Email Feb. 18, 2009

Dear Family,
I guess I couldn't surprise you again with an early e-mail so a late one will have to do. We had interviews yesterday and so President asked us to wait until today to have our P-day. It sounds like things are going fairly well at home. Spenser e-mailed me and told me about his call, I'm really excited for him. I didn't know Kevin Christensen ever went back to Armenia but that reminds me of a story I don't think I ever told you. My last week in the MTC I was sitting outside talking with one of our teachers and Kevin walked by. He had just got back and was there for something. It's also pretty exciting to hear about USU b-ball. Things here continue to go well. Our investigators are doing pretty well. Last week, I think I told you about the three people who we had just started teaching who were really solid. One of them just moved back to Miami and we have pretty much stopped teaching President Preval's advisor. But the third person, who's name is Giertan, is doing really good. She has now been to church twice and has a baptismal date for the 7th of March. She loves the church and has started to make some friends. The other day we went to help one of our members move and she was there. She is looking really good. She's even planning on feeding us tonight. This past week was our mission tour by Elder Craig Zwick. It was such a great experience and made me miss the MTC and all of the General Authorities that were always there. He told us about the Thursday temple meeting from the week before. He said that President Monson talked a lot about missionary work especially as related to members. He told us that there were only two of the seventy that were leaving on Mission tours so it was very interesting to him that President Monson chose to speak on that subject. He focused most of his training on a story of when his company was renovating the Manti Temple. He talked about the dry rot they found in the main supports holding the roof. He related that to the things in our lives that can be dry rot to us. It was really good and made me want to strive harder to be more focused on the work. He also told us a story about his talk from last conference and about the first time he met President Packer. He said he that President Packer asked him to help save a bridge he had on his property and while he was there President Packer showed him a pond that he has on his property and told him that that is where he goes to think and connect with his divine source. He then asked Elder Zwick where his "pond" is. He challenged all of us to find our personal ponds where we can go in times of trouble. He suggested the pond of prayer. The conference was a really great experience and was a booster to my spirits. Today should be a good day. We are planning on going to the Red Sox stadium and walking around the field. I think the team is here in town. Then we have a dinner appointment with Giertan later. I hope that everything is good at home and I can't wait to hear from you next week.
Love,
Elder Larson