The last email home just doesn't seem real to me. I just think that i´ll email you like I´ve always done next week to see how everything is and to tell you about my week. But instead of emailing i will see and talk to you. But I'm really excited to see you and show you around Guatemala. I have enjoyed Guatemala. Ever since i started i have loved it here. I love the people that i have gotten to know and the people that i haven't met. I know that they are a people blessed from God. They have work habits that i would love to have. They have blessed my life in a way that has made me remember Jesus Christ. A dedicated life for the family, work, religion, and a good meal every once in a while. I have come to love the gospel from the example of the lives of the members here that i have served with. It had helped me realize that i don't need a nice house, car, food, clothes to have a strong testimony of why i go to church. All you need is a true desire and i have seen that with all of the people that i have helped take that step of baptism. I love how the gospel makes us become better people. I love how the scriptures really can be applied in my life. I love how i can go unto the Lord and just express how i feel. I love how converts can be the most converted members because they have experienced that joy the gospel brings. I love how being a good example helps others want to learn more about the church of Christ. I'm grateful for this experience i have had to be a witness of my elder brother, Jesus Christ. I love him. I want to get to know him more throughout my life so he can guide, lift, and bless my life so i can return and live with him and my family again.
Elder Erik Larson
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Just think two years ago..........
Just to think that 2 years ago from today i was packing and getting ready to go for a long trip to Guatemala, or in other words, a mission. I had no idea what to expect. I was worried i wouldn't eat three times a day. I was wondering for a little bit where it even was.ha ha. But i was ready. I didn't really know what it was that i was supposed to do but i went. Said good-bye to moms cooking and making out like a bandit at all the stores i went to with you guys. Which was always nice. But i learned as time went on that i would be fine and then i started to enjoy why i was here. I had the best first companion you could ask for. We had fun, learned a lot, baptized, and became great friends. I just have tried to follow his example and have my own luz propia and time after that just flew by.
Marielia didn't come to church yesterday because she was sick but we´ve been trying really hard with her. I guy that i found almost more than2 months ago came to church yesterday and i think he really enjoyed it. He wants to do everything that we tell him but just has never made that chance to assist the church because of his parents. Pure Catholics. The other two missionaries are some-what visiting him and then told me Saturday night that he would be assisting church. I then thought to myself that he has said that to me about 3 different times but has never showed up. So i got a thought that we should go personally and pick him up because he has always told us that he would come on his own and that we don't need to worry about it. So we went and brought a shirt and tie. He seemed really grateful and happy when we were there but then said he had a lot to do around the house to help his parents out. And while when we were talking to him his parents came him. So he kind of lives next to them and his about 32 yrs old.Then someone knocks the door and its his mom. And she tells him that his dad said he cant go anywhere because he has to study and get ready for his steadies. I then, QUICKLY, said Hermana, remember me? Trying to get her to realize that its not a bad thing we´re doing. Because i remember the first day i met her and her son, Miguel. We talked to her one day and had a long conversation about life and challenges and i thought she really was going to be interested. We received a return cita with her and she wasn't there and then we met her son. So back to what i was saying...i tried to get that feeling back into her that we´re not hurting your son, but just trying to bless your whole family. So we left because he said he would come on his own and i was like ¨NOOO!!¨ If it wasn't for his parents restricting him to live his own life he would surely come. So we left and had church and at the beginning of the closing hymn he came in. I was so happy. And then he stayed for the other two hours and had an interview with the bishop.Hopefully he can keep coming and enjoying what Christ and the church has to offer for him. I have a deep love for him. He´s really cool.
But as for everything that you told me about the trip is fine with me. But a few journals would be pretty cool. Not that expensive but 5-10 or so. Thanks mom.
Love, your son Elder Erik Larson
Marielia didn't come to church yesterday because she was sick but we´ve been trying really hard with her. I guy that i found almost more than2 months ago came to church yesterday and i think he really enjoyed it. He wants to do everything that we tell him but just has never made that chance to assist the church because of his parents. Pure Catholics. The other two missionaries are some-what visiting him and then told me Saturday night that he would be assisting church. I then thought to myself that he has said that to me about 3 different times but has never showed up. So i got a thought that we should go personally and pick him up because he has always told us that he would come on his own and that we don't need to worry about it. So we went and brought a shirt and tie. He seemed really grateful and happy when we were there but then said he had a lot to do around the house to help his parents out. And while when we were talking to him his parents came him. So he kind of lives next to them and his about 32 yrs old.Then someone knocks the door and its his mom. And she tells him that his dad said he cant go anywhere because he has to study and get ready for his steadies. I then, QUICKLY, said Hermana, remember me? Trying to get her to realize that its not a bad thing we´re doing. Because i remember the first day i met her and her son, Miguel. We talked to her one day and had a long conversation about life and challenges and i thought she really was going to be interested. We received a return cita with her and she wasn't there and then we met her son. So back to what i was saying...i tried to get that feeling back into her that we´re not hurting your son, but just trying to bless your whole family. So we left because he said he would come on his own and i was like ¨NOOO!!¨ If it wasn't for his parents restricting him to live his own life he would surely come. So we left and had church and at the beginning of the closing hymn he came in. I was so happy. And then he stayed for the other two hours and had an interview with the bishop.Hopefully he can keep coming and enjoying what Christ and the church has to offer for him. I have a deep love for him. He´s really cool.
But as for everything that you told me about the trip is fine with me. But a few journals would be pretty cool. Not that expensive but 5-10 or so. Thanks mom.
Love, your son Elder Erik Larson
Monday, January 10, 2011
A New Year!
It sounds like you've had quite the week. But I'm glad that the surgery went well and that you've started the big sell of your business. I'm really excited for you guys to be here. It should be a lot of fun.Like i said i think the temple in Guatemala will be closed but we can't do another thing about that. I'm really excited to show you who i have met and baptized. You´ll like Guatemala I'm sure.
But as for this week it´s been fun. We´re teaching this lady called Marielia and she is pilas. We had a fun FHE with a member family and her and i swear she can make friends with anybody which is incredible.She assisted yesterday and now knows a lot of the members. Everything we teach it just makes sense to her. And she wants to learn more about the church and knows that she needs to take the time to learn. Just some of the comments she makes just leaves me speechless because I'm just like ¨exactly! I'm so glad you understand¨ haha. Other than her we´re focusing on the references some of the members have given us.With the new year and time change from 8am to 10am starting time has really helped people come to church i think. It´s just a fun time to be here because there´s a lot to do and the members always help us out.
On Jan 1 i started a 3 month plan to read the Book of Mormon.President has always taught us that we need to learn to live with plans. And with this plan i can read it 4 times every year. Which isn't lot in one day but its little by little which i like. So I'm pretty excited to keep going with it and start doing a lot of things I've learned from President.
I'm excited for this new year! Love you all and see you soon.
Elder Erik Larson
But as for this week it´s been fun. We´re teaching this lady called Marielia and she is pilas. We had a fun FHE with a member family and her and i swear she can make friends with anybody which is incredible.She assisted yesterday and now knows a lot of the members. Everything we teach it just makes sense to her. And she wants to learn more about the church and knows that she needs to take the time to learn. Just some of the comments she makes just leaves me speechless because I'm just like ¨exactly! I'm so glad you understand¨ haha. Other than her we´re focusing on the references some of the members have given us.With the new year and time change from 8am to 10am starting time has really helped people come to church i think. It´s just a fun time to be here because there´s a lot to do and the members always help us out.
On Jan 1 i started a 3 month plan to read the Book of Mormon.President has always taught us that we need to learn to live with plans. And with this plan i can read it 4 times every year. Which isn't lot in one day but its little by little which i like. So I'm pretty excited to keep going with it and start doing a lot of things I've learned from President.
I'm excited for this new year! Love you all and see you soon.
Elder Erik Larson
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all.
Its a new year so now i will begin my diet and start going to the gym to work off the Holiday food. Its been a great year so far so I'm not complaining. I hope it has been the same for you as well. For the Christmas and New Years eve we went to sleep at a good 10:30. And let me tell you that i slept really well.
But besides the fact we couldn't leave the house all day news year we had a good week. We received a reference of a lady on Saturday that has been wanting to learn more about the church for a long time now.She has even looked on the internet to find stuff but told us couldn't find anything. We invited her to church and she came! It was really cool. It seemed like she enjoyed all the meetings. We were just amazed to see what happened. She made friends really quickly and we hardly had to do anything because the members had a good control over her. Explaining the small things we do, guiding her around, and asking any ?´s she had. Hopefully we can have a FHE with her tomorrow with a family here in the ward but we´ll see how it goes.You asked about what things you could bring. The white church shirts would be amazing for all ages. Just remember that they´re not that big here haha. And ties. And whatever else you think of that you would like to bring would be amazing.
Love, Elder Erik Larson
Its a new year so now i will begin my diet and start going to the gym to work off the Holiday food. Its been a great year so far so I'm not complaining. I hope it has been the same for you as well. For the Christmas and New Years eve we went to sleep at a good 10:30. And let me tell you that i slept really well.
But besides the fact we couldn't leave the house all day news year we had a good week. We received a reference of a lady on Saturday that has been wanting to learn more about the church for a long time now.She has even looked on the internet to find stuff but told us couldn't find anything. We invited her to church and she came! It was really cool. It seemed like she enjoyed all the meetings. We were just amazed to see what happened. She made friends really quickly and we hardly had to do anything because the members had a good control over her. Explaining the small things we do, guiding her around, and asking any ?´s she had. Hopefully we can have a FHE with her tomorrow with a family here in the ward but we´ll see how it goes.You asked about what things you could bring. The white church shirts would be amazing for all ages. Just remember that they´re not that big here haha. And ties. And whatever else you think of that you would like to bring would be amazing.
Love, Elder Erik Larson
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Elder Larson and friends
I thought it would be fun to post some of the pictures of people who have visited Erik's cut-out while he's been gone!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Follow up to Christmas call
Hola to all-
That was a nice, quick 30 min i believe on Saturday. It was fun to talk to you. I'm glad your excited to come down here. It should be fun from what you told me we´re going to do. But the holidays here, like you both know are always different than for for anybody else. They had a ton a fireworks at midnight but i slept right through it. Christmas was pretty chill. And just these past few days because no one seems to be home. But it should be better this next week. But other than that I'm doing fantastic. Thanks for everything again.
Love,
Elder Erik Larson
P.S.- There is a book called The LDS Missionary Workout Program or something similar to that name that i would like. You don't have to send it but i would like it when i get back. Only if you can find it. If not than that's ok.
That was a nice, quick 30 min i believe on Saturday. It was fun to talk to you. I'm glad your excited to come down here. It should be fun from what you told me we´re going to do. But the holidays here, like you both know are always different than for for anybody else. They had a ton a fireworks at midnight but i slept right through it. Christmas was pretty chill. And just these past few days because no one seems to be home. But it should be better this next week. But other than that I'm doing fantastic. Thanks for everything again.
Love,
Elder Erik Larson
P.S.- There is a book called The LDS Missionary Workout Program or something similar to that name that i would like. You don't have to send it but i would like it when i get back. Only if you can find it. If not than that's ok.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christmas coming up
Hello to all-
So the rumors on the street is that its Christmas this week. I don't know if you caught the memo but it is coming up pretty quick. Saturday i can call around 9 or 10 my time here in the morning and we can talk for a good 30 min. But the Christmas season is always enjoyable in one way or another. Its just the way we look at it i believe.
But I'm so happy that all is well and that you guys have been kept busy. As for me we have been kept pretty busy. We have been running around to help the other elders and sisters with their baptisms, getting them medicine, and trying to help a few people come to church.
But on Friday we had the Christmas party for the ward and we got one family that we´re teaching to come. We weren't allowed to go but we dropped them off and they had a great time they said. We didn't have anyone come to church on Sunday which was hard to take again but alli vamos right?
So we tried to pass by with that family last night but the husband wasn't there. They have a small little tienda as well. But instead of talking with her we saw another lady that looked lost or
she was waiting for something. So we quickly noticed that and we started to talk to her. At this point of time, around 7:30 she has been waiting for her husband since 2pm. She basically started talking to us about life and just personally things. She said that he was probably drunk again. And just with talking to her i felt really bad. I asked her about if she is attending i church and she said no, but that she used to. And then i asked her how has been her life without church. And then she told us how it has changed a lot and a lot more problems have come into her life. And i just stood there shocked because she has had a tough past few years and that she really needs a change in her life. She was going out of down but we gave her a BOM and we´ll be in touch these next few days. Its just hard to think how this can happen to a family. And how it really hurts the kids and the wife as well. I have come to have a lot more respect for the moms and wives out there that are trying to do whats best and not give up trying when i would think i could not handle it.They just have that buso about them which make me want to be a little better.
But in other news.....today we had a big soccer tournament with the whole mission. It was fun but of course we lost. I'm a big fan of soccer now. I'm obviously not the best but i love it.
But thanks for everything this year and we will talk SaTuRdAy
Love,
Elder Erik Larson
So the rumors on the street is that its Christmas this week. I don't know if you caught the memo but it is coming up pretty quick. Saturday i can call around 9 or 10 my time here in the morning and we can talk for a good 30 min. But the Christmas season is always enjoyable in one way or another. Its just the way we look at it i believe.
But I'm so happy that all is well and that you guys have been kept busy. As for me we have been kept pretty busy. We have been running around to help the other elders and sisters with their baptisms, getting them medicine, and trying to help a few people come to church.
But on Friday we had the Christmas party for the ward and we got one family that we´re teaching to come. We weren't allowed to go but we dropped them off and they had a great time they said. We didn't have anyone come to church on Sunday which was hard to take again but alli vamos right?
So we tried to pass by with that family last night but the husband wasn't there. They have a small little tienda as well. But instead of talking with her we saw another lady that looked lost or
she was waiting for something. So we quickly noticed that and we started to talk to her. At this point of time, around 7:30 she has been waiting for her husband since 2pm. She basically started talking to us about life and just personally things. She said that he was probably drunk again. And just with talking to her i felt really bad. I asked her about if she is attending i church and she said no, but that she used to. And then i asked her how has been her life without church. And then she told us how it has changed a lot and a lot more problems have come into her life. And i just stood there shocked because she has had a tough past few years and that she really needs a change in her life. She was going out of down but we gave her a BOM and we´ll be in touch these next few days. Its just hard to think how this can happen to a family. And how it really hurts the kids and the wife as well. I have come to have a lot more respect for the moms and wives out there that are trying to do whats best and not give up trying when i would think i could not handle it.They just have that buso about them which make me want to be a little better.
But in other news.....today we had a big soccer tournament with the whole mission. It was fun but of course we lost. I'm a big fan of soccer now. I'm obviously not the best but i love it.
But thanks for everything this year and we will talk SaTuRdAy
Love,
Elder Erik Larson
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