Oct 4th 2010

Hello,

Well it has been a good week. General Conference was good. I liked it alot. There were alot of good talks and I dont think I could pick a favorite. Elder Oak's was good, he always has interesting insights. I also liked Elder Bednar's, and Elder Kearon from the Seventy, he spoke in Priesthood. Something that was pretty cool was Brian Stant, who went on the week long mini mission with us, he is in the MTC right now and he was in the MTC choir that sang during priesthood. Well obviously we and everyone who knew him were looking for him when the choir sang during priesthood, and during the very first song which was hark all ye nations the camera switched to being right on his face and he was basically the only one on the screen. There was a little eruption in the chapel because most people on the stake knew who he was and were excited to see him, and the word had gotten around that he was going to be in the choir so everyone was looking for him. It was pretty cool. General Conference is kind of like a party for missionaries. The stake center is like a half hour away so there is really no point in leaving between sessions, at least for many of us. And all the missionaries are there watching it, and there are senior missionaries that are very nice and cooked us lunch between each of the conferences and dinner before priesthood. So we just get to watch the conference, hang out and eat lunch, and then watch more conference, and that night we stayed at some other missionaries apartment who live closer to the stakecenter so we didnt have to drive all the way home. and some of the sister missionaries who are always very thought ful broguht everyone candy bags to snack on during conference. So it was alot of fun.
Well summer ended very abruptly. It has cooled down alot. Last week it rained all week and I think it is supposed to rain alot of this week too. Today it is in the fifties and two weeks ago it was still in the 90's. It feels really cold now cause the temperature dropped really fast. Also dad, thank you for teaching me that if it is raining, who cares just do it anyway, like going on a father and son campout when it is pouring and no one shows up. Cause this week it rained for about the entire week, and we were always wet, and if I would have thought that I should be inside and that I am not supposed to be out in the rain it would have been a horrible week. But instead we just decided that it was raining but who cares we were going to have fun anyway doing what we are supposed to do despite the rain, and it made it alot of fun and enjoyable. And people think we are crazy.
Well Brother Dontjy is doing well. We had a cool story with him. We weren't able to meet with him last week because we have to meet with him outside and it was raining all the time. But its ok we were still able to stay in contact with him. Anyway, he has been praying that he would be able to get unemployment money so that he can travel to Atlanta Georgia this past weekend, for two reasons, one to see his wife who lives down there and also for a job interview. Well, he was told during the week that his unemployment check had been accepted and that he was going to get the money. We were happy for him, and he told us that he probably wouldn't be able to watch conference while he was gone but he wanted to watch it when he got back. He also told his the company interviewing him that he couldn't do anything until after the 16th which is his baptism. So we were happy and excited for him and then unexpectedly he was told that they changed their mind and he wasnt going to get his unemployment check. He was really depressed about it, but he did have faith it was the lord's will. Well, we had a district meeting on Thursday and we asked everyone to pray for him that he would be able to stay strong and have what he was in need of. Well later that day, brother Dontjy called us and told us that his company was going to pay for his entire trip so that he could come to the interview! How cool is that. He got to go to Georgia and see his wife and today is his interview and we are hoping it goes well but I am sure whatever happens it will be the Lords will. He always has a plan, and thank you very much for your prayers. They work.

Thank you very much for the email. Why are the Lattins in Russia? Thats really cool Brady is going to Brazil, I think that will be awesome for him. Tell him I am excited for him and wish him good luck.

I love you all,
Elder Larson