Soer Larsen: Part III

OH man oh man.
Oh, for all y'all who are preparing for missions, READ PREACH MY GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF MORMON. Don't worry about reading anything else. Seriously. Get those two down, have a good relationship with the Savior, and you're good to go. I mean, read other books if you have time, but really have those two down.

AH I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE!!! BLAST! Ok where to begin. We'll start with the exciting stuff. Guess where I went this week? San Fransisco. Yeah. We had to go pick up our visas. So there were ten of us Paris missionaries who got up at 4:30 in the AM to drive to SLC and fly to San Fran (oh my lands how I love flying and the outside world :) once we got there we went to the French consulate and it took about half an hour for us to do all our official bidness and then we were free to roam about the city until our flight at 5. Mwahaha., Oh what a blast it was to be wandering in the real world with my tag proclaiming the name of the Church! Oh the looks we got, we probably looked like the mafia or something, all dressed up. And they gave us all pass-along cards so of course we had a blast passing those out. COOL STORY. So I'd been praying that I could have a missionary experience while we were out there, and lo and behold. We were standing outside the consulate waiting for our shuttle and then this guy walks up and is looking at all of our tags and goes, Jesus Christ, huh? You know, I've been looking for him. And then he explains that he's lost looking for a friend's apartment but that he's been thinking about christianity for a long time and he thinks that Christ sounds like the answer to everything. Our eyes were about to pop out of our heads and we all said, guess what? HE IS! haha. We bore testimony to him and gave him pamphlets and pass along cards and he said he'd read them and share them with his friends. The Lord really is preparing people to hear the word, we just need to be ready to share it. Anyway being in San Fransisco was a blast, but as we were sitting there watching people walk by I decided that I really do not miss being a normal person. Not one single bit. I love love love being a missionary. I love looking at every person and knowing that they are a daughter or son of God and that he loves them to pieces and can't wait for them to embrace his gospel. I love grinning at everyone and having them look at my tag. I love this feeling of wanting to burst, I'm so full of happiness and hope and love for the wonderful plan God has for us! He is so loving! We were learning about the plan of salvation this week and I really just can't believe how nice he is to all of us. He's just begging us to be faithful and promising blessings we can't even imagine if we will endure to the end! Even those who aren't great people in this life will get blessings beyond their dreams in the next. It's mind boggling. I LOVE this work. I want to be a missionary forever. So being in Cali was fun, but at the end of the day I was so happy as we pulled into the MTC. Oh how I love this place. And I missed my district, my new little family for now. You know what was a weird thought though? Next time I fly into SLC, it will be as a return missionary. WEIRD. Oh ps, I got my flight info for Paris! Leaving monday Dec. 20th and it's a direct flight, ten hours and 25 minutes. Saints be praised.

What else to say. Oh my elders. So we had this activity where we sat across from each other and rotated around and had to talk about the mtc and what had been hardest for us (all in french) and I was sitting across from Elder Andersen when I told him that what had been hardest for me was that I hadn't really felt the spirit when we'd taught in the TRC for the first time and it was just discouraging. He looked at me and said, in his stuttery-norwegian-french, "Soeur Larsen, I know the Spirit is with you. I know the Lord loves you. I know it because the Spirit was guiding me as I taught you." (He'd practiced teaching me and sr. williams before the TRC). I totally teared up, it was the sweetest thing. Of course, later that day he made me cry for a different reason, but I will attribute that to him being on very strong medication. Let's just say that the new district joke is that I came on a mission because I couldn't get married. It was so cute though, as I was recovering Elder Blank said, "Don't worry Soeur Larsen, when you get back you can have your pick of any of us!" haha, oh Elders. Love love love.

Ok last thing, I love love the spirit. It's crazy as a missionary, he's so close. I can feel the moment he leaves. Like if I start thinking judgy thoughts about my companion or one of the elders, gone. Or like yesterday I started thinking about things I missed and I didn't want to focus and suddenly spirit=gone and I suddenly felt so tired. One thing I have learned is my dependence on the Lord. It's HIS work and I can't do any of it on my own. When I try to, my french gets instantly worse and I start getting tired and cranky. I usually have so much energy and this week I've realized it's all thanks to the Lord. Blessings of obedience! Be obedient! Yay! haha. I'm so inspiring sometimes, I just can't take it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALL!! Seriously, the gospel is the best thing ever. I can't believe how my heart has stretched. I love everyone and everything and every moment.

Keep writing me! Dearelder.com is easy and fast, hint hint. Haha jk, I know you all are busy. It's ok, I'll just assume you love me anyway.
With the Lord, success is SURE!! Alma 38:5!

Peace and love, and keep praying for those wonderful French people!

Soeur Larsen

Oh wow

I was reminded this week that I hadn't updated this blog recently. Even after that, I wasn't really going to update it soon. But then today, preparing for priesthood meeting... (girls, please note. I've heard you all think priesthood meeting is studly.)
... I took a shower and went in to my room to get dressed. Just then, someone knocked on my door. Assuming it was a family member, I did something strange. Don't ask my why, or what I was thinking when I tell you that I called out in a high, girly voice: "Ooh! I'm indecent!" Then I had the 'oh my gosh' moment of my life when an old man voice that I didn't know called back, "uh, I need to work on your drywall." Quickly getting dressed, I climbed out the window to avoid further confrontation. I lost my stud appeal there didn't I?
Sincerely,
Daryl