temple

Want to hear a joke? la huelga. hahahahah

This week we were once again able to work the entire week and i am so thankful for everyone that we were able to meet with. The mission culture is to work carefully with converts and less actives. I understand why. Walter has faced some problems this last week, and even though he is reading the book of mormon praying and visiting with us every other day, he made a bad decision with some friends. I couldn´t help but say withing myself. how in the world is that possible? If he really prays and reads how can you go wrong. I listened carefully and realized that he is beating hismelf up more that he thinks. I am so gratefully for every sunday that we have the chance to renew our covenants and recieve the spirit again and again. I read something the other day that said that every day we need to repent. Honestly, i wasn´t doing that. When i read meditated, really why dont i repent every day, i am so prideful!! haha but truly, i am making an effort to see the things i do well, and be honest with myself that need a little improvement. 

One of my favorite times this week was the chance I had to teach Luis Angel and his Wife Milagros. Luis Angel is oficially rescued and had an interview with the president of the branch. His wife, even though is a sweetie, and wants to KNOW is lacking the faith to DO things. To search for herself. She said, it is true i felt something in your churhc that i have never felt before. My favorite part though as i was about to say was that sunday he said ´´When i was 20 i was baptized because i wanted to be good and unfortunatly i had a bad group of friends and i was far from the church after, but now, i really want to be better and follow jesus christ.´´ Such a good guy. 

This whole week we talked of the temple with members and all because they need reccomendations to be at the dedication that will come for the temple in Trujillo peru in June. I know that the spirit in the lessons that we talk of the temple is something different. I am so thankful for all the times i was able to go from the time  I was 12 until now. The spirit truly is the strongest there and is indescribable. 

As we repent we show god that we are teachable and willing to do HIS WILL. 

friends, romans and countrymen, like president monson said one time, ´´“No sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings.”^{3 ( of the temple)}

ciau mis amados

hna larsen

HUMP DAY

What a wonderful time it was to celebrate the day for all mothers!! It was such a cherished time to chat with the family, and remember the most important things in our lives. I am so grateful for each of them in my life!

This week there has still been some political shinanigans going on with the people from the valley. This week they just were in groups throwing rocks at all the police and then the police would send a smoke bomb off. So due to all that we were confined into our rooms for 3 days it was TORTURE. haha the good thing is that i read just about every liahona that we had, and had lots of time to think. Even went a little crazy. But i enjoyed it because i was able to find lots of funny scriptures that explained really well how i felt. 

i will send some examples

mormon 1 :17  But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts; and because of the hardness of their hearts the land wascursed for their sake.

that made me laugh pretty hard. 

At the end of the week we were fortunate enough to see Alipio be baptized as a memberof the church. When he had time to give testimony he said, ´´I feel as if i was carry a lot of weight and i just left them all behind´´  Definitely the best part of the mission is to see  the beginnings of others testimionies. I am grateful for the chance i have to be a missionary and the happiness it brings to me and to others. 

Happiest of days to all mothers out there. Something i liked in the Liahona of March  “the world’s greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ.”¹ 

9 months down, 9 to go. It is all downhill from here. 

Photos include pics of the baptism

and the peruvian ideaof protection haha

What is the prettiest color?

WHITE!!!

Hola mis queridos,

Where to even begin. First, Walter was baptized and confirmed as a memeber of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. It was going to be at the beach but the day of his baptism we woke up and tons of members called us saying that the ocean is dangerous and the waves are huge red flag type of weather. I didnt believe it but we called walter and he was already at the beach and told us ya it wont work out. All i could think of was that Satan knows when someone wants to be baptized in the ocean haha So he asked us to do it in the AGUADITA hah it is like a pool with a porthole to the ocean it is actually really cool. So at first i was super nervous because it is a saturday and there were some randoms. But we started the reunion and it was beautiful, then when it was time to get in the pool we asked the strangers if they could please get out for a minute. It was a little awkward cause there were 2 that DID NOT want to get out. But i asked them one more time with lots of love and they climbed out haah. It was kinda funny because it was just a bunch of people around the pool but once the member began the ordinance EVERYONE just got super quiet and the spirit was super strong. After the peeps were clapping and a few were asking about the church it was a great experience. Walter looked so so happy the whole day and he was able to have his 3 children be there. The part that makes me the most happy is that he truly is happy. Joy is an eternal happiness. The baptism was a spiritual experience but there was many more in the teaching that were even more powerful for me. We saw his mother who is less actice the night before and she just goes THANK YOU SO MUCH. she went on for 15 minutes but the coolest thing she said is that she wants walter to help her understand the book of mormon and than now she has somebody to help support her pray. The gospel is for families. i know that is true!

TENDER MOMENT OF THE WEEK: We were teaching of ayuno and tithing to a convert who is definitely the poorest person that i have taught this far in the mission and she said, i have never done this, but i want to help the poor and i will do this every month. I just had tears in my eyes and told her that she would be blessed with a mansion in heaven as she continues faithful to these commandments. It was such a beautiful experience. ahhh i love teaching

On wednesday i was just thinking while walking to an appointment that i truly have never been happier, i am so happy just working hard. This last weeek we taught the most lessons we have ever had and we just doing so well together focused and working and just having such a good time doing it. I know that this work is the most important and that it truly brings the most satisfaccion (Preach My Gospel) for realz 

Things politically are the same there are police in the entrances of the place because the farmers are not giving up the mine business. The saddest part for me is that the members are there without food because no trucks can come in and stuff so the ward fasted for all those in the curva and stuff. 

cant wait to see your beautiful faces in t - 6 días!!! 

que vive la huelga!!

Mollendo is the place to be. The weather is cooling down a little bit, and it has been such a pleasure. Every week i sit here at the computer and think, how in the world can i describe my feelings and experiineces and everything i have learned in a short email. Every day this week i have been super happy and excited and also concerned and preocupied. At the end of every day however, i learn that patience is truly a virture. Patience includes trusting in god and the plan he has. It doesnt mean just suffering through the bad times waiting for things to get better, but to take iniciative and figure things out. So this friday when walter called and said that he passed his baptismal interview and could be baptized we were on cloud 9! Being the anxious people that we are as members the member that was with him assumed he wanted to do it the following day. Walter felt a ton of pressure and got super cold. We tried calling him ourserlves and he didnt respond. We waited the whole day to hear from him and the whole day we couldnt even think straight. All our prayers thoughts were tied to what happened in Arequipa with the interview of Walter. We called him again at night and he didnt sound the same. He said that he is doubting everything that he has a ton of questions. We were able to talk to him for a little to pray and just remember to read the scriptures in times of trouble. The next day he came back to mollendo and we were able to talk things out. Basically he was hung up on a few things that happened and found a friend in Arequipa who was talking bad about the members. He also ran into a friend who told him Wow walter you have changed. you look so different glowing, keep doing what you are doing. I dont know who this second friend was but was truly an answer to our prayers. 

In this time when we are in decidions we need to follow the advice of the scriptures. Ask and if it is good, god will cause us to feel good, and if it is bad, you will be in  a stupor of thought. This time that he was doubting everything, he couldnt sleep couldn´t do anything, i know that he was going through a stupor of thought. 

The mission is a great place for me to learn and experience how the gospel can truly change lives of people. I have seen someones actions and resemblance change physically. He is a different person than he was just 2 months earlier. I pray that everything works out well this week and that he can join the path of discipleship this week . 

something funny i was thinking of the other day. Wow i give my number out to everyone and thier grandmas here and nobody calls. This has never been a bigger downer on my self esteem.  ahaha jk I am super happy here. 

12 Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end.

con amor,

hermana larsen 

The pic with this couple at the beach. I have never seen a more awkward photo in my life. haha 

back to workkk

BACK TO MOLLENDO and it feels oh so good. It was so weird to be in somebody elses area for more than a week, we were really missing our area. We were able to sleep in the mission home for 2 nights and it was like the best break ever. In the morning we made our own breakfast. I chose to make french toast. and the latinos stuck to their rice haha I learned a lot the last week of faith in the lord and the plan he has for every one of his kids.

So we got back and have just been trying to work hard in the zone again. Walter has his baptismal interview scheduled this week, we will see what happens. He is applying the book of mormon in his life, and says he falls asleep to the hymns. haha what a good guy. 

Bad news is that cristian the kid that wants to go on the mission, told his mom, and his mom kind of made him not so excited about it. Her husband is an alcoholic and crisitan is always protecting her and so he doesnt want to leave her solo. 

Sunday was a very neat experience for me. The teacher of relief society leans over to me and goes, hermanita the woman who was supposed to teach relief society didnt come can you please give the lesson. I read the title and it was on the power of the scriptures. I did something very different than what they ususally do. I wanted everyone to really leave church and be spiritually edified. The only way to get that is for people to listen and share. I invited everyone to read their favorite scripture and WHY. What story does it have for you. Sure enough one by one everyone was sharing their testimonies and people were in tears and it truly was what sunday is all about. Pëople spiritually uplifted to attack another week. I know the scriptures have power and i have loved studying harder than ever these past 8 months. 

cant wait to just work even harder here this next change. It is gonna be awesome! 

Thanks for all your prayers and loves. 

hermana larsen

DyC 100: 12 Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end.

mucho amor!! 

pics pics pics!!!

The Civil War Continues

About 5:30 last monday we got a call from the penchonista hurry come back the police are shutting down the road...etc. We went back to the area a little early and began to make our visits. We then got a call from the District Leaders to go back to the room for the night for these Huelgas. Unfortunately, all day tuesday as well were assigned to the room. There were all the people from the valley in the hills making troubble. We went up to the top of the roof and watched the police run these people out. Then the next morning we got a call, you have 30 minutes to pack your things for a week, we are taking everyone out of Mollendo for the Huelga. So this helper of President came in his mini van and we all left mollendo. Things didnt seem to hit me until a few days ago. Basiclaly i feel like a scripture in Alma....

 56 And it came to pass that the curse was not taken off of Korihor; but he was cast out, and went about from house to house begging for his food. 

Although, we arent begging for food, we have been all over arequipa for this week, and we have no idea when or if we will be able to go back. It is sad because we have a baptism planned for this saturday, but we dont know if it will be possible now. I was outwardly showing faith and cheerfulness and that everything would be okay but sometimes i was thinking WHY NOW! Right when we are seeing our area progress and pick up. I then just had to pray that the lord could continue to work in the area even though we couldnt help him. I do know that everything will be okay, and i truly think that we will be able to go back this week. All i can do is trust the lord on this one. 

Had the chance to participate with 2 zones in a musical program and we sang songs of christ. I dont know if it was the spirit of the fact that i hadnt heard someone sing decently for about 8 months but it was truly beautiful. As i was thinking of this situation we have i was just reaffirmed in my belief that Jesus truly came to earth to save all of us and that in his own power raised himself from the dead. He is and can be apart of our lives every single day. 

Have a wonderful week my loved ones.  campaign #prayformollendo

besos y ambrazos

hermana larsen

this computer is a little ghetto so sorry for no photos....next week. I do have a bunch. 

Olympus 5th is representing the mission peru arequipa well. We were almost ALL TOGETHEr for the first time (missing hermana Mahas) all is well here!

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

Pascual!!!!!!!!!

Happy Easter erryone

Here is different that the good ol USA. There is no bunny who lays eggs of candy or anything. What they do on Friday is everyone eats this soup that is all types of marine animals because you arent supposed to eat any type of meat to honor when jesus was on the cross. Then on sunday for breakfast we had ´´Ressurecion soup´´ Lets just say i really missed the classic German Pancakes haha Also, there are people who act like the savior and have people beat them with whips and it is a disturbing thought to me. I am grateful for a savior and i know i dont have to suffer like him. 

The photos include a service project of building a house ( basically we moved dirt and bricks) but it was so blazing hot and the majority of the time just us gringos were goin hard but we made it a good time by making everything a game. 

Also, had a huge district activity so all the branches could enjoy each others company at the beach. It was fun playing soccer and enjoying others company. 

Conference we had a great turnout of investigators and less actives. 12 to be exact. I was so happy seeing each one just stroll in. I know each one of them heard exactly what they needed to because after we talked with them and it was so sweet to hear what they learned.

Beginning with WALTER, the day before we taught of tithing and fasting, and the first talk of conference eyring hit it out of the park. We asked walter later that evening what he has learned from the past month and he said, i really believe in the book of mormon, and i had questions of why we fast and pay tithing and they were answered in conference. We will see what happens this week, he doesnt want to be baptized too quickly he has a little fear. He is so funny he asked for a hymn book and pictures of the temples and everything. 

CRISTIAN our rock solid resuce! We came to EVERY SINGLE session of general conference. He told us that a few weeks ago his mom wanted him to train in the marines and he went to ask the place when he could join and they said come the following day. Cristian said he prayed and decided that a mission would be better for him. His prayer was reaffirmed in conference in priesthood session listening to the prophet talk of preparing to serve. He will pass the sacrament next week, and as we were filling out more goals we asked when he would want to serve, in a year from now, less? LESS!! 

I remember praying about a month ago to help this branch have a missionary serving, and the lord is responding quicker than i thought. The work is really his. Sometimes, i forget to recognize his hand in everything, but it is nice every week as i write to see all that the lord has prepared to be accomplished. During general conference i was thinking why has nobody mentioned baptism dont they know that there are so many people who arent members listening and then i was like duh almost all mentioned temple marriage and convenants in the temple. That truly is our goal in life, to get and remain in the temple. Baptism is just a step to get on the path. Grateful for temples. Everyone was asking me if i had been to the conference center, we are so blessed. Cant wait to go back. 

I read Helaman 10 and tried to imagine this 

and it came to pass as he was thus pondering inhis heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying:

 4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hastdone; for I have beheld how thou hast withunwearyingness declared the word, which I have givenunto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not fearedthem, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast soughtmy will, and to keep my commandments.

 5 And now, because thou hast done this with suchunwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I willmake thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and inworks; yea, even that all things shall be done unto theeaccording to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which iscontrary to my will.

I tried to imagine if i would feel comfortable getting this praise for my work here in Mollendo . There is so much more that i need to do and to pour my heart and sould into this work. At the end of the chapter the people still didnt listen. Sometimes we think our work is in vane because nobody is listening but i was reaffirmed this week when reading that it is OKAY, we are doing what we were called to do and that is what matters!

con amor

Hna Larsen