white but not cold- Dec 21, 2009

well it has been a couple of confusing days here in Sincelejo. Its a fun city here, but im having a hard time getting oriented because its so flat. it is not quite as hot as Cartagena or at least it doesnt feel like it. We were able to start the cambio off well with 4 confirmations in the zone and we have quite a few progressing for the next weeks. my compa´s name is elder Rojas and he is half peruvian half chilien. He is real skinny and walks fast ( i think that might be why he is so skinny). He has about 1 year in the mission and this is his 3rd cambio here in Sincelejo, so i have just basically following him around because i dont know where i am half of the time. My area is fun because they are alot of people to teach and alot of excersice to do (that means its big and also its about 15 mins walking from where we live). But when we are walking to the area we pass through the farmers market and they have TONS of fruits. For noche buena we are all going to buy water melons and they are going to be great! seeing for christmas we are going ot work like normal i thought it would be better if i called you in the night instead of in the morning so the phone call doesnt throw my spanish off for the day. So ill call you the 25th at 7ish or a 8ish, depends on when the other elderes in the house are gonna call. We are putting in the telephone line tommorrow so hopefully there wont be any problem with the call going out friday, i doubt there will but we are in colombia so just be aware. Im staying busy and happy because im doing the lords work where and how he wants it to be done.
love ya all and ill call ya christmas!!
Elder Larson

oh ps because we have super cool cheap phone cards every ring counts as a minute so answer the phone fast, that might not need be said but i thought that would add a fun competitve edge to who gets to answer first.

me voy de esta ciudad LOCA- Dec 15, 2009

hay cambios!! Im heading off to the city of Sincelejo in the deparment of Sucre. Its a districto and my compi here was there before and he is telling me it is the promised land. Its in the savannah of the coast so its really flat and its about an hour from the ocean. its going to be a little hotter because there wont be so much breeze but my compi tells me that there are TONS of fruit and they are all real cheap, you can buy a watermelon (yes we have fresh watermelon in december) for about a dollar.. so ill be drinking fresh watermelon juice alot ... enjoy your postum dad hahaha. Ill miss Cartagena a bit but not deathly. Its pretty and all in some parts but really ill just tell you now that im leaving that is the most dangerous city in Colombia at this point. So many robberies and jumpings everyday its not fun. About once a week i had to deal with something happing to the missionaries, people breaking into the houses, them getting robbed, and other things. I havent got robbed so dont worry im fine leaving here but im relieved that im getting out of here in one piece. Just a lot of stress being LZ here, but Sincelejo is more country and so maybe being LZ there ill be able to focus on the spiritual part of the misionareis and not just their lives. And dont worry im getting sent in PLANE to sincelejo, not because its really far, but because there is a fun mountain range in the middle where people who dont share the christmas cheer and wear camo live.
so i hope you have sensed my feelings of relief and happienss. i have learned alot here in Cartagena and ill always remeber it. When we come back it will be safe because none of the stuff im talking about happens in the tourist parts, just where we work! the mission is a GREAT experience to learn how to sacrifice and trust in the blessings that are coming.
Love you all,
Elder Larson

p.s. ill called christmas day at noon sharp
p.p.s. mom call my helper lady at USU and see what she says.

BAUTISMO- Dec. 7, 2009

yeahh we baptized Marco freulan de la cruz sanchez! it went really well and he was super happy. never have i had so many techinal problems such as church doors that wont open, water that doesnt come, and members who want to use the baptismal font for a primary activity but i dunked the guy and the Lord was with us. Also this week we have found 2 great familys which has been really uplifting. It seems like we could save cartagena from getting destroyed early after all.... oh wait all the people who are listening to us arent from cartagena... how ironic! really this city is SO gritty and dirty. The music here is really loud and vulgar (and the problem is that i understand it now) and the people aren’t in the mood to listen to two Mormons. But if i have learned anything here (and i have learned ALOT) it would really be how much the world values life and the real price of sin. You can see the weight the people carry in their faces and the price that they pay for years. You can hear in their tone of voice when they speak about what they do. and you can just feel it as you contact them that they are lost and want something but just dont want it from where they should. But they just live for the weekend like scared children and then try to forget it all drinking the weekend away (the weekend here starts thursday). And then monday they are back without money or hope because they are just where they were a week before. Obviously they all need to repent and me as well so that’s what im working for. There was a talk I read from Elder Maxwell in an old liahona that said something I really liked an it applys to Cartagena ¨the atonement is so wonderful because through repentance our tomorrows are not slaves to our yesterdays¨ that is what we all need to know.
but regardless of what they people here do im have really been blessed and happy in what i am doing. we are finding the pure in heart and we are purifiying ourselves while doing it. We had a good fast yesterday and the members are giving some refernces this week so that will be a good way to find some new people to teach. The baptism was really satisfying and again i am reminded of how much i really dont do in the conversion of someone and how grateful i am for the little part the lord does allow me to play. The devoncial was really super and very purifying to listen to the music. I love the steadiness o the prophet and the force of his simplicity. I feel a lot like the description of pte uchtdorf that we pass by and nobody really sees us, only those who really want can see the beauty of and the truth of what we carry. I am so thankful everyday for my testimony that the things that I say and teach are true and for all your testimonies which unite with my to bring happiness to a world that I didn’t know before my mission but know I know. And I know how much it needs what we have. True love and a light, the gospel of Jesus Christ
love you all
Elder Larson