from our Prophet, President Monson...May we ever choose the harder right, than the easier wrong. It's applied quite a few times this week and every time I do take the right, even though its harder, and Satan tries to manipulate saying to not, every time I do I witness blessings from above and I see settling upon my life!

So, this week on Sunday we had a miracle happen!! We've been working with these three and they all showed up to church!! We've been really trying to get these particular investigators to church, but it seems like every Sunday, everything just falls through and they can't make it...but yesterday was a miracle! Fuaiupu, Uelese, and Fono all came to church and we're really hoping to set dates with Fuaiupu and Uelese on Tuesday! Looking for the 10th for both of them!! And particularly, one miracle, Fuaiupu. She is the 15 yr old that has wanted to become a member and be baptized but her dad has been denying her to even go to church, even though everyone else in the family; the mom, her 3 sisters and older brother are all baptized. But the past 2 Sundays she's come to church, BY HERSELF! We're really trying to strengthen the rest of the fam cause they'll come once in a while, but we're hoping the fam will reactivate! That, and our 2nd ward is just the awesome!! They go and do visits to our investigators on certain Sundays, to see if they need anything, and to strengthen them back in the gospel( because all our investigators live at partial member houses)! Its incredible and we're seeing the effects!! This gospel is TRUE!!!!!

Just recap, and some thoughts, we're all going to go through ups and downs in our lives here on earth, yet there is one person, 3 particular events we can look to for grace, peace, and joy and the solution to literally everything; our Savior and his Atonement in Gethsemane, on the Cross in Calvary, and in the Garden Tomb. He is literally our everything as we look to eternal happiness and joy! Whether burden with sin, struggle with life's trials, or even in times of bliss; we can look to Christ and his infinite sacrifice for each of us individually. He knows us each by name, he suffered for us, he's with us in struggling times, in times of rejoicing, EACH and EVERY DAY. Through one of his teachings, Christ explains to us the Love of his Father and our Father, his God and our God, in saying, " nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long."

I just Love this gospel! LOVE IT!!! 

Love you all, and hope your having a safe trip back home!!

Elder Larson

CRAZY ELDER!!

Beautiful...behind the fence!!

It doesn't get any more beautiful than this!! HEAVEN!!!

Well...this is what healed looks like. I don't think they will ever be the same...but we're working again...so that's awesome!

Last trip to the hospital for my feet!!! YAY! We are all so happy to be done!

Last trip to the hospital!! And my feet!

11-13-16 - #MakuaLeaga #La'uVae

I apologize! These last two letters are out of order. No pictures on 11-20-16. The pictures on that post are for this week...11-13-16...so sorry!

Hey hey hey!! Well, this week was one for the books....sort of haha! 

Monday night I got very sick with a fever and didn't know what it was from. It was very weird...it was pretty bearable, and then it hit hard later that night.  I asked for a blessing! E Rarotoga went to get the 1st counselor, Fuiava Neti that lives behind us, and they both knelt and said a prayer. It was the absolute...words can't describe it....I just started too cry and my body just felt peace....my hands were like ice, but my body and head was like fire....and they hadn't even given the blessing yet. They then closed, gave the blessing, and then I fell asleep not too long after. When I woke up, the fever was just about completely gone...I know that the Lord was looking after me that night. His love for each of us is incomprehensible!!!! 

So Thursday, after our district meeting, we get a call from theZL's that my comp is getting transferred to Upolu tomorrow! We didn't even have time to say goodbye and it was a huge bummer ! I stayed with the Elders in McKay, which is a little ways over from our area. Then the ZL's picked me up in the morning to get my comp, E Fesolai, from Faleasi'u, Upolu. He finishes his mission next month right after Christmas... which is crazy! Shortly after we arrived home,  I started getting these fuafua (puffy bumps) on the top of my right foot, and I didn't think too much of it and it started getting a little swollen, but we went and tala'i anyway. That night my foot started to hurt really bad, and the fuafua (bumps) turned into these nasty pus filled bumps.  So we went to the doctor...oh man, third world hospitals, it's like I'm in a Bourne movie!! It's crazy!! Anyways, they wrapped it up and fixed it up a bit, we went back this morning to check it and re-wrap it...so get this, it's a hole now. Wish I took a pic before she re-wrapped it, but she put this creme on it that she said will help seal it up from the bottom. So that's us, we were trapped at home for the next couple days, but all is well,. Just found out my new comp served with E Lamoreaux!!!! I haven't seen him since he left Tuts...sidenote! 

Anyways, we're just reading every book we can find in the house, scriptures, samoan, english, some tongan haha! But, my foot should ke'a in a couple days, and we'll be back at it! One of the many things I like about E Fesolai is that he really wants to finish his mission on a high note, and he's ready to work, so I'm stoked for when we can get back at  it! Love you all! You are probably at church I think, but anyway, have a bomb as week to yous!! 

Elda Laason xoxo(;

11-20-16 #ONOSAI #LeVaiasoAtoa

Hey Fam!! 

So sorry to hear about state. Take state for rugby though cause rugby's a better sport anyways(; And props to Keato for playing like a champ! Love you bros!!

Well, I'm going to try and answer as many questions as I can because we weren't able to proselyte a single day this week...the doc said stay off my foot, but it's just about better and it's looking like Wednesday we'll be back at full throttle! 

Yes, there's no rules on climbing niu's. Just don't go too high, and don't be an idiot.

Well, food is not very different from American Samoa, but it's not nearly as fatty as it is from Tuts! WE get heaps of kalo, and lu'au which is the taro leaf with pe'epe'e in the middle stuck in the umu! It's my favorite!! Then we get chicken on the daily because chickens are EVERYWHERE over here! It's like the Merrill farm times 10 was let loose in Samoa! 

No, I don't remember the last time I had milk to be completely honest... it's super expensive over here cause it's shipped from NZ and Aus. The water... you just have to get used to it, but I'm used to it from Tuts so I don't  get sick anymore...

Cool experience of service from 2 weeks ago We sat down in front of this other church, loku tahiki, with all these older ladies and we started weeding this massive rocky erea with them and we were just crackin jokes and stuff with them. It was so fun! Then we got three of them to get a return date to go visit there families so we're going to hit those this week! Very excited! But it literally just started cause we sat down and started weeded! Haha they really didn't want us to at the beginning, but we just sat down anyways and started weeding! It was awesome! 

One thing that I ABSOLUTLEY LOVE about the Samoan people is that literally EVERYWHERE you go, you can joke around with complete strangers like you've known them your whole life! They're always laughing at each other with jokes, its just the funniest ever! They're just really open people and just the best to be around! 

Well, this week, I've gotten back into Jesus the Christ, and YES!! This is like the sweetest book ever! Christmas is next month, but speaking of the birth of the Savior, throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon, a "son of David", is prophecied to the people on the eastern and western continents, that shall "be called Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins". I also know thanksgiving is this week, so lets just combine it! Let us have gratitude and love towards one another, looking to the perfect Atonement of Jesus Christ... and to look to serve! I said this quite a while ago, but I'm going to say it again...I'm had quite a bit of time to think this week as I reflected it again, but to me, the beginning of any sin, any bad thought, or action, begins because one is being selfish. Selfishness, I've come to realized is at the heart of just about any sinful conduct. Therefore, if Selfishness is at the heart of sin, then selfishness is a defining characteristic of Satan. Which illuminates the reigning characteristic of the Savior, the Unselfish, "Pure Love" to one another, or in other words the Pure Love of Christ, CHARITY. So just a little challenge for everyone! This week, we should be grateful for everything, any little thing, because God has given us all, even His Only Begotten, so let us SHOW our gratitude by SERVING OTHERS! Just a little pep talk for this week, but I'm going to apply it as well so I'll be with you all in it! Love YOU!!!

And props to everyone on the sports! Wish I was out there with you, but I'm there in spirit! Love you all and hope all is going well! And safe trip to Utah! Hope the roads are safe for you there and back! LOVE YOU ALL AND HAVE A BOMB AS WEEK!!!!

Love,

Elda Laason xoxo(;

After my return from the hospital. They dug out the infection...OUCH...and wrapped them up!

This is the result of  the coconut tree climb. I started with a 105 temperature on Monday...received a beautiful blessing...and a few days later...my feet began to swell and nasty oozing sores appear...yum!

Caught Elder R. Napping!

110616 BESTASAVAII

Hey hey hey!!!

How goes it?!?! Whats the haps?!? 

What's happening with everyone?? Congrats on the wins!! Sorry this is a very late email, we went to Salelologa and got back, comp emailed and then I just got on...

This week was quite wonderous!! Sale, Willie, and Viliamu were baptism 2 days ago, and we are working with the dad tonight at FHE and the whole fam! Mom is a member, less active, and the dad's not a member, so we're praying that tonight goes well! We have a couple fun games to play with them and we're excited to teach this great family! We're going to focus on forever families and the BoM and just pray that the Spirit is very strong with us! The dad wasn't able to attend the baptism, but the mom did, and was crying afterwards, and thanked us... so we're really hoping and praying for tonight!! Honestly, these kids are awesome and we love em!! Haha and the little sister, Rina, (5) funny! She's such a crack up! We play all these hand shakes, games, you name it with these guys, we've known them for a week, but it feels like we've know them for AGES!!This gospel is true. It doesn't get more simple than that! 

On another note, we are having so much fun just talking with people on the road, visits. We had one night where we were just singing songs with the kids in front of an abandoned store, just sitting on the benches, it was awesome!! Absultuely loving it here! It's going to hurt when I leave this erea. We've gotten really close with quite a few people!! Love em all! 

Played rugby for the first time in a while! Well, my comp played and I watched cause I'm still waiting for my feet to get better haha! But it looked very fun! We play in front of Sale and his bros house! 

We'll I've been getting B_U_R_N_E_D this past week, and finally peeling, but it's all good! People ask about my face in just about every visit ..."What happened?" haha! Apparently red isn't a very common color for a person's face! I look like a raccoon!! 

Praying for you everyday! Not a day goes by when I don't think about you all! Keep up the amazing... everything!! Can't say much more than that!

Shasta down in 5 seconds flat!

This great family was baptized last week!

I LOVE this gospel!

!! LOVE YOU!!!!

Love you all!!

Elder Larson (; God bless!! xoxox

10-30-16 #FAALA #SILIASAVAII

Hey to the 208!!!

Looks like I caught you at a good time!! How's everyone doing?!?! Got the email... loved it!! Glad you guys are killing it on the field! Heard what went down!!

Well, first off.....Monday, sa ou pe'a se niu...haha ma makuai leaga a'u vae le vaiaso akoa! Ae, aua ke popole leai se isi mea ua faalekogu!! Kalai malosi, ai malosi, moe vaivai!! se'i vagaga e iai se faafekauli haha! 

Yeah, I climbed a Niu (a mountain) on Monday and almost Kuli-ed a niu! Messed up my feet really bad though so we were off and on throughout the week, but all is well, because we found these 3 youth that want to and are getting baptized this week!! Their whole fam is inactive, but we're doing a FHE tonight because the parents want them all to be baptized, because they love the teachings of the church for the kids! Lessons too! So yeah!! Tonight we're gonna do some magic and card tricks and talk about how the Book of Mormon can show us the mysteries of life if we pray and ask in faith! The dad isn't a member, but the mom is and we're hoping to bring them all back to the church!! 

Nothing much else happened, we were home hit for a couple days cause of my feet and everyone is calling me Kolipoki (Elder Groberg's Other Side of Heaven movie) now haha! It's a crack up, but we're loving the members and we're getting referals like crazy! It's so exciting and this week we're going to contact and hopefully be getting more into this amazing gospel!! 

I just want to bear my testimony, because it's the only way to faamautinoa....not sure the exact English translation...'make firm' my testimony! Besides studying and such!

I know this church is true with every fiber of my being. I KNOW, because of wonderous experiences I've had in my life, not just my mission. I've felt the love of God at times when I've been at my lowest. And I know the Lord knows us PERFECTLY!! He knows us better than anyone, especially ourselves!! As much as I miss you, I know this is where I need to be!! It brings me so much joy and happiness to see the joy and happiness in others!! Making them smile, laugh, come into this beautifully perfect gospel!! I LOVE IT!! Bros!! You HAVE to serve missions!! If I were to even attempt to sum up a mission in a few words...it would have to be ETERNALLY CHANGED!! Why? Because serving a mission puts you in a different state of mind! All your life you've had school, sports, friends, homework, T.V., phones, etc. Kind of blocking your progression. BUT, for 2 years, you put EVERYTHING aside and 24/7, you are learning more about the love of Christ, Christ himself, and helping others gain testimonies of their own in Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon! It's Eternally Changing!! And one more thing...on your mission, I'm going to tell you right now, at least once on your mission you will feel hopeless, helpless, lost and alone...but at this point in time, there is only one who you can turn to...and that is our Heavenly Father. He IS the ONLY one you can turn to! He, through the Spirit, will soften and strengthen your heart and testimony! I promise, because it's happened to me!! I know that He lives. I know that He's there. I know He sends the Spirit to soften and strength our hearts in Him and His Only Begotten Son!! Missions are WONDERFUL!!! You gotta GO!!!

Haha so funny for the week, I was talking in my sleep and then I woke my comp at like 3am while talking, he replied cause he thought I was awake, and then which kind of woke me up halfway, then we just completely woke up and talked for like an  hr and a half then went back to bed haha! My comp says Iv'e been talking in Samoan in my sleep which he thinks is a crack up! 

But anyways, that's us for the week! Not much, but so much at the same time! Love you all and hope it's all going well in the 208! (208 is Boise area code.)

Love Elder Larson xoxo(;

Ps. Don't worry about any packages really!!! Don't worry about any Christmas stuff or Birthday!! Really I don't want anything else!! Thanks so much for the rugby ball!!! 

I just love this pic!! No idea where my comp got it, but he said he got it from the states! 

A little "Kolipoki" moment from climbing a mountain!

Guess who I met in Savaii? Elder Reece a GREAT missionary & new friend of mine from back home!
(Elder Reece is my cousin Collin's good friend from Meridian, Idaho...SMALL WORLD!!!)