Beautiful Russia!

Beautiful Russia!


Our great friend, Roma made dinner for us!

Our great friend, Roma made dinner for us!

Elder Rasmussen is very excited to see real food!

Elder Rasmussen is very excited to see real food!


Companion and friend, Elder Jake Rasmussen

Companion and friend, Elder Jake Rasmussen


Trifecta's Last Time In Estonia

Trifecta's Last Time In Estonia

With my wonderful friend, Faik.

With my wonderful friend, Faik.

Sunrise, at One P.M.

Sunrise, at One P.M.

Petrozadovsk District

Petrozadovsk District

Lake at Petrozavodsk

Lake at Petrozavodsk


North Zone Conference Nov. 2011

North Zone Conference Nov. 2011

Thanksgiving Dinner 2011

Thanksgiving Dinner 2011

First Zone Conference with President Clark

First Zone Conference with President Clark

Neva River Fall 2011

Neva River Fall 2011

Visa trip, Oct 1st 2011

Visa trip, Oct 1st 2011

Oh my aching jaw...

Oh my aching jaw...

Hermitage Museum on P-day!

Hermitage Museum on P-day!

Me, Svetlana and Elder Loskutov

Me, Svetlana and Elder Loskutov

Birthday lunch with Kostya

Birthday lunch with Kostya

My friend, Grisha

My friend, Grisha

Service for Babushka

Service for Babushka

MTC Missionaries in Estonia

MTC Missionaries in Estonia

Waiting in Estonia...

Waiting in Estonia...


Visit from Elder Russell M. Nelson

Visit from Elder Russell M. Nelson

Elders Larsen and Anthony

Elders Larsen and Anthony

Our MTC teacher surprise visit!

Our MTC teacher surprise visit!


Podvodov family gave powerful talks!

Podvodov family gave powerful talks!
Pskov, Russia Branch


Vyborg Castle

Vyborg Castle

St Olaf's Castle Where We Do Service Work

St Olaf's Castle Where We Do Service Work

Beautiful Vyborg on the Sea of Finland

Beautiful Vyborg on the Sea of Finland

Vyborg

Vyborg

Misty day in Kaliningrad

Misty day in Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad District May 2010

Kaliningrad District May 2010

Russian MTC Group

Russian MTC Group

Russian MTC Zone at Provo Temple

Russian MTC Zone at Provo Temple

30 September 2010

Disclaimer!

It is so sad that I must put a disclaimer on my own blog but a radical bible group keeps linking me to them. I am in NO way affiliated with any group other that the mission that I am serving for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No other ministries are allowed to link me to them. Please remove me from your said groups.

Elder Larsen's Experience~ Visit from his Maternal Grandparents in Heaven.

Hello again! This has been a very good week. Probably one of my happiest weeks. I've got a story to tell, which started this week off good. So last Friday I was sitting in our kitchen eating lunch while Elder Domanksy was taking a nap (he's been achy and tired lately) and I was having a hard day. Just was frustrated with the language and didn't feel like things were going like they should. I was feeling like things aren't working out. I was listening to "Mercy River" and started thinking about the words and trying to imagine this river and where it would be for me. I started to imagine that it was in the Spirit World, and there were a lot of people sitting along the river. I tried to imagine Christ by this river, and then suddenly I got an overwhelming feeling like two people were sitting next to me, one on each side. I couldn't see them, but I knew they were there... and I knew who they were. Grandma and Grandpa Clifford. Grandpa to my right and Grandma to my left. They both had an arm on my shoulder. I had the feeling that everything will be okay, and that the Lord will bless me. He knows that I am doing all that I can, and felt my frustrations, so He sent them to comfort me. I got a huge feeling that they are serving a mission right now in the spirit world. I also got the feeling that Uncle Bob wanted to come too, but he was busy "at the river." I left to go get a kleenex, and they left too, but the peace I felt has remained with me since that happened. Sunday an older couple from Finland came to our branch. They both spoke perfect English also, but they didn't know any Russian. I had to translate for them during church, and amazingly had no problem doing it. Brother Nadelev (the branch mission leader and former branch president) said that he is very impressed with my Russian this transfer. It has improved so much more than it had when i was with Elder Haggard. Brother Nadelev is one of my favorite people in this mission. On Tuesday we had a meeting with Roma and talked about baptism and asked him if he wanted to get baptized. He said yes, but I need to get ready. So we set the date for October 31, and are going to meet with him so he can prepare for this. I'm so excited for him! Roma is really cool! He reminds me of a Russian version of Nate Booth. This last week we did a lot of service for ward members helping them to get ready for the cold. We cut firewood for members who live out basically in the forest and don't have a heater, helped an older couple in their garden, etc. On Monday zone leaders are coming for splits, so mail is coming. :) hope to hear from you through letters. :) Remember attittude is everything! To have temperance means that you are in control of your thoughts and actions, and you do those things that the Lord would have you do. Lately I've been intrigued with how the Lord is unchanging and what that means for us. We were sent here to this earth in a perfect state, and we only fell from that perfect state because we chose to change, to sin. Repentance brings us back and undoes that change, that sin that we did as if we never changed. I find it interesting that we tell our loved ones "Don't change." That's exactly what God said when He sent us to earth. "Don't change. I love you just the way you are." Gotta run. I love you all very dearly and wish I could see you, but this experience I would never change for the world! Love, Blake.

24 September 2010

Thankful for the Scriptures.

Yeah! You got my letter! Has Cody sent you any letters with pictures? I want to see pictures of Cody on his mission!!!!!! CODY!! I don't believe that I am almost 20... I'm old. Ha ha. Everyone here thinks that i am older than 20 though. Multiple people have said that I look 25, and one person thought I was 30! This mission is aging me I guess. Ha ha. They don't believe that the pictures that I have of me are the same person. Ha ha. They all think Mom is Russian, and when they ask what her name is and I say her name they laugh because it's a Russian name. Most people also think that Liz is my sister-sorry Liz! Cody is my younger brother, Cole is my uncle, and Dad is my..... grandpa... Ha ha!!!!! (Sorry dad :) ) So I don't know why but a lot of people we talk to on the street think that I am from Finland.... I got your other package!!! President Govarilov (our branch president here) was in St. Petersburg and brought it back to Vyborg for me. Thank you for the food and sweater and hygeine supplies. I won't have to buy some them for a while or go to the optician to get solution for a while either. Thanks also for Cody's shirt!!! It made me smile to see it!! Already ate the Big Hunk of course! Had a nice guy stop and talk to us the other day and when he heard that I was from America, he said, "you have a pure American face" and hugged me... I think he might have been a little drunk, but I didn't smell any alcohol... It made us laugh! Question. Can you figure out Chris Haacke's address for me? I don't know how to write him... He's in Mexico on a mission... I need to ask Elder Nick Andersen about the baptismal font..... So this last week we had lots of meetings inside with members and at the branch with investigators, but we also had lots of people ditch us. We had a really good meeting with Roma about the Book of Mormon and prayer. He is the kind of guy that needs 80% proof before he will try anything, but we answered all his questions and he said he will try. He also said that he finds our church VERY interesting. Which reminds me. We street contacted a lady yesterday and she said she didn't want anything to do with churches because of .... and started listing off a bunch of things churches do or have. Each time we said, "we don't do that" or "we don't believe in that". She said. REALLY? This must be a real church then, and took our pamphlet. It makes me wonder how many people won't listen to us because they have the wrong idea about church and what we do. I too am thankful for the scriptures! I read them before my mission, but never appreciated them like I do now! They have all the answers. I've been reading the Bible and have realized just how much the Book of Mormon supports it and how important the Book of Mormon is in bringing to light and helping establishing the truth. Love you all very much, and hope you all are of good cheer!! Love, Blake

16 September 2010

Do the work and God will do the rest.

Hello again. It is good to hear from home as always. :) Things in Vyborg are picking up. We now have 3 real investigators! Marina (the sister missionary's mom), Roma, and Poulina. We met Roma on the street and invited him to English club. He brought his friend Poulina and we had a lesson with them yesterday. Poulina really liked it, and Roma asked a lot of good questions, which is a good sign. We are cutting P-day a little short today to meet with Marina and her husband. Things are going pretty good! The Russian is still pretty hard, but I'm learning. It's hard when Elder Domansky and I don't know how to convey something to each other, because we are companions and need to work together. I'm learning a lot though! I only see English now when I read the scriptures or other materials I have, P-day, letters, dictionary, English club, etc. This week I tried a Russian drink called Kefire. Russians love it so I tried it. It pretty much is water and sour cream... X( Not good at all.... Yuck!! I got your letter, one of the packages, and Liz's postcard this week!! I think I will have to wait at least another couple weeks to get the other package. The only reason why I got these this week was Brother Semionov ( I told you about him I think. He's a doctor, speaks perfect English, translate for Prophet/Apostles when they come, etc) brought them from Peter. I must say that I never thought instant oatmeal and peanut butter would make me so happy!!!! :) Question though... how can I use the muffin mixes without a muffin pan?... I don't want to try without a pan and have them not turn out... That is terrible what happened with the Elliots! Dad, I hope you get the job! I'll continue to keep you in my prayers and I know the Lord will bless us. Sorry your dinner party didn't turn out as planned, Mom. At least the Smith's stayed to talk. Ask Ryan the next time you see him, some of the names of the people he knows here and where they live. I'd be interested to talk to them if I can! I've found a few people who know Larson Alder's nephew, Andrew. I loved the story about Kallie at the cemetery! That is a really cool story!! Just shows how much closer little children are to the Spirit. I hope I can become more like K.B. ha ha. My favorite scriptures right now are Alma 56:46-47. It's about the 2,000 stripling warriors. Here are parts of them~ "...behold, our God is with us, and He will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth... they had been taught by their mothers [and fathers] if they did not doubt, God would deliver them..." Just need to have faith! That's it. And God will do the rest... Faith isn't just believing though. Faith is action! Do the work, and the Lord will do the rest. Miss you!!!!! Remember what love truly is. Love is reasoning, faith, kindness. Love is unconditional and unchanging. Love is God. Love, Blake

12 September 2010

Missionary Mom

Hello again this week! :D This transfer is going good already! I'm excited for this next transfer. Elder Domansky is a really good guy. He barely speaks any English (almost nothing) but he is very patient and helps me with my Russian alot. I think that I have learned more Russian just this last week than I did all of last transfer. He is also very funny. Just some of his mannerisms remind me of Cody, and other times he reminds me of Mr. Bean. People seem to want to talk to us on the street more when they see that there is a Russian like them with me. A lot of the time people won't talk to us giving the excuse "You're just trying to get us to go to your American faith" but they can't really say that with a Russian with you. He eats hot dogs for breakfast is the only bad thing... Yuck. It's very interesting serving with a Russian companion to say the least but happy for it. So I can now make Russian bleeni without even thinking about it. ha ha. (Pretty much a crepe). MMMMMM! POOR BEN! I'm so sorry for Kels. Tell her I feel terrible the next time you see her. Sounds like Liz and Kels have been there often. Tell them hi for me and get me there address at USU for me before they leave! I miss them alot too! Tell them I got their letters, but I never got Liz's postcard she told me about...yet. :( Igor said you said hi, Mom. He came up with President to inspect our apartment and then gave us a ride to the castle for service. He is a nice guy! He always has a big smile and really likes all the missionaries. Thankful for members like him. Last week I sent home some pictures and letter! Not very many pictures can fit in the envelope without becoming too heavy, so I might have to just give some pictures to Sister Luna for "the newsletter". Ha ha, I love Sister Luna! Yeah, Cody told me too that he gained a little. I usually cook seperate than my companions. (That's how Russian missionaries like to do it. I'm losing weight again actually. I eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Elder Domansky thinks I'm strange because I don't like hot dogs.... by the way they are even more gross in Russia than they are in America. I'm back down to 175. I'm running again in the morning with Elder Domansky and I also ran when I was with Elder Anthony. Feels good to run, but I'm out of shape! Cool story for the week!!~ I met a sister missionary in the MTC from Vyborg named Dasha Hemelinina, who is serving right now in Moscow, and her mom is not a member of the church. She sent the branch a letter saying for the missionaries to deliver it to her to introduce her to them. When we got over there, she was ecstatic to see us and we talked to her about what her daughter is doing in Moscow. We also taught her the 1st lesson and she wants us to come meet with us again!! She misses her daughter a lot and I dare say watches for the emails more intently than you do mom... Ha ha!! She wants to find out why her daughter is doing this, and why it is so important to her. Her daughter has testified to her and told her to meet with the missionaries. Really nice lady. She sells cologne and stuff and asked me to translate the stuff she has in English. I actually could do some of it! She just calls me Larsen and loved the fact that I knew her daughter in the MTC. I really hope things work out with this lady. I am filled with so much joy from this Gospel!! I can't even describe it. I can't wait to experience that joy that comes from helping someone repent and enter into the gospel through baptism. Whoops gotta run! Love you miss you, but I am oh so happy to be here!!!! Love, Blake

02 September 2010

Off to Testify!

Hello! I'm still serving in Vyborg, but I have a new companion... First Russian companion!!! It's not Elder Leue... We do have an Elder with that name though... Either President thinks that I speak well enough to have a Russian companion, or he thinks that I need a Russian companion to teach me... Ha ha. Joking! Either way this transfer I think will help my Russian a lot. His name is Elder Domansky. He has been the Branch President in a city outside of St. Petersburg for the last 8 months called Sestroretsk, so he is excited to come to Vyborg. Elder Haggard is going to be Branch President there now. Cool! Not a lot of changes this transfer happened, though. Most companionships stayed the same. I got letters!!!! Yay! That is one reason why I love transfers!!! Two from Mom, one from dad, two from Liz, one from Michelle, one from Kels, one from Keri, and one from Nate Reidhead... I felt like a kid a Christmas! ha ha. Sister Luna says hi, Mom... ha ha. As of right now I am in Sestroretsk because Elder Domansky needs to train Elder Haggard as Branch President. We will return to Vyborg sometime by the end of the week. It's a cool place. Lot smaller than St. Petersburg, but bigger than Vyborg. I'll be with Elder Anthony while Elder Haggard is being trained by Elder Domansky. :) Elder Anthony is a cool guy! So I don't know why, but I have lost about 12 lbs this last transfer... My body can't decide if it wants to gain or loose weight and bounces all over the place... But what else is new, right? ha ha. We had a meeting with a guy who is Lutheran, but is very interested in genealogy work and came to the church for English club and the genealogy library. We met with the ward genealogy specialist, and the meeting went really well. We hope his interest in the church will spark as we meet with him. Other than that, not a lot of investigators are will meet with us. They set up an appointment and won't show or won't be home... Sunday was a very cool and history day here in Russia. The Kiev temple was dedicated and now the first temple exists in the former Soviet Union!!! I got to experience the Hosanna Shout and dedication of the temple in Russian, which was a very cool experience!! Felt the spirit so strongly! I did get to try on Finnish armour at the castle during our service work! Today Elder Domansky wanted to print off some pictures, so if I can print some pictures of I will send some this week. Sorry I haven't sent home letters in a while. Haven't had a lot of time lately. We've been meeting with lots of members who are trying to help us with missionary work, and teaching them how they can invite their friends and such. Sounds like things are about the same at home. Any other news from Cody other than that email you showed me? I want to see some pictures of Cody from while he is on his mission! I haven't seen any yet. Do you have any on the computer that you could send me? Thank you very much for the pictures of Kallie, Millie, and us at Provo Canyon. Good memories. Made me smile. So is everyone at school now since Amanda and her mom stayed over? I still think it is funny you are meeting so many moms from the mission. Ha ha. I love this Gospel! I'm very happy to be here serving among the Russian people. Lately I've just felt a sense of peace and joy when I read the scriptures, testify to people, read up lifting books, etc. It's amazing how much JOY can come into your heart when you let Christ in! I really love the books "Jesus the Christ" and "Our Search for Happiness." I wish I had read them before my mission. There is a story in Our Search for Happiness about Elder Ballard's grandfather and his testimony about Jesus Christ. If you haven't read it, I would advise you to do so... Love you all!! Thank you, everyone, for being a great support to me during my life so I could come and serve on a mission. Mom and Dad, thank you for raising me in the Gospel! Miss you alot and can't wait to see all of you back home again... But this is where I'm meant to be, and I'm loving it here too. Russia is starting to feel like a second home. Everywhere feels like home when you are doing the work of the Savior! Sometimes you feel like your surrounded by loved ones when you don't know anyone around you... I don't know how to describe what I'm trying to say... I hope you all get the picture. Gotta go. Thanks again! :) Love, Blake