24 Jan 2011

Hello,

Well it was good to hear from yall, thats how they say "you all" in virginia. :) Things are going good here.

Last week I told you about a couple named Robert and Natalie that came to church and they are being helped by a member to get their life back together. Well we had a lesson with them last Wednesday with the member who has been helping them (Brother C#hase). It was a good lesson. It was good because they are happy, humble, they said they felt good at the lesson, and are excited to learn more. They are very grateful for all the help they have been given and they really have a sincere desire to change and become better. I am really impressed at how humble they are and that they only look forward and upward instead of being angry or feeling unfortunate. They have no bitter feelings at all about not having anything materially, they just want to be good people. And even though they have nothing they are still a happy couple and I like them alot. They look up to us but I also look up to them. They are golden.

They have been saying morning and evening family prayer every morning and every night since we met with them which brings me joy to know. We call them every night just to talk and see how their day was and see if they have any questions or anything. It is called daily contact, and in these nightly calls they have told us about their experience praying, and how they have enjoyed it. They ask tons of questions too, about rules missionaries follow which are always fun to tell people because they are confusing to alot of people. And with almost all of the rules we just explain that they are to help us stay focused. They also asked about the sacrament, and the importance of it so we explained it to them and how it represents the promises we make when we are baptized and we went on to tell how it is therefore more siginificant once you are baptized and they said well we are going to be members one day. I think we might be thinking that day is a little sooner than they are thinking, and in our next lesson we are hoping and praying that we can set a date for them to be baptized.

They came to church again yesterday and enjoyed it again. The only thing is the lesson we taught was over their heads because they know absolutely nothing about anything about religion. They really have no concept of what the word God even means. So it is alot harder than it may sound to teach someone something when you are starting with nothing, and espeically when what you are teaching is something you were raised on and learned naturally, but it is difficult. So the learning process will be a slower one but thats ok, because they dont have to know all their is to learn to be baptized, and even if they may not understand it all, they are being converted from feeling the spirit. And in DC 20:37 it lists the qualifications for baptism, and the qualifications really dont say anything about how much you know, but just that you are humble and willing to follow Christ. And by that they are definitely ready, and also once they are baptized they will be given the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will assist them in learning and understanding. So anyway, I love them already and want to see them get baptized.

I do not know my release date. I'll try to remember to ask president p#erry cause we have interviews soon, otherwise i will let you know when i find out. I do know today is 19 months lol. The Napalese are doing good. At church yesterday the one who speaks english couldnt make it. So we watched a movie with them in english with subtitles because they can read english better than hear it. I think it went well, I really have no idea though... I guess i felt the spirit so they hopefully did too. Well Elder P#hillips and i have gotten to know each other better so we are doing good and have gotten more used to each other. So james is going to South Africa! That is awesome. I think thats like everyones dream mission. That or Australia. He is not going to have any trouble staying excited or focused for that day to come, because that sounds like a very cool and exciting place to go. Well I guess I am assuming he is excited for that call, what was his reaction? I am happy i get to see him too. Well, have a good week. Thank you for prayers and your support. I love you

love,
Elder Larson