Hey family!
I am glad that the OC Tanner job went amazing!
Brynn, your flowers are so beautiful! I have been showing everyone around me the pictures that dad sent. You are amazing! ........... [Editor's note: I am omitting some of the personal family stuff...just know that she thinks we are all amazing. Mostly she wants us to keep the letters coming so she says lots of nice things to us.]
Mom, thanks for doing everything for me!! You are amazing! When is the marathon? It should be coming up soon! ........
Dad, you are a machine!! ..........
Chase and Ashley, how is school and work going? I heard BYU won on Saturday. .............
So this week has been really really long. It has been one of my longest weeks. We just started doing 100% Russian yesterday and it is so hard and so frustrating. Every day I get so frustrated because I can't say what I want to say all the time. Sister Burke has been counting down the days which actually makes them seem longer. I want to leave but it is really scaring knowing that I will be in UKRAINE and I don't know the language.
We have also been having a hard time teaching this week in Russian. My confidence has been taken down to the floor which is actually kinda a good thing because now I will have to work hard these last 2 weeks to try and get it back before I get taken down again in Ukraine. haha but it is good here as always I am learning so much everyday, I just think we are ready to get out of here. I can't wait to get on that bus.
We have a few interesting things happen this week. The first I wanted to tell you about is Cectpa Loboda, I will send you a picture of her. Last week when we went to the temple she was so sweet. She got all ready in her white clothes and was looking in the mirror she then ran back into her change room and got a white ribbon out of her bag that she has had for a long time. She tied it around her head with a bow and she sat and smiled at herself in the mirror. She was so happy the whole day. You couldn't take the smile off of her face. It made me so excited to go and start this work.
I talked to a man named Derek this week on the phone. He had met the missionaries and was calling the number on the pass along card for a free movie. I got to testify to him of the love that our Heavenly Father has for him and that he was doing the right thing. I testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and it was an amazing moment. He agreed to read the Book of Mormon and to find out for himself. I am so excited for him to meet with the missionaries and to discover for himself the great blessings that come with the gospel.
Well we are starting to count down. We get our flight plans this week and we will start packing next week. Sorry I keep asking for things but there are a few things I need before I take off. ...................
I love you all so much and I hope all is well. Last thing, I was wondering if you could either talk to some of my friends and send me a few dearelders or something. The mail during the week really helps the days go by. Thanks again for all of your support. You are amazing and I love you! [Editor's note: I think Brooke would love to hear from folks via letters during the week. She loves the emails on Tuesdays but would love something the rest of the week if anyone gets a chance to write her.]
love,
Cecmpa Larsen
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Hello dear family!
Sounds like it has been a happening place in the Larsen home the last few days! My family is so crafty I love it! And I am so proud of the big worker men for getting all of those crafts done! I got a great letter from grandma and will you tell her thanks. I am going to try and write her today and also tell carol gee thank your for the picture.
Brynn!! I can't believe that this job is next week! I am so excited for you and I am just imagining all of the amazing things that your are doing with glittering trees and walls of flowers! I want to see pictures! You better now forget to take pictures of these or else I will never let you forget it!
Mom, sounds like you have had fun cleaning out all of the old closets! I have no idea what this story is that everyone is talking about! I want to read it, maybe you could send me a copy! I am glad that no one has lost any fingers through all of the craziness! Oh and Sister Jones was our coordinating sister when we first got her! She is amazing I love her! I miss her a lot too! She is awesome!
Dad, sounds like you will be in and out of slc for a little. I am impressed with all of the amazing work that you do and that you still manage to help all of us out with all of our stuff!
Chase and Ashley, I think I need a letter for you two explaining all of the craziness that you have had with knifes and brownies?? Sounds like you have had the most eventful week! How have your first few days been with school? And I want to hear all about your interviews!!
So this week has been eventful for me as well! We got all of our new missionaries last week! And things are just starting to get interesting. I think everyone has started to get comfortable and things are starting to come out that haven't surfaced yet so I think this next week will be long. It has been really fun to get to know them! They all have such great stories and are such amazing sisters! They have changed the welcoming process a lot so we have spent a lot of our class time in training meetings for the orientation that is now on Thursday nights with the branch presidency. It went a lot better than my orientation because they weren't like deer in the headlights. They listened to a lot of what we were saying and they will all be great missionaries.
Elder Scott came and talked to us on Tuesday and he gave us two amazing blessings. He gave us the gift of tongues and also an apostalic gift of protection. All of my worries have completely left since that night. I will write you more about it!
We also had a surprise last friday night. Two of the native Russian speaking sisters came in to the MTC really early. They were suppose to go stay with friends but they got swept up with a group of missionaries and got checked in. They have been good sports because the MTC won't let them leave to go be with their friends. I feel bad, they were so excited to see Utah a little before they came in. One of the sisters speaks really good english and the other sister doesn't really speak any english. The one that speaks english has a rough relationship with her family and I think she is here against their judgment. She has great faith and she has a really strong testimony! She knows it is true more then anything! They were able to go and do baptisms today. They haven't been through the temple but they will go next week :D. I can't wait to go with them! We took them up to the temple on Sunday and they were taking pictures of everything. They took pictures of the don't walk on the grass signs, homes, random groups of missionaries, everything! They are just so excited to be here and to be so close to the church! Their enthusiasm is contagious! I am excited to meet the rest of the Cecmpbl tomorrow! They will be so great!
.......
I think that is pretty much it! I love you all and I am so happy that I got to hear from you all! A few things... I checked on my flight status and it is tentitively (?) sept 29 at 8:35ish am... So if I have time I think I am going to try and call home. It will probably be around 7ish. :D When we checked our flight information we got really excited know that we are actually going to leave. I love it here but it would be nice to be outside a little.
........ One last thing... it might be a little much but I am dying for some homemade rolls?? They just aren't as good here. Thanks!
I love you all and hope you have a good week! I will send a letter and some pictures today hopefully!! Thanks for the support!
cecmpa Lapcoh
Sounds like it has been a happening place in the Larsen home the last few days! My family is so crafty I love it! And I am so proud of the big worker men for getting all of those crafts done! I got a great letter from grandma and will you tell her thanks. I am going to try and write her today and also tell carol gee thank your for the picture.
Brynn!! I can't believe that this job is next week! I am so excited for you and I am just imagining all of the amazing things that your are doing with glittering trees and walls of flowers! I want to see pictures! You better now forget to take pictures of these or else I will never let you forget it!
Mom, sounds like you have had fun cleaning out all of the old closets! I have no idea what this story is that everyone is talking about! I want to read it, maybe you could send me a copy! I am glad that no one has lost any fingers through all of the craziness! Oh and Sister Jones was our coordinating sister when we first got her! She is amazing I love her! I miss her a lot too! She is awesome!
Dad, sounds like you will be in and out of slc for a little. I am impressed with all of the amazing work that you do and that you still manage to help all of us out with all of our stuff!
Chase and Ashley, I think I need a letter for you two explaining all of the craziness that you have had with knifes and brownies?? Sounds like you have had the most eventful week! How have your first few days been with school? And I want to hear all about your interviews!!
So this week has been eventful for me as well! We got all of our new missionaries last week! And things are just starting to get interesting. I think everyone has started to get comfortable and things are starting to come out that haven't surfaced yet so I think this next week will be long. It has been really fun to get to know them! They all have such great stories and are such amazing sisters! They have changed the welcoming process a lot so we have spent a lot of our class time in training meetings for the orientation that is now on Thursday nights with the branch presidency. It went a lot better than my orientation because they weren't like deer in the headlights. They listened to a lot of what we were saying and they will all be great missionaries.
Elder Scott came and talked to us on Tuesday and he gave us two amazing blessings. He gave us the gift of tongues and also an apostalic gift of protection. All of my worries have completely left since that night. I will write you more about it!
We also had a surprise last friday night. Two of the native Russian speaking sisters came in to the MTC really early. They were suppose to go stay with friends but they got swept up with a group of missionaries and got checked in. They have been good sports because the MTC won't let them leave to go be with their friends. I feel bad, they were so excited to see Utah a little before they came in. One of the sisters speaks really good english and the other sister doesn't really speak any english. The one that speaks english has a rough relationship with her family and I think she is here against their judgment. She has great faith and she has a really strong testimony! She knows it is true more then anything! They were able to go and do baptisms today. They haven't been through the temple but they will go next week :D. I can't wait to go with them! We took them up to the temple on Sunday and they were taking pictures of everything. They took pictures of the don't walk on the grass signs, homes, random groups of missionaries, everything! They are just so excited to be here and to be so close to the church! Their enthusiasm is contagious! I am excited to meet the rest of the Cecmpbl tomorrow! They will be so great!
.......
I think that is pretty much it! I love you all and I am so happy that I got to hear from you all! A few things... I checked on my flight status and it is tentitively (?) sept 29 at 8:35ish am... So if I have time I think I am going to try and call home. It will probably be around 7ish. :D When we checked our flight information we got really excited know that we are actually going to leave. I love it here but it would be nice to be outside a little.
........ One last thing... it might be a little much but I am dying for some homemade rolls?? They just aren't as good here. Thanks!
I love you all and hope you have a good week! I will send a letter and some pictures today hopefully!! Thanks for the support!
cecmpa Lapcoh
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Halfway thru the MTC!!!
Hey amazing family!
How is everyone doing?? So on Sunday we hit our half way mark! We are so excited because we have our first set of new missionaries coming in tomorrow! We are getting 8 new sisters and a total of 24 new missionaries in our branch. There is also another Russian branch that is getting about the same amount! It is crazy how many Russians there are here right now. Then next Tuesday we will be getting the Native Russians, Which I can hardly wait for.
Things are really great here! I am trying to work hard and I am always tired and I am hoping I can stay that way my whole mission! I love being a missionary so much!
Dad wanted me to explain a little about our day so here it is.
They have just started a new program here so a lot of things are changing.
We wake up around 6:30, sometimes at 6 because they have the gym open for sisters in the morning. We will usually run a mile or two and stretch. I have started just going down and dancing on the basketball court in the mornings and it is amazing! [Editor’s note: Brooke takes Hip Hop to the MTC and causes chaos among Elders] Most days we get ready and have breakfast at 7:00 and start class at 7:30-11:30. Most of this class time is done by the teacher and we will usually teach a lesson of some sort. We have lunch at 11:30. Sometimes we have gym right after lunch for 50 minutes, but it is random every day. We have class from 12:15-4:30, dinner and then class again from 5:15-9:00. One of the blocks of class is our own study time where we do not have a teacher. We do personal study, companion study and then Language. They have a computer program that we use here called TALL. We don't use it as much as we should but most of our language time is directed towards our lessons and tasks that we have to do each week. Every Wednesday we teach in the TRC to Volunteers which I look forward to every week!
I hope that helps a little. Every day is a little different. For gym we usually run and then do abs or lunges. Last Saturday morning we played softball which was so much fun! I am still a little sore though! It has been forever since I have thrown a ball! It reminded me of playing catch with everyone out on the front lawn. I really loved it and I will say I am not as bad as I thought I was going to be. :D
So yesterday Sister Burke and I went and taught the first lesson to a teacher to get some feed back on our teaching in Russian. We struggled through it and it wasn't too bad. When we got done I realized that as I was teaching about Prophets and the different dispensations, I forgot to teach how prophets have the authority to teach the words of God. I forgot to teach about the priesthood power that is giving to prophets. I knew right when I finished my section that I had left out a really important part. That knowledge of the Priesthood authority that was giving to Joseph Smith is what makes everything work so perfectly. It gives us that authority to baptize and perform other ordinances. I realized how important that authority is to us. I know that through that authority we have the right to ask for the blessings that are promised to us. Because I had forgotten to teach that principle the lesson didn't really flow until it had been taught. It amazes me how much better the lesson started going once we had taught about the priesthood authority. Even though it was just a practice I learned so much from that lesson about how powerful our message is.
Lately I have been reading about the armies of Moroni and Helaman. I love how much faith they have in the Lord that everything will work out for the best. In a letter to Moroni, Pahonra said that he would do whatever the Lord asked of His people. I want to have that kind of faith. That is one of the big things I am working on is my trust in the Lord. Sometimes I rely too much on myself and not enough on the Lord.
Well I hope all is well with all of you! Sorry I didn't get to write individual messages this week. But I love you all so much!
…..
Thank you so much for everything!! I love you!
Cectpa Larsen
How is everyone doing?? So on Sunday we hit our half way mark! We are so excited because we have our first set of new missionaries coming in tomorrow! We are getting 8 new sisters and a total of 24 new missionaries in our branch. There is also another Russian branch that is getting about the same amount! It is crazy how many Russians there are here right now. Then next Tuesday we will be getting the Native Russians, Which I can hardly wait for.
Things are really great here! I am trying to work hard and I am always tired and I am hoping I can stay that way my whole mission! I love being a missionary so much!
Dad wanted me to explain a little about our day so here it is.
They have just started a new program here so a lot of things are changing.
We wake up around 6:30, sometimes at 6 because they have the gym open for sisters in the morning. We will usually run a mile or two and stretch. I have started just going down and dancing on the basketball court in the mornings and it is amazing! [Editor’s note: Brooke takes Hip Hop to the MTC and causes chaos among Elders] Most days we get ready and have breakfast at 7:00 and start class at 7:30-11:30. Most of this class time is done by the teacher and we will usually teach a lesson of some sort. We have lunch at 11:30. Sometimes we have gym right after lunch for 50 minutes, but it is random every day. We have class from 12:15-4:30, dinner and then class again from 5:15-9:00. One of the blocks of class is our own study time where we do not have a teacher. We do personal study, companion study and then Language. They have a computer program that we use here called TALL. We don't use it as much as we should but most of our language time is directed towards our lessons and tasks that we have to do each week. Every Wednesday we teach in the TRC to Volunteers which I look forward to every week!
I hope that helps a little. Every day is a little different. For gym we usually run and then do abs or lunges. Last Saturday morning we played softball which was so much fun! I am still a little sore though! It has been forever since I have thrown a ball! It reminded me of playing catch with everyone out on the front lawn. I really loved it and I will say I am not as bad as I thought I was going to be. :D
So yesterday Sister Burke and I went and taught the first lesson to a teacher to get some feed back on our teaching in Russian. We struggled through it and it wasn't too bad. When we got done I realized that as I was teaching about Prophets and the different dispensations, I forgot to teach how prophets have the authority to teach the words of God. I forgot to teach about the priesthood power that is giving to prophets. I knew right when I finished my section that I had left out a really important part. That knowledge of the Priesthood authority that was giving to Joseph Smith is what makes everything work so perfectly. It gives us that authority to baptize and perform other ordinances. I realized how important that authority is to us. I know that through that authority we have the right to ask for the blessings that are promised to us. Because I had forgotten to teach that principle the lesson didn't really flow until it had been taught. It amazes me how much better the lesson started going once we had taught about the priesthood authority. Even though it was just a practice I learned so much from that lesson about how powerful our message is.
Lately I have been reading about the armies of Moroni and Helaman. I love how much faith they have in the Lord that everything will work out for the best. In a letter to Moroni, Pahonra said that he would do whatever the Lord asked of His people. I want to have that kind of faith. That is one of the big things I am working on is my trust in the Lord. Sometimes I rely too much on myself and not enough on the Lord.
Well I hope all is well with all of you! Sorry I didn't get to write individual messages this week. But I love you all so much!
…..
Thank you so much for everything!! I love you!
Cectpa Larsen
Lovin' the MTC
Hello hello!
Man it was so good to hear from you all this week! I have had such an amazing week! Good news I am fluent in English. Bad news Russian is hard. No the Language is coming I can hear a lot more then I can say. The hardest part is structuring sentences because they are so different from English sentences.
Mom, Thank you Thank you for the stale cupcakes. They were a little hard but I broke my two weeks of no sweets to eat 3 of them within the first 5 mins of picking up the package. They still tasted pretty okay ha. ….
Dad, Thank you for the pictures! I loved them. I sent them around the room and showed everyone my cute family and my beloved dog. ….
Chase, thank you for the letter and the story. It really made my day. …..
Ashley, how is married life? I am glad to hear that you and Chase are adjusting okay. ….
Brynn, I am so super excited for you letter! You will be proud to hear that I have been running 2-3 miles every day (except today we only ran 1). There are 2 sisters that love to run here. Sister Clark and Sister Walker, we run every gym period. But Sister Walker kicks our trash! She runs so freaking fast!
So I guess the big news this week is that Sister Burke and I were called to be the Coordinating Sisters for our branch. We are in charge of all of the Sisters in our branch!!! Man that really freaks me out ha. But all the girls in our branch are really awesome. Next week, all of the sisters that got here 6 weeks before us are leaving along with 5 native Russian sisters that are going back to Russia serve. In about 2 or 3 weeks we are getting about 90 new Russian missionaries and then the week after that we will be getting 6 sisters from Russian, Ukraine, and Kazakstan. We have to help them go to the temple for the first time, got shopping at Sister Missionary Mall and make sure that they understand all of the Mission rules. Good thing I know Russian ha. I am really excited though. It has really given us an opportunity to get to know the sisters in our branch and our branch presidency. One of the counselors I really want you to get to know his name is David Wilkey and he and his wife have really taken a special interest in me. They have really been a great support for me these last few weeks. They remind me a lot of the two of you, mom and dad.
Other then that I don't really think we have any huge news. The language is coming very slowly. It is hard stuff but I am understanding quite a bit, except when the native Russians speak to us. They speak so fast. Oh I wanted to tell you a little about these Russian sisters. They are awesome! Most of the are the first members in the families. Some of them are really the only members in their towns. They have really amazing stories. The first week they got here they all had to get all of their shots and get their recommends to go through the temple for the first time. One of the sisters is from Ukraine and I saw her the night before she was going to go to the temple and while I was talking to her she ironed her skirt and shirt at least 3 times. She is was so excited and even more excited that she will have a temple in her country. Another sister who is going to Ukraine got up really early to get ready. I saw her as she was sitting in the locker room waiting to go up to the ordinance rooms and she had sprayed glittery hairspray in her hair so that she would look extra special. I almost started to cry because it was so sweet. This sister has been waiting for this opportunity for 10 years and she was so excited. One of them said that it is so special to be here and that we all take it for granted. I know that she is right in every way. I love that the Salt Lake temple is our temple! We are so blessed to have the gospel and to be so close to the center of everything.
I want you all to know that I love you all so much and that I am so thankful for all of your support! I know that this is the only place that I could be right now! I know that the gospel is true with all of my heart and I hope that I can share the happiness that it brings me!
Thank you for sending that blessing it came at a perfect time. Could you all do one favor for me. Will you all write down what you remember from my setting apart blessing. I totally spaced writing in my journal and I have forgotten a lot of what was said. Thank you again!! I love you all so much!! I hope you all have an amazing week! Tell Terry and Shyann Congrats for me! Tell Steve and Dennis and Holly and Jeff and Jane and their families that I say hi! Take lots of pictues!!!!!!! And will someone give Kota a kiss for me!?
love you all,
Cectpa Larsen
Man it was so good to hear from you all this week! I have had such an amazing week! Good news I am fluent in English. Bad news Russian is hard. No the Language is coming I can hear a lot more then I can say. The hardest part is structuring sentences because they are so different from English sentences.
Mom, Thank you Thank you for the stale cupcakes. They were a little hard but I broke my two weeks of no sweets to eat 3 of them within the first 5 mins of picking up the package. They still tasted pretty okay ha. ….
Dad, Thank you for the pictures! I loved them. I sent them around the room and showed everyone my cute family and my beloved dog. ….
Chase, thank you for the letter and the story. It really made my day. …..
Ashley, how is married life? I am glad to hear that you and Chase are adjusting okay. ….
Brynn, I am so super excited for you letter! You will be proud to hear that I have been running 2-3 miles every day (except today we only ran 1). There are 2 sisters that love to run here. Sister Clark and Sister Walker, we run every gym period. But Sister Walker kicks our trash! She runs so freaking fast!
So I guess the big news this week is that Sister Burke and I were called to be the Coordinating Sisters for our branch. We are in charge of all of the Sisters in our branch!!! Man that really freaks me out ha. But all the girls in our branch are really awesome. Next week, all of the sisters that got here 6 weeks before us are leaving along with 5 native Russian sisters that are going back to Russia serve. In about 2 or 3 weeks we are getting about 90 new Russian missionaries and then the week after that we will be getting 6 sisters from Russian, Ukraine, and Kazakstan. We have to help them go to the temple for the first time, got shopping at Sister Missionary Mall and make sure that they understand all of the Mission rules. Good thing I know Russian ha. I am really excited though. It has really given us an opportunity to get to know the sisters in our branch and our branch presidency. One of the counselors I really want you to get to know his name is David Wilkey and he and his wife have really taken a special interest in me. They have really been a great support for me these last few weeks. They remind me a lot of the two of you, mom and dad.
Other then that I don't really think we have any huge news. The language is coming very slowly. It is hard stuff but I am understanding quite a bit, except when the native Russians speak to us. They speak so fast. Oh I wanted to tell you a little about these Russian sisters. They are awesome! Most of the are the first members in the families. Some of them are really the only members in their towns. They have really amazing stories. The first week they got here they all had to get all of their shots and get their recommends to go through the temple for the first time. One of the sisters is from Ukraine and I saw her the night before she was going to go to the temple and while I was talking to her she ironed her skirt and shirt at least 3 times. She is was so excited and even more excited that she will have a temple in her country. Another sister who is going to Ukraine got up really early to get ready. I saw her as she was sitting in the locker room waiting to go up to the ordinance rooms and she had sprayed glittery hairspray in her hair so that she would look extra special. I almost started to cry because it was so sweet. This sister has been waiting for this opportunity for 10 years and she was so excited. One of them said that it is so special to be here and that we all take it for granted. I know that she is right in every way. I love that the Salt Lake temple is our temple! We are so blessed to have the gospel and to be so close to the center of everything.
I want you all to know that I love you all so much and that I am so thankful for all of your support! I know that this is the only place that I could be right now! I know that the gospel is true with all of my heart and I hope that I can share the happiness that it brings me!
Thank you for sending that blessing it came at a perfect time. Could you all do one favor for me. Will you all write down what you remember from my setting apart blessing. I totally spaced writing in my journal and I have forgotten a lot of what was said. Thank you again!! I love you all so much!! I hope you all have an amazing week! Tell Terry and Shyann Congrats for me! Tell Steve and Dennis and Holly and Jeff and Jane and their families that I say hi! Take lots of pictues!!!!!!! And will someone give Kota a kiss for me!?
love you all,
Cectpa Larsen
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Week 4 is complete!
Hello hello!
Man it was so good to hear from you all this week! I have had such an amazing week! Good news I am fluent in English. Bad news Russian is hard. No the Language is coming I can hear a lot more then I can say. The hardest part is structuring sentences because they are so different from English sentences.
Mom, Thank you Thank you for the stale cupcakes. They were a little hard but I broke my two weeks of no sweets to eat 3 of them within the first 5 mins of picking up the package. They still tasted pretty okay ha. And thank you for the tights. They are dearly needed here. You go through those things so fast and the tights that they sell here make you look like you have jaundice (?). It is really really bad. But it is super funny. I really like the name that you picked out for your store!! And it is really badly needed! And thank you for sharing the story of Judy and Julia. It is so hard not compare yourself to everyone here because everyone is so amazing!!
Dad, Thank you for the pictures! I loved them. I sent them around the room and showed everyone my cute family and my beloved dog. It looks like you have been having a little bit of fun! I am excited about all of your trips! You better enjoy your time around the country while I look up at my covered walkways! ha.
Chase, thank you for the letter and the story. It really made my day. I never knew that we were even related to him. How did you find that story? How is working at the firm?
Ashley, how is married life? I am glad to hear that you and Chase are adjusting okay. Chase said you have been looking for a job? How has that been going? Did you get that job at the dance studio? That would be such an amazing job for you! I hope that you got it!
Brynn, I am so super excited for you letter! You will be proud to hear that I have been running 2-3 miles everyday (except today we only ran 1). There are 2 sisters that love to run here. Sister Clark and Sister Walker, we run every gym period. But Sister Walker kicks our trash! She runs so freaking fast!
So I guess the big news this week is that Sister Burke and I were called to be the Coordinating Sisters for our branch. We are in charge of all of the Sisters in our branch!!! Man that really freaks me out ha. But all the girls in our branch are really awesome. Next week, all of the sisters that got here 6 weeks before us are leaving along with 5 native Russian sisters that are going back to Russia serve. In about 2 or 3 weeks we are getting about 90 new Russian missionaries and then the week after that we will be getting 6 sisters from Russian, Ukraine, and Kazakstan. We have to help them go to the temple for the first time, got shopping at Sister Missionary Mall and make sure that they understand all of the Mission rules. Good thing I know Russian ha. I am really excited though. It has really given us an opportunity to get to know the sisters in our branch and our branch presidency. One of the counselors I really want you to get to know his name is David Wilkey and he and his wife have really taken a special interest in me. They have really been a great support for me these last few weeks. They remind me a lot of the two of you, mom and dad.
Other then that I don't really think we have any huge news. The language is coming very slowly. It is hard stuff but I am understanding quite a bit, except when the native Russians speak to us. They speak so fast. Oh I wanted to tell you a little about these Russian sisters. They are awesome! Most of the are the first members in the families. Some of them are really the only members in their towns. They have really amazing stories. The first week they got here they all had to get all of their shots and get their recommends to go through the temple for the first time. One of the sisters is from Ukraine and I saw her the night before she was going to go to the temple and while I was talking to her she ironed her skirt and shirt atleast 3 times. She is was so excited and even more excited that she will have a temple in her country. Another sister who is going to Ukraine got up really early to get ready. I saw her as she was sitting in the locker room waiting to go up to the ordinance rooms and she had sprayed glittery hairspray in her hair so that she would look extra special. I almost started to cry because it was so sweet. This sister has been waiting for this opportunity for 10 years and she was so excited. One of them said that it is so special to be here and that we all take it for granted. I know that she is right in every way. I love that the Salt Lake temple is our temple! We are so blessed to have the gospel and to be so close to the center of everything.
I want you all to know that I love you all so much and that I am so thankful for all of your support! I know that this is the only place that I could be right now! I know that the gospel is true with all of my heart and I hope that I can share the happiness that it brings me!
Thank you for sending that blessing it came at a perfect time. Could you all do one favor for me. Will you all write down what you remember from my setting apart blessing. I totally spaced writing in my journal and I have forgotten a lot of what was said. Thank you again!! I love you all so much!! I hope you all have an amazing week! Tell Terry and Shyann Congrats for me! Tell Steve and Dennis and Holly and Jeff and Jane and their families that I say hi! Take lots of pictues!!!!!!! And will someone give Kota a kiss for me!?
love you all,
Cectpa Larsen
Man it was so good to hear from you all this week! I have had such an amazing week! Good news I am fluent in English. Bad news Russian is hard. No the Language is coming I can hear a lot more then I can say. The hardest part is structuring sentences because they are so different from English sentences.
Mom, Thank you Thank you for the stale cupcakes. They were a little hard but I broke my two weeks of no sweets to eat 3 of them within the first 5 mins of picking up the package. They still tasted pretty okay ha. And thank you for the tights. They are dearly needed here. You go through those things so fast and the tights that they sell here make you look like you have jaundice (?). It is really really bad. But it is super funny. I really like the name that you picked out for your store!! And it is really badly needed! And thank you for sharing the story of Judy and Julia. It is so hard not compare yourself to everyone here because everyone is so amazing!!
Dad, Thank you for the pictures! I loved them. I sent them around the room and showed everyone my cute family and my beloved dog. It looks like you have been having a little bit of fun! I am excited about all of your trips! You better enjoy your time around the country while I look up at my covered walkways! ha.
Chase, thank you for the letter and the story. It really made my day. I never knew that we were even related to him. How did you find that story? How is working at the firm?
Ashley, how is married life? I am glad to hear that you and Chase are adjusting okay. Chase said you have been looking for a job? How has that been going? Did you get that job at the dance studio? That would be such an amazing job for you! I hope that you got it!
Brynn, I am so super excited for you letter! You will be proud to hear that I have been running 2-3 miles everyday (except today we only ran 1). There are 2 sisters that love to run here. Sister Clark and Sister Walker, we run every gym period. But Sister Walker kicks our trash! She runs so freaking fast!
So I guess the big news this week is that Sister Burke and I were called to be the Coordinating Sisters for our branch. We are in charge of all of the Sisters in our branch!!! Man that really freaks me out ha. But all the girls in our branch are really awesome. Next week, all of the sisters that got here 6 weeks before us are leaving along with 5 native Russian sisters that are going back to Russia serve. In about 2 or 3 weeks we are getting about 90 new Russian missionaries and then the week after that we will be getting 6 sisters from Russian, Ukraine, and Kazakstan. We have to help them go to the temple for the first time, got shopping at Sister Missionary Mall and make sure that they understand all of the Mission rules. Good thing I know Russian ha. I am really excited though. It has really given us an opportunity to get to know the sisters in our branch and our branch presidency. One of the counselors I really want you to get to know his name is David Wilkey and he and his wife have really taken a special interest in me. They have really been a great support for me these last few weeks. They remind me a lot of the two of you, mom and dad.
Other then that I don't really think we have any huge news. The language is coming very slowly. It is hard stuff but I am understanding quite a bit, except when the native Russians speak to us. They speak so fast. Oh I wanted to tell you a little about these Russian sisters. They are awesome! Most of the are the first members in the families. Some of them are really the only members in their towns. They have really amazing stories. The first week they got here they all had to get all of their shots and get their recommends to go through the temple for the first time. One of the sisters is from Ukraine and I saw her the night before she was going to go to the temple and while I was talking to her she ironed her skirt and shirt atleast 3 times. She is was so excited and even more excited that she will have a temple in her country. Another sister who is going to Ukraine got up really early to get ready. I saw her as she was sitting in the locker room waiting to go up to the ordinance rooms and she had sprayed glittery hairspray in her hair so that she would look extra special. I almost started to cry because it was so sweet. This sister has been waiting for this opportunity for 10 years and she was so excited. One of them said that it is so special to be here and that we all take it for granted. I know that she is right in every way. I love that the Salt Lake temple is our temple! We are so blessed to have the gospel and to be so close to the center of everything.
I want you all to know that I love you all so much and that I am so thankful for all of your support! I know that this is the only place that I could be right now! I know that the gospel is true with all of my heart and I hope that I can share the happiness that it brings me!
Thank you for sending that blessing it came at a perfect time. Could you all do one favor for me. Will you all write down what you remember from my setting apart blessing. I totally spaced writing in my journal and I have forgotten a lot of what was said. Thank you again!! I love you all so much!! I hope you all have an amazing week! Tell Terry and Shyann Congrats for me! Tell Steve and Dennis and Holly and Jeff and Jane and their families that I say hi! Take lots of pictues!!!!!!! And will someone give Kota a kiss for me!?
love you all,
Cectpa Larsen
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Week 3
Good afternoon Family,
I was so excited to get all of your emails today. I have had a very packed week and it is good to slow down and be able to read them. By the way dad I don't know what you are sending the pictures with but I can't get them. Maybe you could send them on dearelder.com or mail them? It is really nice to get letters throughout the week and I would love some pictures because I forgot to grab other ones besides the book you made me. I am glad that grandpa is doing okay. I have been praying about him. Also tell Grant that I say Happy Birthday!
Mom, I am excited for you to have a week of nothing! And you are not a brat! You are the greatest mom ever and I can't even imagine how you can do it all.
Dad, thanks for your letter. I hope you are excited for your trip? Your letter today made me think a lot about all of our happy memories together. I wrote both you and mom a letter that I will be sending today hopefully you will get them at the same time.
Brynn, you are still amazing me with how much you do! You said you had some goals? what are they? I am following your example and my entire room is trying to go without treats for the next 2 weeks!! We will see how that goes haha! The only good food here are the sweets so we are not liking our odds if we continue to eat 2 cookies at every meal.
Chase, I hope you and Ash had fun at Powell I wrote you guys a letter but I don't have your address so I will try and send it soon. I hope you are taking care of Ashley!
Ashley I thought of you on Sunday. I saw a bunch of little kids at the Temple and I tried to say what I thought you might say to them. I am excited for you to finish school and start teaching. You will be amazing! Keep me updated on what is going on with you two!
Well week 3 has come and gone. It has been a week full of ups and downs and probably some of the most amazing experiences that I have had this far. I am learning so much about the gospel that I never even stopped to think about. I never knew how much you could learn by just focusing on the basic principles of the gospel. I guess I have never really had the questions that people normally have but I have been able to read the scriptures as if I was reading them for the first time and new things have been brought to my attention. I have never looked at baptism in the same way. I love it!
Your day can change here in an instant. You can be having the worst morning and everything can go wrong but the minute you step into class you know that this is a place of God. The spirit is always so amazing. Sunday was one of those days, I can really feel my self esteem being worked on here, and I had and interview with a member of the branch presidency that has really impacted the way that I view myself. He has helped me to see that even if I feel inadequate the Lord will not let me be inadequate. He helped me see myself through the Lord's eyes for a few days. It has really helped me to be confident in my teaching and to teach what the spirit wants me to teach. It has really been the most amazing learning experience I have ever had. I feel like this week will be a million times better now that I have that confidence in myself.
I haven't had to crack the whip in my district anymore. All of the Elders are good kids. Sometimes we all get a little off task and I contribute to it partly because I can't focus for 12 hours of class everyday but we had a lot of fun and we learn a lot. We can almost teach the entire 1st lesson in Russian!!! I don't know if anyone will know what we are saying though. Tomorrow we are teach the 2nd lesson in the TRC. We are teaching the Plan of Salvation in English which I am really excited for. Oh and we had our first experience in the RC (Referral Center) this last week. People can call in and request a bible/BOM/Church video and we talk to them and either mail them a copy of whatever they ask for or send over 2 "representatives" to talk to them. I got hung up on my first time ha but Sister Clark and Sister Walker are teaching a lesson this next week over the phone with a lady that Sister Clark talked to. It is really amazing how some of these individuals are so prepared to hear the gospel and what motivates them to pick up the phone and call.
I love you all so much and miss you a ton! I am glad things are going well. Please encourage letters?! I love getting letters throughout the week. Dearelder.com is a great thing because they just print them out and give them to you like a letter. Just a little side note. But I love you all and thank you so much for your support. I will talk to you next week!
Cectpa Larsen
I was so excited to get all of your emails today. I have had a very packed week and it is good to slow down and be able to read them. By the way dad I don't know what you are sending the pictures with but I can't get them. Maybe you could send them on dearelder.com or mail them? It is really nice to get letters throughout the week and I would love some pictures because I forgot to grab other ones besides the book you made me. I am glad that grandpa is doing okay. I have been praying about him. Also tell Grant that I say Happy Birthday!
Mom, I am excited for you to have a week of nothing! And you are not a brat! You are the greatest mom ever and I can't even imagine how you can do it all.
Dad, thanks for your letter. I hope you are excited for your trip? Your letter today made me think a lot about all of our happy memories together. I wrote both you and mom a letter that I will be sending today hopefully you will get them at the same time.
Brynn, you are still amazing me with how much you do! You said you had some goals? what are they? I am following your example and my entire room is trying to go without treats for the next 2 weeks!! We will see how that goes haha! The only good food here are the sweets so we are not liking our odds if we continue to eat 2 cookies at every meal.
Chase, I hope you and Ash had fun at Powell I wrote you guys a letter but I don't have your address so I will try and send it soon. I hope you are taking care of Ashley!
Ashley I thought of you on Sunday. I saw a bunch of little kids at the Temple and I tried to say what I thought you might say to them. I am excited for you to finish school and start teaching. You will be amazing! Keep me updated on what is going on with you two!
Well week 3 has come and gone. It has been a week full of ups and downs and probably some of the most amazing experiences that I have had this far. I am learning so much about the gospel that I never even stopped to think about. I never knew how much you could learn by just focusing on the basic principles of the gospel. I guess I have never really had the questions that people normally have but I have been able to read the scriptures as if I was reading them for the first time and new things have been brought to my attention. I have never looked at baptism in the same way. I love it!
Your day can change here in an instant. You can be having the worst morning and everything can go wrong but the minute you step into class you know that this is a place of God. The spirit is always so amazing. Sunday was one of those days, I can really feel my self esteem being worked on here, and I had and interview with a member of the branch presidency that has really impacted the way that I view myself. He has helped me to see that even if I feel inadequate the Lord will not let me be inadequate. He helped me see myself through the Lord's eyes for a few days. It has really helped me to be confident in my teaching and to teach what the spirit wants me to teach. It has really been the most amazing learning experience I have ever had. I feel like this week will be a million times better now that I have that confidence in myself.
I haven't had to crack the whip in my district anymore. All of the Elders are good kids. Sometimes we all get a little off task and I contribute to it partly because I can't focus for 12 hours of class everyday but we had a lot of fun and we learn a lot. We can almost teach the entire 1st lesson in Russian!!! I don't know if anyone will know what we are saying though. Tomorrow we are teach the 2nd lesson in the TRC. We are teaching the Plan of Salvation in English which I am really excited for. Oh and we had our first experience in the RC (Referral Center) this last week. People can call in and request a bible/BOM/Church video and we talk to them and either mail them a copy of whatever they ask for or send over 2 "representatives" to talk to them. I got hung up on my first time ha but Sister Clark and Sister Walker are teaching a lesson this next week over the phone with a lady that Sister Clark talked to. It is really amazing how some of these individuals are so prepared to hear the gospel and what motivates them to pick up the phone and call.
I love you all so much and miss you a ton! I am glad things are going well. Please encourage letters?! I love getting letters throughout the week. Dearelder.com is a great thing because they just print them out and give them to you like a letter. Just a little side note. But I love you all and thank you so much for your support. I will talk to you next week!
Cectpa Larsen
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