E-mail of Sep. 15, 2008

Dear Family,
This week has been awesome! This past weekend we had a visitor. Elder Richard G. Scott was here to call a new stake presidency. It was really nice for us because not only did I get to hear him speak at three different sessions (because my companion had to translate) but it really helped us get our investigators to church (we had 9!). The ones who really understood what it meant to have an Apostle of the Lord in Fort Myers were very excited. I got to shake his hand one time but I didn't have a chance to talk to him because he was extremely busy with meetings and interviews. Every time he spoke was great, I really learned a lot about how to be a good speaker. The Providence branch was able to sing during the general session and it went much better than I thought it was going to. Of all of the talents that Haitians are blessed with, singing is not one.I also met a few people who had connections to Blanding. Along with Elder Scott we had the opportunity of hearing from Elder Anthony Burns. He lives in Miami but he definitely had a connection. He told me that he attended Dixie State and played basketball with Preston Nielson. He also was happy to hear that I knew Mel Laws and he smiled when I told him about Mel's Video. I also met a man by the name of Chuck Stoddard. He is now working for the church and was in Fort Myers to get all of the equipment set up for Elder Scott's visit. He asked me to give you his e-mail. He will be excited to hear from you.The work here is going pretty well. We still have pretty much the same investigators and they all are doing pretty good. Especially the three brothers we are teaching. Pharnod, Jimmy, and MerciDieu and awesome. The all like to read the Book of Mormon, they know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. The only problem we really have had with them is getting the older two to come to church. But I think we discovered the real reason they didn't want to. They were a little worried about their clothes and how they looked. The don't have hardly any money and it was a real concern for them. So we helped them with that and now their "only" concern is working on Sunday. Oh, and that two of them are under 18 and their dad is STILL in Haiti.So, as you can see life is pretty good for me. It sounds like things are pretty crazy in Texas. I saw a little about Ike at an investigators house while we were eating the best food I've had in quite a while. That's good to hear that they are alright. I was a little worried about them. I wasn't worried about Elder Christiansen at all because I know what missionaries do during hurricanes. I'm glad to hear about the football teams. Sounds like the BYU game was awesome. I heard Max Hall threw 7 TDs before they sat him down. Is Utah still undefeated? That game at the end of the year is going to be intense. Scott is going to have to record it for me. haha Well, I think that's about all the news I have for you this week. It was a pretty good week overall and I'm excited for the one ahead. I hope all is well at home and I will look forward to hearing from you again next week.Ak Lanmou,Elder Larson