April 25, 2011

Hello Family,

Thank you for your letters and your care. It is cool to hear that the garden is doing well, but it is strange to me to think that the plants are already producing because it is just starting to get warm here. I used to base the time of the year on the seasons, but it is a little different here, and time is really just flying by.  I am glad to hear that Madison thinks about me.  It is good to hear of the spirituality of you mom and dad. It sounds to me that you have really grown a lot and it makes me happy. I know the gospel is true and that through Christ and his teachings we really do become more refined people that are closer to God and closer to happiness. Maybe you have the question of how calls will work for mothers day. It is coming soon (in 2 Sundays). We may be able to do skype, but maybe not. If we can and you want to, you will want to send me next week the name that I can find you, and I will tell you on next monday how I will do it. If I do it by phone, I will tell you the time and the number which you can call me on.

The city that has been the prettiest is probably Ufa, because it is actually a fairly clean city. Ekaterinburg has some cool architecture, but it is in the city. Something interesting is that a BYU perfoming group Living Legends will be performing in Ekaterinburg and in other cities in our mission. You can look them up, but I hope some people might get interested in the church some how because of it. This week I had a visa trip, and my companion did, so we were with different companions. Right now, we have Love you, no time, bye. -Elder Larson

April 19, 2011

Hello Family

The past week went fairly well, and we had a few really cool experiences. Elder Zhdanov and I are doing well, and we are getting along well. We have been trying to keep postive, faithful attitudes, and as a result, we have seen quite a few miracles, and there have been a few miracles in other companionships as well. Sometimes I start to complain, nothing really big at all, but Elder Zhdanov even helps me stay positive in those situations. Although we have not been able to have a whole lot of investigator meetings, we did have an investigator come to church for the first time in a long while. He has been investigating for around 10 years, so we want to continue working with him and help him feel the Spirit. In another instance on the bus, a woman started talking to Elder Zhdanov, but many others heard and another woman asked for an invitation afterwards. The first woman even started reading the invitation to the next lady who sat down next to her. We also had a new woman come to English club, and she said she was interested in meeting, although she works all this week. My visa trip went smoothly (Thus why I am writing today) and we were able to talk with a man who met missionaries in Moscow but may have somehow lost contact, so we got his information and can get it to missionaries in Moscow.

I am enjoying Ekaterniburg, and although not a whole lot is happening, I have recently felt and better understood how goalsetting, planning, and faith can work to help us achieve things. Attitude really makes a big difference in life, and through Christ our attitudes can be made really solid and positive. He has atoned for us, so we can always improve. If not everything is working out, that is sometimes okay, because changes can be made, and we can do all we can to improve, and whatever else happens happens. I enjoy my companion, and He has made huge changes in his life,especially on the mission, and I know that people can change.

The weather is nice, nearly all snow has melted, and It is almost warm enough just to go out in a suit top. Hung did write me a letter, and it seemed like everything was excellent. congrats Alex. I love you all. I hope the best for the rest in the family too. I love you Shane. Bye.

April 11, 2011

Hello family. Hello Madison. I do not forget you, I just forget to write your name down, but I hope all of you are doing well. They have a fairly nice ward building here, and there are about 40 regularly attending members in our ward. They are really kind. It is a pink building, sacrament hall on the second story and probably 3 quarters the size of our ward building. Here though, our church buildings cannot be too visible from main streets according to governmnent, so it is not too noticable, but it is nice on the inside. There are various people at church, a few families, and quite a few older ladies, and some younger people too. Here in Ekaterinburg, it is interesting because there are a few labor workers, but often times they are tajikistani, kind of how Mexicans are commonly labor workers in the states. there is a little more diveIt sounds like yo uare all doing well, having aunt Brenda come in all, and Erik on the honeymoon and Shane has been in the same place for a while. It is exciting to hear about Alex, and I was glad to hear that mom and dad you want to do FHE more. I really enjoyed conference and I watched it this past weekend. I enjoy Elder Uchtdorf's talk in priesthood, and Elder Scott's talk. You are right dad, they did talk about marriage a lot, and only looking towards a temple marriage. Erik has set a good example and now he can have experiences like you, mom, and Elder Scott. I also had a lot of help for missionary work. This week, we looked for some apartments, and we got ready to close another one. Soon our mission will be fairly small, and then maybe later it will get more people, so for now, a few areas might be closed. I love you all. I thank you for raising me with love, kindness, and I have learned so much on my mission. Right now, we are trying to find people to teach, but I have really learned a lot about myself the past while. I also like Elder Christofferson's talk about correcting yourself because you can always be better. It is also very hopeful becasue through Christ, you can become that much closer to perfection and being even more like him. I really like my companion. He is really happy, and he chooses to look at things positively. It is a great example to me, and we help each other with language quite a bit. He speaks English well, and I enjoy being with him. I love you. Think about conference and the words of the leaders. I know Christ lives and this Church is true. Good bye. -Elder Larson

April 4, 2011

Hello family,

I am doing well, and it sounds like conference was really great. I am excited to see it this next weekend. I was really excited to hear that grandma listened to some conference and enjoyed that film. I am enjoying Ekaterinburg, but I still do now know a whole lot about things and people here. My companion is really cheerful and funny, and he speaks English pretty well, so we speak russian on street and english at home. Ekat is a lot more compact and higher and more densely populated than Perm. Perm feels pretty relaxed and open. It is actually larger in distance in perm, but Ekat is slow traffic and high buildings. We have a very nice church building here. we live on the northern part of the city called Ural Mash. It is finally getting warmer and the snow is melting. I love you all. Quick story too. There is a girl here we met with that lived in America at a mormon family, and she really saw them as an example and enjoyed them. She came here and wanted to know more about the church. It really impressed her to see the family genuine and strong in their belief. She sees a lot of hypocrisy sometimes in the orthodox church and was an atheist before she saw that family. Our example really can have an influence on people even if they do not live in the same place as us, even if they are just visiting. I hope you are all safe and I am very excited to hear that you are reading scriptures and watching conference. That is really important. I love you all. Bye. -Elder Larson

March 28, 2011

Hello Family,

it sounds like you are all doing pretty well. It is sad to hear about all those things going on everywhere, but it is the last days. I have not gotten the package, but I will probably get it soon. I got my transfer, and I will be serving in Ekaterinburg and be with Elder Zhdanov from Ukraine. I have really loved serving here in Perm and there are some really unforgettable moments here. I have really felt the support of members here, and I feel like I have grown the most here. The weather is a little warmer, and I am really excited again for summer. I heard from Hung, and it sounds like he is doing excellent now and active, and it touched me to read the letter he gave me talking about how much the Savior has influenced his life. I know that through him, we can really change our lives and find happiness. I have really noticed how much happines the Gospel brings us and that we can really change and become more like Christ. I really loved this last companion, and we have been very obedient and very happy because of that. I know that even though a lot of things didn't happen in the work, a few great miracles did because we were willing to serve each other, understand each other, and work together to build the kingdom. I hope family that you can find ways to serve and grow closer. I know you will grow closer. I love you all. I will describe my new place next week. Have a great week, and really be happy and grateful for what you have. Bye. -Elder Larson 

March 21, 2011

Hello Family,

This has been an interesting week, and it sounds like you have all had interesting weeks. Shane has been here and there, but stuff like that happens, more often than one would think. I hope you're doing well Shane. It sounds like the journey was successful and fun. Erik will have to tell me about the cruise, and I hope the rest of the family is also doing well despite surgeries.

This week, the patriarch was in Perm (1 of 3 in Europe East area), and I had the opportunity to spend some time with him. Patriarch Rodgers. He is American, knows Russian, German, and taught at BYU russian and russian literature for 31 years. He is very nice. Our mission president was also here, so we got to spend some time with them. We helped the sister missionaries move apartments, and will will move soon about a 5 minute walk away. Russia is generally really safe mom, and the apartments we have are quite nice, but we just have to move due to a new law.

The snow is finally melting, and it is warming up outside so that it is not very often below freezing, so that is very nice.

A few of our investigators, we have not been able to get a hold of, and even a few people that were seemingly very interested had stopped answering their phones, but on the other hand there have been a few exciting things happening with our other investigators. We met with женя and had committed him to a baptismal date. He wondered why we committed him to a date, but he said he would be baptized this week if his mom were not against it. He is older than 18, but respects his parents and lives with them. He says that she is also growing more open to his association with us. He is regularly coming to church, but we want him to stay the whole time and help him increase his commitment level. Hopefully his mother will see that and be okay with him joining the church. He has met many members now, has a connection with them, and hopefully his mom becomes okay.
Another investigator, надежда katia's mom has agreed to a baptismal date and has a desire to find out if the church is true. She also invited a friend to be on a meeting, and it seems like he will be interested as well.

This week I had an interesting experience. We saw a drunk man in the middle of the street. He could hardly even move he was so drunk. I had made a selfish, haughty remark, and my companion caught me. We decided to help him, with the help of another person on the street so that the man would not get frostbitten, and to open up the street. At first I had looked at him like an animal rather than looking at him like person. After I had carried him and served him, I saw him differently. He, even the very drunk man, is a child of God. Although we shouldn't be around those people or talk to them because they do not have any sense, that event has caused me to look differently at others. I know service is really important, and if do serve others that our love towards them and God will grow. I love you all. Bye. -Elder Larson.

March 14, 2011

Hello family, how are you doing?

I am doing very well. Sorry for the short letter. We do mail at the library, but it was closed for women's day. It is one of the biggest celebrations in Russia. It is like mother's day but for all women, and it is a governmental holiday. It is cool to hear that Shane is working with a mini missionary. We have a mini missionary here and perm, and we also recently sent out a mini missionary sister from here. I am really enjoying Perm, and our mission President and a patriarch came into town today. They will be here for a week so that people can receive their patriarchal blessings. There were also problems with housing. There is a knew law that changes how missionaries get registered, so we needed to move out. Our former branch president is helping us find a place. We recently have been trouble finding new investigators, but we have been thinking, planning, and praying, butht the land lady of a house we looked at today really wants help from God for her husband, and that is the place we will move, so it was a miracle. I really  enjoy my companion, he is really great. I love you all, and I am very thankful for all that you give me. I know the Lord directs our lives, and he helps us know really what is right and best for us. I once again have little time, but next week for sure, I will write more. Thank you all. I love you . Bye. -Elder Larson