September 19, 2016
Hola friends and family! Been another great week down here in Argentina. We have finally settled into our new home, which is probably the best apartment-casita in the mission. Has a little patio and 2 large separate houses within the terreno we live with the other Elders assigned to our Ward who are great guys. Been kind of fun to organize the new missionary bachelor pad for Godoy. The only thing we're missing right now is a hot water tank that works! Luckily the gas line is open so we just heat up a big pot of water on the stove to shower in the mornings haha.
This past Saturday Marcela, ¨the miracle on Magallanes¨as we´ve been calling her lately, was able to enter into the waters of baptism. After lunch we ran over to her house to make sure the final arrangments were ready and the clothes were turning out well. When we got there we were surprised to see her already dressed in white beaming with smiles, it was 2 hours before the scheduled start time of her baptism!
We ran back over to the church assuring the font full of nice warm water for her and getting some prelude music started up. Elder Smith yelled for me from down the hallway saying ¨She´s Here!¨We ran out to help her safely get out of the taxi and into the church, she hadn´t changed, so I´m sure her shining bright tunic left the taxi driver with questions but Marcela answered them by inviting him ¨To come to my baptism in the Mormon church, well really it´s the church of Jesus Christ because Mormon is just a nickname we have for the Book of Mormon more scriptures that God has given us through Joseph Smith. Do you know who Joseph is, I was like him once..........`
She had given the first missionary lesson to the taxi driver in front of the church dressed in baptism clothes!! Not sure I´ve seen such faith and happiness in a person before :)
As we carefully went down the stairs one by one and comfortably situated ourselves in the font, Marcela gave me one last reassuring smile before closing her eyes in preparation for the ordinance. She went down under the water and rose up again clean, pure and at peace. With her eyes still closed and her hand still grasping mine, she paused there in the water and just enjoyed the warm spirit we all could feel. Then carefully step for step we exited the font. Pretty special experience. :)
I hope you all have a wonderful week, thankyou for the love and prayers each day
with love and respect,
Elder Larsen
1. the `miracle on magallanes`
This past Saturday Marcela, ¨the miracle on Magallanes¨as we´ve been calling her lately, was able to enter into the waters of baptism. After lunch we ran over to her house to make sure the final arrangments were ready and the clothes were turning out well. When we got there we were surprised to see her already dressed in white beaming with smiles, it was 2 hours before the scheduled start time of her baptism!
We ran back over to the church assuring the font full of nice warm water for her and getting some prelude music started up. Elder Smith yelled for me from down the hallway saying ¨She´s Here!¨We ran out to help her safely get out of the taxi and into the church, she hadn´t changed, so I´m sure her shining bright tunic left the taxi driver with questions but Marcela answered them by inviting him ¨To come to my baptism in the Mormon church, well really it´s the church of Jesus Christ because Mormon is just a nickname we have for the Book of Mormon more scriptures that God has given us through Joseph Smith. Do you know who Joseph is, I was like him once..........`
She had given the first missionary lesson to the taxi driver in front of the church dressed in baptism clothes!! Not sure I´ve seen such faith and happiness in a person before :)
As we carefully went down the stairs one by one and comfortably situated ourselves in the font, Marcela gave me one last reassuring smile before closing her eyes in preparation for the ordinance. She went down under the water and rose up again clean, pure and at peace. With her eyes still closed and her hand still grasping mine, she paused there in the water and just enjoyed the warm spirit we all could feel. Then carefully step for step we exited the font. Pretty special experience. :)
I hope you all have a wonderful week, thankyou for the love and prayers each day
with love and respect,
Elder Larsen
1. the `miracle on magallanes`
September 5, 2016
Some say that a pictures is worth a thousand words, so heres some pictures with very few words. I love you guys have a great week!
Elder Larsen
Elder Larsen
August 8, 2016
Hello Family and Friends!
Well should probably start off by apologizing.. Been a little lazy in keeping the blog updated but last week my good comp showed me the power of technology and helped me make a little list of contacts for ya´ll. Hope this little message finds everyone smiling and enjoying life because down here in Agentina it doesn´t get much better then waking up everyday as a representive for the Church of Jesus Christ.
My comp, Elder Smith from Prescott Arizona is a stud. We´ve been comps now for 4 short weeks but we hit the pavement (and the dirt roads) together and haven´t looked back! This morning in comp study we were just kind of reflecting about the joy and happiness we´ve felt here in Godoy, it´s been a good ride and I think more than anything my testimony of the Book of Mormon has been strengthened.
This past Thursday, being able to visit the little town of Perez also assigned to our wards limits, we sat outside the home of the Cabrera Family. The sun was setting over the corn field out front and the quiet peace outside of the city provided a great oportunity to enjoy a chapter from the BoM. The Cabrera family recently taking activity in the church through the light of their youngest daughter, 15, and her desire to be baptized are progressing quite well. We sat down and read from 1 Nephi 8, the classic story of the Tree of Life and the vision of Father Lehi.
It was an open conversation as we enjoyed the words of the scriptures, applying them to our day and more specifically to the family. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ we have, ´partaken of the good fruit´, we have the fulness of the gospel and happiness is what we seek and what we find through Jesus Christ. We're not perfect but we can find a perfect peace, being content with who we are and more importantly who we can become. The Cabrera family and their hope in that things can and will get better help me keep going. After serving honorably in a bishopric for 5 years the father lost his job and ended up having to move kind of out to, for lack of better words, The Middle of No Where. They lost contact and all activity from the church for 8 years now, but the iron rod has been throw in there direction again and they are valiantley grabbing hold of it.
It´s a great blessing to be out here in the field, doing my best to help our Brothers and Sisters find that iron rod, even the word of God that brings us to the tree that has the fruit of eternal happiness. Keep smiling and keep loving. Thanks for all you do and the prayers sent my way, have a good week!!
with love and respect,
Elder Larsen
Oh and don´t forget to send a HAPPY BIRTHDAY message this week to my amazing mother.. 1(801)541-1106.. haha love you Mom!! <3
1. Grandpa Clyde Rainbow down here in Argentina
2. Last pic with the old comp Elder Carter before he heads home to the Canada Frontier
3. Splits with the great Elder Curtis and Elder Ramos
Well should probably start off by apologizing.. Been a little lazy in keeping the blog updated but last week my good comp showed me the power of technology and helped me make a little list of contacts for ya´ll. Hope this little message finds everyone smiling and enjoying life because down here in Agentina it doesn´t get much better then waking up everyday as a representive for the Church of Jesus Christ.
My comp, Elder Smith from Prescott Arizona is a stud. We´ve been comps now for 4 short weeks but we hit the pavement (and the dirt roads) together and haven´t looked back! This morning in comp study we were just kind of reflecting about the joy and happiness we´ve felt here in Godoy, it´s been a good ride and I think more than anything my testimony of the Book of Mormon has been strengthened.
This past Thursday, being able to visit the little town of Perez also assigned to our wards limits, we sat outside the home of the Cabrera Family. The sun was setting over the corn field out front and the quiet peace outside of the city provided a great oportunity to enjoy a chapter from the BoM. The Cabrera family recently taking activity in the church through the light of their youngest daughter, 15, and her desire to be baptized are progressing quite well. We sat down and read from 1 Nephi 8, the classic story of the Tree of Life and the vision of Father Lehi.
It was an open conversation as we enjoyed the words of the scriptures, applying them to our day and more specifically to the family. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ we have, ´partaken of the good fruit´, we have the fulness of the gospel and happiness is what we seek and what we find through Jesus Christ. We're not perfect but we can find a perfect peace, being content with who we are and more importantly who we can become. The Cabrera family and their hope in that things can and will get better help me keep going. After serving honorably in a bishopric for 5 years the father lost his job and ended up having to move kind of out to, for lack of better words, The Middle of No Where. They lost contact and all activity from the church for 8 years now, but the iron rod has been throw in there direction again and they are valiantley grabbing hold of it.
It´s a great blessing to be out here in the field, doing my best to help our Brothers and Sisters find that iron rod, even the word of God that brings us to the tree that has the fruit of eternal happiness. Keep smiling and keep loving. Thanks for all you do and the prayers sent my way, have a good week!!
with love and respect,
Elder Larsen
Oh and don´t forget to send a HAPPY BIRTHDAY message this week to my amazing mother.. 1(801)541-1106.. haha love you Mom!! <3
1. Grandpa Clyde Rainbow down here in Argentina
2. Last pic with the old comp Elder Carter before he heads home to the Canada Frontier
3. Splits with the great Elder Curtis and Elder Ramos