HOMECOMING!!

Zone Leaders, Elder Bott and Larson at Vidor Homecoming Game

Wow wow wow lots happened this week!

Monday night we went on exchanges. I was with an elder McBride and Elder Wood who both came out the same time as me! My first lesson was planned for that night and it was all the new guys haha! I totally had to rely on the spirit to take over that lesson and it ended up being pretty good!  I was able to testify to her that if she would read the Book of Mormon she would have the same feelings of peace and comfort that she had felt at other times in churches. And she said when she knew the book was true she would get baptized so we will have to see if we can ever get in contact with her again and how sincere she was about praying and learning about the gospel.  She of course is not going to be living in her home and is staying with relatives while her home is being fixed so she won't be in the area for a bit haha! Typical! 

Tuesday was Halloween! It was really just a normal day! We woke up and did service and went out and did work the rest of the day! Nobody was really home that day and we didn't have much success. We had to be in early for Halloween.  We were given some talks to read and discuss with our companions. I guess the best thing about Halloween was the 50 cent corn dogs at Sonic!

We did some service for a non member we found. She was trying to move her pile and we were just able to stop and help her and it was so awesome! I love being able to help people! You guys might have seen that a lot of people got Facebook in our mission and I'm excited to use it so feel free to add me if you want to see the things I'm doing on there! 

Now for the best part!! Homecoming is a huge deal here! The town shuts down at like noon and everyone gets out of school early and then the parade starts down main street at 2. Since nothing else is going on the missionaries are allowed to go! We got a shootout at the parade! This guy was blasting music on the back of this semi in the parade and he grabbed his mic and yelled shout out to the Mormon missionaries! Then we got to attend the homecoming football game!! Seriously the best day! There are only like 10,000 people that live in Vidor and 8,000+ attend the game so everyone goes! The girls all get like these massive corsage things that cover their entire body and they have to put them on stands when they aren't using it haha! But halftime was legit! They turn the lights completely off and then the band will perform while marching in the dark while fireworks are going! It is super lit!! We went with our zone leaders and had such a good time! 

Elder Bott and Larson arriving at the Vidor Homecoming Game

Parade at Vidor Homecoming

Corsages at Homecoming

Lights out Half Time performance show, complete with fireworks

Saturday was kind of a long day we were out on our bikes all day just trying to find someone find someone to teach! We bike around a lot of our area but nobody was interested which just is super sad! I've come to learn of how true this church is and it makes me sad when people don't want to hear it! 

Sunday we had an awesome study with one of the members of the stake presidency! They all know so much about the gospel and I love learning about it. The conference we had after was so good! The spirit was so strong and I learned so much! It was fun hearing them talk about Harvey because I knew some of the people and places they talked about! We aren't seeing a ton of success in our area right now but I know this is what we need to be doing! If there's one thing I've found it is that service makes a huge difference. It's crazy that we still have people thanking us for hurricane Ike and Rita help.

This week we didn't have to much success but we keep praying and hoping for someone to teach. I get discouraged sometimes.  I know the gospel is true and can bless the lives of everyone but they just aren't ready to accept it yet. But I love studying on my mission! I read lots of talks and have been reading the Book of Mormon again. Mostly for my studies I spend like half my time in Preach My Gospel and the other half in the Book of Mormon.  I'm so grateful for the chance I have to study on my mission! I love this church so much and it is the way to be happy in this life and in the next! My testimony has grown so much out here and I know the Lord will prepare someone to hear our message! Love you all and have a blessed week! 

Elder Cameron Larson

Mom's Questions

How did you spend Halloween?

We spent Halloween like any other day. We did service at a Christian care center and then we got some corn dogs and tried to visit people the rest of the day!

What training have you received about Facebook for your mission?  How will you use it as a missionary?

Facebook is going to be interesting.  Like I said in my post I can use it to invite others to come unto Christ. We haven't got specific direction and we will just use the spirit. We have been trying to use messenger to communicate with some people in our ward that need help and stuff and can send a message or video to them.  We really haven't received too much instruction on how to use it. We have been trying to chat with one or our investigators on messenger but we also don't have Wi-Fi in our apartment so we are figuring out how to use it. We have zone conference coming up and we will learn a ton more about it then. ( November 14th).  We are also getting smart phones (1 per companionship starting in February) but now all the missionaries will start to come out with those. That will be nice because we will be able to stay in contact better. 

Are you reading or have you read any of the books we had to purchase for your mission?

Not yet but I would like to!

Were you able to get a coat/jacket for service days?

Not yet, it's super hot here again So I'm good haha 

What is your Sunday schedule like?

 Sunday's we get up at 6 and have a meeting at 7:30 church at 8:30 then a member will usually feed us and then the rest of the day we for out and try to find or visit people!