25 April 2011

Hello from Virginia!

Things are going good it has beena great week. First I will update you on Jerome. He is doing really well. We were not sure what to do about his baptism. Jerome decided that he wanted to go to the Hampton ward. Or stay there is the better way to say it. So we thought that would probably be fine but we called President Perry to see what he would say. He agreed with us and said that he should get baptized where he is comfortable and then later he will learn more and realize he should switch wards. So that worked for us and we told Bishop M*annis here and he siad that was fine and then I called Bro S*horr, our ward mission leader in Hampton. It was fun to talk to him againa nd I explained what had happened and so the baptism is planned to happen May 7 in the Hampton ward!! YAY. I am really happy for Jerome.

I feel kind of like part of the reason I came here was to help Jerome. He is so ready, and has a strong testimony, I might have said this last time but he is starting his fourth round of the book of mormon. He just didnt quite understand the requirements for baptism and now that he does it has brought him alot of hope, and it is really going to open the doors for him to continue to progress in the gospel. But if I hadnt been in Hampton and seen how prepared Jerome was for baptism before I got here I dont think it would have happened. So, I guess its not me but the Lord who is using me to do his purpose in helping Jerome and I feel very grateful that I can help him and that I was sent to the area that he lived in so we could go visit him.

Elder Jones and I have also found a couple named Jim and Megan, and they are married! It is always good when they are married. SO Jim has been talking to a member of the church who lives in a ward called the Jamestown ward. And he has been talking to him for a few years. Both Jim and Megan grew up Catholic but neither of them really believe, especially him. And they are very humble and open and were asking us questions. We saw them for the first time on Saturday, and they very so grateful we stopped by and apologized tthat they didnt have more questions ready for us. They were very nice and so we set up a time ot see them this coming week. Its on Thursday at 730! Jim has come to church the past three weeks and Megan came this past week. Each of those weeks though they went to a different ward because they werent able to come to ours yesterday and the past two weeks before that Jim didnt know any better. But that is fine he has loved and they both enjoyed yesterday so we are very hopeful for them.

We were talking to Jim yesterday and he is going to massachusetts for this coming weekend but he has already found the nearest church through mormon.org for where he will be staying. So they are "golden." And it is all because a member was willing to share the gospel. Members do so much to help prepare people to receive misssionaries. So maybe you can share that in your stake conference because so so so many people are searching for answers but almost always it is members that have the key to getting them to listen and have interest. So i am grateful we have been able to find Jim and Megan and fo the member that has helped us.

We had a great Easter. Bishop M*annis is really a great man even if he doesn't have the exact same feelings about Jerome. He invited us to his hous for dinner along with a member who just got stationed here away from his family for some military training. So that is what we did for Easter. It was fun and then after dinner we watched a movie called reflections of Christ which I enjoyed.

Our church here is from 11-2 so I will probably call on Mothers Day after church around 3ish my time. Ill let you know for sure next week. We have interviews with president this week so I can ask him about skype. Well things are going good here. I am doing my best and it is fun but I am aware of the little amount of time remaining. I am excited to see you all. I love you and I will talk to you in a couple weeks!



Love,

Elder Larson