Week 79

My fellow Disciples in Christ, this day I send forth a proclamation!

"I have seen the Marvelous works of the Lord, his word brings Peace to my heart, and I know that ALL who follow him, may obtain a Perfect Brightness of Hope!" -Elder Matthew Larson

I have yet more to say, concerning this splendid matter, but alas all good things come to those who wait!

I have had many grand experiences to tell all who have come to hear....

My fellow Disciples in Christ, this day I send forth a proclamation!

"I have seen the Marvelous works of the Lord, his word brings Peace to my heart, and I know that ALL who follow him, may obtain a Perfect Brightness of Hope!" -Elder Matthew Larson

I have yet more to say, concerning this splendid matter, but alas all good things come to those who wait!

I have had many grand experiences to tell all who have come to hear....

We are having a Baptism this Saturday at 4pm for Gwyneth Dreessen, she has been prepared by the Lord and is ready for this next step in her life. Our Bishop, Bishop Sowby, has been a great help teaching her, he pretty much taught her everything she needed to know himself, and he is the one who put her On Date too! He is by definition an "Audacious Ambassador of Glad Tidings", yes yes Elder Frei and I have a good relationship with him.

We met with our good friend Arbrie as well and she is doing Fantastic beyond belief. She Loved church and she loves the people in it. She is so happy to build a relationship with Heavenly Father, her Desire is to join the church. We know (Elder Frei and I) that she is going to be Baptized next month, she has been prepared, she is Awesome!

We were able to participate in the Member Missionary Fireside, singing beautiful songs of Praise. I was able to see my friends of wards I have served in as well as good old Mission buddies. Celeste our recent Convert came and she has already been asked to speak at a Fireside in a couple months, she is doing great and despite breaking up with her Boyfriend who is in our ward (which we finally found out that she dumped him "phew")  she is growing strong in the Faith.

Our zone is currently holding the 76th Annual Hunger Games. it started Friday and will end tomorrow. The rules of the game goes as followed: you get 5pts for Meaningful contact, 10pts for handing out a Book of Mormon, 25pts for finding a New Investigator, and 50pts for getting a New On Date. Along with that at the end of each day, you may choose whether you want to keep your points or attack other District (Yes we are divided into Districts) and Games end tomorrow after District Meeting and we will be having a "Roleplay Off", to rack up some more points! 

The Districts our divided as follow:

Irreantum District; Led by Elder Moulton, with Sam Valley YSA, Redmond 1st, Novelty Hill, and Big Nation

Zion District; Led by Elder Van Wagoner, with Redmond 3rd, Duval, Sammamish 1st & 2nd, and Union Hill

Then the Best District KIRKLAND DISTRICT! led by Elder Hales, with WIllows, FInn Hill(us), Lakeview, and Totem lake

This whole Fiasco started because of Elder Frei... Why you may ask, because during our weekly planning I asked Elder Frei "Elder Frei what can I do to befriend the zone better?" he said "Talk to them", which I followed with "there has to be someway to build solid friendships within the Zone", he replied "I don't know maybe get the whole zone to do something"

Then the idea sparked and we challenged the whole zone to a Cookie Bake off, then the idea somehow turned into a Hunger Games, we are still doing the bake off and I'm going to win!!!!!

Things have been going great up here in Seattle, the Sun is finally coming out, which means good thing are gonna happen!

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson

Me and my best friend "Elder Bermudes"

Crew Picture

Getting with Friends

Run out of seats, sit on the stairs.

Week 78

This past week has been a good one!

My new companion is Elder Frei (Free) he is from North Carolina and was born in Canada. he is almost 21 and has been out for 6 months. We are both covering Finn Hill in the Redmond Zone. Elder Hales (my trainer) is our district Leader! 

Elder Frei is a very courageous Missionary, we walked by a group of high schoolers playing Basketball and even though he is not good at it, he played with them and scored a lot. He has an amazing relationship with Heavenly Father, he is good at heeding the Spirit's promptings. He also has a great sense of Humor, the members are already opening up to him, because he has such a kind personality.

We set a Church tour with one of our investigators on Tuesday and it got Cancelled. Then we set another on Wednesday and it got Cancelled. Then on Thursday we set up to meet at her apartment and we brought Bro. Jaeger with us, it did not Cancel. We taught her all about Jesus Christ, because she doesn't know much about church in general, the Spirit was there and she invited us to come again on Saturday. On Saturday we brought Sister Lathen and Bowler with us and they were the best fellowship we could of ever asked for. Sister Lathen especially, they pretty much became friends and sister Lathen offered to take her to church. On Sunday we are sitting in the Chapel, sacrament has already started, we don't see her or sis. Lathen, then they start passing the Sacrament and we both got a feeling that their was nothing to worry about and after the Sacrament portion was over we saw sis. Lathen with our investigator.  She enjoyed Church and we are looking forward to our lesson with her this week.

We have a lot of good things going for us, we have been blessed with service opportunities and with new investigators.  We have one former Investigator who started coming back to church and a golden member referral.

It was also my Birthday this week on April 15th (Tax Day) I got a cake from Sis. Morley and Elder Hales got me a two-liter of Dr. Pepper. Elder Frei and I had so much fun!  

It was so good to celebrate Easter and focus on Christ and think of all he did for us, making the Impossible, Possible!

Hope you all have a Magnificent week!

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson

                                                           Elder Frei and I

Elder Fukuoka

Beautiful weather up here in Seattle

I really enjoyed my cake!

Week 77

Hello

This last week being in a three pack has been amazing, we had so much fun and had a lot of crazy experiences.

The coolest thing that happened this last week, was we had the KZA's (Kirkland Zone Awards) on Friday. Zone Leaders made a certificate of appreciation for all the Missionaries in the Zone, they Elder Poll and Fulton the District Leaders be the Hosts. We each got to go up and receive a certificate of Appreciation with a compliment on it. Mine said "For Meekness in Trials and Triumph", It really means a lot to me, This Zone was one of the Best!

Along with receiving Certificates, we also showed I'm a Mormon Videos, Videos that we made up ourselves, that were about 30 seconds each.

We had the wonderful Pleasure of demolishing a back Porch for the Perry's in our ward. It was a good stress reliever...

unfortunately we were unable to teach any of our Progressing Investigators, we found a new Investigator, she  is Divorced with a six year old son, she knows nothing about God, but she is Golden, she also has a very good sense of humor and gave us lots of Carrots.

We did service for a Food Bank (HopeLink) we stood at the entrance of Fred Meyers for a good four hours handing out flyers and collecting donations, saw a lady run over another person's kid and I saw someone else crash into somebody else's cart, yep good stuff

Played Soccer again this week in the Lake Washington ward, slowly I'm getting better. Also did our usual Volley Ball activity and had a full house, before I go on, we played Volley Ball this Morning at Juanita Beach and playing in the sand is a lot harder than you think....

So Transfers are this week

Elder Poll is going to Seattle and Elder Nielsen is going to Bellevue

From reading the subject of my Email, you already know I'm going to Redmond zone...

Yet I'm also staying in Finn Hill...

Kirkland Zone is no more, Redmond has completely taken over and in the Process they made a new Zone called "Zona Espanola", or the Spanish Zone. All Spanish areas, no matter where there at, are a part of this new Zone!

When Life Gives you a Sucker Punch; Accept it Gladly, you will be Stronger if you do 

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson

At the park by Lake Washington, Enjoying the Breeze

This is for you Hermano!

Week 76

> I don't know about you all, but I am fired up! General Conference caused a Habenero pepper to form in my heart. I loved every last bit of it and each talk was well done, I appreciated the Mission shout out from former Mission President Elder Yoon Hwan Choi.
>
> This past week was another interesting one. Monday we had an amazing Lasagna dinner with the Segobias, then we went to the Lake Washington Ward Family Home Evening and played games in Spanish! 
We were asked to give the First Training at Zone Conference on Thursday and we forgot about it until two days before on Tuesday and thought of this great Training to do, then Elder Poll was taken from us and they put him with the Redmond Spanish Elders and they took the car, since their car was in the shop. We had half a day planned to be in Bothell, so we had to come up with a list of people to visit. 
Then its Wednesday and we get a call from Elder Poll saying that he and Redmond Elders are going to do the training since they practiced it, Elder Nielsen and I were down with that. Went down Finn Hill and it was amazing, like so many people were home and Nice. The Last guy we visited with, who is now Investigating, we knocked on his door and when he opened it, he started laughing and said "Look Jesus is knocking on my door", we were like ah yea.  He opened up to us and told us that he gotten fired from his job that day and is really high right now, so we set a time to come back on Friday. We got our beloved Elder Poll back just before the Night is over. 
Thursday is Zone Conference and the big Highlight of it was they made a Washington Seattle Mission Workout Video that is very Cheezy! 
Friday we had our lesson with the new investigator and he is ready to make changes, although he is moving in two weeks, so we are going to prep him and give some missionaries a Golden Referral. Went to the Lake Washington Ward Activities night, played a lot of Basketball and soccer. Saturday CONFERENCE and Volleyball, my spikes are getting pretty good and we are getting quite the turn out. Sunday CONFERENCE and we had an amazing Rib Dinner with brother Jaeger and then went to the Knights and they were celebrating their Kid's 2nd Birthday, woo fun stuff.
>
> I Hope you all have had amazing weeks, I testify that God is a Loving Heavenly Father and he wants more than our stuff, our deeds, our words. He wants us, he Loves us so much, in his son's name Jesus Christ Amen
>
> Love, Elder Larson
>

Elder Van Wagoner and I.  Man the sun is shining.

Me at Volleyball

Week 75

It truly has been lots of fun this past week being part of a three pack, there is never a dull moment with Elder Nielsen and Poll around. It's a surprise we actually get anything done... JK JK we are working hard, we cover Bothell Spanish and FInn Hill. Can't say I've picked up much Spanish, but at least I know when people are talking about food :)

Monday: After saying final goodbyes to Elder Christianson, Elder Poll (Paul) got in with us and we inherited the car, the sports gear, and food that was left in the Bothell Spanish Apartment and moved it all to Finn Hill.  Ate Thai for dinner with a Bro. Moulton. Went ward FHE and played General Conference Jeopardy!

Tuesday: District Meeting and with Elder Christianson gone, Elder Poll was assigned to be District Leader and we have the smallest District in the mission, only five missionaries! We discussed a lot about our sacred calling and why we came out to serve. Ate Tacos with Obispo (Bishop) Morales from the Spanish Ward. Saw all of Bothell again and again and again. Ate dinner with the Allingtons

Wednesday: It was a beautiful sunny day, we went on a hike with our Investigator Kristen.

Our cool three pack chilling by the lake.

Elder Poll told me that all Hispanics are really nice but the first person we visited cussed us out is Spanish then tells us in English that if we ever come back, he will shoot us and he even pretended his hand was a gun and that he was shooting at us. Elder Poll then said that most Hispanics are nice generally. 

Thursday: Weekly planned for both areas, we almost didn't make it through, but we did and we had by far the best comp inventory ever, we are a tight companionship! Met with a (Spanish Investigator) and she wants to take the lessons, so point for Bothell Spanish! Joined in on Spanish wards activity night and we played Soccer for over an hour! 

Friday: Played Gospel Games with a fun family, as always they are really fun and loving, and the games really help them, since they are still new to the church and don't know much. It has been a blessing to be in car especially on days when it downpours!

Saturday: Zone Blitz in Kirkland Spanish, found the Hermanas solid Potentials. Then we had Celeste's Baptism!!!!! It was well organized, the speakers were top and Cody Allington (Celeste's Boyfriend) performed the ordinance! We went to a party the Allingtons were throwing afterwards at there house and we got to meet some of Celeste's friends. Then Volleyball! We had a big turnout, the youth are stellar at inviting their friends, and Mom would be proud of me, because I now know how to jump serve, oh yeah!

Sunday: Went to the Spanish ward (Lake Washington Ward) sacrament meeting, it was muy bien! Then we went to Finn Hill sacrament and Elder Nielsen performed Celeste's Confirmation! Good News, our other investigator is back on Date for the 29th of April! We went to her primary class again and talked about missionary work! Taught the (Spanish Investigator) and she is struggling, but we testified a lot about the Atonement and Repentance and the Spirit was strong! Ate dinner with the Robledos (Spanish Family) they made Bacon wrapped Hot Dogs and they were Muy Delicioso!   

Over all it was a sweet week in my book! 

I've learned ThreePacks are Awesome, Spanish Missionaries are Awesome, and that if you work hard, Blessings will follow. This last week, we found no one new for Finn Hill, but we worked hard and on Sunday a young couple walks into church and they want to learn more, Miracle Baby! You better believe it!

Amor y Oraciones, Elder Larson

Celeste's baptism

     Volleyball night   

Week 74

This Email is coming in very late today because some crazy things happened 

But Ill get into that in just a bit, so practice Patience!

Last Week:

Monday-Played Sportz with all the Elders in the Zone. Orange Chicken with the Bergholms, after dinner we went with the Bergholms to do service at HopeLink

Us with the Bergholms

Tuesday- District Meeting was on Fire, traded Posters and got the Zone Leaders Poster

Found a nice Japanese Lady, also a car pulled up by Elder Nielsen and I, this lady rolles the window down and starts questioning why we knocked her door five minutes ago, we told her we were missionaries, then she started going off about how thats soliciting and that we shouldn't be doing it, oh well can win them all. All in All a good Proselyting day

Wednesday- Mini Exchange out of nowhere with the Zone Leaders, Elder Nielsen was with Elder Hales and I was with Elder Roberts. Elder Roberts and I found an Awesome South African family, they invited us in and we sat down for 30 minutes teaching them what Missionaries DO! Went to Dairy Queen for Lunch and saw a Less Active that I know from Cottage Lake, he was surprised to see me... We then did service for this Thai family that is taking the lessons from Sister Watanawongworakula and Sister Anderson. Came back to Finn Hill with Elder Nielsen and had dinner with the Perrys

Thursday- Zone Interviews, Sister Schofield testified with burning Passion, she is really sweet and motivational! Weekly Planned like Bosses. Met a Solid lady and she talked to us while she did yard work and she said she wanted to start going to a church, she said she will try to come (which she didn't, so we are going to meet up with her again this week). 

Friday- Went on Exchanges, I was with Elder Poll. We Biked all day in the rain and it was Elder Poll's first time biking as a missionary. Found so many people home. Had a lesson with the Ducots with Juvy in charge, then we played Spiritual Tic-tac-toe again.

Elder Poll and I, we Undastand eachother

Saturday-  Had a Lesson and went over Baptismal Interview questions with an investigator.  We asked her how she felt and she said "I am so happy" WOOT WOOT! Church is True! Played Volleyball and I've improved my serves, I now do jump serves ;)

Sunday- Church stuff, learned more about building Faith and being better at praying. Dinner with Oien's, Lasagna one of my top Favs! they had two really funny kiddos. Spent the rest of the day doing the Lords Work

I Learned this week that it does matter, everything we do, even if our finding efforts are fruitless we know in our Heart how great this message is, It's hard, but I believe that the Blessings of our efforts will come, if not in this life then maybe the next!

Oh and Before I forget, something major happened

Finn Hill is getting a Car...

We are also covering Bothell Spanish Now....

And we are tripacking it with Elder Poll...

Yep, found out this morning, Elder Christianson's been Emergency Transferred to Seahurst, Elder Poll is our District Leader Now, and now I won't be biking for another three weeks. As of 3pm today this all took effect!

On the Bright Side we had a Zone Activity playing Mini Golf and ate together at DQ for Lunch 

mini golf

Good old DQ

Elder Christainson giving his goodbye speech.

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson

Week 73

Helllllo! 

Well well well, to start off, last week we had Zone Sports Day and we Played Volleyball and Chair Soccer. We also switched up posters as a Zone so the Poster we made went to Redmond Spanish Elders and we got Bothell Spanish Elders Poster.

Most of the Zone!!!... Yeah!

Tuesday it was Elder Christianson's first District Meeting, it went well, talked lots about finding stratagems... Then went on Exchanges and I was with... Elder Christianson in Bothell Spanish. It was interesting to be around Spanish people all day, yet it was awesome and even though it's a different language you can feel the Spirit strong with these good saints. 

Had to put this on the second I found it in the Apartment

Wednesday finished up our Exchange, Biked all over the area in search of some Apartment Complex's, this is why you write the address with the name of the place, so we can find it easier. We didn't find the Apartments we were looking for, we did however write down each apt. with an address that we did find. Now I know my area boundaries a lot better too. Oh and it also down poured all day. 

Thursday lovely lovely weekly planning, cleaned things up a bit, visited less actives and potentials all day, though it seemed like everyone had fled the country or something...

Friday yes we had sun! and it was warm, it hit around 60  degrees, what a blessing indeed. Didn't where Jackets for the First time this Transfer, People were home too and we got to bear lots of testimony and give out some BoMs(Books of Mormon) Had a Lesson/Game with a semi-active family and they don't know much about the church but they Love to learn through the games we do. This time we played Tic Tac Toe, if they wanted to mark a box they had to answer a question correctly, we would explain the answer every time and in 45 minuteswe had only played 2 games. 

Saturday it was wet outside again, we decided to stay close to our place, so we walked all day, met a couple of new potentials. Met My Ward Mission Leader Bro. Bahr, turns out he knows Bro. Redd back at my home ward. Bro. Bahr had us meet him at a Sushi Place (This is why the Subject of my email is Sushi) he bought us three sushi rolls of Salmon, each piece prepared differently, so I tried 8 different types of Salmon, I'm starting to see why people like sushi a lot, once you get over that it's raw fish, it's pretty good! Had a Ward Game/Dessert night. got to know Ward Members Better and the dessert were too tempting and I partook a lot and I regretted it later for sure. All in All, I had some good fun and met some great people.

Sunday Sacrament was all about Baptism and Holy Ghost, Both our On dates were there and we are still good for March 25th, baptism. Found out that one of the on dates grandfather was someone I knew from the HollyWood Hill Ward, I knew him as Dale the Building Guy, I remember him telling me months ago that he was trying to get his Grand Daughter Baptized, who would of thought that I would be here to help,,, Went to the Primary Class to help teach commandments, but their Primary teachers did a good enough job, so we were there in case they needed back up. Yeah this ward is stellar at Missionary Work. Had a great Dinner with the Fishers, definitely the best Spaghetti I've had thus far (Got to get the recipe from them) had a good spiritual thought after 15 minutes of trying to work the TV... 

It was a good week, had lot's of fun, biked many many miles and learned how to make the perfect egg, so I give this week 12 Rolls of Sushi  out of 13 Rolls of Sushi    

Love and Prayers, Elder Larson