The Spirit of Christmas is the Holy Ghost, Who Testifies of Christ.

Well first things first. I am a little confused at what time it will be for you when I call, because this year Russia got rid of Daylight savings time and i'm all mixed up. It will be between 7 and 8 here when I am calling, so I think it will be between 9 and 10 back home YOUR time. Elder Rasmussen might call first and gets to call his Mom and Dad, so It will probably be closer to 10 when I call. What are you all doing for Christmas other than waiting for our calls and going to church? Invited anywhere for dinner? When is Cody calling? Probably earlier or later than me since he has to get to Church in New York.

Natalie Bonner is a girl I went to school with, yes. That's great that she is going to the Canada Toronto Mission! I bet you congratulated her already, Mom! ha ha.

I don't think that I have seen the sun for at least a month... The clouds always are covering the sky and that is all I see. But we fixed that problem. We made sure all the lights in our apartment are new and together with the help of 2 Christmas trees we have plenty of light to get our spirits up at home. Christ helps too! He is the Light and the Life!

You'd get along with Russians with your essential oils, Mom. That kind of stuff seems to be getting big here too. Must be a global thing.

Say hi to all the "mission friends" who are back home now! Weird that will be me soon. Ryan Nelson called me to ask a question about the mission. I didn't know it was him and was confused when I heard English in the phone, but it sure was great to hear his voice. The banana bread recipe that Natalie Parker (that's weird to call her that! ha ha) wanted is one that I got from Sister Drenan and changed to make it my own. Ha ha. One thing that I've started to learn how to do on my mission is cook. I think things are usually healthy when you cook them yourself anyway.

Well I have a train to St. Petersburg on Tuesday and will be there until next Tuesday due to the Christmas Party, an exchange with the Zone Leaders, and a VT on Monday. (Last time on my mission.) I hope to stop by Grisha and see his new baby girl, and see some other wonderful friends from Shoovalova! Things are going by soooo fast.

This week we found 2 new investigators from people we contacted on the street. The Lord is helping us more and more as we put our trust in Him as "we open our mouths and testify of Christ." Both really nice guys, one named Maxim, the other Mihail. Humble guys with great questions.

It's so weird how you are meeting so many people who speak Russian now that I'm in Russia. That's great though! You will know who I can talk to to keep it up. I've been thinking about school and I decided I'm going to probably major in Chemistry and Minor in Russian, or even double Major.

Remember to keep the Christmas Spirit with you! The Spirit of Christmas is the Holy Ghost who testifies of Christ, who died for our sins, because He was One with the Father, who is God. As John said, God is Love. Remember to LOVE this Christmas and ALWAYS! 


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I LOVE YOU !
Keep Smiling. Be of Good Cheer!
Blake

Burn Out Brighter

Well, I'm staying in my same area for my very last transfer of my mission just like Code is, and I'll still be with Elder Rasmussen. This will be a busy transfer. Christmas, New Years, vt for both of us, exit interview, etc... WEIRD! I just realized BP is going to be home this month!!!! What's going on?!!

You'll have to save the letter that President Clark sent to you this week, because I definitley want to read what he said! Ha ha. I'm really happy to have served my mission here in the St. Petersburg mission, and I will never forget all the friends and things that i've come to know here on my mission! I was thinking about that yesterday and I realized one of the biggest things that my mission has taught me is the importance of hopes, dreams, and faith. You can't live without hopes and dreams and goals. Heavenly Father wants us to choose to learn and grow and create ourselves, and what is important to us is important to Him. He wants us to build our talents no matter what they are, if they are used for righteousness. Among all of our personal, righteous goals should be centered the main goal of returning to HIM.

Tell everyone at home to please stop getting sick. That's funny  about Kallie's "emergency" though. She is getting big! Tell her that I'll be coming home soon and to save me that piece of her cherry pie that she can't eat. Yum!

I'll take Chris as an adopted brother. Ha ha. He was one of my favorite companions on my mission. Funny, down to earth guy.

The weather here is a constant light snow, with some days just above freezing, some just below. They say it takes a while for the weather to change here because of the humidity, and this year has been a warm year, but they say it will be SUPER cold soon enough, and not just cold. They keep telling me to not forget that winter really doesn't start until the 20th of December technically.

This week we saw probably the most success that we've seen this whole transfer, with respect to numbers and the Spirit. 2 investgators came to sacrament meeting and 1 of them is finally progressing in the Gospel. We received contacts actually from investiagators and former investigators. We got more members to help us on lessons with less-actives and investigators. In short, we're seeing success! I hope we can keep it up so I can "Burn out Brighter" on my mission.

I'm really impressed with our investigator Yuri, who came to sacrament meeting. He accepted commitments to read and pray everyday, and also come to church. He wanted us to call him everyday to remind him, and has been doing them everyday when we call.

We've made a goal to ask people for numbers while contacting, since we do a lot of it, eventhough we are getting more success with lessons and meetings, and we've gotten more numbers the past couple days and given out more Books of Mormon than we have the whole transfer. Something is going down in the mission!

Elder Ash is the only one to leave our district, which is a bummer. He's a really good missionary and we'll miss him. He is so fun to be around. He's rubbed off on Elder Rasmussen and I and we find ourselves saying Elder Ash quotes (especially "That's a joke!") We will have a native Russian elder here in his place, Elder Bogaretskiy who came in the same transfer as Elder Ash and was trained by Elder Loskutov. It will be a good transfer still though.

Elder Rasmussen and I have 2 Christmas trees in our apartment. We made one and his mom sent him one for christmas. Along with my stockings and tinsel, our apartment looks ready for Christmas. The landlord liked it too. ha ha.

I have a question. Who is the Presiding Patriarch of the Church? I've been trying to better understand the organization of the church as we are helping another do the same thing. I've read about Patriachs in Articles of Faith by James Talmage and now understand more about them, and know that the presiding patricach is not the President. So who is it?

Well, I've gotta jet! We'll be talking in 2 weeks on the phone! Tell all my friends and everyone in the family hi for me! Love you guys!

Keep Smiling. Be of Good Cheer!
Blake

Conference was Very Cool!

Wow! 102 winds there? We heard that it was only in Davis county too. That's crazy! How is everything there now? You said that nothing happend to the house other than a tree and that you still have all the shingles, roof and power restored, but anything crazy happen there at home? And I thought I was in the place with crazy weather! Wow...

Coming to the end of the transfer now and sadly we pretty much know that Elder Ash will be leaving our district, as he has a v.t. next week and they told him to bring his stuff with him. I have a feeling that I am staying here my last transfer, maybe with Elder Rasmussen... Hopefully Elder Ash won't become the next Elder Gillett and move every transfer... almost... We'll really miss Elder Ash in Petro... Look at me. I act as if I know I'm staying... Better say something now before I jinx myself.

Well, this week was busy of traveling again! Serving in Petrozavodsk I've learned that you become a world traveler all over again. Ha ha. It was good to go down to St. Petersburg and hear from President Bennet, both at the meeting with the missionaries and especially at the conference for everyone in the district. I really learned a lot about how close we are to getting a stake here in St. Petersburg! Number wise, concerning priesthood holders, we need 8 more actives! ONLY EIGHT. They are making sure that it will be a strong stake and they are reorganizing things to look more like a stake here, but I have a feeling that not too long after I leave from my mission we will have a stake in St. Petersburg, RUSSIA! The St. Petersburg District is now a preparatory district/spiritual stake.

On Saturday in between meetings for the missionaries with President Bennet, I went on an exchange with Elder Davis from Ogden, Utah and we had a cool experiece talking with some Africans. They only spoke French and Russian, but were fluent in both of them and spoke a little English, so I could converse with them well. I felt really happy talking with them and they said at the end of our discusion and after giving them a Book of Mormon, that they were both so happy that they could talk  openly about Christ with someone. I don't give myself the credit for anything though. It was the Spirit!

The thing that stuck out to me the most this week was something that we talked about during the conference that reminded me of what my dad told me about a year into my mission. He said that the Lord wants YOU to do the work and to do it with YOUR personality. He sent real people to be His missionaries, not robots dressed as missionaries. They talked about how the Lord prepared the people here in the Church to help those in this area of the world to bring the gospel to others. They encouraged the members to help bring in people, because they know that they can do it because God is helping them. I can't explain it very well due to lack of time, but it was cool!

The conference put it into perspective about how long I have been here on my mission. I hadn't seen many people in a while, so Elder Rasmussen and I were walking around everywhere, I was saying hi to people or they to me. I've met so many wonderful people here!!!! And a lot of them I didn't even get to see. Elder Rasmussen asked me how I knew so many people. I told him he'll understand in 2 years...

On Monday we had a great meeting with a member who was baptized a little over a year ago. It was a follow up lesson about the Priesthood as we had talked about that with him a week before, and all of a sudden he is SUPER interested in the Priesthood. He has the Aaronic and wants to understand all the things about the Melchezidek, so he can get it soon and go to the temple. I think we'll have another Priesthood leader here soon. !!

Earlier this week before the conference, the Zone Leaders came up on an exchange and we did service at an investigators house. She really appreicated the work we did cutting wood and bringing water from the well. Elder Rasmussen and Telkulve went to meet with an investigator while Elder Shirbeana and I went and gave service to a less active family whose husband is sick, bringing them firewood, water and also giving blessings. Humbling. 

A lot of traveling this week! Well, running out of time. I love you all and miss you! NO time!
Love,
Blake

Special Spirit Bore Testimony of The Savior's Love For All of Us

Well, Zone Conference was really good. We talked about Faith, Hope and Charity and I got to talk to a few people that I haven't seen for a while. I was asked to tesify along with Elders Wilde, Way, Ul'yanov and Sister Parker. These are all the people in our zone right now who will be going home before the next Zone Conference. Hard to believe we are going home! 

Last week for Thanksgiving we did service at an investigators dacha cutting firewood with the other Elders. We then came home and I baked a chicken in the oven while we talked and Elder Rasmussen made some potatoes. Simple but nice. I'll try to send a picture, but usually  the computers here doesn't let my camera send things... Elder Rasmussen and I have had the Christmas Spirit last week and we made a fake tree in our apartment from Christmas lights which I got last year, and some string that is suspended from the ceiling in the shape of a cone like Christmas tree. It's as close as we'll get and we love our tree. :) Sounds like Meleea is getting ready for Christmas too. Ha ha. She would go to Target on Black Friday. :)I bet the bike will work for KB. She is tall for her age, and she'll grow into it.

Our house and yard are going to be SO different with all the changes and hard work that is going on there... Do you have pictures of anything you've done so I'll be prepared when I go home? ha ha.

The weather here is crazy and bipolar. It has been raining this last week instead of snowing, but it's super cold. No snow and muddy everywhere and wet. Everyone says that this is reallly weird weather for Petro, but guaranteed January will be a super cold month, they say... OH YEAH! Bring it on!

Well here was my week:
We had a really good meeting with an investigator this week. He had a baptismal date once, but it fell through, so we read with him in 2 Nephi 31 and talked with him about it. He said that baptism is scary for him, but wouldn't tell us what is scary. We continued to read the chapter with him and had a really good talk about repentance. Maybe he is scared to repent of some things. We challenged him to talk with Heavenly Father about his concerns to find out more about them, because he says he trusts in the Lord. We also met later with this same investigator and talked with him about revelation and how to understand when we receive it. Read the story of the brothers Nephi and Lehi, and how when the people heard the mild, yet powerful voice. He really enjoyed it and was deep in thought. We can see his desire to change, but it's hard to get him to do commitments. He's so shy and scared... But he is opening up to us.

We also had a great experience this week with an inactive member. We had called this family at the first of the transfer and the daughter answered and said they didn't want anything to do with us. A few days ago, Elder Rasmussen was calling people, and not realizing that it was the same family and called them again. The dad answered and said that he wanted to meet, and so we went over to their house yesterday after church. We got to know him, and while we were talking to him, the daughter came in and said, "Don't know why, but I want to listen too." Through the process of getting to know him, he opened up to us that he doesn't go to church now because he feels like he doesn't believe in God anymore. He had a hard divorce a while back and slowly lost his faith. The Spirit took over our conversation and through Elder Rasmussen and I, bore a testimony to this family that God lives and loves them, that they've just forgotten that, and He's waiting for them to come back. Through His Son, we can return and know God again, and we can feel the JOY we once felt, and learn from our pains we experienced. We testified that Christ knows exactly what they went through, and is just waiting for them to chose for themselves to accept it. Probably one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission. The daughter was bawling her eyes out during our conversation, and the dad also shed a few tears. When it was time to go, their countenances were changed and they said we could come back anytime. We left the meeting very grateful that we could have that special experience. We quickly found a quiet place to thank the Lord in prayer, that we were able to be a part of that experience... The Church is True!

Those were the highlights of our week. The rest was us working with less actives, and trying to meet with investigators who wouldn't show up to our meetings.This week we will be going to Peter... again... after a split up here with the Zone Leaders in our area. President Randall K. Bennett, Second Counselor in the Europe East Area will be here for a conference Saturday and Sunday. It will be a good opportunity to hear from a member of the Seventy, but it's a pain to leave our area again. Usually it's not this way, but the 2 transfers that I'm here will be that way due to conferences and Christmas. I think I sent you President's letter about all the details, so you'll know. 
Well, I've gotta jet. Thanks for everything! I love you guys!

Love
Blake

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sitting next to Codskii on the plane?! Cool beans! That's going to be super exciting! Thank you to our mission presidents for arranging that time we will have together. I will be flying for a very looong time, but that's enough of that "trunky talk." ha ha.

You know Mom, the only reason I became who I am today is because of the way you and Dad brought me up, so if I am anything special to you, it's because you did something special with me. Also had some wonderful siblings :) Thanks, Mom and Dad, Meleea, Cole, Cody, and even Kiddo. :) 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

That was crazy to get those pictures of all the missionaries there together with the Lunas. Too bad you weren't able to see them because of all the crazy stuff at the house. I know that you really wanted to meet Jeanie and Joe Luna in person. (It's weird to hear you call them Jeanie and Joe!) I wish that the Lunas could have gotten to know President Clark. They would love him. :) You'll be able to meet Chris! That's crazy... He is a good friend... Even if he is going to BYU. ha ha

 Is Meleea feeling better though? I hope so!

Well, right now Elder Ash is with Elder Svirskiy here in Petergof, as last Saturday we were doing a sports day to try to get people to learn more about the Gospel and Elder Bradford hurt his knee. He had bad knees already, and twisted it wrong. When we went down to Peter for Zone Conference, he stayed there so he could be close to the doctors, and Elder Svirskiy took his place. Do you remember Elder Svirskiy? I served with him in Avtovo for a week before I went to Pskov. He's a good missionary.

Zone Conference was really good... and it was my last Zone Conference?!!!! AHH! Can you believe that? We talked a lot about Faith, Hope, and Charity and the importance of these and other Christ-like qualities for missionary work. It was really good. I felt the Spirit really strongly and just felt how God really has faith that we can do the things He sent us here to do, that He hopes for us to become like Him, and He loves us with perfect love (charity) no matter what we choose, and He is always ready to help us.

After Zone Conference we had an exchange with the Zone Leaders and I was with Elder Tekulve from California. We've talked about him before. Love that guy! They didn't have a meeting set up yet, and so I called up one of my favorite people in the world, FAIK! He was happy to hear from me and said I could come over anytime. He's been sick with stomach problems, and just a couple weeks before had a blessing and was feeling better now. He hasn't really been able to do much he said, not even go to church, but he said he should be up and at 'em now. I really will miss Faik. He said, "It's always a pleasure to see you, Brother Larsen," as I was leaving. We ended our exchange with a meeting with a new investigator named Pasha, who we gave a Book of Mormon and testified about it. He said he'll start reading immedieately.

It's kind of a pain to go to Peter, because since we are so far away, and they don't want us doing night trains anymore, it always takes up at least 3 days of our schedule. We didn't really do much in our area this week, but we did some good in Peter. :)

What kind of souvenirs do you all want from Russia? Any requests? ha ha. I've already bought what I wanted, my Russian Shopka. :) What do you guys want? I got your Halloween card, but never got the Birthday card you sent... Thanks for the Halloween card! Elder Rasmussen and I have gone to that area we went to on Halloween that looked really scary and we have named that part of the city "HalloweenTown." We have names for all the parts of the city. "Sketchtown" "Diagon Alley" "The Shire". We find ways to make each other laugh all the time. Elder Rasmussen is hilarious, but knows when to be serious too. Really hope that Elder Ash and Elder Rasmussen are in my district next transfer before I go home... WEIRD that I am going home soon!

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for the money  for my birthday and Christmas! You are all too nice!

It's a lot colder in Petro than in Peter. Peter doesn't even have snow yet, just cold rain. Here in Petro there is a skiff of snow everywhere, but it's ALWAYS below freezing and we already wear our winter clothes everywhere. It'll be really cold here, I have a feeling.

I've learned how to bake a chicken, so Thursday we will be baking a chicken for Thanksgiving!!!!!... I know it's no Turkey, but it's as close as I'll get, okay? ha ha.

Well, I love you all. Thanks for everything. Don't worry about me here in Petro. Things are going good, and they are on the Up and Up. We're realizing what we are capable of more fully here in the mission, and we are trying to be better versions of ourselves for our sakes and for the Lord's sake. I've had my favorite song stuck in my head all day, "Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights)" by Anberlin stuck in my head today. "Live. I want to live inspired. Burn. I want to burn out brighter. Brighter than the northern lights. I want to live to feel the daylight. The more I live I see that this life's not about me." It's about everyone! Its about us! It's about the Lord! It's about how the Lord is helping us to become like Him and return to Him someday. Remember that!

Keep Smiling! Be of Good Cheer!
Love,
Blake

Obedience is the First Law of Heaven

Hello!! How's is Everyone?

How was that to see Nate come back? Was it weird thinking that the last time you saw him, I was with him? ha ha. I'll be glad to see everyone when I get home! BP comes home soon too... Then the "Brothers Grim." ha ha. I think Nate made the right choice to go to the U. Not the other school... What was it called again? BY... Who?  Just kidding. Speaking of School, did you find out anything about scholarships? Elder Rasmussen was telling me about a good website to check out. I really enjoy serving with Elder Rasmussen. One of the funniest guys I've ever met, and one of the most humble and obedient.

Ha ha. Grisha told the Zone Leaders to tell me hello too. :) He's great. Brother Leostrin is in the District Presidency in the St. Petersburg district, and lives in the Shoovalovo Area. Really nice family! He speaks English well, and has a good strong testimony. 

This week people didn't show up to meetings or called and said that it wouldn't work out this week more than usual, but even with that, we saw some success and we are really trying to work hard. We are trying to be obedient. We understand that "Obedience is the first law of heaven." (Preach My Gospel)  I'll have you know that multiple times Elder Rasmussen and I have RAN home with dogs chasing us at our heals, and not knowing why we were running. Maybe so we could be obedient by being home on time? We doing our part, I promise. :)

We have one really good investigator, Yuri who is really shy, but meets with us and continues to read the Book of Mormon. He is accepting the Gospel, but has problems with praying in front of people and coming to Church. We think that it is because he is so shy. Sunday had a little bit of a let down, as we are trying to get a less active to come to church and he said that we could come and pick him up. We came to his house, but when we were let into his room, he wasn't there, and it was 9 o'clock in the morning... Can't get a hold of him... Sunday was great though as Svetva, Elder Bradford and Ash's investigator, received the Gift of the Holy Ghost after being baptized at the Saunaon Saturday, since the font has that "sewer problem" up here. I love to see baptisms and feel the Holy Ghost come and give the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Sveta can't swim, and was a little nervous getting into the water, as the water level was about up to her chest, but she was brave and was baptized. :) So awesome. 

Other investigators are a little harder to work with, as they agree to do a lot of the commitments, but refuse to do some of the simpler ones, like pray to find out if the Book of Mormon is true, or even just read the Book of Mormon sometimes... In other words, the same ol' same ol'. ha ha. We'll continue to search and ponder, and we will do our part to resolve their concerns with the aide of the Spirit.

I have a question- I was reading today in the Gospel of John, and it was talking about Caiphas, who prophesied that Jesus would die for not just the Jewish nation, but for all nations. We know that Caiphas was unworthy though, and one of the men that condemned Jesus. It isn't effecting my testimony or anything, but I was wondereing your thoughts about why the Lord would let him have the Spirit of Prophesy, being that he wasn't trying to follow the Gospel, and even going against it. Maybe to give him one last testimony and chance to follow Christ? I'm still pondering about this.

Well, I'll see if I can get some pictures on here... If it works then you'll get them. 
I love you all and I love the Lord! Keep Smiling and Be of Good Cheer!
Love,
Blake

Plugged In!

Hello! Things are good here in Petro! I'm loving it here. :)

Sounds great about the plane ride home! I can't believe that it will be so soon! AH! I haven't invited anyone to be at the airport, and I wasn't going to. It will also be really late at night. I will be happy to see our family!!  Most of all I will just be happy to be home! :) 

Be sure to go to Booth's homecoming and say a BIG PRIVYET from Elder Blake Larsen! So weird. I remember the morning I went to the temple was when he went to the MTC, and we ate breakfast together earlier that day. Tell him sorry that it was so hard to stay in touch with him on the mission, but we tried, and  Chile and Russia are far away, and he understands that it's hard to stay in contact with people on the mission... So weird to think that he is home, because that also means soon so will BP, and then Cody and me....

So many have gone home! Tell hi to all the former missionaries on FB. Tell Chris Anthony Privyet, too! ha ha. I haven't seen Grisha since Shoovalovo, but hopefully I will before I leave be able to. We have to go to Peter sometime so maybe I can go on a split and say hi to Grisha and Faik there.

To be honest, I don't remember Grandpa's sister as I have not seen her in years, but it still sad to hear that she died. How is he taking it? We know where she is though, so we'll see her again. :) Tell Grandpa I am thinking of him.

The weather is starting to get COLD here, but still no snow. The rivers in some parts of the city are starting to freeze over, and we have to walk with scarves and earmuffs/ hats. They keep saying it will start snowing anyday now, and when it does, it won't stop!  Usually gets about  -25 or colder. I'm excited. :) ha ha.

Feeling great. :) Sounds like a good idea, Mom about trying to sneak in when you aren't expecting me. Maybe Cody and I can work it out and surprise you! Ha ha. Cards and letters haven't come yet, as we are 8 hours from Peter and will only get them when we have to go down for a split or for Zone Conference... Won't really be getting mail often this transfer.

Well what can I tell you about the week?...Well, this week we plugged in and started really getting to know the area and diving into the area books during weekly planning and companionship study. Elder Rasmussen told me yesterday that he is really grateful to be working like this and was happy that the only time we would stop for a break everyday was lunch time. He said that he comes home tired and feels like he is serving the way the Lord wanted him to. Made me feel like we are doing something right, so we'll keep going and get some successes here in Petrozavodsk.

 We have one pretty potential investigator. In the area book, it says that he DOESN'T TALK AT ALL. We set up a meeting with him, and decided to focus the meeting just on him and show him that we have an interest in his life, as we do. He talked a lot at our meeting, and Elder Rasmussen said he probalby talked more this meeting that all the other times combinded. The Spirit was there, and we committed him to read the Book of Mormon after tying the first lesson in with his needs and his personal opinions and stories. Really cool guy!
Also had a lot of success with a less active family, as we talked with a man who is having problems with the Word of Wisdom, and this week, he has done great and told us that he is following it. Lots of stopping by less actives houses to try to make contact with them. 


We had a great meeting with the branch president and his recently baptized wife, starting to go over the lessons again and teaching them about temples and other ordinances in the church. They set a goal to go through the temple in a year, and his wife is excited to participate in baptisms for the dead. The Lord is helping us! I'm really glad to be serving with the Elders in my district. All of them are really humble and hard working, and we are going to see a lot of success here. Glad to still be able to work with Elder Ash, even if we aren't companions any more. Elder Rasmussen is a great missionary too. Full of love for others and very inviting. It's a great way to end my mission. :)

Tell everyone hi from me! Meleea! You're still in my prayers, just keep plugging along! Tell Kiddo hi for me and give her a big hug. Say hi to Cole and tell him that he would like Petro, lots of places around the city to go fishing and stuff. I miss you Mom and Dad, but I appreciate all that you do for me! 


Keep on Smiling. Be of Good Cheer. See you soon!
Love,
Blake