#VidorNation

So, the cool thing is that Vidors mascot is the Pirates so literally everything around here has to do with priates so looks like I really have become one! #vidornation This week still had a lot of service but we are transitioning back into a little more proselyting but a lot is changing in this mission. 

On Tuesday, we were proselyting all day which was a change anddddd it was the first time I got to ride my new bike! I was super excited and rode wheelies like the entire day! I don't think I have got my heart rate over like 150 since I left on my mission, we just are never doing anything that hard. And the biking here is flat as can be and sea level so going back to Utah will be rough.  I’m glad I was able to take the win at those high school races, those were a lot of fun and I miss doing that but the mission is way better for me!

Wheelie boyyyyy

We went to go visit one of the investigators since we don't know any because Elder Bott and I are both new to the area and we have really just been doing service. We went to this guy named Travis Trailer and when the person answered it was not him. Her name was Christiana and we taught her and set up a return appointment. Then we went and met another investigator named Randy who is the coolest guy ever! He builds up vintage cars and he is basically a mormon. In our first visit with him he told us straight up he knows the book of mormon is true but he doesn't want to ruin his marriage with his wife since she isn’t baptized. He then pulled out Alma 32 and talked about everytime we come over we continue to nurture his wife’s seed and he knows she will be baptized one day. SUPER COOL guy! 

Wednesday, we did service all morning at a christain church and this Lady's house. But the highlight of the day was being able to talk to our mission president! We had interviews with him and he is an awesome man! He gave me some good advice on what I can be studying and how I could achieve the things I need to do. We did a role play at night where me and Elder Baker tried to teach Elder Bott and Elder Archibald about the restoration and they were acting like two crazy black guys. It was the funniest thing and we got some good stuff done so win win!

Thursday, we did service for a member all morning and then he took us out to the famous whataburger which is a burger place that is in Texas, he hyped it up so much but JC dubsssss is so much better! Then we went to our return appointment with Christiana and she had her trailer door open when we went by. She said she wasn't ready and to give her 30 minutes so we just biked around this trailer park and ran into Travis our other investigator!!! Christiana wouldn't answer her door even though we knew she was in there but I know the Lord put us in that area so we could meet Travis, he is a super cool guy and works a lot but we are going to see him tomorrow

Friday was the huge day, we had district training and a lot is changing out in our mission and Im PUMPED about it! The work has been pretty hard since nobody really lives around here since their houses are destroyed. It is hard to find people to teach and even if you do they usually aren't living in this area but we made plans to work more with the members here and it is super cool!! We also went and met with Becky, who has been going through a lot of death and hard times in her family. We told her if she watched, we promised that she would find messages of hope and love and she committed to watch conference and seemed really sure she would!

Conference this weekend was so good. I love being able to hear from the apostles of God. I know they have been called to declare his word and so have I! How cool is that? we missed part of Saturday because we were doing service but that’s not a bad reason to miss it at all! They provide such messages of hope and peace even with the crazy world around us! Becky ended up not being able to watch it which was hard since I knew this would help her but we will keep working with her! We have such amazing members here that are so faithful. It was different being in a presithood session with only like 20 members there but the church is the same here and I love the members here and their willingness to live the gospel and support us as missionaries. When Elder Rasband got up to speak during conference all of the missionaries were hoping he would show a picture of us for some reason, it was mostly a joke but we talked about it the whole week leading up to his talk! But seriously I am so grateful to have been a part of something like Mormon helping hands and see how organized the church is in helping others. The Yellow angels for the win!  We have a family of members that all live on the same street and they all went to their pavillion and allowed us to come over for lunch between conference with them which was the best!

Harvey cleanup shrine

Clean up Crew

I love this gospel and my savior and I hope that you all had an awesome conference weekend and are able to apply what you learned to follow the Savior more and live a happier life!   I am reading the D&C as well as the Book of Mormon.  I’m on section 19 so I’m moving along pretty quick! I want to read all the standard works on my mission. We have done a lot of memorizing so far, I memorized our purpose, D&C 4, how to begin teaching points in PMG and the entire first vision story starting in verse 10 which was a lot.

Love you all!

Mom’s Questions

Did you get your package?  (you can thank Emily for all the music)

Yes, I got the package! It was nice to get some treats and they get eaten pretty fast, when the zone leaders and our district leader were over at our apartment those Kit Kats were gone in minutes but they were some dang good minutes!

What has been the biggest adjustment on your mission so far?
The biggest adjustment for me is just Texas in general. It is a lot different than Utah but so is everywhere I guess haha! But it's hard to get my sense of direction since you feel so closed in by trees all of the time! And of course, there is humidity to worry about. 

What have you done to serve your companion this week?

I'm the dishes guy! I just always do the dishes and try to clean up anytime our apartment is messy. 

What is one thing you have learned from your companion that you are trying to replicate?

He's a really good teacher, he is able to make the gospel sound so simple through different stories and analogies which I really want to be able to do better.

Elder Larson