10/21/2017 Halfway through the MTC!

This week was amazing and slow at the same time. We finished meetings with our investigators and I’m gonna miss teaching them and hearing how they are doing. Sadly one of the Elders in my district was sent home but I know that he is one of the strongest people I have ever met. When he left, his companion, Elder Higbee, became one of mine and Elder Berrett’s companion. I don’t have a picture of my district yet because the sisters haven’t sent them to me yet. When I get the picture I’ll send it to you to see. I love them all. They became a family to me when we all got here. I found out I go to the airport for Cincinnati on the 30th and leave the MTC at 4:00 in the morning. We had the opportunity for President Eyring to come and dedicate the new building. I was told that the design was suppose to be a combination of a classroom and celestial room. It is amazing how the spirit is present in there. In our lessons we committed one investigator to baptism. The other one we actually sang to him Nearer My God To Thee. I was surprised to find that we sounded really good. I found out that I really like to run, to the point where I found it comforting. In total this week I have ran over 20 miles our exercise time. I ran 10 miles yesterday. I really need to do laundry. It’s always super packed though. I have been having a little trouble with my companions also. Today I had trouble getting to breakfast and the temple. My whole life I have been taught to be quick so we can be on time. The problem is that my companions are slow so we are never on time for anything. I constantly urge them to hurry up but it doesn’t work. They just don’t follow a schedule the same way. But it’s fine. I’m currently doing my laundry so I’m sitting and waiting for it to finish. I have become the pun king in my group. Right now I’m sitting in a circle and we are just sharing things that are happening back home. I don’t know what else to say other than the fact that being here is one of the funnest experiences I’ve had. I’m learning so much about the church and about myself. If I had the opportunity to do anything before I left than I would have probably exercised, because every day, a couple times a day, we walk up and down 3 flights of stairs and no matter what even with all the energy in the world I always start to breathe heavy by the time I get up. So many people have asked where I’m from and each time its something different. Sometimes I say Alaska, sometimes Las Vegas, sometimes everywhere, sometimes the West, and last my favorite one I say “your dreams” just to mess with people. I’ve been writing in my note book every day so I have that going. It’s starting to get kinda cold now in Provo I guess. I had to wear a sweater. I got called to immunizations to get the flu shot but I found out I already got it. So that was good. Thanks to everyone for sending treats and stuff. I appreciate it but it’s starting to pile up and I don’t think I’ll be able to eat it all. Also the orange juice is completely fine to drink my companion has drank it every day since being here and he is fine. Before I finish I would like to relate this experience to Helaman 5:12. This experience has been and opportunity to build my testimony of the gospel on a sure foundation. And this foundation has allow my testimony to stand strong against the ever going storm of Satan. And though some parts may weaken, I am able to build it back stronger than before.

Elder Larson, Elder Hart & Elder Moore
Friends from Misawa in the MTC at the same time