Apr 25, 2011 - Teresina Brasil Week 7 - Mission Week 33

Querido Familia,

I can never keep the number of weeks straight, but oh well. This on the 25th of April.

I was going to ask how Easter was but it looked like it was filled with the usual awesomeness. Here in Brasil we didn't do too much if not anything for Easter. Lots of people were gone visiting family, so we got to see no one in the streets! :P Although one different thing here is that people hang Judas Iscariots over the city. I saw 2 during the weekend. Didn't get to take a picture of one, but they were pretty weird.

I got to use the Plan of Salvation puzzle last week! I made sure of it. We taught the Plan of Salvation to Carlos's cousin Sandra. She has a baptismal date for this upcoming Saturday which is exciting.

It looks like Dad and Brad had an awesome bike trip. We'll have to go biking when I get back. I did 12 weeks of biking in Texas, and that was really fun. Here, its all walking. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am in Brasil, another country. It has been a rough experience with the language. Eventually I'll get it.

The weather here the past 2 weeks has been absolutely crazy. Every single day it has thunderstormed, and it's been pretty overcast a lot of the time too which is a bummer... Also, the carnival that is nearby our house, with a ferris wheel and other rides is leaving. It's a bit sad that they are moving to a new location now. It was cool to see the Ferris Wheel every night from the street walking home. Also there have been a lot of rainbows all the time which is pretty cool too. ``Double Rainbow!!"

I had another experience where I spoke and after I had said what I wanted to, the people said ``N鉶 entendi, desculpe, o que ele falou?" That is somewhat frustrating, but it happens. O_o

Sandra, one of our investigators told us a story about how she was having a lot of headaches and couldn't focus, but then she thought to say a prayer and when she had done that, the headaches went away instantly and she didn't have any more problems with that. I have been studying prayer a lot, and God truly does answer all sincere prayers. It may not be in the time frame you are expecting, but it is going to be in the manner that is going to be best for you. From her experience her testimony about prayer had been strengthened, and she no longer tries to get out of saying prayers in lessons. It is awesome to be able to witness the changes that occur in people and the blessings that they receive as they accept the Gospel.

It's pretty crazy to think that in a week I will no longer be a teenager. Weird. 20 Years old...

As for this past week, it has been quite the roller coaster. It has been a struggle with homesickness still. Not being able to communicate with the people I am around, combined with not receiving mail and hearing from home as easily are big contributors. I am trying to make the best of this trial. I've had quite the welcome to Brasil.

One thing that I have noticed is the difference between the 2 missions. I have thought that God wanted me to have many experiences that I had in Texas, and that I should apply the things that I learned and all the lessons and things to my work here in Brasil. I have learned so much though about so many things these past 7 months. It has been quite the adventure.

One thing that I am learning more is relying on the Lord through this experience. That is the only way I'll be able to do his work.

Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer. I have really enjoyed reading Jesus the Christ lately. He lives, and he and our Heavenly Father love us.

I also finished reading the Book of Mormon again this past week. So I started it again. I am so grateful that we have the scriptures today to study and learn from, and to be taught by the Holy Ghost while reading them.

Thanks for everything, I love you guys! miss you too!

Love,

Elder Phillip Larsen

Apr 18, 2011 - Teresina Brasil Week 6 - Mission Week 32

Querido Familia,

This has been quite the week, and I almost didn´t get to send an email today because I don´t have any cash on me and LAN houses are only cash but we were able to go to a members house and there we were able to do emails.

I forgot my planner today, and that is where I wrote my notes down for my email. No problems from my last email were there? The computer was very ghetto. Hopefully not.

That´s sad to hear about changes in the ward with people moving out, but it is inevitable I guess. That is going to be strange when I get back and there will be a lot of new faces.

I got another haircut, but it was a mistake on my part because now it is way shorter than I like, but in a few weeks it´ll be back to the way it was. Already been a month here in Brasil, and lately I have been having more instances with culture-shock things, (just etiquette and other details. Some phrases are rude in Portuguese that aren´t rude in English and vice-versa)

This past week we had a baptism! My first one since coming to Brasil. His name is Carlos, and he´s almost the age of a deacon. When we had fast and testimony meeting here, he bore his testimony about how he knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that the church is true. This was before he was baptized. He´s a really cool kid. We also started teaching his cousin and she is progressing towards baptism too! (I also bore my testimony on Fast and Testimony meeting in Portuguese. I have a horrible accent, but that´ll come with time. Carlos thinks its hilarious sometimes when I talk to him.)

Every day this past week has been pouring and thunder storming. I´ve been having troubles with not knowing what is going on each day. Not being able to communicate with my companion 100% is difficult in many ways but it has been a good growing experience for my Portuguese. It's been a little stressful but hopefully it will improve.

Today I saw a Monkey! A real live monkey, and a wild one at that. It was just sitting on a wall of one of our neighbor´s, and then jumped into a mango tree that is in their front yard. It was funny because Elder Pearson, another American Elder in our house said, ``Woah! What is that!?`` We looked and at first I thought it was some strange cat, but it was a monkey! Just a funny thing that happened today.

I remember Bradford talking about seeing monkeys in Brasil, and when I saw the monkey today I thought about that. I wish I had my camera with me at the time. Also I have seen many parrots, today at lunch, we saw a parrot that could talk but it didn´t say anything. Eventually I´ll get a picture of one. Reminds me of our constant quest to get a picture of Winston yawning.

I have been keeping a detailed journal for a while now and have gotten into the habit of writing often. It is fun, and it´ll be a treasure in future years when I´ll be able to recall different experiences. I wish I had been more diligent with my journal-writing before the mission.

I miss being able to listen to music. I really enjoyed the music classes in High School, Jazz Improv, and Choir. One of the Elders in the apartment has an mp3 player with lots of church music on it and we sing along to some of the songs every once in a while.

Study has become a very important time for me. Also, during the time that we go to the gym and other times too now, I have been reading Jesus the Christ. At first it was a little hard but I really enjoy it now. Study is such an important thing to do. In order to better be able to teach the things that missionaries teach, I have been strengthening my testimony by getting to know the lessons better and develop more faith in them. Also I have been trying better to use all the materials that I have because they won´t help me if I don´t use them.

This past month has been very difficult overall. Trying to learn Portuguese, and getting used to Brasil. I´m on a completely different continent! Woah! But beyond all the trials it has been making me and helping me rely more on my Savior Jesus Christ and God. This is the Lord´s work, and he is going to help me do the things he needs me to do.

One quote from an older member from the Hobbs ward said these quotes that I read in one of my books that I have. - ``Learn to love what you do, otherwise you´ll be miserable.`` and ``Always look at the good points, never let the devil let you look at all the bad.`` Also, another quote that Irmão Call from the MTC said, ``When you give Christ your all, he gives you his all.``There have been a few things that have really tried my patience, and have been hard to ignore, or look at the good and all the blessings that I have. I´m no where near perfect, but I am trying. Just some quotes that really stood out to me.

I am glad I had that book for people to write little notes in it. I have been having people sign things in it too since going on the mission, and I am really glad I have it. One of the notes someone wrote said ``This will be your greatest adventure yet!`` It has been quite the adventure, but I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord. I just need to get Portuguese down and then I´ll feel more like I am working as hard as I was in Texas. I can´t say exactly what I want to say sometimes and that is frustrating.

This church truly is led by a prophet called of God. Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ in the sacred grove. Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. These things I know to be true, and have further witnesses every day of the importance of this Gospel and this message that I have the responsibility to share.

I love you very much, thank you for your prayers and support. You´re awesome! I miss you,

Love,

Elder Phillip Larsen

Apr 11, 2011 - Teresina Brasil Week 5 - Mission Week 31

Querido Familia,

So this week has also not been too normal, but its getting there. I
actually got to go to church yesterday at the Uruguai, Ward. It is a
smaller ward, but there is a lot of love there and its cool.

The language is going to be a roller coaster for quite some time.
Already I´ve been in Brasil for a month! Time really does fly. The
language will come with time, and patience. I can tell improvement
from where I was when I arrived, but I am far from fluent.

The food here is great, although I am still getting used to how
everything works. To answer your question about dinner, we are
actually not allowed to eat dinner with members, because we eat lunch
every day with a member. The food here is delicious. Usually we go to
a bakery as well, they are everywhere. Buy about 1-2 reais of bread,
and eat that for breakfast. I also eat noodles with pizza sauce, and
cookies. I bought chocolate milk a couple of days ago, however, the
price was deceiving and it said R$1,20 but that was per container in
the 3 container package. Food is pretty expensive here, well it seems
like it anyways.

This computer is so ghetto... I hope you don´t get a virus or
something. It does have Mozilla Firefox though which is nice.

Can´t think right now... Grrr... This email is a little shorter than
others. This week has been good though. A little tough at times. Elder
Magalhães likes to go work out at a gym every morning which is
different. I take the time to study and have been reading Jesus the
Christ. In Preach my Gospel it says to increase your desire to share
the gospel, you need to learn more about the atonement. So that is
what I am trying to do.

I also had a great experience during personal study yesterday. I was
studying and felt like I should read from the book about preparing to
go to the temple that I had in my suitcase. Many times I have wished
that I could go to the temple but we do not have on in our mission.
Just reading about the temple and just the blessings of eternal
families that come from it filled me with a powerful feeling of peace.
I am glad that I had listened to that very subtle prompting that
normally I would dismiss to be nothing.

I know that God loves each and every one of us. He truly is mindful of
us all and desires to bless us and help us. Prayer is a very important
part of everyday life. The promise of ´´Ask and you shall receive,
knock and it shall be opened unto you´´ is a very true promise. I am
grateful for the scriptures and the words of the prophets of the Lord.
I know that we have a prophet called by God today, and that he holds
all the keys of the priesthood. Jesus Christ lives. He is our Savior
and Redeemer, and his arms are open to us. It is strange, often times
when we serve, or receive a calling, the person who seems to have the
largest change is the one called. We can never repay God for the love,
and help that he gives us.

I´m serving my mission. Sometimes when I think that, it hits me! (I
thought it a few times while walking to an appointment and then looked
around at the tropical trees, and the brush on the sides of the dirt
road while sweat is dripping down my face then thought of some of the
pictures at the MTC in the hallways there. I´m serving my mission! And
when I get back, depending on my mindset and what I do now will
determine my memories of my missionary service.) I thought that was a
cool thought though.

Every day is hot, it has been raining a lot lately, every night. The
thunderstorms on the horizon are awesome. The people are friendly, and
I am still adjusting to the culture, and speaking Portuguese.

I love you all and miss you. I´m glad you´re doing well. Thanks for
your emails and support!

Love,

Elder Phillip Larsen

Apr 4, 2011 - Teresina Brasil Week 4 - Mission Week 30

Boa Tarde,

I did not get to listen to conference in English, but I guess that was good in many ways. Every day I feel a little more accustomed to Portuguese, although no where near fluent. Some days are harder than others, but I am learning quick especially with Elder Magalhães. I would appreciate a conference ensign in english though when it comes out.

Conference in Brasil is really nice because all the members go to the church to watch it. I am so glad that we went with the Wilsons for all those many years and watched it there. Those are great memories.

Lately I have felt very separated from home. Being a missionary, you are separated from the world. Mail here is a lot different than in the states. All the mail gets sent to the mission office and then you pick it up when you get the chance, so I don´t know how many letters I´ll be sending, but I´ll appreciate letters that people send, so please encourage people to write!

How are you all doing? What have you all been up to?

This past week has still been unusual with conference and all. Since entering Brasil I have not had a normal week of missionary work. Today and Yesterday I have been having side pains while walking which really sucks. Hopefully that will get better. Elder Magalhães will be going to the hospital tomorrow to check on a stomach acid problem he has been having... Not a normal mission in the slightest! No mission is normal, but my mission has been incredibly abnormal. O_o

Thank you for your prayers and for your support. Serving the Lord is definitely not a cakewalk and I am grateful for all that you do for me!

Lately I have been having longings to go swimming. The weather feels exactly like it would in Nashua when it was the perfect day to go swimming. Its hot every day. ´´Its Hot in Tampico!´´

It's weird, every once in a while it hits me pretty hard. I am on my mission. I really didn´t know what to expect before the mission as to what a mission would be like. Lately it has been hard because I have not been able to feel like a missionary completely because I can´t teach that much but that will come in time. I have been trying more to show my love for the people and to bring them closer to Jesus Christ that way. I reflect a lot on how I am representing Jesus Christ right now. I have his name on my tag. It is humbling. I hope that I am able to be a good example for the people that I serve around.

Jesus Christ is the son of God. He atoned for our sins so that we can return with our families to our Heavenly Father. This message needs to be shared, and I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in this grand work of the Lord.

Have a great week! I love you and miss you all,

Love,

Elder Phillip Larsen

Pictures took forever to load, only could load 2. Teresina downtown, and I think the church picture got uploaded.

Mar 28, 2011 - Teresina Brasil Week 3 - Mission Week 29

Querido Familia,

This week has been quite the eventful one. I have my trainer, Elder Magalhães, a Brasilian missionary who is a transfer younger than me. I always thought that would be funny if my "Mission father" was younger than me, and turns out he is! He is an awesome missionary though and I am glad I have the opportunity to serve with him. We are serving in an area, Uruguaí, in Teresina. Last week the ward split so now there are 2 wards meeting in the chapel here. The members are awesome, however I don't really know the ward yet because of some events that happened this week.

I am going to try to put this in the best way possible, and to reassure you right now I am doing fine, and a lot better.

Last Thursday, I had an allergic reaction, probably to a bug that made my legs get terrible rashes. Throughout the day it got more and more difficult to walk and we called Sister Dias. On Friday I went to the Hospital to get the condition I had checked out by a doctor, and he said it was an allergic reaction and gave me several prescriptions for medicine to help me get better. After that check up, I had an experience that was highly undesired and unusual. A shot in my backside that was not at all pleasant. I stayed at the Secretaries house for a night which was really hard to sleep, and then President Dias came by the following morning, got me another medicine, and then Sister Dias came and cleaned my left foot. The past few days I have been spending at the Dias's home, and it has been an incredible blessing to be able to get to know their family more. I have had great opportunities to speak Português and I can tell some improvement in my language skills with that. This has just been a rare experience though I feel, and I am incredibly grateful that I have been able to have it. Some questions that I have had during these past few days is "What has got wanted me to learn from this experience, and why has he given me this opportunity." One thing that President Dias said on Sunday when we were on the way to Church was that it is amazing how the spirit works. Elder Yorgason, and Elder Thiessen, (another missionary who was waiting for his visa) both got transfered to a place 14 hours away, yet I remained here in Teresina. The Lord knew that this was going to happen to me, and President Dias felt inspired to keep me here in the city. I am incredibly grateful for inspiration and this experience has strengthed my testimony.

I am doing well, a lot better than Thursday. I still have healing to do but I have enjoyed the time that I have been given to learn and I, being in this mindset have noticed many things that I have learned.

I don't want you to worry too much, I am doing much better than before, and I have been taken care of. I am so grateful for President Dias, and Sister Dias, and their hospitality and love that they have had for me. I have learned so many things that I would not have been able to learn had I not had this experience. Thank you so much Mom and Dad for raising us in the Gospel. Thank you for having us pray every meal, eat together, read the scriptures together, and raise us with good spiritual habits. The Dias family prays together and reads the scriptures together, and I have been able to participate with their family in all of these activities.

I am excited for General Conference this weekend and to hear from the general authorities of the church. The Prophet and the Apostles, special witnesses of Jesus Christ. I have been able to watch several documentaries while here at the Dias's house about the presidents of the church and I have learned an incredible amount.

Brasil is amazing, I love it here and I am glad to be able to serve the Lord. This church is God's Church. It was restored by a Prophet of God. Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ. Prayer is important, and so is daily scripture study. This is a great and marvelous work, and I know that it is led by God.

I love you all very much and love hearing from you. You're in my prayers, and I thank you for your prayers for me.

Love,

Elder Phillip Edward Larsen

P.S. Remember when sending packages to have pictures of Jesus on it. Also, mail here is ridiculous. Elder Wheat sent a package that cost R$120.00 Each letter also costs R$2.00 So I'll figure out how to budget that better and everything. No pictures again this week but I'll try as best as I can. Love you!

Mar 21, 2011 - Teresina Brasil Week 2 - Mission Week 28

Querido Familia,

Boy has this past week been interesting in many ways...

So some interesting things I´ve seen lately: On motorcycles, I saw 3 people with a flat screen HD Television in the box driving down the road. People manage to transport stuff like that all the time. Almost every day I´ll see something weird on a motorcycle. Also I´ve seen some people with 3 and a baby on a motorcycle which is a little scary to think about.

Serving with the APs this past week has had its ups and downs... This whole week has had its ups and downs really. So the reason why we have been with the APs this past week is because transfers never happened because the mission was toured by Elder Godoy of the Seventy. He spoke at conference last. I needed someone to translate for me because the conference we had in Teresina was in Português and I am nowhere near fluent. After the conference he interviewed Elder Yorgason because we are the newest missionaries not native to Brasil that have entered the field. I also saw Elder Iverson, one of the Elders in my MTC district on Thursday. He has been here since January.

Serving with the APs though, I never really get to know what we´re doing until it happens. I just hate this feeling of not being able to know anything and also not knowing where I´m going to be going. Still haven´t found out where I am going for my first area. Something tells me that I´ll be staying with the APs for another week too, they won´t let us know about transfers.

I have learned many many times that I need to rely on the Lord to help me. This past week has been very difficult, specifically with the language. I haven´t been able to participate in lessons nearly as much as I would in Texas and that is really annoying to me about myself. I felt like I was improving but then lately I´ve felt like I can´t even understand people that easily. I was told to talk slower because someone couldn´t understand me, but I was thinking the same thing about them. The language here is quite different from how my MTC teachers spoke, and also how Curtis Brown spoke. I´m hoping that I´ll see improvement soon though. Its disconcerting not being able to communicate when what I am supposed to do is talk to people.

This is very hard though, although while typing this email, I have had some Português grammar with English which is a little comforting. I just don´t see how I´ll get improvement anytime soon but I guess that is how everyone felt.

To answer your questions mom, I have not done the actual baptizing. But I participated in the teaching and in the program in other ways. Missionaries here seem to be a little more laidback, as in they don´t number crunch as much and they still work hard. Also we have 6 missionaries living in our apartment with the APs and we don´t really get distracted as much as the missionaries in Texas would, which I find is strange. Thanks for the brief genealogy too! That was cool! I do laundry at the house here, we have a washing machine thing, not exactly a normal washing machine, then we hang up our clothes to dry. The iron gets a lot of use here on white shirts and pants. I eat a lot of beans and rice, and fruit. I have drunk a lot of juice here, and I have eaten a lot of meat as well. We eat a lot of bread here too. There are bakeries everywhere. Padaria´s are what they are called I think. We do our email at Lan Houses. There are a lot of Lan houses here in the city.

I have been trying to get a lot of pictures of Brasil, but I have no way of sending them as of right now but I´ll figure it out though. Its pretty incredible here though.

Animals I´ve seen in Brasil so far, Vultures, Lizards, Horses, Roosters and Chickens, and last night I saw an Owl which was really cool. There are a lot of bugs in Brasil too. Fun fun! Giant spiders at the church in a bush, Elder Wheat showed me those, and he fed one of them an ant.

We ride a lot of buses here which is fun. To get the bus to stop at a place you have to do something similar to Harry Potter which is funny I think.

Everyone here has walls around their houses, or a lot of the houses in the more populated areas of the city anyways. The tops of the walls are lined with spikes, or broken glass, and every street has at least one house with an electric fence. Home Security is your own responsibility here.

This past week I have been asked why I have blue eyes, and then some people in a bakery asked me where I was from because I have blue eyes. The first question was funny. ´´why do you have blue eyes?´´

This week has been a bit hard but I hope next week will feel easier. Mail stuff to the mission home, I don´t even know my address here. I´ll get the mail that you send when I see the Office Elders. Also, if you could mail some things: More pen refills for zebra f-301 pen, or just more of those pens. Can´t get anything like that here in Brasil. Some more American Candy, and pictures of friends. Thanks!

The people here in Brasil are ready to hear the Gospel. This is a special place for missionary work. I was told that the goal for baptisms per month is 120, and the standard of excellence for each missionary is 4 per month. I guess this is fulfilling prophecies in the Book of Mormon. Its amazing to see that happening now.

I love you guys, and love hearing from you. Thank you for your uplifting words and prayers. I know that this church is true. This really is the church that Jesus Christ established while he was on the Earth, and through the Prophets he leads the church today. Joseph Smith truly saw God, our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I am so grateful to have knowledge of the Plan of Salvation.

I hope you have a good week. Happy Birthday Dad! Love you all,

Love

Elder Phillip Larsen

Mar 3, 2011 - Hobbs New Mexico Week 9 - Mission Week 25

Querido Familia,

So this week has been pretty interesting, and I am a little sad too... I'll expound on that later though... First off I need to say stuff that I have written down.

One of the bishopric members here dad served in the Toulouse, France mission, well it had the city in it. I guess the boundaries have changed since you served?

I have taught some people the missionary handshake that the missionaries at home taught us, so I am carrying on that tradition.

We are teaching a British Lady named Lesley. She is from Liverpool, and they are actually moving back there this May which is a shame. She doesn't want to go. Its been nice to be able to talk to someone with a thick British Accent. She's hilarious too.

What qualities did you see in missionaries that came to our ward? I want to be a missionary just as good as them, was just curious as to what really made missionaries like Elder De Oliveira, Elder Householder, Elder Onken, Elder Koerper, Elder Branch Elder Mataele, all of them. What made them really good missionaries?

I have also been thinking about Stanford lately, and January 23rd, and just was curious as to what other people remember from that whole experience. During personal study a couple of days ago I took the time to write down that experience and how it strengthed my testimony in the restored gospel. (A Preach my Gospel activity) It was quite the recollection of events and I am surprised at how much detail I remember from that experience, but at the same time I am not surprised.

Last Sunday was really windy with winds of 65+ mph. During Sacrament meeting, more than 104 tumble weed blew past the window... Yes I counted... O_o

Also Mom and Dad, I was curious as to what led you to move to New Hampshire.

So on to the rest of the email now.

Happy Birthday Brad!!! I hope you enjoy the card I sent you. :P I thought it was funny.

So we had a moving day this past week, and I think I have made a mistake in staying at the house. Before, every time I was transferred from an area, I didn't have a choice I had to move and then this one time that I do have a choice in the matter I still moved... It is different situation here in Hobbs since the Spanish Branch is dependent, but I feel like I need to remain in English for several people specifically. The Rodriguez family, the Ponders, the Prietos... I am going to see if I can still switch back so I can remain there but I am a little nervous as to what Elder Kenyon and Elder Olvera will think.... I really love the area.

I really hope my Visa comes soon. I have been praying for it, and I know that there have been mission wide fasts going on in Brasil for Visas. It could potentially come any day! Thank you Mom for including that in your fast this Sunday. Hopefully it'll come today or next week.

I'm so pumped for General Conference!!! I'm extremely excited for it! Its going to be awesome!

We're having a baptism tonight! Sara Powell will finally be baptized! It'll be awesome. I'm giving a talk on the Holy Ghost. She has such a strong testimony in the priesthood and in the restored church and the Book of Mormon. Seeing her faith and testimony has been a great experience, and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to be a part of her conversion.

Israel Perez, Sister Rodriguez's husband, is another person we are hoping to be able to baptise soon. Their family loves us. We are extremely great friends and they love having us over. I am so glad that they started coming to church as well, and I hope they continue to come even after we all leave Hobbs. I'm going to have to visit Hobbs after my mission, there are so many amazing people here.

Love you all very much and I am so glad to be able to serve the Lord as a missionary. This is a great and marvelous work, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Missionary work is a blessing to be a part of.

I hope everything is going well with y'all (heheh) back at home. Maybe my visa will come soon and I'll be able to call you then! Hopefully!

Love you,

Love Elder Phillip Larsen

P.S. Sorry about the lack of pictures this time... I'll send some next week!