March 30th-Having a great time here in this tropical paradise!

Yummy mango float dessert!!

This is a huge lizard that our investigators caught

It is getting so hot here!!

Some kids swimming with caribou

Some landscape pictures because "my area is the fairest in the land!"

The biggest leaf of my life on our hike last week-It was like Land Before Time!!

March 23rd Letter-after a rough start--Awsome companion, awesome area!

Well after the sickness from heck! (am I allowed to say that as a missionary...?) This was a good week. Because every week is a good week no matter the trials and stubborn investigators. This week Sister Acosta and I met a very special less active lady. She is in stage 5 of kidney failure and also has some major complications with diabetes. And yet she has the strongest faith. She just radiates. She reminds me of Aunt Melani. And so yeah maybe I had a fever and stomach problems this week, but I'm all better now. My sickness only lasted a week. And even though I don't have a flushing toilet, I still have a toilet. And even though I have to walk like a thousand miles everyday, at least I can walk. There's just so much to be grateful for! I need to be more grateful. My area is beautiful. And I love the people here. My kasama is hilarious. She stepped in cow poop, swallowed a bug on accident, and then broke her shoes all in one day. She's got talent. And  she makes me feel really, really tall because she is a whopping 4' 11'' I am sooooo excited for General Conference!!! One of the quotes on my count-down calendar from Elder Uchtdorf really helped me the other day. He said, "Falling is what we mortals do. But as long as we are willing to rise up again and continue on the path toward the spiritual goals God has given us, we can learn something from failure and become better and happier as a result." I like that we can not only become better but also happier. I know the kind of happiness that comes from living the gospel is not just laughing because someone told a funny joke. It's the kind of happiness that never ends. The kind of happiness that even on the hardest days you can still feel joy because you know you are following your Savior. That's the kind of happiness that I'm striving for. And the kind of happiness that I'm trying to help others strive for as well. And Bishop Hancock is right. The basics are what lead us to happiness! That's what we talk about almost every single lesson: reading the scriptures, praying, and going to church. Once we stop doing those little things, we get cooked! Like the frog in hot water. Don't be a frog! I love you!!! And I love this tropical paradise!

Mahal ko kayo! 

Sister Larson

March 17 letter- New area and new kasama!

So...sometimes when you are a missionary you get emergency transferred. (please reread that in a Nacho Libre voice.) And so anyways I've got a new companion and a beautiful new area! I'm now in Santa Ignacia, Padapada 1st ward. And I LOVE it. It's actually kind of funny because it reminds me a bit of Southern Arizona. And maybe that's why I love it so much. It's the bukid. Like bukid talaga. Rice fields for days! And mountains!!! And random cows and caribou and wild boar. It's an adventure everyday. Which is perfect because my companion is basically the grown up Dora the Explorer. But with a Mexican wrestler kind of laugh. She's hilarious. And the people here love her. She's a great missionary. I'll be fine...if I can just keep up with her. It was hard to leave my area because it was so unexpected... Transfers really are scheduled for April... but the Lord works in mysterious ways. This has been a good test for me to really rely on the Lord and trust Him. But the work is the same no matter where we are.

So yep. 21 years of age. That's neat. I'm so oooooold! Biro lang. Lets see.. for my birthday we had a baptism scheduled in Aduas(still the best birthday present ever). So Friday was my first day in Padapada and then Saturday, my bday, one of the members made pancit for me! My very own birthday pancit! It's like noodles that are delicious.  It was so kind of them. Even though they really didn't know me they still were so excited to celebrate my birthday with me. And that's the perfect example of the people here. They are so humble and so ready to accept a total stranger with open arms. They are able to love others so easily. And I think that's one of the most beautiful things about serving a mission, I have had to learn how to love like a Filipino, and to really love others like our Savior does. I still have so far to go but I know that this new area will help me to continue to develop that Christ-like love for others. We would all be happier if we could just learn to love like a Filipino. 

But just so you know, even Filipinos burn the rice sometimes.  

Mahal ko kayo! 

Sister Larson

 

we went to a waterfall early this morning!

The rice patties that go on forever!!

 

The sisters made me cupcakes for my birthday...So sweet!!



21 whole years old!!  I'm still me:)


Sister Laiti had never had s'mores...delicious!!

 

 

trixie's baptism-March 08, 2014 A true miracle!

March 10th Letter- ang kaarawan ko ay malapit na!!!

Did you know...that I am soooo lucky because I get to spend my whole 21st year in the mission field (give or take a few days). That is pretty neat. :) Almost Happy Birthday to me!

Miracles in March is our mission theme because each companionship is going to reach the Standard of Excellence. And really, this month really is a month of miracles. Everyday is a miracle really! I love being a missionary. I know that I'm not perfect and that I have A LOT more to learn but I do love putting on that nametag everyday. 

This week we were able to see a beautifully prepared soul enter the waters of baptism and take another step closer to her temple goal. Let me tell you about our friend Trixie. We met Sister Trixie one Sunday at church. Her husband had come to church the week before by himself and I had no idea who he was because I had never seen him in my 5 months in this area. But the ward members told us that he was less active. The next Sunday he came again, but this time he was with his wife (Trixie) and their baby.  He told us to come over to their house later to teach his wife. I was a little bit confused, but of course we accepted. Later that day as we met Trixie and found out a little more about their story we felt impressed to extend a baptismal goal date for March 8. That was before we knew about the push for the Standard of Exellence in March.  She was hesitant to accept.  We continued to teach her and found out that she already knew a lot about the gospel of Jesus Christ because of her Catholic background and her previous encounters with the missionaries. She had been taught a few times by elders but wasn't really interested.  I know that she is one of the people the Lord prepared for the sisters. I know that it was because of revelation from the Lord that President Martino put sisters in our area (elders had been for years and years until me and Sister Lazan). I know that Sister Trixie needed sisters to listen to and to love her. And as we grew to love her, our desire to help her gain her own testimony was strengthened. I cannot fully describe the joy in my heart the day that she told us of her answer to her prayer about baptism. Specific answers really do come from specific questions. Trixie asked God a specific question about getting baptized on March 8 and received a specific answer! As we watched her husband baptize her, I knew that this was only the beginning. I cannot wait for them to be sealed in the temple! I love being a missionary! 

What a happy week. And next week Maverick will be baptized...on my birthday! :) 

Maybe the best birthday present you could give me is to give the missionaries in your area a new friend to teach. :) Trust me, you won't regret it! 

Sister Larson