Week 39-Winter and The Plan of Salvation

"And what a loooovely mornin'!"

Gooood morning, mi familia!  I hope you're all enjoying the 60+ weather down there; we went to the distribution centre in Cardston last week, and they were playing KSL over the speakers.  ...So weird.  But, also kind of fun. :)

Before I go any further, I'll reassure you that I am NOT, in fact, going to freeze to death. :)  My two coats should suffice.  Although, I was reading Doctrine and Covenants 84 the other day (A good portion of which is directed at missionaries), and two verses stuck out at me:

78 For I suffered them not to have purse or scrip, neither two coats.
 105 And if any man shall give unto any of you a coat, or a suit, take the old and cast it unto the poor, and go on your way rejoicing.

...So we'll see what ends up happening. :P

Well, I've been doing my best to help Elder Heuer hit the ground running here in Pincher, and there don't seem to be any complaints from him, so the work progresses despite my best efforts!  We had a meeting with a less-active lady the other day; her name's Chantelle, and she's from Québec, which means I get to practice my French with her!  But her story of less-activity is quite interesting, and merits some telling.

She joined the Church in 1979(ish) and was quite active.  She moved to Southern Alberta because there were mountains and Mormons here.  One day, she had a near-death experience, and she saw the Spirit World: A sea of endlessly flowing spirits, all part of the same consciousness like the drops of water in the sea.  On the other side, she remembered feeling the veil taken away, and recalled the creation of all things: Even shouting for joy at the opportunity she would have to live in mortality.  She met a figure of glowing, pure light, and she felt a feeling of intense remorse. She remembered that she had a mission in her life, and she hadn't yet accomplished it.  The figure gave her a choice, and she chose to return to Earth to fulfill her mission.

...It's extremely powerful to hear her tell it. Really.  However, then comes the less-activity.  She attended church shortly thereafter, and was still feeling pretty spiritually sensitive at the time.  In Sunday School, the teacher started the lesson by saying, "Now, we all now that God sends us trials to test our faith."  Something sent a spark through her telling her it wasn't quite the truth, and she ran from the room crying, never to return.

...Intense, right?  Since that moment, the way she's interpreted her short moment on the other side has changed completely.  The experience itself is in line with Church doctrine, but the interpretation thereof has led her through paths of darkness.  She has invited us over for American Thanksgiving dinner (Or, as I like to call it, REAL Thanksgiving), and we'll be teaching her an amalgamation of the Plan of Salvation and the Restoration to see if we can address her concerns.  Any advice?

Well, we should probably get to shopping and cleaning and travelling and preparing and... Sigh.  P-day is sometimes the least-fun day.  But, alas, that's life!

I wanted to wish you a Happy Anniversary, Mom!  Thanks for making the best decision of my life!  (Who wants Star Wars Paul, anyway? :P)

Love you!
-Elder Jared D. Larsen

Week 38.5-Birthday and New Companion

...SURPRISE!!  I found out yesterday that, if you're training, you get to take your son to email for an hour the next day, so... Here I am!  Unfortunately, that means Elder Downing and I both missed out when we were being trained, but oh well. 

So.  My birthday.  It was absolutely wonderful!!  :D Why?  Well, a couple of reasons.  First off, the day before transfer P-day is called Miracle Monday, because you get to proselyte during times you would normally be shopping and messing around with other missionaries.  Which means there's a possibility of running into people who are only available on Mondays! While I didn't see that happen, I definitely saw a lot of miracles. 

Second, because it was Miracle Monday, we held our District Meeting that day!  While it was a tad bit gong show, it was probably one of the greatest gifts I could get. 

Third, SISTER LUDWIG MADE YUM-YUM!! :D So cool! I'm pretty sure the whole neighborhood heard me gasp when she brought it out of the fridge. :)  She also gave me a super-hero themed gift, and tells me that your packages arrived today, so we'll be over there tonight! 

But yes, my birthday was grand.  It was definitely made that much cooler by that family picture courtesy of Laura (I'm pretty sure she made it?)! The family's starting to change a lot!  The winner for the most-changed, however, is probably Melissa.  I didn't recognize her at first!!  She's growing up so fast! :'D 

Well, in other news, last week I shook the hand of a Seventy by the name of Elder Schwitzer.  He came for what's called "Mission Tour:" a glorified Zone Conference where we gathered as the Northern or Southern halves of the mission for a general authority to address us.  He and his wife spoke very well, but... I got a lot more out of what our Mission President talked about. O_o Weird, right?  I guess the Spirit knew what I'd need that day, and it wasn't Elder Schwitzer... 

...However, this event also meant another run-in with Sister Butler!  After much laughing, joking, and talk of "plotting our glorious return to Canada," she surprised me with a wonderfully-drawn card, depicting that horrific moment where I launched my leg through the practice room at the High School.  ...Yeah, I hit the ground laughing and crying all at once. :P  She also gave me some of the letters that she'd written me, not knowing if I'd ever be able to read them, and they were a much needed boost! (By the way, she got transferred yesterday; she's now in downtown Medicine Hat!) 

Aaaand we're here.  Back to today.  Where I'm sitting with my new companion.  He's pretty cool, and he's bringing with him a spirit of enthusiasm and diligence.  I made him teach three lessons yesterday, and then we spent the last hour of his first day shoveling a heavily-packed walkway with our ward mission leader: Not once did he complain, so that's pretty good! 

His name is Elder Heuer (Pronounced: Hoyer), and he's from Highland!!  And, no: He doesn't know Bean. :( He's 18 years old, graduated in 2013, has a black belt, is pretty good with ASL, and plays Euphonium and piano.  He also sings, which is fortunate: I'd already volunteered us to do a musical number for the ward's Christmas program in a couple of weeks, so... yeah. :)  He's been born into an area fraught with opportunities to teach and learn; I mean, he'll be helping me teach a portion of a missionary class for this Sundays Member-MTC fireside, so he's hitting the ground running. :) 

Well, I should send you some pictures while I reply to some other emails.  So glad I have this opportunity. :)  I'll email you Monday! 

Love,

Elder Jared D. Larsen

Crossing Paths with Sis. Butler

Posterity Picture: Jared's Trainer, Jared, and Jared's second son

Birthday District Meeting

Temple Time!

Week 38-Brief update following transfers

Well, it looks like my emailing time is going to be cut a lot shorter than usual, so I have less than ten minutes to try and tell you everything I want to!

First off: I am NOT getting transferred!!  It looks like Elder Smith will be leaving, and I'll be bringing my son here to start off his mission!

Second: Thanks so much for the birthday wishes!  It sure did mean a lot to me; reading a list of 20 things my family admires about me, as well as the words of advice and encouragement, have definitely had a positive effect on how I want to conduct the next year of my life: All of which will be spent serving the Lord. :)

Third: Yes, I am feeling a lot better health-wise; I determined the cause was a lack of hot-cocoa drinking during the cool-weather months, so I upped my intake, and... voila! :)

Fourth: Our investigator's name is Jennifer, and she has a daughter named Alyson that she wants us to teach.

Fifth: My email next week will make up for this one!

Thanks a bunch, and I love you all!

-Elder Larsen

Week 37-Training News and Investigators

Wow... Is it really Tuesday already?!  I don't know about for you back home, but time just seems to fly between emailing sessions!  I've got a couple of items of big news to share, but, for some reason, my brain isn't working today... Which means this probably won't be my most well-worded email ever. But hey, hopefully it'll be better than nothing! 

So.  First item of big news: I'M TRAINING!!! Again!! :D I found out just last Thursday, which means my "son" has been in the MTC for just under a week!!  Am I surprised?  ...Extremely.  I was pretty sure that I messed it up with Elder Downing... But maybe this is my second chance? That means my new transfer prediction is that I'm staying with my son, and Elder Smith will go elsewhere. 

Second: Because of this news, Elder Smith and I were invited to attend the Trainer's Meeting in Calgary last Friday.  On the drive there, our phone rang, showing a number we didn't recognize.  Since I was driving, Elder Smith answered it on speaker phone.  There was a woman's voice on the other end, asking if she'd reached the Mormon missionaries.  He responded in the affirmative; she told us she'd had some questions about our Church and was hoping she could meet with us to have some of them answered.  Elder Smith asked if we could come by Saturday at 1; she agreed, and he hung up the phone. ...Without getting her name. (A mistake which, as it turned out, made the situation a whole lot more awkward than it needed to be.) But!  We had a lesson scheduled!  We went, taught her and her daughter, committed them to attend church, and they did. O_o What?! Yeah.  We've got another lesson set with her for this Saturday. *Fist pump* 

Third:  Do you remember me telling you about Louise?  That super-solid investigator who just showed up for church in Sparwood?  And then she promptly moved off to Saskatchewan?  Well, Elder Downing and I received an email from her today saying the following:

"Dear Elders, 

I hope this email finds you in great health and great moods. My term has been going better than I thought and is going by so fast. I hope your mission has been going well and I hope you  have lots of visitors that want teaching. I felt bad because it had taken me so long to email you. I just found your cards today and thought it must be a sign. Also I have some other news, this Saturday at 7 will be my baptism.  I will pray that your week will be great and that new students will find their way to you. 

Louise" 

...I KNOW!!! :D :D  I'm so sad I won't be there to witness it, but I'm happy that she's continued to search out the truth!! Gah; You know, Heaven is going to be so great.  All of us will get to meet up with those people who impacted our lives for the better, and get to tell them exactly what they did for us.  And often, they won't even remember the act.  As a closing hymn in our District Meeting today, we sang hymn # 216: We Are Sowing. Some of its words read:

We are sowing, daily sowing
Countless seeds of good and ill...
...Seeds that live and grow and flourish
When the sower’s hand is cold.
By a whisper sow we blessings;
By a breath we scatter strife.
In our words and thoughts and actions
Lie the seeds of death and life. 

This hymn and Louise's email reminded me that everything we do has a lasting consequence on the world around us, and "if [we] do not watch [ourselves], and [our] thoughts, and [our] words, and [our] deeds," we may well sow the seeds of strife, snares, and sorrows (Mosiah 4:30). 

Well, I feel I may be falling under the weather a tad, so my mind's completely fogged; I'll let you go for today, and I'll email you next week! 

Love,
Elder Larsen

Week 36-Halloween and Growing Experiences

It's just another manic Monday" here in Pincher Creek, and the snow continues to fall as my spirits do the contrary.  This week has been a crazy, topsy-turvy, "unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe" roller coaster that's pulled me in about 50 directions, stretching the extent of my growth as a missionary to its limits!

...With that kind of description, you'd probably expect I'd have a story or two to share.  Yet, I almost don't.  If there's one thing I've learned on the mission, it's that any situation can cause growth if the so-called "victim" chooses instead to be the recipient of it.  Which means, even the most minute amount of adversity or success can cause torrential growth when we choose to allow it to.

...But I'll step off of my philosophical soap-box for a second and talk about the week.  As you're aware, it began with pumpkin-carving with the Ludwigs, who were kind enough to supply the pumpkin and whatever else I'd need in order to create a "master-piece."  When their expectation was me being a "professional" in the art, I fear I may have failed to deliver in that regard; however, rarely am I actually happy with one of my carvings, so I suppose I best not worry about it!  I would enjoy some pictures of your own carvings, though; Jori's foam pumpkin sounds incredible.  I'll ask Sister Ludwig if she'd be willing to show me. :P

The next day brought with it the rare opportunity to meet with President Nicholas one-on-one as we had our interviews.  His advice (coupled with our Fleet Coordinator's applause at the condition of our cars, resulting in an additional 100 clicks for the transfer) resulted in a refreshing desire to do whatever it takes to make missionary work progress here in Pincher Creek.

The day following, we received a phone call from Sister Ludwig, informing me that a package had arrived and I should come as soon as I could to open it.  Within ten minutes, I was already wearing the new coat and scarf (soo stylish!! You know me well!), introducing everybody to the wonderful joys of pine nuts (they're already almost gone...), and enjoying the warm memories the cold, roasted almonds brought!  As I've eaten the latter, I've been reminded that the last time I had them, you, Ashley, Dad, and I were wandering around the vast winter wonderland that was Central Park.  Dad had purchased each of us our own package and, seeing that I'd already devoured mine, handed me his unopened one; gesturing to his belly, he spoke his oft-repeated phrase of, "I don't need it!" Coming from such giving parents, it's always been easy for me to see others in need and say, "I don't need it," and give them whatever "it" is.  So thank you for teaching me that basic necessary skill. :)

Halloween came next, and with it a new mission policy I hadn't been aware of: Apparently, we aren't allowed to be out proselyting after 6:00 on Halloween and New Year's!  That meant that all of the missionaries in our zone who could came to Fort Macleod, where we had a wonderful evening of a waffle dinner (provided by the senior couple) and board games.  That night, the other District Leader demonstrated to me another valuable lesson that I'd neglected to make use of.  As we sat in the gym playing Clue, a member of one of the Fort Macleod wards came in to set up for a stake event the next day.  He proceeded to ruffle our feathers as he made comments like, "Wow, is this what missions are coming to?  You're getting days off now, eh?  I don't know about you, but I never got a day off onmy mission.  The Church is at what, 13 million members last time I checked? And here you are, sitting around, playingClue!  I tracted every day of my mission.  Christmas, Easter, you name it.  But we never just sat around."

...We didn't take this criticism so well.  We responded with sarcastic comments like, "Your mission must've sucked!" Or "Well, we've got 15 million members now; when was the last time you checked? 20 years ago?"  He and we fumed from opposite ends of the gym as he set up 15-20 tables and we continued our game.  As he commenced the arduous process of placing 8 chairs around each, the other District Leader stood up and began helping him.  Begrudgingly, we all followed suit, and the hour-job was done within ten minutes.  By the end, this man's attitude toward us had completely changed.  Granted, now he was telling us how much he respected us for "staying on our missions even though we got sent to Calgary, Alberta where the work is dead," but hey: he respected us!  I was reminded that by simple acts of service, even the most negative attitudes can be erased.

 Okay, a lot of other good stuff happened this week (including having a non-member agree to baptism), but I feel this email is already insanely long; hopefully I'll be a little more concise next week.  As far as in response to your email, yes, we do daylight savings, and it's been wonderful. :) Um... At Disneyland, you should eat a pickle, and go on the swinging gondolas on the Ferris Wheel!! >:) I didn't know Kaysie was starting a business! I actually have been feeling lately like she should, so that's cool.  I have received Uncle Bryan's letters, and I tend to quote them in my District Meetings... Hopefully he doesn't mind!  And I would love a box or three of contacts in the next package if possible; Taylor's probably found all of them in his cleaning escapades (and despite the old prescription, they still appear to be good), but I think I either left them in my room or in one of the drawers in the main floor bathroom.  Transfer prediction: Um... I think Elder Smith is leaving.  Either that, or we're getting purged.  I hope it's not the latter!

I did find my SD card, and I've attached a picture of one of my favorite signs here in Pincher Creek. :P

Well, I love you, familia; keep doing what you're doing, because it's doing wonders for me, and I feel it's doing wonders for you, too!  Thank you, I love you, and in case I don't see ya: "Good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" :)

-Elder Jared D. Larsen