Week 62

Wow what a spectacular week we(Me and Elder Smith) had. I could typed a whole essay on foods we ate that were delicious, but I won't, because Ain't nobody got time for that!

Monday: Not P-day, helped guy Move stuff to three different locations, he had a weak back, so he couldn't even help us lift the heavy Awkward stuff, needless to say we got the goods to the targets!

Tuesday: Temple Day! Nuff said

It gets a little hectic after that, we got bombarded with Parties and members wanting to spend time with us, was able to do lots of small service projects helping some of the older members around their house. It was pleasant, because I Love being around Members or people in general that are cool, I enjoy it so much more than knocking doors, so this past week has really Hyped me up!

Went on Exchange with Elder Muller in his Area Kenmore, We found a new Investigator, she is African American and of Christlike Love, went to Dominoes for dinner and one of the Workers is a member and paid for our Pizza, Did service at a Thrift shop collecting donations, while it was SNOWING! It was awesome, but really cold...

Santa came to our Zone on Friday, but Santa didn't get me anything...

Saturday we had our Christmas Fireside(Partay) as a zone, Where I got unexpected Presents from Santa(guess he forgot a few at the Mission Office, I Mean North Pole) ate a lot of junk food and played White Elephant Exchange(If you don't know what White Elephant Exchange is, Look it up now) It was Hilarious and everybody came out with something cool! 

Christmas: Started it out with a Big Breakfast with the Davis Family! Attended Sacrament Meeting. Skype ed my Family back in Arizona, now that was Fun, They all look different now! Ate Christmas Dinner with PittsenBargers, really nice Family!

Had a Christmas Miracle, we got a new Investigator named Mayson, Nino a recent Convert Introduced us to him and on Christmas no less, God Bless us Everyone of Us!

look forward to next weeks email, because Crazy things happen around new years!

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson

Zone party, I mean Fireside!

White Elephant gift but was stolen away shortly after I got it.

I didn't win this, but it was by far the coolest gift.

Week 61

Yes I am still alive! Had our Temple Trip today which made today our P-day...

Last week on Monday, made our Zone Christmas Video, because it is tradition in our mission!

Tuesday, went on Exchange with the Zone Leaders, got bashed with hardcore by Born Again's, It was fun, I haven't had that happen in a while...

Got a call Tuesday Night, Telling me that Elder Cardon is going to be Emergency Transferred.... Not Again, stop taking my companions away, I am not particularly fond of it. 

Wednesday, Elder Cardon packed, went to Mission Office, Elder Cardon was shipped off to North Creek and Elder Smith was set up with me, Oh yes at least I know the guy and we had lots of fun last Transfer in our District.

What happened was that Elder Smith's bikes kept breaking, so he couldn't be in a biking area anymore, so out of every car area, they chose me...

Thursday, Weekly Planned, now having to work with two areas, one I know pretty well and the other not so much, also account for trying our best to keep within our 1000 mile limit! 

Mission Christmas Party, Ate awesome food, watched the Zone Videos, almost died out of laughter, Everybody was asking me "Hows it going with Elder Cardon", I had to laugh every time, "Yeah he got Emergency Transferred, I'm with Elder Smith now"

Friday, yeah will just skip Friday, nothing exciting happened

Saturday, Did lots of service! Helped rearrange furniture for an old lady, helped move a butch of pots around for another old lady, and helped organize a shed for yet another old lady :) 

Had our ward Party in Cottage Lake, Members were shocked to me with another companion, they would come up to me and say jokingly "this is your fourth companion in eight weeks, what is wrong with you?" to which I would reply "You don't want to know!" and just as a joke I told some Missionaries that it's the Laurels fault for flirting with my companions and getting them sent away and I am immune to it, which is why I stay 

Sunday, was at church from 7:30 am to 4:15pm, Church is so much fun and you learn so much when your there twice as long...

Breakfast for dinner with the Bishops family (Last name is really Bishop) Got to know then pretty well, helped them give a blessing to their sick daughter, that was cool, I love giving blessing, that's one thing I missed about serving round a hospital, you give blessings a lot....

Went to coordinate with Hollywood Hill's Ward Mission Leader, went to his house, he wasn't home.... Spent some time getting to know his sons which are Less Actives

and that Sums up the week pretty well, looking forward to Christmas!!!

Love, Elder Larson

Week 60

Sorry for the late Email, but we needed to make our Zone Christmas Video, Check It!

I Became Elder Batman, companion with Elder Robin, together sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

This past week has been busy, with the combining of two areas that tends to happen, it's been loads of fun though as well meeting with lots of members, they are super nice from both wards. Yes we have to go to two wards on Sunday, which is 6 hours of church plus an hour and a half of meetings I Love it, talk about a spiritual Boost! My companion Elder Cardon is great, has changed a lot on his mission in a very good way, he has definitely been helpful to me in carry out my responsibilities as a DL, It is loads of fun helping your fellow Missionaries be the best they can be! 

I am happy to say that it snowed on Wednesday, a lot more than Monday, we went out during our Workout Period and I made Snowmen, It was fun and it was stunningly Beautiful outside!

Investigator wise we now have a pool of people to teach, Because of Hollywood Hill  Have I met them.... No, but we are planning to this week

Spiritual Wise read Philippines 4:13, Atonement is Real!!!

This is my new Buddy Elder Skelton, sadly not in my District, but we hit it off super well, so we are excited to serve around eachother this Transfer

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson
​ 

Week 59

This Morning was a Great Morning, here is why

Yep, it snowed outside the basement, this white substance is beautiful, It was coming down as well, yeah a White Christmas!

Other big news, Lizzy from Edmonds got Baptized, so after asking the Zone Leader multiple times and even having to ask the Assistants, I got permission to go to it.

​Lizzy is only 13, but she is pretty tall, Elder VW and I helped teach her from the very beginning, so was great to see her and her family again, who are not too far behind from following Lizzy. It was also great to see the ward members again!

​Lyle and I reunited at last! Elder VW and Heuer are both taking care of good old Edmonds for me...

 Our last District Meeting was great and Sister Orr bore Beautiful Testimony, she is going home today in fact and lets just say this past week she went kind of went crazy, I pray that this wont happen to me, when my time comes...

Elder Francis and Smith have just been the best! Bothell Zone is known by the mission for being super boring, let me tell you, this Transfer has been anything, but boring! 

​My BoyZ! The Bothell Mafia or the Bofia! Yeah we are the Punk group in the Zone that nobody talks to, but we prefer it that way! #MissionaryThugs

Had a Terrible Zone Training, all we did was RolePlay, come on use those Beautiful Brains God gave you and think of some thing better Zone Leaders, this is why Bothell is boring, because it all stems from the Leaders...

Had a Great week overall, not doing too well on finding people teach, our teaching pool is still Zero, but the Members are amazing, I love them so much!

Oh by the Way, Elder Jenson is being 6week shafted to Bellevue  I will not be killing him off... Elder Francis is also being Transferred to Seattle North (God help this poor soul) he is going to Love it there, with all the things you can do and the People you meet(Drug Dealers and Homeless People)!  As for me... I am staying, but there is a catch, they are combining Cottage Lake and Hollywood Hill areas, So I'll be covering two wards now with my new companion, I already know who it is, eh emm Elder Cardon!

Yeah thats him, sitting right by me as I type, it's a good thing we already get along well with each other! Though I am sad, because we won't be living with the Copelands  They are an Awesome family, I have really enjoyed living with them!

Tell you more about how things are going next week, till next time I bid you Adieu 

Love, Elder Larson

Week 58

Tis the Season to be Jolly, it's that time of the year already, Christmas! and boy am I excited, this is the time of year when many people are humbled and want to hear more about Jesus, which is a huge change from last year, where 90% of people I talked to were Jewish and didn't want to hear about Jesus...

Last week had a Fantastic P-Day with my Boyz Elder Francis and Smith! We have such a special bond with our district, I would do anything for them and they would do anything for me. We are that Tight, sadly we are not as tight with the Sisters, but they are still Awesome, Sister Orr and Jenne definitely raise the Faith in our District, they are so Diligent and work super hard!

We had our second to last District Meeting, it went super well and we even had Pumpkin Pancakes afterwards as a Zone, thanks to our Lovely Russian Senior Couple the Petersons! 

Thanksgiving Eve we helped bro. Bishop (Not the Actual Bishop) repair an old shed, it was Fun using Crowbars and Hammers, he got us really good pizza from a fancy Pizzeria, it was so good!

Thanksgiving, had a Talent Show as a mission in the Morning, some Out of the Normal Missionary Life stuff happened and I mustn't say more.... There were some really good talents, I was bummed though, because they didn't want me to show my talent, because it wasn't "Spiritual", you kidding me what can be more spiritual than a Smeagol impersonation!

Had a Beautiful Thanksgiving dinner with Sister Lukrofka, she had recently lost her Husband, all her kids and grand kids were there, it was a very touching Thanksgiving for me, everybody was bearing there testimony on the Plan of Salvation, it was Awesome

Day after we cut wood for another widow in our ward, sister Nebekar, we went through about 8quarts of wood, which in Lumber terms, means A Lot! Luckily we had a wood splitter and a couple of Strong Axe Men, Elder Jenson being one of them, that boy is Strong. I enjoy cutting wood so much, since we never get to do it in Arizona, we were there for three and half Hours, it was a good day, though my muscles were sore for a bit...

Day after that we raked leaves for another widow in the ward Sister Kristofferson, we were there for two hours and her yard and driveway have never looked better, at least thats what she told us

Sunday!!!!! Derek, let me tell you his story... He is divorced with two kids and recently got into dating, he met Christie, also divorced with two kids, she tells him she is Mormon, Derek's interest Piqued, he wanted to know for himself if Mormonism is True, for he is a Truth-Seeker. He came to our ward last week with his now Girlfriend Christie, He felt the spirit strongly and said this is where he wants to be, but First he needed to know, is the Book of Mormon True. He went to a Mountain and Fasted and Prayed, pleading to God to give him an Answer. He came to church yesterday and told everyone he got his answer, he pointed to the subtitle just under the Title "The Book of Mormon" and proclaimed without a shadow of doubt that what that subtitle said is true, it says "Another Testament of Jesus Christ", Derek has gone to the Lord in Prayer and came  out with the answer, he knows now that it's true, yet his journey does not end here, his tale still continues, but the path that Derek has chosen, will give him his Hearts Desire! 

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson

Week 57

That Crazy thing I was going to do last week, didn't happen, I got Ratted out 

Oh well I guess you will never know what I was going to do till after my Mission...

Sorry had a boring Week this week, Nothing Too Important Happy

Hopefully Ill have more to say next Week 

Love Elder Larson

Week 56

District meeting with the President.

Yep to answer my parents Questions, yes I am a District Leader Now and have been for the past three weeks...

It is an interesting experience to know that you have missionaries relying on you to serve and lead them.

In my District is Elder Francis(MTC Companion) and Elder Smth in NorthCreek, Sister Orr and Jenne in Bothell Russian South speaking Russian!, and Elder and Sister Petersen a Senior Couple they also speak Russian! Then theirs me and Elder Jenson in Cottage Lake speaking English 

Last Monday we had so much fun with the NorthCreek Elders, we are not allowed to hang with Elders on P-day, but Elder Jenson needed to go to the Clinic, so we talked for an hour and it was great to get to know them better, we are their ride too, so we get to talk to them a lot in the car :)

Tuesday we surprisingly had District Meeting, I wasn't scheduled, but I get a District scenario at 8pm at night with the Zone Leaders saying there is in fact District Meeting tomorrow. With the Little time I had I prepared a great District Meeting, but Right before it starts, President Schofields walks right in my District Meeting  I kept my cool and we did our District meeting and it was Great, Pres. Schofield really liked it!

We did a District Blitz in NorthCreek, helped the Elders get a new Investigator! We got a new one ourselves up here in Cottage Lake, her name is Simo, Italian mother of 4, she is interested in the plan of Salvation, so we will be looking forward to that this week! Had Zone Training and had to report on the Zone and man all my District Leader Companions make District Leading look easy..Exchanged with NorthCreek, I went there with Elder Smith and does he have a cool life story, Had a miracle we were able to contact a Less Active and she wants the missionaries to go back!

Re-exchanged back to Cottage Lake, did service for a Recent Convert, raking leaves, then painted a Non-members Bathroom, I've been improving my handyman skills, which will be good for when I get married...

Sunday had a great time at church, still getting to know the ward, went to an activity called Pie Night, didn't really know what was going to happen, turns out it's a priest/Laurel activity, they have a 5 minute lesson and then eat dessert for an Hour, it was awesome, got to know our youth a lot more!

This week is going to be Crazy, some things are going to change... but I can't tell you yet.  I'm going to make my move, like a thief in the night and I'll tell you more about it next week! 

Matt was made a District Leader

We received a letter from the Mission President letting us know, that Matt was called to be a District Leader.  Of course Matt did not mention this because he is too humble.  He is doing so well and we are so proud of him and all that he is doing.

Week 55

So I have had a very crazy week
>
> To start off, we stayed in all day on Halloween.  Elder Heuer and I just talked about things, I told him all about Edmonds and how great it is, he said "I'll never serve there", to which I said "oh you will serve there soon!" They are also tearing up the Basement to add in heating, so we will be warm in the winter.
>
> Tuesday we had a District Meeting and it was very interesting having Russian Sisters in our District and also having Elder Francis(MTC comp) and Elder Smith as well.  We took a picture at the end of District meeting just incase of an Emergency Transfer. I received new Name tags for myself only to find that they misspelled my name, they put "Elder Larsen", I'm Swedish not Norwegian, so I'm getting new ones for free! Went on Exchanges and I was with Elder Francis and we got to catch up on a lot of things since we haven't seen each other for months.
>
> Wednesday Elder Francis and I did service at a thrift shop then ate DQ, then we rexchanged, only to find out that our phone reset itself and no one knows the password to it, so Elder Heuer and Smith were completely out of contact, Elder Heuer and I got a hold of the Zone Leaders, they didn't do anything to help us, of course, so we were outcasts with nothing to do, oh well I've had worse ;)
>
> Thursday Weekly Planned but still couldn't contact anybody, we had to go to a District Leader Training meeting at the Office at 3pm, but we went there at 1pm so we could get the phone thing figured out.  It took the guy 5 minutes to get our phone working again and since we were already there and they were feeding lunch to all the 1st and 2nd transfer Missionaries, we decided to stay and partake.  Elder Heuer is a fun one, he was scared about us just waltzing in and eating, but I was like "watch this" and walked up to the Assistant and said "Hey Elder Heuer and I are already here, we might as well eat with these fine missionaries", he looked at me and chuckled and said "Go Ahead."  As we ate I saw lots of my Shoreline Buddies, they were surprised to see me. Went to the DLT it was very intellectual and I learned a lot. After the Meeting, President Schofield asked to see Elder Heuer and I in his Office. Crap, what did I do now! We came in and I see Elder Van Wagoner and his new Companion Elder Jenson (they are currently in Edmonds), President says "I have been Inspired by the Spirit, Elder Jenson you are going to Cottage Lake with Elder Larson and Elder Heuer you are going to Edmonds with Elder Van Wagoner!"
>
> Woah wait a minute, I know I said Elder Heuer was going to Edmonds, but I didn't think it would be that Fast, so ya President told us to go home pack and tomorrow the Emergency Transfer begins.
>
> Friday we drive to Edmonds, I'm super Homesick for Edmonds and it doesn't help that I had to drive through it, I even saw Sister Jaramillo on the street, I yelled out to her and she was shocked to see me. Walking through the apartment I just left was like coming home after being away for awhile, Yeah I miss Edmonds a lot, I said bye to Elder Heuer and Hi to Elder Jenson, Cottage Lake has been 95% whitewashed. Elder Van Wagoner told me a guy that I've talked to a lot is being Baptized on Saturday, so I called President and asked for Permission to go to this guy's(Ron's)  Baptism and even though I never taught the guy since he was taught by the Halls Lake YSA Sisters, I still got Permission!!!
>
> Saturday we had a ward service project that was rained out, but we were able to do service for Bro. Copland, the member that we live with, he is so cool. We then headed over to Edmonds again for the Baptism, we got there 20 minutes before and the Halls Lake Sisters were very surprised to see me.  They asked why I was there and I said "I'm here for Ron's Baptism", Sister Ellis then said "well we have a problem, the guy who was supposed to Baptize Ron isn't going to make it", she then lit up and said "Could you Baptize Ron"?  I looked at Ron, he is like "I don't care as long as I get Baptized", So I said "yes", even though I didn't have a change of clothes.  I still got wet and Baptized Ron! Miracles Happen!

> Sunday did our best to talk to everybody in the ward and we made a little meet the Members calendar, so Members can sign up to have us over for spiritual thoughts and ya just trying to get to know the ward more and my new Companion Elder Jenson!
>
> Love and Prayers, Elder Larson
>
  P.S. I ate a Duck Egg for Breakfast this Morning, needs more salt!

> ​

Week 54

Last Sunday Night, I got the call saying "Elder Larson you are being Transferred into the Bothell Zone",  What is Bothell? it was the Zone I never thought I would go to.

I spent P-day saying my good-byes to everybody, I will miss Edmonds and all the miracles that happened there. I packed my bags ate dinner with the Jaramillo's my favorite Argentine Family!! 

Tuesday went to the Mission Office and got assigned to CottageLake ward as a companion with Elder Heuer (pronounced Hoyer, rhymes with Foyer) CottageLake has some really cool Perks to start out with:

*We have a car with a 1000 miles (Vroom Vroom)

*The ward is super Generous (they provide lots of meals)

*we live in the Basement of a member home (we have lots of space)

*Best of all Elder Francias my MTC companion is in my District!!!!!!!

Spent the past week getting the know the members better, we don't have any solid Investigators, but we have faith that great things are going to happen here in CottageLake, Cause It's always Raining Miracles!

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson

My Companion Elder Heuer

Matthew's Backyard

This is just part of where Matt lives

Week 53

I am upset that I have to leave, but I know somebody needs me in a different area. Miracles Happen no matter what, Just keep moving forward! 

I'm going to miss the ward, the people, and especially my Ward mission leaders family. If I had to list everybody I would miss, I would have no emailing time!

We had so much going on last week, we are now teaching an African Family, they came to church when the only African guy in our ward gave a talk, coincidence I say nay! All our days were busy with loads of things to do! I'm going to miss West Gate Chapel and the Lutheran Church, you could tell they really appreciated our service and they treated us as family! The old folks at Sunrise probably have already forgotten me, but I won't forget them and all the funny things that happened there! Our Last District meeting we had Pizza and a Keg! Im going to miss our District Elder DeGraff the Power house testimony, Elder Gale the Humble Bee, Sister Rothey the Everything is Awesome Gal, sister Peterson the Mother figure, and Elder VolksWagon I mean Van Wagoner the King of Loco! Church was loads of fun Everyone was saying goodbye to me, cause they knew I was Leaving 

Anyways, Love and Prayers,

Elder Matthew R. Larson

The District

Eating Burritos

Annie's Crew

The District

Week 52

Last P-day was a wittle crazy, after we emailed we went to Chickfila and bought a 200ct chicken nugget tray!!! for six Elders, we were super stuffed, you think its easy, but after nugget 25 you start to regret your decisions  yet we still finished it off strong Had to shop out of Zone, because one of the Elders in the car needed to visit a clinic in a different zone, It was fun shopping at Fred Meyers the missionaries from that zone were so confused when they saw us That night we taught our good friend Vincent Tithing and laid clergy, to him it made a lot of sense to him! At the Senior Center, Kathleen one of the residents slapped one of the workers  the worker just laughed it off, cause all the residents are a little loco! The Walkers a new family in the ward went with us to teach Charlotte, she is finally understanding what she needs to do... Bro. Morris took us and our investigator Mario to Dinner at Five Guys, lots of kicks and Giggles, then we had our Book of Mormon Club at Bro. Morris' house, it was a hit, three investigators came and participated a lot Gave a blessing of peace and comfort to Mario and taught him the Word of Wisdom and he is obeying it now, he is like the ghetto friend I always wanted    It's not ghetto now, but he tells us stories of his past   He is a Clutch man, we asked him to help us replace a dryer and he was all over that, he didn't even let us help, he did most of the lifting and fixing, All I had to say was, wow Elders Quorum is going to love having you around  Went Seattle for District meeting/Choir Practice for the Upcoming Fireside that happened last night, Elder Galloway MADE PIE for our zone, they were to almost die for  Went on Exchange with Elder Gale and everything went Flawless even the crosswalks were on our side! It started to rain alot this week, so we were trying to stay dry as much as possible, Members were really nice in giving us lots of rides! Bro. Shaw went out with us for 4 hours, what a stud, got lots of work done  Was told that a major storm was going to come on Saturday but it never came!!! 

On Sunday: Evan Pauls received the Aaronic Priesthood, he was excited about that! and the Fireside was awesome

Lots of Love: Elder Larson

Fireside

200 Nuggets

Five Guys

Week 51

How do I even top what happened last week with all the cool stuff that happened...Oh wait!

Had another Fantasmaglorious week here in Edmond, Elder EchoHawk of the seventy came and commented on how dignified our mission is, mind you we were on our best behavior  He was the same seventy that spoke when I was in the MTC, the spirit was strongly there, at the end he opened the meeting for everybody to bear there testimonies, I stood up and shared this spiritual Insight...

"Though we testify to everybody around, most among them listed with closed minds and ears, but Jesus himself preached in the Temple and the Jewish people did not hearken to his voice, and Jesus taught them that if they do not believe him , believe in his works that they may know for themselves that Jesus is the Lord. We must ourselves show our good works that those with closed ears will see the good we do and that in of itself is our testimony of what we believe" 

Basically dont just talk the talk, but walk the walk 

It was a really sweet conference getting to see all the friends I have made over my mission, I was grateful as well to meet with EchoHawk himself and he testified about how much the Presidency Loves us and when he said those words, I felt that burning in my Bosom, The Presidents of our church really do Love us and think about us constantly

We had Zone Interviews as well, which usually means 4 hours of sitting and learning until it's your turn to talk to President for 5 minutes, but this time we played Volley Ball!  I actually did pretty good too, Mom would be proud  and in my time talking to President was awesome, President Schofield is the best!

Spent a whole day in Lake Forest Park with the Zone Leader, Elder Hales (My Trainer) and Elder Sill (came out together in same group) I was paired with Elder Sill and we had some interesting chores to do, like buying Kegs for a member, stuff like that  we stayed up all night talking too, because we knew each other really well already, it was great!

Helped Jill Webb remove her starter from her car and put a new one in, it took a long time, because nobody knows how to fix cars anymore and they also make it impossible to do it yourself...Nuff said

Brandon our 12 year old Investigator scared us and said he is not sure he wants to take the lessons anymore, so we said "oh its fine man, keep making good choices", he then said I still want to go to Church though, Great still come. He came and during the Testimony portion of Sacrament, Brandon came up and Bore testimony on God's Love!  I was shocked at how the spirit has been touching Brandon this whole time, after Church Brandon told us he does want to take the lessons  Miracles Baby!

Sorry Im kind of all over the place, but my mind is in over time and Im really looking forward to taking a nap today ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson