Email of Nov.9, 2009

ear Mom and Dad,
How is everything going? It's great to hear from you! I'm way excited about the football team. I wish I could be there, but I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. You'll have to cheer extra loud for me.
Things here are going really great. Today is transfers, but I will be staying put with Elder Arrieus. It should be good. I'm starting to worry if I will ever get to serve in Immokalee. I'm sure I will but maybe not for as long as I would like. It is most every one's favorite area. I love Ft. Myers and the Providence branch though. The branch is doing well. It isn't growing as fast as it has in the past but the members are starting to become closer. It's really exciting to see the church grow at such a fast rate. The fire of the gospel is spreading rapidly. I have seen our stake split, a temple announced, and on Saturday we had the opportunity to go to a groundbreaking ceremony in Immokalee for their new chapel. Their branch, which is mixed Spanish and Haitian, is growing really fast, they have already had 28 baptisms this year. They designed the building in such a way that it can easily be expanded, they could even apply to enlarge it before the building is finished. The spirit of missionary work was strong at that meeting. They just had their first missionary return home as well. He was a Haitian named Fanfan Charles. The huge group from the branch went to pick him up in Tampa and they stopped in Ft. Myers so that he could be released. we happened to stop by the church at the same time and were able to teach his parents who are non-members while he was waiting for the Stake President. It was a very powerful lesson for me.
The work in our area is going fairly well. The baptism on Saturday didn't go through. Sylla and Carmel both backed out on Monday. They said they didn't feel ready. I was a little bit shocked, but I think they they need more time anyways. We are still trying to help them read the Book of Mormon and help Sylla quit smoking. We are also teaching a 14 yr old girl named Robertine. She has some friends in the church, and has read quite a bit in Le Livre de Mormon. We are also teaching an older woman named Saisilenne. She can't read which makes things hard, but she is progressing nonetheless. We are just trying to find new people to teach all the time.
But, everything is going pretty good here. We're all excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We were invited over to the Lowman's house for Thanksgiving dinner so maybe we'll get two. That would be sweet. But, I hope that everything is going great at home. Take care and know that I love you all!
Sete,
Elder Larson