Drag racing for Jesus

Elder Bott and Elder Larson

Sahhhhh friends and family! Another week has gone by here in good old Vidor! Lots and lots of service but we had some cool experiences this week! Also taco bell opened here in Vidor after the flood so you bet we went and got some. On Monday, we had a dinner with the Shilligs and Corleys and they were making their kids race so we raced the dads of the family for like 50 yards haha! One of them was a marine and the other is in the army but missionaries are blessed so we won of course!

Shillig and Corley Families

First off, on Tuesday we didn't have a member that could come with us to do some service so we actually did some proselyting! It was super weird and I realized I had no idea what to do. Elder Bott still didn't have his bike since he left it in Kingwood so we had to spend the day on foot. We left around 12 and decided that we would make a 6 hour journey to our dinner appointment. We walked to 3 of our investigstors and none of them were there which was a bummer. We talked to everyone that we saw but nobody was really having it. Finally we were walking down this street and this guy was in his garage and we were able to teach the restoration and give him a pamphlet real fast. He said he wasn't interested but it was still nice to be able teach the gospel to someone. We ended up walking like 9 miles so that was baller! 

The rest of the week was pretty normal, we went and did service all day every day! On Thursday we went to this lady's house who still hadn't been touched, we are 3 weeks after the hurricane and still we have houses that haven't been touched. One of the elders got a before and after video.  I will send some screenshots so maybe you can see what it is like! It took us alllllll day to do this one but she was super grateful for us. The very next day we went to a place called Lakeview and this place got REKT. Water got like 12 feet high. We were punching out the roof and Sewer water was just falling out. Pretty gross but the guy we were working with was in such good spirits and they are great people! I really do love the people here and love them more and more everyday! We found these huge spiders and my companion is fearless and just let them crawl all over him so I'll send a picture of that as well!  We also went to some gyy’s house and he told us that he was a drag racer and that he was going to kill himself in his car but miraculously he lived and now he is “drag racing for Jesus”  Only in Texas!!

Entering the house

Half way done mucking the house

Elder Bott OK with the Spiders

Saturday, we did some more service.  We had 3,000 people coming into Vidor again to help with the last of the work crews. After like 30 days if you don't start drying the place out and have it mucked then the whole house is bad.  It was really important that we got a lot of people and got as much done as we possibly could. We were out directing traffic again and we were holding out Book of Mormon and trying to give them out! It was funny to see people reactions as they drove by, all the Mormons loved it and would always stop to talk to us and then some people would be like trying not to look at it because they thought the book was of the devil or something! But we had these 2 guys stop and tell us Jesus loved us and then we invited them to read the Book of Mormon and they said they would! So that was a cool experience! 

Eating at Wrights BBQ

My baller "I survived Harvey" shirt I got from some guy on the side of the road for $5

Sunday was the coolest day, we had church at the gym of Vidor high school, there were thousands and we just sat on the bleachers.  We had like 8 priests and like 30 deacons just to do the sacrament. They had some testimonies shared and it is cool to hear these saints who have had so much loss testifying of Christ and how grateful they are for what they have. We got a big group picture at the end of the meeting that I might be able to get at some point.   There was a guy there that took a picture before the meeting and I got him to send it to me! They sang the song Count your Blessings one Sunday and I was really thinking about that. I love the line "be not be discouraged God is over all" our member that we had a dinner with that night shared how this has been a miracle. I was amazed how he could have such a positive attitude because he was grateful and able to see what the Lord has done for him during this hard time! I know that can be true for everyone at any time so look for the miracles the Lord puts in your life, even during the hard times! Our member at dinner that night talked about how this is a miracle because everyone is so willing to learn and love everyone. An awesome time to be serving! Love you all and I love hearing from you! Hope all is well 

at home! 

Sacrament meeting at Vidor High School

Mom’s Questions:

Have you done any proselyting since you have been in Texas?

On Tuesday, after Pday we actually did a proselyting day! It was pretty good except for Elder Bott didn't have his bike yet! We got to teach a guy that was in his garage working on a car about the restoration but he wasn't wanting anything to do with it which was a bummer but I was glad we got to teach.  People still have their agency so the best we can do is invite him to act, we left him with a pamphlet and then put our names and number on the back for him if he ever needed anything. 

Did you get your bike yet?

I got mine and it is awesome, I will send a picture for sure.

New bike!

What goals have you and your companion set?

The mission is kind of weird right now as far as goals and stuff right now since it had just been service. We have the goal of baptizing 1 every month but nothing really other than that just because we aren't proselyting.

What are you and your companion currently studying?

We are studying the Book of Mormon (Mormon Chapter 8).  We are in the same spot so we just talk about different insights we have since we don't have any investigators to study for right now.   I actually was talking to my companion about when we visited Cancun and how cool it was to think of the Book of Mormon taking place there, I have been finishing the Book of Mormon and I'm just about done! I will be done either Today or tomorrow, (probably tomorrow). Then I might start studying D&C we always are supposed to read the Book of Mormon so I will continue to do that. 

Did you have more volunteers this weekend?

Yes, we had more volunteers. I heard around 3,000 came into Vidor so we were out directing the traffic again.

How is your health, are you feeling better?  Are you getting enough to eat and enough rest? 

I'm feeling pretty good, I still kind of have a cough but it doesn't bother me at all. I would say I'm like 95% so getting over it! And I get plenty to eat and sleep the members and the new mission schedule are awesome.  We haven't done like any morning workouts here since we just serve all day! It is hard work and I'm dead a lot of the time but we still have fun at nights and other times! 

Elder Larson 

Dad's Talk on Service in the 6th Ward

Talk Theme: What Have I Done for Somebody Today?  (Thomas S. Monson, October 2009)

Missionary service is very much a part of our family life at this time. This summer, I have watched my oldest son, Cameron, and many of his friends in this stake leave to serve 2-year missions around the world. In our recent Stake Conference, Elder Duncan called our Stake and this area a "factory" for missionaries. I have listened to the many missionaries leaving and returning, I'm so impressed with the strength of testimony. With the preparation of those leaving and the strong testimony of those that are returning.

I have been asked today to Speak about a talk given by our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson from the October 2009 conference.  The question posed from the title of the talk is a one that we can all contemplate each day of our lives "What Have I Done for Someone Today?"

As I read our prophets words, the spirt is strong as I contemplate his life of service. A few years ago I read his biography titled "To The Rescue". Certainly President Monson is a great living example of service.

I mentioned that my son Cameron left for a mission this summer. He entered the Provo MTC on August 23rd to prepare to serve in the Texas, Houston East Mission, English speaking. The first weekend he was in the MTC, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas as a category 5 Hurricane. The storm moved to Houston and east of Houston and dropped a record amount of rain. The rain caused catastrophic and devastating flooding forcing many to evacuate their homes.

As I followed the story, I knew that things would be very different for Cameron. I told him in a letter that I knew he would now be doing service, and that it would be different than what we all thought he would be doing. Each morning I clipped each of the articles in the Wall Street Journal chronically the devastation of the storm. I would write some comments, place the articles in an envelope and mail them to Cameron. I told him that the people would certainly need his help and he should be prepared to work hard.

In addition to what was reported each day in the newspaper, I learned that his mission home, mission office were both completely flooded. The Mission President was forced to evacuate to a member’s home. Almost 20 of the cars in his mission were ruined and several chapels and the temple were all flooded and would require cleaning and months of restoration before they could be used again. 

A week after the storm stopped, Cameron left the MTC bound for his mission. We had sent to him additional work shoes and clothes at the suggestion of the mission. He left on Monday, September 11th and we talked to him that morning. We had anticipated hearing from him Monday evening or Tuesday after he had arrived.

My wife Melissa began following a mission facebook page shortly after Cameron received his call. She did not pay much attention to the page, but started looking at it a little closer when Cameron arrived in Houston. On Tuesday night, she saw a post on the page from a member that said "We are having Elder Bott and Elder Larson over for dinner tonight, any parents on this page?” Elder Bott's mom, from Saratoga Springs, had already responded and ask to connect with Elder Larson's mom. Melissa replied that she had an Elder Larson that arrived the day before, but hadn't heard from him. This sweet member from Texas replied to both Melissa and Elder Bott's mom with a picture confirming that it was our Elder Larson. We learned that his companion was Elder Bott and that he was assigned to Vidor, Texas.

Both Melissa and I were so grateful to hear that Cameron had arrived safe. It was a great comfort to see a picture of him with is his companion and that they were both smiling. This sister from Texas shared with Melissa that both Cameron and Elder Bott had been extremely busy since arriving in Vidor. Both were brand new to the area. She related that Cameron and Elder Bott had not had time to write or purchase any groceries.

Then we learned of some wonderful service that this sweet sister in Texas was doing for my Son and his companion. She informed us that she would have them for dinner that night and the following night. She also told us that she sent them home with water, Gatorade and breakfast for the next morning. She would be doing their grocery shopping for them the next day as they would be busy cleaning out houses for the next several weeks.

We were so grateful for this Sister and wished that there was something that we could do. My wife followed this sister in Texas on Facebook and she followed my wife. That next day, Melissa had been invited to a BYU football practice, with our family, to meet the coaches and team. We went with our 2 youngest and Melissa had posted some pictures on facebook. This sister in Texas commented that she had attended BYU and that her daughter was attending BYU. My wife quickly commented back that we would love to contact her daughter and have her over for dinner. Melissa asked what her daughter was studying. Melissa learned that her daughter was studying accounting, the same program that my wife teaches and the same program that we both had graduated. Melissa told the sister in Texas that she would have no problem tracking down her daughter.

Melissa went and got the daughter's transcript with all the professors that had taught her and contacted her by email to come and see her. The daughter came by Melissa's office and was very excited to be invited to dinner, and in fact she will be at our house later this afternoon. Melissa decided to stop by a colleague that had taught this girl to ask about her. Her colleague asked Melissa why she had come to ask about his particular student and learned that this student had just left Melissa's collegue's office talking about some of the stress of school. In fact, Melissa's colleague told her that she had said a prayer wondering how she could help this student, and 20 minutes later Melissa showed up asking about her. Melissa learned that she is a great student. And so a few hours from now, our house will have this girl's roommates and a few other students for a "surprise" birthday party, since here birthday is this Tuesday.

My wife shared this whole experience in her email last week to my son and said this, "I know the Lord is in the details of our lives".

In the book of Mosiah, King Benjamin teaches us this as it relates to service. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God".

I am reminded from this experience that our Heavenly Father does hear our prayers and it is through others that those prayers are answered. By this sister in Texas reaching out to our son, she was an answer to our prayers. We were so grateful for the picture and the news that Cameron had arrived safely. We were comforted to know that he had a "Mother" looking out for him making sure that his needs were met. She was even texting my wife at the store asking what Cameron likes and doesn't like and she was doing the same for his companion Elder Bott.

Likewise, I'm certain that this sweet sister in Texas is praying for her daughter who is away from school. Melissa's colleague and I'm sure the student are all praying for help. Again, the Lord hears and answers those prayers through others.

We were finally able to connect with our Son this past Monday. We learned what the sweet sister from Texas had already told us. He related to us that when he arrived at his mission, he met his mission president at a chapel since both the mission home and office had both been destroyed in the flood. The mission president did an interview and they met their companions and were sent to their areas. In fact, we finally received a message on Thursday from the mission, 4 days after his arrival, with a picture of him and the Mission President and all the missionaries that entered the mission.

Cameron also confirmed what we were told, that since arriving in his mission, they were working 8-10 hours each day "mucking" out houses. Mucking out a house is removing all sheetrock, insulation, flooring and all possessions and everything 1 foot above the water line. In some houses, this can extend to the ceiling and second floor. They are racing against the clock to clean it before mold ruins the house. They have about 30 days to perform this work or black mold sets in and the house is a complete loss.

Cameron is in an area heavily affected by the flooding and 1/2 of the members are displaced. This past weekend, Elder Rasband visited the town, Vidor, Texas, along with thousands of Latter-day Saints from around the area that have come to help with work for the weekend. Cameron told us that they are staying in schools and chapels or anywhere they can fit them. Sunday service is 30 minutes where they serve the sacrament and then go back to work.

Fox 26 news in Houston did a Story on the "Army of relief workers helping Houston Recover". Some of the things that they said included: "Of the groups descending on Houston to help with relief, none is bigger or more effective than the Mormons”. The report described them as “organized and highly motivated”. Of the church the reporter stated, "when it's crunch time you can count on ‘Mormon Americans’ to step up in a big way. A virtual army of Mormons 'gutting and mucking' for their deeply distressed fellow man".  “The gift of ‘walking their talk’ of faith and resilience”.

In each of the pictures that we have received, the damage is devastating. All of the belongings of houses piled high on the front lawns. In each of the Pictures, I can see how tired Cameron is, but he is also smiling and looks so happy to be serving.

In President Monson's talk, he shared a quote by President David O' McKay "Man's greatest happiness comes from losing himself in the good of others".

President Monson related what the savior taught his disciples in Luke: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it". President Monson taught this about "losing ourselves" in the service of others:

"I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in the service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves, eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish--and in effect save their lives".

President Monson also said "The needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone"

What is happening in Houston and the many other disasters around the world affected by hurricane Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria and also the earthquake in Mexico is terrible. However, that darkness and misery can be driven out by the light of service. While we do not live in these areas, we can help in so many ways.

We have so many needs in our own families, wards and stakes. They are not always as apparent as a flood, hurricane or earthquake, but there is always help that is needed.

President Monson stated this about all of the members of the church:

"I am confident it is the intention of each member of the Church to serve and to help those in need. At baptism we covenanted to "bear one another's burdens, that they may be light". How many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of another? How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-do-day living interfered and you've left it for others to help, feeling that "oh, surely someone will take care of that need".

"We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we're doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the "thick of thin things." In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes."

We all have busy lives. But, let's take this council from our Prophet and make sure that we are not getting too caught up in the "think of thin things". Service can be very simple acts and we really can do something each day.

Friday night I spend the night camping with my son and his scout troop. On Saturday morning I received a text from Sister Reynolds, Stake YW President, wondering if someone had been assigned to set up the chairs and video for women's conference. It took me about 30 seconds to send a text to confirm the IT was taken care of. I wasn't sure about the chairs, but I grabbed my deacon age son Hayden and his friend and they both happily and willingly came with me to the church. I sent 2 additional texts and within minutes we had 8-10 of us at the church and were done in 20 minutes. That was 20 minutes and 30 seconds of time. I had a busy day with lots of things to clean up from camp, soccer games and helping Melissa prepare to host HS kids for Homecoming dinner. It would be easy to say, oh, someone else can do it. But only took 20 minutes and 30 seconds. I still attended a soccer game, helped pick up the food and get most of camp cleaned up. My tent is still in the backyard "drying".

Brothers and Sisters. Let's all try to focus on the message from President Monson and ask ourselves, "What have I Done for someone Today?" It may be an 8-10 hour/6 day a week job, inviting someone to dinner, or it might be as simple as 20 minutes 30 seconds of help. However, our service can be the answer to a prayer of someone in need. Our Heavenly Father truly is mindful of each of us and needs our assistance to provide the much needed service to His children.

I testify that as we serve, we will feel the love or our Savior as this is his message to us. Our testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will increase and we will find greater happiness in our lives.

Picture Sister Ashworth sent us when she had Cameron for dinner his second night in Vidor

Picture we sent to Sister Ashworth of her daughter having dinner with us

Harvey crew!

Sorry I didn't get to email last week because I got out here before pday in the MTC and then when I got to Houston pday was over so here I am! We had Elder Oaks speak to us in the MTC which was awesome! Saying bye to my district in the MTC was hard, I love all those people so much and you grow so close to them in such a  short amount of time, but it's on to bigger and better things!

MTC Cleaning Crew

We got here around 12 on Monday and we went straight to the stake center (because the mission office and home are both flooded) and we had some meetings there! In my interview with President Hewlett he said he was going to put me in a bike only mission!!! And he kept that promise, my companion is Elder Bott from Saratoga Springs, Utah and we are serving in Vidor and are the only missionaries here without a car haha! But neither of us have bikes right now either...... Elder Bott left his in Kingwood and all of the shipping in Houston has been stopped for a bit so here we are in a bike mission with no bikes! But doesn't really matter since we haven't done any proselyting yet. 

Most days here we spend around 8-10 hours doing service here. We got in and do what is called mucking which is where we take out all the carpet, sheet rock, insulation, and anything that touched the water in the house. It is hard work but I'm loving it. The people here are so grateful to the mormon helping hands crew, when we go anywhere with our yellow vests on the people always stop us to thank us for what we are doing. On our second day we had already gone to 2 other houses when someone came over to us and was desperate for help, they had been evacuated and this was the first day they were getting back into there home. So when we got to this house it was the real deal..... everything in his entire house was soaked and it was devastating. The water had got to 6 ft in the house and things were scattered all over the place. We had to carry everything out and then rip down everything in the house. It can be pretty gross hahaha it smells soooooo bad when we open a house from start like that! That one took us all day on Thursday to complete and the stuff was piled like 6 feet on his front lawn. While we were working there there was this guy that came and took pictures of us so we made it on the Beaumont paper! When you drive down the streets you just see piles and piles of stuff that people have lost but they are all still in good spirits. What you can learn from Harvey is that you should always be grateful for what you have and you can’t have it all of the time! As long as you are coming closer to Christ and learning more about your savior what else matters? The community is coming together to help out and it is really cool to see so just don't ever be selfish and be willing to help out and everyone will be blessed!

Every other day was pretty typical mucking and service day. Saturday was a legendary day though. We were doing service and I have been pretty sick all week but Saturday was the worst. We went to the Christian church and were helping out and I felt like I was going to die haha so I said a prayer they I could continue to work and I'm glad I kept on going and didn't go home for the day because at noon we went to a different house and started working when here comes

Elder Rasband!! He stopped us and wanted to talk to us, he said that the First Presidency and the 12 were praying for us. I got to shake his hand and we got a picture with him as a group of missionaries so it might be out there somewhere but I don't have it unfortunately. President Hewlett stopped Elder Rasband and told him that one of the elders in my district was new so this applies to me too when he said this is the best work we could ever be doing! And I believe that too, through this service we have been doing even though it is dang hard a lot of days in the heat and doing it for hours, I have seen people's hearts change. People that have never been willing to talk to the church are begging us to come and help them out and it is really opening their hearts to hear the message of the restored gospel. Later on Saturday we were assigned to direct traffic for the 1700 people who were coming to the vidor schools to come and help the mormon helping hands! We felt like celebrities haha so many Mormons coming and they would give us cookies and stuff it was the best! It was cool to see how many people are coming to help.

Elder Rasband visits Vidor

Sunday we went to church in our work clothes and then the sacrament was administered and then each of the bishops of the Vidor wards got up and shared their testimonies and then we were out of there in 30 minutes for the whole church to go do service! We did this guys house and he is a legend, we call him the piano man and he is so good at piano and production stuff. We were moving out all of these cables and tripods ect. But he started filming us and then said he is going to send in a film for the national weather channel so if you see something about mormon helping hands that was our group! But It was cool to see everyone even little kids helping out in any way they can! The members here are awesome and spoil us as missionaries! We get dinner appointments every night and our ward mission leaders wife Sister Ashworth even bought us groceries since she knew we didn't have time to shops because of transfers and the meetings! President Ross is in the mission presidency and is housing like 8 missionaries and feeding all of us that don't have dinner appointments! Such amazing people here!  

It is kind of crazy all that goes on down here and I wish I had time to write every experience that happened but I've learned that the Book of Mormon really does change lives! If you aren't reading it everyday then do read it everyday! Even if you don't have that much time read just a couple of verses and you will see the power it brings into your lives! Love you all and hope to hear from you! My address is 475 S Denver st. Apt 110 vidor Texas 77662 if any of y'all needed to see our dope apartment in vidor

Love, Elder Larson 

Your Missionary Has Arrived

Dear Family,

It is such a blessing to have your son here to serve with us. At this time, the Texas Houston East Mission is somewhat different from what your son might have thought it would be. We are so involved in mucking, cleaning, and giving Hope to people every day. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and he will share this message as he serves the people.

With Love,

Spencer Hewlett

Elder Larson with President and Sister Hewlett

Elder Larson and his first companion in the filed Elder Bott from Saratoga Springs, Utah

New group of missionaries